upi--2020-05-04--Original epicenters' death toll plunge; world toll nears 250,000

May 3 ( UPI ) -- The coronavirus death toll in the original epicenters in the world , including China , Italy and Washington state , have subsided tremendously as hotspots emerge elsewhere and the fatalities neared 250,000 .
For the sixth day in a row Sunday , no deaths have been reported in mainland China .
In Italy , the new deaths announced Sunday were 174 compared with a high of 900 in March .
Washington state reported only one death from Sunday for a total of 837 after the first fatality was reported on Feb. 26 .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a high of nearly 800 and almost 25,000 in all .
But Brazil has become a new hotspot with more than 2,200 deaths over five days .
And cases have been mounting in Russia and Turkey .
So far Sunday , a total of 248,245 deaths have been reported .
Though 140,603 have died from the disease in Europe , the new numbers have drastically plunged in that continent over several days , including Spain , France and Germany .
In all , more than 3.5 million cases have been reported , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mortality rate is 7 percent of cases .
Since the first deaths in early January , China had been the original epicenter of the outbreak .
The daily death toll peaked at 150 on Feb. 23 , and for the first time on April 7 , no deaths were reported .
However , on April 17 , officials in Wuhan , where the virus was first reported late last year , added 1,290 coronavirus deaths to the city 's toll that were previously uncounted .
The number now stands at 4,633 in 11th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time there were double-digit deaths was March 17 with 11 .
China 's National Health Commission reported two new cases Sunday -- one imported from abroad and the other locally transmitted in Shanxi province .
In addition , only 531 active cases remain .
And life is beginning to return to normal for Hubei , which was the first place to go on lockdown .
In addition , two hospitals were built in 12 days .
Restrictions have been eased and tourist favorites , including Beijing 's Forbidden City , are reopening .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More than 1 million people went to Shanghai 's attractions over the Labor Day weekend .
Elsewhere in Asia , the pandemic has subsided .
On Sunday , 263 more deaths were reported for a total of 19,602 .
India announced 68 for 1,391 overall , followed by Turkey with 61 at 3,397 and Iran 49 at 6,203 , ninth highest in the world .
Turkey ranks eighth in the world in cases with 126,045 .
Like China , South Korea again reported no deaths as well as 13 new cases Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 250 deaths .
The nation , which instituted massive testing , will relax social distancing rules beginning Wednesday , South Korea 's Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Sunday .
They had been in place since March 22 .
Buildings will reopen gradually with local governments allowed to enact their own rules .
Elsewhere in the Far East , Japan reported 19 new deaths for a total of 474 and 266 additional cases .
On Saturday , Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he likely will extend the national state of emergency past Wednesday to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely Monday .
A total of 13 prefectures are under `` special alert '' and 34 do n't have those orders .
Seven of the top 10 nations with the most deaths are in Europe .
On Saturday , the leaders of France , Norway , Italy and Germany pledged to raise $ 8 billion in an `` international alliance '' to find a vaccine and treatments for the coronavirus .
This decision supports commitments made by G20 leaders and backs a call from the World Health Organization .
`` For this reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator , a global cooperation platform to accelerate and scale-up research , development , access and equitable distribution of the vaccine and other life-saving therapeutics and diagnostics treatments , '' a news release said .
`` We are determined . ''
Italy , which at one time was an epicenter of the virus , now is second behind the United States , dropping below 200 deaths for the first time since 175 on March 14 after gaining 474 deaths Saturday and 269 more Friday .
The high was 919 on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had Europe 's longest lockdown since March , will enter phase two of its plan to reopen on Monday .
Italians will now be able to travel within regions to visit relatives but schools , salons , gyms and many other commercial activities will stay closed .
Cafes and restaurants will offer takeaways only ; and all travel between regions will be banned except for work , health or emergency situations .
On Sunday , Britain reported 315 deaths -- more than half the 621 figure the day before and the lowest since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even higher with 739 more deaths and the record was 1,172 on April 21 .
Britain is third in the world in total deaths at 28,446 .
Originally only hospital deaths were reported until last week when 4,419 deaths in care homes were included .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said `` contingency plans '' were made for his death while he was hospitalized with coronavirus .
He said it was `` 50-50 '' whether he would be put on a ventilator .
`` That was when it got a bit ... they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it presentationally , '' he said in an interview with The Sun on Sunday .
`` It was a tough old moment , I wo n't deny it . ''
No .
4 Spain announced 164 deaths Sunday -- the lowest in six weeks -- after 276 deaths Saturday and a high of 961 on April 2 .
`` As sad as it is to speak about the deaths , the increase of 0.7 percent from the previous day is a good number , '' said Fernando Simón , Spain 's director for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place since March 15 , but four islands in the Canaries and the Balearics will be the first to begin phase one of their reopening procedures on Monday .
The islands `` have not had any new cases in many days .
France reported 135 deaths after 166 deaths Saturday for fifth place at 24,895 and a high of 1,438 on April 15 .
France 's parliament will consider a mandatory quarantine of at least 14 days for visitors from outside the country and 30 days if they test positive as part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until July 24 .
Exempted would be cross-border workers , international transport workers and drivers , and those involved in urgent medical work .
Three other European nations in the top 10 reported double-digit new deaths Sunday No .
5 Belgium added 79 more for a total of 7,844 , No .
6 Germany announced 28 for a total of 6,840 and No .
7 Netherlands had 69 more to total 5,056 .
Churches in Germany conducted Sunday services for the first time since the lockdown began last month .
The situation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced Sunday for a total of 134,786 in seventh place .
The nation also announced 58 more details to total 1,280 , which is in 20th place .
Norway , which joined the European vaccine alliance , reported no deaths .
Neighboring Sweden , which has not closed schools or businesses as part of a `` herd immunity hypothesis , '' added 10 deaths for a total of 2,679 .
The pandemic also has not stabilized in Brazil .
The death toll continues to surge there , recording 2,207 deaths over five days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 390 Thursday , 520 Wednesday and 448 Tuesday -- for eighth place at 6,410 .
Brazil has nearly half the 763 new deaths in South America , which totaled 763 Saturday , and two-thirds overall,10,243 .
Ecuador announced 308 more for a total of 1,371 .
Conversely , the situation has stabilized in Oceana .
Australia has only 95 deaths , including two more Sunday , and New Zealand added no deaths to its 20 total .
Although only 20 new cases were reported in Australia , residents are urged to stay away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to be perfectly well to walk into the door of an aged care facility , that 's my message , '' Brendan Murphy , the nation 's chief medical officer , said Sunday .
He said , `` there are still small outbreaks detected in Victoria and New South Wales , there is still evidence of some low-level community transmission . ''
In Africa , the death toll is 1,802 , led by Algeria with 463 and followed by Egypt with 429 .
In North America , all but around 6,000 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States .
Sunday night , Canada reported 116 additional deaths for a total of 3,682 and Mexico announced 93 more to total of 2,154 .
A `` Come 2 Cancun '' campaign has been announced to attract visitors with two-for-one hotel stays .
More than 150 hoteliers support the digital campaign , which is scheduled to be ready by May 15 .
`` We think that a 'Covid-free ' certificate should be created so that the entire state , the entire tourism industry of the state , restaurants , ecotourism parks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched on June 1 as a 'Covid-Free destination , '' Roberto Cintrón Gómez of the Hotel Association of Cancun , Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres said in a report by the Mexican Daily News .
In the Benito Juarez municipality where Cancun is located , there have been 619 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 82 deaths .

