upi--2020-09-30--Zac Efron to star in 'Firestarter' remake

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- The Greatest Showman and High School Musical star Zac Efron has landed the lead @ @ @ @ @ the horror classic , Firestarter .
`` Welcome to the fam @ ZacEfron # firestarter @ @ @ @ @ tweeted Tuesday .
Keith Thomas is directing the thriller based on Stephen King 's novel @ @ @ @ @ a shadowy government agency after she develops pyrokinetic powers and the ability to see the @ @ @ @ @ David Keith , Heather Locklear , Martin Sheen , George C. Scott and Louise Fletcher @ @ @ @ @ version of the tale .
Efron 's other credits include Extremely Wicked , Shockingly Evil @ @ @ @ @ The Paperboy .
He also recently hosted the travel docu-series Down to Earth and signed @ @ @ @ @ remake of Three Men and a Baby .

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Zac Efron is set to star in a remake of "Firestarter." File Photo by Dennis Van Tine/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The Greatest Showman and High School Musical star Zac Efron has landed the lead role in a remake of the horror classic, Firestarter. "Welcome to the fam @ZacEfron #firestarter," production company Blumhouse tweeted Tuesday. Advertisement
Keith Thomas is directing the thriller based on Stephen King's novel about a girl abducted by a shadowy government agency after she develops pyrokinetic powers and the ability to see the future.
Efron will play the child's father.
Drew Barrymore, David Keith, Heather Locklear, Martin Sheen, George C. Scott and Louise Fletcher starred in a 1984 film version of the tale.
Efron's other credits include Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, Neighbors and The Paperboy. He also recently hosted the travel docu-series Down to Earth and signed on to star in a remake of Three Men and a Baby.


upi--2020-09-30--'I Am Woman' singer Helen Reddy dead at 78

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- Australian singer-songwriter , feminist icon and TV personality Helen Reddy has died at age 78 , her family announced .
Reddy was diagnosed with dementia in 2015 .
Her final years were spent being cared for at the Motion Picture and Television Fund 's Samuel Goldwyn Center for Behavioral Health in Woodland Hills .
An exact cause of death was not released .
`` It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother , Helen Reddy , on the afternoon of September 29th 2020 in Los Angeles , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote in a statement on Reddy 's official fan page on Facebook Tuesday .
`` She was a wonderful Mother , Grandmother and a truly formidable woman .
Our hearts are broken .
But we take comfort in the knowledge that her voice will live on forever . ''
Jeff Wald , Reddy 's former husband and manager , also confirmed her death .
`` I am v sad to announce that my first wife of 18 years and the mother of my two oldest Traci & Jordan .
Traci spent the morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the excellent care of the Motion & Television Home # Helen Reddy , '' Wald tweeted Tuesday .
The Grammy-winning artist is best known for her hit 1960s and '70s songs `` I Believe in Music , '' `` I Do n't Know How to Love Him , '' `` Delta Dawn '' `` Angie Baby , '' `` Leave Me Alone ( Ruby Red Dress ) , '' `` You and Me Against the World , '' `` Ai n't No Way to Treat a Lady '' and `` I Ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reddy frequently sang her feminist anthem , `` I Am Woman , '' at Democrat political events , particularly those advocating for women 's issues .
She was a popular guest on talk and game shows , hosted the short-lived variety program The Helen Reddy Show and starred in the films Pete 's Dragon and Airport '75 .
Her memoir , The Woman I Am , was published in 2006 and a dramatic film about her life -- I Am Woman -- was released this month .
Outside entertainment , Reddy worked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1977-80 and earned a degree in clinical hypnotherapy in 2002 .

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Singer Helen Reddy has died at age 78. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Australian singer-songwriter, feminist icon and TV personality Helen Reddy has died at age 78, her family announced. Reddy was diagnosed with dementia in 2015. Her final years were spent being cared for at the Motion Picture and Television Fund's Samuel Goldwyn Center for Behavioral Health in Woodland Hills. Advertisement
An exact cause of death was not released.
"It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Helen Reddy, on the afternoon of September 29th 2020 in Los Angeles," her children Traci Donat and Jordan Sommers wrote in a statement on Reddy's official fan page on Facebook Tuesday.
"She was a wonderful Mother, Grandmother and a truly formidable woman. Our hearts are broken. But we take comfort in the knowledge that her voice will live on forever."
Jeff Wald, Reddy's former husband and manager, also confirmed her death.
"I am v sad to announce that my first wife of 18 years and the mother of my two oldest Traci & Jordan. Traci spent the morning with Helen and she passed soon after under the excellent care of the Motion & Television Home #Helen Reddy," Wald tweeted Tuesday.
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The Grammy-winning artist is best known for her hit 1960s and '70s songs "I Believe in Music," "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "Delta Dawn" "Angie Baby," "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)," "You and Me Against the World," "Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady" and "I Can't Hear You No More."
Reddy frequently sang her feminist anthem, "I Am Woman," at Democrat political events, particularly those advocating for women's issues.
She was a popular guest on talk and game shows, hosted the short-lived variety program The Helen Reddy Show and starred in the films Pete's Dragon and Airport '75.
Her memoir, The Woman I Am, was published in 2006 and a dramatic film about her life -- I Am Woman -- was released this month.
Outside entertainment, Reddy worked for the California Department of Parks and Recreation 1977-80 and earned a degree in clinical hypnotherapy in 2002.
Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-09-30--Google celebrates the dachshund bobblehead in new Doodle

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- Google is paying homage to car accessory the dachshund bobblehead with a new Doodle @ @ @ @ @ animated artwork of a dachshund bobblehead moving it 's head back in fourth on the @ @ @ @ @ .
The dog doll was first manufactured in Germany in the 1970s .
The bobblehead @ @ @ @ @ as the Wackeldackel or wobbling dachshund in English .
The dachshund bobblehead made a comeback @ @ @ @ @ being featured in a German advertisement .
The toy then sold 500,000 units in eight @ @ @ @ @ eye out for these four-legged passengers on the road !
You never know when you @ @ @ @ @ in the back of a hot rod , '' Google said .

Google is celebrating the dachshund bobblehead which originated in Germany. Image courtesy of Google
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Google is paying homage to car accessory the dachshund bobblehead with a new Doodle. Google's homepage features animated artwork of a dachshund bobblehead moving it's head back in fourth on the rear dash of a car. Advertisement
The dog doll was first manufactured in Germany in the 1970s. The bobblehead was affectionately known in German as the Wackeldackel or wobbling dachshund in English.
The dachshund bobblehead made a comeback in the late '90s after being featured in a German advertisement. The toy then sold 500,000 units in eight months.
"Keep an eye out for these four-legged passengers on the road! You never know when you might spot a hot dog in the back of a hot rod," Google said.


upi--2020-09-30--Former FBI Director James Comey to testify in Senate on origins of Justice Dept. Russia inquiry

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- Former FBI Director James Comey will testify in Congress on Wednesday in the third oversight hearing related to the investigation of the bureau 's inquiry of Russian interference in the 2016 election .
Comey will appear before the Senate judiciary committee as part of its oversight into the Crossfire Hurricane investigation .
The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. EDT .
`` Crossfire Hurricane '' was the code name given to the FBI investigation into links between President Donald Trump 's campaign and Russian officials , as well as whether there was coordination between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election four years ago .
Republicans have long criticized the inquiry and the Trump administration declared invalid two of four surveillance warrants related to former campaign adviser Carter Page after Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz outlined 17 inaccuracies in three applications filed under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act .
In 2018 , Trump directed the department to declassify text messages sent by Comey and former FBI officials Andrew McCabe , Peter Strzok , Lisa Page and Justice Department official Bruce Ohr .
Committee chair Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , said Comey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The day of reckoning is upon us when it comes to Crossfire Hurricane , '' he told Fox News earlier this month .
`` I appreciate Mr. Comey coming before the committee and he will be respectfully treated but asked hard questions . ''
Graham said the committee is negotiating with McCabe to secure testimony , but former special counsel Robert Mueller declined an invitation to testify , saying he would not have enough time to prepare .
In the committee 's two previous hearings in June and August , the panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rod Rosenstein and former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates .

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Former FBI Director James Comey testifies via videoconference during a Senate judiciary committee hearing in Washington on Wednesday. Photo by Stefani Reynolds/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Former FBI Director James Comey on Wednesday defended his actions to investigate possible links between Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russian operatives. Testifying before the Senate judiciary committee as part of its oversight into the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, Comey disputed assertions by Trump, Republican senators and Attorney General William Barr that the probe was unfounded and politically motivated. Advertisement
"Crossfire Hurricane" was the code name given to the FBI investigation into links between Trump's campaign and Russian officials, as well as whether there was coordination between the two parties to interfere in the election four years ago.
"This was an investigation that was appropriately predicated and that had to be opened and it was in the main conducted in the right way," Comey said, adding that the probe eventually resulted in nearly 200 criminal charges and dozens of indictments or guilty pleas after being taken over by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
"The notion that the attorney general believes that was an illegitimate endeavor to investigate mystifies me," Comey said.
Republicans have long criticized the inquiry. The Trump administration declared invalid two of four surveillance warrants related to former campaign adviser Carter Page after Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz outlined 17 inaccuracies in three applications filed under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
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In 2018, Trump directed the department to declassify text messages sent by Comey and former FBI officials Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok, Lisa Page and Justice Department official Bruce Ohr.
Comey, who appeared via video, conceded the bureau made some mistakes in the case, but asserted, "Overall, I'm proud of the work."
Committee chair Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., repeatedly pressed Comey on why Page was targeted for surveillance despite the emergence of exculpatory information.
"How could all that happen and not get up to you, the director of the FBI, of one of the most important investigations in the history of the FBI?" he asked.
"I can only speculate, because it didn't," Comey replied.
Graham said the committee is negotiating with McCabe to secure testimony, but Mueller declined an invitation to testify, saying he would not have enough time to prepare.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., criticized Graham's handling of the hearing.
"This seems more like a political errand for President Trump's reelection effort," he said. "I think it's offensive to all Americans who pay taxes. I realize the president does not."
In the committee's two previous hearings in June and August, the panel heard testimony from former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates.


