upi--2020-07-09--Mark Esper says it’s 'unclear' who ordered protesters dispersed from Lafayette Square

July 9 ( UPI ) -- Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Thursday that it is `` still unclear '' who gave the order to disperse thousands of protesters in Lafayette Square outside the White House so President Donald Trump could walk through the park for a photo-op .
Law enforcement officers forcefully cleared Lafayette Park of the protesters who were rallying against the murder of George Floyd and racial injustice in the early evening of June 1 .
Witnesses said U.S. Park Police and the D.C. National Guard fired smoke canisters and pepper balls , which cause irritation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military helicopter also flew close to the ground , causing protesters to disperse .
Trump then walked across the square to the front of St. John 's Episcopal Church for a photo session as he held a Bible , flanked by Esper , Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley , Attorney General William Barr and other White House officials .
A week later , Milley said he regretted the use of force and his appearance with Trump for the walk .
Testifying before the House armed services committee on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussions with Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and D.C. National Guard Commander Maj. Gen. William Walker , `` It 's still unclear to me who gave the direction to clear the park at that moment . ''
Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Smith , D-Wash. , said he found it hard to believe that Esper did n't know who gave the order .
`` I 'm sorry but it 's a pretty big decision , '' Smith said , `` ... and it just sort of happened ? ''
`` I do n't know .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded , saying he never pursued the decision-making process with anyone because `` you get caught up on other things . ''
Smith has expressed `` grave concern '' over the use of military personnel in response to `` peaceful protesters '' in Washington on the night of June 1 .
Esper stated no active duty military engaged with protesters , though Milley said he recommended , and Esper ordered , 1,700 active duty troops to an `` increased alert posture '' in the vicinity of Washington .
Esper testified that officers across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have contributed to the confusion .
`` At one point , the National Guard , for example , cross-leveled its riot shields and lent them to the law enforcement , '' Esper said .
`` So if you saw police out there using a military police show [ of force ] it 's because we cross leveled and that 's a lesson learned .
We got to figure out a way to mask the name 'military police ' so we do n't confuse who is actually doing the crowd control . ''
Protester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was on the street that Monday when an officer used his riot shield to push her to the ground , causing her to hit her head .
In an interview Thursday , she said she sustained a minor concussion and six weeks later her ribs still hurt .
Rosner said the officers retreated back to the White House , but then came back to clear the street all at once .
They pepper sprayed her and other protesters , but she had worn goggles to protect her eyes .
Her friends were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she received medical attention .
`` I 'm on the ground and I look over and I see the yellow church , '' Rosner said , referencing St. John 's .
`` Why could n't they have waited until after curfew ? ''
Rosner said curfew in D.C. was less than an hour later at 7 p.m. Esper told the House committee that the National Guard did not advance on the crowd , shoot rubber bullets or employ chemical agents of any kind .
`` Rather , the guard remained in a static @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if needed , '' he said .
Rosner said it was hard for her to tell if the law enforcement officials were police or another agency .
`` Some of them had a Secret Service vest and a police shield , '' Rosner said .
`` They would say different things . ''
During the hearing , Esper also was asked by several representatives about the Insurrection Act , which allows the president to deploy active duty military force in U.S. cities to quell insurrections , terrorist attacks or help in natural disasters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he spoke in the Rose Garden , where he told reporters that he advised governors he would deploy the military to cities with protests to end them .
Rep. Mike Rogers , R-Ala. , asked Esper whether he thought the Insurrection Act needed to be modified , to which Esper responded that it has `` endured well '' and that nothing has happened that would compel him to change it .
There has also been controversy over Esper 's use of the word `` battlespace '' to describe U.S. cities where there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House call with governors earlier that day , he encouraged the leaders to let the National Guard `` dominate the battlespace '' in clearing protesters .
Esper initiated an investigation into the events of June 1 and said a report will likely be sent to the committee next week .
Esper and Milley were asked to testify to the same committee last month but turned down the request .

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Secretary of Defense Mark Esper (L) and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley appear Thursday before the House Armed Services Committee hearing to discuss the Department of Defense in civilian law enforcement on Capitol Hill. Pool Photo by Michael Reynolds/UPI | License Photo
July 9 (UPI) -- Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Thursday that it is "still unclear" who gave the order to disperse thousands of protesters in Lafayette Square outside the White House so President Donald Trump could walk through the park for a photo-op. Law enforcement officers forcefully cleared Lafayette Park of the protesters who were rallying against the murder of George Floyd and racial injustice in the early evening of June 1. Witnesses said U.S. Park Police and the D.C. National Guard fired smoke canisters and pepper balls, which cause irritation to the eyes and skin. A Lakota military helicopter also flew close to the ground, causing protesters to disperse. Advertisement
Trump then walked across the square to the front of St. John's Episcopal Church for a photo session as he held a Bible, flanked by Esper, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Attorney General William Barr and other White House officials.
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A week later, Milley said he regretted the use of force and his appearance with Trump for the walk.
Testifying before the House armed services committee on Thursday afternoon, Esper said that after discussions with Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and D.C. National Guard Commander Maj. Gen. William Walker, "It's still unclear to me who gave the direction to clear the park at that moment."
Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., said he found it hard to believe that Esper didn't know who gave the order.
"I'm sorry but it's a pretty big decision," Smith said, "... and it just sort of happened?"
"I don't know. I have never inquired," Esper responded, saying he never pursued the decision-making process with anyone because "you get caught up on other things."
Smith has expressed "grave concern" over the use of military personnel in response to "peaceful protesters" in Washington on the night of June 1.
Esper stated no active duty military engaged with protesters, though Milley said he recommended, and Esper ordered, 1,700 active duty troops to an "increased alert posture" in the vicinity of Washington.
Esper testified that officers across divisions were sharing gear, which could have contributed to the confusion.
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"At one point, the National Guard, for example, cross-leveled its riot shields and lent them to the law enforcement," Esper said. "So if you saw police out there using a military police show [of force] it's because we cross leveled and that's a lesson learned. We got to figure out a way to mask the name 'military police' so we don't confuse who is actually doing the crowd control."
Protester Sarah Rosner, a 37-year-old Washington bartender, was on the street that Monday when an officer used his riot shield to push her to the ground, causing her to hit her head. In an interview Thursday, she said she sustained a minor concussion and six weeks later her ribs still hurt. Rosner said the officers retreated back to the White House, but then came back to clear the street all at once. They pepper sprayed her and other protesters, but she had worn goggles to protect her eyes. Her friends were able to get her to safety where she received medical attention.
"I'm on the ground and I look over and I see the yellow church," Rosner said, referencing St. John's. "Why couldn't they have waited until after curfew?"
Rosner said curfew in D.C. was less than an hour later at 7 p.m.
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Esper told the House committee that the National Guard did not advance on the crowd, shoot rubber bullets or employ chemical agents of any kind.
"Rather, the guard remained in a static role as backup to law enforcement, if needed," he said.
Rosner said it was hard for her to tell if the law enforcement officials were police or another agency.
"Some of them had a Secret Service vest and a police shield," Rosner said. "They would say different things."
During the hearing, Esper also was asked by several representatives about the Insurrection Act, which allows the president to deploy active duty military force in U.S. cities to quell insurrections, terrorist attacks or help in natural disasters. Before Trump headed into Lafayette Park, he spoke in the Rose Garden, where he told reporters that he advised governors he would deploy the military to cities with protests to end them.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., asked Esper whether he thought the Insurrection Act needed to be modified, to which Esper responded that it has "endured well" and that nothing has happened that would compel him to change it.
There has also been controversy over Esper's use of the word "battlespace" to describe U.S. cities where there have been protests. While on a White House call with governors earlier that day, he encouraged the leaders to let the National Guard "dominate the battlespace" in clearing protesters.
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Esper initiated an investigation into the events of June 1 and said a report will likely be sent to the committee next week.
Esper and Milley were asked to testify to the same committee last month but turned down the request.
Protesters demand justice in police killing of George Floyd


upi--2020-07-09--Police interviews: Breonna Taylor's home was 'soft target;' suspect was located

July 9 ( UPI ) -- A Louisville , Ky. , police officer involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor said officers knew she was likely alone in her apartment and that the suspect they were searching for was already located , according to interviews released Thursday .
Sgt .
Jonathan Mattingly , one of three officers present at the scene of Taylor 's death on March 13 , told investigators he and the other officers who carried out the no-knock warrant were told that there were minimal threats in her apartment .
`` They said they did not believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were n't sure , '' Mattingly said .
`` Said she should be there alone because they knew where the target was . ''
He added that surveillance conducted earlier in the night showed little activity in the apartment .
Mattingly said he did not recall the name of the target on the search warrant , but Jamarcus Glover , one of the main suspects in a narcotics investigation and Taylor 's ex-boyfriend , was arrested after police searched his house at Elliot Avenue on a separate warrant .
In the interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knocked and announced their presence , giving sufficient time for a resident to answer the door , but said he was unsure why he was told to do so during a no-knock warrant .
`` Our intent was to give her plenty of time to come to the door because they said she was probably there alone , '' he said .
Kenneth Walker , Taylor 's boyfriend who was in the apartment with her at the time of her death , told investigators they did n't know it was police knocking at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firearm carrier , fired a `` warning shot '' that struck Mattingly in the leg after officers broke down the door of the residence and officers returned fire , striking Taylor five times .
`` The only reason I even had the gun out [ was ] because we did n't know who it was , '' Walker said .
`` If we knew who it was , that would have never happened . ''
Attorney Ben Crump , who is representing Taylor 's family , said the interviews indicate a conspiracy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all of the officers involved to be charged with murder .
`` They substantiate what we 've maintained all along : that police did not announce themselves when they broke into the residence with a battering ram and relased a shower of ginfire into the apartment , killing Breona , that the warrant and its execution were based on erroneous information and that Lousiville police actively worked to cover up Breonna 's brutal murder , '' Crump said .
Taylor 's family on Thursday also amended their lawsuit against the three officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home was connected to a gentrification project , alleging police were used to target people and homes on Elliot Avenue so the street could be vacated for a real estate project .
`` Breonna 's home should never have had police there in the first place , '' the suit states .
`` Breonna 's death was the culmination of radical political and police conduct . ''

