upi--2020-08-17--300 U.S. Pizza Hut restaurants will close after franchisee bankruptcy

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- As many as 300 U.S. Pizza Hut restaurant locations will close permanently in the wake of the bankruptcy of the chain 's largest franchisee , the company announced Monday .
NPC International , based in Leawood , Kan. , said it had reached an agreement with Yum !
Brands , the parent company of Pizza Hut , to close one-quarter of its 1,227 Pizza Hut locations and make arrangements to sell the rest .
NPC is the largest and oldest franchisee of Pizza Hut restaurants and operates most of the stores on the East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company did n't specify which locations would be closed , but said they would be locations with an attached restaurant .
Pizza Hut has moved away from the dine-in restaurant business model to an emphasis on take-out and delivery through an app .
Pizza Hut said the 300 locations were identified as those that `` significantly underperform . ''
The chain said it would relocate employees to other Pizza Hut locations , CNN reported .
NPC filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July .
Shutdowns related to the coronavirus pandemic , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rising costs of labor and food contributed to the bankruptcy , CNN reported .
But even in February , the company was looking at bankruptcy , Bloomberg reported .
`` With consumer behavior shifting towards more delivery than dine-in , Pizza Hut 's competitors such as Domino 's and Papa John 's have continued to evolve their respective [ delivery ] models with better technology or more compelling price and product offerings , '' NPC said in bankruptcy filings .
NPC International will also sell its 385 Wendy 's restaurants , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States , the bankruptcy agreement says .
NPC employs about 7,500 full-time employees and 28,500 part-time employees at both Pizza Hut and Wendy 's in 30 states , the company said .

Aug. 17 (UPI) -- As many as 300 U.S. Pizza Hut restaurant locations will close permanently in the wake of the bankruptcy of the chain's largest franchisee, the company announced Monday.
NPC International, based in Leawood, Kan., said it had reached an agreement with Yum! Brands, the parent company of Pizza Hut, to close one-quarter of its 1,227 Pizza Hut locations and make arrangements to sell the rest. NPC is the largest and oldest franchisee of Pizza Hut restaurants and operates most of the stores on the East Coast and in the Midwest.
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The company didn't specify which locations would be closed, but said they would be locations with an attached restaurant. Pizza Hut has moved away from the dine-in restaurant business model to an emphasis on take-out and delivery through an app.
Pizza Hut said the 300 locations were identified as those that "significantly underperform." The chain said it would relocate employees to other Pizza Hut locations, CNN reported.
NPC filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July. Shutdowns related to the coronavirus pandemic, along with a $1 billion debt burden and rising costs of labor and food contributed to the bankruptcy, CNN reported. But even in February, the company was looking at bankruptcy, Bloomberg reported.
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"With consumer behavior shifting towards more delivery than dine-in, Pizza Hut's competitors such as Domino's and Papa John's have continued to evolve their respective [delivery] models with better technology or more compelling price and product offerings," NPC said in bankruptcy filings.
NPC International will also sell its 385 Wendy's restaurants, a fraction of the total of 6,500 in the United States, the bankruptcy agreement says.
NPC employs about 7,500 full-time employees and 28,500 part-time employees at both Pizza Hut and Wendy's in 30 states, the company said.


upi--2020-08-17--Watch: Firefighters rescue baby deer trapped in drainage pipe

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Firefighters in Massachusetts came to the rescue of a baby deer found trapped in @ @ @ @ @ Ashland Fire Department said the fawn had been spotted wandering in the area for a @ @ @ @ @ trapped in the drain pipe Monday morning .
Firefighters used a 6-foot hook to gently @ @ @ @ @ the pipe .
The animal was not injured , but was taken to an Animal @ @ @ @ @ veterinary assessment .

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Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Massachusetts came to the rescue of a baby deer found trapped in a drainage pipe.
The Ashland Fire Department said the fawn had been spotted wandering in the area for a few days before being spotted trapped in the drain pipe Monday morning.
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Firefighters used a 6-foot hook to gently pull the deer out of the pipe.
The animal was not injured, but was taken to an Animal Control facility to receive a veterinary assessment.


upi--2020-08-17--'Coastal Elites' trailer shows Bette Midler, Sarah Paulson, Dan Levy, Issa Rae social distancing

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- HBO released a trailer for its upcoming comedy Coastal Elites on Monday .
The special presentation premieres Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. on HBO .
In the trailer , characters played by Sarah Paulson , Dan Levy , Issa Rae and Kaitlyn Dever address the camera via video chat .
Bette Midler plays a character in a holding cell with an overhead camera .
Paul Rudnick created and wrote Coastal Elites , a story of characters trying to connect despite divisive politics .
The COVID-19 pandemic added another level of distance to the production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filming to meet COVID-19 safety protocols .
Rudnick says he began writing Coastal Elites one year ago , to address the frustrations people on both sides of the political aisle felt .
`` These were people who demanded to be heard , who had stories , '' Rudnick said on a recent Television Critics Association panel .
`` These monologues sort of burst forth . ''
Roach said prior to the pandemic , his plan was to film the actors performing monologues at The Public theater .
Roach ended up directing the actors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'd have them walk around with their computers , and show me what their house would look like if it was the background , '' Roach said .
`` The sets are actually really nice , because they picked the right lighting and the right backgrounds . ''

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Bette Midler filmed the HBO series "Coastal Elites" from her home under COVID-19 safety protocols. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- HBO released a trailer for its upcoming comedy Coastal Elites on Monday. The special presentation premieres Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. on HBO. In the trailer, characters played by Sarah Paulson, Dan Levy, Issa Rae and Kaitlyn Dever address the camera via video chat. Bette Midler plays a character in a holding cell with an overhead camera. Advertisement
Paul Rudnick created and wrote Coastal Elites, a story of characters trying to connect despite divisive politics. The COVID-19 pandemic added another level of distance to the production. Director Jay Roach and Rudnick adapted filming to meet COVID-19 safety protocols.
Rudnick says he began writing Coastal Elites one year ago, to address the frustrations people on both sides of the political aisle felt.
"These were people who demanded to be heard, who had stories," Rudnick said on a recent Television Critics Association panel. "These monologues sort of burst forth."
Roach said prior to the pandemic, his plan was to film the actors performing monologues at The Public theater. Roach ended up directing the actors remotely in their own homes.
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"I'd have them walk around with their computers, and show me what their house would look like if it was the background," Roach said. "The sets are actually really nice, because they picked the right lighting and the right backgrounds."


upi--2020-08-17--Watch: Horror production company launches drive-in haunted house

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- A haunted house company in Japan came up with an unusual way to keep the scares going amid the COVID-19 pandemic : a drive-in haunted house .
Kowagarasetai , a production company specializing in haunted houses and horror events , launched what it calls the world 's first drive-in haunted house as a means of keeping customers and performers safe during the coronavirus outbreak .
`` With the virus , I knew there would be no way we could have a traditional haunted house , with all that screaming in a small confined space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN Travel .
`` When I read that drive-through theaters were making a comeback , it was my 'aha ' moment . ''
The haunted house costs $ 75 for customers who bring their own cars , or $ 85 to borrow a car from the company .
The borrowed cars feature protective plastic on the inside that is changed for each customer .
The vehicles pull into a garage and are treated a simulation of being trapped inside a vehicle being attacked by zombies and ghosts .
Customers ' vehicles are cleaned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cautions that some fake blood may remain .
`` We can not remove every drop of blood .
It will be clean enough to drive on the road , '' Kowagarasetai 's website states .

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Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A haunted house company in Japan came up with an unusual way to keep the scares going amid the COVID-19 pandemic: a drive-in haunted house.
Kowagarasetai, a production company specializing in haunted houses and horror events, launched what it calls the world's first drive-in haunted house as a means of keeping customers and performers safe during the coronavirus outbreak.
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"With the virus, I knew there would be no way we could have a traditional haunted house, with all that screaming in a small confined space," company founder Kenta Iwana told CNN Travel. "When I read that drive-through theaters were making a comeback, it was my 'aha' moment."
The haunted house costs $75 for customers who bring their own cars, or $85 to borrow a car from the company. The borrowed cars feature protective plastic on the inside that is changed for each customer.
The vehicles pull into a garage and are treated a simulation of being trapped inside a vehicle being attacked by zombies and ghosts.
Customers' vehicles are cleaned after each performance, but the company cautions that some fake blood may remain.
"We cannot remove every drop of blood. It will be clean enough to drive on the road," Kowagarasetai's website states.


upi--2020-08-17--Israeli aircraft join military exercises in Germany for the first time

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- For the first time , the air forces of Israel and Germany began a two-week joint exercise over Germany on Monday .
Six IAF F-16C/D `` Barak '' fighter planes of the Israel Air Force , two `` Re'em '' Boeing 707 aircraft known as `` Re'em , '' and two Gulfstream G-550 surveillance planes known as `` Nachshon-Eitam '' arrived at Germany 's Norvenich base , marking the first time that IAF aircraft landed on German soil , Israeli officials said .
`` As part of the exercise , Israeli and German aircraft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concentration camp and the Fürstenfeldbruck airport , '' an IAF statement said over the weekend .
The air base , near Munich , was the site of the deaths of seven of 11 Israeli athletes killed by Palestinian terrorists during the 1972 Summer Olympics .
`` The IAF will participate in the exercise for the first time as Germany 's guests , '' said an IAF commander identified as Lt.Col .
A .
`` This is an opportunity to showcase our abilities and learn about NATO 's flight and training technique . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ground-to-air combat , surface-to-air missile threats and other combat scenarios will be practiced .
Although multinational training exercises remain common , they have been reduced this year by concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` This training is very effective and unique , as we train in an unfamiliar environment and territory , '' noted Lt. Col. A .
`` We will fly in a different environment than we are used to in Israel , with different flight platforms and flight rules . ''
`` The flights will be carried out using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ours , which creates a challenge for the pilot and weapons systems operator in the cockpit , '' Lt. Col. A said .

