upi--2020-05-31--Hall of Fame RB Floyd Little diagnosed with cancer

May 31 ( UPI ) -- Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little , who starred at Syracuse and with the Denver Broncos , has been diagnosed with cancer .
Pat Killorin , who played alongside Little at Syracuse , publicly announced the diagnosis in a GoFundMe page called `` Friends of Floyd , '' which will aid Little and his family with medical costs .
Little 's wife , DeBorah , confirmed the diagnosis .
`` Floyd 's determination and fortitude has guided him throughout his life , '' Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he will battle this challenge with the same focus .
In this battle , he will have all of Orange Nation by his side . ''
On the page , which was created May 17 , Killorin said Floyd was `` recently diagnosed with a treatable but aggressive form of cancer . ''
`` No doubt it will be the toughest fight of his life , '' Killorin wrote .
`` Although he has lived a full life admired and enjoyed by many , Floyd does n't believe he has yet written , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the final play of his life . ''
As of Sunday evening , the fundraiser has generated more than $ 17,000 in donations from 162 donors .
The page has set a goal of $ 250,000 to support Little and his family .
Little , 77 , was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame 's Class of 2010 .
He was a three-time All-American at Syracuse ( 1964-66 ) and was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 .
The Denver Broncos selected Little with the sixth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The star tailback , known as `` The Franchise , '' played nine seasons with the team and rushed for 6,323 yards with 43 touchdowns .
Little and his wife reside in Las Vegas .

May 31 (UPI) -- Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little, who starred at Syracuse and with the Denver Broncos, has been diagnosed with cancer.
Pat Killorin, who played alongside Little at Syracuse, publicly announced the diagnosis in a GoFundMe page called "Friends of Floyd," which will aid Little and his family with medical costs. Little's wife, DeBorah, confirmed the diagnosis.
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"Floyd's determination and fortitude has guided him throughout his life," Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack said in a statement Saturday night. "We know he will battle this challenge with the same focus. In this battle, he will have all of Orange Nation by his side."
On the page, which was created May 17, Killorin said Floyd was "recently diagnosed with a treatable but aggressive form of cancer."
"No doubt it will be the toughest fight of his life," Killorin wrote. "Although he has lived a full life admired and enjoyed by many, Floyd doesn't believe he has yet written, with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the final play of his life."
As of Sunday evening, the fundraiser has generated more than $17,000 in donations from 162 donors. The page has set a goal of $250,000 to support Little and his family.
Advertisement Orange Nation is with you, Floyd. You got this https://t.co/0tBEFyY5PN— Syracuse Athletics (@Cuse) May 31, 2020
Little, 77, was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2010. He was a three-time All-American at Syracuse (1964-66) and was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
The Denver Broncos selected Little with the sixth pick of the 1967 AFL-NFL Draft. The star tailback, known as "The Franchise," played nine seasons with the team and rushed for 6,323 yards with 43 touchdowns.
Little and his wife reside in Las Vegas.


upi--2020-05-31--Local leaders call for end to destruction in nationwide protests of George Floyd killing

May 31 ( UPI ) -- St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter on Sunday said that demonstrators unfamiliar to local activists are `` intent on sparking violence '' during protests in Minnesota sparked by the police-involved killing of George Floyd .
Carter told CBS News ' Face the Nation that advocates , including those associated , with the Black Lives Matter movement , have said they do not recognize those that have been involved with engaging in violence and that law enforcement are working to identify them .
`` Our concern is it seems very clear that while some of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just crying out to be heard -- that they believe that George Floyd should still be alive , that all four of those officers should be held accountable for their actions and that we have deep soul-searching work to do as a nation to stop this pattern from happening over and over again , '' he said .
`` There also seems to be people in those crowds who are very intent on sperking violence , on breaking windows , on starting fires and on trying to convince those folks to engage in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's State of the Union , Carter said more than 170 businesses have been damaged in St .
Cloud as protests have taken place to call for more severe punishment for the officers involved with Floyd 's killing in neighboring Minneapolis .
`` There 's no way that you can argue those actions are designed to produce a better future for our community .
Quite the opposite , '' he said .
Carter 's comments come after he on Saturday corrected earlier statements that all protesters who were arrested in the city Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were based on inaccurate information .
`` This morning I shared with you arrest data received in my morning police briefing which I later learned to be inaccurate , '' said Carter .
The mayors of Washington , D.C. and Atlanta called for peace on Sunday as protests have taken place throughout the nation .
At least two dozen cities , including Atlanta , enacted curfews on Saturday night , while at least 13 states and the District of Columbia have activated the National Guard in response to nationwide protests , seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officer Derek Chauvin who was seen kneeling on Floyd 's neck as he was unable to breathe and general reform of policing nationwide .
Appearing on NBC News ' Meet the Press , Washington , D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called for an end to destruction during the protests .
`` We 're sending a very clear message to people that they have a right to exercise their First Amendment rights , but not to destroy our city , '' Bowser said .
`` We saw a level of just destruction and mayhem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police fired pepper spray at protesters near the White House on Saturday night as some were seen throwing objects at police lines and setting fire to property in the area .
President Donald Trump has been critical of the protesters and threatened violent response including tweeting Friday night that any protesters who make their way onto White House property would be `` greeted with the most vicious dogs and most ominous weapons , I have ever seen . ''
Bowser criticized Trump 's response , saying `` the president has a responsibility to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He can start by not sending divisive tweets that are meant to harken to the segregationist past of our country , '' she said .
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms appealed to the frustration of the protesters , adding that there are `` no easy answers '' to the systemic problems at the heart of the demonstrations .
`` This is more of a systemic issue we are facing that will take time to address .
Certainly , acknowledging the deaths of so many innocent people in America -- there are no easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The solution is not to destroy our cities , '' Bottoms told NBC News .
National security adviser Robert O'Brien on Sunday told CNN 's State of the Union he does not believe there is systemic racism within America 's police system instead suggesting the issues are perpetrated by a smaller group of bad actors .
`` There is no doubt that there are some racist police , I think they 're the minority , I think they 're the few bad apples and we need to root them out , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the anti-fascist movement that has been associated with various other protests throughout the country , for driving the violence and said Trump and Attorney General William Barr are seeking information from FBI Director Christopher Wray about what steps the agency has been taking to dismantle , surveil and prosecute the group .
`` They 're militants who are -- are coming in and burning our cities , and we 're going to get to the bottom of it , '' O'Brien said .
Trump on Sunday tweeted that the United States would designate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not immediately provide any further details on potential action .
New York Politicians also reacted to video showing police vehicles driving through a barrier into a crowd of protesters on Saturday .
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson shared the video on Twitter , calling it outrageous .
`` Driving police vehicles into crowds of protesters is not de-escalation .
Shoving and beating nonviolent people is not de-escalation , '' he wrote .
`` If NYPD 's intent is to keep folks safe , this is n't it . ''
New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not criticize police officers and that the protesters in the video created an `` untenable '' situation .
`` I wish the officers had found a different approach .
But let 's begin at the beginning .
The protesters in that video did the wrong thing to surround them , surround that police car , period , '' said de Blasio .
`` This moment demands leadership and accountability from each of us .
Defending and making excuses for NYPD running SUVs into crowds was wrong , '' she wrote .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would conduct a full investigation into the actions of the officers .
Sen. Brian Schatz , D-Hawaii , also criticized the police response to the protests over the weekend in a tweet Sunday .
`` It is clear many police departments do n't train and supervise for restraint and de-escalation and some officers are just plain racist and violent , '' he wrote .
`` Combine this with a president who appears enthusiastic about making it worse and weaponry transferred from [ the Department of Defense ] and here we are . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to discontinue the program that transfers military weaponry to local police departments .