upi--2020-09-30--A close presidential election would be become a January nightmare

Two tragedies and two laws could very likely turn the forthcoming presidential election into a January nightmare that directly threatens the Constitution and the American political system .
The New York Times ' reporting on President Donald Trump 's tax returns adds another level of uncertainty .
The coronavirus pandemic , the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , the Electoral College Act of 1887 and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 are ingredients in a potential political nuclear time bomb made even more destructive by the worst toxic and divisive partisan environment possibly since 1860 .
Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the voting for all offices will be by mail .
No matter how efficiently carried out , many races will be hotly contested and probably massively litigated .
Weather and other environmental disasters could also affect voter turnout .
It could take weeks or longer to resolve not only vote count but the legal challenges to candidates for Congress and the presidency .
Despite the political firestorm over the urgency to confirm Ginsburg 's successor , that vote will take place possibly before the election , giving the president a 5-4 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chief justice votes .
And make no mistake : There is a very good chance the court will decide the presidential election as it did in 2000 .
In normal and abnormal times , presidents are elected in one of three ways : the Electoral College , where at least 270 votes are needed : the House of Representatives if the Electoral college is stymied ; or as in 1876 , when both paths were blocked , a congressional compromise whereby a 15-man commission chose the winner .
The Electoral College Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , by whom and who is or is not seated .
Yet given many unresolved ambiguities in that act over each of these questions , there would likely be major legal battles challenging interpretation of this law In the House , regardless of size of the delegation , each state gets a single vote for president .
Twenty-six votes are needed , provided a quorum of two-thrids , or 34 states , is present .
If the 117th Congress maintains the same composition , Republicans will hold that majority .
Democrats , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But in those circumstances , could litigation force the Supreme Court to intervene to order a quorum ?
Concurrently , the Senate picks the vice president .
A two-thirds quorum of 67 members present is required , again subject to a boycott .
Senate rules do not state how or if a quorum may be ordered .
But be assured if there were a majority party , it would try to find a parliamentary workaround or loophole to choose their candidate .
If the House can not determine a winner , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that person becomes acting president .
With a highly contested election , only the most powerful incentives or equally strong forces could induce a deadlocked Senate to decide on a vice president .
Perhaps if it were clear that one or the other of the candidates was certain to win and the Senate were controlled by the same party , then electing the vice president has a certain logic .
And if the Senate were divided 50-50 , would the vice president , who is president of the Senate , cast the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president or vice president to assume that office , presumably the 1947 Presidential Succession Act applies , in which the speaker of the House is next in line , followed by the Senate president pro tempore .
But that act would likely be challenged on several legal grounds , whether justified or not , questioning the legitimacy of the speaker to become acting president when this president 's term expires on Jan. 20 .
Under certain bizarre circumstances and if an 1876 Compromise-like solution can not be found , the United States could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is no rule book for this contingency .
One other possibility , admittedly remote , could resolve a deadlock .
If the Senate could agree on a vice president , that person would become acting president until the election were resolved , providing continuity .
That could risk a split ticket with a president and vice president of different parties .
Some might ( idealistically ) argue that would be one means of closing the intense partisan divide .
A combination of unprecedented events and ambiguous law will test the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation 's history .
Jan. 20 could arrive with no obvious means of breaking these possible deadlocks .
A conclusive electoral victory by either presidential candidate would be in the nation 's best interests .
Should that not happen , the nation too easily will be in for a January nightmare .
Harlan Ullman is a senior adviser at the Atlantic Council , has served as a professor of military strategy at the National War College and as a distinguished visiting professor at the Naval War College and has authored the upcoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To Be Feared , Friended or Fought in a MAD-Driven Age . ''

President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden, held their first debate on Tuesday in Ohio. A conclusive victory by either candidate in the November vote would be in the nation’s best interests. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Two tragedies and two laws could very likely turn the forthcoming presidential election into a January nightmare that directly threatens the Constitution and the American political system. The New York Times' reporting on President Donald Trump's tax returns adds another level of uncertainty. Advertisement
The coronavirus pandemic, the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Electoral College Act of 1887 and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 are ingredients in a potential political nuclear time bomb made even more destructive by the worst toxic and divisive partisan environment possibly since 1860.
Why? First, the pandemic means much of the voting for all offices will be by mail. No matter how efficiently carried out, many races will be hotly contested and probably massively litigated. Weather and other environmental disasters could also affect voter turnout. It could take weeks or longer to resolve not only vote count but the legal challenges to candidates for Congress and the presidency.
Advertisement
Despite the political firestorm over the urgency to confirm Ginsburg's successor, that vote will take place possibly before the election, giving the president a 5-4 and possibly 6-3 majority, depending upon how the chief justice votes. And make no mistake: There is a very good chance the court will decide the presidential election as it did in 2000.
In normal and abnormal times, presidents are elected in one of three ways: the Electoral College, where at least 270 votes are needed: the House of Representatives if the Electoral college is stymied; or as in 1876, when both paths were blocked, a congressional compromise whereby a 15-man commission chose the winner.
The Electoral College Act of 1887 determines how electors are determined, by whom and who is or is not seated. Yet given many unresolved ambiguities in that act over each of these questions, there would likely be major legal battles challenging interpretation of this law
In the House, regardless of size of the delegation, each state gets a single vote for president. Twenty-six votes are needed, provided a quorum of two-thrids, or 34 states, is present. If the 117th Congress maintains the same composition, Republicans will hold that majority. Democrats, however, could boycott to prevent a quorum. But in those circumstances, could litigation force the Supreme Court to intervene to order a quorum?
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Concurrently, the Senate picks the vice president. A two-thirds quorum of 67 members present is required, again subject to a boycott. Senate rules do not state how or if a quorum may be ordered. But be assured if there were a majority party, it would try to find a parliamentary workaround or loophole to choose their candidate. If the House cannot determine a winner, and the Senate has selected a vice president, that person becomes acting president.
With a highly contested election, only the most powerful incentives or equally strong forces could induce a deadlocked Senate to decide on a vice president. Perhaps if it were clear that one or the other of the candidates was certain to win and the Senate were controlled by the same party, then electing the vice president has a certain logic. And if the Senate were divided 50-50, would the vice president, who is president of the Senate, cast the deciding vote?
If there is no president or vice president to assume that office, presumably the 1947 Presidential Succession Act applies, in which the speaker of the House is next in line, followed by the Senate president pro tempore. But that act would likely be challenged on several legal grounds, whether justified or not, questioning the legitimacy of the speaker to become acting president when this president's term expires on Jan. 20.
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Under certain bizarre circumstances and if an 1876 Compromise-like solution cannot be found, the United States could be without an elected or acting president. There is no rule book for this contingency. One other possibility, admittedly remote, could resolve a deadlock.
If the Senate could agree on a vice president, that person would become acting president until the election were resolved, providing continuity. That could risk a split ticket with a president and vice president of different parties. Some might (idealistically) argue that would be one means of closing the intense partisan divide.
A combination of unprecedented events and ambiguous law will test the Constitution and make this election unlike any in the nation's history. Jan. 20 could arrive with no obvious means of breaking these possible deadlocks. A conclusive electoral victory by either presidential candidate would be in the nation's best interests. Should that not happen, the nation too easily will be in for a January nightmare. Harlan Ullman is a senior adviser at the Atlantic Council, has served as a professor of military strategy at the National War College and as a distinguished visiting professor at the Naval War College and has authored the upcoming book, "The Fifth Horseman: To Be Feared, Friended or Fought in a MAD-Driven Age."
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First presidential debate takes place in Cleveland


upi--2020-09-30--Study: Giving babies wheat very early may prevent celiac disease

Childhood risk for developing the allergic/autoimmune disorder known as celiac disease might be eliminated if infants were exposed to gluten as early as 4 months of age , new British research suggests .
The observation is based on work with 1,300 infants .
Half were exposed to solid foods -- including wheat protein -- at an age that conflicts with current breastfeeding guidelines .
Among those who were , none developed celiac disease .
`` It was a surprise , '' said study author Dr. Gideon Lack .
`` But if this study is correct , it would indicate that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celiac disease , we would need to introduce significant quantities of wheat into a baby 's diet as of 4 months of life . ''
But the finding is not the final word on the subject , cautioned Lack , a professor of pediatric allergy and immunology at King 's College London .
`` This is one study with a relatively small number of patients , '' he said .
`` And , therefore , it can not be regarded as conclusive , and clearly demands further study and investigation . ''
Celiac @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gluten damages the small intestine .
It can cause poor absorption of nutrients .
`` In some ways it 's an allergic disease inasmuch as it is triggered by eating gluten , which is a major wheat constituent , although it 's also present in barley and rye , '' Lack said .
`` And in other ways it is an autoimmune disease , in that the body launches an immune response , and that response becomes redirected against the lining of the small intestine . ''
About 1 % of the population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , celiac disease it can go undiagnosed for many years , leading to poor growth and malnutrition .
In adults , it can cause bone-thinning , fatigue and in rare cases , colon cancer .
Celiac patients can manage by avoiding gluten altogether .
But there is no known way to prevent the onset of celiac disease .
Current guidelines stipulate that celiac risk is not affected by the age at which one is first exposed to gluten .
But Lack and his colleagues put that wisdom to the test during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a whole , rather than celiac disease , specifically .
The team focused on 1,300 English and Welsh infants who were enrolled in a food study between 2009 and 2012 .
All had been exclusively breastfed until 13 weeks of age .
After that , half continued to be exclusively breastfed through their sixth month .
The other half was also exposed to potentially allergy-provoking foods .
Those foods included cow 's milk , eggs , peanuts , sesame , cod fish and wheat .
The team aimed to include about 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which contains about 3 grams of gluten .
By age 3 , there were seven cases of celiac disease among the breastfeeding group , but zero among the group that was exposed to wheat early .
The American Academy of Pediatrics , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.K. government all urge parents to breastfeed exclusively for six months , giving babies no additional foods or fluids unless medically recommended .
The CDC says this `` provides your child with ideal nutrition and supports growth and development . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Clinical Nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas , and reviewed the study .
If the findings hold up , she said , big changes could ensue .
`` This is one of those studies that makes you think that we -- as in pediatricians , ob-gyns , dietitians and physician assistants -- have been giving parents the wrong advice for years with the message of exclusive breastfeeding and limited introduction of regular foods before 6 months , '' Sandon said .
Breastfeeding is an important means for conferring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stressed .
But infancy is also when children `` form and learn to coexist with bacteria , viruses and other foreign substance like proteins found in foods , '' including gluten in wheat .
`` By not exposing infants to the common allergens in foods early on , it is theoretically possible the immune system is not being prepared to be robust enough to handle these foods , '' Sandon said .
But she said it 's too soon to change practice .
More research is needed , Sandon said , adding , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to change advice based on one study . ''
The findings were published online Sept. 28 in JAMA Pediatrics .
More information There 's more information on celiac disease at the Celiac Disease Foundation .

