upi--2020-05-19--Gov. Newsom eases rules on reopening in parts of California

May 18 ( UPI ) -- California Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Monday announced an easing of rules that will allow the majority of counties to advance toward reopening after the state 's stay-at-home order .
During a speech at a Napa restaurant , Newsom said some counties may be able to move to the second stage in the path to reopen .
He announced lower benchmark numbers of active coronavirus infection cases and death rates for at least 53 of California 's 58 counties to move ahead , if they chose to .
Statewide , hospitalizations have declined by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks have been distributed statewide , Newsom said .
`` We recognize the conditions across the state are unique and distinctive depending where you are , '' Newsom said .
Previous rules said counties that wanted to reopen must show no deaths from COVID-19 in the previous 14 days .
Now , counties that want to advance toward reopening must remain below 5 percent in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the last week on average , the governor said .
Counties would also need to show that they had a positive test rate of no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the previous 14 days , or less than 8 percent of positive tests .
Twenty-four , mostly smaller counties , have met the rules to start reopening , Newsom said Monday .
The next step statewide is for in-store retail shopping , the opening of hair salons and barbershops and the reopening of professional sporting events without spectators , the governor said .
Demonstrators in early May protested Newsom 's stay-at-home orders at the capitol in Sacramento .
On May 8 , retail stores in some California counties were allowed to open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to begin inside dining .
As of May 16 , the California Department of Public Health reported a total of 78,839 positive cases and 3,261 deaths in California .
While counties in northern California saw their infection rates drop , Los Angeles County was still among the top U.S. infection hotspots with more than 450 new daily cases and 18 daily deaths , according to the county health department .
Los Angeles county has recorded a total of 38,011 confirmed cases and 1,839 deaths , according to the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 tracker .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ last U.S. states to remain in lockdown mode , announced plans Monday for partial reopening .
Massachusetts Gov .
Charlie Baker announced a plan beginning Monday to reopen manufacturing facilities , construction sites and churches , with certain restrictions .
`` We 've all been doing our jobs to fight back , and as a result , positive case rates are moving in the right direction and hospitalizations are down , '' Baker said .
Office spaces outside of Boston will be allowed to re-open May 25 , with 25 percent of employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to reopen June 1 .
Also next week , retail stores can reopen for curbside pickup and barbershops and hair salons will be allowed to reopen within new rules .
Public transportation riders will be required to wear face masks and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will run limited schedules with trains being disinfected frequently , Lt. Gov .
Karyn Polito said Monday .
Massachusetts has been a coronavirus hotspot with the fourth-highest infection rate and third-highest death rate in the United States , according to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus pandemic online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ned Lamont said Wednesday will be the first day that outdoor restaurants , offices , retail stores , outdoor museums and zoos will be allowed to reopen , with restrictions .
Personal service businesses , such as hair salons and barbershops will open in June , along with those in neighboring Rhode Island .
Also on Monday the governors of Michigan , Texas and West Virginia announced further reopenings in their states .
In Michigan where protests have continued against orders barring closed non-essential businesses , Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer announced parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end .
Through an executive order , Whitmer permitted the reopening of retail businesses and offices as well as restaurants and bars to limited seating in 17 counties across Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula .
`` This is a big step , but we must all remember to continue doing our part to protect ourselves and our families from the spread of COVID-19 , '' she said during a press conference .
`` It 's crucial that all businesses do everything in their power to protect their workers , customers and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , retail stores must enable customers to maintain at least six feet distance from one another and stores of less than 50,000-square feet of space must limit capacity to 25 percent as set by the fire marshal while larger stores must limit the number of customers to four per 1,000-square feet .
For restaurants and bars , capacity must be limited to half of its normal seating and six feet of separation between tables must be provided .
Servers must also wear face coverings , the order read .
The state 's chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the decision was made to open the regions due to data showing consistent downward trends in cases and deaths , which , according to the state 's Department of Health , neared 52,000 infections and 5,000 fatalities .
In Texas , Gov .
Greg Abbott announced the second phase of the state 's reopening that includes restaurants and bars as well as daycare centers .
Through an executive order , Abbott permitted childcare centers , massage parlors and youth clubs to reopen Monday and horse events , bowling alleys , bingo halls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
`` Today , tomorrow and every day going forward is one step closer to medical discoveries that can treat and protect people from COVID-19 -- but until that day comes , our focus is keeping Texans safe while restoring their ability to get back to work , open their businesses , pay their bills and put food on their tables , '' he said .
Professional sports may also resume without spectators , he added , from May 31 .
The Republican governor said public schools will have the option to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Additionally , restaurants , which were permitted to open earlier this month , will be able to expand capacity from 25 percent to 50 percent on Friday when bars will be allowed to open at a quarter its regular limit .
According to the Texas Department of Health , there are nearly 50,000 confirmed cases in the state resulting in more than 1,340 deaths .
In West Virginia , Gov .
Jim Justice announced several more industries will be able to reopen , including indoor shopping malls from Thursday .
`` From @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back up and our big stores opening back up , naturally , our malls should be open , '' Justice said during the press conference .
`` Working with our medical experts , we now have additional guidelines on our indoor malls and we feel very comfortable with them . ''
Museums , visitor centers , zoos and bars limited to 50 percent capacity will also be permitted to reopen on May 26 , he said .
From May 30 , spas , massage parlors and limited video lottery retailers can open while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` As we continue to go forward and as we continue to get closer and closer with dates , we 're monitoring our numbers all the time , '' Justice said .
`` We very well could have to change these dates if our numbers change but hopefully we wo n't . ''
Justice had previously announced indoor dining at restaurants , large retail stores and outdoor recreation rentals , among other businesses , could reopen on Thursday .
On Monday , fitness centers , gyms and sports training facilities reopened to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of health , West Virginia has confirmed more than 1,500 cases of the virus and 68 deaths .
The states announced the moves on Monday , as the live tracker of the virus by Johns Hopkins University counted the number of infections exceeded 1.5 million and deaths had surpassed 318,000 .

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced eased restrictions of the numbers of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths for counties to reopen if they choose. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
May 18 (UPI) -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced an easing of rules that will allow the majority of counties to advance toward reopening after the state's stay-at-home order. During a speech at a Napa restaurant, Newsom said some counties may be able to move to the second stage in the path to reopen. He announced lower benchmark numbers of active coronavirus infection cases and death rates for at least 53 of California's 58 counties to move ahead, if they chose to. Advertisement
Statewide, hospitalizations have declined by 8 percent and tens of millions of masks have been distributed statewide, Newsom said.
"We recognize the conditions across the state are unique and distinctive depending where you are," Newsom said.
Previous rules said counties that wanted to reopen must show no deaths from COVID-19 in the previous 14 days.
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Now, counties that want to advance toward reopening must remain below 5 percent in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the last week on average, the governor said.
Counties would also need to show that they had a positive test rate of no more than 25 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 in the previous 14 days, or less than 8 percent of positive tests.
Twenty-four, mostly smaller counties, have met the rules to start reopening, Newsom said Monday.
The next step statewide is for in-store retail shopping, the opening of hair salons and barbershops and the reopening of professional sporting events without spectators, the governor said.
Demonstrators in early May protested Newsom's stay-at-home orders at the capitol in Sacramento. On May 8, retail stores in some California counties were allowed to open curbside pickup and some restaurants were allowed to begin inside dining.
As of May 16, the California Department of Public Health reported a total of 78,839 positive cases and 3,261 deaths in California.
While counties in northern California saw their infection rates drop, Los Angeles County was still among the top U.S. infection hotspots with more than 450 new daily cases and 18 daily deaths, according to the county health department. Los Angeles county has recorded a total of 38,011 confirmed cases and 1,839 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 tracker.
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Meanwhile, Massachusetts and Connecticut, the last U.S. states to remain in lockdown mode, announced plans Monday for partial reopening.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced a plan beginning Monday to reopen manufacturing facilities, construction sites and churches, with certain restrictions.
"We've all been doing our jobs to fight back, and as a result, positive case rates are moving in the right direction and hospitalizations are down," Baker said.
Office spaces outside of Boston will be allowed to re-open May 25, with 25 percent of employees on site. Boston offices will be allowed to reopen June 1.
Also next week, retail stores can reopen for curbside pickup and barbershops and hair salons will be allowed to reopen within new rules.
Public transportation riders will be required to wear face masks and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will run limited schedules with trains being disinfected frequently, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said Monday.
Massachusetts has been a coronavirus hotspot with the fourth-highest infection rate and third-highest death rate in the United States, according to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus pandemic online tracker.
In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont said Wednesday will be the first day that outdoor restaurants, offices, retail stores, outdoor museums and zoos will be allowed to reopen, with restrictions.
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Personal service businesses, such as hair salons and barbershops will open in June, along with those in neighboring Rhode Island.
Also on Monday the governors of Michigan, Texas and West Virginia announced further reopenings in their states.
In Michigan where protests have continued against orders barring closed non-essential businesses, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced parts of the state can reopen by week's end.
Through an executive order, Whitmer permitted the reopening of retail businesses and offices as well as restaurants and bars to limited seating in 17 counties across Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
"This is a big step, but we must all remember to continue doing our part to protect ourselves and our families from the spread of COVID-19," she said during a press conference. "It's crucial that all businesses do everything in their power to protect their workers, customers and their families."
According to the order, retail stores must enable customers to maintain at least six feet distance from one another and stores of less than 50,000-square feet of space must limit capacity to 25 percent as set by the fire marshal while larger stores must limit the number of customers to four per 1,000-square feet.
Advertisement
For restaurants and bars, capacity must be limited to half of its normal seating and six feet of separation between tables must be provided. Servers must also wear face coverings, the order read.
The state's chief medical executive, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, said the decision was made to open the regions due to data showing consistent downward trends in cases and deaths, which, according to the state's Department of Health, neared 52,000 infections and 5,000 fatalities.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott announced the second phase of the state's reopening that includes restaurants and bars as well as daycare centers.
Through an executive order, Abbott permitted childcare centers, massage parlors and youth clubs to reopen Monday and horse events, bowling alleys, bingo halls, aquariums and bars to open on Friday.
"Today, tomorrow and every day going forward is one step closer to medical discoveries that can treat and protect people from COVID-19 -- but until that day comes, our focus is keeping Texans safe while restoring their ability to get back to work, open their businesses, pay their bills and put food on their tables," he said.
Professional sports may also resume without spectators, he added, from May 31.
Advertisement
The Republican governor said public schools will have the option to provide in-person summer school from June 1.
Additionally, restaurants, which were permitted to open earlier this month, will be able to expand capacity from 25 percent to 50 percent on Friday when bars will be allowed to open at a quarter its regular limit.
According to the Texas Department of Health, there are nearly 50,000 confirmed cases in the state resulting in more than 1,340 deaths.
In West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice announced several more industries will be able to reopen, including indoor shopping malls from Thursday.
"From the standpoint of our specialty retail opening back up and our big stores opening back up, naturally, our malls should be open," Justice said during the press conference. "Working with our medical experts, we now have additional guidelines on our indoor malls and we feel very comfortable with them."
Museums, visitor centers, zoos and bars limited to 50 percent capacity will also be permitted to reopen on May 26, he said.
From May 30, spas, massage parlors and limited video lottery retailers can open while casinos can resume operating from June 5.
"As we continue to go forward and as we continue to get closer and closer with dates, we're monitoring our numbers all the time," Justice said. "We very well could have to change these dates if our numbers change but hopefully we won't."
Advertisement
Justice had previously announced indoor dining at restaurants, large retail stores and outdoor recreation rentals, among other businesses, could reopen on Thursday.
On Monday, fitness centers, gyms and sports training facilities reopened to the public.
According to its department of health, West Virginia has confirmed more than 1,500 cases of the virus and 68 deaths.
The states announced the moves on Monday, as the live tracker of the virus by Johns Hopkins University counted the number of infections exceeded 1.5 million and deaths had surpassed 318,000.


