upi--2020-06-07--Cristobal makes landfall in Louisiana Sunday evening, unleashing it's tropical-storm-force winds

June 5 ( UPI ) -- Cristobal regained tropical storm status on Friday and continued to gain more strength over warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday .
The storm set its sights to on the Gulf Coast of the United States , where the tropical storm made landfall along the coast of southeast Louisiana on Sunday at 5 p.m. CDT .
The center of Cristobal landed between the mouth of the Mississippi River and Grand Isle .
Not only is Cristobal the earliest third named tropical storm system on record in the Atlantic Basin , the Atlantic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farther west across Wisconsin than any other post-tropical system on record since the mid-1800s .
On Sunday morning , the National Weather Service reported most gusts on land are still in the 25 mph to 35 mph range , however , a few tropical storm force gusts were reported as rain bands move toward the southeast Louisiana area as well as coastal Mississippi .
A storm surge warning was in effect on Sunday morning from the Mouth of the Mississippi River eastward to Ocean Springs with 3 to 5 feet of inundation expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an increased risk for tornadoes in extreme southeastern Louisiana , southern Mississippi and southern Alabama into Sunday afternoon as Cristobal approaches the coast .
A tornado watch has been issued for this area through 5 p.m. , CDT .
According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Courtney Travis , the potential for a few tornadoes to develop in this region will remain through Sunday night , mainly east of the circulation center of Cristobal .
A plume of tropical moisture associated with Cristobal was fueling showersalong portions of the Gulf coast , including along the I-10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the western coast of the Sunshine State , on Saturday morning .
Cristobal 's outer rain bands were also beginning to reach areas farther west along the central Gulf Coast around New Orleans Saturday morning .
Rain overspread a large part of Florida on Saturday and the balance of the Gulf coast during Saturday night .
As the eastern side of Cristobal swept over Florida , a tornado churned in Sumter County , Florida , near Webster just before 6 p.m. EDT Saturday .
A second tornado followed around 6:20 p.m. in Wildwood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the National Weather Service 's Storm Prediction Center .
At 7:30 p.m. EDT Saturday , a possible tornado hit south of downtown Orlando .
The storm continued to trigger tornado warnings across Volusia and Seminole counties as the storm moved northward .
An NWS-observed tornado was reported in Orlando around 9:30 p.m. EDT .
By the end of the day Saturday , six tornadoes were reported across central Florida .
On Sunday , two more tornadoes were reported in the state .
Cristobal was packing 50-mph sustained winds and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening , with the center of circulation located around 280 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River , according to the National Hurricane Center ( NHC ) .
The storm has been designated a 1 on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes .
Most of this past week , Cristobal was a tropical depression crawling across southern Mexico and unloading feet of rain in the process .
Two brothers were killed after they were caught in an undertow and swept away by a rip current off the coast of Louisiana on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mexico .
The boys , ages 8 and 10 , were swimming at a beach in Grand Isle when they were caught and swept away , FOX8 reported .
The worst conditions are skewed to the eastern half of the storm due to winds high in the atmosphere over the Gulf of Mexico .
AccuWeather forecasters expect the system to strike the central Gulf Coast by Sunday evening with the southeastern Louisiana coastline as the most likely point of landfall .
`` New Orleans can anticipate the greatest impacts from Cristobal through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Heavy tropical downpours are likely on-and-off during this time period , and may accumulate as much as 10 inches of rain . ''
`` Into late Sunday night , wind speeds of 50-60 mph are possible in the New Orleans region , with wind gusts as high as 70 mph at the top of taller buildings , '' she added .
Ahead of the storm , Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards requested President Donald Trump declare a pre-landfall emergency for the state effective Friday , June 5 .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , heavy rainfall and coastal flooding , '' Edwards said in a press release .
`` I anticipate the need for emergency protective measures , evacuations and sheltering for the high-risk areas ... At this time , due to the dangers presented by the COVID-19 pandemic , sheltering activities will need to include non-congregated settings . ''
Since the system is sprawling in size , and it 's likely to increase in size as it continues to travel over the Gulf of Mexico , impacts from this feature are expected to precede the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 36 to 48 hours , meaning places along the U.S. Gulf Coast could begin experiencing Cristobal 's outer bands well before the storm makes landfall .
AccuWeather 's RealImpact Scale ( RI ) looks into a broad range of important factors to determine the actual impact the storm will have when it hits land .
The scale considers high winds , flooding rain , storm surge and the financial damage and economic impacts .
Comparatively , the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , which has been used by meteorologists for decades , only considers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AccuWeather forecasters say Cristobal is likely to make landfall in the U.S. as a tropical storm .
`` A combination of increased vertical wind shear and dry air wrapping around the southern and eastern periphery of the storm 's center will restrict just how strong the storm becomes , '' Kottlowski said , adding that the risk of Cristobal strengthening to a hurricane prior to landfall will be greatly limited by these two factors .
Wind shear is the increase in wind speed with height in the atmosphere .
Low wind shear can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but strong wind shear can cause a tropical system to weaken or limit its development .
Sustained winds of 50-60 mph are forecast with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 85 mph near and to the east of where the storm makes comes ashore .
However , large spiral bands from the storm can bring strong gusts well away from the center .
Whether or not the storm makes landfall as a tropical storm or a Category 1 hurricane may matter little in terms of impact .
A Category 1 hurricane has maximum-sustained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storm can produce maximum-sustained winds of up to 73 mph .
`` We do not expect the slow movement of Barry from last year and the 24 inches of rain it delivered along the central Gulf Coast , '' Dan Kottlowski , AccuWeather 's top hurricane expert , said , referring to a short-lived hurricane that struck the Gulf Coast in July of 2019 and triggered widespread flooding .
Cristobal has already picked up speed while pulling away from Mexico , and should continue to move along at a decent pace through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pace when compared to Barry , the amount of rainfall projected with the storm can be enough to cause serious flooding problems along and east of the storm track .
A general 6-12 inches of rainfall is projected with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 16 inches over southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi .
A foot of rain could fall on part of the upper Gulf coast of Florida .
Flooding could occur even in areas that have experienced a rainfall deficit for the year so far .
Portions of the central Gulf Coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mobile , Alabama , has picked up 21.11 inches of rainfall since the start of 2020 , about 7 inches below normal for the year to date or 76 % of normal .
As the storm strengthens into Sunday , winds will increase throughout the Gulf of Mexico , but especially in shoreline areas from Louisiana eastward to the Florida Panhandle and along the west coast of the Florida Peninsula .
AccuWeather is expecting a storm surge of 3-6 feet near and just east of where the center strikes along the upper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders are generally issued by government officials where the storm surge is forecast to reach 3 feet or higher , '' Kottlowski said .
`` So we expect some evacuations with this , but it is a matter of where the NHC forecasts that level of storm surge . ''
Because of Cristobal 's large size , rip currents will increase in strength and number along much of the U.S. Gulf coast this weekend .
`` Tropical-storm-force winds could extend outward to 200 miles from the center of the storm , especially on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached by Sunday morning from coastal areas of the western part of the Florida Panhandle through the Louisiana coast , '' Kottlowski said .
`` Residents along the upper and eastern Gulf coast will need to take action to prepare for the arrival of tropical-storm-force winds and building storm surge from Cristobal by Sunday morning , '' he added .
The combination of heavy rain and winds that cause a storm surge might be enough to lead to some flooding in New Orleans .
The city 's levee system has been significantly upgraded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but storm water pumps failed to handle a torrential downpour that brought 7 inches of rain in six hours in July 2019 and led to flooding in the city .
Depending on exactly where the bands of heavy rain set up and linger , street flooding in the city is anticipated from Cristobal .
As Cristobal approaches the upper Gulf coast , areas near and to the east of the storm center may be at risk for tornadoes and waterspouts to develop .
Cristobal 's big span and dry air that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to cause rotating thunderstorms to ignite , with the potential for tornadoes to touch down , from late Sunday through Monday .
The severe thunderstorms would tend to develop in the spiral bands that extend outward from the storm .
For ultimate safety , small craft along the Gulf coast should remain in port this weekend .
Petroleum interests may need to take precautionary measures .
Some of the rigs in the region have already been shut down due to the ongoing glut of fuel .
In contrast , due in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the further flow of dry air into the storm this weekend , rainfall will trail off dramatically west of the storm track .
Impact on areas near and southwest of Houston may be limited to breezy conditions with surging temperatures and rip currents on the beaches .
Beyond this weekend , Cristobal is forecast to move inland over the lower Mississippi Valley next week .
An area of heavy rain with localized flooding is possible as the storm moves northward and evolves into a tropical rainstorm .
Problems from Cristobal could even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Midwestin terms of flooding rain , strong wind gusts and severe thunderstorms as the tropical storm transitions further into more of a continental storm .
Any flooding could also have an effect on rice crop in the Mississippi Delta , especially since the crop has just emerged .
About 65 % of the total U.S. rice crop is grown in this region , with 40 % of the U.S. crop grown in Arkansas alone .
Hurricane season just began on Monday , and already the Atlantic has set a new record .
Cristobal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record when it was named on June 2 .
The storm beat the previous record which stood from 2016 when Colin formed on June 5 .
Cristobal was preceded by Arthur and Bertha , which both formed prior to the official start of the season on June 1 .
And even more threats could soon arise .
AccuWeather meteorologists began monitoring another area of showers and thunderstorms in the Atlantic for tropical development late in the week .
`` An area of low pressure could form along a frontal boundary within a region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a short-lived subtropical or tropical storm system during Tuesday and Wednesday of next week a few hundred miles to the southeast and east of Bermuda , '' Kottlowski said .
A subtropical storm is a system that has both tropical and non-tropical characteristics .
AccuWeather is forecasting a busy tropical season in the Atlantic with 14 to 20 tropical storms , including seven to 11 which could strengthen further into hurricanes .
Four to six major hurricanes -- Category 3 or higher -- are predicted .