Childhood risk for developing the allergic/autoimmune disorder known as celiac disease might be eliminated if infants were exposed to gluten as early as 4 months of age, new British research suggests.
The observation is based on work with 1,300 infants. Half were exposed to solid foods -- including wheat protein -- at an age that conflicts with current breastfeeding guidelines. Among those who were, none developed celiac disease.
Advertisement
"It was a surprise," said study author Dr. Gideon Lack. "But if this study is correct, it would indicate that in order to prevent the development of celiac disease, we would need to introduce significant quantities of wheat into a baby's diet as of 4 months of life."
But the finding is not the final word on the subject, cautioned Lack, a professor of pediatric allergy and immunology at King's College London.
"This is one study with a relatively small number of patients," he said. "And, therefore, it cannot be regarded as conclusive, and clearly demands further study and investigation."
Advertisement
Celiac disease is an inflammatory condition where consuming gluten damages the small intestine. It can cause poor absorption of nutrients.
"In some ways it's an allergic disease inasmuch as it is triggered by eating gluten, which is a major wheat constituent, although it's also present in barley and rye," Lack said. "And in other ways it is an autoimmune disease, in that the body launches an immune response, and that response becomes redirected against the lining of the small intestine."
About 1% of the population is affected, he added. In children, celiac disease it can go undiagnosed for many years, leading to poor growth and malnutrition. In adults, it can cause bone-thinning, fatigue and in rare cases, colon cancer.
Celiac patients can manage by avoiding gluten altogether. But there is no known way to prevent the onset of celiac disease. Current guidelines stipulate that celiac risk is not affected by the age at which one is first exposed to gluten.
But Lack and his colleagues put that wisdom to the test during a broad investigation that examined food allergy risk as a whole, rather than celiac disease, specifically.
The team focused on 1,300 English and Welsh infants who were enrolled in a food study between 2009 and 2012.
Advertisement
All had been exclusively breastfed until 13 weeks of age. After that, half continued to be exclusively breastfed through their sixth month. The other half was also exposed to potentially allergy-provoking foods.
Those foods included cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, sesame, cod fish and wheat. The team aimed to include about 4 grams of wheat protein per week, which contains about 3 grams of gluten.
By age 3, there were seven cases of celiac disease among the breastfeeding group, but zero among the group that was exposed to wheat early.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.K. government all urge parents to breastfeed exclusively for six months, giving babies no additional foods or fluids unless medically recommended. The CDC says this "provides your child with ideal nutrition and supports growth and development."
Lona Sandon is a program director in the Department of Clinical Nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and reviewed the study. If the findings hold up, she said, big changes could ensue.
"This is one of those studies that makes you think that we -- as in pediatricians, ob-gyns, dietitians and physician assistants -- have been giving parents the wrong advice for years with the message of exclusive breastfeeding and limited introduction of regular foods before 6 months," Sandon said.
Advertisement
Breastfeeding is an important means for conferring "immune enhancing factors," she stressed. But infancy is also when children "form and learn to coexist with bacteria, viruses and other foreign substance like proteins found in foods," including gluten in wheat. "By not exposing infants to the common allergens in foods early on, it is theoretically possible the immune system is not being prepared to be robust enough to handle these foods," Sandon said.
But she said it's too soon to change practice. More research is needed, Sandon said, adding, "It's always a bit risky to change advice based on one study."
The findings were published online Sept. 28 in JAMA Pediatrics.
More information There's more information on celiac disease at the Celiac Disease Foundation.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-09-30--On This Day. Sept. 30: James Dean dies in car crash

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1630 , John Billington , one of the first pilgrims to land in America , was hanged for murder -- the first European criminal executed in the American colonies .
In 1846 , a dentist in Charleston , Mass.
, extracted a tooth with the aid of an anesthetic -- ether .
It was the first time an anesthetic had been used .
In 1927 , Babe Ruth set a Major League Baseball record with his 60th home run of the season .
The mark would stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany , France , Britain and Italy met in Munich , Germany , for a conference after which British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain predicted `` peace for our time . ''
World War II began less than one year later .
In 1946 , verdicts were handed down in the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial .
Twelve Nazi leaders were sentenced to death by hanging .
In 1954 , the USS Nautilus , the world 's first nuclear submarine , was commissioned by the U.S. Navy , under the command of Commander Eugene P. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James Dean died in a car crash at age 24 .
In 1962 , James H. Meredith , an African American student , was escorted onto the University of Mississippi campus by U.S. marshals , setting off a riot in which two men died before violence was quelled by more than 3,000 soldiers .
Meredith enrolled the next day .
In 1992 , the United States returned most of the Subic Bay Naval Base to the Philippine government after more than a century of use .
In 1993 , a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10,000 people .
The disaster primarily affected the Latur and Osmanabad districts .
In 1993 , Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Colin Powell announced his retirement from the military .
Effective upon his retirement , Britain 's Queen Elizabeth II approved his knighthood .
In 2005 , Michael Eisner resigned as CEO of the Walt Disney Co. One week later , he departed his position on the board of the company .
In 2008 , thousands of worshipers making their way through a narrow passage to a Hindu temple in India for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when a wall collapsed .
Police put the death toll at 224 with more than 100 people injured .
In 2011 , a missile from a U.S. drone aircraft strike over Yemen killed Anwar al-Awlaki , a U.S.-born Islamic cleric linked to several high-profile terrorist incidents in the United States and subject of a two-year manhunt .
In 2017 , in a series of tweets , President Donald Trump blasted San Juan , Puerto Rico , Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz for `` poor leadership ability '' during recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Cruz begged the public for help and said the government was `` killing us with the inefficiency . ''

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On September 30, 1955, movie idol James Dean died in a car crash at age 24. File photo by United Press International
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1630, John Billington, one of the first pilgrims to land in America, was hanged for murder -- the first European criminal executed in the American colonies. Advertisement
In 1846, a dentist in Charleston, Mass., extracted a tooth with the aid of an anesthetic -- ether. It was the first time an anesthetic had been used.
In 1927, Babe Ruth set a Major League Baseball record with his 60th home run of the season. The mark would stand for 34 years.
In 1938, Germany, France, Britain and Italy met in Munich, Germany, for a conference after which British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain predicted "peace for our time." World War II began less than one year later.
In 1946, verdicts were handed down in the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial. Twelve Nazi leaders were sentenced to death by hanging.
File Photo by U.S. Army
In 1954, the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear submarine, was commissioned by the U.S. Navy, under the command of Commander Eugene P. Wilkinson.
Advertisement
In 1955, movie idol James Dean died in a car crash at age 24.
In 1962, James H. Meredith, an African American student, was escorted onto the University of Mississippi campus by U.S. marshals, setting off a riot in which two men died before violence was quelled by more than 3,000 soldiers. Meredith enrolled the next day.
In 1992, the United States returned most of the Subic Bay Naval Base to the Philippine government after more than a century of use.
In 1993, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck India's Maharashtra state, killing nearly 10,000 people. The disaster primarily affected the Latur and Osmanabad districts.
In 1993, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Colin Powell announced his retirement from the military. Effective upon his retirement, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II approved his knighthood.
In 2005, Michael Eisner resigned as CEO of the Walt Disney Co. One week later, he departed his position on the board of the company.
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
In 2008, thousands of worshipers making their way through a narrow passage to a Hindu temple in India for a religious festival broke into a stampede when a wall collapsed. Police put the death toll at 224 with more than 100 people injured.
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In 2011, a missile from a U.S. drone aircraft strike over Yemen killed Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S.-born Islamic cleric linked to several high-profile terrorist incidents in the United States and subject of a two-year manhunt.
In 2017, in a series of tweets, President Donald Trump blasted San Juan, Puerto Rico, Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz for "poor leadership ability" during recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria. In a televised interview the day before, Cruz begged the public for help and said the government was "killing us with the inefficiency."


upi--2020-09-30--Famous birthdays for Sept. 30: Martina Hingis, Johnny Mathis

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Libra .
-- German @ @ @ @ @ of the Geiger counter , in 1882