upi--2020-05-19--Controlling heart disease may also protect brain health

Preventing heart disease may protect you from dementia , researchers say .
The new study looked at nearly 1,600 people , at an average age of 79.5 , who were followed for 21 years .
Their heart disease risk was assessed at the outset , and participants had annual memory and thinking tests .
The takeaway : People with a higher risk of heart disease also had greater mental , or cognitive , decline , including an increase in markers of Alzheimer 's disease .
That suggests that monitoring and controlling for heart disease may be important to cognitive health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The findings were published May 18 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology .
`` In the absence of effective treatments for dementia , we need to monitor and control cardiovascular risk burden as a way to maintain patients ' cognitive health as they age , '' said study author Weili Xu of the School of Public Health at Tianjin Medical University in China .
`` Given the progressive increase in the number of dementia cases worldwide , our findings have both clinical and public health relevance , '' Xu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dementia affected 50 million people worldwide in 2017 , and the World Health Organization predicts it will affect 82 million people by 2030 .
It has no effective treatment , so identifying modifiable risk factors that could delay or prevent dementia is becoming more important .
`` The results of this study suggest a useful tool for assessing dementia risk and support recommendations to aggressively manage cardiovascular risk factors in midlife , '' Dr. Costantino Iadecola wrote in an accompanying editorial .
He is director of the Feil Family Brain and Mind Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York City .
Some previous studies have linked heart disease risks to smaller volumes of specific brain regions , such as white matter , gray matter and hippocampus , but the findings have been inconsistent .
The U.S. National Heart , Lung , and Blood Institute offers a guide to a healthy heart .

Preventing heart disease may protect you from dementia, researchers say.
The new study looked at nearly 1,600 people, at an average age of 79.5, who were followed for 21 years. Their heart disease risk was assessed at the outset, and participants had annual memory and thinking tests.
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The takeaway: People with a higher risk of heart disease also had greater mental, or cognitive, decline, including an increase in markers of Alzheimer's disease.
That suggests that monitoring and controlling for heart disease may be important to cognitive health later in life, the researchers said. The findings were published May 18 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
"In the absence of effective treatments for dementia, we need to monitor and control cardiovascular risk burden as a way to maintain patients' cognitive health as they age," said study author Weili Xu of the School of Public Health at Tianjin Medical University in China.
"Given the progressive increase in the number of dementia cases worldwide, our findings have both clinical and public health relevance," Xu said in a journal news release.
Dementia affected 50 million people worldwide in 2017, and the World Health Organization predicts it will affect 82 million people by 2030.
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It has no effective treatment, so identifying modifiable risk factors that could delay or prevent dementia is becoming more important.
"The results of this study suggest a useful tool for assessing dementia risk and support recommendations to aggressively manage cardiovascular risk factors in midlife," Dr. Costantino Iadecola wrote in an accompanying editorial. He is director of the Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.
Some previous studies have linked heart disease risks to smaller volumes of specific brain regions, such as white matter, gray matter and hippocampus, but the findings have been inconsistent.
More information
The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers a guide to a healthy heart.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-19--Report: North Korea quarantining people with cold symptoms

May 19 ( UPI ) -- North Korea may be ordering people with asthma and common cold symptoms into quarantine , according to a Japanese press report .
The Sankei Shimbun reported Tuesday the North Korean decision to isolate patients with asthma symptoms in a facility meant for tuberculosis patients came in early to mid-April .
The timing of the decision roughly coincides with Kim Jong Un 's sudden disappearance from public life , following a Politburo meeting that reportedly took place on April 11 .
The Sankei 's source , identified as a male North Korean defector resettled in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine measures with sources in the North residing in different parts of the country , including in North Hamgyong Province .
North Korea has claimed victory over the novel coronavirus and has said there have been no cases of COVID-19 in the country , despite proximity and exchange with China before the outbreak .
Regional authorities may be under pressure to reach a quota under the new quarantine guidelines .
A source in Musan , North Hamgyong Province , said reports of `` zero '' patients are unacceptable ; To show higher authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , individuals who exhibit cold or asthma symptoms are being `` forcibly quarantined , '' according to the Sankei .
The measures could be leading to greater confusion in the absence of an effective COVID-19 testing program in North Korea .
Patients with tuberculosis , a highly contagious disease , are included in the quarantine facilities .
Authorities also have no way of identifying COVID-19 patients , according to the report .
The report adds North Korea has cut back significantly on informal market activity .
Trade is limited and conducted by mobile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a serious food shortage .
According to South Korea 's unification ministry on Tuesday , the North could face a 860,000-ton grain shortage this year , Yonhap reported .

North Korea has claimed zero cases of COVID-19 but is ordering people with cold-like symptoms into quarantine, according to a press report. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
May 19 (UPI) -- North Korea may be ordering people with asthma and common cold symptoms into quarantine, according to a Japanese press report. The Sankei Shimbun reported Tuesday the North Korean decision to isolate patients with asthma symptoms in a facility meant for tuberculosis patients came in early to mid-April. The timing of the decision roughly coincides with Kim Jong Un's sudden disappearance from public life, following a Politburo meeting that reportedly took place on April 11. Advertisement
The Sankei's source, identified as a male North Korean defector resettled in the South, said he confirmed the quarantine measures with sources in the North residing in different parts of the country, including in North Hamgyong Province.
North Korea has claimed victory over the novel coronavirus and has said there have been no cases of COVID-19 in the country, despite proximity and exchange with China before the outbreak.
Regional authorities may be under pressure to reach a quota under the new quarantine guidelines.
A source in Musan, North Hamgyong Province, said reports of "zero" patients are unacceptable; To show higher authorities the policy is sifting out suspected patients, individuals who exhibit cold or asthma symptoms are being "forcibly quarantined," according to the Sankei.
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The measures could be leading to greater confusion in the absence of an effective COVID-19 testing program in North Korea.
Patients with tuberculosis, a highly contagious disease, are included in the quarantine facilities. Authorities also have no way of identifying COVID-19 patients, according to the report.
The report adds North Korea has cut back significantly on informal market activity. Trade is limited and conducted by mobile phones.
North Korea may be facing a serious food shortage. According to South Korea's unification ministry on Tuesday, the North could face a 860,000-ton grain shortage this year, Yonhap reported.