An Israel Air Force F-16 landed at Norvenich Air Base on Monday for military exercises. It was the fist time Israeli planes arrived on German soil. Photo courtesy of German Air Force
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- For the first time, the air forces of Israel and Germany began a two-week joint exercise over Germany on Monday. Six IAF F-16C/D "Barak" fighter planes of the Israel Air Force, two "Re'em" Boeing 707 aircraft known as "Re'em," and two Gulfstream G-550 surveillance planes known as "Nachshon-Eitam" arrived at Germany's Norvenich base, marking the first time that IAF aircraft landed on German soil, Israeli officials said. Advertisement
"As part of the exercise, Israeli and German aircraft will perform a flyby of the Dachau concentration camp and the Fürstenfeldbruck airport," an IAF statement said over the weekend.
The air base, near Munich, was the site of the deaths of seven of 11 Israeli athletes killed by Palestinian terrorists during the 1972 Summer Olympics.
"The IAF will participate in the exercise for the first time as Germany's guests," said an IAF commander identified as Lt.Col. A. "This is an opportunity to showcase our abilities and learn about NATO's flight and training technique."
Beyond the historical significance, simulated dogfights, ground-to-air combat, surface-to-air missile threats and other combat scenarios will be practiced. Although multinational training exercises remain common, they have been reduced this year by concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
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"This training is very effective and unique, as we train in an unfamiliar environment and territory," noted Lt. Col. A. "We will fly in a different environment than we are used to in Israel, with different flight platforms and flight rules."
"The flights will be carried out using NATO's combat doctrine as opposed to ours, which creates a challenge for the pilot and weapons systems operator in the cockpit," Lt. Col. A said.


upi--2020-08-17--New Jersey drivers urged to check vehicles for invasive insects

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Residents of eight New Jersey counties are being encouraged to inspect their cars before leaving the area to help curb the spread of invasive insects .
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture said spotted lanternflies , a species native to China and South Korea , are suspected to be spreading in Warren , Hunterdon , Mercer , Burlington , Camden , Gloucester , Salem and Somerset counties .
The counties are being placed under quarantine to help slow the spread of the insects , which officials said pose a danger to more than 70 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that anyone who travels in a quarantined county do a quick inspection of their vehicle for the spotted lanternfly before leaving , '' the Department of Agriculture said .
The statement said the species is known to be `` an excellent hitchhiker . ''
It first arrived in 2014 in Pennsylvania , where 26 counties are currently under quarantine .
`` We have been working diligently to slow the advance of this bug , '' department Secretary Douglas Fisher said .
`` We are targeting areas where severe infestations have been confirmed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spotted lanternfly if possible when they see it .
It will take a combined effort to help keep this pest from spreading . ''

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture issued a quarantine order for eight counties to help slow the spread of invasive spotted lanternflies. Photo courtesy of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Residents of eight New Jersey counties are being encouraged to inspect their cars before leaving the area to help curb the spread of invasive insects. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture said spotted lanternflies, a species native to China and South Korea, are suspected to be spreading in Warren, Hunterdon, Mercer, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem and Somerset counties. Advertisement
The counties are being placed under quarantine to help slow the spread of the insects, which officials said pose a danger to more than 70 plant species.
"The department asks that anyone who travels in a quarantined county do a quick inspection of their vehicle for the spotted lanternfly before leaving," the Department of Agriculture said.
The statement said the species is known to be "an excellent hitchhiker." It first arrived in 2014 in Pennsylvania, where 26 counties are currently under quarantine.
"We have been working diligently to slow the advance of this bug," department Secretary Douglas Fisher said. "We are targeting areas where severe infestations have been confirmed, and we also encourage residents to destroy the spotted lanternfly if possible when they see it. It will take a combined effort to help keep this pest from spreading."


upi--2020-08-17--Feds charge 2 men in cold-case homicide of Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Federal prosecutors released murder charges for two men Monday in the cold-case 2002 killing of former Run-DMC hip-hop star and deejay Jam Master Jay , one of New York 's most well-known unsolved murders .
Ronald Washington , and Karl Jordan , Jr. were indicted by a grand jury Monday in what federal prosecutors described as a `` drug-related homicide . ''
Jay , whose real name was Jason Mizell , 37 , was shot and killed at his recording studio in Queens on Oct. 30 , 2002 .
Mizell left behind a wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a case that 's been around for a long time , '' Seth Ducharme , acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York , said at a press conference .
`` We allege that Jordan and Washington walked into the music studio in Queens and shot [ Mizell ] in cold blood . ''
`` There was a beef -- it did n't go as planned , '' one official told the New York Times .
Washington , who was named as a suspect in the case as early as 2007 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related convictions of robberies committed while on the run after Mizell 's death .
Jordan was taken into custody .
Ducharme thanked the New York Police Department and the Queens Cold Case Detective Squad along with the FBI and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms for their work on the case .
`` It 's important to us to bring justice for the victim and his family and friends and the community that cared so much about those events , '' Ducharme said .
Prosecutors allege Washington was living in Jay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death .
Washington allegedly threatened people at the recoding studio with a handgun and Jordan , wearing a mask , shot Mizell in the head .
Both men were charged with homicide and weapons charges and Jordan was additionally charged with seven narcotics-related charges , Ducharme said Monday .
Run-DMC.
, founded by Mizell , Joseph `` Rev Run '' Simmons , and Darryl `` D.M.C . ''
McDaniels was the first hip-hop group to release an album that went platinum in 1985 with King of Rock .
In 2018 , Netflix released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mizell , interviewing family and friends .
Mizell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame posthumously in 2009 with bandmates Simmons and McDaniels .
In 2016 , Run-DMC were honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys .

Federal prosecutors on Monday announced charges in the 2002 homicide of Run-DMC member Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, who formed the 1980s band with Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons (L) and Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels (R). File photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors released murder charges for two men Monday in the cold-case 2002 killing of former Run-DMC hip-hop star and deejay Jam Master Jay, one of New York's most well-known unsolved murders. Ronald Washington, and Karl Jordan, Jr. were indicted by a grand jury Monday in what federal prosecutors described as a "drug-related homicide." Advertisement
Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, 37, was shot and killed at his recording studio in Queens on Oct. 30, 2002. Mizell left behind a wife and three children.
"This is a case that's been around for a long time," Seth Ducharme, acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said at a press conference. "We allege that Jordan and Washington walked into the music studio in Queens and shot [Mizell] in cold blood."
"There was a beef -- it didn't go as planned," one official told the New York Times.
Washington, who was named as a suspect in the case as early as 2007, is currently in federal prison on related convictions of robberies committed while on the run after Mizell's death. Jordan was taken into custody.
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Ducharme thanked the New York Police Department and the Queens Cold Case Detective Squad along with the FBI and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms for their work on the case.
"It's important to us to bring justice for the victim and his family and friends and the community that cared so much about those events," Ducharme said.
Prosecutors allege Washington was living in Jay's home in the days preceding his death. Washington allegedly threatened people at the recoding studio with a handgun and Jordan, wearing a mask, shot Mizell in the head.
Both men were charged with homicide and weapons charges and Jordan was additionally charged with seven narcotics-related charges, Ducharme said Monday.
Run-DMC., founded by Mizell, Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons, and Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels was the first hip-hop group to release an album that went platinum in 1985 with King of Rock.
In 2018, Netflix released a true-crime documentary on the unsolved killing of Mizell, interviewing family and friends.
Mizell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame posthumously in 2009 with bandmates Simmons and McDaniels. In 2016, Run-DMC were honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys.


upi--2020-08-17--Analysis: COVID-19 hospitalization rate for minorities far beyond share of population

Aug. 17 ( UPI ) -- Black and Hispanic Americans are hospitalized for COVID-19 at a rate of up to three times their share of the general population , according to an analysis published Monday by JAMA Internal Medicine .
The analysis shows that , in Ohio , Black Americans accounted for 32 % of all people hospitalized with COVID-19 this spring , despite constituting 13 % of the state 's population .
Similarly , in Indiana , just over 28 % of all hospitalized COVID-19 patients were Black Americans , while just under 10 % of the state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hispanic Americans made up 36 % of all CVID-19 hospitalizations , despite being just 10 % of the state 's total population , according to researchers .
The findings , based on analysis of data for 12 states taken from the University of Minnesota COVID-19 Hospitalization Tracking Project , highlight ongoing racial disparities among those who experience serious illness from the new coronavirus , the researchers said .
`` We are seeing large disparities in hospitalizations across racial and ethnic groups , '' study lead researcher Pinar Karaca-Mandic told UPI .
And these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in both urban and rural areas , said Karaca-Mandic , a professor of healthcare risk management at the University of Minnesota .
Researchers analyzed hospitalization data from April 30 through June 24 in each state , evaluating it against population figures from the 2010 U.S. census .
The 12 states in the analysis were Arizona , Indiana , Kansas , Massachusetts , Minnesota , New Hampshire , Ohio , Oregon , Rhode Island , Utah , Virginia and Washington .
`` At the time we did the analysis , these were the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitalization data based on race , '' Karaca-Mandic said .
Since the analysis was completed , New Jersey and Virginia have start to report this data .
`` We need to have more complete data so we can understand the true nature of these racial disparities , '' Karaca-Mandic said , adding that there is a `` lack of standardization in the data on race -- even among those reporting it .
White Americans accounted for the bulk of COVID-19 hospitalizations in all 12 states , she and her colleagues found .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were hospitalized at a lower rate compared to their share of the general population , according to the researchers .
In Utah , for example , White Americans made up 43 % of the hospitalized patients with COVID-19 , despite being 78 % of the state 's population .
In addition to Ohio and Indiana , Minnesota and Kansas were among states that saw the highest disparities , the researchers found .
In Minnesota , 25 % of the patients hospitalized with the virus were Black Americans , who make up just under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the researchers .
In Kansas , these figures were 22 % and 6 % , respectively , they said .
Hospitalization rates for Hispanic Americans were above 33 % in Rhode Island and Utah , the researchers said .
In both states , Hispanic Americans make up less than 16 % of the population , they said .
The racial disparities in COVID-19 hospitalizations can be attributed to a number of factors , Karaca-Mandic said .
She said this includes that Black and Hispanic Americans are more likely to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued to report to their jobs during lockdown and therefore were at greater risk for exposure to the virus .
These communities were also less likely to have access to quality healthcare prior to the pandemic and may be in poorer overall health as a result , she said .

