upi--2020-12-31--U.S. blacklists Venezuelan judge, prosecutor over Citgo 6 trial

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- The Trump administration has imposed sanctions against a Venezuelan judge and prosecutor in connection to last month 's sentencing of six U.S. oil executives known as the Citgo 6 .
Venezuelan Judge Lorena Carolina Cornielles Ruiz and prosecutor Ramon Antonio Torres Espinoza were blacklisted Wednesday for presiding over and prosecuting the six men who were sentenced last month to between eight and 13 years in prison .
The five dual U.S.-Venezuelan citizens and one U.S. permanent resident are executives of the Houston-based oil refiner Citgo , which is owned by Venezuelan state-run PDVSA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and charged with corruption in November 2017 .
The United States has described the charges as politically motivated and were tried during a trial absent of guarantees it would be conducted fairly .
`` The unjust detention and sentencing of these six U.S. persons further demonstrates how corruption and abuse of power are deeply embedded in Venezuela 's institutions , '' Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement .
Cornielles , a judge in the Executive Directorate of the Venezuelan Supreme Court who presided over the trial of the Citgo 6 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six men , the Treasury said .
Torres was sanctioned for being the Venezuelan government 's primary prosecutor during the trial , the Treasury said .
Both were blacklisted under a 2015 executive order that permits the government to block property and suspend entry of former and current Venezuelan government officials .
`` These six men and their families have suffered long enough , '' U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Wednesday .
`` It is time for Maduro to release the Citgo 6 and let them be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions were imposed as the Trump administration enters its final weeks in office .
During its tenure , the administration has taken a strong stance against the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro , sanctioning more than 100 officials , including the president , his wife and son .
Trump has been attempting to oust Maduro through sanctions since the socialist ruler 's 2018 re-election was deemed illegitimate .
The United States has led a coalition of more than 55 countries that have backed National Assembly President Juan Guaido 's claim to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the sanctions , and on Wednesday Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza via Twitter accused the blacklisting of its legal professionals of being the product of `` imperial barbarism . ''

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (R) and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sanctioned a Venezuelan judge and prosecutor in connection to the sentencing of the Citgo 6. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The Trump administration has imposed sanctions against a Venezuelan judge and prosecutor in connection to last month's sentencing of six U.S. oil executives known as the Citgo 6. Venezuelan Judge Lorena Carolina Cornielles Ruiz and prosecutor Ramon Antonio Torres Espinoza were blacklisted Wednesday for presiding over and prosecuting the six men who were sentenced last month to between eight and 13 years in prison. Advertisement
The five dual U.S.-Venezuelan citizens and one U.S. permanent resident are executives of the Houston-based oil refiner Citgo, which is owned by Venezuelan state-run PDVSA, and were arrested in the capital Caracas and charged with corruption in November 2017.
The United States has described the charges as politically motivated and were tried during a trial absent of guarantees it would be conducted fairly.
"The unjust detention and sentencing of these six U.S. persons further demonstrates how corruption and abuse of power are deeply embedded in Venezuela's institutions," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.
Cornielles, a judge in the Executive Directorate of the Venezuelan Supreme Court who presided over the trial of the Citgo 6, was sanctioned for sentencing each of the six men, the Treasury said.
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Torres was sanctioned for being the Venezuelan government's primary prosecutor during the trial, the Treasury said.
Both were blacklisted under a 2015 executive order that permits the government to block property and suspend entry of former and current Venezuelan government officials.
"These six men and their families have suffered long enough," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Wednesday. "It is time for Maduro to release the Citgo 6 and let them be reunited with their families."
The sanctions were imposed as the Trump administration enters its final weeks in office.
During its tenure, the administration has taken a strong stance against the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro, sanctioning more than 100 officials, including the president, his wife and son.
Trump has been attempting to oust Maduro through sanctions since the socialist ruler's 2018 re-election was deemed illegitimate. The United States has led a coalition of more than 55 countries that have backed National Assembly President Juan Guaido's claim to the interim presidency.
Venezuela has repeatedly balked at the sanctions, and on Wednesday Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza via Twitter accused the blacklisting of its legal professionals of being the product of "imperial barbarism."


upi--2020-12-31--Green Bay Packers fear LT David Bakhtiari has season-ending knee injury

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- Green Bay Packers star left tackle David Bakhtiari is believed to have suffered a season-ending knee injury ahead of Sunday 's game against the Chicago Bears .
League sources told ESPN and NFL Media that Green Bay fears Bakhtiari sustained a torn ACL during the Packers ' practice Thursday .
The Packers added him to the official injury report with a knee injury following Thursday 's practice .
Bakhtiari 's injury comes only six weeks after the Packers signed him to a four-year , $ 103.5 million contract extension .
The deal made him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The 29-year-old Bakhtiari was selected in the fourth round of the 2013 draft .
He has been named to the Pro Bowl three times , including the past two seasons .
When Bakhtiari missed three games earlier this year due to broken ribs , the Packers started Billy Turner at left tackle .
Turner has been a regular starter on the right side of the Packers ' offensive line in 2020 .
The Packers ( 12-3 ) , who lead the league in points per game ( 31.6 ) this season , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 seed with a win over the Bears in their regular-season finale .
Green Bay is set to travel to Chicago on Sunday for that matchup .

Green Bay Packers offensive tackle David Bakhtiari's (69) injury comes only six weeks after the Packers signed him to a four-year, $103.5 million contract extension. File Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Green Bay Packers star left tackle David Bakhtiari is believed to have suffered a season-ending knee injury ahead of Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears. League sources told ESPN and NFL Media that Green Bay fears Bakhtiari sustained a torn ACL during the Packers' practice Thursday. The Packers added him to the official injury report with a knee injury following Thursday's practice. Advertisement
Bakhtiari's injury comes only six weeks after the Packers signed him to a four-year, $103.5 million contract extension. The deal made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history.
The 29-year-old Bakhtiari was selected in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. He has been named to the Pro Bowl three times, including the past two seasons.
When Bakhtiari missed three games earlier this year due to broken ribs, the Packers started Billy Turner at left tackle. Turner has been a regular starter on the right side of the Packers' offensive line in 2020.
The Packers (12-3), who lead the league in points per game (31.6) this season, can clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed with a win over the Bears in their regular-season finale. Green Bay is set to travel to Chicago on Sunday for that matchup.
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This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-12-31--Pence asks judge to reject lawsuit expanding his power to overturn 2020 election

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- Lawyers for Vice President Mike Pence issued a filing asking a federal judge to reject a lawsuit seeking to expand his power to overturn the electoral votes cast in the 2020 presidential election .
The filing asks a federal judge to reject the lawsuit by Rep. Louis Gohmert , R-Texas , and several Arizona Republicans , saying that Pence is not the correct defendant and that the issue should instead be addressed to Congress .
`` Plaintiffs have presented this Court with an emergency motion raising a host of weighty legal issues about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President are to be counted , '' Pence 's filing states .
`` But these plaintiff 's suit is not a proper vehicle for addressing those issues because plaintiffs have sued the wrong defendant . ''
Gohmert 's lawsuit states that the Electoral Count Act unconstitutionally requires Pence to abide by the Electoral College count certified by the states and that the 12th Amendment grants him `` exclusive authority and sole discretion '' to determine whether the electors put forth by the state are valid and to replace them with Trump-appointed electors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ interests are not sufficiently opposed to his own to justify a lawsuit , as their case would expand the vice president 's powers .
`` The vice president -- the only defendant in this case -- is ironically the very person whose powers they seek to promote , '' it states .
`` A suit to establish that the vice president has discretion over the count , filed against the vice president , is a walking legal contradiction . ''
House General Counsel Doug Letter also filed an amicus brief calling for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it as a `` radical departure from our constitutional procedures and consistent legislative practices . ''
`` This court should dismiss the complaint and deny the extraordinary and unprecedented relief requested : a declaration that the Electoral Count Act is unconstitutional and an injunction that would interfere with the time-honored procedures of Congress for counting electoral votes .
Plaintiffs lack standing ; their claims are barred by laches ; and their legal and constitutional claims -- which this court should not reach -- lack merit , '' said Letter .

Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday requested for a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Republican lawmakers seeking to expand his power to overturn the electoral votes certified by states. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Lawyers for Vice President Mike Pence issued a filing asking a federal judge to reject a lawsuit seeking to expand his power to overturn the electoral votes cast in the 2020 presidential election. The filing asks a federal judge to reject the lawsuit by Rep. Louis Gohmert, R-Texas, and several Arizona Republicans, saying that Pence is not the correct defendant and that the issue should instead be addressed to Congress. Advertisement
"Plaintiffs have presented this Court with an emergency motion raising a host of weighty legal issues about the manner in which the electoral votes for President are to be counted," Pence's filing states. "But these plaintiff's suit is not a proper vehicle for addressing those issues because plaintiffs have sued the wrong defendant."
Gohmert's lawsuit states that the Electoral Count Act unconstitutionally requires Pence to abide by the Electoral College count certified by the states and that the 12th Amendment grants him "exclusive authority and sole discretion" to determine whether the electors put forth by the state are valid and to replace them with Trump-appointed electors.
Pence's filing notes that Gohmert's interests are not sufficiently opposed to his own to justify a lawsuit, as their case would expand the vice president's powers.
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"The vice president -- the only defendant in this case -- is ironically the very person whose powers they seek to promote," it states. "A suit to establish that the vice president has discretion over the count, filed against the vice president, is a walking legal contradiction."
House General Counsel Doug Letter also filed an amicus brief calling for the dismissal of Gohmert's case, describing it as a "radical departure from our constitutional procedures and consistent legislative practices."
"This court should dismiss the complaint and deny the extraordinary and unprecedented relief requested: a declaration that the Electoral Count Act is unconstitutional and an injunction that would interfere with the time-honored procedures of Congress for counting electoral votes. Plaintiffs lack standing; their claims are barred by laches; and their legal and constitutional claims -- which this court should not reach -- lack merit," said Letter.