1/3
A few Chinese visit a normally bustling, but just recently opened, Forbidden City after the government lowered the coronavirus threat to level two in Beijing on Saturday. Despite the small numbers of visitors, the landmark was open only to Chinese who had a proper pass or reservation. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
May 3 (UPI) -- The coronavirus death toll in the original epicenters in the world, including China, Italy and Washington state, have subsided tremendously as hotspots emerge elsewhere and the fatalities neared 250,000. For the sixth day in a row Sunday, no deaths have been reported in mainland China. In Italy, the new deaths announced Sunday were 174 compared with a high of 900 in March. Washington state reported only one death from Sunday for a total of 837 after the first fatality was reported on Feb. 26. And deaths are under 300 in New York after a high of nearly 800 and almost 25,000 in all. Advertisement
But Brazil has become a new hotspot with more than 2,200 deaths over five days. And cases have been mounting in Russia and Turkey.
So far Sunday, a total of 248,245 deaths have been reported. Though 140,603 have died from the disease in Europe, the new numbers have drastically plunged in that continent over several days, including Spain, France and Germany.
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In all, more than 3.5 million cases have been reported, according to tracking by worldometers.info. The mortality rate is 7 percent of cases.
Since the first deaths in early January, China had been the original epicenter of the outbreak. The daily death toll peaked at 150 on Feb. 23, and for the first time on April 7, no deaths were reported. However, on April 17, officials in Wuhan, where the virus was first reported late last year, added 1,290 coronavirus deaths to the city's toll that were previously uncounted.
The number now stands at 4,633 in 11th place in the world.
The last time there were double-digit deaths was March 17 with 11.
China's National Health Commission reported two new cases Sunday -- one imported from abroad and the other locally transmitted in Shanxi province. In addition, only 531 active cases remain.
And life is beginning to return to normal for Hubei, which was the first place to go on lockdown. In addition, two hospitals were built in 12 days.
Restrictions have been eased and tourist favorites, including Beijing's Forbidden City, are reopening. Daily visitor caps and health checks remain. More than 1 million people went to Shanghai's attractions over the Labor Day weekend.
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Elsewhere in Asia, the pandemic has subsided. On Sunday, 263 more deaths were reported for a total of 19,602. India announced 68 for 1,391 overall, followed by Turkey with 61 at 3,397 and Iran 49 at 6,203, ninth highest in the world. Turkey ranks eighth in the world in cases with 126,045.
Like China, South Korea again reported no deaths as well as 13 new cases Sunday. The totals are 10,793 cases and 250 deaths. The nation, which instituted massive testing, will relax social distancing rules beginning Wednesday, South Korea's Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Sunday. They had been in place since March 22.
Buildings will reopen gradually with local governments allowed to enact their own rules.
Elsewhere in the Far East, Japan reported 19 new deaths for a total of 474 and 266 additional cases.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he likely will extend the national state of emergency past Wednesday to June. He said a decision is likely Monday. A total of 13 prefectures are under "special alert" and 34 don't have those orders.
Seven of the top 10 nations with the most deaths are in Europe.
On Saturday, the leaders of France, Norway, Italy and Germany pledged to raise $8 billion in an "international alliance" to find a vaccine and treatments for the coronavirus.
Advertisement
This decision supports commitments made by G20 leaders and backs a call from the World Health Organization.
"For this reason, we have recently launched the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, a global cooperation platform to accelerate and scale-up research, development, access and equitable distribution of the vaccine and other life-saving therapeutics and diagnostics treatments," a news release said. "We are determined."
Italy, which at one time was an epicenter of the virus, now is second behind the United States, dropping below 200 deaths for the first time since 175 on March 14 after gaining 474 deaths Saturday and 269 more Friday. The high was 919 on March 27.
Italy, which has had Europe's longest lockdown since March, will enter phase two of its plan to reopen on Monday. Italians will now be able to travel within regions to visit relatives but schools, salons, gyms and many other commercial activities will stay closed. Cafes and restaurants will offer takeaways only; and all travel between regions will be banned except for work, health or emergency situations.
On Sunday, Britain reported 315 deaths -- more than half the 621 figure the day before and the lowest since 214 on March 28. Friday was even higher with 739 more deaths and the record was 1,172 on April 21.
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Britain is third in the world in total deaths at 28,446. Originally only hospital deaths were reported until last week when 4,419 deaths in care homes were included.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said "contingency plans" were made for his death while he was hospitalized with coronavirus. He said it was "50-50" whether he would be put on a ventilator.
"That was when it got a bit... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally," he said in an interview with The Sun on Sunday. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it."
No. 4 Spain announced 164 deaths Sunday -- the lowest in six weeks -- after 276 deaths Saturday and a high of 961 on April 2.
"As sad as it is to speak about the deaths, the increase of 0.7 percent from the previous day is a good number," said Fernando Simón, Spain's director for health emergencies.
A lockdown has been in place since March 15, but four islands in the Canaries and the Balearics will be the first to begin phase one of their reopening procedures on Monday. The islands "have not had any new cases in many days.
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France reported 135 deaths after 166 deaths Saturday for fifth place at 24,895 and a high of 1,438 on April 15.
France's parliament will consider a mandatory quarantine of at least 14 days for visitors from outside the country and 30 days if they test positive as part of extended emergency legislation to be extended until July 24. Exempted would be cross-border workers, international transport workers and drivers, and those involved in urgent medical work.
Three other European nations in the top 10 reported double-digit new deaths Sunday No. 5 Belgium added 79 more for a total of 7,844, No. 6 Germany announced 28 for a total of 6,840 and No. 7 Netherlands had 69 more to total 5,056.
Churches in Germany conducted Sunday services for the first time since the lockdown began last month.
The situation is worsening in Russia with 10,633 more cases announced Sunday for a total of 134,786 in seventh place. The nation also announced 58 more details to total 1,280, which is in 20th place.
Norway, which joined the European vaccine alliance, reported no deaths. Neighboring Sweden, which has not closed schools or businesses as part of a "herd immunity hypothesis," added 10 deaths for a total of 2,679.
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The pandemic also has not stabilized in Brazil. The death toll continues to surge there, recording 2,207 deaths over five days -- 340 Saturday, 509 Friday, 390 Thursday, 520 Wednesday and 448 Tuesday -- for eighth place at 6,410.
Brazil has nearly half the 763 new deaths in South America, which totaled 763 Saturday, and two-thirds overall,10,243. Ecuador announced 308 more for a total of 1,371.
Conversely, the situation has stabilized in Oceana. Australia has only 95 deaths, including two more Sunday, and New Zealand added no deaths to its 20 total.
Although only 20 new cases were reported in Australia, residents are urged to stay away from senior care facilities.
"You have to be perfectly well to walk into the door of an aged care facility, that's my message," Brendan Murphy, the nation's chief medical officer, said Sunday.
He said, "there are still small outbreaks detected in Victoria and New South Wales, there is still evidence of some low-level community transmission."
In Africa, the death toll is 1,802, led by Algeria with 463 and followed by Egypt with 429.
In North America, all but around 6,000 of the roughly 73,000 deaths are in the United States.
Sunday night, Canada reported 116 additional deaths for a total of 3,682 and Mexico announced 93 more to total of 2,154.
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A "Come 2 Cancun" campaign has been announced to attract visitors with two-for-one hotel stays. More than 150 hoteliers support the digital campaign, which is scheduled to be ready by May 15.
"We think that a 'Covid-free' certificate should be created so that the entire state, the entire tourism industry of the state, restaurants, ecotourism parks, discos, marinas, casinos can be launched on June 1 as a 'Covid-Free destination," Roberto Cintrón Gómez of the Hotel Association of Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres said in a report by the Mexican Daily News.
In the Benito Juarez municipality where Cancun is located, there have been 619 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 82 deaths.


upi--2020-05-04--New York records 280 new deaths, northeastern states partner to purchase equipment

May 3 ( UPI ) -- Coronavirus deaths in New York continued to plateau as several northeastern states joined together to acquire equipment to combat the spread of the virus .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced there were 280 deaths in the state within the past 24 hours , down from the 299 the state totaled on Friday but still above its previous low of 253 deaths on March 28 .
`` You can see the number has n't moved dramatically in a relatively long period of time .
The overall direction is good even though it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important we take a moment and learn the lessons of what we 've been going through , '' Cuomo said on Sunday .
Overall , the United States has recorded 1,188,122 cases of COVID-19 and 68,598 people have died from the virus , according to worldometers.info .
On Sunday , the tracker of health data said the death toll in the United States climbed by 1,154 deaths from the day prior , while its number of cases grew by 27,348 .
New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy said the state recorded 137 more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ placing it at second in the nation .
Massachusetts reported 158 new deaths on Sunday , placing it at third in the country with 4,004 total deaths as Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said the state is `` still very much in the beginning days of coronavirus '' calling for all U.S. cities to implement mass testing and provide personal protective equipment for frontline workers .
`` As we move down the road here , if there 's a second surge , all of the equipment that they have now , they 'll need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the federal government should be focused on , '' Walsh told CNN .
Cuomo also said that the state will require all hospitals to establish a 90-day stockpile of personal protective equipment to prepare for a potential resurgence in hospitalizations .
`` We 're going to put in a state requirement now that every hospital has to have a 90-day supply stockpiled .
Their own stockpile of all the PPE equipment they could need for a 90-day supply at the rate of usage we saw with this COVID virus , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of New York , New Jersey , Delaware , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island , Connecticut and Massachusetts have formed a regional partnership to purchase $ 5 billion worth of equipment including PPE , tests and ventilators .
`` We should n't be competing against each other for lifesaving resources .
There is strength in our unity , '' Murphy wrote on Twitter .
Cuomo said the COVID-19 pandemic has created a `` mad scramble '' for medical equipment across the nation , encouraging competition between states , private corporations and the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical supplies .
He called the system `` totally ineffective and ineffective '' while the consortium 's $ 5 billion will increase their buying power by making them more competitive in the international market .
`` I also believe it will also help us get the equipment because we have trouble still getting the equipment and just buying the equipment , '' he said .
On top of lowering prices and increasing their market power , the consortium 's goal is to prevent disruptions to the supply china for PPEs and other needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acquire amid the pandemic .
Pennsylvania has the sixth-most deaths in the nation at 2,823 , including 47 new ones announced Sunday .
In the Midwest , Michigan reported another 29 fatalities for third place at 4,049 .
Georgia , which opened non-essential businesses last week , is 13th at 1,179 with five more deaths reported .
Louisiana , which at one time was a hotspot , recorded 19 deaths over Sunday and is ninth at 2,012 .

