upi--2020-07-31--NBA, NHL restarts, MLS quarterfinals highlight weekend sports schedule

July 31 ( UPI ) -- The NBA and NHL 's resumed seasons and the MLS Is Back Tournament quarterfinals highlight the weekend live sports schedule , which includes a PGA Tour tournament , UFC fights and a NASCAR .
NBA players have returned to the court in the league 's bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando , Fla. Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will battle the Boston Celtics in one of the marquee matchups of the first slate of games .
That matchup tips off at 6:30 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rockets also face Luka Doncic 's Dallas Mavericks at 9 p.m. EDT Friday in Orlando .
Zion Williamson 's New Orleans Pelicans are scheduled to face the Clippers in another big matchup Saturday in Orlando .
The Eastern Conference leading Bucks have a clash against the Rockets on Sunday in the bubble .
Each of the 22 NBA teams on the Orlando campus will play in eight seeding games before the playoffs begin Aug. 17 .
`` We 've been off for four months and we want to use these games for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Lakers star Anthony Davis said Wednesday .
`` We want to treat these games like the regular season and play our style of basketball . ''
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will battle the Boston Celtics in one of the marquee matchups of the first slate of games .
That matchup tips off at 6:30 p.m. EDT Friday .
James Harden 's Houston Rockets also face Luka Doncic 's Dallas Mavericks at 9 p.m. EDT Friday in Orlando .
Zion Williamson 's New Orleans Pelicans are scheduled to face the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orlando .
The Eastern Conference leading Bucks have a clash against the Rockets on Sunday in the bubble .
The NHL season also was suspended in mid-March , but will resume Saturday with three games in Toronto and two in Edmonton .
The season resumes with the Stanley Cup qualifiers , which includes 16 teams in eight best-of-five series and the top-four teams in each conference in a round-robin format to determine the seeds for the playoffs .
The New York Rangers will play the Carolina Hurricanes in the first game of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toronto .
The St. Louis Blues -- the top team in the Western Conference -- will reopen their season against the second-place Colorado Avalanche at 6:30 p.m. EDT Sunday .
The Boston Bruins -- the top seed in the Eastern Conference -- will face the fourth-place Philadelphia Flyers at 3 p.m. EDT Sunday .
The MLS Is Back Tournament is almost over in Orlando .
The tournament field will shrink from eight teams to four after the weekend quarterfinals .
Orlando City SC will battle LAFC at 7:30 p.m. EDT Friday before two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the group stage and beat the Seattle Sounders to advance to the quarterfinals .
Orlando City beat the Montreal Impact to advance to the quarterfinals .
Saturday 's matchups include an 8 p.m. EDT clash between the San Jose Earthquakes and a 10:30 p.m. EDT battle between New York City FC and the Portland Timbers .
The MLS Is Back Tournament semifinals will be next Wednesday and Thursday .
The final is scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT Aug. 11 in Orlando .
St. Jude Invitational : The third-round featured groups will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EDT on PGA Tour Live ; noon to 2 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel ; and 2 to 6 p.m. EDT on CBS .
FA Cup final : Arsenal vs. Chelsea at 12:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN+ Serie A : Juventus vs. Roma at 2:45 p.m. EDT on ESPN+ MLS Is Back Tournament : San Jose Earthquakes vs. Minnesota United FC at 8 p.m. EDT on ESPN2 MLS Is Back Tournament : Portland Timbers vs. New York City FC at 10:30 p.m. EDT on FS1 Nuggets vs. Heat at 1 p.m. EDT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p.m. EDT on ESPN Clippers vs. Pelicans at 6 p.m. EDT on ESPN Lakers vs. Raptors at 8:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN Rangers vs. Hurricanes at noon EDT on NBCSN Oilers vs. Blackhawks at 3 p.m. EDT on NBC Canadiens vs. Penguins at 8 p.m. EDT on NBC Reds vs. Tigers at 6:10 p.m. EDT on FS1 Red Sox vs. Yankees at 7:07 p.m. EDT on Fox Astros vs. Angels at 7:07 p.m. EDT on Fox Lando Vannata vs. Bobby Green after first fight Vicente Luque vs. Randy Brown after second fight Joanne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. Jude Invitational : The fourth-round featured groups can be seen from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT on PGA Tour Live ; 1 to 3 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel ; and 3 to 7 p.m. EDT on CBS .
Braves vs. Mets at 1:10 p.m. EDT on TBS Red Sox vs. Yankees at 7:08 p.m. EDT on ESPN Flyers vs. Bruins at 3 p.m. EDT on NBC Blues vs. Avalanche at 6:30 p.m. EDT on NBCSN Trail Blazers vs. Celtics at 3:30 p.m. EDT on ABC Bucks vs .
Rockets @ @ @ @ @ @

Jimmy Butler (L) and the Miami Heat will take the floor against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday as part of the NBA's resumed season in Orlando, Fla. Photo by Rhona Wise/EPA-EFE
July 31 (UPI) -- The NBA and NHL's resumed seasons and the MLS Is Back Tournament quarterfinals highlight the weekend live sports schedule, which includes a PGA Tour tournament, UFC fights and a NASCAR. NBA players have returned to the court in the league's bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. Advertisement
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will battle the Boston Celtics in one of the marquee matchups of the first slate of games. That matchup tips off at 6:30 p.m. EDT Friday. James Harden's Houston Rockets also face Luka Doncic's Dallas Mavericks at 9 p.m. EDT Friday in Orlando.
Zion Williamson's New Orleans Pelicans are scheduled to face the Clippers in another big matchup Saturday in Orlando. The Eastern Conference leading Bucks have a clash against the Rockets on Sunday in the bubble.
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Each of the 22 NBA teams on the Orlando campus will play in eight seeding games before the playoffs begin Aug. 17.
"We've been off for four months and we want to use these games for us to get better going into the postseason," Lakers star Anthony Davis said Wednesday. "We want to treat these games like the regular season and play our style of basketball."
NHL returns in Canada
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will battle the Boston Celtics in one of the marquee matchups of the first slate of games. That matchup tips off at 6:30 p.m. EDT Friday. James Harden's Houston Rockets also face Luka Doncic's Dallas Mavericks at 9 p.m. EDT Friday in Orlando.
Zion Williamson's New Orleans Pelicans are scheduled to face the Clippers in another big matchup Saturday in Orlando. The Eastern Conference leading Bucks have a clash against the Rockets on Sunday in the bubble.
NHL returns in Canada
The NHL season also was suspended in mid-March, but will resume Saturday with three games in Toronto and two in Edmonton. The season resumes with the Stanley Cup qualifiers, which includes 16 teams in eight best-of-five series and the top-four teams in each conference in a round-robin format to determine the seeds for the playoffs.
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The New York Rangers will play the Carolina Hurricanes in the first game of the resumed season at noon EDT Saturday in Toronto.
The St. Louis Blues -- the top team in the Western Conference -- will reopen their season against the second-place Colorado Avalanche at 6:30 p.m. EDT Sunday.
The Boston Bruins -- the top seed in the Eastern Conference -- will face the fourth-place Philadelphia Flyers at 3 p.m. EDT Sunday.
MLS Is Back Tournament
The MLS Is Back Tournament is almost over in Orlando. The tournament field will shrink from eight teams to four after the weekend quarterfinals.
Orlando City SC will battle LAFC at 7:30 p.m. EDT Friday before two games on Saturday. LAFC went 1-0-2 in the group stage and beat the Seattle Sounders to advance to the quarterfinals. Orlando City beat the Montreal Impact to advance to the quarterfinals.
Saturday's matchups include an 8 p.m. EDT clash between the San Jose Earthquakes and a 10:30 p.m. EDT battle between New York City FC and the Portland Timbers.
The MLS Is Back Tournament semifinals will be next Wednesday and Thursday. The final is scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT Aug. 11 in Orlando.
Saturday
Golf
St. Jude Invitational: The third-round featured groups will be broadcast from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT on PGA Tour Live; noon to 2 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel; and 2 to 6 p.m. EDT on CBS.
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Soccer
FA Cup final: Arsenal vs. Chelsea at 12:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN+
Serie A: Juventus vs. Roma at 2:45 p.m. EDT on ESPN+
MLS Is Back Tournament: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Minnesota United FC at 8 p.m. EDT on ESPN2
MLS Is Back Tournament: Portland Timbers vs. New York City FC at 10:30 p.m. EDT on FS1
Basketball
Nuggets vs. Heat at 1 p.m. EDT on ESPN
Jazz vs. Thunder at 3:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN
Clippers vs. Pelicans at 6 p.m. EDT on ESPN
Lakers vs. Raptors at 8:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN
Hockey
Rangers vs. Hurricanes at noon EDT on NBCSN
Oilers vs. Blackhawks at 3 p.m. EDT on NBC
Canadiens vs. Penguins at 8 p.m. EDT on NBC
Baseball
Reds vs. Tigers at 6:10 p.m. EDT on FS1
Red Sox vs. Yankees at 7:07 p.m. EDT on Fox
Astros vs. Angels at 7:07 p.m. EDT on Fox
UFC on ESPN+
Kevin Holland vs. Trevin Giles at 9 p.m. EDT
Lando Vannata vs. Bobby Green after first fight
Vicente Luque vs. Randy Brown after second fight
Joanne Calderwood vs. Jennifer Maia after third fight
Derek Brunson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan after fourth fight.
Sunday
Golf
St. Jude Invitational: The fourth-round featured groups can be seen from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT on PGA Tour Live; 1 to 3 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel; and 3 to 7 p.m. EDT on CBS.
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Baseball
Braves vs. Mets at 1:10 p.m. EDT on TBS
Red Sox vs. Yankees at 7:08 p.m. EDT on ESPN
Hockey
Flyers vs. Bruins at 3 p.m. EDT on NBC
Blues vs. Avalanche at 6:30 p.m. EDT on NBCSN
NASCAR
Cup Series: Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at 3 p.m. EDT on NBCSN
Basketball
Trail Blazers vs. Celtics at 3:30 p.m. EDT on ABC
Bucks vs. Rockets at 8:30 p.m. EDT on ABC


upi--2020-07-31--Famous birthdays for July 31: Wesley Snipes, Rico Rodriguez

July 31 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Leo .