Tropical Depression Cristobal is seen over Louisiana on Monday afternoon about a day after making landfall. Image courtesy NOAA
June 8 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Cristobal weakened to a tropical depression early Monday hours after it arrived on shore on the Gulf Coast, lashed the Louisiana shoreline and unleashed heavy rains as far east as Florida's western coast. The National Hurricane Center said in its 10 a.m. Monday update that the storm's center is about 15 miles east of Monroe, La., and had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. Advertisement
After lashing the central Gulf Coast with tropical downpours, tropical-storm-force winds and coastal flooding over the weekend, Cristobal will race northward along the Mississippi Valley and into Great Lakes into the middle of the week.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said the storm will interact with the cold front moving across the Plains, allowing it to pick up speed. Cristobal made landfall in the southeastern part of Louisiana Sunday.
The storm has gradually lost intensity, weakening to a tropical depression early Monday morning.
"Even though Cristobal will lose its tightly wound wind field, as it transitions to a rainstorm, strong winds can still occur over a broad area," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
This will be due in part to Cristobal's circulation getting caught up in a non-tropical storm set to eject out of the Rockies early this week. As these system's interact and perhaps merge, winds will become strong over a broad area of the Midwest and Great Lakes region.
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As Cristobal moves inland, conditions will begin to gradually improve along the Louisiana coast, as areas of heavier rain and thunderstorms drench Arkansas into Monday night.
Cristobal will continue to pick up forward speed on Tuesday and downpours are expected to spread from Missouri to Wisconsin and Minnesota. By Tuesday night, rain will cross the Canadian border and spread across parts of southern Ontario.
According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Courtney Travis, this amount of rain could cause creeks and streams across the Midwest to rise. However, more widespread river flooding may develop in the lower Mississippi Valley later this week or this weekend as runoff slowly flows downstream.
Otherwise, Cristobal will threaten areas of flash flooding, especially in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
In addition to the risk of flooding, there will be the potential for isolated tornadoes to be spawned where heavy thunderstorms erupt to the east of Cristobal's circulation.


upi--2020-06-07--60-year-old Australian surfer killed in shark attack

June 7 ( UPI ) -- Police in Australia said that a 60-yer-old man has died after sustaining injuries from @ @ @ @ @ morning .
Witnesses reported that the man was attacked by a shark measuring nearly 10 @ @ @ @ @ Salt Beach in South Kingscliff shortly after 10 a.m. , New South Wales police said @ @ @ @ @ Police have been told several board-riders came to his assistance and fought the shark off @ @ @ @ @ be helped to shore , '' they said .
The man received treatment for serious @ @ @ @ @ but he died at the scene .
He was not identified immediately but is believed @ @ @ @ @ .
Beaches between Kingscliff and Cabarita were cleared of swimmers and surfers and will remain @ @ @ @ @

June 7 (UPI) -- Police in Australia said that a 60-yer-old man has died after sustaining injuries from a suspected shark attack Sunday morning.
Witnesses reported that the man was attacked by a shark measuring nearly 10 feet long while surfing at Salt Beach in South Kingscliff shortly after 10 a.m., New South Wales police said in a statement.
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"Police have been told several board-riders came to his assistance and fought the shark off before the injured man could be helped to shore," they said.
The man received treatment for serious injuries to his left leg but he died at the scene.
He was not identified immediately but is believed to have been from Queensland.
Beaches between Kingscliff and Cabarita were cleared of swimmers and surfers and will remain closed for 24 hours.


upi--2020-06-07--Prince's estate releases late artist's note about 'intolerance' for his birthday

June 7 ( UPI ) -- Prince 's estate posted on Instagram a photo of a handwritten note the late music icon had penned denouncing intolerance .
`` Prince dedicated his life to speaking out against injustice , advocating for black excellence , and spreading the message of 'Love 4 One Another . '
In this note that he kept in his personal archives , he wrote a message that still resonates today .
'Nothing more ugly in the whole wide world than INTOLERANCE ( between ) Black , white , red , yellow , boy or girl .
INTOLERANCE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the estate said in its post Saturday .
The undated note was scrawled in cursive on lined notebook paper .
Sunday was Prince 's 62nd birthday .
He died in 2016 of a fentanyl overdose at his residential compound in Chanhassen , Minn. His words about intolerance were posted as thousands of people continue to protest the death of George Floyd , a black man , allegedly at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer .
In 2015 , he wrote and recorded the song `` Baltimore '' in honor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died in police custody in the titular Maryland city .

Late artist Prince's 62nd birthday was Sunday. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
June 7 (UPI) -- Prince's estate posted on Instagram a photo of a handwritten note the late music icon had penned denouncing intolerance. "Prince dedicated his life to speaking out against injustice, advocating for black excellence, and spreading the message of 'Love 4 One Another.' In this note that he kept in his personal archives, he wrote a message that still resonates today. 'Nothing more ugly in the whole wide world than INTOLERANCE (between) Black, white, red, yellow, boy or girl. INTOLERANCE." #Love4OneAnother #Prince," the estate said in its post Saturday. Advertisement
The undated note was scrawled in cursive on lined notebook paper.
Sunday was Prince's 62nd birthday. He died in 2016 of a fentanyl overdose at his residential compound in Chanhassen, Minn.
His words about intolerance were posted as thousands of people continue to protest the death of George Floyd, a black man, allegedly at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer.
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In 2015, he wrote and recorded the song "Baltimore" in honor of Freddie Gray, a black man who died in police custody in the titular Maryland city.


upi--2020-06-07--CDC 'closely monitoring' nationwide protests for potential of COVID-19 spread

June 7 ( UPI ) -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday said it is assessing the potential for the spread of COVID-19 at ongoing demonstrations nationwide sparked by the police-involved killing of Geroge Floyd .
CDC representative Kristen Nordlund said the agency and federal partners are `` closely monitoring '' the demonstrations taking place throughout the country adding that protests and other large gatherings make it difficult to follow social distancing guidelines and `` may put others at risk . ''
`` It is too early to know what , if any , effect these events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Nordlund said .
`` Every local situation is different .
State and local officials will make decisions to protect public health and safety based on circumstances on the ground . ''
CDC Director Robert Redfield said Friday that people who participate in the demonstrations should `` highly consider '' being evaluated and tested for COVID-19 , saying they have the potential to be a seeding event .
The United States has reported 1,925,503 COVID-19 cases and 109,928 deaths related to the virus , according to figures by John 's Hopkins University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blasio said the city , which has been host to mass protests , is within the state 's parameters to begin reopening procedures .
`` This is what you achieved together , that 's another way we 're going to move forward in this city , '' said de Blasio .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo on Sunday announced the city would enter Phase 1 of its plan to lift restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus on Monday , reopening , construction , manufacturing , wholesale trade and agriculture , forestry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or in-store pickup and drop off for retail stores .
`` New Yorkers bent the curve by being smart , '' he wrote on Twitter .
`` Let 's keep being smart . ''
The state of New York , which leads the nation in cases and deaths , reported 45 new deaths over the past 24 hours , up from 35 the previous day , for a total of 24,259 .
The state also conducted 60,435 COVID-19 tests over the period and reported 781 positive tests for a total of 378,097 positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Phil Murphy announced the state had reported 79 new deaths , up from 60 the previous day , for a total of 12,176 and 426 new cases for a total of 164,164 , trailing only neighboring New York in both categories .
Massachusetts is set to move to Phase 2 of its reopening plan on Monday , allowing retail stores to begin in-store operations while observing occupancy limits and safety procedures , restaurants and hotels to open with restrictions and allowing patients that require preventive health care services to schedule appointments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new deaths for a total of 7,289 , third in the nation , and 575 new cases for the fifth highest number in the country at 103,132 .
Pennsylvania reported the fourth highest death toll in the country at 5,943 and the sixth-highest number of cases at 75,592 .
Michigan reported 5,652 deaths for the fifth-most in the nation and 58,749 cases as of Saturday for eighth-most in the nation .
Illinois had the sixth-highest death toll at 5,864 and ranked fourth in the nation in the number of cases with 126,890 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 4,624 deaths , the seventh-highest in the nation .

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday it is "closely monitoring" nationwide protests against racism and police brutality to determine the potential that they may spread COVID-19. Pool photo by Al Drago/UPI | License Photo
June 7 (UPI) -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday said it is assessing the potential for the spread of COVID-19 at ongoing demonstrations nationwide sparked by the police-involved killing of Geroge Floyd. CDC representative Kristen Nordlund said the agency and federal partners are "closely monitoring" the demonstrations taking place throughout the country adding that protests and other large gatherings make it difficult to follow social distancing guidelines and "may put others at risk." Advertisement
"It is too early to know what, if any, effect these events will have on the federal COVID-19 response," Nordlund said. "Every local situation is different. State and local officials will make decisions to protect public health and safety based on circumstances on the ground."
CDC Director Robert Redfield said Friday that people who participate in the demonstrations should "highly consider" being evaluated and tested for COVID-19, saying they have the potential to be a seeding event.
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The United States has reported 1,925,503 COVID-19 cases and 109,928 deaths related to the virus, according to figures by John's Hopkins University.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city, which has been host to mass protests, is within the state's parameters to begin reopening procedures.
"This is what you achieved together, that's another way we're going to move forward in this city," said de Blasio.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday announced the city would enter Phase 1 of its plan to lift restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus on Monday, reopening, construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade and agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting; and curbside or in-store pickup and drop off for retail stores.
"New Yorkers bent the curve by being smart," he wrote on Twitter. "Let's keep being smart."
The state of New York, which leads the nation in cases and deaths, reported 45 new deaths over the past 24 hours, up from 35 the previous day, for a total of 24,259. The state also conducted 60,435 COVID-19 tests over the period and reported 781 positive tests for a total of 378,097 positive cases.
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In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy announced the state had reported 79 new deaths, up from 60 the previous day, for a total of 12,176 and 426 new cases for a total of 164,164, trailing only neighboring New York in both categories.
Massachusetts is set to move to Phase 2 of its reopening plan on Monday, allowing retail stores to begin in-store operations while observing occupancy limits and safety procedures, restaurants and hotels to open with restrictions and allowing patients that require preventive health care services to schedule appointments.
As of Saturday, Massachusetts reported 55 new deaths for a total of 7,289, third in the nation, and 575 new cases for the fifth highest number in the country at 103,132.
Pennsylvania reported the fourth highest death toll in the country at 5,943 and the sixth-highest number of cases at 75,592. Michigan reported 5,652 deaths for the fifth-most in the nation and 58,749 cases as of Saturday for eighth-most in the nation. Illinois had the sixth-highest death toll at 5,864 and ranked fourth in the nation in the number of cases with 126,890. California ranked third in cases at 128,947 and 4,624 deaths, the seventh-highest in the nation.