upi--2020-05-19--NASA on track to launch new Mars rover in July

ORLANDO , Fla. , May 19 ( UPI ) -- NASA expects to meet a crucial deadline to launch Mars rover Perseverance in July as technicians and engineers work under tight restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The rover launch is one of few NASA missions to remain fully operational during the global health crisis .
Launch is planned for 9 a.m. EDT July 17 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard an Atlas V rocket , which would have the rover landing in Mars ' Jezero Crater on Feb. 18 .
The mission could launch as late as Aug. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the Red Planet is in its so-called close approach to Earth .
After that , Mars would be too far from Earth for the mission and NASA would have to wait two years for Mars to get near again .
`` We 've been waiting since the 1970s to do this , and we are at a point where this can be done , so we should get it done , '' said Raymond Arvidson , professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis .
He has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landed on Mars in 1976 .
`` We 've found that conditions to support life did exist on Mars , and this mission may help us prove if it did exist , '' Arvidson said .
Previous missions proved that water once flowed on Mars and detected organic compounds that are considered building blocks for life .
The Perseverance rover will drill into rock and collect samples at crucial locations on Mars , where scientists found evidence of ancient river deltas .
The best samples , up to 35 , will be hermetically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be determined once the samples are collected .
A future rover will fetch the samples , after which a launcher will send them into space for a return to Earth .
Perseverance also carries a collection of other science and imaging instruments , and the Mars Ingenuity helicopter is strapped to its underside .
The aircraft is powered by lithium-ion batteries that can recharge via solar panels .
Ingenuity is made up of a box carrying cameras and instruments , four spindly landing legs and two counter-rotating rotors .
The rover itself will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NASA describes Ingenuity mostly as an experiment to prove it can fly an aircraft on another planet .
`` The primary mission is the rock samples ; the helicopter is a bonus , '' Arvidson said .
NASA 's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena , Calif. , developed the rover and shipped it to Kennedy Space Center in Florida , where teams stacked it with the spacecraft that will carry it and its landing system to Mars .
About 800 people at NASA have worked on the rover , and most of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March due to the coronavirus threat .
But the assembly of the rover and spacecraft requires personnel to be in close contact , said Art Thompson , deputy manager for assembly , test and launch operations .
`` We began taking extra precautions about travel in January because of the coronavirus pandemic , '' Thompson said .
Thompson is normally based in Pasadena but has been in Florida at times for launch preparations .
`` We are always extremely cautious about keeping everything clean if we 're sending it to Mars , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find Martian life there , not Florida life -- including viruses or bacteria . ''
They include using only NASA aircraft to transport team members to Florida and keeping three control teams in three separate control rooms to monitor and run systems for rover and spacecraft -- so any COVID-19 infections among the operators would n't impact the other two teams .
Like many high-tech manufacturing facilities , Kennedy Space Center 's assembly building is known as a clean room -- with restricted access and filtered air to keep it free of dust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always wear full protective gear .
Even the gowning area at the entrance is restricted to very few people at one time , Thompson said .
`` Believe it or not , we 've had no serious problems and we 're actually right on schedule , '' Thompson said .
Once the rover is stacked and encapsulated for the seven-month journey in space , it will be moved to the launch pad .
NASA announced the Mars 2020 rover mission in 2012 , at a cost of $ 1.5 billion , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Work on components started in 2017 , while construction of the rover started streaming over a live webcam in June .
In keeping with NASA 's tradition to have children name all Mars rovers , seventh-grader Alexander Mather of Virginia chose the name Perseverance .
NASA announced his winning entry on March 5 after a national contest .
The samples collected and cached by Perseverance could return to Earth in the 2030s , said Kirsten Siebach , assistant professor of planetary geology at Rice University .
She hopes to get the chance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope to find proof life once existed , or still does , on Mars , '' Siebach said .
`` Even if Mars did n't have life , such samples may help us understand geology on Earth , because life here actually contaminated a lot of our geology .
Mars could help us see how geology works on a planet without life . ''
She 's also interested in the results of the helicopter experiment .
`` I hope it returns some cool images , because it will open up some things for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drones crisscrossing Mars to help us understand it better , Siebach said .

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The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter is prepared for launch from Florida. Image courtesy of NASA
ORLANDO, Fla., May 19 (UPI) -- NASA expects to meet a crucial deadline to launch Mars rover Perseverance in July as technicians and engineers work under tight restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rover launch is one of few NASA missions to remain fully operational during the global health crisis. Advertisement
Launch is planned for 9 a.m. EDT July 17 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard an Atlas V rocket, which would have the rover landing in Mars' Jezero Crater on Feb. 18.
The mission could launch as late as Aug. 5 and still make it to Mars as the Red Planet is in its so-called close approach to Earth. After that, Mars would be too far from Earth for the mission and NASA would have to wait two years for Mars to get near again.
"We've been waiting since the 1970s to do this, and we are at a point where this can be done, so we should get it done," said Raymond Arvidson, professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. He has been involved in every Mars mission since Viking landed on Mars in 1976.
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"We've found that conditions to support life did exist on Mars, and this mission may help us prove if it did exist," Arvidson said. Previous missions proved that water once flowed on Mars and detected organic compounds that are considered building blocks for life.
The Perseverance rover will drill into rock and collect samples at crucial locations on Mars, where scientists found evidence of ancient river deltas. The best samples, up to 35, will be hermetically sealed and dropped at various locations to be determined once the samples are collected.
A future rover will fetch the samples, after which a launcher will send them into space for a return to Earth.
Bonus helicopter
Perseverance also carries a collection of other science and imaging instruments, and the Mars Ingenuity helicopter is strapped to its underside. The aircraft is powered by lithium-ion batteries that can recharge via solar panels.
Ingenuity is made up of a box carrying cameras and instruments, four spindly landing legs and two counter-rotating rotors. The rover itself will film the helicopter as it flies. NASA describes Ingenuity mostly as an experiment to prove it can fly an aircraft on another planet.
"The primary mission is the rock samples; the helicopter is a bonus," Arvidson said.
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NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., developed the rover and shipped it to Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where teams stacked it with the spacecraft that will carry it and its landing system to Mars.
About 800 people at NASA have worked on the rover, and most of them have worked from home since February or March due to the coronavirus threat. But the assembly of the rover and spacecraft requires personnel to be in close contact, said Art Thompson, deputy manager for assembly, test and launch operations.
"We began taking extra precautions about travel in January because of the coronavirus pandemic," Thompson said.
Thompson is normally based in Pasadena but has been in Florida at times for launch preparations.
"We are always extremely cautious about keeping everything clean if we're sending it to Mars," Thompson said. "We want to find Martian life there, not Florida life -- including viruses or bacteria."
They include using only NASA aircraft to transport team members to Florida and keeping three control teams in three separate control rooms to monitor and run systems for rover and spacecraft -- so any COVID-19 infections among the operators wouldn't impact the other two teams.
Like many high-tech manufacturing facilities, Kennedy Space Center's assembly building is known as a clean room -- with restricted access and filtered air to keep it free of dust and germs. Workers in such facilities always wear full protective gear. Even the gowning area at the entrance is restricted to very few people at one time, Thompson said.
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"Believe it or not, we've had no serious problems and we're actually right on schedule," Thompson said. Once the rover is stacked and encapsulated for the seven-month journey in space, it will be moved to the launch pad.
Search for life
NASA announced the Mars 2020 rover mission in 2012, at a cost of $1.5 billion, but the budget swelled to $2.46 billion. Work on components started in 2017, while construction of the rover started streaming over a live webcam in June.
In keeping with NASA's tradition to have children name all Mars rovers, seventh-grader Alexander Mather of Virginia chose the name Perseverance. NASA announced his winning entry on March 5 after a national contest.
The samples collected and cached by Perseverance could return to Earth in the 2030s, said Kirsten Siebach, assistant professor of planetary geology at Rice University. She hopes to get the chance to study those samples.
"We certainly hope to find proof life once existed, or still does, on Mars," Siebach said. "Even if Mars didn't have life, such samples may help us understand geology on Earth, because life here actually contaminated a lot of our geology. Mars could help us see how geology works on a planet without life."
Advertisement
She's also interested in the results of the helicopter experiment.
"I hope it returns some cool images, because it will open up some things for Mars exploration. Perhaps we can have drones crisscrossing Mars to help us understand it better, Siebach said.
Astronauts make round trip to space station from U.S. soil
NASA astronaut Douglas Hurley (C) waves to onlookers as he boards a plane at Naval Air Station Pensacola to return him and NASA astronaut Robert Behnken home to Houston a few hours after the duo landed in their SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft off the coast of Pensacola, Fla,, on August 2, 2020. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA | License Photo


upi--2020-05-19--Famous birthdays for May 19: Pete Townshend, JoJo Siwa

May 19 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Taurus .
-- American-born @ @ @ @ @ female member of the British Parliament , in 1879 -- Mustafa Kemal Ataturk , founder @ @ @ @ @ , in 1881 -- Archie Manning , member of the College Football Hall of Fame @ @ @ @ @ NFL quarterbacks , in 1949 ( age 71 )