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Wesley Snipes attends the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel California on January 5. The actor turns 58 on July 31. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
July 31 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Leo. They include: Advertisement
-- Confederate guerrilla leader William Quantrill in 1837
-- Kmart founder S.S. Kresge in 1867
-- Pollster Elmo Burns Roper Jr. in 1900
-- Actor France Nuyen in 1939 (age 80)
-- Actor Geraldine Chaplin in 1944 (age 76)
File Photo by David Silpa/UPI
-- Musician Gary Lewis in 1946 (age 74)
-- Actor Richard Griffiths in 1947
-- Australian tennis star Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1951 (age 69)
-- Businessman/NBA team owner Mark Cuban in 1958 (age 62)
-- Actor Wesley Snipes in 1962 (age 58)
-- Author J.K. Rowling in 1965 (age 55)
File Photo by Dennis Van Tine/UPI
-- Actor Dean Cain in 1966 (age 54)
-- Country singer Zac Brown in 1978 (age 42)
-- Actor B.J. Novak in 1979 (age 41)
-- Actor Charlie Carver in 1988 (age 32)
-- Actor Alexis Knapp in 1989 (age 31)
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-- Actor Rico Rodriguez in 1998 (age 22)


upi--2020-07-31--UPI News Quiz: Liftoff to Mars, COVID-19 baseball, stormy weather

U.S. News // 7 hours ago
Search for victims of Maui wildfire ongoing as death toll climbs to 101
Aug. 15 (UPI) -- The death toll from the Maui wildfires has risen to 101, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Tuesday night, as he announced plans to reopen the Lahaina Bypass for several hours a day to "reunite the pieces of Maui."


upi--2020-07-31--On This Day, July 31: NASA intentionally crashes Lunar Prospector into moon

July 31 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1498 , on his third voyage to the New World , Christopher Columbus discovered the island of Trinidad .
In 1556 Ignatius of Loyola , founder of the Jesuit order of Roman Catholic missionaries and educators , died in Rome .
In 1792 , director David Rittenhouse laid the cornerstone in Philadelphia for the U.S. Mint , the first building of the federal government .
In 1964 , Ranger 7 , an unmanned U.S. lunar probe , took the first close-up images of the moon .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentenced to prison for his role in the break-in at the office of Daniel Ellsberg 's psychiatrist .
He was in prison 18 months .
Ellsberg was the Pentagon consultant who leaked the `` Pentagon Papers , '' documents about the war in Vietnam .
In 1991 , the U.S. Senate overturned a 43-year-old law and voted to allow women to fly military warplanes in combat .
The House had already approved similar legislation .
In 1992 , a Thai Airways International jetliner carrying 113 people crashed as it tried to fly out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landing in Kathmandu , Nepal .
There were no survivors .
In 1999 , NASA intentionally crashes the Lunar Prospector spacecraft into the moon with the hopes of discovering evidence of water .
Researchers said it did n't reveal any such signs .
In 2011 , with default by the U.S. government just days away and after months of frustrating debate , U.S. President Barack Obama and congressional leaders announced an agreement that would raise the debt ceiling by up to $ 2.4 trillion in two stages , enough to keep borrowing into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of people killed in a 3-week-old Israeli-Hamas Gaza conflict had risen to 1,360 Palestinians and 59 Israelis , including 56 soldiers .
In 2018 , M*A*S*H* star Alan Alda revealed he was diagnosed with Parkinson 's disease three years before .

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The Lunar Prospector spacecraft, seen here in an artist's rendering released by NASA, ploughed into a crater in the south pole of the moon in an attempt to stir up lunar soil in search of water. File Image courtesy of NASA | License Photo
July 31 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1498, on his third voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus discovered the island of Trinidad. Advertisement
In 1556 Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order of Roman Catholic missionaries and educators, died in Rome.
In 1792, director David Rittenhouse laid the cornerstone in Philadelphia for the U.S. Mint, the first building of the federal government.
In 1964, Ranger 7, an unmanned U.S. lunar probe, took the first close-up images of the moon.
In 1974, Watergate figure John Ehrlichman was sentenced to prison for his role in the break-in at the office of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist. He was in prison 18 months. Ellsberg was the Pentagon consultant who leaked the "Pentagon Papers," documents about the war in Vietnam.
In 1991, the U.S. Senate overturned a 43-year-old law and voted to allow women to fly military warplanes in combat. The House had already approved similar legislation.
File Photo by Staff Sgt. Marleah Robertson/U.S. Air Force
In 1992, a Thai Airways International jetliner carrying 113 people crashed as it tried to fly out of bad weather that prevented it from landing in Kathmandu, Nepal. There were no survivors.
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In 1999, NASA intentionally crashes the Lunar Prospector spacecraft into the moon with the hopes of discovering evidence of water. Researchers said it didn't reveal any such signs.
In 2011, with default by the U.S. government just days away and after months of frustrating debate, U.S. President Barack Obama and congressional leaders announced an agreement that would raise the debt ceiling by up to $2.4 trillion in two stages, enough to keep borrowing into 2013.
UPI File Photo
In 2014, officials reported the number of people killed in a 3-week-old Israeli-Hamas Gaza conflict had risen to 1,360 Palestinians and 59 Israelis, including 56 soldiers.
In 2018, M*A*S*H* star Alan Alda revealed he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease three years before.


upi--2020-07-31--Brendon Todd takes two-shot lead at WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational

July 31 ( UPI ) -- Brendon Todd shot a 5-under 65 Friday to grab a two-shot lead through two rounds of the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind in Memphis , Tenn. Todd trailed defending champion Brooks Koepka by two strokes after Thursday 's opening round .
Todd quickly erased that deficit and built his own two-shot advantage with a bogey-free , five-birdie second round for an 11-under 129 through 36 holes at the tournament .
`` I have not hit the ball as crisply the first two days and maybe some other tournaments this year , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any tournament this year so far , '' Todd said .
`` I 'm really excited about how I played and looking forward to the opportunity this weekend . ''
Rickie Fowler closed with a pair of birdies on his final two holes for a 67 , sitting in second at 9-under 131 .
Byeong-Hun An , Chez Reavie and Koepka sat in a three-way tie for third at 7-under par .
Koepka had the lead at 10-under before losing momentum on his back nine with a double bogey and two bogeys .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his first time over par at TPC Southwind in seven rounds .
`` I just putted bad , '' Koepka said .
`` It was n't really anything other than that .
Felt stress-free other than just missing some short ones .
On the back nine they felt good , they were just missing , and on the front they just were n't good putts . ''
Jon Rahm shot a 74 and is now 4-over par in his first tournament since becoming the top-ranked player in the world .
Justin Thomas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 in the world with a win , sat seven shots back after a second-round 70 .
Rory McIlroy shot a 66 Friday but is 10 strokes back .
Dustin Johnson , Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth were among those tied for 15th at 3-under par .

Brendon Todd built a two-shot advantage with a bogey-free, five-birdie second round for an 11-under 129 through 36 holes at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. File Photo by Nell Redmond/UPI | License Photo
July 31 (UPI) -- Brendon Todd shot a 5-under 65 Friday to grab a two-shot lead through two rounds of the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn. Todd trailed defending champion Brooks Koepka by two strokes after Thursday's opening round. Todd quickly erased that deficit and built his own two-shot advantage with a bogey-free, five-birdie second round for an 11-under 129 through 36 holes at the tournament. Advertisement
"I have not hit the ball as crisply the first two days and maybe some other tournaments this year, but I've probably putted the best of any tournament this year so far," Todd said. "I'm really excited about how I played and looking forward to the opportunity this weekend."
Rickie Fowler closed with a pair of birdies on his final two holes for a 67, sitting in second at 9-under 131. Byeong-Hun An, Chez Reavie and Koepka sat in a three-way tie for third at 7-under par.
Koepka had the lead at 10-under before losing momentum on his back nine with a double bogey and two bogeys. He finished with a 71, marking his first time over par at TPC Southwind in seven rounds.
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"I just putted bad," Koepka said. "It wasn't really anything other than that. Felt stress-free other than just missing some short ones. On the back nine they felt good, they were just missing, and on the front they just weren't good putts."
Jon Rahm shot a 74 and is now 4-over par in his first tournament since becoming the top-ranked player in the world. Justin Thomas, who could move back to No. 1 in the world with a win, sat seven shots back after a second-round 70.
Rory McIlroy shot a 66 Friday but is 10 strokes back. Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth were among those tied for 15th at 3-under par.


upi--2020-07-31--MLB commissioner Rob Manfred warns 2020 season could be shut down

July 31 ( UPI ) -- Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred informed MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark on Friday that the 2020 season could be shut down if teams fail to do a better job of handling the coronavirus .
League sources told ESPN , USA Today Sports and the New York Post that Manfred , who has the power to cancel the season , could move in that direction if another outbreak occurs .
According to ESPN , multiple players briefed on the conversation fear the season could be canceled as soon as Monday if positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neglect the league 's protocols .
The call between Manfred and the players ' union came after an outbreak among the Miami Marlins in which at least 21 members of the club tested positive for the virus .
On Tuesday , the league postponed the Marlins ' next six games because of the team 's positive test results .
Two positive tests by St. Louis Cardinals players Friday exacerbated concerns inside the league about the presence of COVID-19 and whether health and safety protocols are being properly followed to prevent the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the positive tests , the Cardinals ' game against the Milwaukee Brewers was postponed Friday and rescheduled to a doubleheader Sunday .
The Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies were already missing scheduled games , leaving 20 % of MLB 's Friday slate empty because of the coronavirus .
MLB and the MLBPA on Friday released the latest batch of test results through Thursday .
Of the 11,895 samples taken over the last week , there were 29 positive tests -- 20 by players and nine by staff members .
The Marlins were responsible for @ @ @ @ @