An interview with one of the Louisville police officers involved in the killing of Breona Taylor found police were told she was likely alone in her apartment and that the suspect they were seeking was already located. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
July 9 (UPI) -- A Louisville, Ky., police officer involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor said officers knew she was likely alone in her apartment and that the suspect they were searching for was already located, according to interviews released Thursday. Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, one of three officers present at the scene of Taylor's death on March 13, told investigators he and the other officers who carried out the no-knock warrant were told that there were minimal threats in her apartment. Advertisement
"They said they did not believe she had children or animals, but they weren't sure," Mattingly said. "Said she should be there alone because they knew where the target was."
He added that surveillance conducted earlier in the night showed little activity in the apartment.
Mattingly said he did not recall the name of the target on the search warrant, but Jamarcus Glover, one of the main suspects in a narcotics investigation and Taylor's ex-boyfriend, was arrested after police searched his house at Elliot Avenue on a separate warrant.
In the interview, Mattingly also stated that police repeatedly knocked and announced their presence, giving sufficient time for a resident to answer the door, but said he was unsure why he was told to do so during a no-knock warrant.
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"Our intent was to give her plenty of time to come to the door because they said she was probably there alone," he said.
Kenneth Walker, Taylor's boyfriend who was in the apartment with her at the time of her death, told investigators they didn't know it was police knocking at the door. Walker, a licensed firearm carrier, fired a "warning shot" that struck Mattingly in the leg after officers broke down the door of the residence and officers returned fire, striking Taylor five times.
"The only reason I even had the gun out [was] because we didn't know who it was," Walker said. "If we knew who it was, that would have never happened."
Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Taylor's family, said the interviews indicate a conspiracy to cover up Taylor's killing and called for all of the officers involved to be charged with murder.
"They substantiate what we've maintained all along: that police did not announce themselves when they broke into the residence with a battering ram and relased a shower of ginfire into the apartment, killing Breona, that the warrant and its execution were based on erroneous information and that Lousiville police actively worked to cover up Breonna's brutal murder," Crump said.
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Taylor's family on Thursday also amended their lawsuit against the three officers to state that the raid of her home was connected to a gentrification project, alleging police were used to target people and homes on Elliot Avenue so the street could be vacated for a real estate project.
"Breonna's home should never have had police there in the first place," the suit states. "Breonna's death was the culmination of radical political and police conduct."


upi--2020-07-09--Brooklyn Nets sign Michael Beasley as substitute player

July 9 ( UPI ) -- The Brooklyn Nets have signed veteran forward Michael Beasley as a replacement player for the NBA 's 22-team restart this month , the team announced Thursday .
Nets general manager Sean Marks told reporters on a video conference call that Beasley has already arrived at the team 's hotel in Orlando , Fla. , and passed his physical .
The former No .
2 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft now must test negative for the coronavirus on six consecutive days before he is cleared to practice with the team .
If he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beasley will have to serve a five-game suspension for a violation of the league 's anti-drug policy last April , Marks said .
He would be eligible to play in the Nets ' sixth seeding game .
The Nets had open roster spots after Spencer Dinwiddie , DeAndre Jordan and Taurean Prince withdrew from the restart after testing positive for COVID-19 .
Brooklyn also will be without injured stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving .
Beasley , 31 , last played in the NBA during the 2018-19 campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 26 games .
He was traded to the L.A. Clippers at the trade deadline and was subsequently waived .
Beasley has played for seven teams in the league , including three stints with the Miami Heat .
He also spent time with three teams in China .

Michael Beasley (L) last played in the NBA during the 2018-19 campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging seven points and 2.3 rebounds in 26 games. File Photo by Larry W. Smith/EPA-EFE
July 9 (UPI) -- The Brooklyn Nets have signed veteran forward Michael Beasley as a replacement player for the NBA's 22-team restart this month, the team announced Thursday. Nets general manager Sean Marks told reporters on a video conference call that Beasley has already arrived at the team's hotel in Orlando, Fla., and passed his physical. The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft now must test negative for the coronavirus on six consecutive days before he is cleared to practice with the team. Advertisement
If he is cleared to participate in practice, Beasley will have to serve a five-game suspension for a violation of the league's anti-drug policy last April, Marks said. He would be eligible to play in the Nets' sixth seeding game.
The Nets had open roster spots after Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan and Taurean Prince withdrew from the restart after testing positive for COVID-19. Brooklyn also will be without injured stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Advertisement OFFICIAL: We've signed Michael Beasley as a Substitute Player for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.  Hello, @Michael8easley  pic.twitter.com/hHMBleW4G6— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) July 9, 2020
Beasley, 31, last played in the NBA during the 2018-19 campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging seven points and 2.3 rebounds in 26 games. He was traded to the L.A. Clippers at the trade deadline and was subsequently waived.
Beasley has played for seven teams in the league, including three stints with the Miami Heat. He also spent time with three teams in China.


upi--2020-07-09--State Department to invite China to join trilateral arms talks with Russia

July 9 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. State Department said on Thursday that it will invite the Chinese government @ @ @ @ @ control negotiations in Vienna .
In a press release issued Thursday , State Department spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ meet with Russia `` to consider next steps for trilateral arms control negotiations . ''
@ @ @ @ @ different perspectives and objectives to the negotiating table and will surely have disagreements , '' @ @ @ @ @ it is time for dialogue and diplomacy between the three biggest nuclear weapons powers on @ @ @ @ @ arms race . ''
On Wednesday a senior Chinese diplomat said China would be happy @ @ @ @ @ with the United States and Russia -- but only if the United States agrees to @ @ @ @ @ China 's level .
President Donald Trump has repeatedly asked China to join trilateral arms @ @ @ @ @ has refused , arguing that its nuclear arsenal is comparatively small relatively to the United @ @ @ @ @ have at least 5,000 nuclear warheads each .

State Department spokeswoman, shown here in October with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in May 2019, said Thursday that the United States plans to invite China to trilateral arms negotiations with Russia. Photo courtesy U.S. State Department
July 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department said on Thursday that it will invite the Chinese government to engage in face-to-face arms control negotiations in Vienna. In a press release issued Thursday, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus also recommended China meet with Russia "to consider next steps for trilateral arms control negotiations." Advertisement
"We will all bring different perspectives and objectives to the negotiating table and will surely have disagreements," Ortagus said. "But it is time for dialogue and diplomacy between the three biggest nuclear weapons powers on how to prevent a new arms race."
On Wednesday a senior Chinese diplomat said China would be happy to join arms control talks with the United States and Russia -- but only if the United States agrees to reduce its arsenal to match China's level.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly asked China to join trilateral arms control talks, but China has refused, arguing that its nuclear arsenal is comparatively small relatively to the United States and Russia, which have at least 5,000 nuclear warheads each.


upi--2020-07-09--Michael Cohen taken back into federal custody

July 9 ( UPI ) -- Michael Cohen , President Donald Trump 's former personal attorney , was taken back into federal custody on Thursday after having been released to home confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Cohen , 53 , was in Manhattan federal court seeking to arrange the terms of his home confinement when he was placed in handcuffs and taken back into custody at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn .
`` On May 21 , 2020 , Mr. Cohen was placed on furlough pending placement on home confinement , '' the Bureau of Prisons said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions of his home confinement and as a result , has been returned to a BOP facility . ''
One of Cohen 's attorneys , Jeffrey Levine , said Cohen sought to discuss stipulations of his home confinement that prevented him from engaging with media of any kind and using social media when he was taken back into custody .
`` BOP just did n't want to have anything to do with working any language out , '' Levine said .
The BOP 's decision to take Cohen back into custody came on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruled 7-2 that Trump must hand over the records under a subpoena from Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance related to an investigation into `` hush money '' payments the president supposedly made to two women to keep extramarital affairs secret .
Cohen was sentenced to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to coordinating the payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal , who alleged they had extramarital affairs with Trump .
Roger Adler , another attorney for Cohen , said he was concerned by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The coincidence of the Supreme Court 's decisions and this action by the BOP under the supervision of Attorney General [ William ] Barr is , I find , unsettling and hopefully only coincidental , '' Adler said .