upi--2020-12-31--Jimmy Smith agrees to 1-year contract extension with Baltimore Ravens

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- Veteran cornerback Jimmy Smith will return to the Baltimore Ravens next season after reaching a one-year extension with the franchise .
Smith 's agent , Drew Rosenhaus , told ESPN and NFL Media on Thursday that his client agreed to an extension worth up to $ 5 million .
The deal includes $ 2 million fully guaranteed in base salary , a $ 500,000 signing bonus and $ 2.5 million in incentives .
The 32-year-old Smith was scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the 2020-21 season after inking a one-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He was having one of his better seasons before rib and shoulder injuries forced him to miss the Ravens ' past two games .
Pro Football Focus ranked Smith as the league 's eighth-best cornerback through the first 11 weeks of the 2020 season .
In 11 games ( five starts ) this season , Smith has recorded 27 total tackles , one sack and a pass breakup .
A 2011 first-round pick by the Ravens , Smith has totaled 14 interceptions and 73 passes defensed in his NFL career .
Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Ravens ' Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers in February 2013 .
On fourth-and-goal , he broke up a pass intended for 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree that helped seal the victory for the Ravens .
The Ravens ( 10-5 ) conclude the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals ( 4-10-1 ) on Sunday .
Baltimore currently is the No .
6 seed in the AFC .

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (22) was scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the season. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Veteran cornerback Jimmy Smith will return to the Baltimore Ravens next season after reaching a one-year extension with the franchise. Smith's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN and NFL Media on Thursday that his client agreed to an extension worth up to $5 million. The deal includes $2 million fully guaranteed in base salary, a $500,000 signing bonus and $2.5 million in incentives. Advertisement
The 32-year-old Smith was scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the 2020-21 season after inking a one-year, $3.5 million extension in March. He was having one of his better seasons before rib and shoulder injuries forced him to miss the Ravens' past two games.
Pro Football Focus ranked Smith as the league's eighth-best cornerback through the first 11 weeks of the 2020 season.
In 11 games (five starts) this season, Smith has recorded 27 total tackles, one sack and a pass breakup. A 2011 first-round pick by the Ravens, Smith has totaled 14 interceptions and 73 passes defensed in his NFL career.
Smith's most memorable play in Baltimore came in the Ravens' Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers in February 2013. On fourth-and-goal, he broke up a pass intended for 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree that helped seal the victory for the Ravens.
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The Ravens (10-5) conclude the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals (4-10-1) on Sunday. Baltimore currently is the No. 6 seed in the AFC.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-12-31--Another day of record COVID-19 deaths in U.S.; 7,500 dead in last 2 days

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- For the second day in a row , the United States has set a new record for most coronavirus deaths in a single day -- and added another 230,000 cases .
According to updated data Thursday from Johns Hopkins University , close to 3,750 patients died on Wednesday -- surpassing the previous record , set only a day earlier , by about a dozen deaths .
This month , there has been an average of about 2,500 deaths per day , twice November 's figure , according to Stat .
The new figure means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 in the United States in the past two days .
The Florida Department of Health on Thursday announced the first identified case of a variant of COVID-19 first discovered in Britain in the state 's Martin County .
`` The individual is a male in his 20s with no history of travel .
The Department is working with the CDC on this investigation .
We encourage all to continue practicing COVID-19 mitigation , '' the Health Department said in a tweet .
The announcement comes after the new variant of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week .
The data also showed 229,000 new cases nationwide on Wednesday , the second straight day the count has exceeded 200,000 .
Since the start of the pandemic , there have been 19.76 million cases and about 342,700 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins .
Hospitalizations nationwide also reached another all-time high , 125,000 , according to the COVID Tracking Project .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said Thursday that U.S. officials are considering spreading out the initial supply of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reserve part of the early supplies for second doses for priority groups like healthcare workers and nursing home residents .
Both vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna call for the two doses to be given weeks apart to achieve 95 % efficacy , although evidence from clinical trials showed significant effect after the first dose .
Fauci told NBC 's Today Thursday that a single dose could `` still get the job done , '' which might allow other people outside the top priority group to start receiving the vaccine .
`` If done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dose , reserve doses for the second dose , and still get the job done , '' he said .
`` But there 's a lot of discussion about whether or not you want to spread out the initial vaccination by getting more people vaccinated on the first round . ''
• Authorities are investigating a fired Wisconsin health worker who officials say intentionally ruined hundreds of doses of Moderna 's vaccine .
• The first New Year 's Eve of the coronavirus era is underway and will still feature many traditional celebrations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are dramatically more muted .

A physician fills a syringe with the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine at Long Island Jewish Medical Center Northwell Health in New York City on December 14. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- For the second day in a row, the United States has set a new record for most coronavirus deaths in a single day -- and added another 230,000 cases. According to updated data Thursday from Johns Hopkins University, close to 3,750 patients died on Wednesday -- surpassing the previous record, set only a day earlier, by about a dozen deaths. Advertisement
This month, there has been an average of about 2,500 deaths per day, twice November's figure, according to Stat.
The new figure means that roughly 7,500 people have died of COVID-19 in the United States in the past two days.
The Florida Department of Health on Thursday announced the first identified case of a variant of COVID-19 first discovered in Britain in the state's Martin County.
"The individual is a male in his 20s with no history of travel. The Department is working with the CDC on this investigation. We encourage all to continue practicing COVID-19 mitigation," the Health Department said in a tweet.
The announcement comes after the new variant of the virus was detected in Colorado and California earlier this week.
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The data also showed 229,000 new cases nationwide on Wednesday, the second straight day the count has exceeded 200,000.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 19.76 million cases and about 342,700 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.
Hospitalizations nationwide also reached another all-time high, 125,000, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Thursday that U.S. officials are considering spreading out the initial supply of COVID-19 vaccines.
The plan has been to reserve part of the early supplies for second doses for priority groups like healthcare workers and nursing home residents.
Both vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna call for the two doses to be given weeks apart to achieve 95% efficacy, although evidence from clinical trials showed significant effect after the first dose.
Fauci told NBC's Today Thursday that a single dose could "still get the job done," which might allow other people outside the top priority group to start receiving the vaccine.
"If done properly, you can do a single dose, reserve doses for the second dose, and still get the job done," he said. "But there's a lot of discussion about whether or not you want to spread out the initial vaccination by getting more people vaccinated on the first round."
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Other COVID-19 developments Thursday:


upi--2020-12-31--Wisconsin hospital worker fired, arrested after destroying 500 doses of COVID-19 vaccine

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- A Wisconsin hospital employee was fired and arrested after an investigation revealed the worker intentionally destroyed more than 500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine .
The incident took place at the Aurora Medical Center in Grafton , Wisc.
, north of Milwaukee , where police announced they arrested the former employee on suspicion of recklessly endangering safety , adulterating a prescription drug and criminal damage to property .
`` We continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic .
We are more than disappointed , '' the hospital said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ core values . ''
A total of 57 vials of Moderna 's COVID-19 vaccine -- which is required to be stored between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit -- were left out overnight on Saturday .
Each vial contains about 10 doses of the vaccine causing an estimated $ 8,000 and $ 11,000 worth of damage .
Police did not provide a potential motive but Jeff Bahr , president of Aurora Health Care Medical Group , called the pharmacist a `` bad actor '' and had been fired .
The incident was initially considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being discarded , while some were quickly administered .
However , on Wednesday the health system announced the hospital worker `` acknowledged that they intentionally removed the vaccine from refrigeration . ''
On Thursday , Aurora Health said the investigation found that the former employee had also removed and returned the vaccine to refrigeration the previous night , leading hospital officials to believe that more than 50 doses that were administered would be rendered ineffective .
Bahr said people who received shots on Dec. 26 may not gain full protection , adding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital was working with Moderna and the Food and Drug Administration to `` figure out a strategy '' to ensure those people are properly inoculated against the virus , adding there was `` no evidence that the vaccinations pose any harm to them other than being less effective or ineffective . ''

A Wisconsin hospital worker was fired and arrested after destroying 500 doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine by intentionally leaving them out of refrigeration overnight. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A Wisconsin hospital employee was fired and arrested after an investigation revealed the worker allegedly destroyed more than 500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The incident took place at the Aurora Medical Center in Grafton, Wis., north of Milwaukee, where police announced they arrested the former employee on suspicion of recklessly endangering safety, adulterating a prescription drug and criminal damage to property. Advertisement
"We continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic. We are more than disappointed," the hospital said. "This was a violation of our core values."
A total of 57 vials of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine -- which is required to be stored between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit -- were left out overnight on Saturday. Each vial contains about 10 doses of the vaccine causing an estimated $8,000 and $11,000 worth of damage.
Police did not provide a potential motive but Jeff Bahr, president of Aurora Health Care Medical Group, called the pharmacist a "bad actor" and said he'd been fired.
The incident was initially considered an accident, with hundreds of doses being discarded, while some were quickly administered.
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However, on Wednesday, the health system announced the hospital worker "acknowledged that they intentionally removed the vaccine from refrigeration."
On Thursday, Aurora Health said the investigation found that the former employee had also removed and returned the vaccine to refrigeration the previous night, leading hospital officials to believe that more than 50 doses that were administered would be rendered ineffective.
Bahr said people who received shots on Dec. 26 may not gain full protection, adding the individuals had been contacted.
He said the hospital was working with Moderna and the Food and Drug Administration to "figure out a strategy" to ensure those people are properly inoculated against the virus, adding there was "no evidence that the vaccinations pose any harm to them other than being less effective or ineffective."