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, who has the power to cancel the season, could move in that direction if another COVID-19 outbreak occurs. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 31 (UPI) -- Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred informed MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark on Friday that the 2020 season could be shut down if teams fail to do a better job of handling the coronavirus. League sources told ESPN, USA Today Sports and the New York Post that Manfred, who has the power to cancel the season, could move in that direction if another outbreak occurs. According to ESPN, multiple players briefed on the conversation fear the season could be canceled as soon as Monday if positive tests climb or if players continue to neglect the league's protocols. Advertisement
The call between Manfred and the players' union came after an outbreak among the Miami Marlins in which at least 21 members of the club tested positive for the virus. On Tuesday, the league postponed the Marlins' next six games because of the team's positive test results.
Two positive tests by St. Louis Cardinals players Friday exacerbated concerns inside the league about the presence of COVID-19 and whether health and safety protocols are being properly followed to prevent the spread of the virus.
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As a result of the positive tests, the Cardinals' game against the Milwaukee Brewers was postponed Friday and rescheduled to a doubleheader Sunday. The Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies were already missing scheduled games, leaving 20% of MLB's Friday slate empty because of the coronavirus.
MLB and the MLBPA on Friday released the latest batch of test results through Thursday. Of the 11,895 samples taken over the last week, there were 29 positive tests -- 20 by players and nine by staff members. The Marlins were responsible for 21 of those positives.


upi--2020-07-31--Florida braces for impact as Hurricane Isaias bears down

July 31 ( UPI ) -- Government officials and residents in Florida were in full preparation mode on Friday as Hurricane Isaias pounded the Bahamas with strong winds and heavy rains , and moved closer to the U.S. mainland .
Isaias was packing 75-mph winds late Friday afternoon , down from its peak sustained winds of 80 mph earlier in the day .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in every coastal county of Florida 's Atlantic Coast , stretching from Miami-Dade to Nassau counties , on Friday in preparation for the storm .
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency .
Meanwhile , the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for portions of Florida 's Atlantic coast .
Residents in Florida were bracing for impact and stocking up on essentials ahead of Isaia 's potential arrival , all while wearing masks -- a sign of the confluence of hurricane season with a global pandemic .
Tropical Storm Isaias strengthened into Hurricane Isaias late Thursday and approached the Bahamas early Friday , on track to bring heavy rains and wind to the eastern coast of Florida this weekend .
The National Hurricane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday the storm was 175 south-southeast of Nassau and 310 miles southeast of Freeport , Grand Bahama Island .
Isaias had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and was moving northwest at 15 mph .
Hurricane warnings were in effect for the Bahamas on Friday , including hard-hit areas from Dorian in 2019 like the Abaco Islands , although meteorologists expect the impacts to pale in comparison to the monster storm that stalled for 24 hours and caused utter devastation there last year .
`` Isaias is expected to be a 1 on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bahamas and the coastal southeastern U.S. due to flooding and damaging winds , '' AccuWeather senior meteorologist Rob Miller said .
This scale is a more nuanced method the company introduced in 2019 to assess the potential damage a tropical system could cause .
It has been 25 years since a hurricane tracked through the Bahamas so early in the season , specifically prior to the middle of August .
Erin strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane near Rum Cay in the Bahamas and moved through the island chain on Aug. 1-2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tropical meteorologist Philip Klotzbach .
The storm passed over the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama , causing generally minor damages , before heading toward Florida .
Isaias ' recent strengthening will help the hurricane forge a track more to the north .
And the system could potentially strengthen even more over the very warm waters of the Gulf Stream , especially since Isaias is now expected to avoid the large land mass of Cuba this weekend .
Forecasters have ruled out a track toward the Gulf of Mexico with these developments .
Conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the Bahamas and the eastern part of the Florida Peninsula this weekend as Isaias takes a northwestward , then northward path over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream .
How far west versus east Isaias tracks and exactly how strong and large the eye wall becomes will determine the severity of conditions in the Bahamas and along the Florida Atlantic coast .
Tropical storm warnings remained in effect for the the Turks and Caicos .
The National Guard released dramatic flood rescue video from Puerto Rico , showing young children and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind after Isaias ' torrential downpours .
Parts of the island picked up more than 10 inches of rain as Isaias moved just south of the island on Thursday .
AccuWeather meteorologists expect Isaias to fluctuate in strength through this weekend with intensity ranging from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm and perhaps as strong as a Category 2 hurricane for a time .
A Category 1 hurricane has winds ranging from 74 mph to 95 mph , while a Category 2 hurricane has winds of 96 mph to 110 mph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 39 mph to 73 mph .
Isaias will be moving over water that is very warm this weekend , with temperatures ranging from 84 degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit , which is more than sufficient to allow for abrupt strengthening .
However , wind shear may factor into the storm 's future into this weekend and beyond .
Wind shear is the increase in wind speed or direction with altitude or across a horizontal distance .
When wind shear is strong , hurricanes and tropical storms can weaken and potential tropical systems may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is almost never in a constant state , it can lead to fluctuations in strength , structure and forward speed of tropical storms and hurricanes as they move along .
`` Wind shear can cause Isaias to weaken for a time into Friday night and perhaps again before approaching the Carolina coast [ next week ] , '' Miller said .
`` The forward speed of Isaias will also fluctuate , meaning that Isaias 's speed can slow down a bit for a time , '' Miller added .
However , this will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dorian from 2019 , which stalled over the Bahamas for days .
Isaias will keep moving , and it is not expected to be nearly as strong as Dorian .
Impact on Florida and the Bahamas may be similar to or perhaps not as severe as that of Matthew from September 2016 , provided the eyewall of the storm does not reach much of Florida 's east coast .
Rainfall and tropical storm-force winds will continue to advance northward through the Bahamas into Saturday night and are projected to reach southeastern Florida , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early Saturday morning and then spread northward over the Florida Peninsula this weekend .
Seas and coastal water levels will also build in advance of the storm by roughly 24 hours .
People along the coast can expect a quickening breeze in advance of the storm as well .
`` Widespread rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches can be expected over the Bahamas and the eastern part of the Florida Peninsula , with totals of 4-8 inches with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 10 inches over the western Bahamas , '' Miller said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the overall amount of rain , but there can still be incidents of urban flooding in the Bahamas and from Florida to the Carolinas .
But , a track farther to the east would bring less rain to the U.S. and more rain to the Bahamas , for example .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in every coastal county of Florida 's Atlantic Coast , stretching from Miami-Dade to Nassau counties , on Friday in preparation for the storm .
A tropical storm warning has been issued for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reef to Sebastian Inlet in addition to Lake Okeechobee -- and forecasters say that conditions could begin to deteriorate as early as Friday night .
A tropical storm watch was in effect farther north along the Florida coast to the Volusia-Brevard County Line .
`` While current projections have the eye of Isaias remaining at sea , the situation remains fluid and can change quickly , '' DeSantis said at a press conference on Isaias Friday .
The Florida division for emergency management created new guidance on opening shelters amid the pandemic should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeSantis called on Floridians to remain vigilant and heed warnings .
Florida officials have been urging residents to prepare now for days , especially as the state responds to another disaster , the coronavirus pandemic .
The state has been experiencing a tremendous surge in COVID-19 cases over the last month .
On Wednesday , the state reported 253 COVID-19 fatalities , the third daily coronavirus death record in a row , according to the Orlando Sentinel .
The state has had over 6,300 deaths since the pandemic began , data from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials are preparing for the worst in case shelters need to be opened to keep residents safe from the hurricane expected to run up the Sunshine State 's coast this weekend .
`` We have 20 evacuation centers on standby , they 're not open , should they need to open them , should we need to open them and we will have them set up with COVID-19 safety measures .
It 's really too early to tell yet , so we 're closely monitoring the situation , '' Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurricane preparation .
Residents along the southeastern and mid-Atlantic coasts of the U.S. were also being urged to closely monitor the storm 's track and strength in the coming days .
`` Wind gusts of 60-70 mph can occur over the Bahamas and eastern Florida through the weekend , with an AccuWeather Local StormMax wind gust of 80 mph possible in eastern Florida and 100 mph expected in the western parts of the Bahamas , '' Miller said .
In the Bahamas , damage to some trees , poorly constructed buildings and temporary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may result , and disruption of electricity may last several days in more remote areas .
Sporadic power outages are possible along the east coast of Florida .
Residents and property owners should secure loose items and protect windows from flying debris that often accompanies storms of this magnitude .
As Isaias continues to move northward , impact from rain , wind and storm surge will move northward as well along the southeastern U.S. coast .
A storm surge of 3 feet to 6 feet is forecast in the northwestern Bahamas with 1-3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ east coast and along the shoreline of Georgia and South Carolina .
Depending on the track of Isaias , a storm surge of 3 feet to 6 feet is possible in parts of eastern North Carolina and perhaps southeastern Virginia .
`` A general 2-4 inches of rain can occur early next week over the eastern Carolinas with wind gusts of 50-60 mph with an AccuWeather Local StormMax wind gust of 80 mph , '' Miller said .
A non-tropical storm system will have an affect on Isaias upon nearing the U.S. coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troughs like this draw tropical systems closer in to the U.S. , rather than drive them away , '' AccuWeather Chief Broadcast Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said .
The storm will tend to draw the storm closer to the coast for a time , before likely shoving the system off to the northeast .
How quickly the northeast turn occurs early next week will determine whether landfall occurs along the North Carolina coast and perhaps other points in the mid-Atlantic and New England , or perhaps if the storm moves just inland over these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Following a slow-down in forward speed this weekend , an increase in forward speed of the storm seems likely next week , so stormy conditions may be brief and limited to less than 24 hours at any one spot in the Northeast .
Hurricane Isaias , pronounced ees-ah-ee-ahs , is already one for the record books .
It was named Isaias when it strengthened to a tropical storm Wednesday night -- and , with its upgrade from the NHC , became the earliest `` I-storm '' in recorded history , surpassing Irene , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Isaias could become the second named system to make landfall in the United States in about a week 's time following Hanna 's arrival as a Category 1 hurricane in South Texas on Saturday .
But after its abrupt strengthening during Thursday night , the system 's curved path could keep most of the hurricane-force winds east of the U.S. coastline .
The Atlantic basin is showing no signs of letting up in the coming weeks , and forecasters are already busy monitoring for a couple other areas of concern .
AccuWeather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an update to the numbers of tropical storms and direct impacts to the United States for the Atlantic season this week .
He warned that the tropics could become `` hyperactive '' as the heart of hurricane season nears , and that one area in particular should remain `` very vigilant '' of the pattern setting up .
Six of the nine tropical storms thus far in 2020 have set new records for early formation for their respective letters in the basin -- Cristobal , Edouard , Fay , Gonzalo , Hanna and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall as the season progresses , according to forecasters .
The `` J-storm '' record is currently held by Jose on Aug. 22 , 2005 , with the `` K-storm '' record held by the infamous Katrina , which formed on Aug. 24 , 2005 .
The 10th and 11th names on this year 's tropical list are Josephine and Kyle .
For more names on the 2020 Atlantic list and all tropical weather information , please visit the AccuWeather hurricane center .