President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, was taken back into federal custody on Thursday months after being released to home confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. File Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI | License Photo
July 9 (UPI) -- Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, was taken back into federal custody on Thursday after having been released to home confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cohen, 53, was in Manhattan federal court seeking to arrange the terms of his home confinement when he was placed in handcuffs and taken back into custody at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Advertisement
"On May 21, 2020, Mr. Cohen was placed on furlough pending placement on home confinement," the Bureau of Prisons said. "Today, Michael Cohen refused the conditions of his home confinement and as a result, has been returned to a BOP facility."
One of Cohen's attorneys, Jeffrey Levine, said Cohen sought to discuss stipulations of his home confinement that prevented him from engaging with media of any kind and using social media when he was taken back into custody.
"BOP just didn't want to have anything to do with working any language out," Levine said.
The BOP's decision to take Cohen back into custody came on the same day that the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that Trump must hand over the records under a subpoena from Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance related to an investigation into "hush money" payments the president supposedly made to two women to keep extramarital affairs secret.
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Cohen was sentenced to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to coordinating the payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who alleged they had extramarital affairs with Trump.
Roger Adler, another attorney for Cohen, said he was concerned by the timing of BOP's decision.
"The coincidence of the Supreme Court's decisions and this action by the BOP under the supervision of Attorney General [William] Barr is, I find, unsettling and hopefully only coincidental," Adler said.


upi--2020-07-09--President Donald Trump signs Hispanic initiative executive order

July 9 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order he said will promote educational and economic opportunities to Hispanic Americans .
He signed the order during an afternoon ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House .
It came after Trump participated in a roundtable discussion with Hispanic leaders .
`` Every American , no matter your background , is entitled to a government that puts your needs and your families first , '' he said .
`` Americans of all walks of life are united by the same noble ideas and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong families , safe communities and abundant opportunity , and I will not rest until we have delivered this future for every community -- not only the Hispanic community , which is doing so well -- but every community in our land . ''
Trump said the order will improve access to educational and workforce opportunities in partnership with the private sector .
The initiative will led by an executive director to be chosen by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos .
`` At the U.S. Department of Education , we 're working to open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earn-and-learn opportunities , expanding support for Hispanic serving institutions , prioritizing new public charter schools in opportunity zones , and fighting for education freedom so Hispanic students -- and all students -- can find their right fit , '' she said .

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U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order on the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative on Thursday in the Rose Garden of the White House. Photo by Rod Lamkey/UPI | License Photo
July 9 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order he said will promote educational and economic opportunities to Hispanic Americans. He signed the order during an afternoon ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House. Advertisement
It came after Trump participated in a roundtable discussion with Hispanic leaders.
"Every American, no matter your background, is entitled to a government that puts your needs and your families first," he said.
"Americans of all walks of life are united by the same noble ideas and the same fundamental designs for good schools, strong families, safe communities and abundant opportunity, and I will not rest until we have delivered this future for every community -- not only the Hispanic community, which is doing so well -- but every community in our land."
Trump said the order will improve access to educational and workforce opportunities in partnership with the private sector. The initiative will led by an executive director to be chosen by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
"At the U.S. Department of Education, we're working to open up new career pathways including apprenticeships and earn-and-learn opportunities, expanding support for Hispanic serving institutions, prioritizing new public charter schools in opportunity zones, and fighting for education freedom so Hispanic students -- and all students -- can find their right fit," she said.


upi--2020-07-09--Engineers design reusable silicone rubber face mask with N95 filter

July 9 ( UPI ) -- Researchers said Thursday that they have developed a resusable silicone rubber face mask with an N95 filter .
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brigham and Women 's Hospital said in a statement that they think the new face mask is as effective at stopping viral particles as N95 masks .
The goal in developing and testing the new face mask is to meet the `` dire need for personal protective equipment within healthcare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic , '' researchers said in the study , published Thursday in British Medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hydrogen peroxide vapor to sterilize masks for reuse , but the process requires specialized equipment that is not available everywhere .
And while the cleaning allows for up to 20 reuses , it can only be worn one day with every cleaning , researchers said .
The new masks have space for one or two N95 filters to be replaced after each use , and the rest of the rubber mask itself can be sterilized and reused many times .
`` With this design , the filters can be popped in and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're throwing away a lot less material than an N95 mask , '' Brigham and Women 's Hospital research engineer Adam Wentworth , co-lead author of the study , said in a statement .
Researchers recruited 24 healthcare workers for the study to test the fit of the mask and found that it could successfully fit different face sizes .
Now , the research team is working on a second version of the mask with hopes to make it more comfortable and durable .
Going forward , they also expect to do more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to filter particles .
`` We know that COVID-19 is really not going away until a vaccine is prevalent , '' said co-lead author James Byrne , a radiation oncologist at Brigham and Women 's Hospital and research affiliate at MIT .
`` I think there 's always going to be a need for masks , whether it be in the health care setting or in the general public . ''

Engineers at MIT and Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a new silicone rubber face mask with two N95 filters they say is as effective, and less wasteful, than many of the masks being used widely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy of MIT
July 9 (UPI) -- Researchers said Thursday that they have developed a resusable silicone rubber face mask with an N95 filter. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brigham and Women's Hospital said in a statement that they think the new face mask is as effective at stopping viral particles as N95 masks. Advertisement
The goal in developing and testing the new face mask is to meet the "dire need for personal protective equipment within healthcare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic," researchers said in the study, published Thursday in British Medical Journal Open.
Many hospitals have used hydrogen peroxide vapor to sterilize masks for reuse, but the process requires specialized equipment that is not available everywhere. And while the cleaning allows for up to 20 reuses, it can only be worn one day with every cleaning, researchers said.
The new masks have space for one or two N95 filters to be replaced after each use, and the rest of the rubber mask itself can be sterilized and reused many times.
"With this design, the filters can be popped in and then thrown away after use, and you're throwing away a lot less material than an N95 mask," Brigham and Women's Hospital research engineer Adam Wentworth, co-lead author of the study, said in a statement.
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Researchers recruited 24 healthcare workers for the study to test the fit of the mask and found that it could successfully fit different face sizes.
Now, the research team is working on a second version of the mask with hopes to make it more comfortable and durable.
Going forward, they also expect to do more lab tests that measure the masks' ability to filter particles.
"We know that COVID-19 is really not going away until a vaccine is prevalent," said co-lead author James Byrne, a radiation oncologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and research affiliate at MIT. "I think there's always going to be a need for masks, whether it be in the health care setting or in the general public."


upi--2020-07-09--'Safe injection site' sees no overdose deaths in 5 years

Safe injection sites for users of illicit drugs such as heroin : They 've been tried and legalized in countries such as Canada and the Netherlands , and a new study suggests they might save American lives , too .
In the study , published online July 8 in the New England Journal of Medicine , researchers analyzed five years of data ( 2014 to 2019 ) from an unsanctioned safe drug consumption site in the United States .
Its location was not disclosed for privacy reasons .
At the site , people were able to inject illicit drugs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of staff who were trained to provide counseling , drug overdose intervention , and to also contact emergency medical services , if needed .
People using the safe drug site had to be invited , be 18 years of age or older , have a history of prior illicit drug use and come to the site with their own drugs .
Once there , they were provided with sterile syringes and injection equipment , and a staff member assisted with the injection if requested .
During the study period , more than 10,500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers at RTI International , a nonprofit research institute , and the University of California , San Diego .
Of those , 33 resulted in opioid overdoses , all of which were reversed by staff trained to inject the user with the opioid OD treatment drug naloxone .
None of the overdoses required a call to 911 , and there were no deaths at the injection site over the five years of the study .
`` We know that nearly 70,000 people die each year from drug overdoses in the U.S. , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at RTI , said in a news release from the group .
`` Implementing safe consumption sites could lead to a reduction in deaths , and studies from other countries with sanctioned injection sites have shown reductions in the risk of infectious disease , drug use , and increased access to health and social services , '' Kral said .
Over the five years , the number of injections and the number of overdoses both increased , in line with the burgeoning opioid addiction epidemic in the United States .
The type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significantly , the researchers said , with a 55 percent increase observed in the use of a combination of opioid and stimulant drugs .
`` Sanctioning these sites could help allow linkages to other medical and social services including substance use treatment , '' Kral said .
`` The sites could also help reduce problems that we see across communities , such as public drug use and improperly discarded syringes . ''
Dr. Roopali Parikh is a psychiatrist specializing in substance use disorders at the Northwell Health Physician Partners ' Behavioral Health Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new report , she agreed that `` safe consumption sites have great potential in reducing deaths from opioid overdose in the United States .
`` Multiple studies have demonstrated that individuals with opioid use disorder value these safe consumption sites for the shelter and protection that they provide , the creation of a sense of belonging to individuals who are often discriminated against , and of course , safety from overdoses and communicable diseases given the clean needles and syringes , '' Parikh said .
But legal and staffing issues often stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sites , she added .
Those issues involve `` funding for supplies , rent , meals , and salaries for trained professionals , as well as the potential lawsuits for assisted injections leading to morbidity and even mortality , '' Parikh said .
The Canadian Centre for Addictions has more on safe injection sites .