Demonstrators take to the streets to protest the police-involved killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, in Washington, D.C., on Friday. Photo by Alex Wroblewski/UPI | License Photo
May 31 (UPI) -- St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter on Sunday said that demonstrators unfamiliar to local activists are "intent on sparking violence" during protests in Minnesota sparked by the police-involved killing of George Floyd. Carter told CBS News' Face the Nation that advocates, including those associated, with the Black Lives Matter movement, have said they do not recognize those that have been involved with engaging in violence and that law enforcement are working to identify them. Advertisement
"Our concern is it seems very clear that while some of our folks out there in the streets are just crying out to be heard -- that they believe that George Floyd should still be alive, that all four of those officers should be held accountable for their actions and that we have deep soul-searching work to do as a nation to stop this pattern from happening over and over again," he said. "There also seems to be people in those crowds who are very intent on sperking violence, on breaking windows, on starting fires and on trying to convince those folks to engage in unlawful behavior."
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Appearing on CNN's State of the Union, Carter said more than 170 businesses have been damaged in St. Cloud as protests have taken place to call for more severe punishment for the officers involved with Floyd's killing in neighboring Minneapolis.
"There's no way that you can argue those actions are designed to produce a better future for our community. Quite the opposite," he said.
Carter's comments come after he on Saturday corrected earlier statements that all protesters who were arrested in the city Friday were from outside the state, saying they were based on inaccurate information.
"This morning I shared with you arrest data received in my morning police briefing which I later learned to be inaccurate," said Carter.
The mayors of Washington, D.C. and Atlanta called for peace on Sunday as protests have taken place throughout the nation.
At least two dozen cities, including Atlanta, enacted curfews on Saturday night, while at least 13 states and the District of Columbia have activated the National Guard in response to nationwide protests, seeking a first-degree murder charge for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin who was seen kneeling on Floyd's neck as he was unable to breathe and general reform of policing nationwide.
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Appearing on NBC News' Meet the Press, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called for an end to destruction during the protests.
"We're sending a very clear message to people that they have a right to exercise their First Amendment rights, but not to destroy our city," Bowser said. "We saw a level of just destruction and mayhem among some that was maddening."
Police fired pepper spray at protesters near the White House on Saturday night as some were seen throwing objects at police lines and setting fire to property in the area.
President Donald Trump has been critical of the protesters and threatened violent response including tweeting Friday night that any protesters who make their way onto White House property would be "greeted with the most vicious dogs and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen."
Bowser criticized Trump's response, saying "the president has a responsibility to help calm the nation."
"He can start by not sending divisive tweets that are meant to harken to the segregationist past of our country," she said.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms appealed to the frustration of the protesters, adding that there are "no easy answers" to the systemic problems at the heart of the demonstrations.
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"This is more of a systemic issue we are facing that will take time to address. Certainly, acknowledging the deaths of so many innocent people in America -- there are no easy answers but as Mayor Bowser says: The solution is not to destroy our cities," Bottoms told NBC News.
National security adviser Robert O'Brien on Sunday told CNN's State of the Union he does not believe there is systemic racism within America's police system instead suggesting the issues are perpetrated by a smaller group of bad actors.
"There is no doubt that there are some racist police, I think they're the minority, I think they're the few bad apples and we need to root them out," he said.
O'Brien also accused antifa, the anti-fascist movement that has been associated with various other protests throughout the country, for driving the violence and said Trump and Attorney General William Barr are seeking information from FBI Director Christopher Wray about what steps the agency has been taking to dismantle, surveil and prosecute the group.
"They're militants who are -- are coming in and burning our cities, and we're going to get to the bottom of it," O'Brien said.
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Trump on Sunday tweeted that the United States would designate antifa as a terrorist organization, but did not immediately provide any further details on potential action.
New York Politicians also reacted to video showing police vehicles driving through a barrier into a crowd of protesters on Saturday.
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson shared the video on Twitter, calling it outrageous.
"Driving police vehicles into crowds of protesters is not de-escalation. Shoving and beating nonviolent people is not de-escalation," he wrote. "If NYPD's intent is to keep folks safe, this isn't it."
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Saturday he would not criticize police officers and that the protesters in the video created an "untenable" situation.
"I wish the officers had found a different approach. But let's begin at the beginning. The protesters in that video did the wrong thing to surround them, surround that police car, period," said de Blasio.
U.S. House Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., called de Blasio's comments "unacceptable" in a tweet early Sunday morning.
"This moment demands leadership and accountability from each of us. Defending and making excuses for NYPD running SUVs into crowds was wrong," she wrote.
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On Sunday, de Blasio said the city would conduct a full investigation into the actions of the officers.
Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, also criticized the police response to the protests over the weekend in a tweet Sunday.
"It is clear many police departments don't train and supervise for restraint and de-escalation and some officers are just plain racist and violent," he wrote. "Combine this with a president who appears enthusiastic about making it worse and weaponry transferred from [the Department of Defense] and here we are."
Schatz said that he will introduce an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to discontinue the program that transfers military weaponry to local police departments.


upi--2020-05-31--Governments increase National Guard presence as protests continue Sunday

May 31 ( UPI ) -- State and local governments throughout the United States increased National Guard presence on Sunday in response to ongoing protests sparked by the police-involved killing of George Floyd .
Chief of the National Guard Bureau Gen. Joseph Lengyel announced that about 5,000 National Guard members had been activated in 15 states and Washington , D.C. as of Sunday afternoon with approximately 2,000 standing by .
`` Responding to civil unrest is the hardest mission your National Guard does .
Our unique longstanding partnerships with local civilian first responders mean we are always ready , always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where it 's needed , '' said Lengyel .
Colorado , Georgia , Indiana , Kentucky , Minnesota , North Carolina , Ohio , Pennsylvania , South Carolina , South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas , Utah , Washington , Wisconsin and the District of Columbia have already activated the National Guard .
President Donald Trump called on Philadelphia and other cities and states led by Democratic leaders to activate the National Guard in a series of tweets on Sunday describing the protesters as `` anarchists . ''
Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Guard on Sunday in response to a request form the city of Seattle .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis ' communications director said he had activated 400 National Guard members throughout the state on Saturday .
Additionally , more than 40 cities have imposed curfews for Sunday evening while Texas and Virginia issued a state of emergency .
Some areas took additional precautions ahead of continued protests as Minnesota closed all major highways and Chicago closed the central business district and the Loop area to all except employees and residents .
Due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gimenez postponed plans to reopen beaches in the county following shutdowns to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic .

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Protesters are pushed back by NYPD Police officers as looters raged through SoHo while protests around the country continue over the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police in New York City on Sunday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
May 31 (UPI) -- Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison accepted the governor's request to lead the prosecution related to the police-involved death of George Floyd as protests seeking justice for his killing turned violent throughout the country. Protests have raged throughout the United States since Monday when Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed while handcuffed and pinned to the ground by a white police officer in Minneapolis. Advertisement
At least five people have died since in connection to the civil unrest that has upended cities, forced governors to activate the National Guard and caused dozens of curfews to be imposed.
Derek Chauvin, the white police officer who has since been fired and was seen in footage of Floyd's death with his knee on the prostrate suspect's neck, has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Ellison "needs to lead this case."
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Walz said during a press conference the protesters are making clear they don't trust the system and that they see it as designed to deny justice to communities of color, and that the government must start restoring trust and faith in that system.
"When I spoke to the Floyd family, they were very clear they wanted the system to work for them, they wanted to believe that there was trust and they wanted to believe the facts would be heard and justice would be served," the Democratic governor said. "And I can tell you in Minnesota, having Keith Ellison as the lead on this case, that will happen."
Ellison said he accepts the responsibility "with a large degree of humility."
He warned the public that prosecuting police officers for misconduct, including homicide, is very difficult and that every aspect of their prosecution will be attacked by the defense but they intend to be "absolutely prepared."
"I want to ask you for your trust that we are pursuing truth, we are pursuing it relentlessly and we are pursuing it on behalf of the state of Minnesota," he said to the public.
In Washington, D.C., police fired pepper bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters near the White House Sunday night as authorities responded to multiple fires.
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D.C. Fire and EMS said fires at a comfort station in Lafayette Square and the lobby of AFL-CIO had been extinguished, as had a basement fire in the historic St. John's Episcopal Church, all within a short walk to the White House.
"This church has been standing in our city since the early 1800s," the D.C. Police Department tweeted. "Please avoid the area."
Police reported groups of people broke into a Target and a shopping mall, resulting in several arrests. The Metropolitan Police Department said in a release at least 17 people were charged with either felony rioting, destruction of property, looting, theft and other such crimes over Saturday night with several others sought in connection to the crimes.
Late Sunday, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the enforcement of an 11 p.m. curfew and that she had activated the National Guard to support local police.
Police use of either flashbangs or tear gas to disperse protesters has been reported in several cities, including Denver, Atlanta and Cincinnati.
In Boston, police said seven officers were transported to the hospital and more were treated on the streets that devolved into violence and chaos over Sunday night that saw 21 police cruisers damaged.
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Forty people were arrested, the Boston Police Department tweeted.
Mayor Marty Walsh said he thanks the protesters who demonstrated peacefully and that their message was heard while expressing anger over those "who came into our city and chose to engage in acts of destruction and violence undermining their message."
"If we are to achieve changed and if we are to lead the change, our efforts must be rooted in peace and regard for our community," he tweeted.
The peaceful demonstrations devolved into violence after the sun went down, and police fired pepper spray at protesters after 9 p.m. after officers were hit with objects, WCVB 5 reported.
In Philadelphia, where the curfew was pushed back to 6 p.m. after it was set for 8 p.m. the day prior, police said early Monday 137 people had been arrested, including 91 for code violation notices, 43 for looting or burglary and one for assault of a police officer.
Philadelphia's managing director Brian Abernathy told reporters that stores had been looted throughout Sunday and at least five officers were injured, four vehicles were burned and officers were pelted with bricks, rocks and Molotov cocktails.
Mayor Jim Kenney, referring to the looters as "anarchists," said the looting and destruction of public property have "saddened and disappointed me beyond words."
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"I'm sure it saddened every Philadelphian who takes pride in our city -- especially the thousands of Philadelphians who came out earlier in the day yesterday to peacefully yet forcefully protest," he said during the press conference. "They made a tremendous statement about their decades of anger over a system that degrades black Americans because of the color of their skin."
Abernathy said the National Gaurd has been asked to support local law enforcement and to protect "our assets" as well as "sensitive areas."
Nearly 62,000 National Gaurd soldiers and airmen have been activated in 24 states to respond to civil disturbances, including the protests, national disasters and the coronavirus pandemic, but the number is expected to grow as civil unrest continues in the wake of Floyd's death, the National Guard said in a statement.
Chief of the National Guard Bureau Gen. Joseph Lengyel announced that about 5,000 National Guard members had been activated in 15 states and Washington, D.C., on Sunday with approximately 2,000 standing by.
"Responding to civil unrest is the hardest mission your National Guard does. Our unique longstanding partnerships with local civilian first responders mean we are always ready, always there to help, when needed, where it's needed," said Lengyel.
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President Donald Trump called on Philadelphia and other cities and states led by Democratic leaders to activate the National Guard in a series of tweets on Sunday describing the protesters as "anarchists."
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee activated an additional 200 members of the National Guard on Sunday in response to a request from the city of Seattle. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' communications director said he had activated 400 National Guard members throughout the state on Saturday. And Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp activated up to 3,000 National Gaurd troops ahead of the Sunday protests.
Additionally, more than 40 cities have imposed curfews for Sunday while Texas and Virginia issued a state of emergency.
Arizona Gov. Dough Ducey issued a Declaration of Emergency at the request of local leaders and imposed a weeklong 8 p.m. curfew.
"This gives law enforcement an additional tool to prevent the lawlessness we've seen here and in cities nationwide," Ducey tweeted. "Police will be equipped to make arrests of individuals who are planning to riot, loot or cause damage and unrest."
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Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said late Sunday that protests in Murfreesboro were "no longer peaceful," stating he has authorized the state's highway patrol and the National Guard to provide support "on the ground in restoring order for the safety of our citizens."
Demonstrations in the city some 34 miles southeast of Nashville had escalated to "overt threats to public safety and property," he tweeted without elaborating.
Shane McFarland, Murfreesboro mayor, issued a State of Emergency late Sunday after a curfew was imposed at 6:30 p.m.
The escalating unrest followed protests turning violent in Nashville Saturday night, and Lee announced that the Department of Homeland Security, with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and local police, have launched an investigation into "unlawful incidents that occurred."
"The right to peaceful protest is foundational to our country, but the violence and vandalism that occurred in Nashville last night was unlawful and tears at the fabric of our community," Lee said in a statement. "We have reason to believe that many of those involved in unlawful acts are not Tennesseans and we will be working with law enforcement to investigate this further and bring those to justice."
In Minneapolis, police arrested protesters on Washington Avenue for violating the 8 p.m.
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The Minneapolis Police Department said 15 minutes before the curfew was enforced, an alert was sent to all cell phones.
When the group failed to leave, officers encircled them, recovering one firearm, police tweeted.
Late Sunday, the Minneapolis Police Department said incendiary materials and accelerants such as water bottles filled with gasoline had been found hidden in bushes throughout neighborhoods in the city.
Some areas took additional precautions ahead of continued protests as Minnesota closed all major highways and Chicago closed the central business district and the Loop area to all except employees and residents.
Due to the protests, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez postponed plans to reopen beaches in the county following shutdowns to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a strongly worded statement on Sunday, Attorney General Willaim Barr blamed the looting and rioting on "groups of outside radicals and agitators" who are "exploiting the situation to pursue their own, separate, violent and extremist agenda."
"It is time to stop watching the violence and to confront and stop it," he said. "The continued violence and destruction of property endangers the lives and livelihoods of others, and interferes with the rights of peaceful protesters, as other citizens."
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Barr threatened groups instigating violence that they will be treated for committing domestic terrorism.