Black and Hispanic Americans are more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 compared to the general population. Pictured, Virginia Hospital Center workers screen patients for testing for COVID-19 as they arrive onsite in Arlington, Va., in March. File Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Black and Hispanic Americans are hospitalized for COVID-19 at a rate of up to three times their share of the general population, according to an analysis published Monday by JAMA Internal Medicine. The analysis shows that, in Ohio, Black Americans accounted for 32% of all people hospitalized with COVID-19 this spring, despite constituting 13% of the state's population. Advertisement
Similarly, in Indiana, just over 28% of all hospitalized COVID-19 patients were Black Americans, while just under 10% of the state's population is Black.
In Virginia, Hispanic Americans made up 36% of all CVID-19 hospitalizations, despite being just 10% of the state's total population, according to researchers.
The findings, based on analysis of data for 12 states taken from the University of Minnesota COVID-19 Hospitalization Tracking Project, highlight ongoing racial disparities among those who experience serious illness from the new coronavirus, the researchers said.
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"We are seeing large disparities in hospitalizations across racial and ethnic groups," study lead researcher Pinar Karaca-Mandic told UPI.
And these "disparities were across the board" in both urban and rural areas, said Karaca-Mandic, a professor of healthcare risk management at the University of Minnesota.
Researchers analyzed hospitalization data from April 30 through June 24 in each state, evaluating it against population figures from the 2010 U.S. census.
The 12 states in the analysis were Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
"At the time we did the analysis, these were the only states across the country that were reporting hospitalization data based on race," Karaca-Mandic said.
Since the analysis was completed, New Jersey and Virginia have start to report this data.
"We need to have more complete data so we can understand the true nature of these racial disparities," Karaca-Mandic said, adding that there is a "lack of standardization in the data on race -- even among those reporting it.
White Americans accounted for the bulk of COVID-19 hospitalizations in all 12 states, she and her colleagues found. In all cases, however, White Americans were hospitalized at a lower rate compared to their share of the general population, according to the researchers.
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In Utah, for example, White Americans made up 43% of the hospitalized patients with COVID-19, despite being 78% of the state's population.
In addition to Ohio and Indiana, Minnesota and Kansas were among states that saw the highest disparities, the researchers found.
In Minnesota, 25% of the patients hospitalized with the virus were Black Americans, who make up just under 7% of the state's population, according to the researchers.
In Kansas, these figures were 22% and 6%, respectively, they said.
Hospitalization rates for Hispanic Americans were above 33% in Rhode Island and Utah, the researchers said. In both states, Hispanic Americans make up less than 16% of the population, they said.
The racial disparities in COVID-19 hospitalizations can be attributed to a number of factors, Karaca-Mandic said.
She said this includes that Black and Hispanic Americans are more likely to be "essential workers" -- meaning they continued to report to their jobs during lockdown and therefore were at greater risk for exposure to the virus.
These communities were also less likely to have access to quality healthcare prior to the pandemic and may be in poorer overall health as a result, she said.


upi--2020-08-18--1 in 4 Connecticut nursing home residents had COVID-19, survey says

When COVID-19 was raging in the Northeastern United States , more than 25 % of Connecticut nursing-home residents were suffering from the coronavirus , a new survey reports .
Nursing homes are very susceptible to the pandemic because the patients are elderly , living in close quarters and often have other medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19 , Yale School of Public Health researchers said .
Their survey found that 28 % of 2,117 people tested in 33 nursing homes were infected with the virus .
Testing was completed by mid-June .
`` Nursing homes have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and much of the U.S. and Europe , '' said lead author Dr. Sunil Parikh , an associate professor of epidemiology and medicine at Yale .
`` Without widespread testing of all residents , it would have been impossible to effectively institute proper infection control measures , such as isolating infected , uninfected and exposed residents from one another , '' Parikh said in a university news release .
People in nursing homes make up more than 60 % of the COVID-19 deaths in the state , the researchers said .
Among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no symptoms of the disease .
Only a small number of them went on to develop symptoms , Parikh 's team found .
`` This study also shows how quickly the virus can take hold in congregate settings , as the majority of nursing homes had over half of their residents test positive within a month of identifying their first case , despite standard infection prevention measures at the time , '' Parikh said .
`` Clearly , PPE and testing shortages , coupled with a symptom-based testing strategy , made it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks early on . ''
• Infections rates of at least 50 % in 19 nursing homes .
• Only three of the tested nursing homes had no positive cases .
`` What we need to figure out now is the optimal frequency for repeat surveys of both residents and staff moving forward .
Cases in nursing homes have now dramatically dropped , and we also need to rigorously assess the impact of point prevalence surveys on curtailing the outbreaks in these congregate settings , '' Parikh said .
The findings were published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Journal of the American Medical Association .
For more on COVID-19 , see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

People in nursing homes make up roughly 60% of coronavirus deaths in Connecticut, researchers report. Photo by Sabine van Erp/Pixabay
When COVID-19 was raging in the Northeastern United States, more than 25% of Connecticut nursing-home residents were suffering from the coronavirus, a new survey reports. Nursing homes are very susceptible to the pandemic because the patients are elderly, living in close quarters and often have other medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19, Yale School of Public Health researchers said. Advertisement
Their survey found that 28% of 2,117 people tested in 33 nursing homes were infected with the virus. Testing was completed by mid-June.
"Nursing homes have been the epicenter of the disease in Connecticut, and much of the U.S. and Europe," said lead author Dr. Sunil Parikh, an associate professor of epidemiology and medicine at Yale.
"Without widespread testing of all residents, it would have been impossible to effectively institute proper infection control measures, such as isolating infected, uninfected and exposed residents from one another," Parikh said in a university news release.
People in nursing homes make up more than 60% of the COVID-19 deaths in the state, the researchers said.
Among 601 infected people, about 90% had no symptoms of the disease. Only a small number of them went on to develop symptoms, Parikh's team found.
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"This study also shows how quickly the virus can take hold in congregate settings, as the majority of nursing homes had over half of their residents test positive within a month of identifying their first case, despite standard infection prevention measures at the time," Parikh said. "Clearly, PPE and testing shortages, coupled with a symptom-based testing strategy, made it difficult to get a handle on these outbreaks early on."
The researchers also found:
Infections rates of at least 50% in 19 nursing homes.
Of 530 asymptomatic nursing home patients, 12% developed symptoms within 14 days.
Only three of the tested nursing homes had no positive cases.
"What we need to figure out now is the optimal frequency for repeat surveys of both residents and staff moving forward. Cases in nursing homes have now dramatically dropped, and we also need to rigorously assess the impact of point prevalence surveys on curtailing the outbreaks in these congregate settings," Parikh said.
The findings were published in a research letter online recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
More information
For more on COVID-19, see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-08-18--Watch: Tiffany Haddish on shaving head: 'I always wanted to do it'

Aug. 18 ( UPI ) -- Tiffany Haddish appeared on The Tonight Show and discussed why she recently decided to shave off her hair for a new bald look .
The comedian first displayed her shaved head in July .
Haddish told host Jimmy Fallon on Monday that she is maintaining the look by cutting her hair every two weeks .
`` I always wanted to do it .
For years I 've been talking about cutting my hair .
And you know this whole quarantine and everything made me think like well , why not now ?
I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carpets and if I have to be on something , they always put me in wigs anyways and the wigs sit better , '' Haddish said .
`` When it 's all the way gone it 's very smooth .
My head kind of feels like a penis and that 's kinda nice .
That might have been too far , but I 'm just sharing the knowledge , '' Haddish continued .
Haddish also played Wheel of Opinions with Fallon .
The game involved Haddish having to give opinions on randomly generated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Haddish proceeded to describe a time she took psychedelic tea while hanging out with Dave Chappelle .
`` I drank it and Jon Hamm was there and as Jon Hamm is talking , he started to look like Phylicia Rashad .
And as I started to look around , everybody started looking like Phylicia Rashad .
The black people , the white people , '' Haddish said .
`` I think it 's because I really want Phylicia Rashad to be my mama .
I 'm gon na have to write a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be my mom , '' she continued .

Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Tiffany Haddish appeared on The Tonight Show and discussed why she recently decided to shave off her hair for a new bald look.
The comedian first displayed her shaved head in July. Haddish told host Jimmy Fallon on Monday that she is maintaining the look by cutting her hair every two weeks.
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"I always wanted to do it. For years I've been talking about cutting my hair. And you know this whole quarantine and everything made me think like well, why not now? I'm not going to be on any red carpets and if I have to be on something, they always put me in wigs anyways and the wigs sit better," Haddish said.
"When it's all the way gone it's very smooth. My head kind of feels like a penis and that's kinda nice. That might have been too far, but I'm just sharing the knowledge," Haddish continued.
Haddish also played Wheel of Opinions with Fallon. The game involved Haddish having to give opinions on randomly generated topics like TikTok challenges and psychedelic tea. Haddish proceeded to describe a time she took psychedelic tea while hanging out with Dave Chappelle.
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"I drank it and Jon Hamm was there and as Jon Hamm is talking, he started to look like Phylicia Rashad. And as I started to look around, everybody started looking like Phylicia Rashad. The black people, the white people," Haddish said.
"I think it's because I really want Phylicia Rashad to be my mama. I'm gonna have to write a movie and cast her in it to be my mom," she continued.


upi--2020-08-18--Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. jostles Rangers with grand slam

Aug. 18 ( UPI ) -- San Diego Padres phenom Fernando Tatis Jr. jumped all over a 3-0 fastball for a 407-foot grand slam to pile on the Texas Rangers in the eighth inning of a lopsided win in Arlington , Texas .
Tatis also hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning of the 14-4 triumph Monday at Globe Life Park .
He is hitting .305 with a league-leading 11 home runs and 28 RBIs this season .
The Padres shortstop went 2 for 5 with seven RBIs , two runs scored and a strikeout in Monday 's win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a good pitch and I put my barrel on it and I got a result , '' Tatis said of his grand slam .
San Diego earned a 7-0 lead through 3.5 innings before Rougned Odor smacked a two-run double for the Rangers in the bottom of the fourth frame .
Joey Gallo hit another RBI double for Texas in the bottom of the sixth inning before Tatis stepped into the box in the top of the next inning .
Austin Hedges stood on second base and Trent Grisham manned first base @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rangers relief pitcher Jesse Chavez .
Chavez threw a sinker outside the strike zone for his first pitch of the exchange .
He then tossed in a 91.4-mph sinker .
Tatis pummeled the pitch to left center field for a 405-foot , three-run homer .
That blast traveled 113 mph and left the field in 3.8 seconds , according to Statcast .
The Padres slugger returned to the plate in the next inning to increase San Diego 's lead to 11 runs .
Tatis settled in against Rangers reliever Juan Nicasio during that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before he lobbed a 92.1-mph fastball into the strike zone .
Tatis ripped the 3-0 fastball to right center field for a 110-mph grand slam .
The Rangers plated the final run of the game on a throwing error in the bottom of the eighth inning .
Padres starter Zach Davies earned his third win of the season after he allowed three hits and three runs in five innings .
Jordan Lyles allowed seven hits and seven runs in four innings for the Rangers and took his second loss of 2020 .
Padres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with an RBI , two runs scored and a walk in the win .
Jurickson Profar went 2 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs scored for San Diego .
Rangers manager Chris Woodward questioned Tatis ' sportsmanship after the game for his decision to clobber the 3-0 offering while his team held a large lead late in the game .
`` There 's a lot of unwritten rules that are constantly being challenged in today 's game , '' Woodward said .
`` I did n't like it , personally .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ eighth inning ; it 's typically not a good time to swing 3-0 .
`` It 's kind of the way we were all raised in the game .
But , like I said , the norms are being challenged on a daily basis , so -- just because I do n't like it does n't mean it 's not right . ''
The Padres ( 12-12 ) face the Rangers ( 10-11 ) at 4:05 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Arlington .

San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. leads Major League Baseball with 11 home runs this season after he went deep twice in a win over the Texas Rangers on Monday in Arlington, Texas. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 18 (UPI) -- San Diego Padres phenom Fernando Tatis Jr. jumped all over a 3-0 fastball for a 407-foot grand slam to pile on the Texas Rangers in the eighth inning of a lopsided win in Arlington, Texas. Tatis also hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning of the 14-4 triumph Monday at Globe Life Park. He is hitting .305 with a league-leading 11 home runs and 28 RBIs this season. Advertisement
The Padres shortstop went 2 for 5 with seven RBIs, two runs scored and a strikeout in Monday's win.
"I was just trying to take a good pitch and I put my barrel on it and I got a result," Tatis said of his grand slam.
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San Diego earned a 7-0 lead through 3.5 innings before Rougned Odor smacked a two-run double for the Rangers in the bottom of the fourth frame. Joey Gallo hit another RBI double for Texas in the bottom of the sixth inning before Tatis stepped into the box in the top of the next inning.
Austin Hedges stood on second base and Trent Grisham manned first base as the Padres shortstop settled in against Rangers relief pitcher Jesse Chavez. Chavez threw a sinker outside the strike zone for his first pitch of the exchange. He then tossed in a 91.4-mph sinker.
Tatis pummeled the pitch to left center field for a 405-foot, three-run homer. That blast traveled 113 mph and left the field in 3.8 seconds, according to Statcast.
The Padres slugger returned to the plate in the next inning to increase San Diego's lead to 11 runs. Tatis settled in against Rangers reliever Juan Nicasio during that exchange. Nicasio pitched three consecutive balls before he lobbed a 92.1-mph fastball into the strike zone.
Tatis ripped the 3-0 fastball to right center field for a 110-mph grand slam.
The Rangers plated the final run of the game on a throwing error in the bottom of the eighth inning.
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Padres starter Zach Davies earned his third win of the season after he allowed three hits and three runs in five innings. Jordan Lyles allowed seven hits and seven runs in four innings for the Rangers and took his second loss of 2020.
Padres center-fielder Trent Grisham went 2 for 4 with an RBI, two runs scored and a walk in the win. Jurickson Profar went 2 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs scored for San Diego.
Rangers manager Chris Woodward questioned Tatis' sportsmanship after the game for his decision to clobber the 3-0 offering while his team held a large lead late in the game.
"There's a lot of unwritten rules that are constantly being challenged in today's game," Woodward said. "I didn't like it, personally. You're up by seven in the eighth inning; it's typically not a good time to swing 3-0.
"It's kind of the way we were all raised in the game. But, like I said, the norms are being challenged on a daily basis, so -- just because I don't like it doesn't mean it's not right."
The Padres (12-12) face the Rangers (10-11) at 4:05 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Arlington.
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This week in Major League Baseball


upi--2020-08-18--Walmart's online sales soared by 97% in 2nd quarter

Aug. 18 ( UPI ) -- Online sales for Walmart nearly doubled in the United States in the second quarter , rising 97 % as more Americans stayed home and used web devices to buy items during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Walmart reported the figures in an earnings report posted on its website Tuesday .
The second quarter accounts for 13 weeks that ended on July 31 .
The retailer said same-store sales also grew 9.3 % during the three-month period , led by food and general merchandise purchases .
`` I want to give a big thanks to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unprecedented times , '' said Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon .
`` We also appreciate the trust and confidence of our customers .
We remain focused on serving them well now and expanding our set of global capabilities to serve them well into the future . ''
Walmart said total revenue increased by 5.6 % , but Walmart International saw a net sales decrease of nearly 7 % for the quarter .
`` Changes in currency rates negatively affected net sales by approximately $ 2.4 billion , '' the retailer said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ net sales would have been $ 29.6 billion . ''
Overseas sales included the impact of the government-mandated closure of its Flipkart business in India , the company noted .
Chief Financial Officer Brett Biggs told CNBC Walmart expects a bump in sales if Congress approves another direct stimulus payment to Americans .

Shoppers are seen at a Walmart Supercenter store in Beijing, China. The retailer said in an earnings report Tuesday that sales overseas declined in the second quarter by almost 7%. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Online sales for Walmart nearly doubled in the United States in the second quarter, rising 97% as more Americans stayed home and used web devices to buy items during the COVID-19 pandemic. Walmart reported the figures in an earnings report posted on its website Tuesday. The second quarter accounts for 13 weeks that ended on July 31. Advertisement
The retailer said same-store sales also grew 9.3% during the three-month period, led by food and general merchandise purchases.
"I want to give a big thanks to our associates for their tireless efforts during these unprecedented times," said Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon. "We also appreciate the trust and confidence of our customers. We remain focused on serving them well now and expanding our set of global capabilities to serve them well into the future."
Walmart said total revenue increased by 5.6%, but Walmart International saw a net sales decrease of nearly 7% for the quarter.
"Changes in currency rates negatively affected net sales by approximately $2.4 billion," the retailer said in a statement. "Excluding currency, net sales would have been $29.6 billion."
Overseas sales included the impact of the government-mandated closure of its Flipkart business in India, the company noted.
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Chief Financial Officer Brett Biggs told CNBC Walmart expects a bump in sales if Congress approves another direct stimulus payment to Americans.


upi--2020-08-18--Watch: Kerry Washington interviews Reese Witherspoon, surprises nurse family on 'Kimmel

