upi--2020-08-19--Australia signs deal with AstraZeneca to provide all citizens with potential COVID-19 vaccine

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Australia has signed a deal with the drug company AstraZeneca to provide COVID-19 vaccines to every citizen for free , Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Wednesday .
Under the deal , the Britain-based pharmaceutical will provide at least enough doses of its candidate vaccine , which it is producing with Oxford University , to every Australian if it proves successful , he said .
`` The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced and promising in the world , and under this deal , we have secured early access for every Australian , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` If the vaccine proves successful , we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own stream and make it free for 25 million Australians . ''
The candidate vaccine named AZD1222 is in Phase 2/3 trials in Britain , Brazil and South Africa to determine its efficacy and measure its safety and immune responses among various age groups and at various doses .
Interim results of Phase 1/2 released by AstraZeneca in mid-July showed the candidate vaccine was `` tolerated and generated robust immune responses '' against COVID-19 in all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no guarantee that this , or any other vaccine , will be successful , which is why we are continuing our discussions with many parties around the world while backing our own researchers at the same time to find a vaccine , '' the prime minister said .
`` We are taking advice from Australia 's best medical and scientific expertise to ensure that the government 's work to select , produce and purchase COVID-19 vaccines and treatments is based on the best available knowledge . ''
AstraZeneca has inked numerous deals with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the United States , Brazil , China and most recently with the European Commission .
In mid-May , AstraZeneca and the U.S. government agreed to a $ 1 billion deal for hundreds of thousands of doses .
On Aug. 14 , the company said it concluded an agreement with the European Commission to purchase between 300,000 and 400,000 doses if the vaccine proves viable .
There are several other vaccine candidates being developed with some also in the final stages of clinical trials , including vaccines by Moderna , Pfizer and some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia battles an outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria .
On Wednesday , the state 's health department reported 216 new infections over Tuesday , continuing a drop in cases that spiked in early August .

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Wednesday a deal made with AstraZeneca to supply COVID-19 vaccines to all citizens for free. Photo by Lukas Coch/EPA-EFE
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Australia has signed a deal with the drug company AstraZeneca to provide COVID-19 vaccines to every citizen for free, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Wednesday. Under the deal, the Britain-based pharmaceutical will provide at least enough doses of its candidate vaccine, which it is producing with Oxford University, to every Australian if it proves successful, he said. Advertisement
"The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced and promising in the world, and under this deal, we have secured early access for every Australian," Morrison said in a statement. "If the vaccine proves successful, we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own stream and make it free for 25 million Australians."
The candidate vaccine named AZD1222 is in Phase 2/3 trials in Britain, Brazil and South Africa to determine its efficacy and measure its safety and immune responses among various age groups and at various doses.
Interim results of Phase 1/2 released by AstraZeneca in mid-July showed the candidate vaccine was "tolerated and generated robust immune responses" against COVID-19 in all participants.
"However, there is no guarantee that this, or any other vaccine, will be successful, which is why we are continuing our discussions with many parties around the world while backing our own researchers at the same time to find a vaccine," the prime minister said. "We are taking advice from Australia's best medical and scientific expertise to ensure that the government's work to select, produce and purchase COVID-19 vaccines and treatments is based on the best available knowledge."
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AstraZeneca has inked numerous deals with nations in the past few months, including the United States, Brazil, China and most recently with the European Commission.
In mid-May, AstraZeneca and the U.S. government agreed to a $1 billion deal for hundreds of thousands of doses.
On Aug. 14, the company said it concluded an agreement with the European Commission to purchase between 300,000 and 400,000 doses if the vaccine proves viable.
There are several other vaccine candidates being developed with some also in the final stages of clinical trials, including vaccines by Moderna, Pfizer and some Chinese laboratories.
The deal comes as Australia battles an outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria.
On Wednesday, the state's health department reported 216 new infections over Tuesday, continuing a drop in cases that spiked in early August.


upi--2020-08-19--Spano loses in Florida primary; Lummis wins in Wyoming

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Rep. Ross Spano lost in Florida , making him the eighth House incumbent to lose the primary this cycle , and former Rep. Cynthia Lummis became Wyoming 's first female GOP candidate for the Senate as the two states held primaries on Tuesday .
Spano lost the Republican nomination for Florida 's 15th Congressional District to Lakeland City Commissioner Scott Franklin as the freshman representative 's first term has been mired by a Justice Department investigation into an ethics violation .
Spano , 54 , lost the tight contest by roughly 1,500 ballots as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vote and will now face Democrat Alan Cohn , who hopes to flip the seat blue in November .
Spano 's loss occurred as the Justice Department continues an investigation launched last year into allegations the lawmaker used $ 180,000 in loans from friends to fund his campaign , a violation of Federation Election Commission rules that limit individual donations to $ 2,800 each election .
`` We acknowledged that mistakes were made with respect to the campaign loans , but those mistakes were completely inadvertent and unintentional , '' Spano @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue was pounced on by Franklin , who produced advertisements emphasizing the Justice Department 's investigation .
Spano is the eighth House incumbent to lose the nomination to a party challenger this primary cycle .
In the 19th Congressional District , nine Republican candidates vied for retiring Rep. Francis Rooney 's seat , with the Florida Republican Party declaring Byron Donalds the winner .
`` Congratulations , Byron Donalds on your HUGE victory , '' the party said on Twitter .
`` We look forward to a proven Conservative serving Southwest Florida in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also claimed victory on Twitter in a tight race that WGCU reported he leads by fewer than 800 votes .
`` Today , we proved the Republican Party is for everyone -- even a poor Black kid who grew up in Brooklyn , '' Donalds said on Twitter .
Donalds will go up against Cindy Banyai who bested David Holden for the Democratic nomination with 58 % of the vote .
Banyai , 40 , said in a statement that she is `` proud '' to be the Democratic nominee and that now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come together and work to flip this seat . ''
Cynthia Lummis , 65 , won the GOP nomination for retiring Sen. Mike Enzi 's seat over nine other Republican candidates .
`` To be the first woman to secure the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Wyoming on the same day we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment is particularly special , '' Lummis said in a statement , referring to the amendment to the Constitution that guarantees women the right to vote .
`` Wyoming 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a point of pride for all of us .
Should I be elected in November , I will be proud to share in a small piece of this history . ''
Lummis served in the House four terms until not seeking re-election in 2016 .
She received Enzi 's endorsement and that of President Donald Trump , who tweeted that Lummis was `` a friend of mine and a great woman . ''
`` She will be a great senator , and has my complete and total endorsement , '' the president said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Wyoming professor and climate activist , won the Democratic nomination Tuesday on a campaign that pledged to put science back in the Senate .

A resident of Palm Beach County places a ballot in the lockbox located at the Supervisor of Elections for Palm Beach County in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Rep. Ross Spano lost in Florida, making him the eighth House incumbent to lose the primary this cycle, and former Rep. Cynthia Lummis became Wyoming's first female GOP candidate for the Senate as the two states held primaries on Tuesday. Florida Advertisement
Spano lost the Republican nomination for Florida's 15th Congressional District to Lakeland City Commissioner Scott Franklin as the freshman representative's first term has been mired by a Justice Department investigation into an ethics violation.
Spano, 54, lost the tight contest by roughly 1,500 ballots as Franklin, 55, earned 51% of the vote and will now face Democrat Alan Cohn, who hopes to flip the seat blue in November.
Spano's loss occurred as the Justice Department continues an investigation launched last year into allegations the lawmaker used $180,000 in loans from friends to fund his campaign, a violation of Federation Election Commission rules that limit individual donations to $2,800 each election.
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"We acknowledged that mistakes were made with respect to the campaign loans, but those mistakes were completely inadvertent and unintentional," Spano said at the time, but the issue was pounced on by Franklin, who produced advertisements emphasizing the Justice Department's investigation.
Spano is the eighth House incumbent to lose the nomination to a party challenger this primary cycle.
In the 19th Congressional District, nine Republican candidates vied for retiring Rep. Francis Rooney's seat, with the Florida Republican Party declaring Byron Donalds the winner.
"Congratulations, Byron Donalds on your HUGE victory," the party said on Twitter. "We look forward to a proven Conservative serving Southwest Florida in Congress."
Donalds, 41, also claimed victory on Twitter in a tight race that WGCU reported he leads by fewer than 800 votes.
"Today, we proved the Republican Party is for everyone -- even a poor Black kid who grew up in Brooklyn," Donalds said on Twitter.
Donalds will go up against Cindy Banyai who bested David Holden for the Democratic nomination with 58% of the vote.
Banyai, 40, said in a statement that she is "proud" to be the Democratic nominee and that now is the time "for us to come together and work to flip this seat."
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Wyoming
Cynthia Lummis, 65, won the GOP nomination for retiring Sen. Mike Enzi's seat over nine other Republican candidates.
"To be the first woman to secure the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Wyoming on the same day we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment is particularly special," Lummis said in a statement, referring to the amendment to the Constitution that guarantees women the right to vote. "Wyoming's pioneering history of 'women firsts' is a point of pride for all of us. Should I be elected in November, I will be proud to share in a small piece of this history."
Lummis served in the House four terms until not seeking re-election in 2016. She received Enzi's endorsement and that of President Donald Trump, who tweeted that Lummis was "a friend of mine and a great woman."
"She will be a great senator, and has my complete and total endorsement," the president said.
Merav Ben-David, a 61-year-old University of Wyoming professor and climate activist, won the Democratic nomination Tuesday on a campaign that pledged to put science back in the Senate.


upi--2020-08-19--Brooks Koepka withdraws from Northern Trust over knee, hip injuries

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from The Northern Trust at TPC Boston , ending his 2019-20 PGA Tour season .
The Tour announced Wednesday that Koepka pulled out of this week 's tournament due to lingering knee and hip injuries .
Despite the ailments , he plans to compete in the U.S. Open , which begins Sept. 17 and is the second event of the new season .
Koepka sits at 97th in the FedEx Cup standings and would have needed a top finish to advance to next week 's BMW Championship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Championship , where he tied for third in 2019 .
Koepka -- the seventh-ranked golfer in the world after beginning the year at No .
1 -- finished seventh at the RBC Heritage in late June after the PGA Tour 's restart and tied for second at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational earlier this month .
The 30-year-old Koepka then was only two shots behind the leader entering the final round of the PGA Championship on Aug. 9 .
He was attempting to win the tournament for the third consecutive year .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in a tie for 29th .
He then missed the cut last week at the Wyndham Championship .
`` My golf swing 's fine , '' Koepka said after falling below the cut line last week .
`` If I can physically do it , then yes , everything 's fine . ''
Since last year 's Tour Championship , Koepka has missed five cuts and recorded six finishes outside of the top 20 .