upi--2020-05-31--New York coronavirus death rate declines, de Blasio says protests won't affect reopening

May 31 ( UPI ) -- New deaths and hospitalizations due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York have decreased in the past 24 hours , as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said protests in the city wo n't affect reopening plans .
During his daily coronavirus briefing , New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said the state recorded 56 coronavirus deaths within the past 24 hours , down from 67 on Friday and a high of 799 on April 9 , adding that new hospitalizations fell to 191 down from a peak of 3,400 per day as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This reduction in the number of deaths is tremendous progress from where we were , '' he said .
New York leads the United States in coronavirus deaths and cases with 23,905 deaths and 370,770 positive cases .
The state does n't count probable causes of death though New York City cites thoses figures .
The total toll is 29,784 , according to Johns Hopkins tracking .
The United States leads the world with a death toll of 104,081 and 1,779,853 cases nationwide , according to figures by Johns Hopkins University .
Also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not believe the protests against police brutality sparked by the Minnesota police-involved killing of George Floyd that have seen thousands of participants will impact plans to reopen the state but health experts encouraged protesters to use masks and gloves to protect themselves and to get tested for the virus .
`` We strongly encourage anybody who is out in the protests to wear a mask , practice proper hand hygiene and to the extent possible , socially distance , though we know that 's not always going to be feasible , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city 's contact tracing efforts .
In neighboring New Jersey , Gov .
Phil Murphy said 66 people died within the last 24 hours , down from 113 the previous day for a total of 11,698 .
The state also reported 868 new positive cases of COVID-19 for a total of 160,445 .
Michigan on Sunday reported 28 new coronavirus deaths , down from 57 the previous day for the fifth highest death toll in the country at 5,491 .
The state also added 513 new cases for 57,397 -- eighth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest death toll with 5,555 deaths and 71,926 total cases .
As of Saturday , Massachusetts had reported 6,768 deaths and 96,301 cases and Illinois reported 5,330 deaths and 118,917 cases and California reported .

New York's death rate declined on Sunday as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said protests sparked by the police-involved killing of George Floyd won't affect reopening plans. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
May 31 (UPI) -- New deaths and hospitalizations due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York have decreased in the past 24 hours, as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said protests in the city won't affect reopening plans. During his daily coronavirus briefing, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state recorded 56 coronavirus deaths within the past 24 hours, down from 67 on Friday and a high of 799 on April 9, adding that new hospitalizations fell to 191 down from a peak of 3,400 per day as the pandemic reached its height. Advertisement
"This reduction in the number of deaths is tremendous progress from where we were," he said.
New York leads the United States in coronavirus deaths and cases with 23,905 deaths and 370,770 positive cases. The state doesn't count probable causes of death though New York City cites thoses figures. The total toll is 29,784, according to Johns Hopkins tracking.
The United States leads the world with a death toll of 104,081 and 1,779,853 cases nationwide, according to figures by Johns Hopkins University.
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Also Sunday, de Blasio said he does not believe the protests against police brutality sparked by the Minnesota police-involved killing of George Floyd that have seen thousands of participants will impact plans to reopen the state but health experts encouraged protesters to use masks and gloves to protect themselves and to get tested for the virus.
"We strongly encourage anybody who is out in the protests to wear a mask, practice proper hand hygiene and to the extent possible, socially distance, though we know that's not always going to be feasible," said Dr. Theodore Long, who is leading the city's contact tracing efforts.
In neighboring New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said 66 people died within the last 24 hours, down from 113 the previous day for a total of 11,698. The state also reported 868 new positive cases of COVID-19 for a total of 160,445.
Michigan on Sunday reported 28 new coronavirus deaths, down from 57 the previous day for the fifth highest death toll in the country at 5,491. The state also added 513 new cases for 57,397 -- eighth in the nation.
Pennsylvania reported the fourth highest death toll with 5,555 deaths and 71,926 total cases.
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California reported 4,213 total deaths and 110,583 total cases.
As of Saturday, Massachusetts had reported 6,768 deaths and 96,301 cases and Illinois reported 5,330 deaths and 118,917 cases and California reported.


upi--2020-05-31--Pope Francis blesses faithful at St. Peter's Square for first time in 3 months

May 31 ( UPI ) -- Pope Francis on Sunday blessed a smattering of faithful from his apartment window in St. Peter 's Square in Vatican City for the first time since the lockdown in Italy began March 9 .
The pope recited the Regina Coelito a gathering of only a few hundred people -- mainly residents of Italy -- compared with the usual thousands .
They wore masks and practiced social distancing .
Francis has been leading the Sunday Marian prayers , as well as his weekly General Audiences , from the Library of the Apostolic Palace .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been performed with only a few people at St. Peter 's Basilica , and appeared online and on television .
The Vatican museums will open on Monday , by online reservation only .
Also , museums and other cultural sites throughout Italy will also reopen this week .
Francis implored people pray for all those who have given their lives during the Covid-19 crisis , including doctors , nurses and all healthcare personnel .
He also urged healthcare for all , including the world 's poorest people .
`` Persons are more important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We are temples of the Holy Spirit .
The economy is not .
He noted Sunday is `` National Day of Relief '' in Italy , which promotes solidarity with the sick .
`` You know that from a crisis like this , you do n't come out of it the same as before , '' he told the onlookers .
`` You come out either better or worse .
The human family needs to come out of this crisis more united and not more divided . ''

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Pope Francis leading the Regina Coeli prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking Saint Peter's square at the Vatican City on Sunday. Photo courtesy Vatican Media/EPA-EFE
May 31 (UPI) -- Pope Francis on Sunday blessed a smattering of faithful from his apartment window in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City for the first time since the lockdown in Italy began March 9. The pope recited the Regina Coelito a gathering of only a few hundred people -- mainly residents of Italy -- compared with the usual thousands. They wore masks and practiced social distancing. Advertisement
Francis has been leading the Sunday Marian prayers, as well as his weekly General Audiences, from the Library of the Apostolic Palace. And services, including for Easter, have been performed with only a few people at St. Peter's Basilica, and appeared online and on television.
On Sunday, he celebrated a Pentecost Mass.
People entering St. Peter's Basilica had their temperatures checked.
The Vatican museums will open on Monday, by online reservation only. Also, museums and other cultural sites throughout Italy will also reopen this week.
Francis implored people pray for all those who have given their lives during the Covid-19 crisis, including doctors, nurses and all healthcare personnel.
He also urged healthcare for all, including the world's poorest people.
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"Persons are more important than the economy," said. "We are temples of the Holy Spirit. The economy is not.
He noted Sunday is "National Day of Relief" in Italy, which promotes solidarity with the sick.
"You know that from a crisis like this, you don't come out of it the same as before," he told the onlookers. "You come out either better or worse. The human family needs to come out of this crisis more united and not more divided."