Aug. 18 ( UPI ) -- Kerry Washington was the special guest host of Jimmy Kimmel Live and spoke with her Little Fires Everywhere co-star Reese Witherspoon about how her company Hello Sunshine has earned 18 Emmy nominations .
Hello Sunshine is the studio behind Hulu 's Little Fires Everywhere , HBO 's Big Little Lies and Apple TV+ 's The Morning Show .
`` I think sometimes we 're the forward facing ones but you do n't know , there 's so many people that work behind-the-scenes .
So I 'm so happy for my team and my company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us here and it 's a great thing to be able to put out stuff that you 're proud of , '' Witherspoon said .
Washington mentioned how Witherspoon sold personalized banana clips in the third grade and related it to how she is a successful businesswoman and producer today .
Witherspoon said she got in trouble for selling the clips after she spilled ink from her paint pen onto her desk .
`` I love that even though you got in trouble , that entrepreneurial spirit did n't die .
You stayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm gon na make it happen , I 'm gon na take over the world from my tiny desk to my 18 nominations , '' Washington said .
`` I 've always been curious and interested about business .
I 've always been wanting to change systems and learn how things work .
Even when I was little .
I ca n't turn it off either , sometimes I 'm like can I just turn this off .
I have like a million ideas every week too and I 'm like some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Witherspoon replied .
Washington also honored a whole family of nurses from Dallas as part of the show 's weekly # HealthCareHero segment .
The family 's favorite artist , Nigerian singer and songwriter Burna Boy , also joined in and surprised the family .
The Ginigeme family was gifted $ 5,000 each and a Roomba vacuum from iRobot .
The Emmy Awards are set to take place on Sept. 20 .
Kimmel , who has taken a break from his late night show to spend time with his family , will be @ @ @ @ @

Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Kerry Washington was the special guest host of Jimmy Kimmel Live and spoke with her Little Fires Everywhere co-star Reese Witherspoon about how her company Hello Sunshine has earned 18 Emmy nominations.
Hello Sunshine is the studio behind Hulu's Little Fires Everywhere, HBO's Big Little Lies and Apple TV+'s The Morning Show.
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"I think sometimes we're the forward facing ones but you don't know, there's so many people that work behind-the-scenes. So I'm so happy for my team and my company. They worked so hard to get us here and it's a great thing to be able to put out stuff that you're proud of," Witherspoon said.
Washington mentioned how Witherspoon sold personalized banana clips in the third grade and related it to how she is a successful businesswoman and producer today. Witherspoon said she got in trouble for selling the clips after she spilled ink from her paint pen onto her desk.
"I love that even though you got in trouble, that entrepreneurial spirit didn't die. You stayed in that like side hustle, I'm gonna make it happen, I'm gonna take over the world from my tiny desk to my 18 nominations," Washington said.
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"I've always been curious and interested about business. I've always been wanting to change systems and learn how things work. Even when I was little. I can't turn it off either, sometimes I'm like can I just turn this off. I have like a million ideas every week too and I'm like some of them aren't that good," Witherspoon replied.
Washington also honored a whole family of nurses from Dallas as part of the show's weekly #HealthCareHero segment.
The family's favorite artist, Nigerian singer and songwriter Burna Boy, also joined in and surprised the family.
The Ginigeme family was gifted $5,000 each and a Roomba vacuum from iRobot.
The Emmy Awards are set to take place on Sept. 20. Kimmel, who has taken a break from his late night show to spend time with his family, will be hosting the awards ceremony.
Kerry Washington turns 46: a look back


upi--2020-08-18--South Korea official proposes changes to U.S. working group

Aug. 18 ( UPI ) -- South Korea 's newly appointed unification chief proposed `` readjustments '' to a bilateral working-level group with the United States during a meeting with the top U.S. envoy in Seoul .
Lee In-young , who was recently nominated to the top post for inter-Korea affairs , met with U.S .
Ambassador Harry Harris to discuss readjustments and `` reorganization , '' Newsis reported Monday .
The changes would be made to `` promote the development of inter-Korean relations and the policy of peace on the Korean Peninsula , '' Lee told Harris , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lee had voiced support for the independent pursuit of inter-Korea humanitarian projects without necessarily consulting the United States .
In June , North Korean official Kim Yo Jong claimed the bilateral working group was preventing the easing of sanctions and accused Seoul of becoming the `` plaything of the United States . ''
On Tuesday , Lee said the readjustments would enable the working group to continue its operations while `` dispelling some concerns '' the group was designed to limit inter-Korea exchange .
The South Korean official said the changes could open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group .
Harris , who had suggested in January he had reservations about Seoul 's proposal to allow South Koreans to travel individually to the North , said Tuesday the United States supports inter-Korean cooperation .
Harris also said he hopes a solution would be reached through the working group , in order to help create a more stable environment on the peninsula , according to Newsis .
There are 28,500 U.S. troops on the peninsula .
The two countries are to begin joint military exercises this week .
Ahead of the drills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducting a joint mine search operation at the demilitarized zone , News 1 reported Tuesday .
The operation would collect anti-personnel mines that may have been washed into civilian areas in the aftermath of floods , according to the report .
South Korean troops have gathered 21 mines following heavy downpours in July and August .

Unification Minister Lee In-young (R), South Korea's chief of inter-Korea affairs, met with U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris on Tuesday in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap/EPA-EFE
Aug. 18 (UPI) -- South Korea's newly appointed unification chief proposed "readjustments" to a bilateral working-level group with the United States during a meeting with the top U.S. envoy in Seoul. Lee In-young, who was recently nominated to the top post for inter-Korea affairs, met with U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris to discuss readjustments and "reorganization," Newsis reported Monday. Advertisement
The changes would be made to "promote the development of inter-Korean relations and the policy of peace on the Korean Peninsula," Lee told Harris, according to the report.
In July, Lee had voiced support for the independent pursuit of inter-Korea humanitarian projects without necessarily consulting the United States. In June, North Korean official Kim Yo Jong claimed the bilateral working group was preventing the easing of sanctions and accused Seoul of becoming the "plaything of the United States."
On Tuesday, Lee said the readjustments would enable the working group to continue its operations while "dispelling some concerns" the group was designed to limit inter-Korea exchange.
The South Korean official said the changes could open the "2.0 era" for the group.
Harris, who had suggested in January he had reservations about Seoul's proposal to allow South Koreans to travel individually to the North, said Tuesday the United States supports inter-Korean cooperation. Harris also said he hopes a solution would be reached through the working group, in order to help create a more stable environment on the peninsula, according to Newsis.
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There are 28,500 U.S. troops on the peninsula. The two countries are to begin joint military exercises this week.
Ahead of the drills, U.S. and South Korean troops are conducting a joint mine search operation at the demilitarized zone, News 1 reported Tuesday.
The operation would collect anti-personnel mines that may have been washed into civilian areas in the aftermath of floods, according to the report.
South Korean troops have gathered 21 mines following heavy downpours in July and August.


upi--2020-08-18--Leonard's Clippers edge Mavericks in Game 1 despite Doncic's record night

Aug. 18 ( UPI ) -- Kawhi Leonard and Paul George did just enough to hold off Luka Doncic 's Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of a first-round Western Conference playoff series in Orlando , Fla. Doncic scored 42 points to set a record for the most points for a player in his NBA playoff debut in the 118-110 loss Monday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex inside Walt Disney World Resort .
`` I 'm happy we got the win , '' Leonard told reporters .
`` I think we are still trying to build our chemistry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We are going to look at the film and see where we can improve . ''
Leonard had 29 points , 12 rebounds , six assists and three steals in the win .
George netted 27 points for the Clippers .
Mavericks star Kristaps Porzingis scored 14 points , but was ejected after he picked up his second technical foul in the third quarter , which left the Mavericks short-handed .
`` He is amazing , '' Clippers coach Doc Rivers said of Doncic .
`` I thought we guarded him pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of tough shots . ''
Doncic scored 11 points in the first quarter to lead the Mavericks to a 38-34 advantage .
Dallas then went on a 12-0 run at the start of the second quarter and pushed the lead to 14 points .
The Clippers responded with a 9-0 run and trailed 69-66 at halftime .
Doncic pushed the Mavericks ' lead to five points with a jump shot with 9:37 remaining in the third quarter before Porzingis was ejected 17 seconds later .
Marcus Morris Sr. tied the score at 73-73 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 7:26 remaining in the third frame .
Clippers center Ivica Zubac then dunked on the next possession for a two-point lead .
The Clippers outscored the Mavericks 21-11 in the third quarter after the Porzingis ejection .
Dallas led 87-82 as the game entered the final frame .
Leonard paced the Clippers with 10 points over the final 7:42 to secure the victory .
Doncic scored 12 points in the fourth quarter , but could not rally his team to the win .
Zubac scored 10 points and had 10 rebounds in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , six rebounds and four steals .
Lou Williams scored 14 points off the bench for the Clippers .
Doncic also had nine assists , seven rebounds and 11 turnovers in the loss .
`` I think I lost this game , '' Doncic said .
`` I had 11 turnovers .
That 's 11 more [ Clippers ] possessions .
I have to get way better than that . ''
The Clippers and Mavericks battle in Game 2 of the series at 9 p.m. EDT Wednesday in Orlando .
The winner of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Denver Nuggets in the second round .
The Nuggets beat the Jazz in Game 1 of that series Monday in Orlando .
`` It was terrible ...
I just want to win , '' Doncic said of his play .
`` I 'm really proud of this team .
We fought until the end . ''