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Martina Hingis of Switzerland hits a serve during her French Open women's doubles first-round match at Roland Garros in Paris on May 27, 2015. The tennis star turns 40 on September 30. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Libra. -- They include Persian poet Rumi in 1207 Advertisement
-- Pope Nicholas IV in 1227
-- Chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. in 1861
-- German physicist Hans Geiger, co-inventor of the Geiger counter, in 1882
-- Film director Lewis Milestone in 1895
-- Novelist Truman Capote in 1924
-- Actor Deborah Kerr in 1921
-- Actor Angie Dickinson in 1931 (age 89)
-- Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel in 1928
-- Singer Johnny Mathis in 1935 (age 85)
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
-- Actor Len Cariou in 1939 (age 81)
-- Singer Marilyn McCoo in 1943 (age 77)
-- Actor Victoria Tennant in 1950 (age 70)
-- Actor Barry Williams in 1954 (age 66)
-- Actor Fran Drescher in 1957 (age 63)
-- Actor Eric Stoltz in 1961 (age 59)
-- Actor Crystal Bernard in 1961 (age 59)
-- Actor Monica Bellucci in 1964 (age 56)
-- Actor Jenna Elfman in 1971 (age 49)
-- Actor Marion Cotillard in 1975 (age 45)
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File Photo by David Silpa/UPI
-- Author Ta-Nehisi Coates in 1975 (age 45)
-- Tennis star Martina Hingis in 1980 (age 40)
-- U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Dominique Moceanu in 1981 (age 39)
-- Actor Lacey Chabert in 1982 (age 38)
-- Actor Kieran Culkin in 1982 (age 38)
-- Rapper T-Pain, born Faheem Rashad Najm, in 1985 (age 35)
-- Actor Ki Hong Lee in 1986 (age 34)
-- Actor Ezra Miller in 1992 (age 28)
-- Actor/dancer Maddie Ziegler in 2002 (age 18)


upi--2020-09-30--Six-month mission will test limits of SpaceX Dragon, astronauts say

ORLANDO , Fla. , Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- Four astronauts who plan to travel into space Oct. 31 say the six-month mission will test the limits of SpaceX 's Crew Dragon spacecraft .
The Crew Dragon is expected to lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:40 a.m. that day -- the first capsule in history to carry four people .
The previous crewed SpaceX capsule , which returned to Earth on Aug. 2 , carried two astronauts and spent two months in orbit .
Flying on such a new vehicle means nobody can tell those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Hopkins , the spacecraft commander , said in a press conference Tuesday .
He flew to space once in 2013 aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule , which carries three people .
Before that mission , Hopkins said he received support from other astronauts that had flown on it many times .
`` This time , we did n't have people that could tell you or reassure you ... that you 're going to be ready , '' Hopkins said .
`` And so we had to figure that out a little bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thankful and very happy to say that we have . ''
Hopkins , 51 , will fly with the pilot Victor Glover , 44 , and mission specialists Shannon Walker and Soichi Noguchi , both 55 .
Noguchi is a Japanese astronaut .
The astronauts announced that they had chosen Resilience as the name for the spacecraft , which they said reflects the character of teams at NASA and SpaceX that continued to plan the mission through the COVID-19 pandemic .
The astronauts also acknowledged they have watched very closely as modifications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first , two-month demonstration mission .
These modifications include more powerful solar arrays to power the Dragon for the longer period in space and a more durable heat shield in areas where erosion was found on the demonstration capsule .
SpaceX and NASA said Tuesday the heat shield issue never represented a safety hazard for the astronauts on board , but changes were made in an abundance of caution .
Noguchi flew on the first space shuttle mission in 2005 after the Columbia explosion , which killed all seven astronauts on board .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a piece of foam insulation broke off from the fuel tank upon liftoff .
The debris cracked the left wing of the shuttle , which allowed superheated air to enter the wing and blow it apart during the fiery re-entry .
`` Having lived through that , after Colombia , I would say yes , we are following [ heat shield changes ] very closely , '' Hopkins said .
`` But I would also say there is an amazing team that has been brought together to work this issue , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Hopkins said he talked to astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley about their experience on the Crew Dragon demonstration flight to the space station in May through August this year and that was helpful .
But the upcoming mission is different in several ways .
The mission will boost the number of astronauts living on the space station to seven for the first time in years .
That will allow more work with onboard experiments , the astronauts said .
They also plan to vote from space , which will be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from orbit , she said .
`` They basically send you an electronic file , and you mark your choices and then you email it back '' to the county election supervisor 's office , Walker said .

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The four astronauts expect to lift off Oct. 31 to the International Space Station on the Crew-1 mission are, from left to right, mission specialist Shannon Walker, pilot Victor Glover, commander Michael Hopkins -- all from NASA -- and Soichi Noguchi from Japan. Photo by Norah Moran/NASA | License Photo
ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Four astronauts who plan to travel into space Oct. 31 say the six-month mission will test the limits of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. The Crew Dragon is expected to lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:40 a.m. that day -- the first capsule in history to carry four people. Advertisement
The previous crewed SpaceX capsule, which returned to Earth on Aug. 2, carried two astronauts and spent two months in orbit.
Flying on such a new vehicle means nobody can tell those aboard exactly what to expect, astronaut Michael Hopkins, the spacecraft commander, said in a press conference Tuesday.
He flew to space once in 2013 aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule, which carries three people. Before that mission, Hopkins said he received support from other astronauts that had flown on it many times.
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"This time, we didn't have people that could tell you or reassure you...that you're going to be ready," Hopkins said. "And so we had to figure that out a little bit on our own. I'm kind of thankful and very happy to say that we have."
Hopkins, 51, will fly with the pilot Victor Glover, 44, and mission specialists Shannon Walker and Soichi Noguchi, both 55. Noguchi is a Japanese astronaut.
The astronauts announced that they had chosen Resilience as the name for the spacecraft, which they said reflects the character of teams at NASA and SpaceX that continued to plan the mission through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The astronauts also acknowledged they have watched very closely as modifications to the Dragon were made following the first, two-month demonstration mission.
These modifications include more powerful solar arrays to power the Dragon for the longer period in space and a more durable heat shield in areas where erosion was found on the demonstration capsule.
SpaceX and NASA said Tuesday the heat shield issue never represented a safety hazard for the astronauts on board, but changes were made in an abundance of caution.
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Noguchi flew on the first space shuttle mission in 2005 after the Columbia explosion, which killed all seven astronauts on board.
A NASA investigation of the tragedy found that a piece of foam insulation broke off from the fuel tank upon liftoff. The debris cracked the left wing of the shuttle, which allowed superheated air to enter the wing and blow it apart during the fiery re-entry.
"Having lived through that, after Colombia, I would say yes, we are following [heat shield changes] very closely," Hopkins said. "But I would also say there is an amazing team that has been brought together to work this issue, and we are confident in this team."
Hopkins said he talked to astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley about their experience on the Crew Dragon demonstration flight to the space station in May through August this year and that was helpful. But the upcoming mission is different in several ways.
The mission will boost the number of astronauts living on the space station to seven for the first time in years. That will allow more work with onboard experiments, the astronauts said.
They also plan to vote from space, which will be the second time Walker has cast her ballot from orbit, she said.
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"They basically send you an electronic file, and you mark your choices and then you email it back" to the county election supervisor's office, Walker said.
Astronauts make round trip to space station from U.S. soil