upi--2020-05-31--Brazil, Mexico coronavirus deaths, cases climbing exponentially

May 31 ( UPI ) -- The number of deaths and cases in two Latin American nations -- Brazil and Mexico -- are climbing exponentially as other places in the world , including Europe and Asia , are reporting data at a fraction of increases from weeks ago .
In two days , Brazil has surged to fourth place in the world behind only the United States , Britain and Italy , passing Spain on Friday and France on Saturday .
Mexico moved past Germany into eighth place Saturday after being out of the top 10 a few weeks ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 -- United Kingdom , Italy , Spain , France , Germany -- reported a total of 237 deaths Sunday and 416 new deaths Saturday , according to tracking by Worldometers.info .
Often , each nation recorded far more than those numbers in one day , including Italy , which at one time was the epicenter .
Deaths and cases in Asia , however , are minimal , as mainland China , the original epicenter , has n't reported a death since April 26 and in the past week zero cases were reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
South Korea in the past week has reported only three deaths for a total of 269 , as well as 78 cases for a total of 11,468 .
Globally , the death toll was 372,508 Sunday afternoon EDT and cases were at 6.2 million .
The United States remains the leader with nearly 106,000 deaths and more than 1.8 million cases .
While other nations , including former hotspots , have stabilized , Brazil and Mexico are going in the opposite direction .
On Saturday , Brazil reported 890 new deaths after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on May 21 .
In 14 days , the South American nation has nearly doubled from 15,633 to 28,834 .
One week ago , the toll was 22,013 .
Brazil recorded 30,102 cases on Saturday , the most new cases in the world for the day and the highest single-day total for the country .
The previous two days Brazil broke the record and now is in second place behind the United States with 498,550 .
The country , with a population of 230 million , has also only recorded 930,013 tests , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher .
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been opposed to stringent restrictions , calling it `` the tyranny of total quarantine . ''
He also has mingled with the public without a face mask and is urging the resumption of Brazil 's soccer season .
On Sunday , Pope Francis noted the increasing toll in the Amazon region during a blessing of faithful from his apartment window in St. Peter 's Square in Vatican City for the first time since the lockdown in Italy began March 9 .
`` We call on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Church and to society in Amazonia , which has been harshly tested by the pandemic , '' Francis said .
In South America , all but around 10,000 of the 39,315 deaths through Saturdsay were in Brazil .
Next highest is Peru with 4,371 for 18th place , including 141 Saturday .
Like in Brazil , the pandemic has been intensifying in Mexico , which is 4,300 miles north on the hemisphere .
Mexico reported 364 more deaths late Saturday after 371 Friday and a record 501on Tuesday .
In two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths to 9,779 .
Also , an additional 2,885 cases were reported for a total of 87,512 in 15th place .
Those numbers defy the stance of Mexico 's President Andrés Manuel Lopez .
`` We 're doing well , the pandemic has been tamed , '' he said Thursday .
The president added he plans to resume touring the country when a period of nationwide quarantine winds down next week .
But Alejandro Macías , who was Mexico 's influenza chief during the 2009 swine flu pandemic , said there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a full determination of the extent of the pandemic .
`` The risk is that there will be another substantial rise in the number of cases and that this could cause some hospitals to collapse -- and if the hospitals collapse this could put the security and governance of some regions at risk , '' Macias said .
`` In many parts of the republic the curve has barely started to rise . ''
Another emerging hotspot is in Russia , especially in cases .
On Sunday , the nation reported 9,268 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third place .
The percentage of deaths is substantially lower than other nations .
Russia reported 138 more deaths to rise to 4,693 in 14th place , passing mainland China .
Elsewhere in Europe , the situation is subsiding with only 443 deaths reported Sunday .
Of those deaths , 113 were in Britain for a total of 34,489 .
The previous low was 74 on March 23 and the daily high was 1,172 on April 21 .
The kingdom is loosening restrictions that have been in place for a few months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ session for some students and groups of up to six people can meet outdoors .
Also vulnerable people , who have been required to stay at home and avoid any face-to-face contact , will be allowed to go outdoors Monday .
Dominic Raab told Sky News on Sunday that Britain `` ca n't just stay in lockdown forever . ''
But he cautioned : `` If there is any uptick in the number of cases , if we stop making the progress I described , we will have to take further measures again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear . ''
Italy , since becoming an epicenter with the most deaths at one time , has been trending down .
Two months after a daily high of 919 deaths , Italy 's toll has declined , including some days in double digits .
On Sunday , 75 deaths were recorded after 111 more on Saturday for a total of 33,340 .
Last Sunday , 50 deaths were reported -- the lowest since 36 on March 7 .
On Saturday , the Tower of Pisa reopened to tourists , three months after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required to wear masks and are limited to 15 at a time at the monument .
France is in fifth place , reporting 34 deaths Sunday , the lowest since 27 on March 17 , and far less than the record of 1,438 on April 15 .
France has posted double-digit increases since May 20 .
Spain , which has been adjusting its totals because of duplicates , 2 more for a total of 27,127 as the nation is eliminate duplicate victims .
Earlier last week , nearly 2,000 fatalities were stricken from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its daily high was 961 on April 2 .
Although Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised the `` great results of the last few weeks , '' he urged a further 15-day extension of the state of emergency .
During a news conference Sunday , he said `` we ca n't relax '' because `` the virus is still present in our country . ''
On Sunday , Belgium reported 14 more deaths in eighth place and Germany added 2 for ninth place .
The only Asian nation in the top 10 is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday .
In Israel , a holy site known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount , reopened reopened Sunday morning in Jerusalem for the first time in more than two months .
Worshippers were required to have their own prayer rug and mask .
Only about 4,000 people arrived for dawn prayers , the director of the mosque told CNN , compared with hundreds of thousands the compound can host on a busy day .
Israel has reported 284 deaths , including none since three more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday had only 560 additional deaths for a total of 30,767 , led by India with 221 in 13th place .
China , which had topped the world list until being replace by Italy then the United States , is in 15th place with 4,634 deaths and 83,001 cases .
Outside mainland China , Hong Kong 's tally of confirmed cases now stands at 1,085 cases and fourth deaths .
But health authorities there are investigating a possible workplace transmission of COVID-19 after a woman employed at an imported food warehouse was confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two other women also had been sick .
`` As the two women who tested weak positive had symptoms earlier than the confirmed patient , there is a chance of a transmission chain within the warehouse , '' Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan , head of the Center for Health Protection 's communicable disease branch , said at a daily news briefing .
South Korea also takes stringent measures after an outbreak , including 270 cases linked to three venues , and conducted rigid testing .
Because some clubgoers avoided calls or had given false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Korea , including bars , nightclubs and indoor gyms , will be required to keep a QR code-based customer log starting June 10 , Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said Sunday .
In all , there have been 270 deaths and 11,468 cases in South Korea .
The nation has avoided a lockdown , like Japan , which instituted a state of emergency that has been lifted in declaring the virus under control .
Japan reported 12 deaths for a total of 886 , including 161 in two weeks , on Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia and 22 in New Zealand .
In two weeks , Australia has added 27 fatalities and New Zeland just 1 since then .
The Australian film and TV industry has released its COVID-Safe Guidelines to resume entertainment production , including physical distancing .
African nations have reported 4,207 deaths , including 115 Sunday .
Egypt leads with 959 , followed by South Africa with 683 and Algeria with 653 .
In North America , Canada is third behind Mexico in 11th place overall with 7,092 , including a gain of 19 Sunday @ @ @ @