upi--2020-12-31--Boeing nabs $189.3M for repair and support work on F-15 warning system

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- Boeing was awarded a $ 189.3 million contract modification Thursday for repairs and support @ @ @ @ @ Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System .
Per the Pentagon 's contract announcement , @ @ @ @ @ contract for low-rate initial production to add funding for property repair , acquisition of support @ @ @ @ @ BAE Systems , the EPAWSS is an integrated digital avionics system designed to protect the @ @ @ @ @ defense systems by providing radar warning , geo-location and situational awareness .
The F-15E Eagle @ @ @ @ @ Force Base began testing the EPAWSS system on aircraft in April .
The EPAWSS was @ @ @ @ @ prioritized tests '' during an exercise called Large Force Test Event 20.03 at Nellis Air @ @ @ @ @ operational , the EPAWSS system is designed to replace the Tactical Electronic Warfare System currently @ @ @ @ @ described in an April press release from the Air Force as using `` 1970s analog @ @ @ @ @ in environments defended by 1980s-era radar-based ground and air threats . ''

An F-15E from the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron refuels from a KC-46 over the Nevada Test and Training Range in November. Photo by Savanah Bray/U.S. Air Force
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Boeing was awarded a $189.3 million contract modification Thursday for repairs and support equipment of the F-15's Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System. Per the Pentagon's contract announcement, the deal modifies an earlier contract for low-rate initial production to add funding for property repair, acquisition of support equipment, technical Made by BAE Systems, the EPAWSS is an integrated digital avionics system designed to protect the F-15E Eagle against enemy air defense systems by providing radar warning, geo-location and situational awareness. Advertisement
The F-15E Eagle Fleet at California's Air Force Base began testing the EPAWSS system on aircraft in April.
The EPAWSS was also one of the "prioritized tests" during an exercise called Large Force Test Event 20.03 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
Once operational, the EPAWSS system is designed to replace the Tactical Electronic Warfare System currently used on the F-15, described in an April press release from the Air Force as using "1970s analog technology designed for combat operations in environments defended by 1980s-era radar-based ground and air threats."


upi--2020-12-31--Watch: Tulsa, Mississippi State players brawl at end of Armed Forces Bowl

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- No .
24 Tulsa and Mississippi State got into a massive brawl following the Bulldogs ' 28-26 win over the Golden Hurricane in the Armed Forces Bowl on Thursday at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth , Texas .
It remains unclear what sparked the all-out fight , which featured kicking and punching from several players on both teams .
During the postgame handshake , players started to shove each other near midfield before the scuffle spilled down the sideline .
`` It 's dumb .
The root of it is dumb , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is .
The root of it is dumb and the continuation of it is dumb , '' Mississippi State head football coach Mike Leach said after the game .
`` I would have that solidly in the category of dumb .
Now where the dumb started , I 'm not entirely sure . ''
Tulsa head coach Phillip Montgomery also did n't provide a motive for the brawl .
`` The one thing I 'll say is our program , our guys , we 're a team that is going to stand up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to battle , '' Montgomery said .
`` We talked about faith , family , football , and family is going to take care of family .
We 're a team that has battled all year long .
`` We battled again today and from that standpoint our guys are going to continue to protect each other and go from there . ''
Leach said a group of Tulsa players hovered around the Bulldogs ' pre-game warmups and `` were talking , '' but he would n't speculate further about what could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't seen enough film or anything like that to entirely let us off the hook on this thing by any stretch , '' Leach said .
The game was chippy after the pre-game incident between the two schools .
Tulsa and Mississippi State combined for 18 penalties in the bowl game .
In a statement , Tulsa said it is `` reviewing the conduct that followed today 's bowl game . ''
Tulsa safety Kendarin Ray was seen being escorted off the field with an injury following the brawl .
`` I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concussion and we 'll leave it at that , '' Montgomery said .
Tulsa ended the 2020 season with a 6-3 record .
Mississippi State went 4-7 this season .

Dec. 31 (UPI) -- No. 24 Tulsa and Mississippi State got into a massive brawl following the Bulldogs' 28-26 win over the Golden Hurricane in the Armed Forces Bowl on Thursday at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.
It remains unclear what sparked the all-out fight, which featured kicking and punching from several players on both teams. During the postgame handshake, players started to shove each other near midfield before the scuffle spilled down the sideline.
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"It's dumb. The root of it is dumb, no matter what the root of it is. The root of it is dumb and the continuation of it is dumb," Mississippi State head football coach Mike Leach said after the game. "I would have that solidly in the category of dumb. Now where the dumb started, I'm not entirely sure."
Tulsa head coach Phillip Montgomery also didn't provide a motive for the brawl.
"The one thing I'll say is our program, our guys, we're a team that is going to stand up for each other and we're going to battle," Montgomery said. "We talked about faith, family, football, and family is going to take care of family. We're a team that has battled all year long.
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"We battled again today and from that standpoint our guys are going to continue to protect each other and go from there."
A massive brawl broke out at the end of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl between Tulsa and Mississippi State. pic.twitter.com/zfaq912SWU— ESPN (@espn) December 31, 2020
Leach said a group of Tulsa players hovered around the Bulldogs' pre-game warmups and "were talking," but he wouldn't speculate further about what could have caused the skirmish.
"I haven't seen enough film or anything like that to entirely let us off the hook on this thing by any stretch," Leach said.
The game was chippy after the pre-game incident between the two schools. Tulsa and Mississippi State combined for 18 penalties in the bowl game.
In a statement, Tulsa said it is "reviewing the conduct that followed today's bowl game."
Tulsa safety Kendarin Ray was seen being escorted off the field with an injury following the brawl.
"I think he has probably some version of a concussion and we'll leave it at that," Montgomery said.
Tulsa ended the 2020 season with a 6-3 record. Mississippi State went 4-7 this season.


upi--2020-12-31--Dow, S&P 500 hit record highs on final day of trading in 2020

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S & P 500 rose to record highs at the end of trading on Thursday to close 2020 .
The Dow rose 196.92 points , or 0.65 % , to close at a record 30,606.48 while the S & P 500 rose 0.64 % to 3,756.07 points .
The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.14 % .
Intel stock rose 2.19 % to lead the Dow higher , while the S & P 500 's financials and utilities sectors each rose more than 1 % to propel the index to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic rocked the stock market early in the year , all three benchmarks closed with gains for a second consecutive year .
`` 2020 is coming to an end .
Unfortunately , 2021 is going to start out looking a lot like 2020 , but hopefully , by the end of the year , it 's looking more like something better , '' Bespoke Investment Group co-founder Paul Hickey wrote in a note to clients .
Equities fell in February and March at the onset of the pandemic , however , the Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markets , leading to a strong rebound through the end of the year .
Despite modest gains on Thursday , the Nasdaq was the best performing index in 2020 , gaining 43.6 % for the year , it 's best one-year performance since 2009 , as tech stocks soared amid the pandemic .
The S & P 500 has gained 16.3 % in a volatile 2020 that saw it close up or down at least 1 % on 110 of the 253 trading days , compared to 38 days in 2019 , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a drop of 12 % in March .
Rounding out the three benchmarks was the Dow , which rose 7.3 % in 2020 .

Wall Street ended 2020 with a bang as the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 both rose to record highs on the final day of trading for the year. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 rose to record highs at the end of trading on Thursday to close 2020. The Dow rose 196.92 points, or 0.65%, to close at a record 30,606.48 while the S&P 500 rose 0.64% to 3,756.07 points. The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.14%. Advertisement
Intel stock rose 2.19% to lead the Dow higher, while the S&P 500's financials and utilities sectors each rose more than 1% to propel the index to a year-end gain.
While the COVID-19 pandemic rocked the stock market early in the year, all three benchmarks closed with gains for a second consecutive year.
"2020 is coming to an end. Unfortunately, 2021 is going to start out looking a lot like 2020, but hopefully, by the end of the year, it's looking more like something better," Bespoke Investment Group co-founder Paul Hickey wrote in a note to clients.
Equities fell in February and March at the onset of the pandemic, however, the Federal Reserve stepped in to shore up credit markets, leading to a strong rebound through the end of the year.
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Despite modest gains on Thursday, the Nasdaq was the best performing index in 2020, gaining 43.6% for the year, it's best one-year performance since 2009, as tech stocks soared amid the pandemic.
The S&P 500 has gained 16.3% in a volatile 2020 that saw it close up or down at least 1% on 110 of the 253 trading days, compared to 38 days in 2019, including two rallies of more than 9% and a drop of 12% in March.
Rounding out the three benchmarks was the Dow, which rose 7.3% in 2020.


upi--2020-12-31--County supervisor asks Gov. Newsom to bring USNS Mercy back to L.A.