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) scored 29 points and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) scored a game-high 42 points in Game 1 of a Western Conference playoff series Monday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. Photo by John G. Mabanglo/EPA-EFE
Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Kawhi Leonard and Paul George did just enough to hold off Luka Doncic's Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of a first-round Western Conference playoff series in Orlando, Fla. Doncic scored 42 points to set a record for the most points for a player in his NBA playoff debut in the 118-110 loss Monday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex inside Walt Disney World Resort. Advertisement
"I'm happy we got the win," Leonard told reporters. "I think we are still trying to build our chemistry. I'm enjoying this journey.
"We are going to look at the film and see where we can improve."
Leonard had 29 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals in the win. George netted 27 points for the Clippers. Mavericks star Kristaps Porzingis scored 14 points, but was ejected after he picked up his second technical foul in the third quarter, which left the Mavericks short-handed.
"He is amazing," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said of Doncic. "I thought we guarded him pretty well and forced him into a lot of tough shots."
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Doncic scored 11 points in the first quarter to lead the Mavericks to a 38-34 advantage. Dallas then went on a 12-0 run at the start of the second quarter and pushed the lead to 14 points. The Clippers responded with a 9-0 run and trailed 69-66 at halftime.
Doncic pushed the Mavericks' lead to five points with a jump shot with 9:37 remaining in the third quarter before Porzingis was ejected 17 seconds later.
Marcus Morris Sr. tied the score at 73-73 with a jump shot for the Clippers with 7:26 remaining in the third frame.
Clippers center Ivica Zubac then dunked on the next possession for a two-point lead. The Clippers outscored the Mavericks 21-11 in the third quarter after the Porzingis ejection. Dallas led 87-82 as the game entered the final frame.
Leonard paced the Clippers with 10 points over the final 7:42 to secure the victory. Doncic scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, but could not rally his team to the win.
Zubac scored 10 points and had 10 rebounds in the win. Morris had 19 points, six rebounds and four steals. Lou Williams scored 14 points off the bench for the Clippers. Doncic also had nine assists, seven rebounds and 11 turnovers in the loss.
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Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 18 points for the Mavericks.
"I think I lost this game," Doncic said. "I had 11 turnovers. That's 11 more [Clippers] possessions. I have to get way better than that."
The Clippers and Mavericks battle in Game 2 of the series at 9 p.m. EDT Wednesday in Orlando. The winner of the series will face the Utah Jazz or Denver Nuggets in the second round. The Nuggets beat the Jazz in Game 1 of that series Monday in Orlando.
"It was terrible ... I just want to win," Doncic said of his play. "I'm really proud of this team. We fought until the end."


upi--2020-08-18--In photos: Moments from Major League Baseball for the week of Aug. 16, 2020

The Yankees ' Miguel Andujar reacts after the ball flies out deep left with the bases loaded to end the @ @ @ @ @ John Angelillo/UPI

JT Riddle (L) of the Pittsburgh Pirates greets teammate Jacob Stallings after Stallings' home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Pirates defeated the Brewers 12-5. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI


upi--2020-08-18--Full text: Michelle Obama's speech to Democratic convention

Aug. 18 ( UPI ) -- Former first lady Michelle Obama spoke Monday on the first night of the Democratic National Convention .
Obama gave the address online from her home , as much of the convention was being staged remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Here is the full text of her remarks as prepared for delivery , released by the convention .
`` Good evening , everyone .
It 's a hard time , and everyone 's feeling it in different ways .
And I know a lot of folks are reluctant to tune into a political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general .
Believe me , I get that .
But I am here tonight because I love this country with all my heart , and it pains me to see so many people hurting .
I 've met so many of you .
I 've heard your stories .
And through you , I have seen this country 's promise .
And thanks to so many who came before me , thanks to their toil and sweat and blood , I 've been able to live that promise myself .
That 's the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who sacrificed and overcame so much in their own times because they wanted something more , something better for their kids .
There 's a lot of beauty in that story .
There 's a lot of pain in it , too , a lot of struggle and injustice and work left to do .
And who we choose as our president in this election will determine whether or not we honor that struggle and chip away at that injustice and keep alive the very possibility of finishing that work .
I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today who have seen firsthand the immense weight and awesome power of the presidency .
And let me once again tell you this : The job is hard .
It requires clear-headed judgment , a mastery of complex and competing issues , a devotion to facts and history , a moral compass and an ability to listen -- and an abiding belief that each of the 330 million lives in this country has meaning and worth .
A president 's words have the power to move markets .
They can start wars or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better angels or awaken our worst instincts .
You simply can not fake your way through this job .
As I 've said before , being president does n't change who you are ; it reveals who you are .
Well , a presidential election can reveal who we are , too .
And four years ago , too many people chose to believe that their votes did n't matter .
Maybe they were fed up .
Maybe they thought the outcome would n't be close .
Maybe the barriers felt too steep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end , those choices sent someone to the Oval Office who lost the national popular vote by nearly 3 million votes .
In one of the states that determined the outcome , the winning margin averaged out to just two votes per precinct -- two votes .
And we 've all been living with the consequences .
When my husband left office with Joe Biden at his side , we had a record-breaking stretch of job creation .
We 'd secured the right to healthcare for 20 million people .
We were respected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to confront climate change .
And our leaders had worked hand in hand with scientists to help prevent an Ebola outbreak from becoming a global pandemic .
Four years later , the state of this nation is very different .
More than 150,000 people have died and our economy is in shambles because of a virus that this president downplayed for too long .
It has left millions of people jobless .
Too many have lost their healthcare ; too many are struggling to take care of basic necessities like food and rent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the lurch to grapple with whether and how to open our schools safely .
Internationally , we 've turned our back , not just on agreements forged by my husband , but on alliances championed by presidents like [ Ronald ] Reagan and [ Dwight D. ] Eisenhower .
And here at home , as George Floyd , Breonna Taylor and a never-ending list of innocent people of color continue to be murdered , stating the simple fact that a Black life matters is still met with derision from the nation 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this White House for some leadership or consolation or any semblance of steadiness , what we get instead is chaos , division and a total and utter lack of empathy .
Empathy : That 's something I 've been thinking a lot about lately .
The ability to walk in someone else 's shoes ; the recognition that someone else 's experience has value , too .
Most of us practice this without a second thought .
If we see someone suffering or struggling , we do n't stand in judgment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but for the grace of God , go I . '
It is not a hard concept to grasp .
It 's what we teach our children .
And like so many of you , Barack and I have tried our best to instill in our girls a strong moral foundation to carry forward the values that our parents and grandparents poured into us .
But right now , kids in this country are seeing what happens when we stop requiring empathy of one another .
They 're looking around wondering if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time about who we are and what we truly value .
They see people shouting in grocery stores , unwilling to wear a mask to keep us all safe .
They see people calling the police on folks minding their own business just because of the color of their skin .
They see an entitlement that says only certain people belong here , that greed is good and winning is everything because as long as you come out on top , it does n't matter what happens to everyone else .
And they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ empathy is ginned up into outright disdain .
They see our leaders labeling fellow citizens enemies of the state while emboldening torch-bearing white supremacists .
They watch in horror as children are torn from their families and thrown into cages and pepper spray and rubber bullets are used on peaceful protesters for a photo-op .
Sadly , this is the America that is on display for the next generation .
A nation that 's underperforming not simply on matters of policy but on matters of character .
And that 's not just disappointing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know the goodness and the grace that is out there in households and neighborhoods all across this nation .
And I know that regardless of our race , age , religion or politics , when we close out the noise and the fear and truly open our hearts , we know that what 's going on in this country is just not right .
This is not who we want to be .
So what do we do now ?
What 's our strategy ?
Over the past four years , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'When others are going so low , does going high still really work ? '
My answer : Going high is the only thing that works , because when we go low , when we use those same tactics of degrading and dehumanizing others , we just become part of the ugly noise that 's drowning out everything else .
We degrade ourselves .
We degrade the very causes for which we fight .
But let 's be clear : Going high does not mean putting on a smile and saying nice things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Going high means taking the harder path .
It means scraping and clawing our way to that mountain top .
Going high means standing fierce against hatred while remembering that we are one nation under God , and if we want to survive , we 've got to find a way to live together and work together across our differences .
And going high means unlocking the shackles of lies and mistrust with the only thing that can truly set us free : the cold hard truth .
So let me be as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country .
He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job , but he is clearly in over his head .
He can not meet this moment .
He simply can not be who we need him to be for us .
It is what it is .
Now , I understand that my message wo n't be heard by some people .
We live in a nation that is deeply divided , and I am a Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But enough of you know me by now .
You know that I tell you exactly what I 'm feeling .
You know I hate politics .
But you also know that I care about this nation .
You know how much I care about all of our children .
So if you take one thing from my words tonight , it is this : If you think things can not possibly get worse , trust me , they can ; and they will if we do n't make a change in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ending this chaos , we have got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it .
I know Joe .
He is a profoundly decent man , guided by faith .
He was a terrific vice president .
He knows what it takes to rescue an economy , beat back a pandemic and lead our country .
And he listens .
He will tell the truth and trust science .
He will make smart plans and manage a good team .
And he will govern as someone who 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us can recognize .
When he was a kid , Joe 's father lost his job .
When he was a young senator , Joe lost his wife and his baby daughter .
And when he was vice president , he lost his beloved son .
So Joe knows the anguish of sitting at a table with an empty chair , which is why he gives his time so freely to grieving parents .
Joe knows what it 's like to struggle , which is why he gives his personal phone number to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His life is a testament to getting back up , and he is going to channel that same grit and passion to pick us all up , to help us heal and guide us forward .
Now , Joe is not perfect .
And he 'd be the first to tell you that .
But there is no perfect candidate , no perfect president .
And his ability to learn and grow -- we find in that the kind of humility and maturity that so many of us yearn for right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation his entire life without ever losing sight of who he is ; but more than that , he has never lost sight of who we are , all of us .
Joe Biden wants all of our kids to go to a good school , see a doctor when they 're sick , live on a healthy planet .
And he 's got plans to make all of that happen .
Joe Biden wants all of our kids , no matter what they look like , to be able to walk out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or arrested or killed .
He wants all of our kids to be able to go to a movie or a math class without being afraid of getting shot .
He wants all our kids to grow up with leaders who wo n't just serve themselves and their wealthy peers but will provide a safety net for people facing hard times .
And if we want a chance to pursue any of these goals , any of these most basic requirements for a functioning society , we have to vote for Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Because right now , folks who know they can not win fair and square at the ballot box are doing everything they can to stop us from voting .
They 're closing down polling places in minority neighborhoods .
They 're purging voter rolls .
They 're sending people out to intimidate voters , and they 're lying about the security of our ballots .
These tactics are not new .
But this is not the time to withhold our votes in protest or play games with candidates who have no chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote like we did in 2008 and 2012 .
We 've got to show up with the same level of passion and hope for Joe Biden .
We 've got to vote early , in person if we can .
We 've got to request our mail-in ballots right now , tonight , and send them back immediately and follow-up to make sure they 're received .
And then , make sure our friends and families do the same .
We have got to grab our comfortable shoes , put on our masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maybe breakfast too , because we 've got to be willing to stand in line all night if we have to .
Look , we have already sacrificed so much this year .
So many of you are already going that extra mile .
Even when you 're exhausted , you 're mustering up unimaginable courage to put on those scrubs and give our loved ones a fighting chance .
Even when you 're anxious , you 're delivering those packages , stocking those shelves and doing all that essential work so that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even when it all feels so overwhelming , working parents are somehow piecing it all together without child care .
Teachers are getting creative so that our kids can still learn and grow .
Our young people are desperately fighting to pursue their dreams .
And when the horrors of systemic racism shook our country and our consciences , millions of Americans of every age , every background rose up to march for each other , crying out for justice and progress .
This is who we still are : compassionate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bound up with one another .
And it is well past time for our leaders to once again reflect our truth .
So , it is up to us to add our voices and our votes to the course of history , echoing heroes like John Lewis who said , 'When you see something that is not right , you must say something .
You must do something . '
That is the truest form of empathy : not just feeling , but doing ; not just for ourselves or our kids , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids .
And if we want to keep the possibility of progress alive in our time , if we want to be able to look our children in the eye after this election , we have got to reassert our place in American history .
And we have got to do everything we can to elect my friend , Joe Biden , as the next president of the United States .
Thank you all .
God bless . ''