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday that recorded 280 more deaths in the past 24 hours, as New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts formed a partnership to purchase equipment to combat the virus. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
May 3 (UPI) -- Coronavirus deaths in New York continued to plateau as several northeastern states joined together to acquire equipment to combat the spread of the virus. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced there were 280 deaths in the state within the past 24 hours, down from the 299 the state totaled on Friday but still above its previous low of 253 deaths on March 28. Advertisement
"You can see the number hasn't moved dramatically in a relatively long period of time. The overall direction is good even though it's very painful. I think it's important we take a moment and learn the lessons of what we've been going through," Cuomo said on Sunday.
Overall, the United States has recorded 1,188,122 cases of COVID-19 and 68,598 people have died from the virus, according to worldometers.info. On Sunday, the tracker of health data said the death toll in the United States climbed by 1,154 deaths from the day prior, while its number of cases grew by 27,348.
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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said the state recorded 137 more deaths for a total of 7,871, placing it at second in the nation.
Massachusetts reported 158 new deaths on Sunday, placing it at third in the country with 4,004 total deaths as Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said the state is "still very much in the beginning days of coronavirus" calling for all U.S. cities to implement mass testing and provide personal protective equipment for frontline workers.
"As we move down the road here, if there's a second surge, all of the equipment that they have now, they'll need more stiff. I think that's what the federal government should be focused on," Walsh told CNN.
Cuomo also said that the state will require all hospitals to establish a 90-day stockpile of personal protective equipment to prepare for a potential resurgence in hospitalizations.
"We're going to put in a state requirement now that every hospital has to have a 90-day supply stockpiled. Their own stockpile of all the PPE equipment they could need for a 90-day supply at the rate of usage we saw with this COVID virus," he said.
In addition, the governors of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts have formed a regional partnership to purchase $5 billion worth of equipment including PPE, tests and ventilators.
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"We shouldn't be competing against each other for lifesaving resources. There is strength in our unity," Murphy wrote on Twitter.
Cuomo said the COVID-19 pandemic has created a "mad scramble" for medical equipment across the nation, encouraging competition between states, private corporations and the federal government while increasing the costs for these needed medical supplies.
He called the system "totally ineffective and ineffective" while the consortium's $5 billion will increase their buying power by making them more competitive in the international market.
"I also believe it will also help us get the equipment because we have trouble still getting the equipment and just buying the equipment," he said.
On top of lowering prices and increasing their market power, the consortium's goal is to prevent disruptions to the supply china for PPEs and other needed medical equipment that states have struggled to acquire amid the pandemic.
Pennsylvania has the sixth-most deaths in the nation at 2,823, including 47 new ones announced Sunday.
In the Midwest, Michigan reported another 29 fatalities for third place at 4,049.
Georgia, which opened non-essential businesses last week, is 13th at 1,179 with five more deaths reported. Louisiana, which at one time was a hotspot, recorded 19 deaths over Sunday and is ninth at 2,012.


upi--2020-05-03--Off-duty LA police officer accused of shooting fellow officer while camping

May 3 ( UPI ) -- Authorities in California arrested an off-duty Los Angeles police officer on Sunday after a second officer was shot during a camping trip .
Three police officers were camping and shooting guns near the Stoddard Wells Off-Highway Vehicle Area , south of Barstow , early Sunday when one of them was shot in the upper body , the San Bernardino County Sheriff 's Office said in a statement .
The unnamed 48-year-old victim was airlifted to a trauma center and was expected to survive , the office said .
The suspect , Ismael Tamayo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged with attempted murder .
Investigators said the cause of the shooting was still under investigation .
The Los Angeles Police Department said it was notified of the shooting early Sunday , confirming in a statement that all three were employees with the police force , and that Tamayo was in possession of a firearm when he was arrested .
He has since been relieved of his police powers pending the outcome of the criminal and administrative investigation , authorities said .
`` The events overnight culminating in the serious injury to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of another member of this department , give me great concern , '' LAPD Chief Michel Moore said in a statement .
`` I spoke earlier this morning with San Bernardino Sheriff John McMahon , pledging our full support of their criminal investigation . ''
Moore said he is `` committed '' to understanding what occurred over Sunday morning .

May 3 (UPI) -- Authorities in California arrested an off-duty Los Angeles police officer on Sunday after a second officer was shot during a camping trip.
Three police officers were camping and shooting guns near the Stoddard Wells Off-Highway Vehicle Area, south of Barstow, early Sunday when one of them was shot in the upper body, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
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The unnamed 48-year-old victim was airlifted to a trauma center and was expected to survive, the office said.
The suspect, Ismael Tamayo, 44, was arrested without incident and charged with attempted murder. Investigators said the cause of the shooting was still under investigation.
The Los Angeles Police Department said it was notified of the shooting early Sunday, confirming in a statement that all three were employees with the police force, and that Tamayo was in possession of a firearm when he was arrested. He has since been relieved of his police powers pending the outcome of the criminal and administrative investigation, authorities said.
"The events overnight culminating in the serious injury to our off-duty officer, apparently at the hands of another member of this department, give me great concern," LAPD Chief Michel Moore said in a statement. "I spoke earlier this morning with San Bernardino Sheriff John McMahon, pledging our full support of their criminal investigation."
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Moore said he is "committed" to understanding what occurred over Sunday morning.


upi--2020-05-03--Secretariat edges Seattle Slew, Citation to win virtual Kentucky Derby

May 3 ( UPI ) -- Secretariat crossed the finish line ahead of 12 fellow Triple Crown winners throughout history , winning the Kentucky Derby at a virtual Churchill Downs .
Seattle Slew , who won the 1977 Triple Crown , led for much of the virtual race before being overtaken in the stretch .
Secretariat surged to the lead in the deep stretch and edged Citation and Seattle Slew in a close finish .
Citation , the 1948 Triple Crown champion , came in second , while Seattle Slew finished third .
Affirmed , the 1978 Triple Crown winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pharoah .
The 1 1/4-mile event , which featured computer-generated imagery , was held Saturday , the same day the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby had been scheduled .
It was postponed until at least Sept. 5 because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Secretariat , a two-time Horse of the Year and 1973 Triple Crown champion , entered the race as a 7-2 favorite , followed by Citation ( 4-1 ) , Seattle Slew ( 5-1 ) and Affirmed ( 5-1 ) .
Race organizers used data algorithms and historical handicapping information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a winner .
There was no wagering on the virtual race .
Instead , fans who selected the winning horse online were entered to win a VIP experience at the Kentucky Derby this fall .
Churchill Downs pledged to match $ 1 million in donations to COVID-19 relief efforts .
The virtual Kentucky Derby was part of NBC 's three-hour telecast Saturday that included segments from the 2015 event in which American Pharoah became racing 's first Triple Crown champion in 37 years .
Larry Collmus , who calls the Triple Crown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computerized Derby .
The other competitors in the race were 1919 champion Sir Barton , 1930 champion Gallant Fox , 1935 champion Omaha , 1937 champion War Admiral , 1941 champion Whirlaway , 1943 champion Count Fleet , 1946 champion Assault and 2018 champion Justify .

May 3 (UPI) -- Secretariat crossed the finish line ahead of 12 fellow Triple Crown winners throughout history, winning the Kentucky Derby at a virtual Churchill Downs.
Seattle Slew, who won the 1977 Triple Crown, led for much of the virtual race before being overtaken in the stretch. Secretariat surged to the lead in the deep stretch and edged Citation and Seattle Slew in a close finish.
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Citation, the 1948 Triple Crown champion, came in second, while Seattle Slew finished third. Affirmed, the 1978 Triple Crown winner, was fourth, followed by American Pharoah.
The 1 1/4-mile event, which featured computer-generated imagery, was held Saturday, the same day the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby had been scheduled. It was postponed until at least Sept. 5 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Secretariat, a two-time Horse of the Year and 1973 Triple Crown champion, entered the race as a 7-2 favorite, followed by Citation (4-1), Seattle Slew (5-1) and Affirmed (5-1). Race organizers used data algorithms and historical handicapping information for each horse to determine the probability of a winner.
There was no wagering on the virtual race. Instead, fans who selected the winning horse online were entered to win a VIP experience at the Kentucky Derby this fall. Churchill Downs pledged to match $1 million in donations to COVID-19 relief efforts.
Advertisement Watch it again! The 13 Triple Crown winners face off in a virtual race under the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs. Donate to COVID-19 relief at https://t.co/6W7xpgby5a. | #KyDerbyAtHome pic.twitter.com/QCDkrrPB5p— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 2, 2020
The virtual Kentucky Derby was part of NBC's three-hour telecast Saturday that included segments from the 2015 event in which American Pharoah became racing's first Triple Crown champion in 37 years. Larry Collmus, who calls the Triple Crown races for the network, called the computerized Derby.
The other competitors in the race were 1919 champion Sir Barton, 1930 champion Gallant Fox, 1935 champion Omaha, 1937 champion War Admiral, 1941 champion Whirlaway, 1943 champion Count Fleet, 1946 champion Assault and 2018 champion Justify.


upi--2020-05-03--Dallas Cowboys sign former Cincinnati Bengals QB Andy Dalton

May 3 ( UPI ) -- The Dallas Cowboys agreed to terms with former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback and Texas native Andy Dalton .
Dalton , who was released by the Bengals last week , reached an agreement on a one-year contract with the Cowboys , the team announced Saturday .
League sources told ESPN and NFL Media that Dalton is guaranteed $ 3 million , and the pact could be worth up to $ 7 million .
Before the Bengals selected Dalton in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft , the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback starred at TCU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ESPN , he resides in Dallas and wo n't be required to relocate his family during an off-season that has already been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic .
Dalton , 32 , spent the last nine seasons with the Bengals , but he became expendable after the franchise picked former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the No .
1 overall pick in last month 's draft .
According to Spotrac , Dalton was scheduled to earn about $ 17.7 million in the final season of his six-year , $ 96 million contract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bengals , Dalton compiled a 70-61-2 record and helped guide the team to the postseason in each of his first five seasons .
Despite multiple postseason appearances , he was unable to win a playoff game .
Dalton holds the franchise record for touchdown passes ( 204 ) and ranks second in passing yards ( 31,594 ) .
He was benched after a 0-8 start to last season but returned to start the last five games , recording both of the Bengals ' victories in 2019 .
Dalton showed his appreciation and thanked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dalton joins fellow quarterbacks Dak Prescott , Cooper Rush , Clayton Thorson and Ben DiNucci on the Cowboys ' current roster .
Dallas selected DiNucci in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft .

The Cincinnati Bengals released quarterback Andy Dalton last week after nine seasons. File Photo by John Sommers II/UPI | License Photo
May 3 (UPI) -- The Dallas Cowboys agreed to terms with former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback and Texas native Andy Dalton. Dalton, who was released by the Bengals last week, reached an agreement on a one-year contract with the Cowboys, the team announced Saturday. League sources told ESPN and NFL Media that Dalton is guaranteed $3 million, and the pact could be worth up to $7 million. Advertisement
Before the Bengals selected Dalton in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback starred at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. According to ESPN, he resides in Dallas and won't be required to relocate his family during an off-season that has already been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Dalton, 32, spent the last nine seasons with the Bengals, but he became expendable after the franchise picked former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick in last month's draft. According to Spotrac, Dalton was scheduled to earn about $17.7 million in the final season of his six-year, $96 million contract.
Advertisement The #DallasCowboys have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Andy Dalton. MORE: https://t.co/ZXuUmzzwRu pic.twitter.com/NS39vdKtJ5— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) May 3, 2020
In his nine years with the Bengals, Dalton compiled a 70-61-2 record and helped guide the team to the postseason in each of his first five seasons. Despite multiple postseason appearances, he was unable to win a playoff game.
Dalton holds the franchise record for touchdown passes (204) and ranks second in passing yards (31,594). He was benched after a 0-8 start to last season but returned to start the last five games, recording both of the Bengals' victories in 2019.
Dalton showed his appreciation and thanked Cincinnati in an Instagram post Sunday.
Dalton joins fellow quarterbacks Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush, Clayton Thorson and Ben DiNucci on the Cowboys' current roster. Dallas selected DiNucci in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft.


upi--2020-05-04--Supportive family may lower risk for depression in kids

Having a supportive family can significantly reduce a child 's future risk of major depression , according to a new study .
Researchers analyzed data on more than 3,200 pairs of siblings in Sweden -- including more than 600 pairs of full siblings and nearly 2,600 pairs of half-siblings -- who had at least one biological parent with depression .
Each pair of siblings was raised apart , one at home and one adopted into a home with parents who could `` provide a supportive and generally advantaged home for their adoptive child . ''
Being raised by an adoptive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a 23 percent decrease in the risk of treated major depression among full siblings and a 19 percent decreased risk among half-siblings .
However , the reduction in the risk of major depression disappeared if another family member in the adoptive family -- a parent or step-sibling -- developed depression , or there was a death or divorce in the adoptive family .
If none of these events occurred , placement in a nurturing environment provided by the adoptive family resulted in a `` protective effect '' against depression , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study has examined the impact of parenting on risk for depression with this kind of powerful design -- having matched siblings who experienced quite different rearing environments , '' said co-lead author Kenneth Kendler , a professor of psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University .
`` This design permits us to reach a stronger conclusion about causal effects than most other prior designs , '' Kendler explained in a university news release .
The study provides more evidence that both nature and nurture matter when it comes to depression and other psychiatric disorders , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ era that tends to emphasize our nervous system 's 'nature ' through neurobiology , it is important to remember that basic family relationships -- high-quality parents who are caring and consistent -- can also impact in important ways our risk for psychiatric disorders , '' Kendler said .
The findings support `` efforts to improve the rearing environment in high-risk families as an approach to the primary prevention of major depression , '' the authors wrote .
The study was published online April 28 in the American Journal of Psychiatry .
The U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on depression .

Having a supportive family can significantly reduce a child's future risk of major depression, according to a new study.
Researchers analyzed data on more than 3,200 pairs of siblings in Sweden -- including more than 600 pairs of full siblings and nearly 2,600 pairs of half-siblings -- who had at least one biological parent with depression.
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Each pair of siblings was raised apart, one at home and one adopted into a home with parents who could "provide a supportive and generally advantaged home for their adoptive child."
Being raised by an adoptive family in a supportive environment was associated with a 23 percent decrease in the risk of treated major depression among full siblings and a 19 percent decreased risk among half-siblings.
However, the reduction in the risk of major depression disappeared if another family member in the adoptive family -- a parent or step-sibling -- developed depression, or there was a death or divorce in the adoptive family.
If none of these events occurred, placement in a nurturing environment provided by the adoptive family resulted in a "protective effect" against depression, according to the study authors.
"No other study has examined the impact of parenting on risk for depression with this kind of powerful design -- having matched siblings who experienced quite different rearing environments," said co-lead author Kenneth Kendler, a professor of psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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"This design permits us to reach a stronger conclusion about causal effects than most other prior designs," Kendler explained in a university news release.
The study provides more evidence that both nature and nurture matter when it comes to depression and other psychiatric disorders, according to Kendler.
"In an era that tends to emphasize our nervous system's 'nature' through neurobiology, it is important to remember that basic family relationships -- high-quality parents who are caring and consistent -- can also impact in important ways our risk for psychiatric disorders," Kendler said.
The findings support "efforts to improve the rearing environment in high-risk families as an approach to the primary prevention of major depression," the authors wrote. The study was published online April 28 in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more on depression.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-04--'Cross Man,' Greg Zanis, who commemorated mass shootings dies of cancer at age 69

May 4 ( UPI ) -- Greg Zanis , a retired Illinois carpenter who built and delivered handmade crosses for victims of U.S. mass-shootings , died Monday at age 69 after fighting cancer for year , his family said .
Zanis 's white , free-standing crosses , painted with names of victims of violence and natural disaster , came to be a familiar sight in the aftermath of U.S. tragedies , from Columbine High School in 1999 to his home town of Aurora in 2019 .
`` God used him in a wonderful way , and I 'm happy that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way he did , '' daughter Susie Zanis told Chicago TV station WGN .
`` We 're going to miss him terribly here , but the Lord is faithful , so one day at a time . ''
Zanis built his crosses in his workshops for almost a quarter century , starting with a cross he constructed after his father-in-law was murdered in 1996 .
Zanis , also known as `` the Cross Man '' came to national attention when he delivered 15 crosses in his pickup truck and erected them to commemorate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Littleton , Colo .
Through his organization , Crosses for Losses , Zanis estimated he built more than 27,000 of the simple wooden memorials .
Zanis transferred his cross ministry to Lutheran Church Charities in December .
Zanis would build crosses in his garage workshop , then drive `` however long it took '' to deliver them , friends remembered Monday .
He also created 800 crosses to be carried by family members in a march to commemorate shooting victims in Chicago .
`` The man kept on saying , ' I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change things , ' '' close friend Matt Harrington told WGN .
Zanis 's work brought him to the scenes of the most tragic events in the United States , including the 2017 mass-shooting on the Las Vegas strip ; the 2018 shooting deaths of 17 students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland , Fla. and the 23 people shot at an El Paso , Texas , Walmart in 2019 .
But he also brought crosses to sites of fatal hurricanes , floods and tornados .
`` Greg Zanis was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richard C. Irvin said in a statement .
`` He was a man of action who simply wanted to honor the lives of others .
In return , his life was one of honor and one that was celebrated throughout our nation and world . ''

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Illinois carpenter Greg Zanis, who brought 49 crosses to Orlando, Fla., to commemorate the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, died Monday of cancer. File photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- Greg Zanis, a retired Illinois carpenter who built and delivered handmade crosses for victims of U.S. mass-shootings, died Monday at age 69 after fighting cancer for year, his family said. Zanis's white, free-standing crosses, painted with names of victims of violence and natural disaster, came to be a familiar sight in the aftermath of U.S. tragedies, from Columbine High School in 1999 to his home town of Aurora in 2019. Advertisement
"God used him in a wonderful way, and I'm happy that He used him to bless others the way he did," daughter Susie Zanis told Chicago TV station WGN. "We're going to miss him terribly here, but the Lord is faithful, so one day at a time."
Zanis built his crosses in his workshops for almost a quarter century, starting with a cross he constructed after his father-in-law was murdered in 1996.
Zanis, also known as "the Cross Man" came to national attention when he delivered 15 crosses in his pickup truck and erected them to commemorate the Columbine shooting at a park in Littleton, Colo.
Through his organization, Crosses for Losses, Zanis estimated he built more than 27,000 of the simple wooden memorials. Zanis transferred his cross ministry to Lutheran Church Charities in December.
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Zanis would build crosses in his garage workshop, then drive "however long it took" to deliver them, friends remembered Monday. He also created 800 crosses to be carried by family members in a march to commemorate shooting victims in Chicago.
"The man kept on saying, 'I can make crosses, but we have to change things,'" close friend Matt Harrington told WGN.
Zanis's work brought him to the scenes of the most tragic events in the United States, including the 2017 mass-shooting on the Las Vegas strip; the 2018 shooting deaths of 17 students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. and the 23 people shot at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart in 2019.
But he also brought crosses to sites of fatal hurricanes, floods and tornados.
"Greg Zanis was a giant among men," Aurora Mayor Richard C. Irvin said in a statement. "He was a man of action who simply wanted to honor the lives of others. In return, his life was one of honor and one that was celebrated throughout our nation and world."


upi--2020-05-04--Kansas City Chiefs RB Damien Williams robbed at Airbnb in Los Angeles

May 4 ( UPI ) -- Kansas City Chiefs running back and Super Bowl LIV hero Damien Williams was robbed over the weekend at a rental home in Los Angeles .
League sources told ESPN and the Kansas City Star on Monday that Williams was robbed of about $ 1,000 , but he was n't injured in the incident .
Williams checked into an Airbnb on Saturday in Los Angeles when three intruders broke through a back door , TMZ Sports first reported .
According to the report , the men surrounded Williams and his guests , who complied and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fled the scene .
Williams contacted the Los Angeles Police Department , which is investigating the robbery .
According to TMZ , the suspects have n't been located .
Williams , 28 , is entering his third season with the Chiefs .
He led the team in rushing last season with 498 yards and five touchdowns , adding two receiving scores .
The former Miami Dolphins tailback was one of the Chiefs ' stars in their playoff run last season .
During Kansas City 's Super Bowl LIV win over the San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a touchdown , while recording four receptions for 29 yards and a receiving score .

Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams wasn't injured in the robbery. File Photo by Kyle Rivas/UPI | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- Kansas City Chiefs running back and Super Bowl LIV hero Damien Williams was robbed over the weekend at a rental home in Los Angeles. League sources told ESPN and the Kansas City Star on Monday that Williams was robbed of about $1,000, but he wasn't injured in the incident. Advertisement
Williams checked into an expensive rental home on Saturday in Los Angeles when three intruders broke through a back door, TMZ Sports first reported. According to the report, the men surrounded Williams and his guests, who complied and gave the intruders money before the trespassers fled the scene.
Williams contacted the Los Angeles Police Department, which is investigating the robbery. According to TMZ, the suspects haven't been located.
Williams, 28, is entering his third season with the Chiefs. He led the team in rushing last season with 498 yards and five touchdowns, adding two receiving scores.
The former Miami Dolphins tailback was one of the Chiefs' stars in their playoff run last season. During Kansas City's Super Bowl LIV win over the San Francisco 49ers, Williams rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown, while recording four receptions for 29 yards and a receiving score.


upi--2020-05-04--Meat shortage: Costco, Kroger, others  limit fresh meat purchases at stores

May 4 ( UPI ) -- Panic shopping and shutdowns at meat production plants are prompting major grocery chains to limit the number of fresh meat products customers can buy during the coronavirus pandemic .
Grocery chains Costco , Kroger and others announced temporary limits on meat items , and meat producer Tyson Foods warned Monday that more meat processing plants would be closing due to COVID-19 outbreaks .
Costco said on the company 's website that fresh beef , pork and poultry was being classified as `` high-demand merchandise '' and limited meat purchases to `` a total of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supermarkets stores may have limited inventory `` due to high demand , '' the company warned on the meat section of its website .
Customers were limited to two items of chicken breasts and some pork products .
Texas-based H.E.B .
grocery chain announced Friday that stores would limit packages of fresh meat to five per customer .
`` To help protect the supply chain in Texas , we 've implemented temporary purchase limits on certain items , '' the company said on its website .
Meanwhile , CEO Noel White of Tyson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the company could continue to face slowdowns and temporary idling of production facilities , due to staff shortages or infection outbreaks .
`` We will not hesitate to idle any plant for deep cleaning when the need arises , '' White said , as reported by CNN Business .
Last week , Tyson Foods suspended operations at its Waterloo , Iowa , plant after almost 200 out of 2,800 workers tested positive for COVID-I9 .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday that nearly 5,000 workers at 115 meat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 percent of all workers had been diagnosed with COVID-19 between April 9 and 27 .
Twenty workers have died from the virus , the federal health agency said .
Meat factories feature crowded assembly lines where workers have difficulty distancing at least 6 feet from one another , the CDC said .
Without medical leave and to fill production bonuses , `` socioeconomic challenges might contribute to working while feeling ill , '' the agency said .
President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week to invoke the Defense Production Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open during the pandemic and keep the supply chain moving .
But unions say meat facility employees are not given adequate personal protection and are facing returning to the danger of infection .
`` They did n't sign up to die for their job , '' said Kim Cordova , president of the Denver-based United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 7 .
Colorado has the most deaths , six , among meat processing workers of COVID-19 , where more than 245 cases of the infection were confirmed at the Greeley beef-processing plant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to be a good employee , to make a living and to have a piece of the American dream .
Not live this nightmare , '' Cordova added .
Other meat processing companies that have closed plants due to COVID-19 include Cargill Ltd. , Empire Kosher Poultry Inc. , National Beef Packing Co. , and Smithfield Food Inc .

U.S. shoppers face empty meat shelves and supermarkets are setting purchase limits as panic buying and meat production plant shutdowns are disrupting the supply. File photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- Panic shopping and shutdowns at meat production plants are prompting major grocery chains to limit the number of fresh meat products customers can buy during the coronavirus pandemic. Grocery chains Costco, Kroger and others announced temporary limits on meat items, and meat producer Tyson Foods warned Monday that more meat processing plants would be closing due to COVID-19 outbreaks. Advertisement
Costco said on the company's website that fresh beef, pork and poultry was being classified as "high-demand merchandise" and limited meat purchases to "a total of 3 items per member."
Kroger supermarkets stores may have limited inventory "due to high demand," the company warned on the meat section of its website. Customers were limited to two items of chicken breasts and some pork products.
Texas-based H.E.B. grocery chain announced Friday that stores would limit packages of fresh meat to five per customer.
"To help protect the supply chain in Texas, we've implemented temporary purchase limits on certain items," the company said on its website.
Meanwhile, CEO Noel White of Tyson Foods said in an investor call Monday that the company could continue to face slowdowns and temporary idling of production facilities, due to staff shortages or infection outbreaks.
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"We will not hesitate to idle any plant for deep cleaning when the need arises," White said, as reported by CNN Business.
Last week, Tyson Foods suspended operations at its Waterloo, Iowa, plant after almost 200 out of 2,800 workers tested positive for COVID-I9.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday that nearly 5,000 workers at 115 meat processing plants across 19 states, or 3 percent of all workers had been diagnosed with COVID-19 between April 9 and 27. Twenty workers have died from the virus, the federal health agency said.
Meat factories feature crowded assembly lines where workers have difficulty distancing at least 6 feet from one another, the CDC said. Without medical leave and to fill production bonuses, "socioeconomic challenges might contribute to working while feeling ill," the agency said.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week to invoke the Defense Production Act to order meat processing facilities to remain open during the pandemic and keep the supply chain moving.
But unions say meat facility employees are not given adequate personal protection and are facing returning to the danger of infection.
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"They didn't sign up to die for their job," said Kim Cordova, president of the Denver-based United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 7.
Colorado has the most deaths, six, among meat processing workers of COVID-19, where more than 245 cases of the infection were confirmed at the Greeley beef-processing plant of Chinese-owned JBS.
"They signed up to be a good employee, to make a living and to have a piece of the American dream. Not live this nightmare," Cordova added.
Other meat processing companies that have closed plants due to COVID-19 include Cargill Ltd., Empire Kosher Poultry Inc., National Beef Packing Co., and Smithfield Food Inc.


upi--2020-05-04--Treasury to borrow nearly $3T in second quarter due to coronavirus impacts

May 4 ( UPI ) -- The Treasury Department announced Monday that it will borrow nearly $ 3 trillion to support the U.S. economy this fiscal quarter due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic .
In a statement , the Treasury said it expects to borrow $ 2,999 billion in privately-held net marketable debt between April and June .
`` The increase in privately-held net marketable borrowing is primarily driven by the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak , including expenditures from new legislation to assist individuals and businesses , changes to tax receipts including the deferral of individual and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an increase in the assumed end of June Treasury cash balance , '' the agency said .
The Treasury added that it borrowed $ 477 billion in the first quarter of 2020 and plans to borrow $ 677 billion in the third quarter .
Congress has approved about $ 3 trillion in funding for programs to provide economic relief for individuals and businesses affected by state and local government efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
On Sunday , National Economic Director Larry Kudlow said the Trump administration has entered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans for additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program which designated $ 454 billion in funding for small business loans in the Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Emergency Services Act , and an additional $ 310 billion in the third coronavirus stimulus bill passed by Congress last week .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional Democrats have also called for a fourth stimulus bill including a proposal for $ 1 trillion in funding for state and local governments .

The Treasury Department on Monday announced it plans to borrow nearly $3 trillion in the second quarter of 2020 due to stimulus and relief programs established in response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- The Treasury Department announced Monday that it will borrow nearly $3 trillion to support the U.S. economy this fiscal quarter due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, the Treasury said it expects to borrow $2,999 billion in privately-held net marketable debt between April and June. Advertisement
"The increase in privately-held net marketable borrowing is primarily driven by the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, including expenditures from new legislation to assist individuals and businesses, changes to tax receipts including the deferral of individual and business taxes from April-June until July and an increase in the assumed end of June Treasury cash balance," the agency said.
The Treasury added that it borrowed $477 billion in the first quarter of 2020 and plans to borrow $677 billion in the third quarter.
Congress has approved about $3 trillion in funding for programs to provide economic relief for individuals and businesses affected by state and local government efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
On Sunday, National Economic Director Larry Kudlow said the Trump administration has entered a "pause period" in regards to plans for additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program which designated $454 billion in funding for small business loans in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Emergency Services Act, and an additional $310 billion in the third coronavirus stimulus bill passed by Congress last week.
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional Democrats have also called for a fourth stimulus bill including a proposal for $1 trillion in funding for state and local governments.


upi--2020-05-04--Carson Wentz on Eagles drafting Jalen Hurts: 'It didn't really concern me'

May 4 ( UPI ) -- Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz said he was n't concerned by the franchise 's decision to select former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts in the second round of last month 's NFL Draft .
Wentz , who signed a long-term contract extension worth up to $ 144 million last June , expressed his excitement about the addition of Hurts and said he is fine with sharing snaps with the rookie quarterback if it 's in the best interest of the team .
`` I 've heard nothing but great things about Jalen and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he is , '' Wentz told reporters Monday .
`` I 've gotten the chance to talk to him , just briefly .
I 'm excited to add him to the fold and create a really good , healthy , competitive , challenging environment for all of us . ''
Wentz said he `` had a feeling '' the Eagles were going to pick a quarterback in the draft given the team 's roster , but he was n't worried about his job security after the selection of Hurts .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wentz said .
`` I think my reaction was kind of understood .
I had a feeling there was a chance we were going to draft somebody just given the way our roster is laid out .
We 're trying to get younger and stuff , so there 's no concern for me .
`` I think the team showed their investment in me last year and I have nothing but confidence and faith in them and they have nothing but confidence and faith in me , so I think it 's all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we have . ''
Wentz appeared in all 16 regular-season games in 2019 but exited the Eagles ' playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks due to concussion-like symptoms .
Prior to last season , he missed significant time in 2017 and 2018 because of a major knee injury and a back ailment .
Wentz completed 63.9 percent of his passes for a career-high 4,039 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season .
The Eagles picked Hurts with the No .
53 overall pick in this year 's draft .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 32 touchdowns in his senior year at Oklahoma .