Safe injection sites for users of illicit drugs such as heroin: They've been tried and legalized in countries such as Canada and the Netherlands, and a new study suggests they might save American lives, too.
In the study, published online July 8 in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers analyzed five years of data (2014 to 2019) from an unsanctioned safe drug consumption site in the United States. Its location was not disclosed for privacy reasons.
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At the site, people were able to inject illicit drugs, such as heroin, under the supervision of staff who were trained to provide counseling, drug overdose intervention, and to also contact emergency medical services, if needed.
People using the safe drug site had to be invited, be 18 years of age or older, have a history of prior illicit drug use and come to the site with their own drugs.
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Once there, they were provided with sterile syringes and injection equipment, and a staff member assisted with the injection if requested.
During the study period, more than 10,500 injections took place, according to the researchers at RTI International, a nonprofit research institute, and the University of California, San Diego.
Of those, 33 resulted in opioid overdoses, all of which were reversed by staff trained to inject the user with the opioid OD treatment drug naloxone.
None of the overdoses required a call to 911, and there were no deaths at the injection site over the five years of the study.
"We know that nearly 70,000 people die each year from drug overdoses in the U.S.," study author Alex Kral, an epidemiologist at RTI, said in a news release from the group.
"Implementing safe consumption sites could lead to a reduction in deaths, and studies from other countries with sanctioned injection sites have shown reductions in the risk of infectious disease, drug use, and increased access to health and social services," Kral said.
Over the five years, the number of injections and the number of overdoses both increased, in line with the burgeoning opioid addiction epidemic in the United States. The type of drugs used at the site also changed significantly, the researchers said, with a 55 percent increase observed in the use of a combination of opioid and stimulant drugs.
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"Sanctioning these sites could help allow linkages to other medical and social services including substance use treatment," Kral said. "The sites could also help reduce problems that we see across communities, such as public drug use and improperly discarded syringes."
Dr. Roopali Parikh is a psychiatrist specializing in substance use disorders at the Northwell Health Physician Partners' Behavioral Health Group Practice in Manhasset, N.Y. Reading over the new report, she agreed that "safe consumption sites have great potential in reducing deaths from opioid overdose in the United States.
"Multiple studies have demonstrated that individuals with opioid use disorder value these safe consumption sites for the shelter and protection that they provide, the creation of a sense of belonging to individuals who are often discriminated against, and of course, safety from overdoses and communicable diseases given the clean needles and syringes," Parikh said.
But legal and staffing issues often stand in the way of establishing safe injection sites, she added.
Those issues involve "funding for supplies, rent, meals, and salaries for trained professionals, as well as the potential lawsuits for assisted injections leading to morbidity and even mortality," Parikh said.
More information
The Canadian Centre for Addictions has more on safe injection sites.
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Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-07-09--Serious COVID-19 might cause brain damage, study finds

July 9 ( UPI ) -- Up to one in four people infected with the new coronavirus experience brain damage , according to the findings of a small study published Wednesday by the journal Brain .
In an analysis of 43 patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 showed signs of brain inflammation or encephalitis , 10 had symptoms of delirium or psychosis and eight suffered a stroke , the researchers said .
All but one of the patients included in the study survived , overcoming the disease and the neurological symptoms following treatment in a hospital intensive care unit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a higher-than-expected number of people with neurological conditions such as brain inflammation , which did not always correlate with the severity of respiratory symptoms , '' study co-author Dr. Michael Zandi said in a statement .
`` Whether we will see an epidemic on a large scale of brain damage linked to the pandemic -- perhaps similar to the encephalitis lethargica outbreak in the 1920s and 1930s after the 1918 influenza pandemic -- remains to be seen , '' said Zandi , a neurologist at the Queen Square Institute of Neurology and University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ England .
All 43 patients in the study were treated at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery .
They ranged in age from 16 to 85 , the researchers said .
Several of the patients did not develop severe respiratory symptoms from COVID-19 , with the neurological disorder acute disseminated encephalomyelitis , or ADEM , being `` the first and main presentation '' of the disease , they said .
Nine of the 12 patients with brain inflammation were diagnosed with ADEM , which is rare and most often seen in children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinic typically sees about one adult patient with ADEM per month , but that increased to at least one per week during the study period , which ran from April 9 to May 15 , they said .
In addition , eight patients in the study experienced nerve damage , mainly Guillain-Barré syndrome , a rare neurological disorder in which the body 's immune system attacks the nerves , causing severe muscle weakness .
Guillain-Barré most often occurs after a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection , the researchers said .
They also found evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused by an immune response to COVID-19 , rather than the disease itself .
SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes the disease , was not detected in the cerebrospinal brain fluid of any of the patients tested , the researchers said .
`` Given that the disease has only been around for a matter of months , we might not yet know what long-term damage COVID-19 can cause , '' study co-author Dr. Ross Paterson , also a neurologist at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology , said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible neurological effects , as early diagnosis can improve patient outcomes , '' he said .
`` People recovering from the virus should seek professional health advice if they experience neurological symptoms . ''

Serious illness from COVID-19 might cause brain damage in some people, a new study says. Photo by toubibe/Pixabay
July 9 (UPI) -- Up to one in four people infected with the new coronavirus experience brain damage, according to the findings of a small study published Wednesday by the journal Brain. In an analysis of 43 patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 showed signs of brain inflammation or encephalitis, 10 had symptoms of delirium or psychosis and eight suffered a stroke, the researchers said. Advertisement
All but one of the patients included in the study survived, overcoming the disease and the neurological symptoms following treatment in a hospital intensive care unit, they said.
"We identified a higher-than-expected number of people with neurological conditions such as brain inflammation, which did not always correlate with the severity of respiratory symptoms," study co-author Dr. Michael Zandi said in a statement.
"Whether we will see an epidemic on a large scale of brain damage linked to the pandemic -- perhaps similar to the encephalitis lethargica outbreak in the 1920s and 1930s after the 1918 influenza pandemic -- remains to be seen," said Zandi, a neurologist at the Queen Square Institute of Neurology and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in England.
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All 43 patients in the study were treated at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. They ranged in age from 16 to 85, the researchers said.
Several of the patients did not develop severe respiratory symptoms from COVID-19, with the neurological disorder acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, or ADEM, being "the first and main presentation" of the disease, they said.
Nine of the 12 patients with brain inflammation were diagnosed with ADEM, which is rare and most often seen in children, according to the researchers.
Their clinic typically sees about one adult patient with ADEM per month, but that increased to at least one per week during the study period, which ran from April 9 to May 15, they said.
In addition, eight patients in the study experienced nerve damage, mainly Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves, causing severe muscle weakness. Guillain-Barré most often occurs after a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection, the researchers said.
They also found evidence that brain inflammation in some patients was caused by an immune response to COVID-19, rather than the disease itself.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease, was not detected in the cerebrospinal brain fluid of any of the patients tested, the researchers said.
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"Given that the disease has only been around for a matter of months, we might not yet know what long-term damage COVID-19 can cause," study co-author Dr. Ross Paterson, also a neurologist at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, said in a statement.
"Doctors need to be aware of possible neurological effects, as early diagnosis can improve patient outcomes," he said. "People recovering from the virus should seek professional health advice if they experience neurological symptoms."


upi--2020-07-09--'Broken heart syndrome' rising under stress of pandemic

Doctors at one Ohio hospital system have discovered yet another possible consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic : More cases of `` broken heart syndrome . ''
The condition -- which doctors call stress cardiomyopathy -- appears similar to a heart attack , with symptoms such as chest pain and breathlessness .
But its cause is different : Experts believe it reflects a temporary weakness in the heart muscle owing to a surge in stress hormones .
And at two Cleveland Clinic hospitals , diagnoses of stress cardiomyopathy shot up in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic .
During March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stress cardiomyopathy was diagnosed in nearly 8 percent of patients who arrived in the emergency department with chest pain and other possible heart symptoms .
That was four to five times higher than rates seen in pre-pandemic periods , which hovered between 1.5 percent and 1.8 percent .
And while COVID-19 can lead to heart complications , none of the patients with stress cardiomyopathy tested positive for the infection , said Dr. Ankur Kalra , a cardiologist who worked on the study .
`` That suggests this is not a reflection of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , '' he said .
Stress cardiomyopathy is a relatively new diagnosis , and doctors are still trying to understand it fully , Kalra said .
But it got its nickname because it may arise after an emotionally difficult event , like a divorce or death of a loved one .
But other stressful situations -- from a traffic accident to surgery -- can also be triggers , Kalra said .
The condition may not arise immediately after the trigger , however , said Dr. David Kass , a professor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicine in Baltimore .
Kass said a person could , for example , develop stress cardiomyopathy after living through an earthquake then dealing with the fear of another one .
The condition is thought to occur when the heart muscle is overwhelmed by a flood of catecholamines -- better known as stress hormones , according to Kass .
That temporarily reduces the heart 's pumping ability .
The condition is quite distinct from a heart attack , he explained .
There are no blockages in the arteries , and while heart muscle cells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not die off .
The symptoms do mimic a heart attack , said Dr. James Januzzi , a trustee with the American College of Cardiology and a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston .
But as tests are done , he said , the true cause grows clearer .
For one , Januzzi explained , stress cardiomyopathy looks different from a heart attack on electrocardiogram , which measures the heart 's electrical activity .
And when doctors do an angiogram to peer inside the heart arteries , they 'll find no blockages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The good news , Januzzi said , is that people with the condition typically recover quickly , with no long-term heart damage .
Kass said that given all the stresses of the pandemic -- from fear of the virus to job losses to social isolation -- it 's not hard to imagine why stress cardiomyopathy would increase .
But he also sounded a note of caution on the findings : From the start of the pandemic , many U.S. hospitals saw a significant drop in heart attack patients -- possibly because people feared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not calling 911 .
And that , Kass said , could be one reason why the percentage of stress cardiomyopathy diagnoses rose .
`` The denominator has changed , '' he said .
`` So it 's hard to know whether this is actually happening a lot . ''
Januzzi agreed that could be a factor .
What 's interesting , he said , is that none of the patients tested positive for COVID-19 .
Cases of `` COVID-associated '' stress cardiomyopathy have been reported in patients with the infection , Januzzi noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself would be new .
And it 's `` very plausible , '' he said , that these stressful times could be leading to a true increase in the condition .
For the general public , Januzzi said , it 's critical to act on symptoms of chest pain and difficulty breathing : Get to the ER and let doctors diagnose it .
Kalra agreed .
He also urged people to do their best to manage stress -- getting regular exercise , for example , or using meditation to quiet the mind .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in JAMA Network Open .
Johns Hopkins Medicine has more on stress cardiomyopathy .