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- A Los Angeles County supervisor has asked California Gov .
Gavin Newsom to request that the USNS Mercy , a 1,000-bed hospital ship , return to the city to help fight COVID-19 .
`` The USNS Mercy can add more emergency care capacity for patients not suffering from COVID-19 related health complications , '' she wrote .
`` This will in turn alleviate the burden on hospitals , so they can focus on severely ill COVID-19 patients .
I also ask that you call on our federal partners to bring back the USNS Mercy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Los Angeles .
Emergency departments throughout LA County are overwhelmed and can not take in all patients in need of urgent care . ''
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surged through the Christmas holiday , and Hahn noted that public health officials anticipate a `` surge upon a surge '' in the coming weeks due to Christmas and New Year 's celebrations .
On Wednesday , 7,415 individuals in L.A. County were hospitalized with the virus and 10,392 new cases were reported , according to the county 's COVID-19 dashboard .
The Mercy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diego , docked in L.A. in March to treat patients requiring non-COVID-related care as hospitals in the area were overwhelmed .
The vessel left in May after treating 77 patients , 36 of whom visited for surgeries .

A Los Angeles County supervisor has asked for the return of the USNS Mercy, a 1,000-bed hospital ship that docked in Los Angeles in March. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles County supervisor has asked California Gov. Gavin Newsom to request that the USNS Mercy, a 1,000-bed hospital ship, return to the city to help fight COVID-19. "The USNS Mercy can add more emergency care capacity for patients not suffering from COVID-19 related health complications," she wrote. "This will in turn alleviate the burden on hospitals, so they can focus on severely ill COVID-19 patients. I also ask that you call on our federal partners to bring back the USNS Mercy with accompanying medical staff to the Port of Los Angeles. Emergency departments throughout LA County are overwhelmed and cannot take in all patients in need of urgent care." Advertisement
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surged through the Christmas holiday, and Hahn noted that public health officials anticipate a "surge upon a surge" in the coming weeks due to Christmas and New Year's celebrations.
On Wednesday, 7,415 individuals in L.A. County were hospitalized with the virus and 10,392 new cases were reported, according to the county's COVID-19 dashboard.
The Mercy, which is home ported in San Diego, docked in L.A. in March to treat patients requiring non-COVID-related care as hospitals in the area were overwhelmed.
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The vessel left in May after treating 77 patients, 36 of whom visited for surgeries.


Notable deaths of 2020

ATL97100702-8 OCTOBER 1997-ATLANTA , GEORGIA , USA : Phil Niekro tosses the ceremonial first pitch prior to game one of @ @ @ @ @ between the Florida Marlins and the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field in Atlanta on October @ @ @ @ @ former Braves pitcher , known for his signature knuckleball , died on December 26 at @ @ @ @ @ a long battle with cancer .
Photo by Jim Middleton/UPI

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


upi--2020-12-31--Former  Pa. governor, U.S. attorney general Richard Thornburgh dies at 88

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- Richard Thornburgh , the former Pennsylvania governor and U.S. attorney general , died Thursday , his son said .
He was 88 .
David Thornburgh confirmed his father died at a retirement community in Oakmont , Pa. , but did not cite a specific cause , The Washington Post reported .
Thornburgh notably led the state of Pennsylvania through the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident in 1979 and went on to serve as attorney general under President Ronald Reagan from 1988 to 1991 .
`` Gov .
Thornburgh was a personal hero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passion for public service and the people of his beloved Pennsylvania was still obvious long after he left office , '' former Gov .
Mark Schweiker said Thursday .
`` In examining everything he did during the crisis at Three Mile Island , his leadership was thoughtful and strong at a time when the commonwealth needed it most . ''
Born in the Pittsburgh suburb of Rosslyn Farms on July 16 , 1932 , Thornburgh received a bachelor 's degree in engineering from Yale University in 1954 and graduated from the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1963 , but was named U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania by President Richard Nixon in 1969 .
As the U.S. attorney , Thornburgh made a name for himself winning convictions against organized-crime figures , police chiefs , city council members , mayors and other public officials who received bribes from mobsters .
After being elevated to assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department 's criminal division in 1975 , he was elected governor after defeating former Pittsburgh mayor Peter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the year after Thornburgh was elected governor , reactor Unit No .
2 at the Three Mile Island nuclear facility melted down , forcing him to order evacuations in the surrounding area .
In the following years Thornburgh coordinated Three Mile Island cleanup efforts and helped to revamp the state 's industrial-based economy .
Reagan tapped Thornburgh to replace Attorney General Edwin Meese III , in 1988 after he resigned amid charges of ethics violations .
As attorney general , he worked with Congress to develop the Americans with Disabilities Act , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental disabilities and led efforts against white-collar crime .
Thornburgh is survived by his wife , four sons , six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren .

Richard Thornburgh, who served as governor of Pennsylvania during the Three Mile Island Crisis and as attorney general under President Ronald Reagan, died at age 88. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Richard Thornburgh, the former Pennsylvania governor and U.S. attorney general, died Thursday, his son said. He was 88. David Thornburgh confirmed his father died at a retirement community in Oakmont, Pa., but did not cite a specific cause, The Washington Post reported. Advertisement
Thornburgh notably led the state of Pennsylvania through the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident in 1979 and went on to serve as attorney general under President Ronald Reagan from 1988 to 1991.
"Gov. Thornburgh was a personal hero and a leader to emulate. His passion for public service and the people of his beloved Pennsylvania was still obvious long after he left office," former Gov. Mark Schweiker said Thursday.
"In examining everything he did during the crisis at Three Mile Island, his leadership was thoughtful and strong at a time when the commonwealth needed it most."
Born in the Pittsburgh suburb of Rosslyn Farms on July 16, 1932, Thornburgh received a bachelor's degree in engineering from Yale University in 1954 and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh law school in 1957.
He unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1963, but was named U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania by President Richard Nixon in 1969.
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As the U.S. attorney, Thornburgh made a name for himself winning convictions against organized-crime figures, police chiefs, city council members, mayors and other public officials who received bribes from mobsters.
After being elevated to assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department's criminal division in 1975, he was elected governor after defeating former Pittsburgh mayor Peter Flaherty in 1978.
On March 28, the year after Thornburgh was elected governor, reactor Unit No. 2 at the Three Mile Island nuclear facility melted down, forcing him to order evacuations in the surrounding area.
In the following years Thornburgh coordinated Three Mile Island cleanup efforts and helped to revamp the state's industrial-based economy.
Reagan tapped Thornburgh to replace Attorney General Edwin Meese III, in 1988 after he resigned amid charges of ethics violations.
As attorney general, he worked with Congress to develop the Americans with Disabilities Act, prohibiting discrimination against people with physical and mental disabilities and led efforts against white-collar crime.
Thornburgh is survived by his wife, four sons, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-12-31--Pentagon reinstates military travel restrictions amid vaccine rollout

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- The majority of military installations have reinstated travel restrictions as COVID-19 case counts spike among military members and the federal government continues its rollout of the vaccine .
According to a Pentagon document published this week , 59 of 62 naval bases had travel restrictions reinstated , and 140 of 231 U.S. military installations around the world -- or 71 % -- were under some form of restriction .
Among Navy bases , just Naval Station Rota in Spain , Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in Cuba , and Naval Support Activity Bahrain were open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- 35 -- of the Air Force 's 80 installations -- are under travel restrictions , where the Army only has 28 of 68 installations open and the Marine Corps has lifted restrictions at 14 of its 17 installations .
The last time there were that few bases open for travel was July 13 .
Then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper began restricting travel for military personnel and their families , and in May signed a memorandum laying out the conditions needed to allow for travel to and from bases .
Since then , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of 231 , or 66 % , on Nov. 4 .
But rising case counts due to the holiday season and cooler weather have forced more installations to close .
As of Wednesday the Pentagon had reported a total of 162,764 cases across the Department of Defense since the pandemic began -- up from 120,398 at the beginning of December .
Of those , 105,871 were among active-duty military , 29,582 among civilian DoD employees , 16,984 among dependents and 10,327 among contractors .
Among those testing positive , 180 have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have recovered .
The Army has been hit hardest by the virus , with 37,736 cases being reported .
U.S. military personnel began receiving vaccinations in Europe and Britain this week , as did military and civilian healthcare workers , first responders and the U.S .
Forces Korea command team .
USFK tightened coronavirus restrictions earlier this month , but has continued to report new cases -- most recently a retired service member and his spouse who tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday .
Also Wednesday , three U.S. military bases in Japan reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Pentagon said Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines had been distributed to more than 150 DoD vaccine administration sites in the United States and overseas .
Since Dec. 13 , the DoD has received more than 160,000 vaccine doses from the U.S. allocation , officials said .