upi--2020-09-30--NBA Finals: LeBron's Lakers favored over balanced Heat

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- LeBron James ' Los Angeles Lakers are NBA Finals favorites this week in Orlando , Fla. , but a balanced Miami Heat team has completed a string of upsets and should be a feisty foe for the top seed in the Western Conference .
Game 1 of the best-of-7 series tips off at 9 p.m. EDT Wednesday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex inside the Walt Disney World Resort .
The Finals will air on ABC .
`` I 'm not saying we are better than anyone else , '' Heat forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just do n't think we are underdogs .
So what if nobody picked us to be here .
That 's OK .
They did n't pick us to win [ the Finals ] .
That 's OK. '' At the end of the day , we embrace that . ''
The championship series ends the longest season in NBA history , which included a four-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The season stopped in mid-March and resumed in late July inside the NBA 's protective bubble campus in Orlando .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 've ever done as a professional , '' James said .
`` I knew what we were coming here for .
`` I 'd be lying if I said I knew the toll it would take on [ my ] mind and body .
It has been extremely tough , but I 'm here for one reason only : that 's to compete for a championship . ''
James will appear in the Finals for the 10th time in his career .
He is on a quest to win a fourth championship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different team .
The Heat will attempt deny James of more hardware with defensive strategy , a cast of sharpshooters and a dynamic young superstar in Bam Adebayo .
`` We have to match their energy , '' Adebayo said .
`` There ca n't be a second on the floor where they are playing harder than us .
`` We have to make it tough for them . ''
James -- a four-time NBA MVP -- won his first title in 2012 while he was a member of the Heat , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storylines ahead of the 2020 NBA Finals .
Heat president Pat Riley played a large role in getting James to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers and join the Heat in 2010 .
The pair teamed up to reach the NBA Finals four consecutive times -- and win twice -- before James left Miami in 2014 and returned to the Cavaliers to win another title in 2016 .
Riley has since rebuilt the Heat into a formidable force to face one of his former teams -- the Lakers -- on the NBA 's grandest stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lakers player in 1972 , rejoined the franchise as a coach and won four championships with Los Angeles .
He later became the Heat coach and won another championship in 2006 .
The Lakers have a 37-27 all-time record in 64 games against the Heat .
That includes two victories during the 2019-2020 season .
Los Angeles beat Miami 95-80 on Nov. 8 in Los Angeles , and they beat the Heat 113-110 on Dec. 13 in Miami .
The franchises have never met in the playoffs .
Los Angeles will attempt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 championships .
The Heat have three titles , which is tied for sixth on the all-time list .
James has averaged 26.7 points , 10.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists throughout the 2020 postseason .
He has led the Lakers to a 12-3 record in the playoffs .
Lakers forward Anthony Davis has also been dominant in the postseason , with a team-high 28.8 points , 9.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game .
The Lakers have been content with Davis as their top scorer as James orchestrates the offense .
James has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and led the NBA in assists this season .
He also has helped anchor a strong defensive unit throughout the playoffs , with the Lakers allowing just 106.5 points per game -- third-fewest among postseason teams .
Los Angeles also has blocked more shots than any other team .
Lakers role players Kyle Kuzma , Danny Green , Kentavious Caldwell-Pope , Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard will need to step up to supplement James and Davis ' efforts on offense and defense to combat a pesky Heat defense .
`` Miami is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` A lot of people thought they should n't be here , but they are a team who fights .
They have big time players .
...
It 's not going to be easy for us . ''
The Lakers have averaged the most assists per game and the best field goal percentage throughout the playoffs .
Los Angeles also led the league in field goal percentage and blocked shots this season .
The active Lakers defense ranked fifth in steals .
James and Davis have dominated defenders inside the paint this season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to slow down the Heat 's tempo and use their size and physicality to control the Finals .
Los Angeles advanced to the Finals with series wins over the Portland Trail Blazers , Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets .
The Heat -- the No .
5 seed in the Eastern Conference -- had an impressive run to the title game .
They match the Lakers with a 12-3 postseason record .
Miami swept the No .
4 seed Indiana Pacers in the first round .
The Heat then knocked off the top-seeded Milwaukee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miami advanced to the championship with a 4-1 series win over the No .
3 Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals .
Five-time All-Star Jimmy Butler paced the Heat with 19.9 points per game during the regular season , but Miami has used spectacular performances from young players to carry the team to the NBA Finals .
Adebayo has produced better statistics for each round the Heat progressed through the playoffs .
Adebayo averaged 15 points and 11.3 rebounds per game in the first round .
He posted 17.2 points and 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Adebayo stepped up again in the conference finals with 21.8 points and 11 rebounds per game .
`` I feel like I 'm out there hooping and doing the right things , making the right plays and holding myself accountable , '' Adebayo said .
`` We are in the playoffs .
This is win or go home .
When you have that type of mindset , you have to go out there and back that up . ''
Veteran guard Goran Dragic leads the Heat with 20.9 points per game in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the rim when his team struggles on offense .
Butler 's All-Star pedigree , Adebayo 's emergence as an inside-out offensive and defensive factor , and Dragic 's penetration often is more than most defenses can handle .
The 3-point shooting from guard Tyler Herro and forwards Duncan Robinson and Jae Crowder have made the Heat offense nearly unstoppable this postseason .
Robinson ranked third in the NBA this season in made 3-pointers and fourth in 3-point percentage .
Herro has shot 37 % from 3-point range in the playoffs .
Crowder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postseason .
The Heat had the second-best 3-point percentage in the NBA during the season .
`` They share the ball , '' James said of the Heat .
`` Everyone is live on the floor .
There is n't one guy you can disrespect .
They do a hell of a job of moving the ball . ''
Game 5 ( if necessary ) : at 9 p.m. EDT Oct. 9 on ABC Game 6 ( if necessary ) : at 9 p.m. EDT Oct. 11 on ABC Game 7 ( if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oct. 13 on ABC

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LeBron James will play in his 10th NBA Finals when the Los Angeles Lakers battle the Miami Heat starting Wednesday in Orlando, Fla. Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers are NBA Finals favorites this week in Orlando, Fla., but a balanced Miami Heat team has completed a string of upsets and should be a feisty foe for the top seed in the Western Conference. Game 1 of the best-of-7 series tips off at 9 p.m. EDT Wednesday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex inside the Walt Disney World Resort. The Finals will air on ABC. Advertisement
"I'm not saying we are better than anyone else," Heat forward Jimmy Butler said Tuesday. "I just don't think we are underdogs. So what if nobody picked us to be here. That's OK. They didn't pick us to win [the Finals]. That's OK.
"At the end of the day, we embrace that."
The championship series ends the longest season in NBA history, which included a four-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The season stopped in mid-March and resumed in late July inside the NBA's protective bubble campus in Orlando.
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"It's probably the most challenging thing I've ever done as a professional," James said. "I knew what we were coming here for.
"I'd be lying if I said I knew the toll it would take on [my] mind and body. It has been extremely tough, but I'm here for one reason only: that's to compete for a championship."
James will appear in the Finals for the 10th time in his career. He is on a quest to win a fourth championship overall and third title for his third different team. The Heat will attempt deny James of more hardware with defensive strategy, a cast of sharpshooters and a dynamic young superstar in Bam Adebayo.
"We have to match their energy," Adebayo said. "There can't be a second on the floor where they are playing harder than us.
"We have to make it tough for them."
James -- a four-time NBA MVP -- won his first title in 2012 while he was a member of the Heat, but that is just one of several historical storylines ahead of the 2020 NBA Finals.
Wins in Miami
Heat president Pat Riley played a large role in getting James to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers and join the Heat in 2010. The pair teamed up to reach the NBA Finals four consecutive times -- and win twice -- before James left Miami in 2014 and returned to the Cavaliers to win another title in 2016.
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Riley has since rebuilt the Heat into a formidable force to face one of his former teams -- the Lakers -- on the NBA's grandest stage.
Riley won a championship as a Lakers player in 1972, rejoined the franchise as a coach and won four championships with Los Angeles. He later became the Heat coach and won another championship in 2006.
The Lakers have a 37-27 all-time record in 64 games against the Heat. That includes two victories during the 2019-2020 season. Los Angeles beat Miami 95-80 on Nov. 8 in Los Angeles, and they beat the Heat 113-110 on Dec. 13 in Miami.
The franchises have never met in the playoffs.
Los Angeles will attempt to tie the Boston Celtics with a record 17 championships. The Heat have three titles, which is tied for sixth on the all-time list.
Lakers strengths
James has averaged 26.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists throughout the 2020 postseason. He has led the Lakers to a 12-3 record in the playoffs. Lakers forward Anthony Davis has also been dominant in the postseason, with a team-high 28.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
The Lakers have been content with Davis as their top scorer as James orchestrates the offense. James has a playoff-best 133 assists in that role and led the NBA in assists this season.
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He also has helped anchor a strong defensive unit throughout the playoffs, with the Lakers allowing just 106.5 points per game -- third-fewest among postseason teams. Los Angeles also has blocked more shots than any other team.
Lakers role players Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard will need to step up to supplement James and Davis' efforts on offense and defense to combat a pesky Heat defense.
"Miami is a special team," Davis said. "A lot of people thought they shouldn't be here, but they are a team who fights. They have big time players. ... It's not going to be easy for us."
The Lakers have averaged the most assists per game and the best field goal percentage throughout the playoffs. Los Angeles also led the league in field goal percentage and blocked shots this season. The active Lakers defense ranked fifth in steals.
James and Davis have dominated defenders inside the paint this season, and the Lakers likely will try to slow down the Heat's tempo and use their size and physicality to control the Finals.
Los Angeles advanced to the Finals with series wins over the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.
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Heat strengths
The Heat -- the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference -- had an impressive run to the title game. They match the Lakers with a 12-3 postseason record.
Miami swept the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers in the first round. The Heat then knocked off the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Miami advanced to the championship with a 4-1 series win over the No. 3 Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.
Five-time All-Star Jimmy Butler paced the Heat with 19.9 points per game during the regular season, but Miami has used spectacular performances from young players to carry the team to the NBA Finals.
Adebayo has produced better statistics for each round the Heat progressed through the playoffs. Adebayo averaged 15 points and 11.3 rebounds per game in the first round. He posted 17.2 points and 12 rebounds per game in the second round. Adebayo stepped up again in the conference finals with 21.8 points and 11 rebounds per game.
"I feel like I'm out there hooping and doing the right things, making the right plays and holding myself accountable," Adebayo said. "We are in the playoffs. This is win or go home. When you have that type of mindset, you have to go out there and back that up."
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Veteran guard Goran Dragic leads the Heat with 20.9 points per game in the playoffs and often provides crucial drives to the rim when his team struggles on offense.
Butler's All-Star pedigree, Adebayo's emergence as an inside-out offensive and defensive factor, and Dragic's penetration often is more than most defenses can handle. The 3-point shooting from guard Tyler Herro and forwards Duncan Robinson and Jae Crowder have made the Heat offense nearly unstoppable this postseason.
Robinson ranked third in the NBA this season in made 3-pointers and fourth in 3-point percentage. Herro has shot 37% from 3-point range in the playoffs. Crowder has shot 34% from downtown this postseason. The Heat had the second-best 3-point percentage in the NBA during the season.
"They share the ball," James said of the Heat. "Everyone is live on the floor. There isn't one guy you can disrespect. They do a hell of a job of moving the ball."
NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Heat
Game 1: at 9 p.m. EDT Wednesday on ABC
Game 2: at 9 p.m. EDT Friday on ABC
Game 3: at 9 p.m. EDT Sunday on ABC
Game 4: at 9 p.m. EDT Oct. 6 on ABC
Game 5 (if necessary): at 9 p.m. EDT Oct. 9 on ABC
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Game 6 (if necessary): at 9 p.m. EDT Oct. 11 on ABC
Game 7 (if necessary): at 9 p.m. EDT Oct. 13 on ABC
Pick: Lakers in 7
Moments from LeBron James' career


upi--2020-09-30--Air pollutants, metals reach the placenta, study finds

Metals and other air pollutants have been found in the placentas of new mothers , which means such pollutants may be able to reach the fetus , researchers report .
`` Our study for the first time shows that inhaled carbon particulate matter in air pollution travels in the blood stream , and is taken up by important cells in the placenta .
We hope that this information will encourage policy makers to reduce road traffic emissions , '' said lead author Dr. Jonathan Grigg , a professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine at Queen Mary University of London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 healthy women in London who had just given birth .
Black particles that closely resembled particulate air pollution were found in an average of 1 % of cells in all 15 placentas .
Most of the particles were carbon-based .
But there were also trace amounts of metals , including silica , phosphorus , calcium , iron and chromium , and more rarely , titanium , cobalt , zinc and cerium .
Many of the metals are associated with vehicle-emitted air pollution from fossil fuel combustion and brake wear , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Science of The Total Environment .
Co-author Norrice Liu said there had been a known link between maternal exposure to high pollution levels and problems with the fetus , including low birthweight .
`` We have thought for a while that maternal inhalation could potentially result in pollution particles traveling to the placenta once inhaled , '' added Lisa Miyashita , a postdoctoral research assistant .
`` However , there are many defense mechanisms in the lung that prevent foreign particles from traveling elsewhere , so it was surprising to identify these particles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our participants , '' Miyashita said .
The March of Dimes has more on air pollution and pregnancy .