Isaias was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone as it moved into Canada Tuesday night. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Isaias made its way into southeastern Canada after being downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Tuesday night. The epicenter of the post-tropical cyclone was about 55 miles north-northwest of Quebec City, Quebec, in Canada, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 a.m. Wednesday update. Advertisement
The storm was traveling north-northeast at 28 mph but its speed was expected to decrease and its maximum sustained winds of 40 mph with higher gusts was to weaken and drop below tropical storm force through Wednesday morning, the NHC said.
"The post-tropical cyclone is expected to dissipate over southeastern Canada on Thursday," the NHC said.
Forecasters said one to three inches of rain should fall along and near Isaias' track across southern Quebec.
Hurricane-force wind gusts were reported Monday night as the eyewall went ashore in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., with the highest gust reported over land at 93 mph. As the hurricane approached, the system spawned a tornado that touched down on Bald Head Island, N.C.
All told, Isaias is predicted to cause between $2 billion and $3 billion in damages and economic loss, according to AccuWeather founder and CEO Joel N. Myers.
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One of the main threats for the areas from Virginia to Maine was from torrential rain that can lead to flash, urban and small-stream flooding.
Following its impact on the U.S., Isaias is forecast to spread a swath of rain and gusty winds rapidly through a portion of Atlantic Canada Wednesday into Thursday.
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has already left its mark in history with several of the earliest-forming tropical storms on record. Cristobal, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna and Isaias all set early-season formation records for their respective letter. All of the July-forming storms from Edouard through Isaias broke the records set during the infamous 2005 season.
Hanna became the first hurricane of the 2020 season, and Isaias became the second.
There is a high potential that the 2020 season could become "hyperactive" as the peak of hurricane season nears and tropical storm numbers may end up rivaling the historic 2005 season numbers, which produced 28 storms. AccuWeather meteorologists are already monitoring a few areas of disturbed weather beyond Isaias.


upi--2020-07-31--Supreme Court allows border wall construction during challenges

July 31 ( UPI ) -- The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the Trump administration can proceed with plans to build a portion of the border wall while lawsuits over the use of Pentagon funds to do so plays out in court .
The court voted 5-4 against a challenge by a group of environmental organizations represented by the American Civil Liberties Union .
The groups sued over the administration 's decision to divert $ 2.5 billion in military funds to carry out the construction of the border wall in Arizona , New Mexico and California .
A federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement of funds violated the Appropriations Clause of the Constitution because Congress originally designated the funds for defense spending , not the Department of Homeland Security .
The Justice Department plans to appeal the case to the Supreme Court in August .
The high court said construction can continue in the meantime .
Justice Stephen Breyer , who dissented , said that by allowing the building to go on , the sections of the wall in question could be completed by time a final decision is made by the court .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nevertheless , I fear , may operate in effect , as a final judgment , '' he wrote .
Trump declared a national emergency in February 2019 due to an influx of migrants along the southern border .
As part of the declaration , he directed $ 2.5 billion from the Department of Defense to spend on border security .
He faced multiple lawsuits and attempts to block the emergency declaration in Congress .

The Justice Department said it plans to appeal a lower court's ruling to the Supreme Court in August. File Photo by Ariana Drehsler/UPI | License Photo
July 31 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the Trump administration can proceed with plans to build a portion of the border wall while lawsuits over the use of Pentagon funds to do so plays out in court. The court voted 5-4 against a challenge by a group of environmental organizations represented by the American Civil Liberties Union. Advertisement
The groups sued over the administration's decision to divert $2.5 billion in military funds to carry out the construction of the border wall in Arizona, New Mexico and California.
A federal appeals court ruled last month that the movement of funds violated the Appropriations Clause of the Constitution because Congress originally designated the funds for defense spending, not the Department of Homeland Security. The Justice Department plans to appeal the case to the Supreme Court in August.
The high court said construction can continue in the meantime.
Justice Stephen Breyer, who dissented, said that by allowing the building to go on, the sections of the wall in question could be completed by time a final decision is made by the court.
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"The court's decision to let construction continue nevertheless, I fear, may operate in effect, as a final judgment," he wrote.
Trump declared a national emergency in February 2019 due to an influx of migrants along the southern border. As part of the declaration, he directed $2.5 billion from the Department of Defense to spend on border security.
He faced multiple lawsuits and attempts to block the emergency declaration in Congress.


upi--2020-07-31--Detroit Lions safety Jayron Kearse receives 3-game suspension

July 31 ( UPI ) -- New Detroit Lions safety Jayron Kearse was suspended three games for violating the NFL 's substance abuse policy , the league announced Friday .
Kearse , who was a member of the Minnesota Vikings at the time , was charged with DWI and carrying a firearm without a permit in October .
The defensive back later apologized for his actions , saying the arrest is `` not a reflection of who I am as a person . ''
The NFL did n't disclose whether Kearse 's suspension is related to that October arrest .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandates a three-game ban for driving under the influence of alcohol .
`` We were aware of the situation in free agency , obviously vetted the situation .
We talked with Jayron and felt comfortable with him and the situation , '' Lions head coach Matt Patricia told reporters Friday .
`` Obviously , [ we ] have gotten to know him a lot more since free agency and just felt comfortable with all of it .
We knew it was something that was coming .
`` ...
It 's a league matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that .
But it is something we were aware of during free agency . ''
Kearse , 26 , signed a one-year contract with the Lions in March after spending four seasons with the Vikings .
In 15 games last season , he recorded 28 total tackles , one interception and six passes defensed .
Kearse is eligible to return to the team Sept. 28 following the Lions ' game against the Arizona Cardinals .

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive back Jayron Kearse (27) signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions in March after spending four seasons with the Vikings. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo
July 31 (UPI) -- New Detroit Lions safety Jayron Kearse was suspended three games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, the league announced Friday. Kearse, who was a member of the Minnesota Vikings at the time, was charged with DWI and carrying a firearm without a permit in October. The defensive back later apologized for his actions, saying the arrest is "not a reflection of who I am as a person." Advertisement
The NFL didn't disclose whether Kearse's suspension is related to that October arrest. The league's new collective bargaining agreement mandates a three-game ban for driving under the influence of alcohol.
"We were aware of the situation in free agency, obviously vetted the situation. We talked with Jayron and felt comfortable with him and the situation," Lions head coach Matt Patricia told reporters Friday. "Obviously, [we] have gotten to know him a lot more since free agency and just felt comfortable with all of it. We knew it was something that was coming.
"... It's a league matter, and I'll leave it at that. But it is something we were aware of during free agency."
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Kearse, 26, signed a one-year contract with the Lions in March after spending four seasons with the Vikings. In 15 games last season, he recorded 28 total tackles, one interception and six passes defensed.
Kearse is eligible to return to the team Sept. 28 following the Lions' game against the Arizona Cardinals.


upi--2020-07-31--Negotiators fail to agree on COVID-19 relief as Congress adjourns

July 31 ( UPI ) -- Congress adjourned for the weekend Friday without coming to an agreement on a new coronavirus relief bill as key stimulus benefits expired .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer , Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows resumed talks earlier in the day , but failed to agree on a deal .
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell was not part of the negotiations , as he agreed to let President Donald Trump 's deputies represent the Senate proposals .
Meadows criticized Democrats for rejecting Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to extend key elements of previous relief bills -- a $ 600-per-week unemployment enhancement and eviction protections .
`` What we 're seeing is politics as usual from Democrats up on Capitol Hill , '' Meadows said .
`` The Democrats believe that they have all the cards on their side , and they 're willing to play those cards at the expense of those that are hurting . ''
Pelosi said such stopgap measures are only useful for a short-term extension when two sides are close to an agreement .
`` A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- if we had a bill .
What are we going to do in a week ? ''
she asked .
`` They do n't even have the votes for it in the Senate . ''
One of the main focuses of the legislation is an enhanced federal unemployment benefit that had paid out-of-work Americans an extra $ 600 each week , which was part of the first relief package , the CARES Act , in March .
The federal benefit ran out last week but officially expired Friday .
Before talks broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides unsuccessfully attempted to pass their own proposals to extend the benefit and other measures .
Giving a greater sense of urgency to the negotiations were two government reports earlier Thursday that illustrated the fiscal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Commerce Department said the U.S. economy saw its worst second-quarter performance in history , and the Labor Department reported that unemployment filings had increased for the second week in a row .
Part of the impasse is that the Senate proposal is separated into different measures , while the House 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schumer , D-N.Y. , and Pelosi , D-Calif. , have consistently opposed this approach .
`` We just do n't think they understand the gravity of the problem , '' Schumer said of the Republican negotiators .
`` I think they understand that we have to have a bill , but they just do n't realize how big it has to be , '' Pelosi added .
Said Mnuchin : `` We made a proposal for a short-term deal .
And as of now they 've repeated they do n't want to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass its unemployment extension bill , which offers to match two-thirds of a previous wage from combined state and federal sources .
Schumer rejected it and introduced the House 's $ 3 trillion package , which was similarly blocked by Republicans .
`` The bottom line is this is the most serious health problem and economic problem we 've had in a century and 75 years and it takes really , good , strong bold action , '' Schumer added .
`` They do n't quite get that . ''
`` We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can reach an agreement that 's good for the American people , '' Mnuchin said .