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Anna Murray opens the first box of COVID-19 vaccinations delivered to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, on Sunday. Photo by Jessi Monte/U.S. Air Force
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The majority of military installations have reinstated travel restrictions as COVID-19 case counts spike among military members and the federal government continues its rollout of the vaccine. According to a Pentagon document published this week, 59 of 62 naval bases had travel restrictions reinstated, and 140 of 231 U.S. military installations around the world -- or 71% -- were under some form of restriction. Advertisement
Among Navy bases, just Naval Station Rota in Spain, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, and Naval Support Activity Bahrain were open for travel.
A little under half -- 35 -- of the Air Force's 80 installations -- are under travel restrictions, where the Army only has 28 of 68 installations open and the Marine Corps has lifted restrictions at 14 of its 17 installations.
The last time there were that few bases open for travel was July 13.
Then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper began restricting travel for military personnel and their families, and in May signed a memorandum laying out the conditions needed to allow for travel to and from bases.
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Since then, the highest number of open bases was 153 out of 231, or 66%, on Nov. 4. But rising case counts due to the holiday season and cooler weather have forced more installations to close.
As of Wednesday the Pentagon had reported a total of 162,764 cases across the Department of Defense since the pandemic began -- up from 120,398 at the beginning of December.
Of those, 105,871 were among active-duty military, 29,582 among civilian DoD employees, 16,984 among dependents and 10,327 among contractors.
Among those testing positive, 180 have died, 2,318 have been hospitalized and 100,851 have recovered.
The Army has been hit hardest by the virus, with 37,736 cases being reported.
U.S. military personnel began receiving vaccinations in Europe and Britain this week, as did military and civilian healthcare workers, first responders and the U.S. Forces Korea command team.
USFK tightened coronavirus restrictions earlier this month, but has continued to report new cases -- most recently a retired service member and his spouse who tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday.
Also Wednesday, three U.S. military bases in Japan reported 57 new coronavirus cases.
On Thursday the Pentagon said Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines had been distributed to more than 150 DoD vaccine administration sites in the United States and overseas.
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Since Dec. 13, the DoD has received more than 160,000 vaccine doses from the U.S. allocation, officials said.


upi--2020-12-31--Asian tiger mosquito presents limited risk for Zika virus outbreaks

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- The Asian tiger mosquito poses only a minor risk for Zika virus , according to new epidemiological simulations .
The yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti is the primary vector for Zika virus , the infectious disease that can spread from mother to fetus , causing congenital deformities .
However , lab experiments have previously shown the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus can carry and transmit the disease .
In 2019 , scientists in France blamed several instances of Zika infection and transmission on the Asian tiger mosquito , an aggressive biter that originates from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperate Europe .
Thanks to its ability to survive harsh winters , the Asian tiger mosquito is now found all over the world .
The species is the second-most common vector of viral pathogens in humans , but until now , its ability to trigger major Zika virus outbreaks had n't been investigated .
For the study , published Thursday in the journal PLOS Pathogens , researchers exposed Asian tiger mosquitoes to the Zika virus and assessed the insect 's ability to carry and transmit the virus in variety of lab experiments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus infection in humans , and designed new epidemiological simulations to gauge the ability of the species to trigger large-scale Zika outbreaks .
The combination of experiments and models showed the greatest risk of Zika transmission occurred during the symptomatic stage of the disease .
During the symptomatic stage , scientists estimated the odds of a mosquito picking up the disease at 20 percent .
`` Despite these unfavorable characteristics for transmission , Ae .
albopictus was still able to trigger and yield large outbreaks in a simulated environment in the presence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers wrote in their paper .
`` Our results reveal a low but existing epidemic potential of Ae .
albopictus for Zika . ''
Even with a low risk of causing Zika outbreaks in Europe , researchers suggest active surveillance and eradication programs should be deployed to safeguard public health in places with significant Asian tiger mosquito populations .

A car spraying for mosquitos drives through the media village at dusk in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in July 2016 as part of prevention efforts against mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The Asian tiger mosquito poses only a minor risk for Zika virus, according to new epidemiological simulations. The yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti is the primary vector for Zika virus, the infectious disease that can spread from mother to fetus, causing congenital deformities. Advertisement
However, lab experiments have previously shown the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus can carry and transmit the disease.
In 2019, scientists in France blamed several instances of Zika infection and transmission on the Asian tiger mosquito, an aggressive biter that originates from Southeast Asia but has colonized much of temperate Europe.
Thanks to its ability to survive harsh winters, the Asian tiger mosquito is now found all over the world.
The species is the second-most common vector of viral pathogens in humans, but until now, its ability to trigger major Zika virus outbreaks hadn't been investigated.
For the study, published Thursday in the journal PLOS Pathogens, researchers exposed Asian tiger mosquitoes to the Zika virus and assessed the insect's ability to carry and transmit the virus in variety of lab experiments.
Scientists also modeled the dynamics of Zika virus infection in humans, and designed new epidemiological simulations to gauge the ability of the species to trigger large-scale Zika outbreaks.
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The combination of experiments and models showed the greatest risk of Zika transmission occurred during the symptomatic stage of the disease.
During the symptomatic stage, scientists estimated the odds of a mosquito picking up the disease at 20 percent.
"Despite these unfavorable characteristics for transmission, Ae. albopictus was still able to trigger and yield large outbreaks in a simulated environment in the presence of sufficiently high mosquito biting rates," researchers wrote in their paper. "Our results reveal a low but existing epidemic potential of Ae. albopictus for Zika."
Even with a low risk of causing Zika outbreaks in Europe, researchers suggest active surveillance and eradication programs should be deployed to safeguard public health in places with significant Asian tiger mosquito populations.


upi--2020-12-31--Scientists figure out how to make desalination membranes more efficient

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- Desalination membranes are used around the world to to remove salt and other chemicals from water , yielding vital water for both agriculture and human consumption .
Despite their widespread deployment , scientists have struggled to identify the material characteristics that influence the efficiency of desalination membranes .
The latest research , published Wednesday in the journal Science , showed most current membranes featured highly variable densities , reducing their efficiency .
By creating more uniform density at tiny scales , researchers were able to increase the amount of clean water the membranes can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widely used for cleaning water , but there 's still a lot we do n't know about them , '' study co-author Manish Kumar said in a news release .
`` We could n't really say how water moves through them , so all the improvements over the past 40 years have essentially been done in the dark , '' said Kumar , an associate professor of environmental engineering at the University of Texas , Austin .
The membranes with uniform densities were 30 to 40 percent more efficient , allowing them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less energy .
Authors of the new paper hope their research will inspire the development of newer , more efficient desalination projects , which can supply clean water to residential homes , farms and other types of users .
`` Fresh water management is becoming a crucial challenge throughout the world , '' said co-author Enrique Gomez .
`` Shortages , droughts -- with increasing severe weather patterns , it is expected this problem will become even more significant .
It 's critically important to have clean water availability , especially in low-resource @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor of chemical engineering at Penn State University .
The new research , funded by the National Science Foundation and DuPont , was spawned after scientists at DuPont noted thicker desalination membranes were more efficient than thinner membranes -- the opposite of what scientists expected .
Now , researchers know the efficiency difference can be explained by the enhanced uniformity found in thicker membranes .

A new analysis showed membranes with greater density uniformity were able to more efficiently desalinate and purify water. Photo by Enrique Gomez/Penn State
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Desalination membranes are used around the world to to remove salt and other chemicals from water, yielding vital water for both agriculture and human consumption. Despite their widespread deployment, scientists have struggled to identify the material characteristics that influence the efficiency of desalination membranes. Advertisement
The latest research, published Wednesday in the journal Science, showed most current membranes featured highly variable densities, reducing their efficiency.
By creating more uniform density at tiny scales, researchers were able to increase the amount of clean water the membranes can produce.
"Reverse osmosis membranes are widely used for cleaning water, but there's still a lot we don't know about them," study co-author Manish Kumar said in a news release.
"We couldn't really say how water moves through them, so all the improvements over the past 40 years have essentially been done in the dark," said Kumar, an associate professor of environmental engineering at the University of Texas, Austin.
The membranes with uniform densities were 30 to 40 percent more efficient, allowing them to produce more clean water, while using less energy.
Authors of the new paper hope their research will inspire the development of newer, more efficient desalination projects, which can supply clean water to residential homes, farms and other types of users.
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"Fresh water management is becoming a crucial challenge throughout the world," said co-author Enrique Gomez.
"Shortages, droughts -- with increasing severe weather patterns, it is expected this problem will become even more significant. It's critically important to have clean water availability, especially in low-resource areas," said Gomez, a professor of chemical engineering at Penn State University.
The new research, funded by the National Science Foundation and DuPont, was spawned after scientists at DuPont noted thicker desalination membranes were more efficient than thinner membranes -- the opposite of what scientists expected.
Now, researchers know the efficiency difference can be explained by the enhanced uniformity found in thicker membranes.


upi--2020-12-31--Genetic mutations that cause malaria drug resistance common in Asia, Africa

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- Genetic mutations that fuel resistance to a drug intended to prevent malaria in pregnant women and children are common in countries that are fighting the disease , according to a PLOS Genetics analysis .
Mutations of a gene linked with resistance to the drug sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in the parasite that causes malaria were discovered in one-fourth of the samples collected in southeast Asia and one-third of those obtained in Africa , the researchers said .
The growth in the number of malaria parasites with mutations to the gene pfgch1 are concerning because they may increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We need to understand how these mutations work and monitor them as part of malaria surveillance programs , '' study co-author Taane Clark , a professor of genomics and global health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , said in a statement .
Malaria causes more than 400,000 deaths worldwide annually , with most occurring in young children in sub-Saharan Africa , according to the World Health Organization .
Efforts to control the disease have been hampered by the rise of drug-resistant strains of the parasite species that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his colleagues .
Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine , once a first-line anti-malaria treatment , now is used primarily to prevent infection in pregnant women and children because the parasite Plasmodium falciparum has become resistant to it , the researchers said .
Malaria is spread when female Anopheles gambiae mosquitos carrying the parasite bite humans and feed on their blood , according to the researchers .
For the study , Clark and colleagues analyzed genome sequences from 4,134 blood samples of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite collected from 29 countries in which malaria is endemic .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gene in the samples , which they said indicates that strains carrying the mutations may be on the rise .
The growth in these mutations could threaten efforts to use sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine to prevent malaria in communities at high-risk for severe disease , the researchers said .
However , with the identification of these mutations , researchers may be able to monitor their presence in parasite populations to understand where the drug can be used effectively and where rates of drug-resistance already are too high .
That may be particularly crucial given that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by PLOS Pathogens , found that multiple bouts of blood feeding by malaria-carrying mosquitos shorten the incubation period for the virus and increase its transmission potential .
An additional blood feed three days after infection with Plasmodium falciparum accelerates the growth of the malaria parasite , shortening the incubation period required before transmission to humans can occur , the researchers said .
Given that mosquitoes feed on blood multiple times in natural settings , malaria transmission potential is likely higher than previously thought , making disease elimination more difficult , they said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in genetically modified mosquitoes with reduced reproductive capacity , suggesting that control strategies using this approach , with the aim of suppressing Anopheles populations , may inadvertently aid malaria transmission , according to the researchers .
The parasites can also be transmitted by younger mosquitoes , which are less susceptible to insecticides , the researchers said .
The findings could help to more accurately understand malaria transmission potential and better estimate the true impact of current and future mosquito control measures , according to the researchers .
`` We wanted to capture the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ malaria-transmitting mosquitoes are feeding on blood roughly every two to three days , '' study co-author W. Robert Shaw said in a statement .
`` Our study shows that this natural behavior strongly promotes the transmission potential of malaria parasites , in previously unappreciated ways , '' said Shaw , a research scientist at Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health .

Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Genetic mutations that fuel resistance to a drug intended to prevent malaria in pregnant women and children are common in countries that are fighting the disease, according to a PLOS Genetics analysis.
Mutations of a gene linked with resistance to the drug sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in the parasite that causes malaria were discovered in one-fourth of the samples collected in southeast Asia and one-third of those obtained in Africa, the researchers said.
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The growth in the number of malaria parasites with mutations to the gene pfgch1 are concerning because they may increase resistance to the drug, they said.
"We need to understand how these mutations work and monitor them as part of malaria surveillance programs," study co-author Taane Clark, a professor of genomics and global health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said in a statement.
Advertisement
Malaria causes more than 400,000 deaths worldwide annually, with most occurring in young children in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the World Health Organization.
Efforts to control the disease have been hampered by the rise of drug-resistant strains of the parasite species that causes the disease, according to Clark and his colleagues.
Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, once a first-line anti-malaria treatment, now is used primarily to prevent infection in pregnant women and children because the parasite Plasmodium falciparum has become resistant to it, the researchers said.
Malaria is spread when female Anopheles gambiae mosquitos carrying the parasite bite humans and feed on their blood, according to the researchers.
For the study, Clark and colleagues analyzed genome sequences from 4,134 blood samples of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite collected from 29 countries in which malaria is endemic.
They discovered at least 10 different versions of the gene in the samples, which they said indicates that strains carrying the mutations may be on the rise.
The growth in these mutations could threaten efforts to use sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine to prevent malaria in communities at high-risk for severe disease, the researchers said.
However, with the identification of these mutations, researchers may be able to monitor their presence in parasite populations to understand where the drug can be used effectively and where rates of drug-resistance already are too high.
Advertisement
That may be particularly crucial given that a separate analysis, also published Thursday by PLOS Pathogens, found that multiple bouts of blood feeding by malaria-carrying mosquitos shorten the incubation period for the virus and increase its transmission potential.
An additional blood feed three days after infection with Plasmodium falciparum accelerates the growth of the malaria parasite, shortening the incubation period required before transmission to humans can occur, the researchers said.
Given that mosquitoes feed on blood multiple times in natural settings, malaria transmission potential is likely higher than previously thought, making disease elimination more difficult, they said.
In addition, parasite growth is accelerated in genetically modified mosquitoes with reduced reproductive capacity, suggesting that control strategies using this approach, with the aim of suppressing Anopheles populations, may inadvertently aid malaria transmission, according to the researchers.
The parasites can also be transmitted by younger mosquitoes, which are less susceptible to insecticides, the researchers said.
The findings could help to more accurately understand malaria transmission potential and better estimate the true impact of current and future mosquito control measures, according to the researchers.
"We wanted to capture the fact that, in endemic regions, malaria-transmitting mosquitoes are feeding on blood roughly every two to three days," study co-author W. Robert Shaw said in a statement.
Advertisement
"Our study shows that this natural behavior strongly promotes the transmission potential of malaria parasites, in previously unappreciated ways," said Shaw, a research scientist at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.


upi--2020-12-31--Sen. David Perdue to quarantine following exposure to COVID-19

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- Georgia Sen. David Perdue on Thursday announced he will quarantine following exposure to a @ @ @ @ @ a runoff race to defend his seat .
In a statement posted on Twitter , @ @ @ @ @ came into close contact with someone on the campaign who tested positive for COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ and his wife have been tested regularly throughout the campaign and that they both tested @ @ @ @ @ quarantine following his doctor 's recommendations and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines .
@ @ @ @ @ face Democratic challenges from Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock , respectively , that could shift @ @ @ @ @ to a 50-50 split if they lose their seats .
Perdue secured only a 1.8 @ @ @ @ @ last month 's general elections , necessitating a runoff as neither candidate secured a majority @ @ @ @ @ to take place on Jan. 5 but early voting has already begun .

Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., will quarantine following exposure to COVID-19 with a looming runoff election on Jan. 5, his campaign said Thursday. File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Georgia Sen. David Perdue on Thursday announced he will quarantine following exposure to a person infected by COVID-19 amid a runoff race to defend his seat. In a statement posted on Twitter, Perdue's campaign said he came into close contact with someone on the campaign who tested positive for COVID-19. Advertisement
The statement added that Perdue and his wife have been tested regularly throughout the campaign and that they both tested negative on Thursday but will quarantine following his doctor's recommendations and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Perdue and Sen. Kelly Loeffler face Democratic challenges from Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, respectively, that could shift the balance of the House to a 50-50 split if they lose their seats.
Perdue secured only a 1.8% lead over Ossoff in last month's general elections, necessitating a runoff as neither candidate secured a majority.
The runoff is set to take place on Jan. 5 but early voting has already begun.


upi--2020-12-31--Nebraska woman's $200,000 jackpot is her second lottery win

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- A Nebraska woman is entering the new year with some extra cash after she @ @ @ @ @ scratch-off lottery ticket -- her second big lottery prize .
Myrna Strain of Genoa told @ @ @ @ @ into AJ 's of Genoa to buy a drink and a scratch-off ticket , selecting @ @ @ @ @ ticket .
Strain said she was shocked when she revealed the $ 200,000 prize .
@ @ @ @ @ to collect a $ 5,000 prize from a $ 2,000,000 Explosion scratch-off ticket in 2019 @

Myrna Strain of Genoa, Neb., collected a $200,000 prize from a scratch-off lottery ticket after winning a $5,000 prize from another game in 2019. Photo courtesy of the Nebraska Lottery
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A Nebraska woman is entering the new year with some extra cash after she won $200,000 from a scratch-off lottery ticket -- her second big lottery prize. Myrna Strain of Genoa told Nebraska Lottery officials she went into AJ's of Genoa to buy a drink and a scratch-off ticket, selecting a $20 Royal Riches ticket. Advertisement
Strain said she was shocked when she revealed the $200,000 prize.
"I couldn't talk," she said.
Strain previously visited lottery headquarters to collect a $5,000 prize from a $2,000,000 Explosion scratch-off ticket in 2019.


upi--2020-12-31--In error, 42 in West Virginia received COVID-19 treatment, not vaccine

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- Forty-two people who went to a West Virginia clinic for a COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday received an antibody treatment `` in error , '' the state 's National Guard said Thursday .
`` Yesterday , the West Virginia National Guard learned of an error which resulted in 42 people receiving Regeneron antibody product instead of Moderna vaccine , '' the statement Thursday read .
`` The 42 individuals received the antibody product at a vaccination clinic hosted by staff at the Boone County Health Department . ''
Despite their receiving the antibody treatment via infusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administered by an injection in the arm , county health department administrator Julie Miller told CNBC in an email `` we do not believe there is any risk of harm . ''
Miller said everyone given the antibody treatment has been contacted .
`` It has been determined that this was an isolated incident , '' Miller said .
`` All of the affected individuals will be offered the COVID-19 vaccine today . ''
The West Virginia National Guard said Joint Interagency Task Force medical experts `` do not believe there is any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Dr. Clay Marsh , the state 's COVID-19 czar , said the antibody treatment mistakenly given was the `` same one administered to President Trump when he became infected . ''
What caused the mistake has not been disclosed .
`` But this occurrence provides our leadership team an important opportunity to review and improve the safety and process of vaccination for each West Virginian , '' Marsh said in his statement .
Across the state , 7,855 people were vaccinated Wednesday , and no other individuals received the antibody instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Guard .
`` The moment that we were notified of what happened , we acted right away to correct it , and we immediately reviewed and strengthened our protocols to enhance our distribution process to prevent this from happening again , '' Maj. James Hoyer , adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard , said in the statement .
`` I remain incredibly proud of all that our team has accomplished .
Our number one goal has been to save lives , and , as we continue to ramp up distribution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we continue to save more and more lives every day . ''
In a separate incident in Wisconsin , health officials had to throw out hundreds of doses of COVID-19 vaccine after a health worker intentionally spoiled them by removing them from refrigeration .
The U.S. administration 's vaccine rollout as a whole has fallen roughly 17 million short of its goal of inoculating 20 million people in 2020 , federal data shows .