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz signed a contract extension worth up to $144 million with the franchise last June. File Photo by Derik Hamilton/UPI | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz said he wasn't concerned by the franchise's decision to select former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts in the second round of last month's NFL Draft. Wentz, who signed a long-term contract extension worth up to $144 million last June, expressed his excitement about the addition of Hurts and said he is fine with sharing snaps with the rookie quarterback if it's in the best interest of the team. Advertisement
"I've heard nothing but great things about Jalen and how good he is and the player that he is," Wentz told reporters Monday. "I've gotten the chance to talk to him, just briefly. I'm excited to add him to the fold and create a really good, healthy, competitive, challenging environment for all of us."
Wentz said he "had a feeling" the Eagles were going to pick a quarterback in the draft given the team's roster, but he wasn't worried about his job security after the selection of Hurts.
"It really didn't concern me," Wentz said. "I think my reaction was kind of understood. I had a feeling there was a chance we were going to draft somebody just given the way our roster is laid out. We're trying to get younger and stuff, so there's no concern for me.
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"I think the team showed their investment in me last year and I have nothing but confidence and faith in them and they have nothing but confidence and faith in me, so I think it's all about strengthening that position and this group that we have."
Wentz appeared in all 16 regular-season games in 2019 but exited the Eagles' playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks due to concussion-like symptoms. Prior to last season, he missed significant time in 2017 and 2018 because of a major knee injury and a back ailment.
Wentz completed 63.9 percent of his passes for a career-high 4,039 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season.
The Eagles picked Hurts with the No. 53 overall pick in this year's draft. He recorded a career-best 3,851 passing yards and 32 touchdowns in his senior year at Oklahoma.


upi--2020-05-04--Michigan security guard killed in dollar store face mask confrontation

May 4 ( UPI ) -- Three people have been charged with murder in the shooting death of a Flint , Mich. , security guard , who was killed after a confrontation with a customer over wearing a state-mandated face mask in a dollar store , prosecutors said .
A woman has been arrested and two male relatives are suspects at-large in the homicide of Calvin Munerlyn , 43 , who was shot in the head and died later Friday in a hospital , said Genesee County prosecutor David Leyton , who called the shooting `` senseless and tragic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen in recent days on television and on social media can permeate our society , '' Leyton said at a press conference Monday .
`` We simply can not devolve into an 'us-versus-them ' mentality .
We need to make a commitment as a community to do the things that allow us to stay healthy . ''
Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer has ordered all Michigan residents to wear face masks in enclosed public spaces .
Heavily armed protesters objecting to the state 's stay-at-home orders stormed the state Capitol Thursday in Lansing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 45 , got into a confrontation Friday about 1:40 p.m. , at the Family Dollar store , after the guard confronted her daughter in the store about not wearing a mask .
Teague was wearing a mask , surveillance video showed , but she argued with Munerlyn and spit on him , prosecutors said .
Teague then left in an SUV , but two men , later identified as her husband , Larry Edward Teague , 44 , and son , Ramonyea Bishop , 23 , returned to the store .
Larry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his wife had been disrespected , police said .
Witnesses told police Bishop shot Munerlyn and the two men fled .
Sharmel Teague is awaiting arraignment in the Genesee County jail .
All three suspects face charges of first-degree premeditated murder , with a mandatory sentence of life without parole if convicted .
Bishop also faces weapons charges and Sharmel Teague faces charges of violating state orders to wear face masks .
Munerlyn , nicknamed `` Duper '' by his family , was a husband and father of eight children , a GoFundMe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Duper was a hard-working father and husband who lost his life while doing his job securing the place of business and asking all customers to wear a mask for our own safety as well as others , '' family friend Courtney Ce Ce Cabine wrote .
Michigan reported 43,754 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 4,049 deaths as of Sunday , according to the state Department of Health and Human Services .

Larry Edward Teague (L), 44, and Ramonyea Bishop, 23, face first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of a Flint, Mich., security guard after an altercation about wearing a face mask in a dollar store. Photo courtesy of Genesee County District Attorney's Office
May 4 (UPI) -- Three people have been charged with murder in the shooting death of a Flint, Mich., security guard, who was killed after a confrontation with a customer over wearing a state-mandated face mask in a dollar store, prosecutors said. A woman has been arrested and two male relatives are suspects at-large in the homicide of Calvin Munerlyn, 43, who was shot in the head and died later Friday in a hospital, said Genesee County prosecutor David Leyton, who called the shooting "senseless and tragic." Advertisement
"The hostile tone we have seen in recent days on television and on social media can permeate our society," Leyton said at a press conference Monday. "We simply cannot devolve into an 'us-versus-them' mentality. We need to make a commitment as a community to do the things that allow us to stay healthy."
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered all Michigan residents to wear face masks in enclosed public spaces. Heavily armed protesters objecting to the state's stay-at-home orders stormed the state Capitol Thursday in Lansing.
Prosecutors said Munerlyn and Sharmel Teague, 45, got into a confrontation Friday about 1:40 p.m., at the Family Dollar store, after the guard confronted her daughter in the store about not wearing a mask.
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Teague was wearing a mask, surveillance video showed, but she argued with Munerlyn and spit on him, prosecutors said.
Teague then left in an SUV, but two men, later identified as her husband, Larry Edward Teague, 44, and son, Ramonyea Bishop, 23, returned to the store. Larry Teague argued with the guard, saying his wife had been disrespected, police said.
Witnesses told police Bishop shot Munerlyn and the two men fled.
Sharmel Teague is awaiting arraignment in the Genesee County jail.
All three suspects face charges of first-degree premeditated murder, with a mandatory sentence of life without parole if convicted. Bishop also faces weapons charges and Sharmel Teague faces charges of violating state orders to wear face masks.
Munerlyn, nicknamed "Duper" by his family, was a husband and father of eight children, a GoFundMe account for funeral expenses said.
"Duper was a hard-working father and husband who lost his life while doing his job securing the place of business and asking all customers to wear a mask for our own safety as well as others," family friend Courtney Ce Ce Cabine wrote.
Michigan reported 43,754 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 4,049 deaths as of Sunday, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.


upi--2020-05-04--N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo outlines state criteria for reopening