upi--2020-06-07--Second City names black interim executive producer as part of diversity pledge

June 7 ( UPI ) -- The Second City improv theater troupe in Chicago has announced its commitment to diverse hiring practices in the wake of widespread protests condemning racism and demanding social justice .
On Friday , the organization announced its white chief executive officer and executive producer Andrew Alexander had stepped down .
The next day , it said Anthony LeBlanc , its black artistic director , had been named interim executive producer .
Last week , as thousands of people protested the death of George Floyd , a black man , in police custody , the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matter movement .
Black actor and comedian Dewayne Perkins posted in reply : `` You remember when the black actors wanted to put on a Black Lives Matter Benefit show and you said only if we gave half of the proceeds to the Chicago PD , because I will never forget .
Remember when you would make black people audition for job you simply just have to white people ? ''
Black comedian and screenwriter Asia LaShay Bullock said she was physically abused during her time at The Second City , then fired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ male colleague .
`` The wildest part about my second city experience is that they forced me to quit because they did n't believe me .
then weeks later for 'unknown reasons ' they fire the white man who put hands on me , but allowed the narrative to be that they fired him because of me , '' Bullock tweeted .
The company responded in a statement on its website Friday .
`` Everyone wants a response , but there are no set of words right now that will be enough .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ City has made so many mistakes , and we -- the leadership -- are sorry , '' the statement said .
`` And now we are putting our energy behind taking action , even if the community does n't feel that we have the right .
In this moment , you deserve to hear clear , specific actions that will be taken , '' the group added .
`` It was announced that The Second City 's chief executive officer and executive producer , Andrew Alexander , is stepping down , fully removing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations and policies and divesting from the company as it stands .
The next person to fill the executive producer position will be a member of the BIPOC [ black , indigenous , people of color ] community . ''
The organization promised to improve its hiring , casting and student recruitment practices , as well as use its resources to produce art by and for BIPOC artists and diversify the audiences at its theaters .
`` While The Second City has sometimes made strides in the diversity of talent performing on our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it comes to supporting that talent -- and diversity at Second City -- as whole , '' LeBlanc said in a statement as his new position was announced .
`` We must face the reality of our failings as an organization and hear the voices of our BIPOC performers , alumni , staff , students , and audience .
We need to do better ... because our community deserves better .
I , along with the rest of the leadership of The Second City , are committed to making fundamental and long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many communities we touch .
I look forward to being a part of those changes and helping Second City catch up to the present , and , in turn , move towards a better future . ''
The Second City helped launch the careers of comedy icons Bill Murray , Gilda Radner , John Candy , John Belushi , Dan Aykroyd , Eugene Levy , Catherine O'Hara , Mike Myers , Steve Carell , Tina Fey , Amy Poehler and Stephen Colbert .

Anthony LeBlanc has been named interim executive producer of The Second City improv troupe. Photo courtesy of The Second City/Twitter
June 7 (UPI) -- The Second City improv theater troupe in Chicago has announced its commitment to diverse hiring practices in the wake of widespread protests condemning racism and demanding social justice. On Friday, the organization announced its white chief executive officer and executive producer Andrew Alexander had stepped down. Advertisement
The next day, it said Anthony LeBlanc, its black artistic director, had been named interim executive producer.
Last week, as thousands of people protested the death of George Floyd, a black man, in police custody, the company tweeted its support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Black actor and comedian Dewayne Perkins posted in reply: "You remember when the black actors wanted to put on a Black Lives Matter Benefit show and you said only if we gave half of the proceeds to the Chicago PD, because I will never forget. Remember when you would make black people audition for job you simply just have to white people?"
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Black comedian and screenwriter Asia LaShay Bullock said she was physically abused during her time at The Second City, then fired when she lodged a complaint against a male colleague.
"The wildest part about my second city experience is that they forced me to quit because they didn't believe me. then weeks later for 'unknown reasons' they fire the white man who put hands on me, but allowed the narrative to be that they fired him because of me," Bullock tweeted.
The company responded in a statement on its website Friday.
"Everyone wants a response, but there are no set of words right now that will be enough. There is no excuse. The Second City has made so many mistakes, and we -- the leadership -- are sorry," the statement said.
"And now we are putting our energy behind taking action, even if the community doesn't feel that we have the right. In this moment, you deserve to hear clear, specific actions that will be taken," the group added. "It was announced that The Second City's chief executive officer and executive producer, Andrew Alexander, is stepping down, fully removing himself from overseeing The Second City's operations and policies and divesting from the company as it stands. The next person to fill the executive producer position will be a member of the BIPOC [black, indigenous, people of color] community."
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The organization promised to improve its hiring, casting and student recruitment practices, as well as use its resources to produce art by and for BIPOC artists and diversify the audiences at its theaters.
"While The Second City has sometimes made strides in the diversity of talent performing on our stages, we have grossly fallen short when it comes to supporting that talent -- and diversity at Second City -- as whole," LeBlanc said in a statement as his new position was announced.
"We must face the reality of our failings as an organization and hear the voices of our BIPOC performers, alumni, staff, students, and audience. We need to do better...because our community deserves better. I, along with the rest of the leadership of The Second City, are committed to making fundamental and long lasting changes to our company and the many communities we touch. I look forward to being a part of those changes and helping Second City catch up to the present, and, in turn, move towards a better future."
The Second City helped launch the careers of comedy icons Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, John Candy, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Mike Myers, Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Stephen Colbert.


upi--2020-06-07--Deputy killed, another wounded in shooting in northern California

June 7 ( UPI ) -- One sheriff 's office deputy was shot dead and another wounded during an ambush with gunfire and explosives in Santa Cruz in Northern California .
Sgt .
Damon Gutzwiller , 38 , was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead Saturday afternoon , the department posted on Facebook .
Sheriff Jim Hart hopes a second unnamed deputy hospitalized is `` going to be OK '' after being shot or struck by shrapnel and struck by a car as the suspect fled the area .
Steven Carrillo , a resident of Ben Lomond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jose -- where the incident occurred -- was apprehended and will face murder charges and additional felony counts .
Carrillo was treated at a hospital after being shot .
B Around 1:30 p.m. Saturday , the sheriff 's office received a report of a suspicious van .
Guns and bomb making materials were visible inside the van , according to the sheriff 's office .
Upon arrival , deputies When noticed the van was seen leaving the area .
They followed it to a home in Ben Lomond home .
Deputies were ambushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fled from responding California Highway Patrol officers , and he attempted to carjack another vehicle , according to Hart .
Gutzwiller , who was a patrol supervisor and worked for the sheriff 's office since 2006 , was married with a young child and another child on the way , according to Hart .
`` In my 32 year career this is the worst day that I have experienced , '' Hart said at a news conference .
`` Today we lost one of our own , and he was a true hero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the line of duty was Michael Gray was shot after he stopped a suspicious-looking hitchhiker across from Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park on Jan. 3 , 1983 .
`` I ask that the community be patient as we go through this investigation and the grieving process , '' Hart said .
`` Damon will be deeply missed .
By this community , by his family , and by all his coworkers here at the sheriff 's office .
He was a beloved figure here at the sheriff 's office .
His legacy will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we provide to the Santa Cruz County community . ''

Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, 48, was shot and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead Saturday. Photo courtesy Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office/Facebook
June 7 (UPI) -- One sheriff's office deputy was shot dead and another wounded during an ambush with gunfire and explosives in Santa Cruz in Northern California. Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, 38, was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead Saturday afternoon, the department posted on Facebook. Sheriff Jim Hart hopes a second unnamed deputy hospitalized is "going to be OK" after being shot or struck by shrapnel and struck by a car as the suspect fled the area. Advertisement
Steven Carrillo, a resident of Ben Lomond, about 35 miles south of San Jose -- where the incident occurred -- was apprehended and will face murder charges and additional felony counts. Carrillo was treated at a hospital after being shot. B
Around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, the sheriff's office received a report of a suspicious van. Guns and bomb making materials were visible inside the van, according to the sheriff's office.
Upon arrival, deputies When noticed the van was seen leaving the area. They followed it to a home in Ben Lomond home. Deputies were ambushed with gunfire and improvised explosives.
Shortly afterward, authorities received calls of a carjacking nearby.
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Carrillo fled from responding California Highway Patrol officers, and he attempted to carjack another vehicle, according to Hart.
Officers from multiple departments located and apprehended Carrillo.
Gutzwiller, who was a patrol supervisor and worked for the sheriff's office since 2006, was married with a young child and another child on the way, according to Hart.
"In my 32 year career this is the worst day that I have experienced," Hart said at a news conference. "Today we lost one of our own, and he was a true hero."
The last deputy killed in the line of duty was Michael Gray was shot after he stopped a suspicious-looking hitchhiker across from Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park on Jan. 3, 1983.
"I ask that the community be patient as we go through this investigation and the grieving process," Hart said. "Damon will be deeply missed. By this community, by his family, and by all his coworkers here at the sheriff's office. He was a beloved figure here at the sheriff's office. His legacy will live on in the work and service that we provide to the Santa Cruz County community."


upi--2020-06-07--Liam Neeson's mom Kitty dies at 94

Liam Neeson's mom Kitty dies at 94

June 7 ( UPI ) -- Film star Liam Neeson 's mother Kitty died this weekend at age 94 , @ @ @ @ @ Ireland announced .
The elder Neeson was a former school cook and mother of four @ @ @ @ @ sisters Elizabeth , Bernadette and Rosaleen .
Monsignor Paddy Delargy led prayers for Kitty at @ @ @ @ @ at the All Saints Church in Ballymena .
She reportedly had been ill for months @ @ @ @ @ being cared for at a nursing home .
Her funeral arrangements are expected to be @ @ @ @ @ , due to the coronavirus pandemic , which has kept millions of people around the @ @ @ @ @ distancing while much international travel remains banned .
Neeson lives in upstate New York .
@ @ @ @ @ roles in Silence , Taken , Love Actually , Michael Collins , Rob Roy , @ @ @ @ @ Star Wars franchise .