Brooks Koepka plans to compete in the U.S. Open, which begins Sept. 17 and is the second event of the new season. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from The Northern Trust at TPC Boston, ending his 2019-20 PGA Tour season. The Tour announced Wednesday that Koepka pulled out of this week's tournament due to lingering knee and hip injuries. Despite the ailments, he plans to compete in the U.S. Open, which begins Sept. 17 and is the second event of the new season. Advertisement
Koepka sits at 97th in the FedEx Cup standings and would have needed a top finish to advance to next week's BMW Championship. He also will miss the Tour Championship, where he tied for third in 2019.
Koepka -- the seventh-ranked golfer in the world after beginning the year at No. 1 -- finished seventh at the RBC Heritage in late June after the PGA Tour's restart and tied for second at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational earlier this month.
The 30-year-old Koepka then was only two shots behind the leader entering the final round of the PGA Championship on Aug. 9. He was attempting to win the tournament for the third consecutive year.
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But Koepka shot a final-round 74 to end up in a tie for 29th. He then missed the cut last week at the Wyndham Championship.
"My golf swing's fine," Koepka said after falling below the cut line last week. "If I can physically do it, then yes, everything's fine."
Since last year's Tour Championship, Koepka has missed five cuts and recorded six finishes outside of the top 20.


upi--2020-08-19--Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman apologizes for using homophobic slur on air

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman was caught using a homophobic slur during Wednesday 's game against the Kansas City Royals .
In a clip that has circulated around social media , Brennaman was heard saying the slur moments after the Fox Sports Ohio broadcast returned from a commercial break before the top of the seventh inning .
The 56-year-old sportscaster did n't appear to realize he was already on the air .
`` One of the [ expletive ] capitals of the world , '' Brennaman said on air .
In the fifth inning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Brennaman issued an apology for using the slur .
He said he was `` deeply ashamed '' before signing off and turning over play-by-play duties to Jim Day .
`` I made a comment earlier tonight that I guess went out over the air that I am deeply ashamed of , '' said Brennaman , who interrupted his apology after a Nick Castellanos home run .
`` If I have hurt anyone out there , I ca n't tell you how much I say from the bottom of my heart I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pride myself and think of myself as a man of faith .
`` I do n't know if I 'm going to be putting on this headset again .
I do n't know if it 's going to be for the Reds .
I do n't know if it 's going to be for my bosses at Fox .
I will apologize for the people who sign my paycheck , for the Reds , for Fox Sports Ohio , for the people I work with , for anybody that I 've offended here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son of Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman -- has called MLB games for 33 years and has been a member of Fox Sports for the last 27 .
He has primarily covered baseball and football .

Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman (L) is the son of Hall of Fame sportscaster Marty Brennaman (R). Thom has called MLB games for the last 33 years. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman was caught using a homophobic slur during Wednesday's game against the Kansas City Royals. In a clip that has circulated around social media, Brennaman was heard saying the slur moments after the Fox Sports Ohio broadcast returned from a commercial break before the top of the seventh inning. The 56-year-old sportscaster didn't appear to realize he was already on the air. Advertisement
"One of the [expletive] capitals of the world," Brennaman said on air.
In the fifth inning of the second game of a doubleheader, Brennaman issued an apology for using the slur. He said he was "deeply ashamed" before signing off and turning over play-by-play duties to Jim Day.
"I made a comment earlier tonight that I guess went out over the air that I am deeply ashamed of," said Brennaman, who interrupted his apology after a Nick Castellanos home run. "If I have hurt anyone out there, I can't tell you how much I say from the bottom of my heart I'm so very, very sorry. I pride myself and think of myself as a man of faith.
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"I don't know if I'm going to be putting on this headset again. I don't know if it's going to be for the Reds. I don't know if it's going to be for my bosses at Fox. I will apologize for the people who sign my paycheck, for the Reds, for Fox Sports Ohio, for the people I work with, for anybody that I've offended here tonight."
BREAKING: Thom Brennaman responds to apparent homophobic slur live on air. Jim Day is now broadcasting. @FOX19 pic.twitter.com/n3L0wZ2BWd— Trevor Peters (@TrevorPetersTV) August 20, 2020
Thom Brennaman -- the son of Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman -- has called MLB games for 33 years and has been a member of Fox Sports for the last 27. He has primarily covered baseball and football.
This week in Major League Baseball


upi--2020-08-19--Former FBI lawyer pleads guilty to falsifying email in Carter Page surveillance application

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith pleaded guilty Wednesday to altering an email supporting the surveillance of President Donald Trump 's former campaign aide Carter Page .
Clinesmith testified Wednesday that he inserted the words `` not a source '' into a 2017 email about Page 's history of work with the Central Intelligence Agency .
The CIA , however , had earlier told investigators he was an `` operational contact '' for the agency from 2008 to 2013 , providing information about his contacts with Russian intelligence officers .
Investigators relied on the email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wiretap on Page , which has since been invalidated by the Justice Department .
`` At the time I believed the information I was providing in the email was accurate .
But I am agreeing that the information inserted into the email was not originally there and I inserted that information , '' he said .
The case is the first brought by federal prosecutor John Durham , who was appointed by Attorney General William Barr last year to interview the origins of the FBI 's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be sentenced on Dec. 10 .
The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison , but he is expected to be sentenced to zero to six months .

Former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith pleaded guilty Wednesday to falsifying an email used to justify renewing the wiretap of President Donald Trump's former campaign aide Carter Page. File Photo by Yuri Kochetkov/EPA
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith pleaded guilty Wednesday to altering an email supporting the surveillance of President Donald Trump's former campaign aide Carter Page. Clinesmith testified Wednesday that he inserted the words "not a source" into a 2017 email about Page's history of work with the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA, however, had earlier told investigators he was an "operational contact" for the agency from 2008 to 2013, providing information about his contacts with Russian intelligence officers. Advertisement
Investigators relied on the email to justify an application to renew a wiretap on Page, which has since been invalidated by the Justice Department.
"At the time I believed the information I was providing in the email was accurate. But I am agreeing that the information inserted into the email was not originally there and I inserted that information," he said.
The case is the first brought by federal prosecutor John Durham, who was appointed by Attorney General William Barr last year to interview the origins of the FBI's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
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Clinesmith is set to be sentenced on Dec. 10. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, but he is expected to be sentenced to zero to six months.


upi--2020-08-19--Oscar De La Hoya, 47, resuming boxing career after 11-year retirement

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Oscar De La Hoya , 47 , is planning to end his retirement and resume his boxing career after a 12-year hiatus .
De La Hoya , an 11-time champion who last fought 12 years ago , told ESPN on Wednesday that he is ready to end his retirement .
He said he will begin sparring in the coming weeks .
`` The rumors are true , and I 'm going to start sparring in the next few weeks , '' De La Hoya said .
De La Hoya ( 39-6 , 30 KOs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking part in an exhibition fight .
Last month , retired fighters Mike Tyson , 54 , and Roy Jones Jr. , 51 , agreed to an eight-round exhibition bout that will happen Sept. 12 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson , Calif. '' It 's a real fight .
I miss being in the ring , '' he said .
`` I love boxing .
Boxing is what gave me everything I have today , and I just miss it . ''
After capturing a gold medal for the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ De La Hoya -- known as `` The Golden Boy '' -- quickly rose in the professional ranks .
He earned the WBO junior lightweight title in 1994 by stopping Jimmi Bredahl in 10 rounds , winning the belt in only his 12th professional fight .
De La Hoya went on to win major world championships in six different weight classes .
During that stretch , he was widely considered one of the best fighters in the world and the sport 's biggest pay-per-view attraction .
De La Hoya 's career came to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his stool following the eighth round of a bout against Manny Pacquiao in December 2008 .
`` The Golden Boy '' announced his retirement from boxing in April 2009 .
`` Look , it 's been a long time , yes , '' De La Hoya said .
`` But actually my jab feels faster than ever .
I have to make sure that my conditioning is perfect , my health is good .
And that 's going to take place in the next few weeks .
So we 'll see . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014 .