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Pete Townshend at the BB&T center in Sunrise, Fla., on September 20. The guitarist turns 75 on May 19. File Photo By Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
May 19 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Taurus. They include: Advertisement
-- Pope Innocent XI in 1611
-- Philanthropist Johns Hopkins in 1795
-- American-born Nancy Astor, the first female member of the British Parliament, in 1879
-- Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey, in 1881
-- Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh in 1890
-- Black Muslim leader Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, in 1925
File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI
-- Cambodian dictator Pol Pot in 1925
-- Playwright Lorraine Hansberry in 1930
-- Journalist Jim Lehrer in 1934
-- Actor/TV talk show host David Hartman in 1935 (age 85)
-- Actor James Fox in 1939 (age 81)
-- Author Nora Ephron in 1941
-- Actor Peter Mayhew in 1944
-- British rock star Pete Townshend in 1945 (age 75)
-- Wrestler/actor Andre the Giant, born André René Roussimoff, in 1946
-- Jamaican actor/model/singer Grace Jones in 1948 (age 72)
-- Archie Manning, member of the College Football Hall of Fame and father of two star NFL quarterbacks, in 1949 (age 71)
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File Photo by David Tulis/UPI
-- Rock musician Joey Ramone in 1951
-- Actor Rebecca Hall in 1982 (age 38)
-- Actor Lily Cole in 1987 (age 33)
-- Singer/songwriter Sam Smith in 1992 (age 28)
-- Actor Eleanor Tomlinson in 1992 (age 28)
-- TV personality/singer JoJo Siwa, born Joelle Joanie Siwa, in 2003 (17)
File Photo by Chris Chew/UPI


upi--2020-05-19--On This Day, May 19: Thomas More, John Fisher canonized

On this date in history : In 1536 , Anne Boleyn , the second of King Henry VIII 's six wives and mother of Queen Elizabeth I , was beheaded .
In 1588 , the Spanish Armada , assembled to invade England , set sail from Lisbon .
In 1916 , Col. Teddy Roosevelt , speaking in Detroit , blasted the pacifism of Henry Ford and accused the Wilson administration of `` make-believe preparedness . ''
In 1935 , renowned British soldier and author T.E .
Lawrence , known as `` Lawrence of Arabia , '' died in a motorcycle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pope Pius XI canonized Sir Thomas More and Cardinal John Fisher as saints of the Catholic Church .
English King Henry VIII ordered the two men executed in 1535 for refusing to accept him as head of the Church of England .
In 1964 , it was revealed that U.S. diplomats had found at least 40 secret microphones hidden in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow .
In 1986 , in the first direct talks between China and Taiwan in 37 years , Beijing agreed to return a cargo jet flown to the mainland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , former U.S. first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died at age 64 .
In 2008 , mudslides in China 's earthquake-devastated Sichan province engulfed and killed more than 200 rescue workers .
The death toll from the quake , which struck a week earlier , had surpassed 69,000 , with thousands of people reported missing .
In 2009 , the Hubble Space Telescope was returned to orbit after astronauts finished five spacewalks in a mission to repair and refurbish the 19-year-old instrument .
In 2016 , EgyptAir Flight 804 , en route from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mediterranean Sea killing everyone on board .
In 2018 , Britain 's Prince Harry married American actor Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle .
Queen Elizabeth II granted the newlyweds the titles of duke and duchess of Sussex .
In 2019 , Brooks Koepka won the 2019 PGA Championship for the second consecutive year , defeating Dustin Johnson by two strokes .

1/5
On May 19, 1935, Pope Pius XI canonized Sir Thomas More, pictured, and Cardinal John Fisher as saints of the Catholic Church. File Photo by Edwardx
On this date in history: In 1536, Anne Boleyn, the second of King Henry VIII's six wives and mother of Queen Elizabeth I, was beheaded. Advertisement
In 1588, the Spanish Armada, assembled to invade England, set sail from Lisbon.
In 1916, Col. Teddy Roosevelt, speaking in Detroit, blasted the pacifism of Henry Ford and accused the Wilson administration of "make-believe preparedness."
UPI File Photo
In 1935, renowned British soldier and author T.E. Lawrence, known as "Lawrence of Arabia," died in a motorcycle crash in Britain.
In 1935, Pope Pius XI canonized Sir Thomas More and Cardinal John Fisher as saints of the Catholic Church. English King Henry VIII ordered the two men executed in 1535 for refusing to accept him as head of the Church of England.
In 1964, it was revealed that U.S. diplomats had found at least 40 secret microphones hidden in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.
In 1986, in the first direct talks between China and Taiwan in 37 years, Beijing agreed to return a cargo jet flown to the mainland by a defecting pilot.
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In 1994, former U.S. first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died at age 64.
UPI File Photo
In 2008, mudslides in China's earthquake-devastated Sichan province engulfed and killed more than 200 rescue workers. The death toll from the quake, which struck a week earlier, had surpassed 69,000, with thousands of people reported missing.
In 2009, the Hubble Space Telescope was returned to orbit after astronauts finished five spacewalks in a mission to repair and refurbish the 19-year-old instrument.
In 2016, EgyptAir Flight 804, en route from Paris to Cairo, crashed into the Mediterranean Sea killing everyone on board.
In 2018, Britain's Prince Harry married American actor Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle. Queen Elizabeth II granted the newlyweds the titles of duke and duchess of Sussex.
In 2019, Brooks Koepka won the 2019 PGA Championship for the second consecutive year, defeating Dustin Johnson by two strokes.
File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI


upi--2020-05-19--Trump threatens to permanently cut WHO funding

May 19 ( UPI ) -- U.S. President Donald Trump late Monday threatened to permanently pull funding from the World Health Organization unless it commits to `` major substantive improvements within the next 30 days . ''
The threat is an escalation to a hold Trump put on U.S. funding to the United Nations ' health agency last month so as to conduct a review of the WHO 's response to the coronavirus outbreak .
Trump has accused it of `` mismanaging and covering up '' the spread of the disease .
In the letter posted to his Twitter account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review has confirmed his concerns over the WHO 's handling of the virus and its `` alarming lack of independence '' from China .
`` It is clear the repeated missteps by you and your organization in responding to the pandemic have been extremely costly for the world , '' Trump wrote in the letter addressed to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus .
`` The only way forward for the World Health Organization is if it can actually demonstrate independence from China . ''
Trump said his administration has begun discussions with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't have time to waste , '' he said .
`` That is why it is my duty , as president of the United States , to inform you that if the World Health Organization does not commit to major substantive improvements within the next 30 days , I will make my temporary freeze of United States funding to the World Health Organization permanent and reconsider our membership in the organization . ''
The letter lists in chronological order several of the missteps Trump accuses the organization of having made , many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , the Trump administration has leveled criticism at the Asian nation over its lack of transparency and alleged cover-up of its initial outbreak .
U.S. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo earlier this month blamed China and its lack of transparency for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people to the virus worldwide .
China has balked at the United States ' allegations , often pointing to praise from the WHO as proof of its openness and strong response to the virus .
In his letter Monday , Trump said because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to publicly call out China 's lack of transparency , more than 100 member states have backed a resolution at the ongoing World Health Assembly calling for a review of the WHO 's handling of the crisis and for an independent investigation into the virus ' origins .
After Trump announced the hold on funding last month , U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a statement saying now is not the time to halt funding to the international organization fighting the coronavirus pandemic .
Trump has said the United States gives between $ 400 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the WHO in contrast to the roughly $ 40 million it receives from China .
Since the virus emerged from the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year , more than 4.8 million people worldwide have been infected resulting in more than 318,000 deaths , according to a live tracker of the virus by Johns Hopkins University .
With 1.5 million infections and 90,000 deaths , the United States is by far the worst affected country by the coronavirus .

United States President Donald Trump talks to the media after returning to the White House in Washington, D.C., on Sunday. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
May 19 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump late Monday threatened to permanently pull funding from the World Health Organization unless it commits to "major substantive improvements within the next 30 days." The threat is an escalation to a hold Trump put on U.S. funding to the United Nations' health agency last month so as to conduct a review of the WHO's response to the coronavirus outbreak. Trump has accused it of "mismanaging and covering up" the spread of the disease. Advertisement
In the letter posted to his Twitter account on Monday night, Trump said the review has confirmed his concerns over the WHO's handling of the virus and its "alarming lack of independence" from China.
"It is clear the repeated missteps by you and your organization in responding to the pandemic have been extremely costly for the world," Trump wrote in the letter addressed to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "The only way forward for the World Health Organization is if it can actually demonstrate independence from China."
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Trump said his administration has begun discussions with the WHO on reforms.
"We don't have time to waste," he said. "That is why it is my duty, as president of the United States, to inform you that if the World Health Organization does not commit to major substantive improvements within the next 30 days, I will make my temporary freeze of United States funding to the World Health Organization permanent and reconsider our membership in the organization."
The letter lists in chronological order several of the missteps Trump accuses the organization of having made, many of which are connected to China.
This is the letter sent to Dr. Tedros of the World Health Organization. It is self-explanatory! pic.twitter.com/pF2kzPUpDv— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2020
Amid the pandemic, the Trump administration has leveled criticism at the Asian nation over its lack of transparency and alleged cover-up of its initial outbreak.
U.S. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo earlier this month blamed China and its lack of transparency for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people to the virus worldwide.
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China has balked at the United States' allegations, often pointing to praise from the WHO as proof of its openness and strong response to the virus.
In his letter Monday, Trump said because of the WHO's "failure" to publicly call out China's lack of transparency, more than 100 member states have backed a resolution at the ongoing World Health Assembly calling for a review of the WHO's handling of the crisis and for an independent investigation into the virus' origins.
After Trump announced the hold on funding last month, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a statement saying now is not the time to halt funding to the international organization fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump has said the United States gives between $400 million and $500 million a year to the WHO in contrast to the roughly $40 million it receives from China.
Since the virus emerged from the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, more than 4.8 million people worldwide have been infected resulting in more than 318,000 deaths, according to a live tracker of the virus by Johns Hopkins University. With 1.5 million infections and 90,000 deaths, the United States is by far the worst affected country by the coronavirus.