Liam Neeson's 94-year-old mother Kitty has died. File Photo by Jason Szenes/UPI | License Photo
June 7 (UPI) -- Film star Liam Neeson's mother Kitty died this weekend at age 94, her parish priest in Northern Ireland announced. The elder Neeson was a former school cook and mother of four children -- Liam and his sisters Elizabeth, Bernadette and Rosaleen. Advertisement
Monsignor Paddy Delargy led prayers for Kitty at a live-streamed mass Saturday evening at the All Saints Church in Ballymena.
She reportedly had been ill for months following a fall and was being cared for at a nursing home.
Kitty died a day before Liam's 67th birthday on Sunday.
Her funeral arrangements are expected to be made for a later date, due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has kept millions of people around the world in their homes social distancing while much international travel remains banned.
Neeson lives in upstate New York. He is known for his roles in Silence, Taken, Love Actually, Michael Collins, Rob Roy, Schindler's List and the Star Wars franchise.


upi--2020-06-07--Trump withdraws National Guard from D.C., de Blasio lifts NYC curfew

June 7 ( UPI ) -- Federal and local leaders on Sunday began to ease restrictions and deployment of military forces in response to nationwide protests sparked by the police-involved killing of George Floyd that continued over the weekend .
President Donald Trump on Sunday tweeted that he had ordered the National Guard to withdraw from Washington , D.C. , but warned that they can `` quickly return '' if demonstrations once again escalate .
The National Guard on Saturday said that more than 5,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen from 11 states and Washington , D.C. , were manning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation 's capital .
Washington , D.C. , Mayor Muriel Bowser shared a letter to Trump dated Thursday calling for the president to withdraw all extraordinary law enforcement and military presence from the city in addition to similar letters to New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy and Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine , calling on them to remove their National Guard forces from the area .
Earlier in the week , Trump called for all U.S. governors to deploy the National Guard in response to the protests .
Trump also faced criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and military officials after he threatened to deploy the military against protesters and federal law enfocement forcefully cleared protesters near the White House to allow him to pose for photos at St. John 's Episcopal Church .
Pentagon adviser James Miller also moved to resign in protest over Defense Secretary Mike Esper 's involvement in the decision .
Colin Powell , who served as secretary of state under George W. Bush and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George H.W .
Bush and Bill Clinton , on Sunday told CNN 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has `` drifted away '' from the Constitution , praising military officials for their criticism of Trump 's policies .
`` We have a Constitution and we have to follow that Constitution , '' said Powell .
Powell also declared he plans to vote for former Vice President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election , saying he is very close to him `` on a social matter and on a political matter '' adding he believes Trump has not been an effective president and accusing him of lying `` all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments on Twitter describing him as a `` real stiff '' and criticizing his involvement in the United States entering war against Iraq during the Bush administration .
In New York City , Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sunday that the city was lifting its curfew which had previously been planned to be implemented from 8 p.m. through 5 a.m. Monday .
The decision followed a legal threat against extending the curfew from the New York American Civil Liberties Union and New York Police Department Commissioner Dermont Shea saying curfews were nott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Today show .
`` The problem is , people need to listen to a curfew and that 's not going to happen first and foremost .
If people think it will they do n't understand what 's going on , '' Shea said .
During a news conference Sunday , de Blasio also said two NYPD officers have been suspended without pay and will face further disciplinary actions for harming protesters during the demonstrations .
One officer was accused of shoving a woman to the ground while the other allegedly pulled down a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person with pepper spray .
Curfews also were lifted Sunday in Chicago and Philadelphia .
They ended Saturday in Atlanta and Dallas , and in the Twin Cities in Minnesota on Friday night .
Los Angeles County revoked its curfew Thursday night .

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Protesters rally during demonstrations against police brutality and the death of George Floyd on Saturday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
June 7 (UPI) -- Federal and local leaders on Sunday eased restrictions and deployment of military forces in response to nationwide protests sparked by the police-involved killing of George Floyd that continued over the weekend. President Donald Trump on Sunday tweeted he had ordered the National Guard to withdraw from Washington, D.C., but warned they can "quickly return" if demonstrations once again escalate. Advertisement
The National Guard on Saturday said that more than 5,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen from 11 states and Washington, D.C., were manning traffic control points and aid stations in the nation's capital.
Army Secretary Ryan D. McCarthy confirmed to reporters during a press call later Sunday that all out-of-state National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., would be withdrawn over the next 72 hours.
"Over the course of these last 48 hours, the National Guard, as well as our interagency partners working with [D.C.] Chief of Police Peter Newsham, looked at the trends, saw that it had become very peaceful in nature, and started to develop a plan for withdrawal of first out-of-state National Guardsmen supporting the D.C. Guard -- and then how do we get on a glide path to turning off the D.C. Guard," McCarthy said.
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Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser shared a letter to Trump dated Thursday calling for the president to withdraw all extraordinary law enforcement and military presence from the city in addition to similar letters to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, calling on them to remove their National Guard forces from the area.
Earlier in the week, Trump called for all U.S. governors to deploy the National Guard in response to the protests.
Trump also faced criticism from Bowser as well as prominent Democrats and military officials after he threatened to deploy the military against protesters and federal law enforcement forcefully cleared protesters near the White House to allow him to pose for photos at St. John's Episcopal Church. Pentagon adviser James Miller also moved to resign in protest over Defense Secretary Mike Esper's involvement in the decision.
Colin Powell, who served as secretary of state under George W. Bush and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, on Sunday told CNN's State of the Union he believes that Trump has "drifted away" from the Constitution, praising military officials for their criticism of Trump's policies.
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"We have a Constitution and we have to follow that Constitution," said Powell.
Powell also declared he plans to vote for former Vice President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, saying he is very close to him "on a social matter and on a political matter," adding he believes Trump has not been an effective president and accusing him of lying "all the time"
Trump responded to Powell's comments on Twitter describing him as a "real stiff" and criticizing his involvement in the United States entering the war against Iraq during the Bush administration.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti also announced that the California National Guard departed the second-most populated U.S. city on Sunday night following several days of peaceful protests.
Garcetti, who had requested Gov. Gavin Newsom to deploy the National Guard on May 31 to aid local law enforcement with protests, said Sunday in a statement that "a small number of units" will remain stationed nearby until Wednesday to provide emergency support if needed.
"I'm proud that our city has been peaceful this week -- and that our residents are leading a powerful movement to make Los Angeles more just, equitable and fair for black Angelenos, communities of color and all our workers, youth and families," he said.
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In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sunday that the city was lifting its curfew, which had previously been planned to be implemented from 8 p.m. through 5 a.m. Monday, and introduced a series of police reforms, including shifting funding from the NYPD to social services for communities of color.
The decision to lift the curfew followed a legal threat against extending the curfew from the New York American Civil Liberties Union and New York Police Department Commissioner Dermont Shea saying curfews were not effective during an appearance on NBC's Today show.
"The problem is, people need to listen to a curfew and that's not going to happen first and foremost. If people think it will they don't understand what's going on," Shea said.
During a news conference Sunday, de Blasio also said two NYPD officers have been suspended without pay and will face further disciplinary actions for harming protesters during the demonstrations. One officer was accused of shoving a woman to the ground while the other allegedly pulled down a protester's face covering and sprayed the person with pepper spray.
The mayor also announced reforms to the NYPD that will occur over the next 18 months "to rebuild a fairer city that profoundly addresses injustice and disparity."
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Though the amount of funds is not yet known, "significant savings" in the NYPD budget will be put toward youth development and social services for communities of color, his office said in a statement. The city will also shift enforcement for street vending out of NYPD to reduce interactions between uniform officers and New Yorkers and they will integrate community voices into senior levels of the police force through hiring community ambassadors, creating a venue to address complaints and concerns and ensure the NYPD leadership hears New Yorkers.
"This is directly related to the disparities that are so painfully evident in this city and the disparities that were made so clear by the coronavirus," de Blasio said during a press conference.
BREAKING: @NYCMayor announces new policing reforms in New York City: pic.twitter.com/aWQgz0NBDK— City of New York (@nycgov) June 7, 2020
Late last week, Garcetti also announced that up to $150 million would be defunded from the LAPD as part of reallocating of some $250 million from the city's budget to fund programs for communities of color.
Curfews were also lifted Sunday in Chicago and Philadelphia. They ended Saturday in Atlanta and Dallas, and in the Twin Cities in Minnesota on Friday night. Los Angeles County revoked its curfew Thursday night.


upi--2020-06-07--Coronavirus milestones: Death toll passes 400,000, cases climb past 7 million