Oscar De La Hoya announced his retirement from boxing in April 2009. He had a 39-6 record before stepping away from the ring. File Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Oscar De La Hoya, 47, is planning to end his retirement and resume his boxing career after a 12-year hiatus. De La Hoya, an 11-time champion who last fought 12 years ago, told ESPN on Wednesday that he is ready to end his retirement. He said he will begin sparring in the coming weeks. Advertisement
"The rumors are true, and I'm going to start sparring in the next few weeks," De La Hoya said.
De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) noted that he won't be taking part in an exhibition fight. Last month, retired fighters Mike Tyson, 54, and Roy Jones Jr., 51, agreed to an eight-round exhibition bout that will happen Sept. 12 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.
"It's a real fight. I miss being in the ring," he said. "I love boxing. Boxing is what gave me everything I have today, and I just miss it."
After capturing a gold medal for the United States at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, De La Hoya -- known as "The Golden Boy" -- quickly rose in the professional ranks. He earned the WBO junior lightweight title in 1994 by stopping Jimmi Bredahl in 10 rounds, winning the belt in only his 12th professional fight.
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De La Hoya went on to win major world championships in six different weight classes. During that stretch, he was widely considered one of the best fighters in the world and the sport's biggest pay-per-view attraction.
De La Hoya's career came to an abrupt conclusion when he quit on his stool following the eighth round of a bout against Manny Pacquiao in December 2008. "The Golden Boy" announced his retirement from boxing in April 2009.
"Look, it's been a long time, yes," De La Hoya said. "But actually my jab feels faster than ever. I have to make sure that my conditioning is perfect, my health is good. And that's going to take place in the next few weeks. So we'll see."
De La Hoya was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014.


upi--2020-08-19--Hurricane Genevieve weakens to Category 1 off Mexican coast

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Hurricane Genevieve weakened to a Category 1 storm Wednesday and was expected to bring severe weather conditions to parts of the shoreline in the coming days , forecasters say .
In its 6 p.m. Wednesday update , the National Hurricane Center located the storm about 85 miles south of the southern tip of Baja California , with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph with stronger gusts .
It was moving north-northwest at 8 mph and was forecast to continue this general motion through Thursday as its speed decreases .
It 'll likely weaken to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coast of Mexico and further to a tropical depression as it nears the California coast .
The Mexican government issued a hurricane warning for the Southern Baja California peninsula from Los Barriles to Todos Santos and a tropical storm warning for the peninsula from Todos Santos to Cabo San Lazaro .
There was a tropical storm watch in effect for the east coast of the Baja California peninsula from Los Barriles to La Paz .
`` On the forecast track , the center of Genevieve is expected to pass just to the southwest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Baja California peninsula tonight and Thursday , and move away from the peninsula on Friday '' the NHC said .
Genevieve has been churning up water along Mexico 's Pacific coast since it formed over the weekend .
As the week progresses , tropical downpours and huge swells are in store along its path , as further strengthening is possible .
Favorable conditions , including very warm water and weak wind shear in the area , are acting to fuel the monster of a storm .
A huge eye was visible on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was born first as Tropical Depression 12-E when it emerged in the warm waters just off the coast of El Salvador and Nicaragua Sunday morning .
As a result of the favorable conditions in the area , Genevieve had strengthened to hurricane status just one day later .
The storm , though downgraded from a Category 4 hurricane , is expected to hold its intensity or even strengthen slightly through Wednesday before steadily weakening .
The only other storm to achieve major hurricane status so far in the East Pacific was Hurricane Douglas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Hawaiian Islands in the central Pacific in late July .
Genevieve will not take a path similar to Douglas in the coming days , as the storm is expected to bring the bulk of the impactful weather to waters just west of Mexico 's Pacific coast .
Even on relatively tranquil days , the shore break along Mexico 's west coast can feature large waves , posing dangerous conditions for swimmers .
As Genevieve churns just off the coast through the week , very large and dangerous swells are expected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coast and waters offshore will be for dangerous surf and heavy seas .
Large breaking waves can lead to substantial overwash along the coast with the risk of coastal flooding and damage to vessels .
Forecasters say outer bands of Genevieve will bring tropical downpours to coastal cities in the coming days , posing a threat for flash flooding and mudslides .
Cities in line to possibly deal with wet weather from Genevieve include Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta and all areas in-between .
As the storm continues to parallel the coast , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water off Baja California , into late week .
This interaction will undoubtedly begin a weakening trend of the hurricane , but that does n't mean the impacts will end there .
The storm 's exact track through this weekend and into early next week is still unclear , but it is possible that some of the residual moisture from the storm could stream into the West Coast of the United States .
Along with a potential influx of moisture , increased swells , especially across Southern California , will be possible early @ @ @

Tropical Storm Genevieve was expected to weaken to a depression Friday. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Genevieve gradually weakened Friday as it moved north away from the Baja California Peninsula, forecasters said. The storm is expected to become a tropical depression later Friday as it moved away from the coast. It will likely maintain that strength through the weekend. Advertisement
In its 9 a.m. MDT update, the National Hurricane Center said the center of the storm was about 155 miles west of Cabo San Lazaro, Mexico. It was moving northwest at 10 mph and had 45 mph maximum sustained winds.
There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
Genevieve strengthened into the second major hurricane in the eastern Pacific basin of the 2020 season on Monday night as it rapidly intensified into Category 4 storm.
The storm has been churning up the water along Mexico's Pacific coast since it formed over the past weekend, and as the week progresses, tropical downpours and huge swells will continue to extend outward from the powerful center of the storm.
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"Total rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 6 inches and wind gusts of 50-60 mph with an AccuWeather Local StormMax wind gust of 70 mph will impact the southern Baja Peninsula," AccuWeather hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski said Thursday night.
Favorable conditions, including very warm water and weak wind shear in the area, helped Genevieve become a monstrous storm earlier this week. A huge eye was visible on satellite images on Tuesday morning.
Genevieve was born first as Tropical Depression 12-E when it emerged in the warm waters just off the coast of El Salvador and Nicaragua Sunday morning. As a result of the favorable conditions in the area, Genevieve had strengthened to hurricane status just one day later.
The only other storm to achieve major hurricane status so far in the East Pacific was Hurricane Douglas. Douglas went on to track along the north side of the Hawaiian Islands in the central Pacific during the second half of July, bringing tropical downpours and gusty winds to the island chain.
Genevieve will not take a path similar to Douglas in the coming days, as the storm is expected to bring the bulk of the impactful weather to waters just west of Mexico's Pacific coast.
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Even on relatively tranquil days, the shore break along Mexico's west coast can feature large waves, posing dangerous conditions for swimmers. As Genevieve churns just off the coast through the week, very large and dangerous swells are expected.
The hurricane's most significant impacts along the coast and waters offshore will be dangerous surf and heavy seas.
Forecasters urge people to avoid the surf and avoid watching the storm from adjacent coastal areas. Large breaking waves can lead to substantial overwash along the coast with the risk of coastal flooding and damage to vessels. Small craft should remain in port and larger ships should avoid the region and the path of the hurricane.
Outer bands of Genevieve will also bring along tropical downpours to coastal cities through the coming days, especially over the southern portion of the Baja California Peninsula. Enough rain can fall to cause flash flooding and debris flows. Cities along the west coast of Mexico that are forecast to experience impact from Genevieve include in line to possibly deal with wet weather from Genevieve include Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and San Carlos.
Rainfall from Genevieve's outer bands can and likely will track into the higher terrain just inland of the aforementioned cities. The mountainous terrain across this region can act to wring out ample amounts of moisture from the atmosphere, enhancing rainfall totals. As this rain funnels into small streams and rivers, towns along their path could face flooding.
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As the storm continues to parallel the coast, it will begin to track into cooler water off Baja California, into late week. This interaction will undoubtedly begin a weakening trend of the hurricane, but that doesn't mean the impacts will end there.
Genevieve is forecast to take a slightly curved path that takes the center of the storm progressively farther away from the west coast of Mexico and California later this weekend to early next week. During this time, Genevieve is expected to transition into a non-tropical storm.
But it is possible that some of the residual moisture from the storm could stream into the southwestern United States in the form of clouds with a slight chance of spotty thunderstorm activity. Along with a potential influx of moisture, increased swells, especially across Southern California, will be possible early next week.


upi--2020-08-19--Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez to undergo season-ending knee surgery

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez , the reigning American League Rookie of the Year , will have season-ending knee surgery , the team announced Wednesday .
Before Wednesday night 's game against the Colorado Rockies , Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters that Alvarez will undergo the procedure next week to repair a partial tear of the patella tendon in his right knee .
Alvarez was placed on the injured list Tuesday , only a few days after he made his season debut .
He underwent an MRI on Monday after experiencing discomfort in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full recovery , '' Baker said .
`` It 's better that it happens now for spring training , because he has between now and spring training to heal . ''
Alvarez made his 2020 debut Friday after being activated from the injured list .
He had been on the IL due to a positive coronavirus test before summer camp .
In two games this season , Alvarez had a .250 batting average with one home run and four RBIs .
Alvarez , 23 , had a .313 average with 27 home runs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rookie of the Year honors .