A man wears a facial mask adorned with the Mexican flag and a message that reads "AMLO go away now" -- in reference to Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, during a protest in Guadalajara, Sunday. A vehicle caravan accuses the leader of having put "the sovereignty, integrity and independence of the people of Mexico at risk, amid the coronavirus health contingency," organizers said. Photo by Francisco Guasco/EFE-EPA
May 31 (UPI) -- The number of deaths and cases in two Latin American nations -- Brazil and Mexico -- are climbing exponentially as other places in the world, including Europe and Asia, are reporting data at a fraction of increases from weeks ago. In two days, Brazil has surged to fourth place in the world behind only the United States, Britain and Italy, passing Spain on Friday and France on Saturday. Mexico has climbed into seventh place, surpassing Germany on Saturday and Belgium on Sunday after being out of the top 10 a few weeks ago. Advertisement
Six European nations in the top 10 -- United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France, Germany -- reported a total of 237 deaths Sunday and 416 new deaths Saturday, according to tracking by Worldometers.info. Often, each nation recorded far more than those numbers in one day, including Italy, which at one time was the epicenter.
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Deaths and cases in Asia, however, are minimal, as mainland China, the original epicenter, hasn't reported a death since April 26 and in the past week zero cases were reported for the first time in separate days. South Korea in the past week has reported only three deaths for a total of 269, as well as 78 cases for a total of 11,468.
Globally, the death toll was 373,697 Sunday and cases were at 6.2 million. The United States remains the leader with nearly 106,000 deaths, including a world-high 638, and more than 1.8 million cases.
Deaths spiked in neighboring Canada with a gain of 222, the fourth most in the world Sunday and most ever in the nation. Canada is 11th place overall with 7,295.
Farther south in the Western Hemisphere, deaths and cases are surging.
On Sunday, Brazil reported 480 new deaths after 890 Saturday and 1,180 Friday. The record is 1,188 on May 21. In 14 days, the South American nation has nearly doubled from 16,118 to 29,314. One week ago, the toll was 22,716.
Brazil recorded 30,102 cases on Saturday, the most new cases in the world for the day and the highest single-day total for the country. The previous two days Brazil broke the record. On Sunday, new cases were 14,409 for a total of 514,849 in second place behind the United States.
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The country, with a population of 230 million, has also only recorded 930,013 tests, suggesting the number of cases may be higher.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been opposed to stringent restrictions, calling it "the tyranny of total quarantine." He also has mingled with the public without a face mask and is urging the resumption of Brazil's soccer season.
On Sunday, Pope Francis noted the increasing toll in the Amazon region during a blessing of faithful from his apartment window in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City for the first time since the lockdown in Italy began March 9.
"We call on the Holy Spirit to grant light and strength to the Church and to society in Amazonia, which has been harshly tested by the pandemic," Francis said.
In South America, all but around 10,000 of the 40,0815 deaths through Sunday were in Brazil. Next highest is Peru with 4,506 for 17th place, including 135 Sunday.
Like in Brazil, the pandemic has been intensifying in Mexico, which is 4,300 miles north on the hemisphere.
Mexico reported 154 more deaths late Sunday after 364 more deaths late Saturday. The record was 501 on Tuesday. In two weeks, Mexico has risen from 5,177 deaths to 9,930. Also, an additional 3,1525 cases were reported for a total of 90,663 in 15th place.
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Those numbers defy the stance of Mexico's President Andrés Manuel Lopez.
"We're doing well, the pandemic has been tamed," he said Thursday.
The president added he plans to resume touring the country when a period of nationwide quarantine winds down next week.
But Alejandro Macías, who was Mexico's influenza chief during the 2009 swine flu pandemic, said there is a risk to be reopening the country without a full determination of the extent of the pandemic.
"The risk is that there will be another substantial rise in the number of cases and that this could cause some hospitals to collapse -- and if the hospitals collapse this could put the security and governance of some regions at risk," Macias said. "In many parts of the republic the curve has barely started to rise."
Another emerging hotspot is in Russia, especially in cases. On Sunday, the nation reported 9,268 new cases for a total of 405,843 in third place. The percentage of deaths is substantially lower than other nations. Russia reported 138 more deaths to rise to 4,693 in 14th place, passing mainland China.
Elsewhere in Europe, the situation is subsiding with only 446 deaths reported Sunday.
Of those deaths, 113 were in Britain for a total of 34,489. The previous low was 74 on March 23 and the daily high was 1,172 on April 21.
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The kingdom is loosening restrictions that have been in place for a few months. On Monday, schools will be in session for some students and groups of up to six people can meet outdoors. Also vulnerable people, who have been required to stay at home and avoid any face-to-face contact, will be allowed to go outdoors Monday.
Dominic Raab told Sky News on Sunday that Britain "can't just stay in lockdown forever."
But he cautioned: "If there is any uptick in the number of cases, if we stop making the progress I described, we will have to take further measures again and target the virus wherever it may appear."
Italy, since becoming an epicenter with the most deaths at one time, has been trending down. Two months after a daily high of 919 deaths, Italy's toll has declined, including some days in double digits. On Sunday, 75 deaths were recorded after 111 more on Saturday for a total of 33,340. Last Sunday, 50 deaths were reported -- the lowest since 36 on March 7.
On Saturday, the Tower of Pisa reopened to tourists, three months after closing due to coronavirus. Visitors are required to wear masks and are limited to 15 at a time at the monument.
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France is in fifth place, reporting 34 deaths Sunday, the lowest since 27 on March 17, and far less than the record of 1,438 on April 15. France has posted double-digit increases since May 20.
Spain, which has been adjusting its totals because of duplicates, 2 more for a total of 27,127 as the nation is eliminate duplicate victims. Earlier last week, nearly 2,000 fatalities were stricken from the total. At one time, its daily high was 961 on April 2.
Although Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised the "great results of the last few weeks," he urged a further 15-day extension of the state of emergency. During a news conference Sunday, he said "we can't relax" because "the virus is still present in our country."
On Sunday, Belgium reported 14 more deaths in eighth place and Germany added 2 for ninth place.
The only Asian nation in the top 10 is Iran, which reported 63 additional deaths Sunday.
In Israel, a holy site known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount, reopened reopened Sunday morning in Jerusalem for the first time in more than two months. Worshippers were required to have their own prayer rug and mask. Only about 4,000 people arrived for dawn prayers, the director of the mosque told CNN, compared with hundreds of thousands the compound can host on a busy day.
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Israel has reported 284 deaths, including none since three more on Thursday.
The Asian continent on Sunday had only 570 additional deaths for a total of 30,777, led by India with 223, fourth most in the world, in 13th place.
China, which had topped the world list until being replace by Italy then the United States, is in 15th place with 4,634 deaths and 83,001 cases.
Outside mainland China, Hong Kong's tally of confirmed cases now stands at 1,085 cases and fourth deaths.
But health authorities there are investigating a possible workplace transmission of COVID-19 after a woman employed at an imported food warehouse was confirmed positive with the coronavirus on Sunday. Two other women also had been sick.
"As the two women who tested weak positive had symptoms earlier than the confirmed patient, there is a chance of a transmission chain within the warehouse," Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Center for Health Protection's communicable disease branch, said at a daily news briefing.
South Korea also takes stringent measures after an outbreak, including 270 cases linked to three venues, and conducted rigid testing.
Because some clubgoers avoided calls or had given false details on the door, venues in South Korea, including bars, nightclubs and indoor gyms, will be required to keep a QR code-based customer log starting June 10, Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said Sunday.
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In all, there have been 270 deaths and 11,468 cases in South Korea.
The nation has avoided a lockdown, like Japan, which instituted a state of emergency that has been lifted in declaring the virus under control.
Japan reported 12 deaths for a total of 886, including 161 in two weeks, on Saturday.
Oceania has 125 deaths -- 103 in Australia and 22 in New Zealand. In two weeks, Australia has added 27 fatalities and New Zeland just 1 since then.
The Australian film and TV industry has released its COVID-Safe Guidelines to resume entertainment production, including physical distancing.
African nations have reported 4,245 deaths, including 153 Sunday. Egypt leads with 959, followed by South Africa with 683 and Algeria with 653.