June 7 ( UPI ) -- Five months after the first fatality was reported in mainland China , the coronavirus pandemic reached two grim milestones Sunday : 400,000 deaths and 7 million cases .
Since Chinese media reported one death on Jan. 11 , outbreaks have spread around the world , first hitting European nations hard then affecting the United States and now Latin America .
Through Sunday afternoon EDT , the death toll stands at 403,433 , an increase of 1,734 , and 7,039,882 cases , a rise of 70,760 , according to tracking by Worldometers.info .
The increases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
China 's deaths and cases were the most for a few months but it has slid to 18th with 4,634 fatalities -- and no fatality reported since April 26 .
And since May 1 , only 16 cases have been reported for a total of 83,036 in 18th place .
Italy surged past China into first place but the outbreak has now largely been contained .
Since May 1 , 5,663 deaths have been reported in Italy for a total of 33,899 .
Several European nations became hot spots with Britain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top 10 .
But the curve has been flattened and only 160 deaths were reported Sunday -- 77 in No .
2 Britain , 53 in No .
3 Italy , 13 in No .
4 France , 1 in No .
5 Spain , 15 in No .
8 Belgium and 1 in No .
9 Germany .
On Saturday , the increase was 328 , including 204 in Britain .
The daily rate was as high as 1,494 in France , 1,172 in Britain , 919 in Italy , 961 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the most deaths -- 112,113 -- and cases with nearly 2 million .
The death toll was more than half that on May 1 -- 65,918 .
The first fatality in the United States was announced Feb. 29 .
In the past few weeks , two nations in the Western Hemisphere -- Brazil and Mexico -- have had surging deaths and cases .
In one week , Brazil has moved past Spain , France and Italy into third place , rising from 28,834 to 36,078 .
Two weeks ago , the figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported 910 more deaths and a record 1,492 Thursday .
So far Sunday , Brazil reported 121 more deaths .
The South American nation reported 27,581 cases Saturday and 4,773 initially Sunday to total 678,360 after a record 31,890 cases Thursday for second place behind the United States .
Health experts believe the death toll and cases are much higher because of the lack of testing : around 1 million in a nation of 209.5 million .
And on Saturday , the nation stopped publishing the number of total deaths and infections as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brazilian states .
Instead , only additional deaths and cases each day are being reported .
`` It is very difficult to make predictions that you think are reliable , '' Fabio Mendes , an adjunct professor in software engineering at the federal University of Brasilia , who studies Brazilian coronavirus statistics , said in an interview .
`` We know the numbers are bad . ''
On Saturday , President Jair Bolsonaro tweeted his country 's disease totals are `` not representative '' of Brazil 's current situation , implying the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The president has disdained social distancing , often appearing with people , and has threatened to pull out of the World Health Organization .
Pope Francis , who is from Argentina , has been critical of the situation in Brazil .
He urged people in countries emerging from lockdown to keep following authorities ' rules on social distancing , hygiene and limits on movement .
`` Be careful , do n't cry victory , do n't cry victory too soon , '' Francis said from his apartment window to people gathered in St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` They are rules that help us to prevent the virus from spreading . ''
Also in Latin America , Mexico has soared into seventh place in one week , passing Germany and Belgium , reporting 341 late Saturday after 625 Friday and a record 1,092 Wednesday .
Also , 3,593 cases were reported .
The nation 's deaths have nearly doubled from 7,179 to 13,511 in two weeks .
Despite the rising numbers , the nation is gradually reopening after a quarantine since March .
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador ended the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week .
Like the Brazilian president , Lopez Obrador has minimized the severity of the coronavirus ' threat .
Allowed were soccer tournaments , concerts and preparations for the spring tourist season .
`` Most people think from the government 's message that the worst is over , '' Dr. Francisco Moreno , who heads the COVID-19 unit of ABC Medical Center in Mexico City , told The New York Times .
`` We are at the peak of the epidemic . ''
He said the hospital has had to turn patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The United States has closed the border with Mexico except for goods and essential travel .
The border with Canada also is affected .
The nation is in 11th place in deaths with a total of 7,773 , including 70 more deaths Saturday .
The far majority of deaths in North America are in those three countries .
The Dominican Republic is fourth with 536 of the total 134,771 .
In South America , there have been 48,757 deaths , with Peru in 15th place with 5,301 .
Europe has 178,937 deaths but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were reported Sunday .
One hot spot is Russia , which reported 8,984 cases for a total of 467,673 -- third in the world -- and 134 more deaths for 14th at 5,859 Sunday .
Sweden , which has been doing `` herd immunity , '' on Sunday reported three more deaths at 4,659 as well as 81 new cases after 1,056 Friday .
Neighboring Norway reported zero deaths for the third day in a row to remain at 238 as well as 16 more cases .
Restrictions are being lifted in Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revealed that places of worship can reopen for private prayer on June 15 , the same day nonessential shops , including department stores , are due to reopen .
This week , Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to meet with his Cabinet on the next steps to ease the lockdown .
In France , cafes and restaurants were partially reopened last week .
On Friday , immunologist Jean-François Delfraissy , declared the epidemic `` under control '' in France , in an interview on French radio .
He is head of the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few days , Spain has listed only a few additional deaths and has been reducing the list to end duplicates .
Shops and restaurants have been open with up to 50 percent capacity and the nation is considering allowing local governments to transitioning from Phase 3 to the `` new normal '' before June 21 when the state of alarm officially ends .
On June 15 , many European nations , including France , Germany and Switzerland , plan to open their borders and relax entry restrictions .
Travel has been gradually increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the United States government said it will let Chinese airlines operate a limited number of flights to the U.S .
Allowed will be two flights per week between the U.S. and China , which equals the number of flights that China 's aviation authority will allow for U.S. carriers .
China has been attempting to reduce the risk of infection from other nations .
On Sunday , China reported six new cases , including five imported .
In a report issued Sunday , China defended its government 's response and said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manner .
In South Korea , 57 additional cases of coronavirus were announced , the second day in a row that its daily jump is above 50 .
In all , there have been 11,776 case with 273 deaths as the nation has rigid testing , including efforts to contain local hot spots .
Elsewhere in Asia , where there have been 35,021 deaths , India reported 261 deaths and 10,616 cases .
The nation is 12th in deaths with 7,207 and sixth in cases , with 257,238 .
After a 10-week lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including malls , hotels and places of worship , on Monday .
Japan 's Tokyo metropolitan government will ask people working at nightclubs and similar entertainment establishments to regularly take coronavirus tests , Gov .
Yuriko Koike said Sunday .
On Saturday , Japan announced seven additional deaths and 39 new cases .
In Oceania , there have been 102 deaths in Australia and 22 in New Zeleand .
The last reported death in Australia was May 23 and in New Zealand it was May 28 .
In Africa , Egypt has reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 5,112 fatalities .