Houston Astros outfielder and designated hitter Yordan Alvarez had a .250 batting average with one home run and four RBIs in two games this season. File Photo by Trask Smith/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year, will have season-ending knee surgery, the team announced Wednesday. Before Wednesday night's game against the Colorado Rockies, Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters that Alvarez will undergo the procedure next week to repair a partial tear of the patella tendon in his right knee. Advertisement
Alvarez was placed on the injured list Tuesday, only a few days after he made his season debut. He underwent an MRI on Monday after experiencing discomfort in his knee.
"We expect a full recovery," Baker said. "It's better that it happens now for spring training, because he has between now and spring training to heal."
Alvarez made his 2020 debut Friday after being activated from the injured list. He had been on the IL due to a positive coronavirus test before summer camp.
In two games this season, Alvarez had a .250 batting average with one home run and four RBIs.
Alvarez, 23, had a .313 average with 27 home runs and 78 RBIs last season to earn Rookie of the Year honors.
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This week in Major League Baseball


upi--2020-08-19--Florida Keys to release 750M genetically modified mosquitoes to stop disease spread

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Local authorities in the Florida Keys gave their approval Wednesday to a plan to release genetically modified mosquitoes to prevent the spread of dengue fever and other diseases .
The Monroe County Mosquito Control District signed off on the project , which would release about 750 million mosquitoes engineered to produce dead offspring .
The state and U.S. government have already given their approval .
It 'll be the first time genetically modified mosquitoes have been released in the United States , and some health officials and members of the public have questioned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With all the urgent crises facing our nation and the state of Florida -- the Covid-19 pandemic , racial injustice , climate change -- the administration has used tax dollars and government resources for a Jurassic Park experiment , '' said Jaydee Hanson , policy director for the International Center or Technology Assessment and Center for Food Safety .
`` Now the Monroe County Mosquito Control District has given the final permission needed .
What could possibly go wrong ?
We do n't know , because [ the Environmental Protection Agency ] unlawfully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now without further review of the risks , the experiment can proceed . ''
The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District considered the plan as a way to restrict the breeding of the Aedes aegypti mosquito , which spreads dengue and other diseases and has shown resistance to pesticides .
The new mosquitoes , engineered by British company Oxitec , were released in trials in Brazil .
Studies by Oxitec and other scientists said the program resulted in significant population declines for the disease-carrying insect .
`` We have shown that the release of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent suppression compared to areas with no release , '' said Nathan Rose , director of regulatory affairs at Oxitec .
The altered mosquitoes , which the company calls Oxitec Friendly , are male .
Only female mosquitoes bite people or animals for blood meals before they lay eggs .
The altered males mate with female Aedes aegypti , and the female offspring then carry a protein that kills them as tiny , barely visible larvae .
The result is a steady reduction in population , according to the company .
Oxitec said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with universities , governments , global foundations and more than 200 scientists from over 20 countries developing the program .
But environmental groups believe more study is needed , according to a petition circulated by the non-profit Florida Keys Environmental Coalition .
The group cites concerns about potential impact on bats or other animals that eat mosquitoes .
One study of Oxitec 's mosquito release in Brazil found that the altered mosquitoes mated with some other species , according to the findings published in the journal Nature in September by researchers from Yale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offspring , which the researchers said could be hardier and pose unknown problems for mosquito control .

Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Local authorities in the Florida Keys gave their approval Wednesday to a plan to release genetically modified mosquitoes to prevent the spread of dengue fever and other diseases.
The Monroe County Mosquito Control District signed off on the project, which would release about 750 million mosquitoes engineered to produce dead offspring. The state and U.S. government have already given their approval.
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It'll be the first time genetically modified mosquitoes have been released in the United States, and some health officials and members of the public have questioned the safety of such a plan.
"With all the urgent crises facing our nation and the state of Florida -- the Covid-19 pandemic, racial injustice, climate change -- the administration has used tax dollars and government resources for a Jurassic Park experiment," said Jaydee Hanson, policy director for the International Center or Technology Assessment and Center for Food Safety.
"Now the Monroe County Mosquito Control District has given the final permission needed. What could possibly go wrong? We don't know, because [the Environmental Protection Agency] unlawfully refused to seriously analyze environmental risks, now without further review of the risks, the experiment can proceed."
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The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District considered the plan as a way to restrict the breeding of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which spreads dengue and other diseases and has shown resistance to pesticides.
The new mosquitoes, engineered by British company Oxitec, were released in trials in Brazil. Studies by Oxitec and other scientists said the program resulted in significant population declines for the disease-carrying insect.
"We have shown that the release of mosquitoes in a neighborhood results in 95 percent suppression compared to areas with no release," said Nathan Rose, director of regulatory affairs at Oxitec.
The altered mosquitoes, which the company calls Oxitec Friendly, are male. Only female mosquitoes bite people or animals for blood meals before they lay eggs.
The altered males mate with female Aedes aegypti, and the female offspring then carry a protein that kills them as tiny, barely visible larvae. The result is a steady reduction in population, according to the company.
Oxitec said it spent 18 years of public-private collaboration with universities, governments, global foundations and more than 200 scientists from over 20 countries developing the program.
But environmental groups believe more study is needed, according to a petition circulated by the non-profit Florida Keys Environmental Coalition. The group cites concerns about potential impact on bats or other animals that eat mosquitoes.
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One study of Oxitec's mosquito release in Brazil found that the altered mosquitoes mated with some other types of mosquitoes, according to the findings published in the journal Nature in September by researchers from Yale University.
The result was hybrid mosquito offspring, which the researchers said could be hardier and pose unknown problems for mosquito control.
Paul Brinkmann contributed to this report.


upi--2020-08-19--William Barr announces nearly 1,500 arrests made under 'Operation Legend'

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Attorney General William Barr on Wednesday said that nearly 1,500 people have been arrested under the law enforcement initiative known as `` Operation Legend . ''
During a news conference in Kansas City , Mo.
, Barr said that 217 of those arrested under the initiative have been charged with federal crimes and that 90 defendants have been charged in homicides .
Barr added that the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives seized nearly 400 firearms .
The Justice Department launched `` Operation Legend '' in Kansas City on July 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Albuquerque , Cleveland , Detroit , Milwaukee , St. Louis and Memphis , Tenn .
Under the program , federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to combat violent crime .
`` Operation Legend is the heart of the federal response to this uptick in violent crime , '' Barr said .
`` Its mission is to save lives , solve crimes and take violent offenders off our streets before they can claim more victims . ''
The initiative was named after 4-year-old Legend Taliferro , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullet while asleep in his Kansas City home on the morning of June 29 .
Last week , a prosecutor in Missouri announced murder charges against 22-year-old Ryson Ellison in the case .

William Barr on Wednesday announced that nearly 1,500 arrests have been made under the collaborative initiative between federal and local law enforcement known as "Operation Legend." File Pool Photo by Doug Mills/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Attorney General William Barr on Wednesday said that nearly 1,500 people have been arrested under the law enforcement initiative known as "Operation Legend." During a news conference in Kansas City, Mo., Barr said that 217 of those arrested under the initiative have been charged with federal crimes and that 90 defendants have been charged in homicides. Advertisement
Barr added that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives seized nearly 400 firearms.
The Justice Department launched "Operation Legend" in Kansas City on July 8 and was later expanded to Chicago, Albuquerque, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Memphis, Tenn.
Under the program, federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to combat violent crime.
"Operation Legend is the heart of the federal response to this uptick in violent crime," Barr said. "Its mission is to save lives, solve crimes and take violent offenders off our streets before they can claim more victims."
The initiative was named after 4-year-old Legend Taliferro, who was shot and killed by a bullet while asleep in his Kansas City home on the morning of June 29.
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Last week, a prosecutor in Missouri announced murder charges against 22-year-old Ryson Ellison in the case.


upi--2020-08-19--San Francisco 49ers to sign ex-Seattle Seahawks WR Jaron Brown

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- With injuries mounting at the position , the San Francisco 49ers are signing former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaron Brown .
League sources told ESPN , NFL Media and NBC Sports on Wednesday that Brown agreed to a short-term contract with the 49ers .
Financial details of the agreement were n't disclosed .
According to the outlets , Brown has been in Santa Clara , Calif. , for three days of coronavirus testing -- beginning Monday .
He is eligible to practice with the team Thursday .
Brown joins J.J. Nelson and Tavon Austin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 49ers since training camp opened .
The agreement comes two days after receiver Jalen Hurd suffered a potential season-ending knee injury .
Along with Hurd , 49ers starting wideout Deebo Samuel is expected to miss the start of the season because of a Jones fracture in his right foot .
With Samuel and Hurd sidelined , the team 's top receivers in camp have been Kendrick Bourne and first-round rookie Brandon Aiyuk .
Brown spent the past two campaigns with the Seahawks after playing five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 220 yards and two touchdowns .

Former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaron Brown spent the past two campaigns with the Seahawks after playing five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He recorded 16 catches for 220 yards and two touchdowns in 2019. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- With injuries mounting at the position, the San Francisco 49ers are signing former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaron Brown. League sources told ESPN, NFL Media and NBC Sports on Wednesday that Brown agreed to a short-term contract with the 49ers. Financial details of the agreement weren't disclosed. Advertisement
According to the outlets, Brown has been in Santa Clara, Calif., for three days of coronavirus testing -- beginning Monday. He is eligible to practice with the team Thursday.
Brown joins J.J. Nelson and Tavon Austin as the third wideout to sign with the 49ers since training camp opened. The agreement comes two days after receiver Jalen Hurd suffered a potential season-ending knee injury.
Along with Hurd, 49ers starting wideout Deebo Samuel is expected to miss the start of the season because of a Jones fracture in his right foot. With Samuel and Hurd sidelined, the team's top receivers in camp have been Kendrick Bourne and first-round rookie Brandon Aiyuk.
Brown spent the past two campaigns with the Seahawks after playing five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. In 2019, he recorded 16 catches for 220 yards and two touchdowns.


upi--2020-08-19--Bayern Munich beats Lyon to join PSG in Champions League final

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Bayern Munich used a pair of goals from Serge Gnabry to beat Lyon 3-0 in their Champions League semifinal match Wednesday in Lisbon , Portugal , joining Paris Saint-Germain in the European competition 's championship game .
With the result , Bayern -- who also had a dominant 8-2 win over Barcelona in the quarterfinals -- advances to their sixth Champions League final in club history .
The Bundesliga side will play PSG , who beat RB Leipzig 3-0 earlier this week , on Sunday in Lisbon .
`` Paris are a great team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ semifinal and then reached the final , '' Bayern coach Hansi Flick said .
`` We will analyze some things , we know they have quick players .
We will look to organize our defense , but we know our biggest strength is putting our opponents under pressure . ''
Lyon looked livelier than the German club early in the match and nearly took the lead inside of 10 minutes when Memphis Depay sliced between two defenders for a golden chance .
Depay 's shot slid just to the right of the goal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made Lyon pay for their missed opportunities in the 18th minute , cutting between multiple defenders and firing a shot into the top-left corner of the net to give Bayern a 1-0 advantage .
Bayern doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark when Gnabry buried a close-range chance .
Ivan Perisic made a brilliant pass to Robert Lewandowski , who failed to convert near the goal line .
Lewandowski 's misfire caused a scramble near the goal , and Gnabry was there to capitalize and give his team a 2-0 lead at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple chances throughout the match , headed in a Joshua Kimmich free kick before the hour mark to clinch the win for Bayern .
It was his 55th goal across all competitions this season .
`` It feels good .
Everyone is happy and playing well , '' Bayern fullback Alphonso Davies said .
`` We are happy to make it to the final .
PSG is a good team .
Right now we celebrate a bit , then we focus on the next game .
`` It will be a good game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game .
This is what you dream about as a footballer , playing with the best and against the best in Europe . ''
PSG will be appearing in their first Champions League final this year .
Bayern and PSG won their respective leagues and cups in domestic competition .