1/2
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell arrive at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday for a memorial service honoring Rep. John Lewis. Negotiations for the next coronavirus relief package ended Friday as Congress adjourned. Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI | License Photo
July 31 (UPI) -- Congress adjourned for the weekend Friday without coming to an agreement on a new coronavirus relief bill as key stimulus benefits expired. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows resumed talks earlier in the day, but failed to agree on a deal. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell was not part of the negotiations, as he agreed to let President Donald Trump's deputies represent the Senate proposals. Advertisement
Meadows criticized Democrats for rejecting Trump's proposal of a short-term stopgap measure to extend key elements of previous relief bills -- a $600-per-week unemployment enhancement and eviction protections.
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"What we're seeing is politics as usual from Democrats up on Capitol Hill," Meadows said. "The Democrats believe that they have all the cards on their side, and they're willing to play those cards at the expense of those that are hurting."
Pelosi said such stopgap measures are only useful for a short-term extension when two sides are close to an agreement.
"A week would be a time for that -- if we had a bill. What are we going to do in a week?" she asked. "They don't even have the votes for it in the Senate."
One of the main focuses of the legislation is an enhanced federal unemployment benefit that had paid out-of-work Americans an extra $600 each week, which was part of the first relief package, the CARES Act, in March.
The federal benefit ran out last week but officially expired Friday.
Before talks broke down late Thursday, lawmakers on both sides unsuccessfully attempted to pass their own proposals to extend the benefit and other measures.
Giving a greater sense of urgency to the negotiations were two government reports earlier Thursday that illustrated the fiscal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commerce Department said the U.S. economy saw its worst second-quarter performance in history, and the Labor Department reported that unemployment filings had increased for the second week in a row.
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Part of the impasse is that the Senate proposal is separated into different measures, while the House's is contained in one single bill. Schumer, D-N.Y., and Pelosi, D-Calif., have consistently opposed this approach.
"We just don't think they understand the gravity of the problem," Schumer said of the Republican negotiators.
"I think they understand that we have to have a bill, but they just don't realize how big it has to be," Pelosi added.
Said Mnuchin: "We made a proposal for a short-term deal. And as of now they've repeated they don't want to do that."
The Senate attempted to pass its unemployment extension bill, which offers to match two-thirds of a previous wage from combined state and federal sources. Schumer rejected it and introduced the House's $3 trillion package, which was similarly blocked by Republicans.
"The bottom line is this is the most serious health problem and economic problem we've had in a century and 75 years and it takes really, good, strong bold action," Schumer added. "They don't quite get that."
"We are working around the clock to see if we can reach an agreement that's good for the American people," Mnuchin said.


upi--2020-07-31--NFL gives ex-Steelers, Patriots WR Antonio Brown 8-game suspension

July 31 ( UPI ) -- Free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown has received an eight-game suspension without pay for violating the NFL 's personal conduct policy , the league announced Friday .
In its statement , the NFL said that Brown was instructed `` to continue his program of counseling and treatment , '' and `` he is expected to fully cooperate with his clinicians . ''
The league noted that any further violations would likely result in harsher discipline .
League sources told ESPN and NFL Media that Brown has accepted his punishment and is n't expected to appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stems from multiple violations of the league 's personal conduct policy .
The former All-Pro receiver had been the subject of an NFL investigation following an accusation of sexual misconduct at his home from a female artist who was working there in 2017 .
He also pleaded no contest in June to a felony burglary with battery charge and two lesser misdemeanor charges stemming from a January incident outside his South Florida home with a moving truck company .
Brown was ordered to serve two years of probation and 100 hours of community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A separate league investigation into Brown stemming from a lawsuit filed by his former trainer alleging that the wideout sexually assaulted her is still ongoing , according to ESPN .
Brown , who met with the NFL in November as part of the probe , has denied the allegations and said his sexual relationship with the trainer was consensual .
Brown could receive an additional suspension after the conclusion of that investigation , according to ESPN .
Brown , 32 , last played for the New England Patriots on Sept. 15 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his debut with the team , and he has n't been signed since .
If Brown signs with a team before the regular season , he would be allowed to take part in pre-season activities and workouts .
The suspension will go into effect in Week 1 , regardless of whether he is on a roster .
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Brown in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Central Michigan .
In 131 career games with the Steelers and Patriots , he has recorded 841 receptions for 11,263 @ @ @ @ @

Former Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown has recorded 841 receptions for 11,263 yards and 75 touchdowns in his NFL career. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
July 31 (UPI) -- Free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown has received an eight-game suspension without pay for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, the league announced Friday. In its statement, the NFL said that Brown was instructed "to continue his program of counseling and treatment," and "he is expected to fully cooperate with his clinicians." The league noted that any further violations would likely result in harsher discipline. Advertisement
League sources told ESPN and NFL Media that Brown has accepted his punishment and isn't expected to appeal the eight-game ban.
Brown's suspension stems from multiple violations of the league's personal conduct policy. The former All-Pro receiver had been the subject of an NFL investigation following an accusation of sexual misconduct at his home from a female artist who was working there in 2017.
He also pleaded no contest in June to a felony burglary with battery charge and two lesser misdemeanor charges stemming from a January incident outside his South Florida home with a moving truck company. Brown was ordered to serve two years of probation and 100 hours of community service as part of the plea deal.
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A separate league investigation into Brown stemming from a lawsuit filed by his former trainer alleging that the wideout sexually assaulted her is still ongoing, according to ESPN. Brown, who met with the NFL in November as part of the probe, has denied the allegations and said his sexual relationship with the trainer was consensual.
Brown could receive an additional suspension after the conclusion of that investigation, according to ESPN.
Brown, 32, last played for the New England Patriots on Sept. 15. The Patriots released him one week after his debut with the team, and he hasn't been signed since.
If Brown signs with a team before the regular season, he would be allowed to take part in pre-season activities and workouts. The suspension will go into effect in Week 1, regardless of whether he is on a roster.
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Brown in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Central Michigan. In 131 career games with the Steelers and Patriots, he has recorded 841 receptions for 11,263 yards and 75 touchdowns.


upi--2020-07-31--3 arrested for cryptocurrency hack of Obama, Biden Twitter accounts

July 31 ( UPI ) -- Three people , including two teens , were charged Friday with being behind a hack of Twitter accounts belonging to Barack Obama , Joe Biden , Bill Gates and others as part of a cryptocurrency scam , the U.S. Justice Department announced .
The U.S. Attorney 's Office for the Northern District of California identified two of the men as Mason `` Chaewon '' Sheppard , 19 , of Bognor Regis , Britain , and Nima `` Rolex '' Fazeli , 22 , of Orlando , Fla .
The office of Hillsborough State Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Graham Ivan Clark , 17 , of Tampa , Fla .
He was arrested Friday .
He faces 30 felony charges related to the scam , including organized fraud , communications fraud , fraudulent use of personal information and access to computer or electronic device without authority .
Sheppard faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud , conspiracy to commit money laundering and the intentional access of a protected computer .
Fazeli was charged with aiding and abetting the intentional access of a protected computer .
`` These crimes were perpetrated using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but they 're not the primary victims here .
This 'Bit-Con ' was designed to steal money from regular Americans from all over the country , including here in Florida .
This massive fraud was orchestrated right here in our back yard , and we will not stand for that , '' Warren said .
The suspects are accused of also targeting Bill Gates , Elon Musk , Kanye West and Warren Buffet in mid-July , using their accounts to ask people to send him money using bitcoin , promising to double @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everyone is asking me to give back , and now is the time , '' one form of the tweet read .
`` You send $ 1,000 , I send you back $ 2,000 . ''
Prosecutors said the scam brought in more than $ 100,000 in bitcoin from some 400 accounts in one day .
The currency can be difficult to track and recover .
Warren said Clark will be prosecuted in Tampa as an adult .
`` Working together , we will hold this defendant accountable , '' Warren said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ money is always wrong .
Whether you 're taking advantage of someone in person or on the Internet , trying to steal their cash or their cryptocurrency -- it 's fraud , it 's illegal , and you wo n't get away with it . ''

Former President Barack Obama delivers remarks alongside Vice President Joe Biden in January 5, 2015. Authorities arrested a 17-year-old male in Florida accused of targeting the two leaders' Twitter accounts in a cryptocurrency scam. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
July 31 (UPI) -- Three people, including two teens, were charged Friday with being behind a hack of Twitter accounts belonging to Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Bill Gates and others as part of a cryptocurrency scam, the U.S. Justice Department announced. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California identified two of the men as Mason "Chaewon" Sheppard, 19, of Bognor Regis, Britain, and Nima "Rolex" Fazeli, 22, of Orlando, Fla. Advertisement
The office of Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren identified the third suspect, Graham Ivan Clark, 17, of Tampa, Fla. He was arrested Friday.
He faces 30 felony charges related to the scam, including organized fraud, communications fraud, fraudulent use of personal information and access to computer or electronic device without authority.
Sheppard faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and the intentional access of a protected computer. Fazeli was charged with aiding and abetting the intentional access of a protected computer.
"These crimes were perpetrated using the names of famous people and celebrities, but they're not the primary victims here. This 'Bit-Con' was designed to steal money from regular Americans from all over the country, including here in Florida. This massive fraud was orchestrated right here in our back yard, and we will not stand for that," Warren said.
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The suspects are accused of also targeting Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Kanye West and Warren Buffet in mid-July, using their accounts to ask people to send him money using bitcoin, promising to double any amount sent to it.
"Everyone is asking me to give back, and now is the time," one form of the tweet read. "You send $1,000, I send you back $2,000."
Prosecutors said the scam brought in more than $100,000 in bitcoin from some 400 accounts in one day. The currency can be difficult to track and recover.
Warren said Clark will be prosecuted in Tampa as an adult.
"Working together, we will hold this defendant accountable," Warren said. "Scamming people out of their hard-earned money is always wrong. Whether you're taking advantage of someone in person or on the Internet, trying to steal their cash or their cryptocurrency -- it's fraud, it's illegal, and you won't get away with it."