upi--2020-05-31--Astronauts enter space station on historic SpaceX mission

ORLANDO , Fla. , May 31 ( UPI ) -- Two NASA astronauts safely boarded the International Space Station on Sunday , capping a successful flight of SpaceX 's historic Crew Dragon Demo 2 mission .
The capsule connected to the station at 10:16 a.m. EDT , slightly ahead of the scheduled time as the space station passed above the northern China-Mongolia border .
Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken entered the station at 1:22 p.m. NASA and SpaceX crews on the ground congratulated the astronauts , while astronaut Chris Cassidy -- already on board the station -- welcomed them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here at SpaceX are honored to have been part of the ushering in of this new era of human spaceflight , '' SpaceX engineer Anna Menon said .
Behnken , in turn , congratulated the teams at SpaceX and NASA .
`` Their incredible efforts over the last several years to make this possible can not be overstated , '' he said of the SpaceX employees .
Just before docking , practiced flying the capsule manually .
He congratulated SpaceX 's teams for successfully training him and building the capsule .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Hurley said .
`` I only had to twist Doug 's arm for two or three times to get him to allow me to deactivate the piloting controls , '' Behnken said .
The mission lifted off from NASA 's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday afternoon -- the first crewed launch from U.S. soil in nine years .
The successful 19-hour journey to the space station makes SpaceX the first private company to send astronauts into orbit .
It also was the first time since the final space shuttle mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Russia to get people into space .
After the launch on Saturday , Musk said he considers the launch a boost for SpaceX 's ultimate goal of traveling to Mars .
The company has been testing prototypes of its next-generation rocket and habitat , Starship , in Texas .
`` This is hopefully the first step on a journey toward a civilization on Mars , of life becoming multi-planetary , '' Musk said .
`` That 's seeming increasingly real after what happened today , getting people to orbit , finally after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for about eight hours before the approach to the space station .
No issues with the spacecraft have been reported -- described by a SpaceX commentator as `` pretty boring for the astronauts , but that 's what we wanted .
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said the launch proved that NASA 's new approach of contracting with private companies for entire missions is successful .
`` America is leading again in space , '' Bridenstine said .
SpaceX secured a contract to provide ferry service to the space station for a fixed cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and capsule with NASA 's cooperation .
The Falcon 9 rocket had already been proven as a reliable workhorse for carrying supplies to the space station 250 miles above Earth in 20 flights .
The space station travels at more than 17,000 mph , so the capsule performed several orbits to match its speed and altitude .
The capsule docked autonomously .
Behnken and Hurley do n't know how long they will be on the space station .
NASA has said it could be as little as six weeks and as much as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crew completes necessary maintenance on the space station and how favorable weather conditions are for spacecraft splashdown .
Behnken is scheduled to make several spacewalks with Cassidy , as Hurley monitors and controls instruments inside the station .
If the mission ultimately is successful , NASA plans to launch another SpaceX capsule to the space station Aug. 30 , Bridenstine said .
Crew members for that mission are to be NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins , Victor Glover and Shannon Walker , along with Soichi Noguchi , an astronaut with the Japan Aerospace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , NASA astronauts only used Russian Soyuz rockets and capsules to reach the space station , at a cost of more than $ 70 million per seat .
Behnken , 49 , and Hurley , 53 , have been astronauts since their selection in 2000 .
They worked closely with SpaceX to develop the new spacecraft systems .
The return to Earth for the Demo 2 mission would mark the first splashdown of a U.S. space capsule carrying astronauts since the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975 .
Astronauts return to space from U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off seconds after 3:22 p.m. with the first manned Crew Dragon spacecraft from Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30 , 2020 .
The mission , classified as Crew Demo 2 , is flying NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken and is the first manned mission from the United States in more than nine years.Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off seconds after 3:22 p.m. with the first manned Crew Dragon spacecraft from Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mission , classified as Crew Demo 2 , is flying NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken and is the first manned mission from the United States in more than nine years.Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off seconds after 3:22 p.m. with the first manned Crew Dragon spacecraft from Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30 , 2020 .
The mission , classified as Crew Demo 2 , is flying NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken and is the first manned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than nine years.Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | People on Cocoa Beach watch as NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley lift off from Kennedy Space Center 's Pad 39-A onboard SpaceX Demo-2 Falcon 9 and the Crew Dragon to the International Space Station .
Liftoff of Falcon 9 was the second attempt and came on on May 30 , 2020 .
Photo By Gary I Rothstein/UPI | First NASA Crew Departs For Historic Launch from Space Center NASA Astronauts Doug Hurley ( L ) and Bob Behnken depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Florida on May 30 , 2020 .
The two astronauts will ride in Tesla Model X vehicles to Launch Complex 39A , where they will board the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and fly on the first manned launch from the United States in more than nine years.Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | NASA Astronauts Doug Hurley ( L ) and Bob Behnken depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30 , 2020 .
The two astronauts will ride in Tesla Model X vehicles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will board the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and fly on the first manned launch from the United States in more than nine years.Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | NASA Astronaut Bob Behnken gives a thumbs up following walkout from the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30 , 2020 .
Behnken will fly on the first launch of the manned Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station with astronaut Doug Hurley .
Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 39A on May 29 , 2020 , prepared for the launch of the first manned mission for NASA from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in more than nine years .
NASA and SpaceX will try a second attempt at launching astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken on the Crew Demo 2 mission on May 30 .
Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket stand on Launch Complex 39A on May 29 , 2020 , prepared for the launch of the first manned mission for NASA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in more than nine years .
NASA and SpaceX will try a second attempt at launching astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken on the Crew Demo 2 mission on May 30 .
Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | NASA Astronauts Doug Hurley ( L ) and Bob Behnken depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30 , 2020 .
The two astronauts will ride in Tesla Model X vehicles to Launch Complex 39A , where they will board the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the center in more than nine years .
Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | NASA Astronaut Doug Hurley waves to his family following walkout from the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30 , 2020 .
Hurley will fly on the first NASA SpaceX mission in the Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station with astronaut Bob Behnken .
Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket vents fuel after NASA and SpaceX mnagement called a hold to the launch at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 27 .
Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | Hans Koenigsmann , vice president for build and flight reliability at SpaceX , looks at a monitor showing a live feed of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company 's Crew Dragon spacecraft on the launch pad during the countdown for a launch attempt of NASA 's SpaceX Demo-2 mission .
Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA | Spectators leave Cocoa Beach after the mission was scrubbed with minutes left on the countdown .
Photo By Gary I Rothstein/UPI | NASA astronauts Robert Behnken ( L @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crew access arm at Launch Complex 39A on May 27 .
They were strapped into the Crew Dragon capsule when weather forced a postponement of the launch .
Photo courtesy of SpaceX | From left to right , Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana , second lady Karen Pence , Vice President Mike Pence , first lady Melania Trump , President Donald Trump , Marillyn Hewson , Chief Executive Officer of Lockheed Martin , Mike Hawes , VP of Human Space Exploration and Orion Program Manager at Lockheed Martin Space , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Artemis I capsule during a tour of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building .
Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA | Trump participates in a SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 launch briefing following the departure of NASA astronauts to board a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for launch .
Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA | Hurley ( L ) and Behnken , wearing SpaceX spacesuits , prepare to depart the operations building for Launch Complex 39A to board the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft .
Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA | From left to right , SpaceX owner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mike Pence and Karen Pence applaud the astronauts as they head to the spacecraft .
Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA | Hurley ( L ) and Behnken give their families virtual hugs as they prepare for the Demo-2 mission launch .
Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA | Hurley boards a Tesla Model X for the ride to the launch area .
Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket lie horizontally on Complex 39A on May 26 .
Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | The Vehicle Assembly Building is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NASA 's SpaceX Demo-2 mission on May 25 .
Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA | In this black-and-white infrared image , a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company 's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen on the launch pad .
Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA | View of the crew access arm in position with the Crew Dragon spacecraft and the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on May 24 .
Photo courtesy of SpaceX | Behnken and Hurley are seen on a monitor showing inside the Crew Dragon capsule at Launch Complex 39A during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Photo by SpaceX/UPI | Hurley ( L ) and Behnken participate in a dress rehearsal for launch at the agency 's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 23 .
NASA Photo by Kim Shiflett/UPI | Behnken rehearses putting on his SpaceX spacesuit in the Astronaut Crew Quarters .
Photo by Kim Shiflett/NASA | Hurley and Behnken return to the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building from Launch Complex 39A after completing the dress rehearsal .
Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA | Norm Knight , deputy director of Flight Operations at NASA 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Steve Stich , deputy manager of NASA 's Commercial Crew Program ( R ) , monitor the countdown during the dress rehearsal .
Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA | Hurley ( L ) and Behnken depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for Launch Complex 39A .
NASA Photo by Bill Ingalls/UPI | NASA and SpaceX managers participate in a flight readiness review for the upcoming Demo-2 launch in the Operations Support Building II at NASA 's Kennedy Space Center on May 21 .
Photo by Kim Shiflett/NASA | A SpaceX @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spacecraft onboard is seen as it is rolled out of the horizontal integration facility at Kennedy as preparations continue for the Demo-2 mission on May 21 .
Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA | The rocket is raised into a vertical position on the launch pad as preparations continue for the Demo 2 mission , scheduled to launch at 4:33 p.m. EDT on May 27 .
Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA | From left to right , Behnken and Hurley pose with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Kennedy Space Center director Bob Cabana after the astronauts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida on May 20 .
Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | The two astronauts arrived to be the first crew to launch from the Kennedy Space Center on the SpaceX Crew Demo spacecraft .
Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | Hurley speaks to the media following his arrival at the Kennedy Space Center .
Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft arrives at Launch Complex 39A at NASA 's Kennedy Space Center in Florida , transported from the company 's processing facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on May 15 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crew Dragon spacecraft that will be used for the Crew-1 mission for NASA 's Commercial Crew Program undergoes processing inside the clean room at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne , Calif. Photo courtesy of SpaceX | Behnken ( L ) and Hurley successfully completed a fully integrated test of Crew Dragon 's critical flight hardware at a SpaceX processing facility on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on March 30 .
Photo courtesy of SpaceX | \NASA and SpaceX completed an end-to-end demonstration of the teams ' ability to safely evacuate crew members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency situation at Launch Complex 39A on April 3 .
Photo courtesy of SpaceX | The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft undergoes final processing at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida .
Photo courtesy of SpaceX | Hurley examines the critical flight hardware during the test on March 30 .
Photo courtesy of SpaceX | Hurley ( R ) and Behnken participate in SpaceX 's flight simulator .
Photo courtesy of SpaceX | SpaceX teams executed a full simulation of launch and docking of the Crew Dragon spacecraft , with Hurley ( R @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight simulator on March 19 and 20 .
Photo courtesy of SpaceX | SpaceX 's Crew Dragon capsule completes acoustic testing in Florida ahead of its crewed flight to and from the ISS later this year .
Photo courtesy of SpaceX | Hurley ( L ) and Behnken stand near Launch Pad 39A during a dress rehearsal ahead of the SpaceX uncrewed In-Flight Abort Test at Kennedy Space Center , Fla. , on January 17 .
In the background , the company 's Falcon 9 rocket is topped by the Crew Dragon spacecraft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spacecraft 's escape capabilities in preparation for crewed flights to the International Space Station .
Photo by Kim Shiflett/NASA | NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine ( L ) and SpaceX chief Elon Musk converse at Kennedy Space Center 's launch control center while awaiting liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft on the uncrewed in-flight abort test on January 19 .
Photo by Kim Shiflett/NASA | Hurley ( R ) and Behnken don SpaceX spacesuits in the astronaut crew quarters during a dress rehearsal ahead of the company 's uncrewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shiflett/NASA | The test , which did not have NASA astronauts aboard , demonstrated Crew Dragon 's ability to reliably carry crew to safety in the unlikely event of an emergency on ascent .
Photo courtesy of SpaceX | A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket boosts the Crew Dragon spacecraft for NASA on a launch abort test from Complex 39A at Kennedy on January 19 .
SpaceX conducted the test as a final measure to assure safety for future crewed missions to the International Space Station .
Photo by Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell/UPI |