Doctors at one Ohio hospital system have discovered yet another possible consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic: More cases of "broken heart syndrome."
The condition -- which doctors call stress cardiomyopathy -- appears similar to a heart attack, with symptoms such as chest pain and breathlessness. But its cause is different: Experts believe it reflects a temporary weakness in the heart muscle owing to a surge in stress hormones.
Advertisement
And at two Cleveland Clinic hospitals, diagnoses of stress cardiomyopathy shot up in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During March and April, the new study found, stress cardiomyopathy was diagnosed in nearly 8 percent of patients who arrived in the emergency department with chest pain and other possible heart symptoms.
That was four to five times higher than rates seen in pre-pandemic periods, which hovered between 1.5 percent and 1.8 percent.
Advertisement
And while COVID-19 can lead to heart complications, none of the patients with stress cardiomyopathy tested positive for the infection, said Dr. Ankur Kalra, a cardiologist who worked on the study.
"That suggests this is not a reflection of the virus, but the stress of the pandemic," he said.
Stress cardiomyopathy is a relatively new diagnosis, and doctors are still trying to understand it fully, Kalra said. But it got its nickname because it may arise after an emotionally difficult event, like a divorce or death of a loved one.
But other stressful situations -- from a traffic accident to surgery -- can also be triggers, Kalra said.
The condition may not arise immediately after the trigger, however, said Dr. David Kass, a professor of cardiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.
Kass said a person could, for example, develop stress cardiomyopathy after living through an earthquake then dealing with the fear of another one.
The condition is thought to occur when the heart muscle is overwhelmed by a flood of catecholamines -- better known as stress hormones, according to Kass. That temporarily reduces the heart's pumping ability.
The condition is quite distinct from a heart attack, he explained. There are no blockages in the arteries, and while heart muscle cells may be temporarily stunned, they do not die off.
Advertisement
The symptoms do mimic a heart attack, said Dr. James Januzzi, a trustee with the American College of Cardiology and a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
But as tests are done, he said, the true cause grows clearer.
For one, Januzzi explained, stress cardiomyopathy looks different from a heart attack on electrocardiogram, which measures the heart's electrical activity. And when doctors do an angiogram to peer inside the heart arteries, they'll find no blockages in a patient with stress cardiomyopathy.
The good news, Januzzi said, is that people with the condition typically recover quickly, with no long-term heart damage.
Kass said that given all the stresses of the pandemic -- from fear of the virus to job losses to social isolation -- it's not hard to imagine why stress cardiomyopathy would increase.
But he also sounded a note of caution on the findings: From the start of the pandemic, many U.S. hospitals saw a significant drop in heart attack patients -- possibly because people feared a trip to the ER and were not calling 911.
And that, Kass said, could be one reason why the percentage of stress cardiomyopathy diagnoses rose.
"The denominator has changed," he said. "So it's hard to know whether this is actually happening a lot."
Advertisement
Januzzi agreed that could be a factor.
What's interesting, he said, is that none of the patients tested positive for COVID-19. Cases of "COVID-associated" stress cardiomyopathy have been reported in patients with the infection, Januzzi noted, but cases associated with the pandemic itself would be new.
And it's "very plausible," he said, that these stressful times could be leading to a true increase in the condition.
For the general public, Januzzi said, it's critical to act on symptoms of chest pain and difficulty breathing: Get to the ER and let doctors diagnose it.
Kalra agreed. He also urged people to do their best to manage stress -- getting regular exercise, for example, or using meditation to quiet the mind.
The findings were published online July 9 in JAMA Network Open.
More information
Johns Hopkins Medicine has more on stress cardiomyopathy.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-07-09--Dow sheds 360 points, tech stocks push Nasdaq to gains

July 9 ( UPI ) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S & P 500 fell on Thursday the Labor Department 's latest unemployment report and a substantial loss reported by Walgreens .
The Dow erased its gains for the week , ending the day down 361.19 points , or 1.39 percent , while the S & P 500 droped 0.56 percent .
The Nasdaq Composite ended the with gains , rising 0.53 percent behind strong tech stocks .
Walgreens Boots Alliance , a major pharmacy and healthcare chain , announced plans Thursday to lay off about 4,000 workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
The company reported a third-quarter loss of 1.7 billion .
Walgreens was one of the worst-performing stocks on the Dow Thursday , falling 7.76 percent .
Earlier , the Labor Department reported that 1.3 million additional American workers filed new unemployment claims last week , a decline of about 100,000 from the previous week .
Stocks that would benefit from the reopening of businesses by lifting restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 declined on Thursday amid ongoing concern over increasing cases in some parts of the country .
United Airlines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stock fell 6.76 percent and Delta stock declined 5.07 percent .
Royal Caribbean stock dropped 5.89 percent and Carnival stock slid 4.83 percent , while Kohl 's stock dropped 7.25 percent .
Despite the general losses , tech stocks flourished on Thursday , as Amazon stock rose 3.29 percent to reach an all-time high .
Stock for Google 's parent company , Alphabet , rose 1 percent , Microsoft gained 0.70 percent and Apple gained 0.36 percent .

A statue of George Washington looks over the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street in New York City on June 26. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 9 (UPI) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 fell on Thursday the Labor Department's latest unemployment report and a substantial loss reported by Walgreens. The Dow erased its gains for the week, ending the day down 361.19 points, or 1.39 percent, while the S&P 500 droped 0.56 percent. The Nasdaq Composite ended the with gains, rising 0.53 percent behind strong tech stocks. Advertisement
Walgreens Boots Alliance, a major pharmacy and healthcare chain, announced plans Thursday to lay off about 4,000 workers due to losses attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company reported a third-quarter loss of 1.7 billion.
Walgreens was one of the worst-performing stocks on the Dow Thursday, falling 7.76 percent.
Earlier, the Labor Department reported that 1.3 million additional American workers filed new unemployment claims last week, a decline of about 100,000 from the previous week.
Stocks that would benefit from the reopening of businesses by lifting restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 declined on Thursday amid ongoing concern over increasing cases in some parts of the country.
United Airlines stock sank 7.25 percent, American Airlines stock fell 6.76 percent and Delta stock declined 5.07 percent. Royal Caribbean stock dropped 5.89 percent and Carnival stock slid 4.83 percent, while Kohl's stock dropped 7.25 percent.
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Despite the general losses, tech stocks flourished on Thursday, as Amazon stock rose 3.29 percent to reach an all-time high. Stock for Google's parent company, Alphabet, rose 1 percent, Microsoft gained 0.70 percent and Apple gained 0.36 percent.


upi--2020-07-09--French minister: Consensus that Notre Dame should be restored faithfully

July 9 ( UPI ) -- While there 's still some debate over what materials to use , France 's incoming culture minister said Thursday there 's consensus among experts and the public that Paris ' Notre Dame Cathedral should be restored to its former appearance .
Roseline Bachelot told French radio that most of those surveyed do n't favor a more modern rehabilitation of the church 's roof and spire as suggested by French President Emmanuel Macron .
These structures were completely destroyed in April 2019 when a fire engulfed the historic building .
Macron has said he 'd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the 2024 Summer Olympics , which Paris will host .
In the months since the fire , though , experts , architects , historians , leaders and the public have debated the best way to rebuild the 12th century cathedral .
Macron called for a contemporary structure atop the building , saying that the spire that was destroyed was part of a 19th century restoration and was n't original to the building .
Others have recommended a glass roof and spire , an enclosed park and even a swimming pool .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consensus in public opinion and among those deciding '' that the roof and spire should be rebuilt as it was before the fire .
Philippe Villeneuve , France 's chief architect for historic monuments , also was expected to support the original spire and roof to the National Heritage and Architecture Commission .