upi--2020-07-31--COVID-19 risk 3 times higher for front-line health workers as than public, study finds

July 31 ( UPI ) -- Front-line healthcare workers in the United States and Britain were more than three times as likely to report a positive COVID-19 test during the first few weeks of the pandemic , an analysis published Friday by The Lancet Public Health found .
The findings are based on self-reported data from nearly 100,000 American and British clinicians using the COVID Symptom Study smartphone app , recorded between March 24 and April 23 , according to the researchers .
Preliminary results also suggest that healthcare workers ' ethnic background and clinical setting , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or PPE , were important factors in their likelihood of testing positive for COVID-19 , the researchers said .
`` Previous reports from public health authorities suggest that around 10 % to 20 % of COVID-19 infections occur among health workers , '' co-author Dr. Andrew Chan said in a statement .
`` Many countries , including the U.S. , continue to face vexing shortages of PPE . ''
`` Our results underscore the importance of providing adequate access to PPE and also suggest that systemic racism associated with inequalities to access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infection among minority front-line healthcare workers , '' said Chan , director of cancer epidemiology at Massachusetts General Hospital .
The prevalence of COVID-19 was 2,747 per 100,000 app users among front-line care workers , compared with 242 per 100,000 app users from the general public , according to the researchers .
Gloves , gowns and face masks are recommended for those caring for COVID-19 patients , but surging demand and supply chain disruptions resulted in global shortages , the researchers said .
Some areas have attempted to conserve PPE by reusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data on the safety of such practices is scarce , they said .
For their research , Chan and his colleagues asked COVID Symptom Study smartphone app users to provide background information about themselves , whether they work in healthcare , if they have direct contact with patients and if enough PPE was available when needed .
More than 2.6 million people participated in the COVID Symptom Study , including just under 200,000 in the United States , the researchers said .
Of these , just under 100,000 identified themselves as front-line healthcare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for COVID-19 , the analysis found .
Front-line healthcare workers who reported having inadequate PPE were 1.3 times more likely to have COVID-19 than those with adequate PPE , the researchers found .
Healthcare workers who reused PPE were almost 1.5 times more likely to have COVID-19 , and healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 without adequate PPE were almost six times more likely to test positive , the researchers said .
Even with adequate PPE , the risk of getting COVID-19 was almost 2.4 times greater for those caring for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times greater for those caring for people with confirmed COVID-19 -- compared with those who were not exposed to COVID-19 patients , the researchers said .
After accounting for pre-existing medical conditions , healthcare workers from Black , Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds were almost five times more likely to report a positive COVID-19 result than somebody from the public , the researchers said .
White healthcare workers were around 3.5 times more likely to have COVID-19 than the public , they said .
The prevalence of COVID-19 among U.S. healthcare workers -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost twice that of their British counterparts , at 227 per 100,000 app users , the researchers said .
`` Our findings highlight structural inequities in COVID risk , '' study co-author Erica Warner said in a statement .
`` Ensuring access to , and appropriate use of , high-quality PPE across care settings would help mitigate these disparities , '' said Warner , an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School .

Healthcare workers in the United States and Britain faced significant challenges during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study has found. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 31 (UPI) -- Front-line healthcare workers in the United States and Britain were more than three times as likely to report a positive COVID-19 test during the first few weeks of the pandemic, an analysis published Friday by The Lancet Public Health found. The findings are based on self-reported data from nearly 100,000 American and British clinicians using the COVID Symptom Study smartphone app, recorded between March 24 and April 23, according to the researchers. Advertisement
Preliminary results also suggest that healthcare workers' ethnic background and clinical setting, as well as the availability of personal protective equipment, or PPE, were important factors in their likelihood of testing positive for COVID-19, the researchers said.
"Previous reports from public health authorities suggest that around 10% to 20% of COVID-19 infections occur among health workers," co-author Dr. Andrew Chan said in a statement. "Many countries, including the U.S., continue to face vexing shortages of PPE."
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"Our results underscore the importance of providing adequate access to PPE and also suggest that systemic racism associated with inequalities to access to PPE likely contribute to the disproportionate risk of infection among minority front-line healthcare workers," said Chan, director of cancer epidemiology at Massachusetts General Hospital.
The prevalence of COVID-19 was 2,747 per 100,000 app users among front-line care workers, compared with 242 per 100,000 app users from the general public, according to the researchers.
Gloves, gowns and face masks are recommended for those caring for COVID-19 patients, but surging demand and supply chain disruptions resulted in global shortages, the researchers said.
Some areas have attempted to conserve PPE by reusing items or using them longer, but data on the safety of such practices is scarce, they said.
For their research, Chan and his colleagues asked COVID Symptom Study smartphone app users to provide background information about themselves, whether they work in healthcare, if they have direct contact with patients and if enough PPE was available when needed.
More than 2.6 million people participated in the COVID Symptom Study, including just under 200,000 in the United States, the researchers said.
Of these, just under 100,000 identified themselves as front-line healthcare workers and just over 5,500 reported testing positive for COVID-19, the analysis found.
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Front-line healthcare workers who reported having inadequate PPE were 1.3 times more likely to have COVID-19 than those with adequate PPE, the researchers found.
Healthcare workers who reused PPE were almost 1.5 times more likely to have COVID-19, and healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 without adequate PPE were almost six times more likely to test positive, the researchers said.
Even with adequate PPE, the risk of getting COVID-19 was almost 2.4 times greater for those caring for suspected COVID-19 patients -- and around five times greater for those caring for people with confirmed COVID-19 -- compared with those who were not exposed to COVID-19 patients, the researchers said.
After accounting for pre-existing medical conditions, healthcare workers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds were almost five times more likely to report a positive COVID-19 result than somebody from the public, the researchers said.
White healthcare workers were around 3.5 times more likely to have COVID-19 than the public, they said.
The prevalence of COVID-19 among U.S. healthcare workers -- 461 per 100,000 app users -- was almost twice that of their British counterparts, at 227 per 100,000 app users, the researchers said.
"Our findings highlight structural inequities in COVID risk," study co-author Erica Warner said in a statement.
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"Ensuring access to, and appropriate use of, high-quality PPE across care settings would help mitigate these disparities," said Warner, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.


upi--2020-07-31--Army culture, strategy need to transform for 21st century, Gen. James McConville says

The Army is fighting institutionalized racism and needs to see troops as individuals with distinct experiences instead of as a homogeneous unit , Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said Friday .
The Army does n't have a problem with diversity , but inclusion , McConville said at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event .
The service branch is already relatively diverse -- the Army is 39 % minority , while only 24 % of the country is minority .
But diversity drops off in higher ranks ; 71 % of officers are white .
In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combat racism , such as effectively banning Confederate flags , promotion boards no longer see photos of candidates to prevent implicit bias , he said .
The Air Force has also been discussing race and diversity this summer .
And the branch released a list of resources July 17 to encourage senior airmen to discuss diversity and inclusion .
McConville encouraged restraint when thinking about using the Army in times of domestic unrest .
`` The purpose of the United States Army is to protect the nation , not to police the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should leave policing the nation to law enforcement .
The chief of staff also said he wants to upend business as usual in the Army .
`` I suggest that every 40 years , we need to transform the Army .
We did it in 1940 , we did it in 1980 , and now we 're in 2020 , '' McConville said .
`` It 's new doctrine , new organizations .
It 's a talent management program . ''
McConville emphasized changing how the Army views personnel to think about individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the Army has an industrial mindset that sees each person as an interchangeable part of the Army machine and that must change so the Army can better compete for skilled recruits in the 21st century .
`` [ It 's ] kind of blasphemous in the Army , the idea that we wan na know what people want to do and where they want to go , '' he said .
The DoD renamed the U.S. Pacific Command to Indo-Pacific command in 2018 to better reflect the importance of the Indian Ocean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theater , and India is a crucial ally in the region , McConville said .
As tensions with China are on the rise for both the United States and India , McConville pushed for greater cooperation between the two democracies .
`` There are seven [ collective defense agreements ] in the [ U.S. ] as a whole , and five of those are in the region , '' he said .
`` Adding India , if they were willing and could make the agreement , would be very helpful for stability and @ @ @ @ @