May 4 ( UPI ) -- New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Monday there will be a checklist of several criteria cities in the state must meet to reopen their economies , now that the worst of the coronavirus crisis has passed .
The governor said all key figures are still on the decline in New York -- new cases , hospitalizations and deaths .
At his daily briefing in Rochester , Cuomo reported the fewest new deaths since late March and said they 're down 70 percent from the peak in early April .
When his shutdown order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will happen at different times in various regions but they all must meet a list of several requirements .
The criteria is they must have a 14 day decline in both hospitalizations and deaths , a low rate of new admissions , a 30 percent vacancy rate in hospitals , at least 30 percent of ICU beds must be available and each region must have at least 30 contract tracers per 100,000 residents .
`` Regions can start to reopen and do their own analysis , but these are the facts that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , '' Cuomo said .
Earlier , New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city had `` an excellent day '' regarding the key daily statistics .
Fewer than 100 patients were admitted Sunday and there were also steady declines in the number of ICU patients and the percentage of positive tests .
`` This is the kind of day we have been waiting for , '' he said , urging New Yorkers to resist the temptation to drop their guard amid warming weather .
The mayor said New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adequate supply of protective gear for for the first time since March and announced 5 million non-medical masks and 2.5 million cloth face coverings will be handed out citywide .
Nationally , there have been 1.16 cases and 67,800 deaths since the pandemic began , according to Johns Hopkins University .
There have been 180,000 recoveries .
In New Jersey , which has had 127,000 cases , Gov .
Phil Murphy said Monday schools will stay closed for the rest of the 2019-20 academic year .
Murphy said the move was made to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , our educators , and their families .
`` Guided by safety and science , this is the best course of action . ''
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Monday announced some businesses including clothing stores , florists , bookstores and sporting goods stores will be able to reopen with curbside pick-up beginning Friday .
`` We are entering into the next phase this week ... with modifications , we will allow retail to start operating across the spectrum , '' he said during a press briefing .
`` This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only for one reason : The data says it can happen . ''
Newsom clarified that the shift to the second phase of the state 's reopening plan would not include business offices , seated dining at restaurants and shopping malls .
`` We will allow additional movement through phase two and that includes the prospect of restaurants with modifications opening , hospitality more broadly opening again , with modification , '' he said .
In Florida , officials said a third crew member from the Oasis of the Seas cruise ship died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Philippines died in a Broward County hospital .
Nine crew members were evacuated to South Florida hospitals in late March after testing positive .
Two , from the Philippines and Indonesia , had died earlier .
Florida businesses and parks were allowed to reopen Monday under Gov .
Ron DeSantis ' multistage plan , except for those located within the Miami metropolitan area , where most of the state 's cases have been reported .
Miami Beach has closed the popular South Pointe Park until further notice due what officials said has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Park rangers issued more than 7,000 verbal warnings over the weekend , mostly for lack of face coverings .
In Detroit , Mayor Mike Duggan touted progress in overcoming the crisis .
`` Our COVID-19 deaths are dropping faster than almost any [ other ] city in the country , '' he said Monday .
`` We still have a ways to go , but these numbers are a promising indication that testing and social distancing works . ''
Duggan said less than 200 died in the city last week , a significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Mannequins with face masks and designer clothing fill a window at a Diane Von Furstenberg store in New York City on September 8, 2020. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday there will be a checklist of several criteria cities in the state must meet to reopen their economies, now that the worst of the coronavirus crisis has passed. The governor said all key figures are still on the decline in New York -- new cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Advertisement
At his daily briefing in Rochester, Cuomo reported the fewest new deaths since late March and said they're down 70 percent from the peak in early April.
When his shutdown order expires May 15, he said reopenings will happen at different times in various regions but they all must meet a list of several requirements.
The criteria is they must have a 14 day decline in both hospitalizations and deaths, a low rate of new admissions, a 30 percent vacancy rate in hospitals, at least 30 percent of ICU beds must be available and each region must have at least 30 contract tracers per 100,000 residents.
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"Regions can start to reopen and do their own analysis, but these are the facts that they have to have in place to do it," Cuomo said.
Earlier, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city had "an excellent day" regarding the key daily statistics. Fewer than 100 patients were admitted Sunday and there were also steady declines in the number of ICU patients and the percentage of positive tests.
"This is the kind of day we have been waiting for," he said, urging New Yorkers to resist the temptation to drop their guard amid warming weather.
The mayor said New York City has started the week with an adequate supply of protective gear for for the first time since March and announced 5 million non-medical masks and 2.5 million cloth face coverings will be handed out citywide.
Nationally, there have been 1.16 cases and 67,800 deaths since the pandemic began, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been 180,000 recoveries.
In New Jersey, which has had 127,000 cases, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday schools will stay closed for the rest of the 2019-20 academic year.
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Murphy said the move was made to "protect the health of our children, our educators, and their families.
"Guided by safety and science, this is the best course of action."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced some businesses including clothing stores, florists, bookstores and sporting goods stores will be able to reopen with curbside pick-up beginning Friday.
"We are entering into the next phase this week ... with modifications, we will allow retail to start operating across the spectrum," he said during a press briefing. "This is a very positive sign and it has happened only for one reason: The data says it can happen."
Newsom clarified that the shift to the second phase of the state's reopening plan would not include business offices, seated dining at restaurants and shopping malls.
"We will allow additional movement through phase two and that includes the prospect of restaurants with modifications opening, hospitality more broadly opening again, with modification," he said.
In Florida, officials said a third crew member from the Oasis of the Seas cruise ship died from the virus. Carlo Baluran of the Philippines died in a Broward County hospital.
Nine crew members were evacuated to South Florida hospitals in late March after testing positive. Two, from the Philippines and Indonesia, had died earlier.
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Florida businesses and parks were allowed to reopen Monday under Gov. Ron DeSantis' multistage plan, except for those located within the Miami metropolitan area, where most of the state's cases have been reported.
Miami Beach has closed the popular South Pointe Park until further notice due what officials said has been non-compliance with social distancing rules. Park rangers issued more than 7,000 verbal warnings over the weekend, mostly for lack of face coverings.
In Detroit, Mayor Mike Duggan touted progress in overcoming the crisis.
"Our COVID-19 deaths are dropping faster than almost any [other] city in the country," he said Monday. "We still have a ways to go, but these numbers are a promising indication that testing and social distancing works."
Duggan said less than 200 died in the city last week, a significant decline from the preceding two weeks.


upi--2020-05-04--Trade can spread economic toll of local disasters globally, study finds

May 4 ( UPI ) -- Damage from a natural disaster in one place can spread globally due to urban trade networks , a Yale study said Monday .
Researchers developed a simulation with an urban trade network model to map cities dependence on each other across the globe and how a disaster in one area can effect other areas , according to the study , published in Nature Sustainability .
`` Cities are strongly connected by flows people , of energy , and ideas -- but also by the flows of trade and materials , '' Chris Shughrue , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a press release .
`` These connections have implications for vulnerability , particularly as we anticipate cyclones and other natural hazards to become more intense and frequent as a result of climate change over the coming decades . ''
Shughrue , who is now a data scientist at StreetCred Labs in New York , based the study on his dissertation work at Yale .
Karen Seto , a Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies professor and Brad T. Werner , a professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While most research is focused on the vulnerability of a city to climate change based on local events , but the new study shows that local disasters can have a domino effect through urban networks , Seto said The study reveals that local economic impacts from damage to production facilities could trigger secondary impacts that could end up being three times greater than local impacts .
`` These adverse secondary impacts are responsible for up to three-fourths of the effects of the largest storms and are generated primarily by cyclone exposure in North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the roles of these regions as principal purchasers and suppliers , respectively , of industrial materials , '' researchers wrote in the study .
`` Vulnerability to adverse secondary impacts of cyclones is highest in cities that are strongly dependent on the global trade network but have relatively few suppliers . ''
Natural disasters can cause shortages and price hikes , such as the damage to coking coal production in Queensland , Australia from catastrophic flooding that caused a 25 percent spike in global costs .
Another example was oil production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Orleans .
The risk of a Hurricane Katrina-level storm surge increases with global warming , according to a 2013 study .
`` To be resilient to climate change is not only about building dikes and sea walls , but understanding a city 's supply chains and how they are linked to other cities that may be vulnerable , '' Seto said .

A section of the 17th Street Canal, in New Orleans, which was breached during Hurricane Katrina is shown nearly a decade after it gave way, flooding vast areas of the city. File Photo by AJ Sisco/UPI | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- Damage from a natural disaster in one place can spread globally due to urban trade networks, a Yale study said Monday. Researchers developed a simulation with an urban trade network model to map cities dependence on each other across the globe and how a disaster in one area can effect other areas, according to the study, published in Nature Sustainability. Advertisement
"Cities are strongly connected by flows people, of energy, and ideas -- but also by the flows of trade and materials," Chris Shughrue, lead author of the Yale study, said in a press release. "These connections have implications for vulnerability, particularly as we anticipate cyclones and other natural hazards to become more intense and frequent as a result of climate change over the coming decades."
Shughrue, who is now a data scientist at StreetCred Labs in New York, based the study on his dissertation work at Yale.
Karen Seto, a Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies professor and Brad T. Werner, a professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, Calif., co-authored the study.
While most research is focused on the vulnerability of a city to climate change based on local events, but the new study shows that local disasters can have a domino effect through urban networks, Seto said
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The study reveals that local economic impacts from damage to production facilities could trigger secondary impacts that could end up being three times greater than local impacts.
"These adverse secondary impacts are responsible for up to three-fourths of the effects of the largest storms and are generated primarily by cyclone exposure in North America and East Asia, in part because of the roles of these regions as principal purchasers and suppliers, respectively, of industrial materials," researchers wrote in the study. "Vulnerability to adverse secondary impacts of cyclones is highest in cities that are strongly dependent on the global trade network but have relatively few suppliers."
Natural disasters can cause shortages and price hikes, such as the damage to coking coal production in Queensland, Australia from catastrophic flooding that caused a 25 percent spike in global costs. Another example was oil production damage from Hurricane Katrina extending far beyond New Orleans.
The risk of a Hurricane Katrina-level storm surge increases with global warming, according to a 2013 study.
"To be resilient to climate change is not only about building dikes and sea walls, but understanding a city's supply chains and how they are linked to other cities that may be vulnerable," Seto said.
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upi--2020-05-04--Amino acid swap may help wheat tolerate rising heat, scientists say

May 4 ( UPI ) -- British scientists said Monday that an amino acid swap can help protect wheat crops from rising heat due to global warming .
Similar to smart thermostats that switch on and off based on heat from sun , the amino acid Rubisco activase , or Rca , turns the plant energy-producing enzyme Rubisco on or off based on sunlight , according to a study published Monday in The Plant Journal .
Switching just amino acid from the plant 's Rca can help Rubisco work better to trigger photosynthesis more efficiently at hotter temperatures , Lancaster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Elizabete Carmo-Silva , a senior lecturer at Lancaster Environment Center , said findings in the Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency project could also help with other crops such as cowpea and soybean .
`` The cool thing here is that we have shown how this one amino acid swap can make Rca active at higher temperatures without really affecting its efficiency to activate Rubisco , '' Carmo-Silva said , `` which could help crops kickstart photosynthesis under temperature stress to churn out higher yields . ''
The researchers found that swapping out just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plants to tolerate higher levels of heat .
The hope , they say , is that the method of activating Rubisco can be perfected to help plants grow better in a wider variety of environs .
Carmo-Silva points to the range of temperatures in Africa -- an average of around 71.6 degrees , to Nigeria 's average 86 degrees , and up to areas farther north on the continent that reach 100.4 degrees -- as areas it is important to help crops be more durable against rising heat .
`` If we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperatures , that is really powerful and could help us close the gap between yield potential and the reality for farmers who depend on these crops for their sustenance and livelihoods , '' she said .