upi--2020-05-19--Positive attitude linked to lower blood pressure after stroke

Believing that you wo n't have a second stroke may help you control your blood pressure , a new study suggests .
A positive attitude about your health can go a long way in maintaining cardiovascular health , especially for women , researchers say .
`` Targeted strategies to improve health beliefs after stroke may be an important component to include in risk-factor management among stroke survivors , '' said researcher Emily Goldmann .
She 's a clinical assistant professor of epidemiology at NYU School of Global Public Health in New York City .
For the study , researchers collected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City hospitals who were part of a stroke-prevention study .
Before leaving the hospital , patients were asked if they agreed with the statement : `` I can protect myself against having a stroke . ''
More than 75 percent of the patients said they did .
`` This perception that you can protect yourself from another stroke reflects the construct of self-efficacy , or a belief in one 's ability to achieve a specific outcome , '' Goldmann said in an NYU news release .
In the year after discharge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that belief to heart had a reduction in blood pressure of nearly 6 mm Hg .
The blood pressure of those who did n't believe they could prevent another stroke did n't go down , the researchers found .
Further analysis showed that women who had positive health beliefs were more likely to have lowered their blood pressure than men .
Women who did n't believe in the effect of a positive attitude saw an increase in their blood pressure .
`` In this study , we found an association between self-efficacy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with previous studies linking positive psychological states to better health outcomes in the context of cardiovascular disease and stroke , '' Goldmann said .
The report was recently published in the Journal of the American Heart Association .
Johns Hopkins University has more on the link between a positive attitude and health .

Believing that you won't have a second stroke may help you control your blood pressure, a new study suggests.
A positive attitude about your health can go a long way in maintaining cardiovascular health, especially for women, researchers say.
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"Targeted strategies to improve health beliefs after stroke may be an important component to include in risk-factor management among stroke survivors," said researcher Emily Goldmann. She's a clinical assistant professor of epidemiology at NYU School of Global Public Health in New York City.
Keeping blood pressure in line is a critical stroke-prevention strategy.
For the study, researchers collected data on 522 stroke patients from four New York City hospitals who were part of a stroke-prevention study.
Before leaving the hospital, patients were asked if they agreed with the statement: "I can protect myself against having a stroke." More than 75 percent of the patients said they did.
"This perception that you can protect yourself from another stroke reflects the construct of self-efficacy, or a belief in one's ability to achieve a specific outcome," Goldmann said in an NYU news release.
In the year after discharge from the hospital, those who took that belief to heart had a reduction in blood pressure of nearly 6 mm Hg. The blood pressure of those who didn't believe they could prevent another stroke didn't go down, the researchers found.
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Further analysis showed that women who had positive health beliefs were more likely to have lowered their blood pressure than men. Women who didn't believe in the effect of a positive attitude saw an increase in their blood pressure.
"In this study, we found an association between self-efficacy and reduced blood pressure, which is consistent with previous studies linking positive psychological states to better health outcomes in the context of cardiovascular disease and stroke," Goldmann said.
The report was recently published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
More information
Johns Hopkins University has more on the link between a positive attitude and health.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-19--Pompeo calls on China to 'immediately' reveal Panchen Lama's whereabouts

May 18 ( UPI ) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanded China `` immediately '' reveal where it is holding Panchen Lama , a Tibetan Buddhist leader who was last seen 25 years ago at the age of six .
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was chosen by the Dalai Lama in 1995 to be the Panchen Lama , the second most important spiritual leader of the Tibetan religion .
Three days later he and his family were abducted by the People 's Republic of China and have not been seen since .
In 2010 , Beijing appointed its own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Tibetan Buddhists .
In a statement Monday , Pompeo said the United States has made it a priority to protect religious freedom , especially in China , and was marking the 25th anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama 's disappearance by calling on China to announce where he is being held .
`` We call on the PRC government to immediately make public the Panchen Lama 's whereabouts and to uphold its own constitution and international commitments to promote religious freedom for all persons , '' Pompeo said .
The United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains `` deeply concerned '' about the Asian nation 's continuing campaign to `` eliminate the religious , linguistic and cultural identity of Tibetans . ''
On the 25th anniversary of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima 's appointment , Sam Brownback , ambassador at large for International Religious Freedom at the State Department , told reports they have no idea where he was being held and that they were continuing to pressure Chinese authorities to release him .
He said the issue will continue to be brought up , especially since the Chinese Communist Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next Dalai Lama .
`` They do n't have the right to appoint the next Dalai Lama any more [ than ] they do n't have the right to appoint the next Pope , '' he told reporters .
Gary Bauer , the commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom , last week called for the United States to use every policy tool it has to confront China 's attempt to `` erase the unique identity of Tibetan Buddhism . ''
In the USCIRF 's 2020 annual report , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions against Chinese officials responsible for violating the religious freedom of Tibetan Buddhists .
The agency has also called for Gedhun Choekyi Nyima 's release .

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was abducted days after he was anointed the 11th Panchen Lama, who is second in authority in Tibetan Buddhism. Photo courtesy of USCIRF/ Website
May 18 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanded China "immediately" reveal where it is holding Panchen Lama, a Tibetan Buddhist leader who was last seen 25 years ago at the age of six. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was chosen by the Dalai Lama in 1995 to be the Panchen Lama, the second most important spiritual leader of the Tibetan religion. Three days later he and his family were abducted by the People's Republic of China and have not been seen since. Advertisement
In 2010, Beijing appointed its own Panchen Lama who has been widely disregarded by Tibetan Buddhists.
In a statement Monday, Pompeo said the United States has made it a priority to protect religious freedom, especially in China, and was marking the 25th anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama's disappearance by calling on China to announce where he is being held.
"We call on the PRC government to immediately make public the Panchen Lama's whereabouts and to uphold its own constitution and international commitments to promote religious freedom for all persons," Pompeo said.
The United States' top diplomat said the Trump administration remains "deeply concerned" about the Asian nation's continuing campaign to "eliminate the religious, linguistic and cultural identity of Tibetans."
Advertisement It's been a quarter-century since PRC authorities abducted the Tibetan Panchen Lama, when he was only six. He is now 31. The Chinese government should make known his whereabouts and allow believers of all religions in China to freely practice their faith without interference.— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) May 18, 2020
On the 25th anniversary of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima's appointment, Sam Brownback, ambassador at large for International Religious Freedom at the State Department, told reports they have no idea where he was being held and that they were continuing to pressure Chinese authorities to release him.
He said the issue will continue to be brought up, especially since the Chinese Communist Party continues to assert its right to appoint the next Dalai Lama.
"They don't have the right to appoint the next Dalai Lama any more [than] they don't have the right to appoint the next Pope," he told reporters.
Gary Bauer, the commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, last week called for the United States to use every policy tool it has to confront China's attempt to "erase the unique identity of Tibetan Buddhism."
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In the USCIRF's 2020 annual report, the agency urged the Trump administration to impose sanctions against Chinese officials responsible for violating the religious freedom of Tibetan Buddhists.
The agency has also called for Gedhun Choekyi Nyima's release.


upi--2020-05-18--USAID accuses U.N. of using pandemic to promote abortion

May 18 ( UPI ) -- The Trump administration on Monday urged the United Nations to stop `` promoting abortion , '' accusing it of using the coronavirus pandemic to advance access to the medical practice .
In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres , the U.S. Agency for International Development chastized the organization for including sexual and reproductive health services within its Global Humanitarian Response Plan to COVID-19 , urging all of its references and its derivatives be removed from the document .
While the Global Humanitarian Response Plan makes no direct reference to abortion , it calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services , including reproductive health services , amid the pandemic .
It says virus containment measures affect pregnancy and safe delivery while a lack of such care is a gender inequality issue .
The United Nations announced the plan in March and is seeking $ 6.7 billion from the international community for its funding .
John Barsa , the acting administrator of the USAID , wrote to Guterres in the letter that the United States gave the United Nations more than $ 3.5 billion last year and has allocated $ 650 million supplemental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the U.N. 's plan to `` remain focused on addressing the most urgent , concrete needs that are arising out of the pandemic . ''
`` Therefore , the U.N. should not use this crisis as an opportunity to advance access to abortion as an 'essential service , ' '' Barsa said .
`` Unfortunately , the Global HRP does just this by cynically placing the provision of 'sexual and reproductive health services ' on the same level of importance as food-insecurity , essential healthcare , malnutrition , shelter and sanitation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the U.N. General Assembly last year , Barsa wrote the United Nations has `` no business attacking the sovereignty of nations that wish to protect innocence life , '' calling on the organization to not `` intimidate or coerce '' member states that have not legalized the medical practice .
`` To use the COVID-19 pandemic as a justification to pressure governments to change their laws is an affront to the autonomy of each society to determine its own national policies on healthcare , '' Barsa said .
`` The United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect the unborn . ''
He said sexual and reproductive health services ' inclusion as an essential service in the plan will provoke controversy at a time when the organization should be avoiding doing just that .
`` The Global HRP , and the activities of U.N. agencies and bodies moving forward , should use clear language and take clear action to address the real needs of vulnerable people around the world without promoting abortion , '' Barsa said .
`` Now is not the time to add unnecessary discord to the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the same day the United States criticized the World Health Organization , a U.N. agency , over its response to the pandemic , stating its `` failure cost many lives . ''
The United States has frequently leveled criticism at the WHO in the past weeks with Trump having pulled U.S. funding to the organization last month , accusing it of `` mishandling '' the pandemic and aiding China in an alleged cover-up .
The WHO has also called for women 's choices and rights to sexual and reproductive healthcare be protected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States , several lawsuits have been brought against states that have included abortion as an essential medical service that may continue amid lockdown measures to prevent the spread of the virus .