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski (L) celebrates after scoring during their UEFA Champions League semifinal match against Olympique Lyon on Wednesday in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Franck Fife/EPA-EFE
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Bayern Munich used a pair of goals from Serge Gnabry to beat Lyon 3-0 in their Champions League semifinal match Wednesday in Lisbon, Portugal, joining Paris Saint-Germain in the European competition's championship game. With the result, Bayern -- who also had a dominant 8-2 win over Barcelona in the quarterfinals -- advances to their sixth Champions League final in club history. The Bundesliga side will play PSG, who beat RB Leipzig 3-0 earlier this week, on Sunday in Lisbon. Advertisement
"Paris are a great team. They fought their way into the semifinal and then reached the final," Bayern coach Hansi Flick said. "We will analyze some things, we know they have quick players. We will look to organize our defense, but we know our biggest strength is putting our opponents under pressure."
Lyon looked livelier than the German club early in the match and nearly took the lead inside of 10 minutes when Memphis Depay sliced between two defenders for a golden chance. Depay's shot slid just to the right of the goal and hit the side netting.
Gnabry made Lyon pay for their missed opportunities in the 18th minute, cutting between multiple defenders and firing a shot into the top-left corner of the net to give Bayern a 1-0 advantage.
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Bayern doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark when Gnabry buried a close-range chance. Ivan Perisic made a brilliant pass to Robert Lewandowski, who failed to convert near the goal line. Lewandowski's misfire caused a scramble near the goal, and Gnabry was there to capitalize and give his team a 2-0 lead at the half.
Lewandowski, who missed multiple chances throughout the match, headed in a Joshua Kimmich free kick before the hour mark to clinch the win for Bayern. It was his 55th goal across all competitions this season.
"It feels good. Everyone is happy and playing well," Bayern fullback Alphonso Davies said. "We are happy to make it to the final. PSG is a good team. Right now we celebrate a bit, then we focus on the next game.
"It will be a good game, there will be goals in that game. This is what you dream about as a footballer, playing with the best and against the best in Europe."
PSG will be appearing in their first Champions League final this year. Bayern and PSG won their respective leagues and cups in domestic competition.


upi--2020-08-19--HelloFresh issues recall of onions related to salmonella outbreak

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- The Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that food delivery service HelloFresh has recalled @ @ @ @ @ due to a potential salmonella contamination .
HelloFresh said it was informed by one of @ @ @ @ @ is conducting a voluntary recall of its onions due to the potential presence of salmonella @ @ @ @ @ all onions received from May 8 through July 31 .
`` Customers should immediately discard @ @ @ @ @ the company said .
`` We also recommend extra caution in disinfecting and sanitizing surfaces @ @ @ @ @ come in direct contact with these products , as recommended by the FDA . ''
@ @ @ @ @ HelloFresh noted that cooking the onions thoroughly at 165 degrees , as instructed by the @ @ @ @ @ salmonella bacteria .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there have been @ @ @ @ @ to the recalled onions in 47 and that 116 people have been hospitalized as of @ @ @ @ @ Spokane Produce recalled various salsa products made from onions related to the outbreak .

Food delivery service HelloFresh on Wednesday issued a recall of onions related to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 860 people. Photo courtesy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that food delivery service HelloFresh has recalled onions in its meal kits due to a potential salmonella contamination. HelloFresh said it was informed by one of its ingredient suppliers that it is conducting a voluntary recall of its onions due to the potential presence of salmonella and encouraged customers to discard all onions received from May 8 through July 31. Advertisement
"Customers should immediately discard all onions received," the company said. "We also recommend extra caution in disinfecting and sanitizing surfaces and containers that may have come in direct contact with these products, as recommended by the FDA."
In its recall notice, HelloFresh noted that cooking the onions thoroughly at 165 degrees, as instructed by the recipe, will kill the salmonella bacteria.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there have been 869 cases of salmonella related to the recalled onions in 47 and that 116 people have been hospitalized as of Tuesday.
Last week, Spokane Produce recalled various salsa products made from onions related to the outbreak.


upi--2020-08-19--Cold gas ejected from the center of the Milky Way puzzles scientists

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Astrophysicists have found bullet-like globs of dense , cold gas that were expelled from the center of the Milky Way .
Researchers described the strange gas in a new paper , published Wednesday in the journal Nature , but the cause of their ejection remains a mystery .
Solving the mystery , authors of the new study contend , could help cosmologists better understand the evolution of galaxies like the Milky Way .
Scientists have previously spotted gas being shot from the center of faraway galaxies , but never inside the Milky Way .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a laboratory that we can actually get into and try to understand how things work by looking at them up close , '' lead study author Enrico Di Teodoro , astrophysicist at Johns Hopkins University , said in a news release .
Figuring out how and why the Milky Way 's center is expelling cold , dense gas could help scientists better understand why galaxies eventually stop making new stars .
`` Galaxies can be really good at shooting themselves in the foot , '' said study co-author Naomi McClure-Griffiths , professor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` When you drive out a lot of mass , you 're losing some of the material that could be used to form stars , and if you lose enough of it , the galaxy ca n't form stars at all anymore . ''
Scientists suspect the ejected gas is evidence of this galactic self sabotage .
`` To be able to see hints of the Milky Way losing this star forming gas is kind of exciting -- it makes you wonder what 's going to happen next ! ''
McClure-Griffiths said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lie at the center of the spiral galaxy .
If scientists can figure out what caused the gas to become ejected , they 'll be able to get a better sense of the forces at work in the center of the Milky Way .
`` The wind at the center of the Milky Way has been the topic of plenty of debate since the discovery a decade ago of the so-called Fermi Bubbles -- two giant orbs filled with hot gas and cosmic rays , '' McClure-Griffiths said .
The gas described in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dense .
Cold , heavy gas is much harder to move around .
The center of the Milky Way is home to a massive black hole , capable of generating the kind of forces that could propel blobs of cold gas , but it also hosts thousands of massive stars , able to produce powerful forces themselves .
To solve the mystery of what exactly shot the gas bullets , scientists suggest additional observations and analysis are necessary .

Scientists have spotted dense, cold gas shooting out from the center of the Milky Way. Photo by NASA/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Astrophysicists have found bullet-like globs of dense, cold gas that were expelled from the center of the Milky Way. Researchers described the strange gas in a new paper, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, but the cause of their ejection remains a mystery. Advertisement
Solving the mystery, authors of the new study contend, could help cosmologists better understand the evolution of galaxies like the Milky Way.
Scientists have previously spotted gas being shot from the center of faraway galaxies, but never inside the Milky Way.
"Our own galaxy is almost like a laboratory that we can actually get into and try to understand how things work by looking at them up close," lead study author Enrico Di Teodoro, astrophysicist at Johns Hopkins University, said in a news release.
Figuring out how and why the Milky Way's center is expelling cold, dense gas could help scientists better understand why galaxies eventually stop making new stars.
"Galaxies can be really good at shooting themselves in the foot," said study co-author Naomi McClure-Griffiths, professor of astrophysics at the Australian National University. "When you drive out a lot of mass, you're losing some of the material that could be used to form stars, and if you lose enough of it, the galaxy can't form stars at all anymore."
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Scientists suspect the ejected gas is evidence of this galactic self sabotage.
"To be able to see hints of the Milky Way losing this star forming gas is kind of exciting -- it makes you wonder what's going to happen next!" McClure-Griffiths said.
Many of the Milky Way's mysteries lie at the center of the spiral galaxy. If scientists can figure out what caused the gas to become ejected, they'll be able to get a better sense of the forces at work in the center of the Milky Way.
"The wind at the center of the Milky Way has been the topic of plenty of debate since the discovery a decade ago of the so-called Fermi Bubbles -- two giant orbs filled with hot gas and cosmic rays," McClure-Griffiths said.
The gas described in the new paper is cold and extremely dense. Cold, heavy gas is much harder to move around.
The center of the Milky Way is home to a massive black hole, capable of generating the kind of forces that could propel blobs of cold gas, but it also hosts thousands of massive stars, able to produce powerful forces themselves.
To solve the mystery of what exactly shot the gas bullets, scientists suggest additional observations and analysis are necessary.
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upi--2020-08-19--Preterm birth might raise risk for health problems, early death, study says