U.S. Army General James C. McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army, said at an event Friday that the branch has a problem with inclusion, not diversity. File Photo by Ron Sachs/UPI | License Photo
The Army is fighting institutionalized racism and needs to see troops as individuals with distinct experiences instead of as a homogeneous unit, Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said Friday. The Army doesn't have a problem with diversity, but inclusion, McConville said at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event. Advertisement
The service branch is already relatively diverse -- the Army is 39% minority, while only 24% of the country is minority. But diversity drops off in higher ranks; 71% of officers are white.
In addition to the Army's overt efforts to combat racism, such as effectively banning Confederate flags, promotion boards no longer see photos of candidates to prevent implicit bias, he said.
The Air Force has also been discussing race and diversity this summer. And the branch released a list of resources July 17 to encourage senior airmen to discuss diversity and inclusion.
McConville encouraged restraint when thinking about using the Army in times of domestic unrest.
"The purpose of the United States Army is to protect the nation, not to police the nation," he said. "We should leave policing the nation to law enforcement.
The chief of staff also said he wants to upend business as usual in the Army.
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"I suggest that every 40 years, we need to transform the Army. We did it in 1940, we did it in 1980, and now we're in 2020," McConville said. "It's new doctrine, new organizations. It's a talent management program."
McConville emphasized changing how the Army views personnel to think about individual skills, experiences and preferences. He said the Army has an industrial mindset that sees each person as an interchangeable part of the Army machine and that must change so the Army can better compete for skilled recruits in the 21st century.
"[It's] kind of blasphemous in the Army, the idea that we wanna know what people want to do and where they want to go," he said.
The DoD renamed the U.S. Pacific Command to Indo-Pacific command in 2018 to better reflect the importance of the Indian Ocean. The command is America's priority theater, and India is a crucial ally in the region, McConville said.
As tensions with China are on the rise for both the United States and India, McConville pushed for greater cooperation between the two democracies.
"There are seven [collective defense agreements] in the [U.S.] as a whole, and five of those are in the region," he said. "Adding India, if they were willing and could make the agreement, would be very helpful for stability and security in the region.


upi--2020-07-31--Appeals court overturns death sentence for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

July 31 ( UPI ) -- A federal appeals court on Friday overturned the death sentence for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev , one of the two brothers responsible for the Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people .
The 1st U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals , headquartered in Boston , ordered a new penalty phase trial for Tsarnaev , 27 , who is being held at U.S. Penitentiary , Florence High in Colorado .
`` But make no mistake '' Dzhokhar will spend his remaining days locked up in prison , with the only matter remaining being whether he will die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its opinion .
The panel agreed with defense attorneys who said the judge who oversaw the original case did n't properly screen jurors for potential biases .
Tsarnaev 's lawyers said two of the jurors posted strong opinions on the case on social media before the trial began .
One of them , the jury 's foreperson , described the defendant as a `` piece of garbage . ''
Tsarnaev was convicted on 30 counts for his role in the bombing , which also injured more than 260 people .
His brother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in the bombing and subsequent manhunt , was killed by police during their attempt to capture the men .
The Tsarnaev brothers set off two bombs near the marathon finish line on April 15 , 2013 .
They also killed a police officer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology days later while on the run from authorities .
The jury unanimously decided to sentence the younger brother to death during the 2015 trial .
The Tsarnaev family , ethnic Chechens , moved to the United States more than a decade ago .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was known as a generally good kid and a stellar athlete .
When he graduated high school in 2011 , he won a $ 2,500 scholarship and enrolled in a local college to study nursing .
On Sept. 11 , 2012 , he took the oath to become an American citizen .
Tamerlan Tsarnaev , on the other hand , was struggling with the new life in America .
He was once a top Golden Gloves boxer but fell away from the sport as he felt increasingly disconnected from his new life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the years that followed he became angry and moved toward a radicalized life , family members said .

The appeals court ordered a new penalty phase trial for convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. File Photo courtesy of the FBI
July 31 (UPI) -- A federal appeals court on Friday overturned the death sentence for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the two brothers responsible for the Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, headquartered in Boston, ordered a new penalty phase trial for Tsarnaev, 27, who is being held at U.S. Penitentiary, Florence High in Colorado. Advertisement
"But make no mistake" Dzhokhar will spend his remaining days locked up in prison, with the only matter remaining being whether he will die by execution," the court said in its opinion.
The panel agreed with defense attorneys who said the judge who oversaw the original case didn't properly screen jurors for potential biases.
Tsarnaev's lawyers said two of the jurors posted strong opinions on the case on social media before the trial began. One of them, the jury's foreperson, described the defendant as a "piece of garbage."
Tsarnaev was convicted on 30 counts for his role in the bombing, which also injured more than 260 people. His brother, Tamerland Tsarnaev, who also was involved in the bombing and subsequent manhunt, was killed by police during their attempt to capture the men.
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The Tsarnaev brothers set off two bombs near the marathon finish line on April 15, 2013. They also killed a police officer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology days later while on the run from authorities.
The jury unanimously decided to sentence the younger brother to death during the 2015 trial.
The Tsarnaev family, ethnic Chechens, moved to the United States more than a decade ago. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was 8 at the time and was known as a generally good kid and a stellar athlete. When he graduated high school in 2011, he won a $2,500 scholarship and enrolled in a local college to study nursing. On Sept. 11, 2012, he took the oath to become an American citizen.
Tamerlan Tsarnaev, on the other hand, was struggling with the new life in America. He was once a top Golden Gloves boxer but fell away from the sport as he felt increasingly disconnected from his new life and the people in America. In the years that followed he became angry and moved toward a radicalized life, family members said.


upi--2020-07-31--Cave sediments suggest global cooling 13K years ago not caused by asteroid

July 31 ( UPI ) -- Geochemical signatures found in sediments recovered from a Texas cave suggest the Younger Dryas , a period of global cooling that occurred 13,000 years ago , was caused by a series of Earth-based processes , not an extraterrestrial impact .
Previously , scientists in search of an explanation for the Younger Dryas have pointed to spikes in several rare earth metals as evidence that an asteroid or comet impact triggered the cooling .
Most recently , when researchers looked at the sedimentary evidence , they found these spikes in rare earth metals actually featured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , platinum , palladium and rhenium -- levels inconsistent with an extraterrestrial impact event .
`` The isotopic signatures and concentrations can be explained by processes of volcanic eruption , condensation and transport of aerosols , which enriched the concentration and shifted the isotopic composition , '' Steven Forman , professor of geosciences at Baylor University , told UPI .
In addition to finding relatively low levels of the rare earth metals , researchers also found the same geochemical signature occurred several times in sediments dated between 9,000 and 15,000 years ago .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just occur during the Young Dryas but at four other age-levels , which is physically impossible , '' Forman said .
`` This is one piece of evidence that it was not a comet , but an aerosol signature in the atmosphere from a distant volcanic eruption . ''
While the new research , published Friday in the journal Scientific Advances , undermines an extraterrestrial explanation for the Younger Dryas , the study does n't offer its own definitive trigger for the 1,200-year period of global cooling .
According to Forman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity accounts for the geochemical signatures , but ca n't entirely explain the cooling .
`` The cooling associated with a volcanic eruption is greatest the year of the eruption and then is less and less for the following two to three years , '' he said .
`` Younger Dryas is about 1,200 years long , so a volcanic eruption can not be the sole cause . ''
Instead researchers suggest some combination of volcanic activity and related phenomena , including melting Northern Hemisphere ice sheets and subsequent ocean cooling , likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that the Younger Dryas was n't caused by an extraterrestrial impact is relevant to our understanding of climate change today .
The Younger Dryas offers proof that climate mechanisms internal to Earth are capable triggering sudden and dramatic shifts in climate , he said .
`` Our planet 's response to internal climate perturbations -- like increase in CO2 -- is not linear , but can be rapid and to an extreme state , like the Younger Dryas , '' Forman said .

Geochemical analysis of sediments from Hall's Cave in Texas suggest supposed comet signatures are actually evidence of volcanic activity. Photo by Michael Waters/Texas A&M University
July 31 (UPI) -- Geochemical signatures found in sediments recovered from a Texas cave suggest the Younger Dryas, a period of global cooling that occurred 13,000 years ago, was caused by a series of Earth-based processes, not an extraterrestrial impact. Previously, scientists in search of an explanation for the Younger Dryas have pointed to spikes in several rare earth metals as evidence that an asteroid or comet impact triggered the cooling. Advertisement
Most recently, when researchers looked at the sedimentary evidence, they found these spikes in rare earth metals actually featured relatively low concentrations of iridium, ruthenium, platinum, palladium and rhenium -- levels inconsistent with an extraterrestrial impact event.
"The isotopic signatures and concentrations can be explained by processes of volcanic eruption, condensation and transport of aerosols, which enriched the concentration and shifted the isotopic composition," Steven Forman, professor of geosciences at Baylor University, told UPI.
In addition to finding relatively low levels of the rare earth metals, researchers also found the same geochemical signature occurred several times in sediments dated between 9,000 and 15,000 years ago.
"The supposed 'comet' signature did not just occur during the Young Dryas but at four other age-levels, which is physically impossible," Forman said. "This is one piece of evidence that it was not a comet, but an aerosol signature in the atmosphere from a distant volcanic eruption."
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While the new research, published Friday in the journal Scientific Advances, undermines an extraterrestrial explanation for the Younger Dryas, the study doesn't offer its own definitive trigger for the 1,200-year period of global cooling.
According to Forman, co-author of the new paper, volcanic activity accounts for the geochemical signatures, but can't entirely explain the cooling.
"The cooling associated with a volcanic eruption is greatest the year of the eruption and then is less and less for the following two to three years," he said. "Younger Dryas is about 1,200 years long, so a volcanic eruption cannot be the sole cause."
Instead researchers suggest some combination of volcanic activity and related phenomena, including melting Northern Hemisphere ice sheets and subsequent ocean cooling, likely fueled the Younger Dryas.
Forman suggests the fact that the Younger Dryas wasn't caused by an extraterrestrial impact is relevant to our understanding of climate change today.
The Younger Dryas offers proof that climate mechanisms internal to Earth are capable triggering sudden and dramatic shifts in climate, he said.
"Our planet's response to internal climate perturbations -- like increase in CO2 -- is not linear, but can be rapid and to an extreme state, like the Younger Dryas," Forman said.


upi--2020-07-31--Hungary upgrades military with delivery of German tanks

July 31 ( UPI ) -- The Hungarian army received four refurbished Leopard 2 tanks from its German manufacturer as it awaits delivery of 44 upgraded tanks starting in 2023 .
While the tanks were handed over by maker Kraus-Maffei Wegmann on Thursday at an army base in Tata , Hungary , eight older versions of the Leopard 2A4HU variant will be provided for training purposes .
Hungary will later receive 44 of the newest Leopard 2 variant , called the 2A7+ , to replace Soviet-made T-72 tanks .
Germany and Denmark currently use the upgraded tanks , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Danish and Hungarian armies .
Each is a NATO member .
`` Hungary is modernizing its land forces with Germany as a strategic partner , '' German State Secretary of Defense Thomas Silberhorn said .
The sale is part of a reported $ 2 billion purchase by Hungary of German tanks , howitzers and other battlefield support equipment .
At least momentarily , Hungary is Germany 's largest arms customer .
`` They are very modern pieces of equipment , but the huge leap for Hungary will be the arrival of A7-type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Tibor Benko said earlier this week .
He confirmed that another program to purchase Airbus helicopters will cost nearly $ 48 billion over the next five years .
The figure is indicative of Hungary 's eagerness to bring its military up to NATO standards .