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Chinese download a government Health Kit APP and input their identity details before being allowed to enter a shopping area in Beijing on Sunday. Despite China's declaration that the reemergence of the Covid-19 threat in the capital is minimal, precautions are still in place to monitor and trace people's movements. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
June 7 (UPI) -- Five months after the first fatality was reported in mainland China, the coronavirus pandemic reached two grim milestones Sunday: 400,000 deaths and 7 million cases. Since Chinese media reported one death on Jan. 11, outbreaks have spread around the world, first hitting European nations hard then affecting the United States and now Latin America. Advertisement
By the end of Sunday, the death toll stood at 405,081, an increase of 3,382, and 7,082,212 cases, a rise of 113,090, according to tracking by Worldometers.info. The increases Saturday were 4,253 deaths and 128,677 cases.
China's deaths and cases were the most for a few months but it has slid to 18th worldwide with 4,634 fatalities -- and no fatality reported since April 26. And since May 1, only 16 cases have been reported for a total of 83,036 in 18th place.
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Italy surged past China but the outbreak has now largely been contained.
Since May 1, 5,663 deaths have been reported in Italy for a total of 33,899. Several European nations became hot spots with Britain, Spain and France joining Italy in the top 10. But the curve has been flattened and only 160 deaths were reported Sunday -- 77 in No. 2 Britain, 53 in No. 3 Italy, 13 in No. 4 France, 1 in No. 5 Spain, 15 in No. 8 Belgium and 1 in No. 9 Germany. On Saturday, the increase was 328, including 204 in Britain. The daily rate was as high as 1,494 in France, 1,172 in Britain, 919 in Italy, 961 in Spain,
The United States has surged to the most deaths -- 112,469 -- and cases with more than 2 million. The death toll was more than half that on May 1 -- 65,918. The first fatality in the United States was announced on Feb. 29.
In the past few weeks, two nations in the Western Hemisphere -- Brazil and Mexico -- have had surging deaths and cases.
In one week, Brazil has moved past Spain, France and Italy into third place, rising from 28,834 to 36,078. Two weeks ago, the figure was 22,013.
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On Sunday, the South American nation reported 1,382 deaths within the past 24 hours, ballooning its total to 37,312 deaths. It also reported 12,581 new confirmed cases for a total of 685,427.
Brazil on Saturday reported 910 more deaths and a record 1,492 fatalities on Thursday. The Latin nation reported 27,581 cases Saturday after a record 31,890 cases Thursday for second place behind the United States.
Health experts believe the death toll and cases are much higher because of the lack of testing: around 1 million in a nation of 209.5 million.
And on Saturday, the nation stopped publishing the number of total deaths and infections as well as weekly and monthly figures in Brazilian states. Instead, only additional deaths and cases each day are being reported.
"It is very difficult to make predictions that you think are reliable,'' Fabio Mendes, an adjunct professor in software engineering at the Federal University of Brasilia, who studies Brazilian coronavirus statistics, said in an interview. "We know the numbers are bad."
On Saturday, President Jair Bolsonaro tweeted his country's disease totals are "not representative" of Brazil's current situation, implying the spread of the virus is being overestimated. The president has disdained social distancing, often appearing with people, and has threatened to pull out of the World Health Organization.
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Pope Francis, who is from Argentina, has been critical of the situation in Brazil. He urged people in countries emerging from lockdown to keep following authorities' rules on social distancing, hygiene and limits on movement.
"Be careful, don't cry victory, don't cry victory too soon," Francis said from his apartment window to people gathered in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. "They are rules that help us to prevent the virus from spreading."
Also in Latin America, Mexico has soared into seventh place in one week, passing Germany and Belgium, reporting 188 deaths on Sunday after 341 on Saturday and 625 on Friday. That was all after recording a record 1,092 on Wednesday. Also, 3,484 cases were reported on Sunday. The nation's deaths have nearly doubled from 7,179 to 13,699 in two weeks.
Despite the rising numbers, the nation is gradually reopening after a quarantine since March. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador ended the quarantine by embarking on a six-state tour last week.
Like the Brazilian president, Lopez Obrador has minimized the severity of the coronavirus' threat. Allowed were soccer tournaments, concerts and preparations for the spring tourist season.
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"Most people think from the government's message that the worst is over," Dr. Francisco Moreno, who heads the COVID-19 unit of ABC Medical Center in Mexico City, told The New York Times. "We are at the peak of the epidemic."
He said the hospital has had to turn patients away, despite doubling its capacity.
The United States has closed the border with Mexico except for goods and essential travel.
The border with Canada also is affected. The Great White North is in 11th place in deaths with a total of 7,800, including 27 more deaths over Sunday and 70 more deaths over Saturday.
The far majority of deaths in North America are in those three countries, with the United States well in the lead but has seen a slowing of fatalities of late recording 373 deaths over Sunday, its lowest tally since registering 355 deaths on March 26.
The Dominican Republic is fourth with 538 of the total 135,537. In South America, there have been 50,222 deaths, with Peru in 15th place worldwide with 5,465 after recording 164 deaths in the past 24 hours.
Europe has 178,943 deaths but only 360 more in the entire continent were reported Sunday.
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One hot spot is Russia, which reported 8,984 cases for a total of 467,673 -- third in the world -- and 134 more deaths for 14th at 5,859 Sunday.
Sweden, which has been doing "herd immunity," on Sunday reported three more deaths at 4,659 as well as 81 new cases after 1,056 Friday. Neighboring Norway reported zero deaths for the third day in a row to remain at 238 as well as 16 more cases.
Restrictions are being lifted in Europe.
On Saturday, Britain's government revealed that places of worship can reopen for private prayer on June 15, the same day nonessential shops, including department stores, are due to reopen. This week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to meet with his Cabinet on the next steps to ease the lockdown.
In France, cafes and restaurants were partially reopened last week. On Friday, immunologist Jean-François Delfraissy, declared the epidemic "under control" in France, in an interview on French radio. He is head of the government's scientific council.
In the past few days, Spain has listed only a few additional deaths and has been reducing the list to end duplicates. Shops and restaurants have been open with up to 50 percent capacity and the nation is considering allowing local governments to transition from Phase 3 to the "new normal" before June 21 when the state of alarm officially ends.
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On June 15, many European nations, including France, Germany and Switzerland, plan to open their borders and relax entry restrictions.
Travel has been gradually increased from and to China.
On Friday, the United States government said it will let Chinese airlines operate a limited number of flights to the U.S. Allowed will be two flights per week between the U.S. and China, which equals the number of flights that China's aviation authority will allow for U.S. carriers.
China has been attempting to reduce the risk of infection from other nations. On Sunday, China reported six new cases, including five imported.
In a report issued Sunday, China defended its government's response and said it provided information in a timely and transparent manner.
In South Korea, 57 additional cases of coronavirus were announced, the second day in a row that its daily jump is above 50. In all, there have been 11,776 cases with 273 deaths as the nation has rigid testing, including efforts to contain local hot spots.
Elsewhere in Asia, where there have been 35,025 deaths, India reported 261 deaths and 10,864 cases. The nation is 12th worldwide in deaths with 7,207 and sixth in cases, with 257,486.
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After a 10-week lockdown, India plans to reopen businesses, including malls, hotels and places of worship, on Monday.
Japan's Tokyo metropolitan government will ask people working at nightclubs and similar entertainment establishments to regularly take coronavirus tests, Gov. Yuriko Koike said Sunday.
On Saturday, Japan announced seven additional deaths and 39 new cases.
In Oceania, there have been 102 deaths in Australia and 22 in New Zealand. The last reported death in Australia was May 23 and in New Zealand, it was May 28.
In Africa, Egypt has reported 1,237 deaths and South Africa 998 among the 5,215 fatalities.


upi--2020-06-07--Justice Smith confirms he is queer, takes part in George Floyd protest

June 7 ( UPI ) -- Jurassic World : Fallen Kingdom and Pokemon : Detective Pikachu star Justice Smith announced on Instagram this weekend that he is queer .
Smith wrote about his sexuality after attending a George Floyd protest in New Orleans with Queen Sugar actor Nicholas L. Ashe .
`` We chanted 'Black Trans Lives Matter ' 'Black Queer Lives Matter ' 'All Black Lives Matter ' .
As a black queer man myself , I was disappointed to see certain people eager to say Black Lives Matter , but hold their tongue when Trans/Queer was added , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reiterate this sentiment : if your revolution does not include Black Queer voices , it is anti-black .
If your revolution is okay with letting black trans people like # TonyMcDade slip through the cracks in order to solely liberate black cishet men , it is anti-black .
You are trying to push yourself through the door of a system designed against you , and then shut the door behind you .
It is in our conditioning to get as close to whiteness , straightness , maleness as we can because that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we appeal to it , maybe it 'll give us a slice .
But the revolution is not about appeal .
It is about demanding what should have been given to us from the beginning .
What should have been given to black , queer , and trans individuals from the beginning .
Which is the right to exist .
To live and prosper in public .
Without fear of persecution or threat of violence . ''
After numerous media outlets ran stories about his post with headlines saying he came out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yo tf i did n't come out , y'all came in . ''
Floyd was a black man who died allegedly at the hands of a white police officer during an arrest last month .
His death has sparked worldwide protests , demanding police reform and an end to racism .

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Justice Smith publicly said for the first time this weekend that he is queer. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
June 7 (UPI) -- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Pokemon: Detective Pikachu star Justice Smith announced on Instagram this weekend that he is queer. Smith wrote about his sexuality after attending a George Floyd protest in New Orleans with Queen Sugar actor Nicholas L. Ashe. Advertisement
"We chanted 'Black Trans Lives Matter' 'Black Queer Lives Matter' 'All Black Lives Matter'. As a black queer man myself, I was disappointed to see certain people eager to say Black Lives Matter, but hold their tongue when Trans/Queer was added," Smith wrote.
"I want to reiterate this sentiment: if your revolution does not include Black Queer voices, it is anti-black. If your revolution is okay with letting black trans people like #TonyMcDade slip through the cracks in order to solely liberate black cishet men, it is anti-black. You are trying to push yourself through the door of a system designed against you, and then shut the door behind you. It is in our conditioning to get as close to whiteness, straightness, maleness as we can because that's where the power is. And if we appeal to it, maybe it'll give us a slice. But the revolution is not about appeal. It is about demanding what should have been given to us from the beginning. What should have been given to black, queer, and trans individuals from the beginning. Which is the right to exist. To live and prosper in public. Without fear of persecution or threat of violence."
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After numerous media outlets ran stories about his post with headlines saying he came out as queer, Smith tweeted, "yo tf i didn't come out, y'all came in."
Floyd was a black man who died allegedly at the hands of a white police officer during an arrest last month. His death has sparked worldwide protests, demanding police reform and an end to racism.


upi--2020-06-07--Banksy unveils artwork, calls for reforms to 'failed system'

June 7 ( UPI ) -- Anonymous street artist Banksy posted on Instagram photos of his latest work and a message supporting those fighting what he calls `` a failed system . ''
He debuted the painting as thousands of people are taking to the streets daily all over the world to protest the death of George Floyd , an African American man , allegedly at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis .
The painting shows the flame from a single candle -- which is on what appears to be a fireplace mantle -- burning a U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Also on the mantle are cut flowers and the framed silhouette of a person .
The flag is red , white and blue and everything else in the picture is grey , black and white .
Banksy 's post is captioned : `` At first I thought I should just shut up and listen to black people about this issue .
But why would I do that ?
It 's not their problem , it 's mine .
People of colour are being failed by the system .
`` The white system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apartment of the people living downstairs .
The faulty system is making their life a misery , but it 's not their job to fix it .
They ca n't - no-one will let them in the apartment upstairs .
This is a white problem .
And if white people do n't fix it , someone will have to come upstairs and kick the door in . ''
The post has gotten more than 2.2 mllion `` likes '' since it was posted on Saturday .

Image courtesy of Banksy/Instagram
June 7 (UPI) -- Anonymous street artist Banksy posted on Instagram photos of his latest work and a message supporting those fighting what he calls "a failed system." He debuted the painting as thousands of people are taking to the streets daily all over the world to protest the death of George Floyd, an African American man, allegedly at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis. Advertisement
The painting shows the flame from a single candle -- which is on what appears to be a fireplace mantle -- burning a U.S. flag that is hung on a wall.
Also on the mantle are cut flowers and the framed silhouette of a person.
The flag is red, white and blue and everything else in the picture is grey, black and white.
Banksy's post is captioned: "At first I thought I should just shut up and listen to black people about this issue. But why would I do that? It's not their problem, it's mine. People of colour are being failed by the system.
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"The white system. Like a broken pipe flooding the apartment of the people living downstairs. The faulty system is making their life a misery, but it's not their job to fix it. They can't - no-one will let them in the apartment upstairs. This is a white problem. And if white people don't fix it, someone will have to come upstairs and kick the door in."
The post has gotten more than 2.2 mllion "likes" since it was posted on Saturday.


upi--2020-06-07--UFC star Conor McGregor retires again

UFC star Conor McGregor retires again

June 7 ( UPI ) -- UFC star Conor McGregor said Sunday he is retiring -- for the second time in little more than a year -- because he has lost interest in the sport .
He made his announcement on Twitter , saying to fans , `` Thank you for the amazing memories .
What a ride it has been ! ''
The Irish fighter , nicknamed `` The Notoriousm '' previously announced his retirement in March 2019 , but returned to fight Donald `` Cowboy '' Cerrone in Las Vegas earlier this year .
He beat Cerrone on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't drive him further .
`` The game does not excite me , and that 's that , '' McGregor , 31 , told ESPN on Sunday morning .
`` All this waiting around .
There 's nothing happening .
I 'm going through opponent options , and there 's nothing really there at the minute . ''
He criticized UFC management for not keeping `` the ball rolling , '' pushing a match between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje back to September .
He had planned to fight three times this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Las Vegas , but the pandemic forced a postponement .
During the last three months , McGregor has been prominent on social media discussing about the pandemic .
He made sizable donations to hospitals in Ireland .
McGregor has been the biggest pay-per-view draw in UFC history .
As he again leaves the sport , he is rated No .
8 in UFC men 's pound-for-pound rankings , No .
4 in the UFC lightweight ratings and No .
15 in the UFC welterweight rankings .