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Women who give birth to preterm babies have a higher risk for developing health problems -- and dying from them -- about a decade after delivery , a study published Wednesday by BMJ found .
Compared to women who had 37-week pregnancies , mothers who had `` extremely preterm '' deliveries -- 22 to 27 weeks of pregnancy -- were just over twice as likely to die from any cause within the next 10 years after giving birth , the data showed .
Those who gave birth after 27 weeks and up to 36 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to die from any cause within the next 10 years , the researchers found .
Full-term pregnancies last 39 weeks , with 37-week pregnancies being considered early term .
The findings were not explained by shared genetic or early life environmental factors in families , suggesting that women who deliver prematurely `` need long-term clinical follow-up for detection and treatment of chronic disorders associated with early mortality , '' the researchers wrote .
Roughly 10 % of all deliveries in the United States are preterm , or occur before 37 weeks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Disease Control and Prevention .
For the study , researchers led by Dr. Casey Crump at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York analyzed data on length of pregnancy for more than 2 million women who gave birth in Sweden between 1973 and 2015 .
Deaths in these women were identified using the Swedish Death Register , the researchers said .
Just over 76,500 -- or 3.5 % -- of the 2 million women in the analysis died during the 44-year study period at an average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life expectancy for women in Sweden , which is roughly 84 -- the data showed .
The estimated 2,654 excess deaths -- the number above what is expected for the general population -- in these women were associated with preterm delivery , with one excess death for every 73 women who delivered preterm , the researchers said .
Risk for death was highest in the first 10 years after delivery and then declined .
For example , there was a 1.5-fold increased risk 10 to 19 years after delivery and a 1.4-fold increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the researchers said .
Several specific causes of death among mothers associated with preterm delivery were identified , including heart and lung disorders , diabetes and cancer , they said .

Preterm delivery increases mothers' risk for health problems and early death, a new study has found. Photo by Alex Hofford/EPA
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Women who give birth to preterm babies have a higher risk for developing health problems -- and dying from them -- about a decade after delivery, a study published Wednesday by BMJ found. Compared to women who had 37-week pregnancies, mothers who had "extremely preterm" deliveries -- 22 to 27 weeks of pregnancy -- were just over twice as likely to die from any cause within the next 10 years after giving birth, the data showed. Advertisement
Those who gave birth after 27 weeks and up to 36 weeks of pregnancy were 70% more likely to die from any cause within the next 10 years, the researchers found.
Full-term pregnancies last 39 weeks, with 37-week pregnancies being considered early term.
The findings were not explained by shared genetic or early life environmental factors in families, suggesting that women who deliver prematurely "need long-term clinical follow-up for detection and treatment of chronic disorders associated with early mortality," the researchers wrote.
Roughly 10% of all deliveries in the United States are preterm, or occur before 37 weeks of pregnancy, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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For the study, researchers led by Dr. Casey Crump at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York analyzed data on length of pregnancy for more than 2 million women who gave birth in Sweden between 1973 and 2015.
Deaths in these women were identified using the Swedish Death Register, the researchers said.
Just over 76,500 -- or 3.5% -- of the 2 million women in the analysis died during the 44-year study period at an average age of 58 -- earlier than average life expectancy for women in Sweden, which is roughly 84 -- the data showed.
The estimated 2,654 excess deaths -- the number above what is expected for the general population -- in these women were associated with preterm delivery, with one excess death for every 73 women who delivered preterm, the researchers said.
Risk for death was highest in the first 10 years after delivery and then declined. For example, there was a 1.5-fold increased risk 10 to 19 years after delivery and a 1.4-fold increased risk 20 to 44 years after delivery, the researchers said.
Several specific causes of death among mothers associated with preterm delivery were identified, including heart and lung disorders, diabetes and cancer, they said.


upi--2020-08-19--Trump calls for Goodyear boycott after alleged 'ban on MAGA hats'

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump called for a boycott of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. on Monday in response to reports the company banned political garb , including his own campaign merchandise .
`` Do n't buy GOODYEAR TIRES -- They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS , '' Trump wrote on Twitter , referencing the red hats emblazoned with his 2016 campaign slogan `` Make America Great Again .
During a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon Trump also said he would replace the Goodyear tires on his presidential limo if an alternative was presented .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on what I heard , '' he said .
`` We 'll see what happens . ''
Trump 's comments came in response to a report by WMTV , an NBC affiliate in Wisconsin , describing an image of an alleged Goodyear diversity training presentation describing what is and is not acceptable under the Ohio-based company 's `` zero-tolerance policy . ''
The slide states that messages in support of Black Lives Matter , lesbian , gay , bisexual , transgender pride are acceptable , while messages in support of Blue Lives Matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attire '' and political-affiliated slogans or material are unacceptable .
Goodyear released a statement , saying that the image was not created or distributed by the company and is not part of its diversity training class .
`` To be clear on our longstanding corporate policy , Goodyear has zero tolerance for any forms of harassment or discrimination , '' the company said .
`` To enable a work environment free of those , we ask that associates refrain from workplace expressions in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocacy that fall outside the scope of racial justice and equity issues . ''
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said at a briefing later in the day that Goodyear must still `` come out and clarify their policy . ''
`` What was clearly targeted was a certain ideology , '' she said .

President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for a boycott of Goodyear products amid reports that the company bans employees from wearing political garb, including his own campaign merchandise. Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump called for a boycott of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. on Monday in response to reports the company banned political garb, including his own campaign merchandise. "Don't buy GOODYEAR TIRES -- They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS," Trump wrote on Twitter, referencing the red hats emblazoned with his 2016 campaign slogan "Make America Great Again. Advertisement
During a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon Trump also said he would replace the Goodyear tires on his presidential limo if an alternative was presented.
"I would swap them out based on what I heard," he said. "We'll see what happens."
Trump's comments came in response to a report by WMTV, an NBC affiliate in Wisconsin, describing an image of an alleged Goodyear diversity training presentation describing what is and is not acceptable under the Ohio-based company's "zero-tolerance policy."
The slide states that messages in support of Black Lives Matter, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender pride are acceptable, while messages in support of Blue Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, "MAGA attire" and political-affiliated slogans or material are unacceptable.
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Goodyear released a statement, saying that the image was not created or distributed by the company and is not part of its diversity training class.
"To be clear on our longstanding corporate policy, Goodyear has zero tolerance for any forms of harassment or discrimination," the company said. "To enable a work environment free of those, we ask that associates refrain from workplace expressions in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party, as well as similar forms of advocacy that fall outside the scope of racial justice and equity issues."
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said at a briefing later in the day that Goodyear must still "come out and clarify their policy."
"What was clearly targeted was a certain ideology," she said.


upi--2020-08-19--Lezmond Mitchell seeks emergency stay of execution from Supreme Court

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Death row inmate Lezmond Mitchell filed an emergency application for a stay of execution with the Supreme Court on Wednesday .
He 's hoping to avoid being the first Native American to be put to death by the federal government in the modern era .
Mitchell , 37 , is set to die by lethal injection Aug. 26 at the U.S. Penitentiary , Terre Haute , Ind .
He was sentenced to death for the 2001 murder of two Navajo people -- a woman and her granddaughter -- on reservation land .
Defense lawyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court time to consider their claim that they should be able to speak to jurors on his case about whether racial bias played a part in his conviction .
Mitchell and Navajo Nation President Jonathan New have also sought clemency from President Donald Trump .
The Navajo Nation is against the death penalty and argues the U.S. government should n't be able to execute Mitchell .
`` The Navajo Nation is respectfully requesting a commutation of the death sentence and the imposition of a life sentence for Mr. Mitchell , '' Nez and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter to Trump on July 31 .
`` This request honors our religious and traditional beliefs , the Navajo Nation 's long-standing position on the death penalty for Native Americans , and our respect for the decision of the victim 's family ... We need to address this issue to move forward in our trust of our federal partners and to continue to work on the importance of protecting our people . ''
Under the Federal Death Penalty Act , the U.S. government ca n't seek the death penalty for murder committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
The U.S. Attorney 's Office in Arizona originally did n't seek the death penalty for Mitchell , but received pressure from then-Attorney General John Ashcroft to do so .
Defense attorneys Jonathan Aminoff and Celeste Bacchi said that since the Navajo Nation was against the death penalty in Mitchell 's case , the federal government used a `` loophole '' to charge him with a lesser crime -- carjacking resulting in death .
This allowed the government to seek the death penalty without tribal approval .
The defense team also accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jailing and questioning Mitchell for 25 days without providing him a lawyer and preventing Navajos from serving on his jury .
Mitchell and co-defendant Johnny Orsinger were convicted in 2003 for the deaths of Alyce Slim , 63 , and her granddaughter Tiffany Lee , 9 .
The two men stabbed Slim dozens of times before stealing her vehicle and driving it to another location where they stabbed and beat the girl to death and dismembered their bodies to prevent identification .
Mitchell and Orsinger used the vehicle to commit a robbery and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mitchell led them to the buried bodies .
Orsinger , who was a juvenile at the time , was sentenced to life in prison .
Attorney General William Barr resumed federal executions in July after a 17-year hiatus .
The Bureau of Prisons executed three men -- Daniel Lewis Lee , Wesley Ira Purkey and Dustin Lee Honken -- within a span of a week .
The men sued over the government 's decision to use a single-drug lethal injection protocol , saying it violated the law which requires federal executions to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the murders were committed .
If his execution proceeds , Mitchell will be the fourth federal execution this year and the first Native American to be executed in modern U.S. history , his lawyers said .

Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Death row inmate Lezmond Mitchell filed an emergency application for a stay of execution with the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
He's hoping to avoid being the first Native American to be put to death by the federal government in the modern era.
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Mitchell, 37, is set to die by lethal injection Aug. 26 at the U.S. Penitentiary, Terre Haute, Ind. He was sentenced to death for the 2001 murder of two Navajo people -- a woman and her granddaughter -- on reservation land.
Defense lawyers asked for the stay to give the court time to consider their claim that they should be able to speak to jurors on his case about whether racial bias played a part in his conviction.
Mitchell and Navajo Nation President Jonathan New have also sought clemency from President Donald Trump. The Navajo Nation is against the death penalty and argues the U.S. government shouldn't be able to execute Mitchell.
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"The Navajo Nation is respectfully requesting a commutation of the death sentence and the imposition of a life sentence for Mr. Mitchell," Nez and Navajo Vice President Myron Lizer said in a letter to Trump on July 31.
"This request honors our religious and traditional beliefs, the Navajo Nation's long-standing position on the death penalty for Native Americans, and our respect for the decision of the victim's family ... We need to address this issue to move forward in our trust of our federal partners and to continue to work on the importance of protecting our people."
Under the Federal Death Penalty Act, the U.S. government can't seek the death penalty for murder committed on tribal land unless said tribe allows it. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona originally didn't seek the death penalty for Mitchell, but received pressure from then-Attorney General John Ashcroft to do so.
Defense attorneys Jonathan Aminoff and Celeste Bacchi said that since the Navajo Nation was against the death penalty in Mitchell's case, the federal government used a "loophole" to charge him with a lesser crime -- carjacking resulting in death. This allowed the government to seek the death penalty without tribal approval.
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The defense team also accused the U.S. government of misconduct for allegedly jailing and questioning Mitchell for 25 days without providing him a lawyer and preventing Navajos from serving on his jury.
Mitchell and co-defendant Johnny Orsinger were convicted in 2003 for the deaths of Alyce Slim, 63, and her granddaughter Tiffany Lee, 9.
The two men stabbed Slim dozens of times before stealing her vehicle and driving it to another location where they stabbed and beat the girl to death and dismembered their bodies to prevent identification. Mitchell and Orsinger used the vehicle to commit a robbery and when they were caught by police, Mitchell led them to the buried bodies.
Orsinger, who was a juvenile at the time, was sentenced to life in prison.
Attorney General William Barr resumed federal executions in July after a 17-year hiatus. The Bureau of Prisons executed three men -- Daniel Lewis Lee, Wesley Ira Purkey and Dustin Lee Honken -- within a span of a week. The men sued over the government's decision to use a single-drug lethal injection protocol, saying it violated the law which requires federal executions to use the same method as the individual states where the murders were committed.
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If his execution proceeds, Mitchell will be the fourth federal execution this year and the first Native American to be executed in modern U.S. history, his lawyers said.


upi--2020-08-19--Watch Live: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton to speak at 3rd night of DNC

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are set to deliver remarks Wednesday , the third night of the Democratic National Convention .
The Democratic National Convention Committee said the theme for Wednesday 's virtual program will be `` A More Perfect Union , '' featuring presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's plans regarding the economy , immigration , gun control , climate change , and equal pay and healthcare for women .
In prepared remarks released ahead of the convention , Obama praised Biden 's work as his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House .
`` Over eight years , Joe was the last one in the room whenever I faced a big decision .
He made me a better president .
He 's got the character and experience to make us a better country , '' Obama said .
Clinton , who lost to President Donald Trump in the 2016 election , criticized Trump 's presidency and urged Americans to vote .
`` I wish Donald Trump had been a better president .
But , sadly , he is who he is , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president who shows the same compassion , determination and leadership in the White House that we see in our communities . ''
Wednesday 's program will also feature appearances by vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Parkland survivor Emma Gonzalez as well as musical performances by Billie Eilish and Prince Royce .

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Sen. Kamala Harris officially accepted the nomination to be the Democratic candidate for vice president during the third night of the Democratic National Convention Wednesday. Photo by UPI | License Photo
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Sen. Kamala Harris said the nation is at an "inflection point" as she accepted the nomination to be the Democratic candidate for vice president at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night. Harris, the first Black and South Asian woman to be on a major party ticket, delivered a speech recognizing her mother's role in her political career while also stating that President Donald Trump's "failure of leadership" has cost lives and livelihoods, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement
"We've got to do the work to fulfill that promise of equal justice under law. Because none of us are free until all of us are free," she said. "We're at an inflection point. The constant chaos leaves us adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone."
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Harris noted that Black, Latino and Indigenous people have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus.
"This is not a coincidence. It is the effect of structural racism. Of inequities in education and technology, healthcare and housing, job security and transportation. The injustice in reproductive and maternal healthcare. In the excessive use of force by police and in our broader criminal justice system," she said. "This virus has no eyes and yet it knows exactly how we see each other and how we treat each other. And let's be clear -- there is no vaccine for racism. We've got to do the work."
She went on to declare that the United States must elect former Vice President Joe Biden, who is set to accept the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday. He will face Republican Trump in the Nov. 3 election.
"We must elect a president who will bring something different, something better and do the important work. A president who will bring all of us together -- Black, White, Latino, Asian, Indigenous -- to achieve the future we collectively want," she said.
Moments from the virtual Democratic National Convention
Former Vice President Joe Biden accepts the Democratic Party's nomination for president Thursday on the final night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention. The nomination follows a 50-year career in politics for Biden. UPI Photo | License Photo
Former President Barack Obama also delivered a speech at the virtual convention Wednesday night, praising Biden's work as his vice president.
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"Over eight years, Joe was the last one in the room whenever I faced a big decision. He made me a better president. He's got the character and experience to make us a better country," Obama said.
He also condemned Trump for not taking the job of president seriously.
"He's shown no interest in putting in the work, no interest in finding common ground, no interest in using the awesome power to help anyone but himself and his friends, no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves," Obama said of Trump.
Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump in the 2016 election, recalled during her speech that after the election she told the nation Trump was owed "an open mind and a chance to lead."
"I wish Donald Trump had been a better president. But, sadly, he is who he is," she said. "America needs a president who shows the same compassion, determination and leadership in the White House that we see in our communities."
She also stressed the importance of voting, reminding viewers she won the popular vote in 2016.
"This can't be another woulda-coulda-shoulda-election," Clinton said. "If you're voting by mail, request your ballot now and send it back as soon as you can. If you vote in person, do it early. Bring a friend and wear a mask. Become a poll worker."
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Wednesday's program also featured testimony from climate activists and climate scientists who condemned Trump's denial of the climate crisis, Parkland shooting survivor Emma Gonzalez and 11-year-old Estela Juarez, whose mother was deported under Trump's administration.


upi--2020-08-19--Famous birthdays for Aug. 19: Fat Joe, Kyra Sedgwick

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Leo .
-- Julius @ @ @ @ @ develop the periodic table of elements , in 1830 -- Bill Clinton , 42nd president @ @ @ @ @ in 1946 ( age 74 ) -- Former second lady Tipper Gore in 1948 ( @ @ @

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Fat Joe attends the 17th annual BET Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on June 25, 2017. The rapper turns 50 on August 19. File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Leo. They include: Advertisement
-- Julius Lothar Meyer, who helped develop the periodic table of elements, in 1830
-- Aviation pioneer Orville Wright in 1871
-- French fashion designer Coco Chanel in 1883
-- Humorist Ogden Nash in 1902
-- Publisher Malcolm Forbes in 1919
-- Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry in 1921
-- Writer Frank McCourt in 1930
-- Astronaut Story Musgrave in 1935 (age 85)
File Photo courtesy of NASA
-- Actor Diana Muldaur in 1938 (age 82)
-- Drummer Ginger Baker in 1939 (age 81)
-- Actor Jill St. John in 1940 (age 80)
-- Singer Johnny Nash in 1940 (age 80)
-- Actor/former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson in 1942
-- Bill Clinton, 42nd president of the United States, in 1946 (age 74)
File Photo by Ian Halperin/UPI
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-- Actor Gerald McRaney in 1947 (age 73)
-- Former second lady Tipper Gore in 1948 (age 72)
-- Political commentator Mary Matalin in 1953 (age 67)
-- Bassist John Deacon in 1951 (age 69)
-- Actor Jonathan Frakes in 1952 (age 68)
-- Actor Peter Gallagher in 1955 (age 65)
-- Actor Adam Arkin in 1956 (age 64)
-- Actor John Stamos in 1963 (age 57)
-- Actor Kyra Sedgwick in 1965 (age 55)
File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI
-- Singer Lee Ann Womack in 1966 (age 54)
-- Actor Matthew Perry in 1969 (age 51)
-- Rapper Fat Joe, born Joseph Antonio Cartagena, in 1970 (age 50)
-- Actor Melissa Fumero in 1982 (age 38)
-- Actor Erika Christensen in 1982 (age 38)
-- Singer Christina Perri in 1986 (age 34)
-- Author Veronica Roth in 1988 (age 32)
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI


upi--2020-08-19--Dozens dead after migrant boat explodes off Libyan coast

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- At least 45 people died this week when the boat they were using to cross the Mediterranean Sea exploded off the coast of Libya , the United Nations said Wednesday .
Local fishermen rescued some 37 survivors after the Monday shipwreck and brought them to shore , where they were detained .
The survivors said the engine on the boat exploded .
Among the dead were five children .
The group of migrants were largely from Chad , Ghana , Mali and Senegal , the U.N .
Refugee Agency , the International Organization for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Refugees said .
The agencies called for a greater search and rescue capacity in instances such as Monday 's shipwreck .
`` There remains a continued absence of any dedicated , [ European Union ] -led search and rescue program , '' the agencies said .
`` We fear that without an urgent increase in search and rescue capacity , is a risk of another disaster similar to incidents that saw large loss of life on the Central Mediterranean prior to the launch of Mare Nostrum . ''
Mare Nostrum was a yearlong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2013 to search for and rescue migrants on the Mediterranean Sea .
The agencies said Libyan vessels have largely taken on the responsibility of carrying out rescues , resulting in more than 7,000 people being returned to Libya in 2020 .
The United Nations said any rescues done by Libyan vessels should be done on the condition that none of the migrants is arbitrarily detained or abused .
The IOM said at least 302 migrants have died while crossing from North Africa to Europe across the Mediterranean .
Some 17,000 people have migrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Libya and Tunisia , about three times the number from 2019 .