Former first lady Michelle Obama delivered her speech to the Democratic National Convention from home on Monday. Screenshot via PBS NewsHour
Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Former first lady Michelle Obama spoke Monday on the first night of the Democratic National Convention. Obama gave the address online from her home, as much of the convention was being staged remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic. Advertisement
Here is the full text of her remarks as prepared for delivery, released by the convention. (Read Poynter's fact check of the speech here.)
"Good evening, everyone. It's a hard time, and everyone's feeling it in different ways. And I know a lot of folks are reluctant to tune into a political convention right now or to politics in general. Believe me, I get that. But I am here tonight because I love this country with all my heart, and it pains me to see so many people hurting.
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I've met so many of you. I've heard your stories. And through you, I have seen this country's promise. And thanks to so many who came before me, thanks to their toil and sweat and blood, I've been able to live that promise myself.
That's the story of America. All those folks who sacrificed and overcame so much in their own times because they wanted something more, something better for their kids.
There's a lot of beauty in that story. There's a lot of pain in it, too, a lot of struggle and injustice and work left to do. And who we choose as our president in this election will determine whether or not we honor that struggle and chip away at that injustice and keep alive the very possibility of finishing that work.
I am one of a handful of people living today who have seen firsthand the immense weight and awesome power of the presidency. And let me once again tell you this: The job is hard. It requires clear-headed judgment, a mastery of complex and competing issues, a devotion to facts and history, a moral compass and an ability to listen -- and an abiding belief that each of the 330 million lives in this country has meaning and worth.
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A president's words have the power to move markets. They can start wars or broker peace. They can summon our better angels or awaken our worst instincts. You simply cannot fake your way through this job.
As I've said before, being president doesn't change who you are; it reveals who you are. Well, a presidential election can reveal who we are, too. And four years ago, too many people chose to believe that their votes didn't matter. Maybe they were fed up. Maybe they thought the outcome wouldn't be close. Maybe the barriers felt too steep. Whatever the reason, in the end, those choices sent someone to the Oval Office who lost the national popular vote by nearly 3 million votes.
In one of the states that determined the outcome, the winning margin averaged out to just two votes per precinct -- two votes. And we've all been living with the consequences.
When my husband left office with Joe Biden at his side, we had a record-breaking stretch of job creation. We'd secured the right to healthcare for 20 million people. We were respected around the world, rallying our allies to confront climate change. And our leaders had worked hand in hand with scientists to help prevent an Ebola outbreak from becoming a global pandemic.
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Four years later, the state of this nation is very different. More than 150,000 people have died and our economy is in shambles because of a virus that this president downplayed for too long. It has left millions of people jobless. Too many have lost their healthcare; too many are struggling to take care of basic necessities like food and rent; too many communities have been left in the lurch to grapple with whether and how to open our schools safely. Internationally, we've turned our back, not just on agreements forged by my husband, but on alliances championed by presidents like [Ronald] Reagan and [Dwight D.] Eisenhower.
And here at home, as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and a never-ending list of innocent people of color continue to be murdered, stating the simple fact that a Black life matters is still met with derision from the nation's highest office.
Because whenever we look to this White House for some leadership or consolation or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division and a total and utter lack of empathy.
Empathy: That's something I've been thinking a lot about lately. The ability to walk in someone else's shoes; the recognition that someone else's experience has value, too. Most of us practice this without a second thought. If we see someone suffering or struggling, we don't stand in judgment. We reach out because, 'There, but for the grace of God, go I.' It is not a hard concept to grasp. It's what we teach our children.
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And like so many of you, Barack and I have tried our best to instill in our girls a strong moral foundation to carry forward the values that our parents and grandparents poured into us. But right now, kids in this country are seeing what happens when we stop requiring empathy of one another. They're looking around wondering if we've been lying to them this whole time about who we are and what we truly value.
They see people shouting in grocery stores, unwilling to wear a mask to keep us all safe. They see people calling the police on folks minding their own business just because of the color of their skin. They see an entitlement that says only certain people belong here, that greed is good and winning is everything because as long as you come out on top, it doesn't matter what happens to everyone else. And they see what happens when that lack of empathy is ginned up into outright disdain.
They see our leaders labeling fellow citizens enemies of the state while emboldening torch-bearing white supremacists. They watch in horror as children are torn from their families and thrown into cages and pepper spray and rubber bullets are used on peaceful protesters for a photo-op.
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Sadly, this is the America that is on display for the next generation. A nation that's underperforming not simply on matters of policy but on matters of character. And that's not just disappointing; it's downright infuriating, because I know the goodness and the grace that is out there in households and neighborhoods all across this nation.
And I know that regardless of our race, age, religion or politics, when we close out the noise and the fear and truly open our hearts, we know that what's going on in this country is just not right. This is not who we want to be.
So what do we do now? What's our strategy? Over the past four years, a lot of people have asked me, 'When others are going so low, does going high still really work?' My answer: Going high is the only thing that works, because when we go low, when we use those same tactics of degrading and dehumanizing others, we just become part of the ugly noise that's drowning out everything else. We degrade ourselves. We degrade the very causes for which we fight.
But let's be clear: Going high does not mean putting on a smile and saying nice things when confronted by viciousness and cruelty. Going high means taking the harder path. It means scraping and clawing our way to that mountain top. Going high means standing fierce against hatred while remembering that we are one nation under God, and if we want to survive, we've got to find a way to live together and work together across our differences.
Advertisement
And going high means unlocking the shackles of lies and mistrust with the only thing that can truly set us free: the cold hard truth.
So let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can. Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is.
Now, I understand that my message won't be heard by some people. We live in a nation that is deeply divided, and I am a Black woman speaking at the Democratic Convention. But enough of you know me by now. You know that I tell you exactly what I'm feeling. You know I hate politics. But you also know that I care about this nation. You know how much I care about all of our children.
So if you take one thing from my words tonight, it is this: If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can; and they will if we don't make a change in this election. If we have any hope of ending this chaos, we have got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it.
Advertisement
I know Joe. He is a profoundly decent man, guided by faith. He was a terrific vice president. He knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic and lead our country. And he listens. He will tell the truth and trust science. He will make smart plans and manage a good team. And he will govern as someone who's lived a life that the rest of us can recognize.
When he was a kid, Joe's father lost his job. When he was a young senator, Joe lost his wife and his baby daughter. And when he was vice president, he lost his beloved son. So Joe knows the anguish of sitting at a table with an empty chair, which is why he gives his time so freely to grieving parents. Joe knows what it's like to struggle, which is why he gives his personal phone number to kids overcoming a stutter of their own.
His life is a testament to getting back up, and he is going to channel that same grit and passion to pick us all up, to help us heal and guide us forward.
Now, Joe is not perfect. And he'd be the first to tell you that. But there is no perfect candidate, no perfect president. And his ability to learn and grow -- we find in that the kind of humility and maturity that so many of us yearn for right now. Because Joe Biden has served this nation his entire life without ever losing sight of who he is; but more than that, he has never lost sight of who we are, all of us.
Advertisement
Joe Biden wants all of our kids to go to a good school, see a doctor when they're sick, live on a healthy planet. And he's got plans to make all of that happen. Joe Biden wants all of our kids, no matter what they look like, to be able to walk out the door without worrying about being harassed or arrested or killed. He wants all of our kids to be able to go to a movie or a math class without being afraid of getting shot. He wants all our kids to grow up with leaders who won't just serve themselves and their wealthy peers but will provide a safety net for people facing hard times.
And if we want a chance to pursue any of these goals, any of these most basic requirements for a functioning society, we have to vote for Joe Biden in numbers that cannot be ignored. Because right now, folks who know they cannot win fair and square at the ballot box are doing everything they can to stop us from voting. They're closing down polling places in minority neighborhoods. They're purging voter rolls. They're sending people out to intimidate voters, and they're lying about the security of our ballots. These tactics are not new.
Advertisement
But this is not the time to withhold our votes in protest or play games with candidates who have no chance of winning. We have got to vote like we did in 2008 and 2012. We've got to show up with the same level of passion and hope for Joe Biden. We've got to vote early, in person if we can. We've got to request our mail-in ballots right now, tonight, and send them back immediately and follow-up to make sure they're received. And then, make sure our friends and families do the same.
We have got to grab our comfortable shoes, put on our masks, pack a brown bag dinner and maybe breakfast too, because we've got to be willing to stand in line all night if we have to.
Look, we have already sacrificed so much this year. So many of you are already going that extra mile. Even when you're exhausted, you're mustering up unimaginable courage to put on those scrubs and give our loved ones a fighting chance. Even when you're anxious, you're delivering those packages, stocking those shelves and doing all that essential work so that all of us can keep moving forward.
Even when it all feels so overwhelming, working parents are somehow piecing it all together without child care. Teachers are getting creative so that our kids can still learn and grow. Our young people are desperately fighting to pursue their dreams.
Advertisement
And when the horrors of systemic racism shook our country and our consciences, millions of Americans of every age, every background rose up to march for each other, crying out for justice and progress.
This is who we still are: compassionate, resilient, decent people whose fortunes are bound up with one another. And it is well past time for our leaders to once again reflect our truth.
So, it is up to us to add our voices and our votes to the course of history, echoing heroes like John Lewis who said, 'When you see something that is not right, you must say something. You must do something.' That is the truest form of empathy: not just feeling, but doing; not just for ourselves or our kids, but for everyone, for all our kids.
And if we want to keep the possibility of progress alive in our time, if we want to be able to look our children in the eye after this election, we have got to reassert our place in American history. And we have got to do everything we can to elect my friend, Joe Biden, as the next president of the United States.
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Thank you all. God bless."