Metals and other air pollutants have been found in the placentas of new mothers, which means such pollutants may be able to reach the fetus, researchers report.
"Our study for the first time shows that inhaled carbon particulate matter in air pollution travels in the blood stream, and is taken up by important cells in the placenta. We hope that this information will encourage policy makers to reduce road traffic emissions," said lead author Dr. Jonathan Grigg, a professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine at Queen Mary University of London.
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His team analyzed placentas donated by 15 healthy women in London who had just given birth. Black particles that closely resembled particulate air pollution were found in an average of 1% of cells in all 15 placentas.
Most of the particles were carbon-based. But there were also trace amounts of metals, including silica, phosphorus, calcium, iron and chromium, and more rarely, titanium, cobalt, zinc and cerium.
Many of the metals are associated with vehicle-emitted air pollution from fossil fuel combustion and brake wear, according to the study published recently in the journal Science of The Total Environment.
Co-author Norrice Liu said there had been a known link between maternal exposure to high pollution levels and problems with the fetus, including low birthweight.
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"We have thought for a while that maternal inhalation could potentially result in pollution particles traveling to the placenta once inhaled," added Lisa Miyashita, a postdoctoral research assistant.
"However, there are many defense mechanisms in the lung that prevent foreign particles from traveling elsewhere, so it was surprising to identify these particles in the placental cells from all 15 of our participants," Miyashita said.
More information
The March of Dimes has more on air pollution and pregnancy.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-09-30--Donald Trump, Joe Biden clash over COVID-19, racial injustice in fiery first debate

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- Tensions flared Tuesday night as President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden squared off in the first 2020 presidential debate -- which aimed to question the candidates on six main issues .
The debate was , at times , disorderly as the two frequently talked over each other and moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News attempted to reign in the discussion multiple times throughout the night .
The main topics of the evening were COVID-19 , violence and racial injustice , the economy , election integrity , the Supreme Court and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point in the night , Biden turned to Trump after one interruption and asked , `` Will you shut up man ? ''
The two lobbed personal insults toward one another -- like Trump questioning Biden 's education and saying , `` There 's nothing smart about you , '' and Biden referring to the president as a `` clown . ''
The debate was broken into 15-minute segments , beginning with two minutes of statements by each candidate followed by open discussion .
Tuesday 's debate took place amid the ongoing COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million people in the United States and resulted in more than 200,000 deaths .
Biden criticized Trump 's handling of the coronavirus , pointing to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bob Woodward 's book , Rage , in which he wrote that Trump understood the deadly nature of the disease in early February and `` played it down '' to the American public because he did n't want to `` create a panic . ''
`` You did n't panic , he panicked , '' Biden said of the president 's response .
`` He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He panicked or he just looked at the stock market , one of the two .
Because guess what , a lot of people die and a lot more are going to die unless he gets a lot smarter , a lot quicker . ''
Trump asserted that Biden `` could never have done the job , '' citing the handling of H1N1 when Biden was vice president .
`` We got the gowns .
We got the masks .
We made the ventilators , '' Trump said .
`` You would n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're weeks away from a vaccine .
We 're doing therapeutics already .
Fewer people are dying . ''
Trump also said he disagreed with health experts in his administration -- such as Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , and Dr. Robert Redfield , director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- over statements they have made suggesting a vaccine may not be widely available until next year .
Trump insisted that drugmakers developing the vaccines can `` go faster than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process of developing a vaccine as `` a very political thing . ''
The two candidates discussed law enforcement and large scale protests that have occurred throughout the country in the wake of the killings of George Floyd in Minnesota and Breonna Taylor in Lousiville , Ky. , at the hands of police , and the police-involved shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha , Wis. , which left him paralyzed .
Trump touted the endorsements he has received from law enforcement groups , while accusing Biden of seeking to avoid embracing law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` the radical left . ''
The president also asserted that deploying federal law enforcement is an effective means to quell protests .
`` I 'll tell you what , the people of this country want law and order and you 're afraid to say it , '' Trump said .
Biden declared that the vast majority of police officers are `` good , decent honorable men and women '' adding that he is `` totally opposed '' to defunding the police , following an accusation from Trump that he would support the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other members of the Democratic Party .
`` What I support is the police having the opportunity to deal with the problems they face .
I 'm totally opposed to defunding the police , '' he said .
Wallace also asked Trump about his recent measures to end federal racial sensitivity training , which the president appeared to imply was prejudiced against White people and said was teaching people to `` hate America . ''
`` If you were a certain person , you had no status in life .
It was sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` And if you look at the people , we were paying people hundreds of thousands of dollars to teach very bad ideas and frankly , very sick ideas . ''
Biden refuted Trump 's statements , saying `` he 's just , he 's a racist '' and repeatedly accused the president of subtly supporting racist ideas .
`` This is a president who uses everything as a dog whistle to try to generate racist hatred , division , '' Biden said .
When asked to condemn White Supremacists , militias @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boys who have been involved in violence at various protests throughout the nation , Trump placed blame on left-wing protesters .
`` Proud Boys -- stand back and stand by , '' he said .
`` But I 'll tell you what .
Somebody 's got to do something about Antifa and the left because this is not a right wing problem . ''
Trump , who nominated conservative jurist Amy Coney Barrett to succeed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , defended his decision to urge the Republican-held Senate to complete confirmation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Tuesday night , the president asserted that `` elections have consequences '' and his 2016 election win grants him the right to name a Supreme Court justice .
`` We won the election and therefore we have the right to choose her , '' he said .
Biden countered that the American people should be able to weigh in on the decision with their votes in the presidential election .
`` The American people have a right to have a say in who this Supreme Court nominee is and that say occurs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and when they vote for president of the United States , '' said Biden .
`` They 're not going to get that chance now because we 're in the middle of an election already . ''
He added that he believes Barrett is a `` fine person , '' but warned that she thinks the Affordable Care Act , established under his time serving as vice president alongside former President Barack Obama , is unconstitutional placing it in jeopardy in a Supreme Court case scheduled for a week after the election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan to replace the ACA , also known as Obamacare , as the president leaned on the elimination of the individual mandate -- which required Americans to pay a tax penalty if they chose to forego insurance -- which was repealed as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act .
Trump accused the Democratic Party of seeking to implement `` socialist medicine '' and alleged his plan would force Americans to drop private insurers , to which Biden replied `` I am the Democratic Party '' following his nomination .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obamacare and we increase it , '' said Biden .
`` One of the big debates we had with 23 of my colleagues trying to win the nomination that I won , were saying that Biden wanted to allow people to have private insurance still .
They can , they do .
They will under my proposal . ''
Trump on Tuesday again declined to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if defeated in November 's election , expressing concern over the legitimacy of mail-in ballots amid an expected increase in mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results of the vote may not be known for `` months . ''
When asked if he would urge his supporters to remain calm and refrain from pre-emptively claiming victory while votes are still being tallied , Trump said he would urge his supporters to `` go into the polls and watch very carefully . ''
`` If I see tens of thousands of ballots being manipulated , I ca n't go along with that , '' he said .
Trump also said he would count on the Supreme Court to settle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm counting on them to look at the ballots , definitely .
I do n't think we 'll -- I hope we do n't need them in terms of the election itself .
But for the ballots , I think so , '' he said .
Biden responded that he would urge his supporters to remain calm and would accept the results of the election , while disputing claims that mail-in ballots are not secure and appealing Americans to establish a plan for how they will vote .
`` Show up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this election .
Vote , vote , vote .
If you 're able to vote early in your state , vote early .
If you 're able to vote in person , vote in person , '' he said .
`` Vote whatever way is the best way for you because ... he can not stop you from being able to determine the outcome of this election . ''
Trump on Tuesday night said that he believes climate change science , including that human pollution and greenhouse gas emissions , contribute to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an extent . ''
`` I believe that we have to do everything we can to have immaculate air , immaculate water and do whatever else we can that 's good , '' Trump said , highlighting his administration 's effort to plant more trees .
The president also repeated assertions that poor forest management is the primary cause of record wildfires that have burned through California and other states in the Western United States .
`` Every year , I get the call 'California is burning .
California is burning , ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had forest management , good forest management , you would n't be getting those calls , '' he said .
Biden stated that he does not support the Democratic-led Green New Deal , instead promoting his own $ 2 trillion climate plan .
He said that his actions would include rejoining the Paris Climate Accord , which Trump moved to withdraw from last year .
`` With us out of it , look what 's happening , it 's all falling apart , '' said Biden .
Biden also said he would gather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 20 billion to halt the deforestation of Brazil 's rainforests or impose `` significant economic consequences '' on Brazil .
Tuesday 's debate followed a report by The New York Times indicating Trump did n't pay any federal income taxes in 10 of the 15 years before he became president and paid just $ 750 in 2016 and 2017 .
Trump claimed that he paid `` millions of dollars in taxes , million dollars of income tax , '' but maintained he is unable to release his tax returns as he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he used deductions in the tax code to lower the amount of taxes he was required to pay .
`` People like every other private person , unless they 're stupid , they go through the laws , And that 's what it is , '' Trump said .
Biden 's campaign released his 2019 tax returns , which showed he and his wife , Jill Biden , reported about $ 945,000 in taxable income and paid $ 300,000 in federal income taxes .
The next debate will feature Vice President Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris on Oct. 7 in Salt Lake City , Utah .
The next presidential debate will take place in Miami on Oct. 15 .