Firefighters battle to extinguish a giant fire that engulfed the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. Experts are debating on how best to restore the damaged building. File Photo by Eco Clement/UPI | License Photo
July 9 (UPI) -- While there's still some debate over what materials to use, France's incoming culture minister said Thursday there's consensus among experts and the public that Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral should be restored to its former appearance. Roseline Bachelot told French radio that most of those surveyed don't favor a more modern rehabilitation of the church's roof and spire as suggested by French President Emmanuel Macron. Advertisement
These structures were completely destroyed in April 2019 when a fire engulfed the historic building. Macron has said he'd like for it to be completely rehabilitated before the 2024 Summer Olympics, which Paris will host.
In the months since the fire, though, experts, architects, historians, leaders and the public have debated the best way to rebuild the 12th century cathedral. Macron called for a contemporary structure atop the building, saying that the spire that was destroyed was part of a 19th century restoration and wasn't original to the building.
Others have recommended a glass roof and spire, an enclosed park and even a swimming pool.
But Bachelot said "there was a large consensus in public opinion and among those deciding" that the roof and spire should be rebuilt as it was before the fire.
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Philippe Villeneuve, France's chief architect for historic monuments, also was expected to support the original spire and roof to the National Heritage and Architecture Commission.


upi--2020-07-09--USS Roosevelt returns to San Diego after 6 months in Pacific

July 9 ( UPI ) -- The USS Theodore Roosevelt returned to its home port in San Diego Thursday after a six-month deployment that was lengthened as soldiers fought to contain a coronavirus outbreak on board .
The vessel was deployed Jan. 17 to the Indo-Pacific as part of the USS Roosevelt Strike Group and embarked Carrier Air Wing 11 .
Following a port visit to Da Nang , Vietnam -- only the second time a U.S. aircraft carrier has visited the country since the end of the Vietnam War -- the Roosevelt docked in Guam at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an outbreak of COVID-19 on board .
The ship remained in Guam for more than two months , returning to redeployment in early June .
Nearly 1,000 sailors on its crew of 4,800 were infected with the novel coronavirus and one man , Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker , Jr. , died .
Shortly after the Roosevelt docked , its captain , Brett Crozier , sent a memo pleading with the Navy for more resources to help contain the spread of the virus .
Then the acting secretary of the Navy criticized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public in a profanity-laden rant to sailors on the ship -- and subsequently resigned .
`` I am incredibly proud of the Theodore Roosevelt Strike Group and all they 've accomplished over the deployment , '' said Rear Adm. Doug Verissimo , commander , Carrier Strike Group 9 .
`` They operated in a variety of complex environments ranging from how to respond to an international pandemic to operating safely throughout the Indo-Pacific , including the South China Sea . ''
Last week the Navy reported a second death on board , Aviation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A Navy spokesman said the service is awaiting autopsy results , but also that Calderone had repeatedly tested negative for COVID-19 .
In mid-June an an F/A-18F Super Hornet launched from the Roosevelt crashed in the Philippine Sea .
Both the pilot and the weapons officer involved in the crash survived .

The USS Theodore Roosevelt returned to its home port in San Diego after a six-month deployment, more than two months of which was spent docked in Guam to contain a COVID-19 outbreak. Photo courtesy of Official CVN 71/ Twitter
July 9 (UPI) -- The USS Theodore Roosevelt returned to its home port in San Diego Thursday after a six-month deployment that was lengthened as soldiers fought to contain a coronavirus outbreak on board. The vessel was deployed Jan. 17 to the Indo-Pacific as part of the USS Roosevelt Strike Group and embarked Carrier Air Wing 11. Advertisement
Following a port visit to Da Nang, Vietnam -- only the second time a U.S. aircraft carrier has visited the country since the end of the Vietnam War -- the Roosevelt docked in Guam at the end of March to isolate and treat sailors after an outbreak of COVID-19 on board.
The ship remained in Guam for more than two months, returning to redeployment in early June.
Nearly 1,000 sailors on its crew of 4,800 were infected with the novel coronavirus and one man, Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker, Jr., died.
Shortly after the Roosevelt docked, its captain, Brett Crozier, sent a memo pleading with the Navy for more resources to help contain the spread of the virus.
He was subsequently fired.
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Then the acting secretary of the Navy criticized Crozier for allowing the letter to go public in a profanity-laden rant to sailors on the ship -- and subsequently resigned.
"I am incredibly proud of the Theodore Roosevelt Strike Group and all they've accomplished over the deployment," said Rear Adm. Doug Verissimo, commander, Carrier Strike Group 9. "They operated in a variety of complex environments ranging from how to respond to an international pandemic to operating safely throughout the Indo-Pacific, including the South China Sea."
Last week the Navy reported a second death on board, Aviation Electronics Technician Chief Petty Officer Justin Calderone. A Navy spokesman said the service is awaiting autopsy results, but also that Calderone had repeatedly tested negative for COVID-19.
In mid-June an an F/A-18F Super Hornet launched from the Roosevelt crashed in the Philippine Sea. Both the pilot and the weapons officer involved in the crash survived.


upi--2020-07-09--Scorching heat wave to intensify across U.S. Southwest

A brutal heat wave that has been baking the southwestern United States this week is forecast to ramp up in intensity in the coming days , causing many sweltering locations to experience warmth well above normal , with temperature readings at 110 degrees Fahrenheit or higher .
The dangerous heat has caused excessive heat warnings to be issued across the desert Southwest from southeastern Arizona and even into Central California .
Areas under the warnings include Las Vegas , Indio , Calif. , and Phoenix .
Ongoing and worsening drought over the southwestern United States will continue to contribute to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while a big surge of heat is likely to make its presence known farther to the east around the middle of July .
`` As a northward bulge in the jet stream with its associated area of high pressure at most levels of the atmosphere builds this weekend , temperatures are forecast to surge to new highs this summer over the interior Southwest and portions of the central and southern Plains , '' AccuWeather senior meteorologist Brett Anderson said .
This setup allows a minimum of cloud cover and shower activity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very warm , temperatures can climb to extreme levels in the summertime near the ground .
The ongoing and intensifying drought in the Southwest and parts of the Plains will play a major role as well .
`` The pre-existing dry soil allows most of the sun 's energy to heat the ground and the air nearest the ground , rather than to evaporate moisture , '' according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dave Dombek .
`` This is drought-heat cycle often produces extreme temperatures and allows heat waves to build , '' Dombek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the hottest part of the summer , on average , and that temperatures are forecast to be 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit above normal , to say that the heat will be extreme may be an understatement .
Daily record highs will be challenged , but temperatures could even come to within a few degrees of all-time record highs set as far back as the dust bowl era of the 1930s .
Highs are forecast to be around the 116-degree mark in Phoenix this weekend with highs of 107 expected in Dodge City , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The all-time record highs are 121 in Phoenix , 109 in Dodge City and 111 in Amarillo .
Phoenix reached its peak temperature on July 28 , 1995 , while the record in Dodge City occurred in multiple years , including 1934 and 1936 .
The high mark in Amarillo was set on June 26 , 2011 .
Phoenix is in the middle of a searing stretch of triple-digit heat .
The city has n't had a high temperature below 100 F since June 9 .
Starting Friday , temperatures in Death Valley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ location in the United States , are forecast to stay above 120 F into the middle of next week .
Conditions expected over the Southwest will be dangerous for strenuous outdoor activities .
The dry air could cause heatstroke to sneak up on some people as perspiration will evaporate quickly unless people have a means to constantly remain hydrated or can stay inside an air-conditioned environment .
During next week , the areas of high pressure near the surface and the jet stream level are forecast to change their shape .
The high-pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a west-to-east fashion so that heat expands from the Southwest and southern Plains to more of the Midwest and even into Eastern states during the middle and latter parts of next week .
Higher humidity levels , soil moisture and scattered thunderstorm activity will prevent 110- to 120-degree temperatures in the Midwest and East , but it is possible that some locations approach the century mark .
Widespread highs in the middle 90s are likely .
When combined with higher humidity levels , it could feel worse to some people when compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in heavily urbanized areas where there is little breeze during the afternoon and early evening hours .
The expansion of the heat may put a strain on electricity demands with so many major population areas being hit .
Some breakdown of the extreme heat and dryness is anticipated for the Southwest later next week .
`` As the core of the big high-pressure area shifts just a bit eastward later next week , we should start to get a decent flow of moisture from Mexico that many attribute to the North American monsoon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pastelok said .
`` The first big storms could be dust producers with gusty winds , '' Pastelok added .
As the storms blossom and become more widespread , it should knock down high temperatures in the Southwest , but at the price of higher humidity levels and sticky nights .
It is possible that as the monsoon ramps up around mid-July , Phoenix could have its first sub-100-degree day since June 9 when the high was 94 .
Many locations will continue to rack up strings of 100-degree days until more widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the middle of next week over the Southwest , searing heat will continue and it may be several days later until some relief is felt over the adjacent central and southern High Plains , while the atmosphere heats up farther to the east .
Until drenching storms arrive in large numbers over the Southwest , the risk of wildfires will continue to remain high on a daily basis , even in situations where winds are light .