upi--2020-08-18--U.S. records 35K new COVID-19 cases; smallest increase in almost 2 months

Aug. 18 ( UPI ) -- The United States on Monday recorded about 35,000 new COVID-19 cases , the lowest one-day national count in almost two months , according to figures Tuesday from researchers at Johns Hopkins University .
Data from the university 's Center for Systems Science and Engineering showed 35,100 new cases .
That 's the smallest figure since June 24 , before a surge of cases in July .
Tuesday 's figures showed there have been 5.443 million cases and 170,600 deaths in the United States since the start of the outbreak .
Nationally , there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second day of fewer than 500 since mid-July .
The national case total has been on a gradual decline since a single-day peak of 77,000 new cases in the middle of July .
In Mississippi , more than 2,000 students and hundreds of teachers have been placed in quarantine after some schools resumed in-person classes , officials said .
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs told reporters at an update that most of the students who tested positive were exposed to the virus in the community and not on school campuses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ state is expanding access to testing for teachers , even if they 're asymptomatic .
He also said emergency telehealth services will now be offered at schools for students covered under Medicaid .
Mississippi has the nation 's fourth-highest rate of new cases per 100,000 residents over the last seven days , according to the Harvard Global Health Institute .
It trails only Georgia , Florida and Texas .
In California , the Los Angeles County public health director said there 's been real progress in slowing the spread of the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ diligent , '' Barbara Ferrer said during a briefing .
`` This is not a time to let down our guard . ''
The county , she said , has met five of the state 's six key metrics for removal from California 's coronavirus watch list -- including the seven-day positivity rate , which fell to about 6 % .
The state 's threshold is 8 % .
The county , however , is still well above statewide guidelines on the number of new cases per 100,000 residents , at 295 -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be within safety limits .
It 's down , however , from 333 last week .
`` I urge everyone , let 's just stay the course right now ... in the hopes that within weeks we are actually getting to a place where we can get off the state 's monitoring list , '' Ferrer said .

Pedestrians in New York City are seen Monday wearing face masks to guard against the coronavirus disease. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 18 (UPI) -- The United States on Monday recorded about 35,000 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest one-day national count in almost two months, according to figures Tuesday from researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Data from the university's Center for Systems Science and Engineering showed 35,100 new cases. That's the smallest figure since June 24, before a surge of cases in July. Advertisement
Tuesday's figures showed there have been 5.443 million cases and 170,600 deaths in the United States since the start of the outbreak.
Nationally, there were another 445 deaths Monday, marking just the second day of fewer than 500 since mid-July.
The national case total has been on a gradual decline since a single-day peak of 77,000 new cases in the middle of July.
In Mississippi, more than 2,000 students and hundreds of teachers have been placed in quarantine after some schools resumed in-person classes, officials said.
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs told reporters at an update that most of the students who tested positive were exposed to the virus in the community and not on school campuses.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said the state is expanding access to testing for teachers, even if they're asymptomatic. He also said emergency telehealth services will now be offered at schools for students covered under Medicaid.
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Mississippi has the nation's fourth-highest rate of new cases per 100,000 residents over the last seven days, according to the Harvard Global Health Institute. It trails only Georgia, Florida and Texas.
In California, the Los Angeles County public health director said there's been real progress in slowing the spread of the virus.
"We have to continue to be diligent," Barbara Ferrer said during a briefing. "This is not a time to let down our guard."
The county, she said, has met five of the state's six key metrics for removal from California's coronavirus watch list -- including the seven-day positivity rate, which fell to about 6%. The state's threshold is 8%.
The county, however, is still well above statewide guidelines on the number of new cases per 100,000 residents, at 295 -- nearly three times the level needed to be within safety limits. It's down, however, from 333 last week.
"I urge everyone, let's just stay the course right now ... in the hopes that within weeks we are actually getting to a place where we can get off the state's monitoring list," Ferrer said.


upi--2020-08-18--Astros' Brandon Bielak wins pitchers' duel vs. Rockies

Aug. 18 ( UPI ) -- Houston Astros starter Brandon Bielak allowed just one hit and one run in six innings to top Kyle Freeland in a pitchers ' duel and lead his squad to a victory over the Colorado Rockies .
Bielak also had four strikeouts and four walks in the 2-1 win Monday at Minute Maid Park in Houston .
He is now 3-0 with a paltry 1.69 ERA this season .
Trevor Story and Charlie Blackmon were the only Rockies players to record hits in the loss .
Blackmon is now hitting .437 this season after his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went 2 for 4 with two RBIs in the win .
Yuli Gurriel also went 2 for 4 for Houston .
Freeland allowed seven hits and two runs in six innings , but took his first loss of the season .
The Rockies starter began the bottom of the first inning by allowing a leadoff single to George Springer .
He retired the next two hitters before he allowed a Gurriel single .
Correa then slapped a ground-ball double to left field , which plated Alex Bregman and Guriel for a 2-0 lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the first 10 batters he faced before Story stepped up to the plate in the third at-bat of the third frame .
Story earned a quick 3-0 lead in the count against the dominant right-handed pitcher before Bielak worked the count full .
Bielak then tossed in a 3-2 cutter , which Story slammed over the left center field wall for a 429-foot solo home run .
Bielak did not allow a hit to the final 11 batters he faced .
Both pitchers left the game in the seven inning .
Blake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season for Houston after he kept the Rockies off the scoreboard in the top of the ninth inning .
The Astros ( 12-10 ) host the Rockies ( 13-9 ) at 3:10 p.m. EDT Tuesday at Minute Maid Park .

Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Brandon Bielak lowered his season ERA to 1.69 and moved to 3-0 this season after a dominant outing against the Colorado Rockies Monday in Houston. Photo by Trask Smith/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Houston Astros starter Brandon Bielak allowed just one hit and one run in six innings to top Kyle Freeland in a pitchers' duel and lead his squad to a victory over the Colorado Rockies. Bielak also had four strikeouts and four walks in the 2-1 win Monday at Minute Maid Park in Houston. He is now 3-0 with a paltry 1.69 ERA this season. Advertisement
Trevor Story and Charlie Blackmon were the only Rockies players to record hits in the loss. Blackmon is now hitting .437 this season after his 1 for 4 night. Carlos Correa went 2 for 4 with two RBIs in the win. Yuli Gurriel also went 2 for 4 for Houston.
Freeland allowed seven hits and two runs in six innings, but took his first loss of the season.
The Rockies starter began the bottom of the first inning by allowing a leadoff single to George Springer. He retired the next two hitters before he allowed a Gurriel single. Correa then slapped a ground-ball double to left field, which plated Alex Bregman and Guriel for a 2-0 lead.
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Bielak did not allow a hit to the first 10 batters he faced before Story stepped up to the plate in the third at-bat of the third frame. Story earned a quick 3-0 lead in the count against the dominant right-handed pitcher before Bielak worked the count full. Bielak then tossed in a 3-2 cutter, which Story slammed over the left center field wall for a 429-foot solo home run.
Bielak did not allow a hit to the final 11 batters he faced. Both pitchers left the game in the seven inning. Blake Taylor earned his first save of the season for Houston after he kept the Rockies off the scoreboard in the top of the ninth inning.
The Astros (12-10) host the Rockies (13-9) at 3:10 p.m. EDT Tuesday at Minute Maid Park.
This week in Major League Baseball