U.S. President Donald Trump attends the 47th annual March for Life on the National Mall in Washington on Jan. 24. The annual march is to protest the Supreme Court's Roe v Wade abortion decision. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo
May 18 (UPI) -- The Trump administration on Monday urged the United Nations to stop "promoting abortion," accusing it of using the coronavirus pandemic to advance access to the medical practice. In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the U.S. Agency for International Development chastized the organization for including sexual and reproductive health services within its Global Humanitarian Response Plan to COVID-19, urging all of its references and its derivatives be removed from the document. Advertisement
While the Global Humanitarian Response Plan makes no direct reference to abortion, it calls for the continued supply of essential health services, including reproductive health services, amid the pandemic. It says virus containment measures affect pregnancy and safe delivery while a lack of such care is a gender inequality issue.
The United Nations announced the plan in March and is seeking $6.7 billion from the international community for its funding.
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John Barsa, the acting administrator of the USAID, wrote to Guterres in the letter that the United States gave the United Nations more than $3.5 billion last year and has allocated $650 million supplemental funding to combat the pandemic, calling for the U.N.'s plan to "remain focused on addressing the most urgent, concrete needs that are arising out of the pandemic."
"Therefore, the U.N. should not use this crisis as an opportunity to advance access to abortion as an 'essential service,'" Barsa said. "Unfortunately, the Global HRP does just this by cynically placing the provision of 'sexual and reproductive health services' on the same level of importance as food-insecurity, essential healthcare, malnutrition, shelter and sanitation."
Quoting President Donald Trump's address to the U.N. General Assembly last year, Barsa wrote the United Nations has "no business attacking the sovereignty of nations that wish to protect innocence life," calling on the organization to not "intimidate or coerce" member states that have not legalized the medical practice.
"To use the COVID-19 pandemic as a justification to pressure governments to change their laws is an affront to the autonomy of each society to determine its own national policies on healthcare," Barsa said. "The United States stands with nations that have pledged to protect the unborn."
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He said sexual and reproductive health services' inclusion as an essential service in the plan will provoke controversy at a time when the organization should be avoiding doing just that.
"The Global HRP, and the activities of U.N. agencies and bodies moving forward, should use clear language and take clear action to address the real needs of vulnerable people around the world without promoting abortion," Barsa said. "Now is not the time to add unnecessary discord to the COVID-19 response."
The letter was sent on the same day the United States criticized the World Health Organization, a U.N. agency, over its response to the pandemic, stating its "failure cost many lives."
The United States has frequently leveled criticism at the WHO in the past weeks with Trump having pulled U.S. funding to the organization last month, accusing it of "mishandling" the pandemic and aiding China in an alleged cover-up.
The WHO has also called for women's choices and rights to sexual and reproductive healthcare be protected during the coronavirus crisis.
In the United States, several lawsuits have been brought against states that have included abortion as an essential medical service that may continue amid lockdown measures to prevent the spread of the virus.


upi--2020-05-18--Diamondbacks OF Starling Marte's wife dies of heart attack

May 18 ( UPI ) -- Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Starling Marte announced Monday that his wife , Noelia , has died of a heart attack .
`` Today I go through the great pain of making public the unfortunate death of my wife Noelia , due to a heart attack , '' Marte wrote on social media .
`` It is a moment of indescribable pain .
On behalf of my family , I am grateful for the expressions of esteem and solidarity in this difficult time . ''
Noelia suffered the heart attack as she was awaiting surgery for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Network .
The couple has three young children : sons Starling Jr. and Smerling and a daughter , Tiana .
`` We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Noelia Marte , '' the Diamondbacks said in a statement .
`` Starling and his family are part of the D-Backs ' family and we will do all we can to support him and their children during this incredibly difficult time . ''
Marte , 31 , spent his first eight seasons in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a statement Monday , the Pirates said `` our hearts are truly saddened by this news '' and extended their condolences to the family .

May 18 (UPI) -- Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Starling Marte announced Monday that his wife, Noelia, has died of a heart attack.
"Today I go through the great pain of making public the unfortunate death of my wife Noelia, due to a heart attack," Marte wrote on social media. "It is a moment of indescribable pain. On behalf of my family, I am grateful for the expressions of esteem and solidarity in this difficult time."
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Noelia suffered the heart attack as she was awaiting surgery for a broken ankle, according to MLB Network. The couple has three young children: sons Starling Jr. and Smerling and a daughter, Tiana.
"We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Noelia Marte," the Diamondbacks said in a statement. "Starling and his family are part of the D-Backs' family and we will do all we can to support him and their children during this incredibly difficult time."
Marte, 31, spent his first eight seasons in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The club traded him to Arizona in January.
In a statement Monday, the Pirates said "our hearts are truly saddened by this news" and extended their condolences to the family.


upi--2020-05-19--U.S. extends restrictions on non-essential border travel

May 19 ( UPI ) -- The United States on Tuesday moved to extend restrictions on border travel to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield issued an order extending Title 42 health restrictions on people migrating to the United States through Mexico and Canada `` until he determines the serious danger from COVID-19 has ceased . ''
The CDC first issued the order March 20 and issued an extension April 20 .
The agency plans to review information about the status of COVID-19 and the associated risks to public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure remains necessary , the order states .
`` This order has been one of the most critical tools the Department has used to prevent the further spread of the virus and to protect the American people , DHS frontline officers and those in their care and custody from COVID-19 , '' Acting Director of the Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf said .
Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness tweeted Tuesday that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had reached a mutual agreement with the United States to extend the restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Andrea Flores , deputy director of immigration policy for the American Civil Liberties Union , condemned the indefinite extension of the border restrictions which she said `` have nothing to do with '' preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus .
`` The administration refuses to heed the advice of public health experts to protect immigrants , government employees and the general public from sickness and death , including by releasing people from ICE and CBP detention and suspending civil enforcement , '' Flores said .
`` Instead , the president is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to achieve his long-held goal of ending asylum on the border . ''

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced an extension on restrictions barring unnecessary travel between the U.S. borders until director Robert Redfield until determines the serious danger from COVID-19 has ceased." File Photo by Glenn Fawcett/U.S. Customs and Border Protection | License Photo
May 19 (UPI) -- The United States on Tuesday moved to extend restrictions on border travel to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield issued an order extending Title 42 health restrictions on people migrating to the United States through Mexico and Canada "until he determines the serious danger from COVID-19 has ceased." Advertisement
The CDC first issued the order March 20 and issued an extension April 20. The agency plans to review information about the status of COVID-19 and the associated risks to public health every 30 days to ensure the measure remains necessary, the order states.
"This order has been one of the most critical tools the Department has used to prevent the further spread of the virus and to protect the American people, DHS frontline officers and those in their care and custody from COVID-19," Acting Director of the Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf said.
Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness tweeted Tuesday that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had reached a mutual agreement with the United States to extend the restrictions prohibiting non-essential travel between the two countries.
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Andrea Flores, deputy director of immigration policy for the American Civil Liberties Union, condemned the indefinite extension of the border restrictions which she said "have nothing to do with" preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
"The administration refuses to heed the advice of public health experts to protect immigrants, government employees and the general public from sickness and death, including by releasing people from ICE and CBP detention and suspending civil enforcement," Flores said. "Instead, the president is hellbent on exploiting a public health crisis to achieve his long-held goal of ending asylum on the border."


upi--2020-05-19--Federal judge says all Texas voters can apply to vote by mail during pandemic