Hungary received its first four Leopard 2 tanks this week, part of a planned 44-tank acquisition from Germany. Photo courtesy of Hungarian Ministry of Defense
July 31 (UPI) -- The Hungarian army received four refurbished Leopard 2 tanks from its German manufacturer as it awaits delivery of 44 upgraded tanks starting in 2023. While the tanks were handed over by maker Kraus-Maffei Wegmann on Thursday at an army base in Tata, Hungary, eight older versions of the Leopard 2A4HU variant will be provided for training purposes. Hungary will later receive 44 of the newest Leopard 2 variant, called the 2A7+, to replace Soviet-made T-72 tanks. Germany and Denmark currently use the upgraded tanks, and the purchase suggests some interoperability between the German, Danish and Hungarian armies. Each is a NATO member. Advertisement
"Hungary is modernizing its land forces with Germany as a strategic partner," German State Secretary of Defense Thomas Silberhorn said.
The sale is part of a reported $2 billion purchase by Hungary of German tanks, howitzers and other battlefield support equipment. At least momentarily, Hungary is Germany's largest arms customer.
"They are very modern pieces of equipment, but the huge leap for Hungary will be the arrival of A7-type tanks in 2023," Hungarian Defense Minister Tibor Benko said earlier this week. He confirmed that another program to purchase Airbus helicopters will cost nearly $48 billion over the next five years. The figure is indicative of Hungary's eagerness to bring its military up to NATO standards.


upi--2020-07-31--Investigation of water-borne contaminants starts at former Reese AFB, Texas

July 31 ( UPI ) -- Investigative field work began on contaminants in the groundwater of the former Reese Air Base , Texas , the U.S. Air Force said .
The base near Lubbock was closed in 1997 after a 50-year history .
Like most U.S. air bases , it had relied since 1970 on foam , to put out fires , containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [ PFAS ] regarded as hazardous materials .
Repeated use of the foam led to contaminants seeping into groundwater .
Research has linked PFAS to kidney cancer , testicular cancer , and endocrine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effects in communities with heavily PFAS-contaminated water , many near military bases , have been discovered .
The investigation was announced by the Air Force in a statement on Thursday .
`` We did n't do this in neglect or violation of environmental laws , '' said Stephen TerMaath , chief of the Air Force Base Realignment and Closure Program Management Division .
`` For a lot of years we all understood this to be a safe product and used it in accordance with the manufacturer 's instructions . ''
`` Now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Environmental Quality ] issuance of Protective Concentration Levels for 16 PFAS chemicals , the Air Force is taking aggressive measures to ensure the community has safe drinking water , and find long-term solutions to the contamination , '' TerMaath said .
The installation , in the next six weeks , of 25 monitoring wells in a 12 square-mile area near the former base is designed to provide a better understanding of water source areas and water migration .
The Air Force said it has already sampled over 500 drinking water wells at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 220 drinking water treatment systems of affected wells .
The Pentagon has identified 401 active and former military installations with known or suspected contamination .
A 2019 bill requiring federal regulation the cleanup of PFAS on military bases was unsuccessful , leaving the matter to the states .

Research began this week on carcinogens in groundwater at the former Reese Air Force Base, Texas. Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force
July 31 (UPI) -- Investigative field work began on contaminants in the groundwater of the former Reese Air Base, Texas, the U.S. Air Force said. The base near Lubbock was closed in 1997 after a 50-year history. Like most U.S. air bases, it had relied since 1970 on foam, to put out fires, containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS] regarded as hazardous materials. Repeated use of the foam led to contaminants seeping into groundwater. Advertisement
Research has linked PFAS to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and endocrine disruption. Unusual clusters of serious medical effects in communities with heavily PFAS-contaminated water, many near military bases, have been discovered.
The investigation was announced by the Air Force in a statement on Thursday.
"We didn't do this in neglect or violation of environmental laws," said Stephen TerMaath, chief of the Air Force Base Realignment and Closure Program Management Division. "For a lot of years we all understood this to be a safe product and used it in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions."
"Now, with the TCEQ's [Texas Commission on Environmental Quality] issuance of Protective Concentration Levels for 16 PFAS chemicals, the Air Force is taking aggressive measures to ensure the community has safe drinking water, and find long-term solutions to the contamination," TerMaath said.
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The installation, in the next six weeks, of 25 monitoring wells in a 12 square-mile area near the former base is designed to provide a better understanding of water source areas and water migration.
The Air Force said it has already sampled over 500 drinking water wells at or near the base, and installed 220 drinking water treatment systems of affected wells.
The Pentagon has identified 401 active and former military installations with known or suspected contamination. A 2019 bill requiring federal regulation the cleanup of PFAS on military bases was unsuccessful, leaving the matter to the states.


upi--2020-07-31--Girlfriend's comment about spelling leads man to lottery jackpot

July 31 ( UPI ) -- A British Columbia man who won nearly $ 75,000 from a scratch-off lottery ticket @ @ @ @ @ because his girlfriend said he needed to work on his spelling .
Nikolaus Hamma of @ @ @ @ @ Corp. officials he frequently plays scratch-off lottery tickets , but he owes his most recent @ @ @ @ @ his girlfriend .
`` I have always played scratch-and-win tickets and my girlfriend told me @ @ @ @ @ with my spelling , '' he said .
The Luxury Crossword ticket Hamma purchased from @ @ @ @ @ was a $ 74,674.50 winner .
Hamma said he plans to use his winnings to @ @ @ @ @ once it 's safe to travel .

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July 31 (UPI) -- A British Columbia man who won nearly $75,000 from a scratch-off lottery ticket said he chose his ticket because his girlfriend said he needed to work on his spelling.
Nikolaus Hamma of Abborsford told British Columbia Lottery Corp. officials he frequently plays scratch-off lottery tickets, but he owes his most recent choice to a suggestion from his girlfriend.
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"I have always played scratch-and-win tickets and my girlfriend told me to play Crossword to help with my spelling," he said.
The Luxury Crossword ticket Hamma purchased from the McCallum Road Town Pantry was a $74,674.50 winner.
Hamma said he plans to use his winnings to take a vacation to Europe once it's safe to travel.


upi--2020-07-31--Coca-Cola With Coffee to hit shelves in January

July 31 ( UPI ) -- Coca-Cola on Friday introduced its latest attempt to fuse its signature soft drink with coffee in three different flavors .
Coca-Cola With Coffee will hit U.S. shelves in January with double the amount of caffeine in a 12-ounce serving than traditional Coca-Cola -- 69 mg .
It will be available in three flavors of Brazilian coffee -- dark blend , vanilla and caramel .
`` This is a truly unique hybrid innovation that will pioneer a new category we 're calling refreshment coffee , '' said Jaideep Kibe , vice president of Coca-Cola Trademark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ product that is meant to be tried .
Because when you take that first sip , you realize there 's nothing quite like it .
It sips like a Coke and finishes like a coffee . ''
Though the drink wo n't be available until next year , the company is offering members of its insiders club advanced access to it .
Coca-Cola first piloted a version of the drink in Japan in 2018 and expanded it to other markets in Australia , Brazil , Vietnam , Turkey and Italy , tweaking the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for us to be more disciplined in how we launch , validate , refine and scale up big bets like this , '' said Javier Meza , chief marketing officer for the Coca-Cola Company 's sparkling beverage portfolio .
This is n't the first time the company has tried to combine its classic Coke flavor with coffee .
In 2006 , it launched Coca-Cola Blak , but pulled it from shelves in 2008 after low sales .

Coca-Cola With Coffee will come in three flavors -- dark blend, vanilla and caramel. Photo courtesy of Coca-Cola
July 31 (UPI) -- Coca-Cola on Friday introduced its latest attempt to fuse its signature soft drink with coffee in three different flavors. Coca-Cola With Coffee will hit U.S. shelves in January with double the amount of caffeine in a 12-ounce serving than traditional Coca-Cola -- 69 mg. Advertisement
It will be available in three flavors of Brazilian coffee -- dark blend, vanilla and caramel.
"This is a truly unique hybrid innovation that will pioneer a new category we're calling refreshment coffee," said Jaideep Kibe, vice president of Coca-Cola Trademark.
"Coca-Cola With Coffee is a product that is meant to be tried. Because when you take that first sip, you realize there's nothing quite like it. It sips like a Coke and finishes like a coffee."
Though the drink won't be available until next year, the company is offering members of its insiders club advanced access to it.
Coca-Cola first piloted a version of the drink in Japan in 2018 and expanded it to other markets in Australia, Brazil, Vietnam, Turkey and Italy, tweaking the formula and packaging to suit local tastes.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for us to be more disciplined in how we launch, validate, refine and scale up big bets like this," said Javier Meza, chief marketing officer for the Coca-Cola Company's sparkling beverage portfolio.
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This isn't the first time the company has tried to combine its classic Coke flavor with coffee. In 2006, it launched Coca-Cola Blak, but pulled it from shelves in 2008 after low sales.