Conor McGregor arrives for the 62nd annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 26. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
June 7 (UPI) -- UFC star Conor McGregor said Sunday he is retiring -- for the second time in little more than a year -- because he has lost interest in the sport. He made his announcement on Twitter, saying to fans, "Thank you for the amazing memories. What a ride it has been!" Advertisement
The Irish fighter, nicknamed "The Notoriousm" previously announced his retirement in March 2019, but returned to fight Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in Las Vegas earlier this year. He beat Cerrone on a technical knockout.
But that victory didn't drive him further.
Hey guys I've decided to retire from fighting. Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it's been! Here is a picture of myself and my mother in Las Vegas post one of my World title wins! Pick the home of your dreams Mags I love you! Whatever you desire it's yours  pic.twitter.com/Dh4ijsZacZ— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 7, 2020
"The game does not excite me, and that's that," McGregor, 31, told ESPN on Sunday morning. "All this waiting around. There's nothing happening. I'm going through opponent options, and there's nothing really there at the minute."
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He criticized UFC management for not keeping "the ball rolling," pushing a match between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje back to September. He had planned to fight three times this year, the next time July 11 in Las Vegas, but the pandemic forced a postponement.
During the last three months, McGregor has been prominent on social media discussing about the pandemic . He made sizable donations to hospitals in Ireland.
McGregor has been the biggest pay-per-view draw in UFC history. As he again leaves the sport, he is rated No. 8 in UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings, No. 4 in the UFC lightweight ratings and No. 15 in the UFC welterweight rankings.


Notable deaths of 2020

Richard Herd is seen here at a convention in Utrecht , Netherlands , on September 23 , 2005 .
The @ @ @ @ @ `` Seinfeld , '' and `` Get Out , '' died from cancer-related causes on @ @ @ @ @ of 87 .
Photo by Uja3000/Wikimedia Commons

Dawn Wells
Dawn Wells poses with the original, fully restored S.S. Minnow from "Gilligan's Island" to meet and greet fans and visitors at the Vancouver International Boat Show in Vancouver on January 23, 2014. Best known for her role as Mary Ann from "Gilligan's Island," Wells died of COVID-19 on December 30 at the age of 82. Photo by Heinz Ruckemann/UPI


upi--2020-06-08--House Democrats to propose reforms targeting police misconduct

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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., joined by lawmakers speaks Monday on Capitol Hill about newly introduced legislation for police reform. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
June 8 (UPI) -- House Democrats on Monday introduced sweeping police reforms at the federal level, including measures that make it easier to prosecute officers in criminal and civil court. The bill was introduced at a news conference Monday led by members of the Congressional Black Caucus, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer and other senior Democratic lawmakers. Advertisement
Two dozen lawmakers knelt for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol before the unveiling to remember George Floyd.
The legislation follows two weeks of mass demonstrations nationwide over Floyd'd death on Memorial Day. Most have been peaceful, but a number of rallies have turned violent and led to vandalism and looting.
Across the country, Americans are calling for action to end police brutality and racial injustice. Today, @HouseDemocrats & @SenateDems are unveiling the #JusticeInPolicing Act. https://t.co/wG7CGJvPoh— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) June 8, 2020 Advertisement
Called the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, the plan proposes wide-ranging reforms like reducing the federal standard for prosecuting police for misconduct, revising the "qualified immunity" law that shields officers from civil suits, creating a national misconduct database, limiting the transfer of military-grade weapons and barring "no-knock" warrants in drug cases.
"The Justice and Policing Act established a bold, transformative vision of policing in America," said Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus. "Never again should the world be subjected to witnessing what we saw on the streets of Minneapolis -- the slow murder of an individual by a uniformed police officer."
"Today, with the Justice and Policing Act, Congress is standing with those fighting for justice and taking action," added Pelosi.
"Over the past week, hundreds of thousands of Americans have engaged in peaceful protests against police violence and systemic racism," Schumer said. "This large, diverse group, so many of them young, gives us hope that Americans are prepared to march and fight to make this a more perfect union once and for all."
Senate Democrats, Schumer vowed, will "fight like hell" to pass the package and called on Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell to take it up before the end of June.
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The proposal does not seek to defund police departments, which has been called for by some activists. City councilors in Minneapolis said Sunday they plan to defund and disband its police department in favor of a new community-type policing system. The idea, however, is far from having unanimous support and is expected to set off a lengthy and complex fight. Mayor Jacob Frey has said he opposes fully abolishing the city's police force.
The House judiciary committee will hold its first hearing for the proposal Wednesday.
Republican lawmakers say they have been shut out of the planning process, but House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy said last week he's confident both parties "can find common ground" on the issue.
U.S. Attorney General William Barr has downplayed the need for police reforms.
"I don't think that the law enforcement system is systemically racist," he told CBS's Face the Nation Sunday.
Protesters demand justice in police killing of George Floyd


upi--2020-06-08--In Photos: Moments from Kerry Washington's career

Left to right , Washington , Gong Li and Andie MacDowell arrive for the premiere of `` My Blueberry Nights @ @ @ @ @ the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes , France , on May 16 , 2007 .
@ @ @ @ @ co-directed a music video for rapper Common .
Photo by Christine Chew/UPI

Left to right, Washington, Gong Li and Andie MacDowell arrive for the premiere of "My Blueberry Nights" on opening night of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 16, 2007. That following October, Washington co-directed a music video for rapper Common. Photo by Christine Chew/UPI


upi--2020-06-08--NASCAR's Bubba Wallace 'fine' after fainting during interview

June 8 ( UPI ) -- NASCAR Cup Series star Bubba Wallace said he is `` good '' after he fainted during an interview after the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway .
Wallace , 26 , finished 21st in the race before cameras caught him collapsing and being helped by members of his racing team .
He then sat down for an interview with Fox Sports and was asked a question before he lowered his head and could not respond .
He was then tended to by members of his race team and medical personnel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and put into an ambulance after the incident .
NASCAR said he was treated and released from the infield care center at the Atlanta Motor Speedway .
Wallace -- the only black driver in the Cup Series -- wore an `` I Ca n't Breathe '' shirt before the race and participated in a moment of silence with fellow drivers in response to the killing of George Floyd .
Drivers then jumped in their cars for a 500-mile race amid hot and humid weather conditions in Atlanta .
The driver of the No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought the mental toll his body took over the last week was largely responsible for the incident .
He also said he broke down and cried under his helmet before the race during the moment of silence .
Wallace said he was `` good '' Sunday night on Twitter .
`` I do n't even know .
[ It was a ] long race I guess , '' Wallace said .
`` I stood up too fast .
Well I guess I was told I was going to do media , and sat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I got dizzy , got lightheaded .
`` I feel fine now .
Quick scare for everybody . ''
Wallace also fainted after a race in 2017 .
That incident also occurred during an interview .
Wallace said at that time that it was the third time he had passed out after a race .
Wallace ranks 22nd in the Cup Series standings .
Kevin Harvick won Sunday 's race and leads the standings .

Bubba Wallace was treated at the infield medical center after he passed out during an interview after a race Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. File Photo by Edwin Locke/UPI | License Photo
June 8 (UPI) -- NASCAR Cup Series star Bubba Wallace said he is "good" after he fainted during an interview after the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Wallace, 26, finished 21st in the race before cameras caught him collapsing and being helped by members of his racing team. He then sat down for an interview with Fox Sports and was asked a question before he lowered his head and could not respond. He was then tended to by members of his race team and medical personnel. Advertisement
Wallace was loaded onto a stretcher and put into an ambulance after the incident. NASCAR said he was treated and released from the infield care center at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Wallace -- the only black driver in the Cup Series -- wore an "I Can't Breathe" shirt before the race and participated in a moment of silence with fellow drivers in response to the killing of George Floyd. Drivers then jumped in their cars for a 500-mile race amid hot and humid weather conditions in Atlanta.
The driver of the No. 43 Chevrolet told ESPN that he thought the mental toll his body took over the last week was largely responsible for the incident. He also said he broke down and cried under his helmet before the race during the moment of silence.
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Wallace said he was "good" Sunday night on Twitter.
.@BubbaWallace is okay after a long, hot day in Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/pLO9ywH5sd— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 7, 2020
"I don't even know. [It was a] long race I guess," Wallace said. "I stood up too fast. Well I guess I was told I was going to do media, and sat down and got up too fast, and I got dizzy, got lightheaded.
"I feel fine now. Quick scare for everybody."
Wallace also fainted after a race in 2017. That incident also occurred during an interview. Wallace said at that time that it was the third time he had passed out after a race.
Wallace ranks 22nd in the Cup Series standings. Kevin Harvick won Sunday's race and leads the standings.


upi--2020-06-08--Gallup: Almost 3/4 of U.S. employers using stricter COVID-19 safeguards