Aug. 19 (UPI) -- At least 45 people died this week when the boat they were using to cross the Mediterranean Sea exploded off the coast of Libya, the United Nations said Wednesday.
Local fishermen rescued some 37 survivors after the Monday shipwreck and brought them to shore, where they were detained. The survivors said the engine on the boat exploded.
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Among the dead were five children.
The group of migrants were largely from Chad, Ghana, Mali and Senegal, the U.N. Refugee Agency, the International Organization for Migration and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said. The agencies called for a greater search and rescue capacity in instances such as Monday's shipwreck.
"There remains a continued absence of any dedicated, [European Union]-led search and rescue program," the agencies said. "We fear that without an urgent increase in search and rescue capacity, is a risk of another disaster similar to incidents that saw large loss of life on the Central Mediterranean prior to the launch of Mare Nostrum."
Mare Nostrum was a yearlong effort launched by the Italian government in 2013 to search for and rescue migrants on the Mediterranean Sea.
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The agencies said Libyan vessels have largely taken on the responsibility of carrying out rescues, resulting in more than 7,000 people being returned to Libya in 2020. The United Nations said any rescues done by Libyan vessels should be done on the condition that none of the migrants is arbitrarily detained or abused.
The IOM said at least 302 migrants have died while crossing from North Africa to Europe across the Mediterranean. Some 17,000 people have migrated to Italy or Malta this year from Libya and Tunisia, about three times the number from 2019.


upi--2020-08-19--S&P 500 falls from new record after Fed says pandemic will 'weigh heavily' on economy

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- U.S. markets fell off of their session highs after the Federal Reserve said the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to `` weigh heavily '' on the economy .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 85.19 points , or 0.31 % , while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.57 % and the S & P 500 ended the day down 0.44 % after surpassing the record high it set on Tuesday .
Wednesday 's declines came after the Federal Reserve released minutes from its July meeting painting a negative outlook of the ongoing economic impacts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ongoing public health crisis would weigh heavily on economic activity , employment and inflation in the near term and was posing considerable risks to the economic outlook over the medium term , '' the Fed said .
The Fed left interest rates unchanged last month at between 0 % and 0.25 % , saying the economy was still `` well below '' pre-pandemic levels .
Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the strength of the economy moving forward was `` extraordinarily uncertain '' and would depend on efforts to contain the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier in the day as Apple became the first U.S. company in history to reach a market cap of $ 2 trillion .
Also Wednesday , Target stock soared 12.65 % after the company reported that earnings per share increased 84 % year-to-year and profits climbed more than 80 % to $ 1.7 billion for the May-July period , while in-store sales increased 11 % and online sales leaped 195 % for the quarter .

The S&P 500 fell from a new record high and markets fell widely after the Federal Reserve expressed concerns about the future economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. markets fell off of their session highs after the Federal Reserve said the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to "weigh heavily" on the economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 85.19 points, or 0.31%, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.57% and the S&P 500 ended the day down 0.44% after surpassing the record high it set on Tuesday. Advertisement
Wednesday's declines came after the Federal Reserve released minutes from its July meeting painting a negative outlook of the ongoing economic impacts of the pandemic.
"Members agreed that the ongoing public health crisis would weigh heavily on economic activity, employment and inflation in the near term and was posing considerable risks to the economic outlook over the medium term," the Fed said.
The Fed left interest rates unchanged last month at between 0% and 0.25%, saying the economy was still "well below" pre-pandemic levels.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the strength of the economy moving forward was "extraordinarily uncertain" and would depend on efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
The major U.S. averages rose earlier in the day as Apple became the first U.S. company in history to reach a market cap of $2 trillion.
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Also Wednesday, Target stock soared 12.65% after the company reported that earnings per share increased 84% year-to-year and profits climbed more than 80% to $1.7 billion for the May-July period, while in-store sales increased 11% and online sales leaped 195% for the quarter.


upi--2020-08-19--Plane landing delayed by wayward bear on the runway

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- A plane attempting to land at a Russian airport was delayed for about 20 @ @ @ @ @ hazard on the runway -- a wandering bear .
The S7 Airlines flight from Novosibirsk @ @ @ @ @ landing Monday at the airport in Magadan when the flight crew spotted a bear on @ @ @ @ @ spotted the bear while at about 500 feet , allowing for the flight to adjust @ @ @ @ @ .
The plane made a second landing attempt about 20 minutes later , and the @ @ @ @ @ the crew verified that the bear had moved on from its dangerous position .

An S7 airline flight preparing to land at a Russian airport was delayed for about 20 minutes when a bear wandered onto the runway. Photo by Humphrey Manusiwa/Wikimedia Commons
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Aug. 19 (UPI) -- A plane attempting to land at a Russian airport was delayed for about 20 minutes due to an unusual hazard on the runway -- a wandering bear. The S7 Airlines flight from Novosibirsk was coming in for a landing Monday at the airport in Magadan when the flight crew spotted a bear on the tarmac. Advertisement
The crew spotted the bear while at about 500 feet, allowing for the flight to adjust and circle around the airport.
The plane made a second landing attempt about 20 minutes later, and the plane safely touched down after the crew verified that the bear had moved on from its dangerous position.


upi--2020-08-19--A bit of gold grants crystals new electric properties

Aug. 19 ( UPI ) -- Crystals can acquire a variety of novel electric qualities when enhanced with just a bit of gold -- or any other noble metal -- according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature .
Crystals are not defined by their chemical contents , but by the ordered , symmetrical structure of their molecules -- material scientists like patterned structures , but symmetry , not so much , they say .
`` In physics , those materials are rather boring , '' Marin Alexe , a physicist at the University of Warwick in Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` From the point-of-view of functionality , symmetry is not the greatest thing you want to have .
You want to break the symmetry in such a way that you would get new effects . ''
Alexe and his colleagues at Warwick used gold and platinum to break the symmetry of different crystals , yielding new electric effects .
Scientists attached small metal plates to the surface of crystals and supplied the plates with a weak current , creating what 's called a Schottky junction .
The electric current excited the semiconductor structure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , enabling several novel effects , like the ability to convert movement or heat into electricity .
`` Generally , the properties of these crystals are determined by two factors : the intrinsic properties of the elements that the crystal consists of , and how those elements are arranged to form that crystal , which we call its symmetry , '' said Mingmin Yang , who conducted the researcher at Warwick , but now works at the RIKEN institute in Japan .
`` Our research is demonstrating that how those elements are arranged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature , they can also be tuned by external influence , '' Yang said .
`` Once we use that influence to change their arrangement , they can exhibit properties that were previously prohibited to them . ''
The ability to convert force into electricity is called piezoelectric , while the ability to convert temperature changes into electricity is called pyroelectric .
Researchers observed both qualities in metal-plated crystals made of Strontium titanate , Titanium dioxide and silicon .
The researchers suggest the breakthrough technology could be used to create extremely sensitive sensors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Previous efforts to grant crystal materials new properties have required complicated solid-state chemistry , they said .
`` You now have a completely different path to tweak these materials and the ability to tune the effect , something that we have not been able to do before , '' Alexe said .
`` That opens the field to many other possibilities with these materials and we might not know where those lead . ''

Researchers used a layer of gold to elicit unique electrical properties in crystals. Photo by University of Warwick
Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Crystals can acquire a variety of novel electric qualities when enhanced with just a bit of gold -- or any other noble metal -- according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature. Crystals are not defined by their chemical contents, but by the ordered, symmetrical structure of their molecules -- material scientists like patterned structures, but symmetry, not so much, they say. Advertisement
"In physics, those materials are rather boring," Marin Alexe, a physicist at the University of Warwick in Britain, said in a news release. "From the point-of-view of functionality, symmetry is not the greatest thing you want to have. You want to break the symmetry in such a way that you would get new effects."
Alexe and his colleagues at Warwick used gold and platinum to break the symmetry of different crystals, yielding new electric effects.
Scientists attached small metal plates to the surface of crystals and supplied the plates with a weak current, creating what's called a Schottky junction.
The electric current excited the semiconductor structure beneath the metal plate, scientists said, enabling several novel effects, like the ability to convert movement or heat into electricity.
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"Generally, the properties of these crystals are determined by two factors: the intrinsic properties of the elements that the crystal consists of, and how those elements are arranged to form that crystal, which we call its symmetry," said Mingmin Yang, who conducted the researcher at Warwick, but now works at the RIKEN institute in Japan.
"Our research is demonstrating that how those elements are arranged is not just determined by their own nature, they can also be tuned by external influence," Yang said. "Once we use that influence to change their arrangement, they can exhibit properties that were previously prohibited to them."
The ability to convert force into electricity is called piezoelectric, while the ability to convert temperature changes into electricity is called pyroelectric. Researchers observed both qualities in metal-plated crystals made of Strontium titanate, Titanium dioxide and silicon.
The researchers suggest the breakthrough technology could be used to create extremely sensitive sensors or especially efficient actuators or transducers.
Previous efforts to grant crystal materials new properties have required complicated solid-state chemistry, they said.
"You now have a completely different path to tweak these materials and the ability to tune the effect, something that we have not been able to do before," Alexe said. "That opens the field to many other possibilities with these materials and we might not know where those lead."