Forty-two people in West Virginia were given an antibody treatment via infusion instead of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is administered by an injection in the arm. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Forty-two people who went to a West Virginia clinic for a COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday received an antibody treatment "in error," the state's National Guard said Thursday. "Yesterday, the West Virginia National Guard learned of an error which resulted in 42 people receiving Regeneron antibody product instead of Moderna vaccine," the statement Thursday read. Advertisement
"The 42 individuals received the antibody product at a vaccination clinic hosted by staff at the Boone County Health Department."
Despite their receiving the antibody treatment via infusion instead of the vaccine, which is administered by an injection in the arm, county health department administrator Julie Miller told CNBC in an email "we do not believe there is any risk of harm."
Miller said everyone given the antibody treatment has been contacted.
"It has been determined that this was an isolated incident," Miller said. "All of the affected individuals will be offered the COVID-19 vaccine today."
The West Virginia National Guard said Joint Interagency Task Force medical experts "do not believe there is any risk of harm to these 42 individuals."
Dr. Clay Marsh, the state's COVID-19 czar, said the antibody treatment mistakenly given was the "same one administered to President Trump when he became infected."
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What caused the mistake has not been disclosed.
"But this occurrence provides our leadership team an important opportunity to review and improve the safety and process of vaccination for each West Virginian," Marsh said in his statement.
Across the state, 7,855 people were vaccinated Wednesday, and no other individuals received the antibody instead of the vaccine, according to the National Guard.
"The moment that we were notified of what happened, we acted right away to correct it, and we immediately reviewed and strengthened our protocols to enhance our distribution process to prevent this from happening again," Maj. James Hoyer, adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard, said in the statement.
"I remain incredibly proud of all that our team has accomplished. Our number one goal has been to save lives, and, as we continue to ramp up distribution of the vaccine all across the state, we continue to save more and more lives every day."
In a separate incident in Wisconsin, health officials had to throw out hundreds of doses of COVID-19 vaccine after a health worker intentionally spoiled them by removing them from refrigeration.
The U.S. administration's vaccine rollout as a whole has fallen roughly 17 million short of its goal of inoculating 20 million people in 2020, federal data shows.


upi--2020-12-31--Watch: Pennsylvania Farm Show seeking butter sculptures for virtual contest

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- Organizers of the 105th Pennsylvania Farm Show , which will be held virtually , @ @ @ @ @ make butter sculptures for the `` Butter Up ! ''
contest .
The farm show @ @ @ @ @ Jan. 9-16 of sculptures crafted from up to 5 pounds of butter -- much smaller @ @ @ @ @ displayed at the in-person version of the event .
The winners will be selected by @ @ @ @ @ Facebook page and they will receive gift cards .
The rules state participants are allowed @ @ @ @ @ sculpting wire and a base to support the sculpture , but may not use food @ @ @ @ @ of coloring .

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Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Organizers of the 105th Pennsylvania Farm Show, which will be held virtually, are calling on residents to make butter sculptures for the "Butter Up!" contest.
The farm show said submissions will be accepted Jan. 9-16 of sculptures crafted from up to 5 pounds of butter -- much smaller than the 1,000-pound sculptures typically displayed at the in-person version of the event.
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The winners will be selected by followers of the Farm Show Facebook page and they will receive gift cards.
The rules state participants are allowed to use chicken wire, sculpting wire and a base to support the sculpture, but may not use food dye or any other type of coloring.


upi--2020-12-31--USS Nimitz leaves Somalia for home port after 10-month deployment

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- The USS Nimitz has left for its home port following a 10-month deployment , the Pentagon announced Thursday .
In a press release from the Department of Defense , Jonathan Rath Hoffman , assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs , said acting defense secretary Chrostopher Miller `` appreciates the hard work , commitment , and flexibility of more than 5,000 Sailors and Marines of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group . ''
The strike group `` repeatedly demonstrated operational excellence in providing air support to combat operations against terrorists in Iraq and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waterways , '' Raton Hoffman said .
Rath Hoffman also said the Nimitz crew `` provided persistent air cover during the troop drawdowns in Afghanistan '' and conducted operations and exercises in the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Indo-Pacific areas of responsibility .
Earlier this week , the Nimitz Strike Group was positioned off the coast of Africa to support the relocation of U.S. troops from Somalia to other parts of East Africa .
The strike group includes the Nimitz , its air wing of 60 aircraft , two guided-missile cruisers and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the month , the Pentagon announced that most of the 700 troops stationed in Somalia would be removed by early 2021 .
U.S. Africa Command commander Gen. Stephen Townsend later clarified that the U.S. would maintain a presence in East Africa .

A C-2 Greyhound, from the "Providers" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30, launches off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz Dec. 9. Photo by Greg Hall/U.S. Navy
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The USS Nimitz has left for its home port following a 10-month deployment, the Pentagon announced Thursday. In a press release from the Department of Defense, Jonathan Rath Hoffman, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, said acting defense secretary Chrostopher Miller "appreciates the hard work, commitment, and flexibility of more than 5,000 Sailors and Marines of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group." Advertisement
The strike group "repeatedly demonstrated operational excellence in providing air support to combat operations against terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan and ensuring maritime security in critical waterways," Raton Hoffman said.
Rath Hoffman also said the Nimitz crew "provided persistent air cover during the troop drawdowns in Afghanistan" and conducted operations and exercises in the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Indo-Pacific areas of responsibility.
Earlier this week, the Nimitz Strike Group was positioned off the coast of Africa to support the relocation of U.S. troops from Somalia to other parts of East Africa.
The strike group includes the Nimitz, its air wing of 60 aircraft, two guided-missile cruisers and a guided-missile destroyer.
At the beginning of the month, the Pentagon announced that most of the 700 troops stationed in Somalia would be removed by early 2021.
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U.S. Africa Command commander Gen. Stephen Townsend later clarified that the U.S. would maintain a presence in East Africa.


upi--2020-12-31--Bermuda family finds message in a bottle from U.S. boat crew

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- A Bermuda woman walking on a beach with her kids said finding a message in a bottle washed up on shore was a longtime dream come true .
Trina Davis Williams of Hamilton Parish said she and her kids , daughter K'ah , 7 , and son Kazai , 4 , were walking on a small beach in their neighborhood when they spotted a bottle among the trash that had recently washed up on shore .
`` While I was taking pictures of the trash-filled seaweed , I noticed the bottle sitting there .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ if it 's a letter in there . '
As a geocaching enthusiast , I am always looking for that 'special find . '
Today was our lucky day , '' she told The Royal Gazette .
Williams said she had to break the bottle to get it open , and was pleased to discover it contained a letter , a photograph , a postcard and a set of ear plugs .
Williams said she has long been on the hunt for a message in a bottle .
`` Every time I go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out for one , '' she said .
`` I am always on the lookout for treasures . ''
The postcard displayed a ship called the Albatross VI , and the note was signed by Orlando A. Thompson , who revealed the vessel was a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration boat and the message in a bottle was dropped into the water during the ship 's final voyage on Nov. 3 , 2008 .
`` This is our last time with the Albatross VI .
Scientists and crew on the ship had become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We have had lots of good times .
I will always talk about my engineering family .
I will miss you all coming aboard the Albatross VI . ''
The coordinates on the letter revealed it was dropped into the ocean off the coast of Rhode Island .
The address Thompson listed in his letter was no longer valid , but The Royal Gazette was able to help Williams get into contact with him .
Thompson said each member of the crew launched their own message in a bottle during the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is getting married in the summer and she previously decided on a nautical theme for the ceremony .
`` I told him about the wedding and that his bottle will be apart of the decor , '' she said .
`` He said he will try and come down in July for my wedding . ''
A North Carolina couple recently revealed they are trying to solve their own message in a bottle mystery .
Ann and Roy Huntley said they found the bottle on a beach in Ocracoke , and discovered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Huntleys said they are hoping the author of the message , which traveled 1,200 miles from Prince Edward Island , will come forward to help them figure out what the note said before it was damaged .

Trina Davis Williams of Hamilton Parish, Bermuda, said she was walking on a beach with her kids when they found a message in a bottle that had been tossed into the water in 2008 by a crew member from a boat that was about to be decommissioned. Photo by ariesa66/Pixabay.com
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A Bermuda woman walking on a beach with her kids said finding a message in a bottle washed up on shore was a longtime dream come true. Trina Davis Williams of Hamilton Parish said she and her kids, daughter K'ah, 7, and son Kazai, 4, were walking on a small beach in their neighborhood when they spotted a bottle among the trash that had recently washed up on shore. Advertisement
"While I was taking pictures of the trash-filled seaweed, I noticed the bottle sitting there. I jokingly said, 'I wonder if it's a letter in there.' As a geocaching enthusiast, I am always looking for that 'special find.' Today was our lucky day," she told The Royal Gazette.
Williams said she had to break the bottle to get it open, and was pleased to discover it contained a letter, a photograph, a postcard and a set of ear plugs.
Williams said she has long been on the hunt for a message in a bottle.
"Every time I go to the beach I keep an eye out for one," she said. "I am always on the lookout for treasures."
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The postcard displayed a ship called the Albatross VI, and the note was signed by Orlando A. Thompson, who revealed the vessel was a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration boat and the message in a bottle was dropped into the water during the ship's final voyage on Nov. 3, 2008.
"This is our last time with the Albatross VI. Scientists and crew on the ship had become like family," Thompson wrote. "We have had lots of good times. I will always talk about my engineering family. I will miss you all coming aboard the Albatross VI."
The coordinates on the letter revealed it was dropped into the ocean off the coast of Rhode Island.
The address Thompson listed in his letter was no longer valid, but The Royal Gazette was able to help Williams get into contact with him. Thompson said each member of the crew launched their own message in a bottle during the final voyage in 2008.
Williams said she is getting married in the summer and she previously decided on a nautical theme for the ceremony.
"I told him about the wedding and that his bottle will be apart of the decor," she said. "He said he will try and come down in July for my wedding."
Advertisement
A North Carolina couple recently revealed they are trying to solve their own message in a bottle mystery. Ann and Roy Huntley said they found the bottle on a beach in Ocracoke, and discovered the letter inside was badly damaged by water.
The Huntleys said they are hoping the author of the message, which traveled 1,200 miles from Prince Edward Island, will come forward to help them figure out what the note said before it was damaged.