Stylist Katie Winston ( R ) cuts the hair of customer Dee Broderick on the sidewalk outside the 7-0-3 Salon in Chesterfield , Mo.
, on May 26 .
Although stylists and customers wear masks , the salon has offered customers the option of haircuts outdoors for those who may have coronavirus concerns .
Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | Dentist Ronald Sherstoff examines a high-speed drill at his office in Chesterfield , Mo.
, on May 19 .
Sherstoff has purchased an air filtration system that destroys airborne viruses that could be transmitted by the drill , and all staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gloves and face shields to protect themselves .
Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | Nicholas Calio , president and CEO of Airlines for America , uses disinfecting wipes before testifying before a hearing on the pandemic 's impact on the aviation industry May 6 on Capitol Hill in Washington , D.C. Photo by Jim Watson/UPI | A hairstylist and his client wear protective face masks and gloves at a salon in Jerusalem on May 1 .
Israel has eased some coronavirus restrictions , allowing small stores and beauty salons to open , while maintaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Debbie Hill/UPI |

Stylist Jason Owen colors a customer's hair on May 18 at Dominic Michael Salon in Clayton, Mo., which has introduced multiple protective measures to guard against the coronavirus. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
June 8 (UPI) -- As U.S. workers slowly return to work, more than half say their employers have adopted stricter precautions to mitigate the coronavirus disease, a survey showed Monday. Gallup researchers said they have been tracking full- and part-time workers since March, and found they're seeing noticeable changes in the workplace. Advertisement
Nearly 70 percent said their bosses are "always" using new and more frequent cleaning methods and encouraging hand washing and disinfectant cleanings. Fifty-eight percent said said the same about new protective gear like masks, gloves and face shields. Fifty-four percent said their companies always enforce distancing of at least six feet.
The survey found that employers, however, are less likely to screen their workers for symptoms. Just 41 percent said they're "always" checked and 39 percent said they're never checked.
According to the pollster, 33 percent of respondents said all or nearly all employees are back in the office, an increase of 5 percent since the last survey.
"Employers and workers are taking extra precautions to avoid spreading the virus and prevent another deadly wave of infections in the U.S.," Gallup said. "The ability of such actions to prevent a second wave of coronavirus infections will help determine the pace and extent to which society reopens."
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Gallup surveyed more than 1,900 U.S. workers for the survey, which has a margin of error of 5 points.
World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-06-08--U.S. Soccer to consider repeal of ban on players kneeling

June 8 ( UPI ) -- The United States Soccer Federation has a planned a board meeting , where they will discuss a repeal of their rules that require players to stand during the national anthem .
Sources told Yahoo Sports and ESPN the meeting with the federation 's board of directors is set for Tuesday .
The federation 's requirement was adopted in 2017 after U.S. women 's star Megan Rapinoe knelt in 2016 in response to former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick 's protest against racial inequality and police brutality .
The meeting comes amid protests throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the May 25 death of George Floyd .
Floyd was killed while handcuffed and pinned to the ground by police in Minneapolis .
The federation 's board of directors is expected to take a formal vote on their policy against kneeling on Friday .
The meeting comes after other sports leagues have supported their players protesting and supporting Floyd during their games and practices .
German Bundesliga soccer stars have worn equipment that featured Floyd 's name and knelt before their games in recent weeks .
Several NFL players have said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2020 season .
NASCAR drivers participated in a moment of silence to acknowledge social unrest in the United States on Sunday before the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 in Atlanta .
The National Women 's Soccer League plans to return with a tournament later this month , but Rapinoe is not expected to participate .

U.S. soccer stars like Samantha Mewis (L), Alyssa Naeher (C) and Megan Rapinoe (R) can start kneeling during the national anthem immediately if U.S. Soccer repeals rules that prohibit the protests. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
June 8 (UPI) -- The United States Soccer Federation has a planned a board meeting, where they will discuss a repeal of their rules that require players to stand during the national anthem. Sources told Yahoo Sports and ESPN the meeting with the federation's board of directors is set for Tuesday. The federation's requirement was adopted in 2017 after U.S. women's star Megan Rapinoe knelt in 2016 in response to former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's protest against racial inequality and police brutality. The meeting comes amid protests throughout the United States and the world in response to the May 25 death of George Floyd. Advertisement
Floyd was killed while handcuffed and pinned to the ground by police in Minneapolis.
The federation's board of directors is expected to take a formal vote on their policy against kneeling on Friday. The meeting comes after other sports leagues have supported their players protesting and supporting Floyd during their games and practices.
German Bundesliga soccer stars have worn equipment that featured Floyd's name and knelt before their games in recent weeks. Several NFL players have said they plan to kneel before games during the 2020 season. NASCAR drivers participated in a moment of silence to acknowledge social unrest in the United States on Sunday before the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 in Atlanta.
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The National Women's Soccer League plans to return with a tournament later this month, but Rapinoe is not expected to participate.


upi--2020-06-08--Thousands expected in Houston to honor George Floyd before funeral

A horse-drawn carriage carries a golden casket containing the body of George Floyd to a cemetery in Pearland, Texas, to buried next to his mother on Tuesday. Photo by Trask Smith/UPI | License Photo
June 8 (UPI) -- Thousands of mourners gathered to pay tribute to George Floyd in his hometown of Houston on Monday during a public visitation period at a city church ahead of his funeral on Tuesday. The six-hour visitation period was held at the Fountain of Praise church in southwest Houston. It was open to the public but visitors were required to wear a mask and gloves in compliance with coronavirus-related guidelines. Advertisement
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott were among those who attended the viewing on Monday.
Abbott called Floyd's death "the most horrific tragedy" he has seen and suggested Texas may introduce legislation to ensure the state "will not have police brutality like what happened to George Floyd."
"George Floyd is going to change the arc of the future of the United States," said Abbott. "George Floyd has not died in vain. His life will be a living legacy about the way America and Texas Respond to this tragedy.
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The Rev. Al Sharpton is set to deliver the eulogy at Tuesday's funeral service and former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden will meet with Floyd's family on Monday, aides said.
On Tuesday, Floyd will be buried at the Houston Memorial Gardens cemetery in suburban Pearland, Texas, next to his mother, Larcenia Floyd.
The Houston funeral will be the third memorial for Floyd, following remembrances on Thursday in Minneapolis and Saturday in Raeford, N.C., near where he was born.
Monday's viewing period comes a day after Minneapolis councilors voted to defund and disband the city's police department as a direct result of Floyd's May 25 death.
Four former Minneapolis officers have been charged in Floyd's death, including Derek Chauvin, the officer who pressed his knee down on Floyd's neck and cut off his airway, which ultimately caused his death. He faces a charge of second-degree murder, while the other three are charged with aiding in Floyd's death.
Chauvin made his first court appearance on Monday, exactly two weeks after Floyd's death, which spurred national protests demanding police reforms and an end to systemic racism.
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Most demonstrations have been peaceful but there have been a number of violent uprisings that have resulted in deaths, injuries and property damage.
One man was shot during a demonstration in Seattle on Sunday. Officials said the 27-year-old man was stable after he was shot in the shoulder. Police have arrested a suspect.
In Los Angeles, tens of thousands marched through Hollywood in a peaceful demonstration. As part of the protest, a U.S. flag atop the iconic Capitol Records building was replaced with one reading "Black Lives Matter."
Earlier, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said National Guard troops would leave city Sunday night. They will remain nearby through Wednesday in case they are needed.
In Oakland, Calif., thousands of bicyclists rallied to show solidarity. They rang bicycle bells and chanted, "no justice, no peace, no racist police."
President Donald Trump, who has been criticized for his response to the movement, met with law enforcement officials for a roundtable discussion at the White House Monday afternoon.
Protesters demand justice in police killing of George Floyd


upi--2020-06-08--BTS fans raise $1M in Black Lives Matter donations

June 8 ( UPI ) -- International fans of K-pop giants BTS have raised over $ 1 million in donations for the Black Lives Matter cause in the United States , matching the amount donated earlier by their idols toward the human rights movement , according to a fan charity project Monday .
One In An ARMY , an organization of BTS fans involved in charity projects , announced that it has raised over $ 1 million in donations Monday after launching a donation drive on June 1 .
ARMY is a term used to describe the K-pop group 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million mark was broken after it was reported Sunday that BTS and its label , Big Hit Entertainment , donated $ 1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement .
After the news broke , BTS fans started a social media hashtag campaign , named # MatchAMillion , to drive up donations so as to match the amount made by BTS and Big Hit .
`` It 's really amazing to see so many of you coming together to support # BlackLivesMatter , '' One In An ARMY wrote on its Twitter account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the septet participated in Dear Class of 2020 , a virtual commencement event on YouTube Sunday .
The members delivered commencement speeches and performances via prerecorded footage .

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BTS and its label, Big Hit Entertainment, donated $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement. BTS fans matched that amount. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
June 8 (UPI) -- International fans of K-pop giants BTS have raised over $1 million in donations for the Black Lives Matter cause in the United States, matching the amount donated earlier by their idols toward the human rights movement, according to a fan charity project Monday. One In An ARMY, an organization of BTS fans involved in charity projects, announced that it has raised over $1 million in donations Monday after launching a donation drive on June 1. Advertisement
ARMY is a term used to describe the K-pop group's global fan base.
The $1 million mark was broken after it was reported Sunday that BTS and its label, Big Hit Entertainment, donated $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement.
After the news broke, BTS fans started a social media hashtag campaign, named #MatchAMillion, to drive up donations so as to match the amount made by BTS and Big Hit.
"It's really amazing to see so many of you coming together to support #BlackLivesMatter," One In An ARMY wrote on its Twitter account.
The accomplishment by BTS fans came as the septet participated in Dear Class of 2020, a virtual commencement event on YouTube Sunday. The members delivered commencement speeches and performances via prerecorded footage.