A brutal heat wave that has been baking the southwestern United States this week is forecast to ramp up in intensity in the coming days, causing many sweltering locations to experience warmth well above normal, with temperature readings at 110 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
The dangerous heat has caused excessive heat warnings to be issued across the desert Southwest from southeastern Arizona and even into Central California. Areas under the warnings include Las Vegas, Indio, Calif., and Phoenix.
Excessive heat warnings (pink) are in effect across the Southwest. Image courtesy of AccuWeather
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Ongoing and worsening drought over the southwestern United States will continue to contribute to well above-average heat into early next week, while a big surge of heat is likely to make its presence known farther to the east around the middle of July.
"As a northward bulge in the jet stream with its associated area of high pressure at most levels of the atmosphere builds this weekend, temperatures are forecast to surge to new highs this summer over the interior Southwest and portions of the central and southern Plains," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Brett Anderson said.
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This setup allows a minimum of cloud cover and shower activity, and since the air aloft is also very warm, temperatures can climb to extreme levels in the summertime near the ground.
The ongoing and intensifying drought in the Southwest and parts of the Plains will play a major role as well.
"The pre-existing dry soil allows most of the sun's energy to heat the ground and the air nearest the ground, rather than to evaporate moisture," according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dave Dombek.
"This is drought-heat cycle often produces extreme temperatures and allows heat waves to build," Dombek explained.
Since the heat is coming at the hottest part of the summer, on average, and that temperatures are forecast to be 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, to say that the heat will be extreme may be an understatement.
Daily record highs will be challenged, but temperatures could even come to within a few degrees of all-time record highs set as far back as the dust bowl era of the 1930s.
Highs are forecast to be around the 116-degree mark in Phoenix this weekend with highs of 107 expected in Dodge City, Kan., and Amarillo, Texas. The all-time record highs are 121 in Phoenix, 109 in Dodge City and 111 in Amarillo. Phoenix reached its peak temperature on July 28, 1995, while the record in Dodge City occurred in multiple years, including 1934 and 1936. The high mark in Amarillo was set on June 26, 2011.
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Phoenix is in the middle of a searing stretch of triple-digit heat. The city hasn't had a high temperature below 100 F since June 9.
This image shows projected high and low temperatures for Dodge City, Kan. Chart by AccuWeather
Starting Friday, temperatures in Death Valley, Calif., often the hottest daily location in the United States, are forecast to stay above 120 F into the middle of next week.
Conditions expected over the Southwest will be dangerous for strenuous outdoor activities. The dry air could cause heatstroke to sneak up on some people as perspiration will evaporate quickly unless people have a means to constantly remain hydrated or can stay inside an air-conditioned environment.
During next week, the areas of high pressure near the surface and the jet stream level are forecast to change their shape.
The high-pressure areas will tend to become more elongated in a west-to-east fashion so that heat expands from the Southwest and southern Plains to more of the Midwest and even into Eastern states during the middle and latter parts of next week.
Higher humidity levels, soil moisture and scattered thunderstorm activity will prevent 110- to 120-degree temperatures in the Midwest and East, but it is possible that some locations approach the century mark. Widespread highs in the middle 90s are likely.
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When combined with higher humidity levels, it could feel worse to some people when compared to that of the Southwest, especially in heavily urbanized areas where there is little breeze during the afternoon and early evening hours.
The expansion of the heat may put a strain on electricity demands with so many major population areas being hit.
Some breakdown of the extreme heat and dryness is anticipated for the Southwest later next week.
"As the core of the big high-pressure area shifts just a bit eastward later next week, we should start to get a decent flow of moisture from Mexico that many attribute to the North American monsoon," AccuWeather lead long-range meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.
"The first big storms could be dust producers with gusty winds," Pastelok added. As the storms blossom and become more widespread, it should knock down high temperatures in the Southwest, but at the price of higher humidity levels and sticky nights.
It is possible that as the monsoon ramps up around mid-July, Phoenix could have its first sub-100-degree day since June 9 when the high was 94.
Many locations will continue to rack up strings of 100-degree days until more widespread storms arrive.
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But at least through the middle of next week over the Southwest, searing heat will continue and it may be several days later until some relief is felt over the adjacent central and southern High Plains, while the atmosphere heats up farther to the east.
Until drenching storms arrive in large numbers over the Southwest, the risk of wildfires will continue to remain high on a daily basis, even in situations where winds are light.


upi--2020-07-09--Experts pitch surveillance system to detect viruses in wildlife before next pandemic

July 9 ( UPI ) -- Scientific experts said Thursday that a wildlife surveillance system must be developed before the next pandemic emerges .
Evidence shows the virus that causes COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , came from bats that likely passed the virus onto another species before infecting humans , according to the World Health Organization .
Infectious disease experts , ecologists , wildlife biologists and other experts argue , in a paper published in the journal Science , that a decentralized global system of wildlife surveillance must be established before the next pandemic .
`` It 's impossible to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the human population , but coronaviruses alone have caused outbreaks in people three times in the last 20 years , '' co-author Jennifer Philips said in a press release .
Phillips , who is an associate professor of medicine and co-director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , was referring to outbreaks from the SARS , MERS and COVID-19 epidemics .
`` Even a decade ago it would have been difficult to conduct worldwide surveillance at the human-wildlife interface , '' Philips continued .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is now feasible and affordable , and it has never been more obvious how necessary it is . ''
Researchers said in the paper that expansion into wild areas for resources due to population growth has exacerbated the problem .
Wildlife animals caught for consumption , sold at wildlife markets as exotic pets or held in crowded or unsanitary conditions have also made spillover of viruses into human population more likely , the researchers say .
The surveillance system would monitor wildlife markets and other hotspots to identify whether a virus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genomic sequence data .
`` There 's now a genetic sequencer available that is literally the size of a USB stick , '' said co-author Gideon Erkenswick .
`` You could bring that and a few other supplies into a rainforest and analyze a sample for sequences associated with disease-causing viruses on site in a matter of hours .
`` If you do chance upon something like the virus that causes COVID-19 , do you really want to be collecting it , storing it , transporting it , risking further exposure , sample @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of delay , before you figure out what you 've got ? ''
Erkenswick said .
`` There are people with the expertise and skills to do this kind of work safely pretty much everywhere in the world , they just have n't been given the tools . ''

Researchers say that a surveillance system looking for viruses that could jump from animals to humans may help prevent future pandemics, like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
July 9 (UPI) -- Scientific experts said Thursday that a wildlife surveillance system must be developed before the next pandemic emerges. Evidence shows the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, came from bats that likely passed the virus onto another species before infecting humans, according to the World Health Organization. Advertisement
Infectious disease experts, ecologists, wildlife biologists and other experts argue, in a paper published in the journal Science, that a decentralized global system of wildlife surveillance must be established before the next pandemic.
"It's impossible to know how often animal viruses spill over into the human population, but coronaviruses alone have caused outbreaks in people three times in the last 20 years," co-author Jennifer Philips said in a press release.
Phillips, who is an associate professor of medicine and co-director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, was referring to outbreaks from the SARS, MERS and COVID-19 epidemics.
"Even a decade ago it would have been difficult to conduct worldwide surveillance at the human-wildlife interface," Philips continued. "But because of technological advances, it is now feasible and affordable, and it has never been more obvious how necessary it is."
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Researchers said in the paper that expansion into wild areas for resources due to population growth has exacerbated the problem.
Wildlife animals caught for consumption, sold at wildlife markets as exotic pets or held in crowded or unsanitary conditions have also made spillover of viruses into human population more likely, the researchers say.
The surveillance system would monitor wildlife markets and other hotspots to identify whether a virus in animals could spread to humans by comparing genomic sequence data.
"There's now a genetic sequencer available that is literally the size of a USB stick," said co-author Gideon Erkenswick. "You could bring that and a few other supplies into a rainforest and analyze a sample for sequences associated with disease-causing viruses on site in a matter of hours.
"If you do chance upon something like the virus that causes COVID-19, do you really want to be collecting it, storing it, transporting it, risking further exposure, sample degradation, and adding months or years of delay, before you figure out what you've got?" Erkenswick said. "There are people with the expertise and skills to do this kind of work safely pretty much everywhere in the world, they just haven't been given the tools."


upi--2020-07-09--Watch: Florida family finds alligator swimming in backyard pool

July 9 ( UPI ) -- Experts from a Florida reptile sanctuary were summoned to the home of a family @ @ @ @ @ swimming around their backyard pool .
The Croc Encounters reptile sanctuary said the Westchase , @ @ @ @ @ for help Wednesday after discovering the small alligator in their pool filter .
`` Every @ @ @ @ @ lid the alligator would dart out and swim laps around the pool , '' the @ @ @ @ @ post .
The Croc Encounters team responded to the home and removed the alligator , @ @ @ @ @ the wild .
`` Alligators under 4 feet are not considered a nuisance unlike larger @ @ @ @ @ to be relocated under Florida law , '' the post said .

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July 9 (UPI) -- Experts from a Florida reptile sanctuary were summoned to the home of a family who found a baby alligator swimming around their backyard pool.
The Croc Encounters reptile sanctuary said the Westchase, Hillsborough County, family called for help Wednesday after discovering the small alligator in their pool filter.
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"Every time they opened the filter lid the alligator would dart out and swim laps around the pool," the sanctuary said in a Facebook post.
The Croc Encounters team responded to the home and removed the alligator, which was released back into the wild.
"Alligators under 4 feet are not considered a nuisance unlike larger ones who are not able to be relocated under Florida law," the post said.


upi--2020-07-10--Defenders of Seoul mayor spreading 'fake' photos, officials say

July 10 ( UPI ) -- South Korean supporters of Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon have begun to circulate a photo they claim shows the woman who had filed a criminal complaint of sexual harassment against him , in retaliation for his sudden death late Thursday .
Images of the former employee that began to emerge on local social media platforms including KakaoTalk have been dismissed at Seoul city hall , however , Yonhap reported .
According to city hall , the photo is of the wrong person .
`` The photo is that of a past event held by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in statement .
`` It is disseminating rapidly across the Internet , without actual verification . ''
The city said the `` fake news '' photo is causing emotional distress for the person shown , who has `` no relation to the case . ''
The city said it would take `` strong legal action '' against online users who share and upload the images .
Seoul police is taking the activity of online communities seriously .
The woman had alleged Park sexually harassed her multiple times .
A senior police official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan to protect the victim .
Police are not ruling out the possibility of providing her temporary housing , or even a smart watch to track her location .
The police statement comes after members of an online site mourning the death of Park began to post articles and photos that they claimed were photos of Park 's former secretary .
The community crowdsourced images of 17 city hall employees who were working in the mayor 's office in 2017 , in order to identify the woman who had filed the complaint the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News 1 .
South Korea 's ruling Democratic Party had not commented on the allegations Friday .
Party leader and lawmaker Lee Hae-chan said , `` it is not courtesy '' to address the complaint when asked by reporters at Park 's funeral .
Park 's death means the complaint has been rendered null and void , and prosecutors must give up the case , according to local law .