upi--2020-12-31--Former NFL cornerback Michael Richardson charged in Arizona homicide

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- Former Chicago Bears cornerback Michael Calvin Richardson has been charged in connection with Arizona @ @ @ @ @ confirmed Thursday .
Richardson , 59 , was arrested Wednesday on the homicide charge related @ @ @ @ @ day earlier of Ronald Like , 47 , in Phoenix , Ariz. , and a @ @ @ @ @ on a felony warrant issued a a little more than a week before the shooting @ @ @ @ @ indicated Richardson `` is considered to be a drug dealer , '' and has a @ @ @ @ @ , including a record for possession of dangerous drugs for sale in February 2019 .
@ @ @ @ @ , dangerous drug possession for sale , and possession of weapon by prohibited person , @ @ @ @ @ County where he was booked show .
The former starting defensive cornerback when the Bears @ @ @ @ @ in 1985 played college football for Arizona State University and became a Sun Devils Hall @ @ @

This is a mugshot of Michael Calvin Richardson after his arrest. Photo courtesy of Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Former Chicago Bears cornerback Michael Calvin Richardson has been charged in connection with Arizona homicide, law enforcement officials confirmed Thursday. Richardson, 59, was arrested Wednesday on the homicide charge related to the fatal shooting a day earlier of Ronald Like, 47, in Phoenix, Ariz., and a charge of misconduct involving weapons on a felony warrant issued a a little more than a week before the shooting. Advertisement
Police said witness statements indicated Richardson "is considered to be a drug dealer," and has a history of felony drug offenses, including a record for possession of dangerous drugs for sale in February 2019.
Specific charges include second-degree murder, dangerous drug possession for sale, and possession of weapon by prohibited person, online jail records from Maricopa County where he was booked show.
A judge set a $1 million secured appearance bond. Richardson's preliminary hearing is scheduled Jan. 11.
The former starting defensive cornerback when the Bears won the Super Bowl championship in 1985 played college football for Arizona State University and became a Sun Devils Hall of Famer.


upi--2020-12-31--Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell again says 'no' to giving Americans $2,000 stimulus checks

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell again said `` no '' on Thursday to a proposal in Congress to increase stimulus payments to Americans to $ 2,000 , despite compromise efforts by Democrats .
Senate Democrats had offered to consider GOP priorities that McConnell attached to the issue on Tuesday , in exchange for McConnell allowing a floor vote in the chamber for a standalone bill to raise the stimulus payments .
With McConnell refusing the proposal , which passed the House this week and is supported by President Donald Trump , it means the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of giving struggling Americans more aid money .
A number of Republicans have also opposed the idea of increasing the amount , but McConnell is singlehandedly preventing the bill from even receiving an up-or-down vote .
McConnell first blocked the proposal on Tuesday , but said he would consider the raise as long as the Senate also considers two unrelated matters -- a provision to reduce legal protections for social media platforms and one creating an election integrity commission , both of which have been battles pushed by Trump in recent weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ both issues -- but the Republican leader still refused .
Schumer said allowing the Senate to vote on the standalone CASH Act -- rather than sandbagging it with the `` poison pill '' measures opposed by Democrats -- is the only way to get Americans `` the $ 2,000 checks they need and deserve . ''
McConnell on Thursday dismissed the proposal to give Americans more money as `` socialism for the rich . ''
Schumer answered , `` Just give us a vote on the House-passed bill , and we can vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Several other GOP senators have supported McConnell 's position , but Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham told Fox News Thursday that a standalone vote on the proposal `` might pass '' in the upper chamber .
If it did , the raise would then only need Trump 's signature to take effect .
Graham said he hopes the Senate will get another chance to consider the increase next week after the 117th Congress is seated on Sunday .
`` I 'd like a standalone vote in the new Congress on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` We have seven Republicans who 've already said they would vote for it .
We need five more .
I think if we had the vote , we would get there . ''
With the ongoing debate in the Senate , Trump returned from his Florida resort to the White House on Thursday , ahead of schedule .

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell walks from his office to the Senate floor on Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell again said "no" on Thursday to a proposal in Congress to increase stimulus payments to Americans to $2,000, despite compromise efforts by Democrats. Senate Democrats had offered to consider GOP priorities that McConnell attached to the issue on Tuesday, in exchange for McConnell allowing a floor vote in the chamber for a standalone bill to raise the stimulus payments. Advertisement
With McConnell refusing the proposal, which passed the House this week and is supported by President Donald Trump, it means the Senate can't vote on the prospect of giving struggling Americans more aid money.
A number of Republicans have also opposed the idea of increasing the amount, but McConnell is singlehandedly preventing the bill from even receiving an up-or-down vote.
McConnell first blocked the proposal on Tuesday, but said he would consider the raise as long as the Senate also considers two unrelated matters -- a provision to reduce legal protections for social media platforms and one creating an election integrity commission, both of which have been battles pushed by Trump in recent weeks.
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Thursday, Schumer offered McConnell votes on both issues -- but the Republican leader still refused.
Schumer said allowing the Senate to vote on the standalone CASH Act -- rather than sandbagging it with the "poison pill" measures opposed by Democrats -- is the only way to get Americans "the $2,000 checks they need and deserve."
McConnell on Thursday dismissed the proposal to give Americans more money as "socialism for the rich."
Schumer answered, "Just give us a vote on the House-passed bill, and we can vote on whatever right-wing conspiracy theory you like."
Several other GOP senators have supported McConnell's position, but Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham told Fox News Thursday that a standalone vote on the proposal "might pass" in the upper chamber. If it did, the raise would then only need Trump's signature to take effect.
Graham said he hopes the Senate will get another chance to consider the increase next week after the 117th Congress is seated on Sunday.
"I'd like a standalone vote in the new Congress on the $2,000 check," Graham said. "We have seven Republicans who've already said they would vote for it. We need five more. I think if we had the vote, we would get there."
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With the ongoing debate in the Senate, Trump returned from his Florida resort to the White House on Thursday, ahead of schedule.
Pictures of the Year: top U.S. news images for 2020


upi--2020-12-31--Chemotherapy drug may be effective against COVID-19, researchers say

Dec. 31 ( UPI ) -- The chemotherapy drug pralatrexate , originally developed to treat lymphoma , may be effective in patients with COVID-19 , according to a study published Thursday by the journal PLOS Computational Biology .
That 's based on the results generated by a new computational drug screening approach created by researchers in China and lab experiments conducted by their colleagues at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology in Shenzhen , China , the researchers said .
`` From our data , pralatrexate is able to potently inhibit [ COVID-19 ] replication [ better ] ... than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , executive director of the Center for High Performance Computing at the Shenzhen Institutes , told UPI .
Since the start of the global pandemic earlier this year , researchers have sought to repurpose existing drugs for use in infected patients , in an effort to develop an effective treatment more quickly .
Computational models can help identify potential drugs for repurposing by simulating how they would interact with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 , according to Wei and his colleagues .
For this study , the researchers combined multiple computational techniques with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They used this hybrid approach to screen 1,906 existing drugs for their potential ability to limit or stop the replication of COVID-19 -- the growth of the virus in the body -- by targeting a viral protein called RNA-dependent RNA polymerase , they said .
The novel screening approach identified four promising drugs , which then were tested against the virus in lab experiments , according to the researchers .
Two of the drugs , pralatrexate and azithromycin , successfully inhibited replication of the virus , with pralatrexate seemingly more effective than remdesivir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treat some COVID-19 patients , the researchers said .
`` However , more animal or clinical tests in humans are needed [ before ] these drugs can be used in the treatment of [ COVID-19 ] , '' Wei said .

A drug used for chemotherapy, pralatrexate, also may be effective against COVID-19, researchers found. Photo by klbz/ Pixabay
Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The chemotherapy drug pralatrexate, originally developed to treat lymphoma, may be effective in patients with COVID-19, according to a study published Thursday by the journal PLOS Computational Biology. That's based on the results generated by a new computational drug screening approach created by researchers in China and lab experiments conducted by their colleagues at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology in Shenzhen, China, the researchers said. Advertisement
"From our data, pralatrexate is able to potently inhibit [COVID-19] replication [better] ... than remdesivir," study co-author Yanjie Wei, executive director of the Center for High Performance Computing at the Shenzhen Institutes, told UPI.
Since the start of the global pandemic earlier this year, researchers have sought to repurpose existing drugs for use in infected patients, in an effort to develop an effective treatment more quickly.
Computational models can help identify potential drugs for repurposing by simulating how they would interact with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, according to Wei and his colleagues.
For this study, the researchers combined multiple computational techniques with deep-learning technologies that simulate drug-virus interactions.
They used this hybrid approach to screen 1,906 existing drugs for their potential ability to limit or stop the replication of COVID-19 -- the growth of the virus in the body -- by targeting a viral protein called RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, they said.
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The novel screening approach identified four promising drugs, which then were tested against the virus in lab experiments, according to the researchers.
Two of the drugs, pralatrexate and azithromycin, successfully inhibited replication of the virus, with pralatrexate seemingly more effective than remdesivir, a drug that is used to treat some COVID-19 patients, the researchers said.
"However, more animal or clinical tests in humans are needed [before] these drugs can be used in the treatment of [COVID-19]," Wei said.