Researchers in Britain say changing one amino acid could help wheat be more resilient to heat. Photo by Bru-nO /Pixabay
May 4 (UPI) -- British scientists said Monday that an amino acid swap can help protect wheat crops from rising heat due to global warming. Similar to smart thermostats that switch on and off based on heat from sun, the amino acid Rubisco activase, or Rca, turns the plant energy-producing enzyme Rubisco on or off based on sunlight, according to a study published Monday in The Plant Journal. Advertisement
Switching just amino acid from the plant's Rca can help Rubisco work better to trigger photosynthesis more efficiently at hotter temperatures, Lancaster University researchers said in a press release.
Elizabete Carmo-Silva, a senior lecturer at Lancaster Environment Center, said findings in the Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency project could also help with other crops such as cowpea and soybean.
"The cool thing here is that we have shown how this one amino acid swap can make Rca active at higher temperatures without really affecting its efficiency to activate Rubisco," Carmo-Silva said, "which could help crops kickstart photosynthesis under temperature stress to churn out higher yields."
The researchers found that swapping out just one of 380 molecular building blocks allowed plants to tolerate higher levels of heat.
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The hope, they say, is that the method of activating Rubisco can be perfected to help plants grow better in a wider variety of environs.
Carmo-Silva points to the range of temperatures in Africa -- an average of around 71.6 degrees, to Nigeria's average 86 degrees, and up to areas farther north on the continent that reach 100.4 degrees -- as areas it is important to help crops be more durable against rising heat.
"If we can help Rubisco activate more efficiently across the temperatures, that is really powerful and could help us close the gap between yield potential and the reality for farmers who depend on these crops for their sustenance and livelihoods," she said.


upi--2020-05-04--Senate to resume after 6-week coronavirus hiatus; GOP leader pitches House plan

May 4 ( UPI ) -- Half of Congress will resume on Capitol Hill Monday when the Senate returns from a lengthy recess brought on by the coronavirus pandemic .
The Senate will meet at 3 p.m. EDT , convening for a regular session for the first time since late March .
Lawmakers will return under social distancing guidelines and special rules designed to keep them as safe as possible .
Under the rules , only a limited number of senators are allowed on the floor at any one time and face masks are mandatory at committee meetings , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest rooms .
The Senate calendar this week is focused mainly on a fourth relief bill , which is expected to generate a more partisan response than the CARES Act in late March that earmarked billions in stimulus measures and sent aid checks to tens of millions of Americans .
Democrats have said they are pushing for as much as $ 1 trillion for state and local governments in the `` CARES 2 '' package .
The idea has met with resistance among Republicans .
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted the federal government has already `` poured hundreds of billions into the states . ''
Also on the Senate agenda this week are hearings for two nominations from President Donald Trump -- Rep. John Ratcliffe of Texas as director of national intelligence Tuesday , and judge Justin Walker for the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington , D.C. , on Wednesday .
Ratcliffe was nominated for the post last year but it was withdrawn in the face of bipartisan criticism .
Walker , a 37-year-old Kentucky judge , was a controversial pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of a `` not qualified '' rating from the American Bar Association , for his lack of trial experience .
It 's not yet known when the House might resume at the Capitol .
House leaders initially said last week they would return Monday , but backed off that plan the following day due to health concerns .
`` These strategies are based on the advice of public health professionals , as well as guidance from parliamentary experts with decades of combined House experience , '' he said in the proposal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- rather than `` remote floor voting '' proposed last week by House rules committee Chairman Rep. Jim McGovern -- to be phased in by using distancing protocols and protective barriers .
Using technology to replace in-person voting , McCarthy said , `` should only be deployed in a 'crawl , walk , run ' progression . ''
`` Before we rush to discard over 200 years of precedent , we should require that rigorous testing standards be met , ample feedback be provided , and bipartisan rules of the road be agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minority rights , '' he said .

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., walks to the Senate chambers as the Senate reconvenes following an extended recess due to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- Half of Congress will resume on Capitol Hill Monday when the Senate returns from a lengthy recess brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. The Senate will meet at 3 p.m. EDT, convening for a regular session for the first time since late March. Advertisement
Lawmakers will return under social distancing guidelines and special rules designed to keep them as safe as possible. Under the rules, only a limited number of senators are allowed on the floor at any one time and face masks are mandatory at committee meetings, which will be held in the Capitol's largest rooms.
The Senate calendar this week is focused mainly on a fourth relief bill, which is expected to generate a more partisan response than the CARES Act in late March that earmarked billions in stimulus measures and sent aid checks to tens of millions of Americans.
Democrats have said they are pushing for as much as $1 trillion for state and local governments in the "CARES 2" package. The idea has met with resistance among Republicans.
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Sunday states could see some funding, but noted the federal government has already "poured hundreds of billions into the states."
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Also on the Senate agenda this week are hearings for two nominations from President Donald Trump -- Rep. John Ratcliffe of Texas as director of national intelligence Tuesday, and judge Justin Walker for the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
Ratcliffe was nominated for the post last year but it was withdrawn in the face of bipartisan criticism. Walker, a 37-year-old Kentucky judge, was a controversial pick when he was appointed five months ago because of a "not qualified" rating from the American Bar Association, for his lack of trial experience.
It's not yet known when the House might resume at the Capitol. House leaders initially said last week they would return Monday, but backed off that plan the following day due to health concerns.
House Republican leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy announced a four-point plan Monday to reopen the lower chamber.
"These strategies are based on the advice of public health professionals, as well as guidance from parliamentary experts with decades of combined House experience," he said in the proposal.
McCarthy's plan calls for in-person meetings -- rather than "remote floor voting" proposed last week by House rules committee Chairman Rep. Jim McGovern -- to be phased in by using distancing protocols and protective barriers.
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Using technology to replace in-person voting, McCarthy said, "should only be deployed in a 'crawl, walk, run' progression."
"Before we rush to discard over 200 years of precedent, we should require that rigorous testing standards be met, ample feedback be provided, and bipartisan rules of the road be agreed upon and made public to truly safeguard minority rights," he said.
World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-05-04--Coast Guard names Rear Adm. Melissa Bert as first female judge advocate general

May 4 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Coast Guard named Rear Adm. Melissa Bert as its first female judge advocate and chief counsel , its top legal position .
She previously was director of governmental and public affairs for the Coast Guard , responsible for dialogues with Congress , the media and other inter-governmental entities .
In previous tours , she served as the deputy director of operations for the U.S. Northern Command , where she was responsible for homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities for North America , and as the Coast Guard Seventh District 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Coast Guard operations in the southeastern United States and Caribbean .
Bert was also chief of the Coast Guard 's Maritime and International Law Office , supporting U.S. engagement with the International Maritime Organization and providing legal advice on a variety of policies .
In her new position , announced on Friday , Bert will preside over all legal services in support of the Coast Guard 's missions .
She is a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy and George Washington University Law School and has taught as an adjunct professor at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Law School .
Bert becomes the Coast Guard 's 20th chief counsel and seventh uniformed judge advocate general .

Rear Adm. Melissa Bert was named as the U.S. Coast Guard's judge advocate general and chief counsel, the top legal position in the service branch. She is the first female to hold the position. Photo by PO2 Anthony Soto/USCG
May 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. Coast Guard named Rear Adm. Melissa Bert as its first female judge advocate and chief counsel, its top legal position. She previously was director of governmental and public affairs for the Coast Guard, responsible for dialogues with Congress, the media and other inter-governmental entities. Advertisement
In previous tours, she served as the deputy director of operations for the U.S. Northern Command, where she was responsible for homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities for North America, and as the Coast Guard Seventh District's chief of staff, responsible for oversight of Coast Guard operations in the southeastern United States and Caribbean.
Bert was also chief of the Coast Guard's Maritime and International Law Office, supporting U.S. engagement with the International Maritime Organization and providing legal advice on a variety of policies.
In her new position, announced on Friday, Bert will preside over all legal services in support of the Coast Guard's missions.
She is a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy and George Washington University Law School and has taught as an adjunct professor at George Washington University and University of Miami Law School.
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Bert becomes the Coast Guard's 20th chief counsel and seventh uniformed judge advocate general.


upi--2020-05-04--Wall Street closes with slight gains; rising tech stocks offset sliding airlines

May 4 ( UPI ) -- U.S. markets rose slightly to open the week as strong gains by tech stocks @ @ @ @ @ stocks .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 28.72 points , or 0.12 percent @ @ @ @ @ 500 climbed 0.42 percent and the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.23 percent .
Investor Warren Buffett @ @ @ @ @ announcing that he 'd sold all of his shares in airlines .
Buffett said over @ @ @ @ @ shareholder meeting that he sold the shares due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ , Buffett 's company Berkshire Hathaway had more than $ 4 billion invested in U.S. @ @ @ @ @ Southwest and Delta .
The Dow closed trading on Friday down more than 600 points @

U.S. markets closed up slightly on Monday as tech stocks soared to offset a decrease in airline stocks after Warren Buffett announced he sold off his shares in the industry. File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
May 4 (UPI) -- U.S. markets rose slightly to open the week as strong gains by tech stocks helped to offset plummeting airline stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 28.72 points, or 0.12 percent, the S&P 500 climbed 0.42 percent and the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.23 percent. Advertisement
Netflix stock climbed 3.10 percent, Microsoft stock rose 2.45 percent, Facebook stock grew 1.48 percent and Amazon stock increased 1.31 percent.
Investor Warren Buffett influenced trading on Monday after announcing that he'd sold all of his shares in airlines.
Buffett said over the weekend during a virtual shareholder meeting that he sold the shares due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Prior to the sale, Buffett's company Berkshire Hathaway had more than $4 billion invested in U.S. airlines United, American, Southwest and Delta.
American Airlines stock plummeted 7.71 percent, Delta slid 6.39 percent, Southwest dropped 5.71 percent and United stock fell 5.11 percent.
The Dow closed trading on Friday down more than 600 points.