Mourners pay their respects to Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on Friday at a private memorial at Seoul National University Hospital. Photo courtesy of Seoul city government
July 10 (UPI) -- South Korean supporters of Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon have begun to circulate a photo they claim shows the woman who had filed a criminal complaint of sexual harassment against him, in retaliation for his sudden death late Thursday. Images of the former employee that began to emerge on local social media platforms including KakaoTalk have been dismissed at Seoul city hall, however, Yonhap reported. Advertisement
According to city hall, the photo is of the wrong person."The photo is that of a past event held by the city of Seoul," the city said in statement. "It is disseminating rapidly across the Internet, without actual verification."
The city said the "fake news" photo is causing emotional distress for the person shown, who has "no relation to the case." The city said it would take "strong legal action" against online users who share and upload the images.
Seoul police is taking the activity of online communities seriously. The woman had alleged Park sexually harassed her multiple times.
A senior police official told local news service News 1 police plan to protect the victim. Police are not ruling out the possibility of providing her temporary housing, or even a smart watch to track her location.
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The police statement comes after members of an online site mourning the death of Park began to post articles and photos that they claimed were photos of Park's former secretary.
The community crowdsourced images of 17 city hall employees who were working in the mayor's office in 2017, in order to identify the woman who had filed the complaint the same day Park died, according to News 1.
South Korea's ruling Democratic Party had not commented on the allegations Friday.
Party leader and lawmaker Lee Hae-chan said, "it is not courtesy" to address the complaint when asked by reporters at Park's funeral.
Park's death means the complaint has been rendered null and void, and prosecutors must give up the case, according to local law.


upi--2020-07-10--Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Justin Mikita confirm baby boy's birth

Us Weekly reported Thursday that Ferguson , 44 , and his husband , Justin Mikita , 34 , welcomed their first child , son Beckett Mercer .
`` Jesse and Justin welcomed their little bundle of joy Beckett Mercer Ferguson-Mikita on July 7 , 2020 , '' the rep said .
`` The new parents are overjoyed and excited for this new journey as a family of three . ''
Ferguson announced on The Late Late Show with James Corden in January that he was going to be a dad .
He shared the news while remarking on how turning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Like you said , it 's when you finally become an adult , I feel like , '' Ferguson told fellow guest Charlie Hunnam .
`` Like , I need to start getting serious about things . ''
`` I 'm actually expecting a baby in July with my husband , '' he said .
Ferguson 's Modern Family co-stars Sarah Hyland and Sofia Vergara attended Ferguson and Mikita 's baby shower in February .
The poolside party featured a performance by the Aquawillies , a group of male synchronized swimmers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven-year wedding anniversary July 20 .
Mikita shared a new photo with Ferguson in June while celebrating Pride Month .
`` Happy pride from us .
Today we are taking a walk around our gayboyhood , '' he captioned the post .
Ferguson played Mitchell Pritchett on Modern Family , which ended in April after 11 seasons on ABC .
He said in April that he hopes other shows expand on the same-sex parenting storylines Modern Family presented during its run .

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Jesse Tyler Ferguson (R) and his husband, Justin Mikita, welcomed their first child, son Beckett Mercer. File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo
July 10 (UPI) -- Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson is a new dad. Us Weekly reported Thursday that Ferguson, 44, and his husband, Justin Mikita, 34, welcomed their first child, son Beckett Mercer. Advertisement
Ferguson's rep confirmed the news to People.
"Jesse and Justin welcomed their little bundle of joy Beckett Mercer Ferguson-Mikita on July 7, 2020," the rep said. "The new parents are overjoyed and excited for this new journey as a family of three."
Ferguson announced on The Late Late Show with James Corden in January that he was going to be a dad. He shared the news while remarking on how turning 40 was a big deal for him.
"Like you said, it's when you finally become an adult, I feel like," Ferguson told fellow guest Charlie Hunnam. "Like, I need to start getting serious about things."
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"I'm actually expecting a baby in July with my husband," he said.
Ferguson's Modern Family co-stars Sarah Hyland and Sofia Vergara attended Ferguson and Mikita's baby shower in February. The poolside party featured a performance by the Aquawillies, a group of male synchronized swimmers.
Ferguson and Mikita will celebrate their seven-year wedding anniversary July 20. Mikita shared a new photo with Ferguson in June while celebrating Pride Month.
"Happy pride from us. Today we are taking a walk around our gayboyhood," he captioned the post.
Ferguson played Mitchell Pritchett on Modern Family, which ended in April after 11 seasons on ABC. He said in April that he hopes other shows expand on the same-sex parenting storylines Modern Family presented during its run.


upi--2020-07-10--FX renews 'Better Things' for a fifth season

July 10 ( UPI ) -- FX has renewed Pamela Adlon 's comedy drama series Better Things for a fifth @ @ @ @ @ writer , director , executive producer and star of Better Things , which follows a @ @ @ @ @ daughters while juggling Hollywood .
Better Things Season 4 ended in April with Season 5 @ @ @ @ @ also announced on Friday that Adlon has signed a new overall deal with FX Productions @ @ @ @ @ develop programming for FX and potentially other divisions of Walt Disney Television .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ with Pamela , '' Eric Schrier , president , FX Entertainment said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ of the most talented artists in the business , which is exemplified through her work @ @ @ @ @ , writer and director .
The most recent season of Better Things was its best @ @ @ @ @ about what 's to come in Season 5 , as well as all of the @ @ @ @ @ on together , '' he continued .

"Better Things" writer, director, executive producer and star Pamela Adlon attends the 70th annual Primetime Emmy Awards on September 2018. The series has been renewed for a fifth season. File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo
July 10 (UPI) -- FX has renewed Pamela Adlon's comedy drama series Better Things for a fifth season. Adlon is the writer, director, executive producer and star of Better Things, which follows a single actress raising her three daughters while juggling Hollywood. Advertisement
Mikey Madison, Hannah Alligood, Olivia Edward and Celia Imrie also star.
Better Things Season 4 ended in April with Season 5 set for 2021.
FX also announced on Friday that Adlon has signed a new overall deal with FX Productions. Adlon will continue to develop programming for FX and potentially other divisions of Walt Disney Television.
"We are truly honored to work with Pamela," Eric Schrier, president, FX Entertainment said in a statement.
"She is one of the most talented artists in the business, which is exemplified through her work as a producer/showrunner, actor, writer and director. The most recent season of Better Things was its best yet and we're excited about what's to come in Season 5, as well as all of the future projects we are working on together," he continued.


upi--2020-07-10--NASCAR's Justin Allgaier, Ronnie Bassett Jr. have fiery final lap wreck

July 10 ( UPI ) -- NASCAR 's Justin Allgaier and Ronnie Bassett Jr. were involved in a fiery wreck on the last lap of an Xfinity Series race at Kentucky Speedway .
Allgaier 's No .
7 Chevrolet broke loose at the end of the Shady Rays 200 Thursday in Sparta , Ky .
The car slid into Bassett 's No .
90 Chevrolet and sent the car nose-first into the inside wall .
Allgaier also slammed into the outside wall before Bassett 's car slid between the field .
The No .
90 then bounced back into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before it was hit by several other cars , which sent sparks and fragments of Bassett 's car flying .
Timmy Hill 's No .
61 Toyota took a direct hit from Bassett during the sequence .
Bassett and Hill were evaluated before they were released from the infield care center .
Allgaier was transported to a local hospital for additional evaluation .
`` Justin Allgaier was treated and released from a local hospital early this morning for non-racing-related medical purposes following last night 's event at Kentucky Speedway , '' JR Motorsports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further evaluation today before being cleared to race . ''
Austin Cindric won Thursday 's race .
Allgaier finished 20th .
The Xfinity Series continues with the Alsco 300 at 8 p.m. EDT Friday at Kentucky Speedway .

NASCAR's Justin Allgaier will be reevaluated before he is cleared to race again after he was involved in a wreck Thursday at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. File Photo By Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
July 10 (UPI) -- NASCAR's Justin Allgaier and Ronnie Bassett Jr. were involved in a fiery wreck on the last lap of an Xfinity Series race at Kentucky Speedway. Allgaier's No. 7 Chevrolet broke loose at the end of the Shady Rays 200 Thursday in Sparta, Ky. The car slid into Bassett's No. 90 Chevrolet and sent the car nose-first into the inside wall. Allgaier also slammed into the outside wall before Bassett's car slid between the field. The No. 90 then bounced back into the mix and went up on two wheels before it was hit by several other cars, which sent sparks and fragments of Bassett's car flying. Advertisement
Timmy Hill's No. 61 Toyota took a direct hit from Bassett during the sequence.
Bassett and Hill were evaluated before they were released from the infield care center. Allgaier was transported to a local hospital for additional evaluation.
Huge crash at the finish in Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/PsTJPzOUb8— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) July 10, 2020
"Justin Allgaier was treated and released from a local hospital early this morning for non-racing-related medical purposes following last night's event at Kentucky Speedway," JR Motorsports tweeted Friday. "He will undergo further evaluation today before being cleared to race."
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Austin Cindric won Thursday's race. Allgaier finished 20th. The Xfinity Series continues with the Alsco 300 at 8 p.m. EDT Friday at Kentucky Speedway.