1/3
President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden face off Tuesday night in the first of three scheduled presidential debates, in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Tensions flared Tuesday night as President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden squared off in the first 2020 presidential debate -- which aimed to question the candidates on six main issues. The debate was, at times, disorderly as the two frequently talked over each other and moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News attempted to rein in the discussion multiple times throughout the night. The main topics of the evening were COVID-19, violence and racial injustice, the economy, election integrity, the Supreme Court and the candidates' track records. Advertisement
At one point in the night, Biden turned to Trump after one interruption and asked, "Will you shut up man?" The two lobbed personal insults toward one another -- such Trump questioning Biden's education and saying, "There's nothing smart about you," and Biden referring to the president as a "clown."
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The debate was broken into 15-minute segments, beginning with two minutes of statements by each candidate followed by open discussion.
COVID-19
Tuesday's debate took place amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has sickened more than 7 million people in the United States and resulted in more than 200,000 deaths.
Biden criticized Trump's handling of the coronavirus, pointing to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bob Woodward's book, Rage, in which he wrote that Trump understood the deadly nature of the disease in early February and "played it down" to the American public because he didn't want to "create a panic."
"You didn't panic, he panicked," Biden said of the president's response.
"He's on record as saying it. He panicked or he just looked at the stock market, one of the two. Because guess what, a lot of people die and a lot more are going to die unless he gets a lot smarter, a lot quicker."
Trump asserted that Biden "could never have done the job," citing the handling of H1N1 when Biden was vice president.
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"We got the gowns. We got the masks. We made the ventilators," Trump said. "You wouldn't have made ventilators. And now we're weeks away from a vaccine. We're doing therapeutics already. Fewer people are dying."
Trump also said he disagreed with health experts in his administration -- such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- over statements they have made suggesting a vaccine may not be widely available until next year.
Trump insisted that drugmakers developing the vaccines can "go faster than that by a lot" and described the process of developing a vaccine as "a very political thing."
Racial injustice
The two candidates discussed law enforcement and large scale protests that have occurred throughout the country in the wake of the killings of George Floyd in Minnesota and Breonna Taylor in Lousiville, Ky., at the hands of police, and the police-involved shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., which left him paralyzed.
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Trump touted the endorsements he has received from law enforcement groups, while accusing Biden of seeking to avoid embracing law enforcement at risk of losing support from "the radical left."
The president also asserted that deploying federal law enforcement is an effective means to quell protests.
"I'll tell you what, the people of this country want law and order and you're afraid to say it," Trump said.
Biden declared that the vast majority of police officers are "good, decent honorable men and women" adding that he is "totally opposed" to defunding the police, following an accusation from Trump that he would support the idea amid calls to do so from other members of the Democratic Party.
"What I support is the police having the opportunity to deal with the problems they face. I'm totally opposed to defunding the police," he said.
Wallace also asked Trump about his recent measures to end federal racial sensitivity training, which the president appeared to imply was prejudiced against White people and said was teaching people to "hate America."
"If you were a certain person, you had no status in life. It was sort of a reversal," Trump said. "And if you look at the people, we were paying people hundreds of thousands of dollars to teach very bad ideas and frankly, very sick ideas."
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Biden refuted Trump's statements, saying "he's just, he's a racist" and repeatedly accused the president of subtly supporting racist ideas.
"This is a president who uses everything as a dog whistle to try to generate racist hatred, division," Biden said.
When asked to condemn White Supremacists, militias and far-right groups such as the Proud Boys who have been involved in violence at various protests throughout the nation, Trump placed blame on left-wing protesters.
"Proud Boys -- stand back and stand by," he said. "But I'll tell you what. Somebody's got to do something about Antifa and the left because this is not a right wing problem."
Supreme Court
Trump, who nominated conservative jurist Amy Coney Barrett to succeed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, defended his decision to urge the Republican-held Senate to complete confirmation proceedings ahead of November's election.
On Tuesday night, the president asserted that "elections have consequences" and his 2016 election win grants him the right to name a Supreme Court justice.
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"We won the election and therefore we have the right to choose her," he said.
Biden countered that the American people should be able to weigh in on the decision with their votes in the presidential election.
"The American people have a right to have a say in who this Supreme Court nominee is and that say occurs when they vote for United States senators and when they vote for president of the United States," said Biden. "They're not going to get that chance now because we're in the middle of an election already."
He added that he believes Barrett is a "fine person," but warned that she thinks the Affordable Care Act, established under his time serving as vice president alongside former President Barack Obama, is unconstitutional placing it in jeopardy in a Supreme Court case scheduled for a week after the election.
Biden accused Trump of lacking a comprehensive plan to replace the ACA, also known as Obamacare, as the president leaned on the elimination of the individual mandate -- which required Americans to pay a tax penalty if they chose to forego insurance -- which was repealed as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
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Trump accused the Democratic Party of seeking to implement "socialist medicine" and alleged his plan would force Americans to drop private insurers, to which Biden replied "I am the Democratic Party" following his nomination.
"What I proposed is that we expand Obamacare and we increase it," said Biden. "One of the big debates we had with 23 of my colleagues trying to win the nomination that I won, were saying that Biden wanted to allow people to have private insurance still. They can, they do. They will under my proposal."
Election integrity
Trump on Tuesday again declined to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if defeated in November's election, expressing concern over the legitimacy of mail-in ballots amid an expected increase in mail votes due to the pandemic and suggesting the results of the vote may not be known for "months."
When asked if he would urge his supporters to remain calm and refrain from pre-emptively claiming victory while votes are still being tallied, Trump said he would urge his supporters to "go into the polls and watch very carefully."
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"If I see tens of thousands of ballots being manipulated, I can't go along with that," he said.
Trump also said he would count on the Supreme Court to settle any disputes surrounding the election.
"I'm counting on them to look at the ballots, definitely. I don't think we'll -- I hope we don't need them in terms of the election itself. But for the ballots, I think so," he said.
Biden responded that he would urge his supporters to remain calm and would accept the results of the election, while disputing claims that mail-in ballots are not secure and appealing Americans to establish a plan for how they will vote.
"Show up and vote. You will determine the outcome of this election. Vote, vote, vote. If you're able to vote early in your state, vote early. If you're able to vote in person, vote in person," he said. "Vote whatever way is the best way for you because ... he cannot stop you from being able to determine the outcome of this election."
Climate change
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Trump on Tuesday night said that he believes climate change science, including that human pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, contribute to the warming of the planet "to an extent."
"I believe that we have to do everything we can to have immaculate air, immaculate water and do whatever else we can that's good," Trump said, highlighting his administration's effort to plant more trees.
The president also repeated assertions that poor forest management is the primary cause of record wildfires that have burned through California and other states in the Western United States.
"Every year, I get the call 'California is burning. California is burning,' if that was cleaned, if you had forest management, good forest management, you wouldn't be getting those calls," he said.
Biden stated that he does not support the Democratic-led Green New Deal, instead promoting his own $2 trillion climate plan.
He said that his actions would include rejoining the Paris Climate Accord, which Trump moved to withdraw from last year.
"With us out of it, look what's happening, it's all falling apart," said Biden.
Biden also said he would gather the nations of the world to collect $20 billion to halt the deforestation of Brazil's rainforests or impose "significant economic consequences" on Brazil.
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Trump's taxes
Tuesday's debate followed a report by The New York Times indicating Trump didn't pay any federal income taxes in 10 of the 15 years before he became president and paid just $750 in 2016 and 2017.
Trump claimed that he paid "millions of dollars in taxes, million dollars of income tax," but maintained he is unable to release his tax returns as he is undergoing an audit.
He also suggested that he used deductions in the tax code to lower the amount of taxes he was required to pay.
"People like every other private person, unless they're stupid, they go through the laws, And that's what it is," Trump said.
Biden's campaign released his 2019 tax returns, which showed he and his wife, Jill Biden, reported about $945,000 in taxable income and paid $300,000 in federal income taxes.
The next debate will feature Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic running mate Sen. Kamala Harris on Oct. 7 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The next presidential debate will take place in Miami on Oct. 15.


upi--2020-09-30--Houston Astros sweep Minnesota Twins to advance to ALDS

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- Nine months after Houston 's illegal sign-stealing scheme was revealed , the Astros advanced to the AL Division Series with a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday at Target Field in Minneapolis .
Carlos Correa smashed a go-ahead home run in the top of the seventh to send the Twins to a record 18th consecutive postseason loss .
The sixth-seeded Astros will play either the Oakland Athletics or Chicago White Sox in the next round after Houston 's 2-0 sweep of Minnesota in the wild-card round .
`` I know a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of people do n't want to see us here , '' Correa said .
`` But what are they going to say now ? ''
The Twins are 0-18 in the postseason since winning Game 1 of their divisional round series against the New York Yankees on Oct. 5 , 2004 , losing a total of seven rounds .
Since that date , the Astros hold a 43-35 mark in the playoffs -- winning 10 of 15 rounds and advancing to the World Series three times .
`` From the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the playoffs and playing real well , '' Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker said .
`` So we never counted ourselves out at any point . ''
Tucker gave the Astros a 1-0 lead in the fourth when he singled home Michael Brantley .
Twins slugger Nelson Cruz tied the game an inning later with an RBI double to deep left .
Correa 's 430-foot solo homer pushed the Astros ahead 2-1 , and Tucker sealed the win with another RBI single in the ninth inning .
The Astros , who have reached the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past three seasons , will play the A 's or the White Sox on Monday .
Right-hander Lance McCullers was the only member of Houston 's regular-season rotation who did n't pitch against the Twins .

Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker (R) had two RBIs in the Astros' 3-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. File Photo by Trask Smith/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Nine months after Houston's illegal sign-stealing scheme was revealed, the Astros advanced to the AL Division Series with a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday at Target Field in Minneapolis. Carlos Correa smashed a go-ahead home run in the top of the seventh to send the Twins to a record 18th consecutive postseason loss. The sixth-seeded Astros will play either the Oakland Athletics or Chicago White Sox in the next round after Houston's 2-0 sweep of Minnesota in the wild-card round. Advertisement
"I know a lot of people are mad. I know a lot of people don't want to see us here," Correa said. "But what are they going to say now?"
The Twins are 0-18 in the postseason since winning Game 1 of their divisional round series against the New York Yankees on Oct. 5, 2004, losing a total of seven rounds. Since that date, the Astros hold a 43-35 mark in the playoffs -- winning 10 of 15 rounds and advancing to the World Series three times.
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"From the very beginning, we envisioned ourselves back in the playoffs and playing real well," Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker said. "So we never counted ourselves out at any point."
Tucker gave the Astros a 1-0 lead in the fourth when he singled home Michael Brantley. Twins slugger Nelson Cruz tied the game an inning later with an RBI double to deep left.
Correa's 430-foot solo homer pushed the Astros ahead 2-1, and Tucker sealed the win with another RBI single in the ninth inning.
The Astros, who have reached the AL Championship Series in each of the past three seasons, will play the A's or the White Sox on Monday. Right-hander Lance McCullers was the only member of Houston's regular-season rotation who didn't pitch against the Twins.
This week in Major League Baseball


upi--2020-09-30--U.S. issues sanctions against three 'key enablers' of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- The United States sanctioned three individuals and 13 entities Wednesday as part of an ongoing effort to target facilitators of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad 's regime .
The U.S. Treasury Department announced the sanctions against Hazem Younes Karfoul , head of the Central Bank of Syria ; Husam Muhammad Louka , Head of the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate and businessman Khodr Taher Bin Ali .
`` Thos who continue to stand with the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad further enable its corruption and human rights abuses , '' Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the regime 's slaughter of Syrian civilians in Armanaz , Syria , the United States will continue to employ all of its tools and authorities to target the finances of anyone who profits from or facilitates the Assad regime 's abuse of the Syrian people . ''
The three were designated as `` key enablers '' of the Assad regime and placed on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List .
The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets held by the individuals and prohibit Americans from conducting business with them .
Dating back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numerous members of Assad 's regime , including his wife , Asma al-Assad , to force it to comply with U.N.-led negotiations to end the nearly decade-long civil war that began when the Assad regime attempted to forcefully quell pro-democracy protests in 2011 .

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (C) meets with Syrian army personnel on front-lines of al-Habit town in Idleb countryside, Syria, on October 22, 2019. File Photo by SANA/EPA-EFE
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The United States sanctioned three individuals and 13 entities Wednesday as part of an ongoing effort to target facilitators of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The Treasury Department announced the sanctions against Hazem Younes Karfoul, head of the Central Bank of Syria; Husam Muhammad Louka, Head of the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate and businessman Khodr Taher Bin Ali. Advertisement
"Those who continue to stand with the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad further enable its corruption and human rights abuses," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said.
"As we mark three years since the regime's slaughter of Syrian civilians in Armanaz, Syria, the United States will continue to employ all of its tools and authorities to target the finances of anyone who profits from or facilitates the Assad regime's abuse of the Syrian people."
The three were designated as "key enablers" of the Assad regime and placed on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.
The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets held by the individuals and prohibit Americans from conducting business with them.
Dating back to June, the United States has sanctioned numerous members of Assad's regime, including his wife, Asma al-Assad, to force compliance with U.N.-led negotiations to end the civil war that began when the Assad regime attempted to forcefully quell pro-democracy protests in 2011.


upi--2020-09-30--Miami Marlins top Chicago Cubs in playoff opener

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- Corey Dickerson blasted a three-run home run in the seventh inning to guide the Miami Marlins to a 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday in Game 1 of their NL Wild Card Series .
Jesus Aguilar also homered and starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara pitched three-hit ball into the seventh as the Marlins won their first postseason game since winning the World Series in 2003 .
The Marlins , who rallied past the Cubs in the NLCS that year , have never lost a postseason series in their 28-year history .
The Marlins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 105 games last season -- were one of the first MLB teams to deal with a coronavirus outbreak earlier this season .
Dickerson said all the adversity helped turn them into a better team .
`` We do n't care about who 's the hero , '' Dickerson said .
`` We want to pass the bat to the next guy .
... We do n't care .
We want to cheer for one another , play for one another .
That 's what makes this game fun . ''
The Cubs took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fifth when Ian Happ belted a homer to left field .
Dickerson 's three-run shot in the seventh gave the Marlins the lead for good , and Aguilar 's two-run blast later in the inning clinched the victory .
Alcantara ( 1-0 ) allowed three hits and one earned run across 6 2/3 innings to earn the win .
He also recorded four strikeouts and had three walks .
Kyle Hendricks ( 0-1 ) got the start for the Cubs and gave up three earned runs on five hits in 6 1/3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three walks .
Game 2 of the best-of-three-series is Thursday .
Yu Darvish is projected to start for the Cubs , and rookie right-hander Sixto Sanchez gets the ball for Miami .

1/11
Miami Marlins designated hitter Jesus Aguilar (24) celebrates with Starling Marte (6) after hitting a two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs in the seventh inning of their NL Wild Card Series game Wednesday at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Corey Dickerson blasted a three-run home run in the seventh inning to guide the Miami Marlins to a 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday in Game 1 of their NL Wild Card Series. Jesus Aguilar also homered and starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara pitched three-hit ball into the seventh as the Marlins won their first postseason game since winning the World Series in 2003. The Marlins, who rallied past the Cubs in the NLCS that year, have never lost a postseason series in their 28-year history. Advertisement
The Marlins -- an unlikely playoff team after losing 105 games last season -- were one of the first MLB teams to deal with a coronavirus outbreak earlier this season. Dickerson said all the adversity helped turn them into a better team.
"We don't care about who's the hero," Dickerson said. "We want to pass the bat to the next guy. ... We don't care. We want to cheer for one another, play for one another. That's what makes this game fun."
The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Ian Happ belted a homer to left field. Dickerson's three-run shot in the seventh gave the Marlins the lead for good, and Aguilar's two-run blast later in the inning clinched the victory.
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Alcantara (1-0) allowed three hits and one earned run across 6 2/3 innings to earn the win. He also recorded four strikeouts and had three walks.
Kyle Hendricks (0-1) got the start for the Cubs and gave up three earned runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings. He had three strikeouts and three walks.
Game 2 of the best-of-three-series is Thursday. Yu Darvish is projected to start for the Cubs, and rookie right-hander Sixto Sanchez gets the ball for Miami.
This week in Major League Baseball


upi--2020-09-30--Gremlin Mickey Rourke exits 'Masked Singer'

Sept. 30 ( UPI ) -- Actor Mickey Rourke left Season 4 of FOX 's The Masked Singer competition series on Wednesday night .
The 9 1/2 Weeks , Sin City and The Wrestler star was dressed as a furry gremlin for the show .
Ken Jeong , Jenny McCarthy , Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke are the program 's judges , and Nick Cannon is the host .
`` Never happened before on # TheMaskedSinger ... but such a great job # MickeyRourke !
!
Such a pleasure to have you on the show , '' Scherzinger tweeted after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quit the show .
E !
News reported before the episode aired that one of the costumed contestants was going to unmask him/herself and depart the show .
As a result , no one was voted off the program on Wednesday .
`` I 'm still in shock , '' a viewer tweeted , to which Jeong responded , `` Same here . ''
Another fan posted , `` He really did n't want to be in that mask another second more lol # TheMaskedSinger , '' earning the reply , `` Right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rhymes was the first disguised celebrity to get the boot last week .

Mickey Rourke quit Season 4 of "The Masked Singer" Wednesday night. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Actor Mickey Rourke left Season 4 of FOX's The Masked Singer competition series on Wednesday night. The 9 1/2 Weeks, Sin City and The Wrestler star was dressed as a furry gremlin for the show. Advertisement
Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke are the program's judges, and Nick Cannon is the host.
"Never happened before on #TheMaskedSinger... but such a great job #MickeyRourke!! Such a pleasure to have you on the show," Scherzinger tweeted after Rourke took his gremlin head off and quit the show.
E! News reported before the episode aired that one of the costumed contestants was going to unmask him/herself and depart the show.
As a result, no one was voted off the program on Wednesday.
"I'm still in shock," a viewer tweeted, to which Jeong responded, "Same here."
Another fan posted, "He really didn't want to be in that mask another second more lol #TheMaskedSinger," earning the reply, "Right!" from Cannon.
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Rapper Busta Rhymes was the first disguised celebrity to get the boot last week.