May 19 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge opened a path for a massive expansion in absentee voting in Texas by ordering Tuesday that all state voters , regardless of age , qualify for mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic .
Days after a 2-hour preliminary injunction hearing in San Antonio , U.S. District Judge Fred Biery agreed with individual Texas voters and the Texas Democratic Party that voters would face irreparable harm if existing age eligibility rules for voting by mail remain in place for elections held while the coronavirus remains in wide circulation .
Under his order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would immediately appeal , voters under the age of 65 who would ordinarily not qualify for mail-in ballots would now be eligible .
Biery 's ruling covers Texas voters `` who seek to vote by mail to avoid transmission of the virus . ''
In a lengthy order , which he opened by quoting the preamble to the Declaration of Independence , Biery said he had concerns for the health and safety of voters and stated the right to vote `` should not be elusively based on the whims of nature .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans now seek Life without fear of pandemic , Liberty to choose their leaders in an environment free of disease and the pursuit of Happiness without undue restrictions , '' Biery wrote .
`` There are some among us who would , if they could , nullify those aspirational ideas to return to the not so halcyon and not so thrilling days of yesteryear of the Divine Right of Kings , trading our birthright as a sovereign people for a modern mess of governing pottage in the hands of a few and forfeiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city upon a hill , '' he said .
In the federal lawsuit , the Texas Democrats argued that holding traditional elections under the circumstances brought on by the coronavirus pandemic would impose unconstitutional and illegal burdens on voters unless state law was clarified to expand who can qualify to vote by mail .
Under existing law , Texas voters qualify for ballots they can fill out at home and mail only if they are 65 years or older , have a disability or illness , will be out of the county during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in jail .
The Democrats argued that the age limitation violates the U.S. Constitution because it would impose additional burdens on voters who are younger than 65 during the pandemic , and Biery agreed .
Biery also found the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in proving the rules violate the 26th Amendment 's protections against voting restrictions that discriminate based on age .
In a statement , Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he would seek immediate review of the ruling by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals .
`` The district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disregards well-established law , '' Paxton said .
In ruling against the state , Biery cast aside arguments made by Paxton 's office that he should wait until a case in state district court is fully adjudicated .
In that case , state District Judge Tim Sulak ruled that susceptibility to the coronavirus counts as a disability under the state election code .
The Texas Supreme Court put that ruling on hold last week .
During a hearing last week in federal court , Biery scrutinized the state 's argument that it had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting requirements to preserve `` the integrity of its election '' and to prevent voter fraud .
The attorney general 's office had submitted testimony from the long-winding litigation over the state 's voter ID law that touched on instances of fraud involving the mail ballots of voters who are 65 or older or voters in nursing homes .
`` So what 's the rational basis between 65 and 1 day and one day less than 65 ? ''
Biery asked .
In his ruling , Biery said the state had cited `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud in states where voting by mail is more widely used .
`` The Court finds the Grim Reaper 's scepter of pandemic disease and death is far more serious than an unsupported fear of voter fraud in this sui generis experience , '' Biery said .
`` Indeed , if vote by mail fraud is real , logic dictates that all voting should be in person . ''
The case in Biery 's court is part of a growing collection of legal challenges to the state 's existing rules for absentee voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued that a fear of contracting the virus while voting in person does n't meet the state 's definition of a disability .
But Biery also took issue with Paxton 's reading of the state 's voting-by-mail qualifications .
The Texas election code defines disability as a `` sickness or physical condition '' that prevents a voter from appearing in person without the risk of `` injuring the voter 's health . ''
Biery opined that Paxton 's interpretation `` rendered the statute unconstitutionally vague '' because it left unclear which voters qualify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biery also found that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their claim that Paxton 's statements on voting by mail amounted to unlawful voter intimidation .
Paxton previously issued guidance to local election officials in which he raised the prospect that `` third parties '' could face criminal sanctions if they advise voters who typically do not qualify for mail-in ballots to request them under the circumstances allowed by Sulak 's ruling .
Paxton has also claimed in public statements that expanding eligibility for absentee voting `` will only serve to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections . ''
`` Defendant Paxton 's statements operate to discourage voters from seeking mail-in ballots because of their fear of criminal sanction or victimization by fraud , '' Biery wrote , `` and have the intention and the effect of depriving legally eligible voters ' access to the franchise . ''
In a live interview as news of the ruling broke , Gov .
Greg Abbott indicated he expected the ongoing cases to wind up at the U.S. Supreme Court .
`` Here 's the important deal , and that is we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current laws , '' Abbott said .
`` We want them to be able to vote safely , and we want to do so in the way that does the most to reduce any potential fraud . ''
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune .
Read the original here .
The Texas Tribune is a non-profit , non-partisan media organization that informs Texans -- and engages with them -- about public policy , politics , government and statewide issues .

May 19 (UPI) -- A federal judge opened a path for a massive expansion in absentee voting in Texas by ordering Tuesday that all state voters, regardless of age, qualify for mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic.
Days after a 2-hour preliminary injunction hearing in San Antonio, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery agreed with individual Texas voters and the Texas Democratic Party that voters would face irreparable harm if existing age eligibility rules for voting by mail remain in place for elections held while the coronavirus remains in wide circulation. Under his order, which the Texas attorney general said he would immediately appeal, voters under the age of 65 who would ordinarily not qualify for mail-in ballots would now be eligible.
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Biery's ruling covers Texas voters "who seek to vote by mail to avoid transmission of the virus."
In a lengthy order, which he opened by quoting the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, Biery said he had concerns for the health and safety of voters and stated the right to vote "should not be elusively based on the whims of nature."
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"Two hundred forty-years on, Americans now seek Life without fear of pandemic, Liberty to choose their leaders in an environment free of disease and the pursuit of Happiness without undue restrictions," Biery wrote.
"There are some among us who would, if they could, nullify those aspirational ideas to return to the not so halcyon and not so thrilling days of yesteryear of the Divine Right of Kings, trading our birthright as a sovereign people for a modern mess of governing pottage in the hands of a few and forfeiting the vision of America as a shining city upon a hill," he said.
In the federal lawsuit, the Texas Democrats argued that holding traditional elections under the circumstances brought on by the coronavirus pandemic would impose unconstitutional and illegal burdens on voters unless state law was clarified to expand who can qualify to vote by mail.
Under existing law, Texas voters qualify for ballots they can fill out at home and mail only if they are 65 years or older, have a disability or illness, will be out of the county during the election period, or are confined in jail.
The Democrats argued that the age limitation violates the U.S. Constitution because it would impose additional burdens on voters who are younger than 65 during the pandemic, and Biery agreed. Biery also found the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in proving the rules violate the 26th Amendment's protections against voting restrictions that discriminate based on age.
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In a statement, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he would seek immediate review of the ruling by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
"The district court's opinion ignores the evidence and disregards well-established law," Paxton said.
In ruling against the state, Biery cast aside arguments made by Paxton's office that he should wait until a case in state district court is fully adjudicated. In that case, state District Judge Tim Sulak ruled that susceptibility to the coronavirus counts as a disability under the state election code. The Texas Supreme Court put that ruling on hold last week.
During a hearing last week in federal court, Biery scrutinized the state's argument that it had a significant interest in enforcing existing absentee voting requirements to preserve "the integrity of its election" and to prevent voter fraud.
The attorney general's office had submitted testimony from the long-winding litigation over the state's voter ID law that touched on instances of fraud involving the mail ballots of voters who are 65 or older or voters in nursing homes.
"So what's the rational basis between 65 and 1 day and one day less than 65?" Biery asked.
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In his ruling, Biery said the state had cited "little or no evidence" of widespread fraud in states where voting by mail is more widely used.
"The Court finds the Grim Reaper's scepter of pandemic disease and death is far more serious than an unsupported fear of voter fraud in this sui generis experience," Biery said. "Indeed, if vote by mail fraud is real, logic dictates that all voting should be in person."
The case in Biery's court is part of a growing collection of legal challenges to the state's existing rules for absentee voting. In other lawsuits, Paxton has argued that a fear of contracting the virus while voting in person doesn't meet the state's definition of a disability.
But Biery also took issue with Paxton's reading of the state's voting-by-mail qualifications.
The Texas election code defines disability as a "sickness or physical condition" that prevents a voter from appearing in person without the risk of "injuring the voter's health." Biery opined that Paxton's interpretation "rendered the statute unconstitutionally vague" because it left unclear which voters qualify to vote by mail under its provisions.
Biery also found that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their claim that Paxton's statements on voting by mail amounted to unlawful voter intimidation.
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Paxton previously issued guidance to local election officials in which he raised the prospect that "third parties" could face criminal sanctions if they advise voters who typically do not qualify for mail-in ballots to request them under the circumstances allowed by Sulak's ruling. Paxton has also claimed in public statements that expanding eligibility for absentee voting "will only serve to undermine the security and integrity of our elections."
"Defendant Paxton's statements operate to discourage voters from seeking mail-in ballots because of their fear of criminal sanction or victimization by fraud," Biery wrote, "and have the intention and the effect of depriving legally eligible voters' access to the franchise."
In a live interview as news of the ruling broke, Gov. Greg Abbott indicated he expected the ongoing cases to wind up at the U.S. Supreme Court.
"Here's the important deal, and that is we want people to vote based upon our current laws," Abbott said. "We want them to be able to vote safely, and we want to do so in the way that does the most to reduce any potential fraud."
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune. Read the original here. The Texas Tribune is a non-profit, non-partisan media organization that informs Texans -- and engages with them -- about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.


upi--2020-05-19--Horace Grant accuses Michael Jordan of lying in 'The Last Dance,' calls him 'snitch'

May 19 ( UPI ) -- Former Chicago Bulls forward Horace Grant responded to Michael Jordan 's claim in the ESPN documentary series The Last Dance that Grant leaked information to journalist Sam Smith .
Grant , making an appearance on ESPN 1000 Radio in Chicago on Tuesday , said Jordan 's accusation `` is a downright , outright , completely lie . ''
In the 10-episode documentary , which concluded Sunday , Jordan alleged that Grant leaked much of the information found in Smith 's famous The Jordan Rules book .
`` Lie , lie , lie .
... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , let 's settle this like men , '' Grant said during the radio interview .
`` Let 's talk about it .
Or we can settle it another way .
But still , he goes out and puts this lie out that I was the source behind [ Smith 's book ] .
`` Sam and I have always been great friends .
We 're still great friends .
But the sanctity of that locker room , I would never put anything personal out there .
The mere fact that Sam Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to have two sources , two , to write a book , I guess .
Why would MJ just point me out ?
`` It 's only a grudge , man .
I 'm telling you , it was only a grudge .
And I think he proved that during this so-called documentary .
If you say something about him , he 's going to cut you off , he 's going to try to destroy your character . ''
Grant , who helped Chicago win three NBA titles from 1991-93 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closest friendships that have deteriorated over the years because of critical comments aimed at the Bulls icon .
`` Charles Barkley , they 've been friends for over 20 , 30 years , '' Grant said .
`` And [ Barkley ] said something about Michael 's management with the Charlotte Bobcats or the Charlotte Hornets , and then they have n't spoken since then .
`` And my point is , he said that I was the snitch , and yet after 35 years he brings up his rookie year going into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing coke , weed and women .
My point is : Why the hell did he want to bring that up ?
What 's that got to do with anything ?
I mean , if you want to call somebody a snitch , that 's a [ expletive ] snitch right there . ''
Grant ended the interview by saying the documentary had a biased point of view in favor of Jordan .
Two of Jordan 's closest associates , Estee Portnoy and Curtis Polk , were executive producers on the series .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one person , basically , and he has the last word on what 's going to be put out there ... it 's not a documentary , '' Grant said .
`` It 's his narrative of what happens in the last , quote-unquote , dance .
That 's not a documentary , because a whole bunch of things were cut out , edited out . ''

Former Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls forward Horace Grant (L) helped Jordan and the Bulls win three NBA championships from 1991-93. File Photo by Ray Foli/UPI | License Photo
May 19 (UPI) -- Former Chicago Bulls forward Horace Grant responded to Michael Jordan's claim in the ESPN documentary series The Last Dance that Grant leaked information to journalist Sam Smith. Grant, making an appearance on ESPN 1000 Radio in Chicago on Tuesday, said Jordan's accusation "is a downright, outright, completely lie." In the 10-episode documentary, which concluded Sunday, Jordan alleged that Grant leaked much of the information found in Smith's famous The Jordan Rules book. Advertisement
"Lie, lie, lie. ... If MJ had a grudge with me, let's settle this like men," Grant said during the radio interview. "Let's talk about it. Or we can settle it another way. But still, he goes out and puts this lie out that I was the source behind [Smith's book].
"Sam and I have always been great friends. We're still great friends. But the sanctity of that locker room, I would never put anything personal out there. The mere fact that Sam Smith was an investigative reporter, that he had to have two sources, two, to write a book, I guess. Why would MJ just point me out?
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"It's only a grudge, man. I'm telling you, it was only a grudge. And I think he proved that during this so-called documentary. If you say something about him, he's going to cut you off, he's going to try to destroy your character."
Grant, who helped Chicago win three NBA titles from 1991-93, then brought up some of Jordan's closest friendships that have deteriorated over the years because of critical comments aimed at the Bulls icon.
"Charles Barkley, they've been friends for over 20, 30 years," Grant said. "And [Barkley] said something about Michael's management with the Charlotte Bobcats or the Charlotte Hornets, and then they haven't spoken since then.
"And my point is, he said that I was the snitch, and yet after 35 years he brings up his rookie year going into one of his teammates' rooms and seeing coke, weed and women. My point is: Why the hell did he want to bring that up? What's that got to do with anything? I mean, if you want to call somebody a snitch, that's a [expletive] snitch right there."
Grant ended the interview by saying the documentary had a biased point of view in favor of Jordan. Two of Jordan's closest associates, Estee Portnoy and Curtis Polk, were executive producers on the series.
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"When that so-called documentary is about one person, basically, and he has the last word on what's going to be put out there ... it's not a documentary," Grant said. "It's his narrative of what happens in the last, quote-unquote, dance. That's not a documentary, because a whole bunch of things were cut out, edited out."


upi--2020-05-19--Russian military helicopter crashes, killing 3 crew members

May 19 ( UPI ) -- A Russian military helicopter crashed Tuesday near Moscow , killing the entire crew , @ @ @ @ @ .
`` On May 19 , at about 20:00 , while performing a training flight @ @ @ @ @ the village of Klin , a Russian Air Force Mi-8 helicopter made a hard landing @ @ @ @ @ As a result of the hard landing , the crew died of their injuries , @ @ @ @ @ .
`` According to preliminary data , the crash might have been caused by a @ @ @ @ @ source in Russia 's emergencies services told state-run Tass news agency that three people died @ @ @ @ @ been practically destroyed .
The crew of three has died , '' the source said @

A Russian military Mi-8 helicopter, similar to the one pictured, crashed Tuesday near Moscow. File Photo courtesy of EPA
May 19 (UPI) -- A Russian military helicopter crashed Tuesday near Moscow, killing the entire crew, the Ministry of Defense said. "On May 19, at about 20:00, while performing a training flight [12 miles] from the village of Klin, a Russian Air Force Mi-8 helicopter made a hard landing in a deserted area. As a result of the hard landing, the crew died of their injuries," the Defense Ministry said. Advertisement
"According to preliminary data, the crash might have been caused by a technical failure."
A source in Russia's emergencies services told state-run Tass news agency that three people died.
"The helicopter has been practically destroyed. The crew of three has died," the source said.


upi--2020-05-19--Fisher Sand & Gravel awarded $1.28B for border wall construction

May 19 ( UPI ) -- A North Dakota construction company that drew scrutiny for a previous contract won a $ 1.28 billion border wall construction contract earlier in May .
Fisher Sand & Gravel 's new contract was not announced by the Department of Defense , which has awarded several border wall contracts , or by Customs & Border Patrol , but was reported by the Arizona Daily Star .
It 's set to fund about 42 miles of border wall in Arizona , from Nogales to the eastern boundary of the Tohono O'odham Nation .
In December Fisher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million to build a wall near Yuma County , Ariz .
The company 's CEO , Tommy Fisher , publicly campaigned for wall contracts and paid $ 145,000 to discuss the border wall with lawmakers and the Army Corps of Engineers .
Fisher 's campaign has provoked public admiration from President Donald Trump , but also accusations of undue influence from Democrats -- and an audit from the Pentagon 's inspector general , which officials say is still ongoing .
That audit is still ongoing .
Fisher has said he can build a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the new award to Fisher costs about $ 30 million per mile of wall , making it more expensive than other contracts for the wall -- and making the wall one of the largest federal infrastructure projects in American history .
About 180 miles have been built since January 2017 , and acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said last week that he expects to see as many as 400 miles of completed wall this year .
Congressional Democrats called for a halt to border construction projects this spring due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DoD has awarded numerous contracts for wall construction , including others that have drawn criticism due to high costs and possible undue influence .
In April Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
and Rep. Bennie Thompson ( D-Miss . )
asked the acting Inspector General of the Department of Defense to review a $ 569 million border wall contract awarded earlier that month to BFBC , a Montana-based company whose CEO has a history of donations to Trump 's campaign as well as other Republican races .
Their letter also points to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposed project -- in that case $ 33 million per mile .

A section of border fence on the U.S. - Mexico border is seen in Tecate, California on June 10, 2019. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
May 19 (UPI) -- A North Dakota construction company that drew scrutiny for a previous contract won a $1.28 billion border wall construction contract earlier in May. Fisher Sand & Gravel's new contract was not announced by the Department of Defense, which has awarded several border wall contracts, or by Customs & Border Patrol, but was reported by the Arizona Daily Star. Advertisement
It's set to fund about 42 miles of border wall in Arizona, from Nogales to the eastern boundary of the Tohono O'odham Nation.
In December Fisher Sand & Gravel was awarded $400 million to build a wall near Yuma County, Ariz.
The company's CEO, Tommy Fisher, publicly campaigned for wall contracts and paid $145,000 to discuss the border wall with lawmakers and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Fisher's campaign has provoked public admiration from President Donald Trump, but also accusations of undue influence from Democrats -- and an audit from the Pentagon's inspector general, which officials say is still ongoing.
That audit is still ongoing.
Fisher has said he can build a wall more cheaply than other contractors, but the new award to Fisher costs about $30 million per mile of wall, making it more expensive than other contracts for the wall -- and making the wall one of the largest federal infrastructure projects in American history.
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About 180 miles have been built since January 2017, and acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said last week that he expects to see as many as 400 miles of completed wall this year.
Congressional Democrats called for a halt to border construction projects this spring due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the DoD has awarded numerous contracts for wall construction, including others that have drawn criticism due to high costs and possible undue influence.
In April Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) asked the acting Inspector General of the Department of Defense to review a $569 million border wall contract awarded earlier that month to BFBC, a Montana-based company whose CEO has a history of donations to Trump's campaign as well as other Republican races.
Their letter also points to the high per-mile cost of BFBC's proposed project -- in that case $33 million per mile.