NASA astronaut Douglas Hurley (C) waves to onlookers as he boards a plane at Naval Air Station Pensacola to return him and NASA astronaut Robert Behnken home to Houston a few hours after the duo landed in their SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft off the coast of Pensacola, Fla,, on August 2, 2020. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA | License Photo
ORLANDO, Fla., May 31 (UPI) -- Two NASA astronauts safely boarded the International Space Station on Sunday, capping a successful flight of SpaceX's historic Crew Dragon Demo 2 mission. The capsule connected to the station at 10:16 a.m. EDT, slightly ahead of the scheduled time as the space station passed above the northern China-Mongolia border. Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken entered the station at 1:22 p.m. Advertisement
NASA and SpaceX crews on the ground congratulated the astronauts, while astronaut Chris Cassidy -- already on board the station -- welcomed them.
"Bob and Doug, we here at SpaceX are honored to have been part of the ushering in of this new era of human spaceflight," SpaceX engineer Anna Menon said.
Behnken, in turn, congratulated the teams at SpaceX and NASA.
"Their incredible efforts over the last several years to make this possible cannot be overstated," he said of the SpaceX employees.
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Just before docking, practiced flying the capsule manually. He congratulated SpaceX's teams for successfully training him and building the capsule.
"It flew really well, very crisp," Hurley said.
Behnken joked about Hurley's brief manual piloting experience.
"I only had to twist Doug's arm for two or three times to get him to allow me to deactivate the piloting controls," Behnken said.
The mission lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday afternoon -- the first crewed launch from U.S. soil in nine years.
The successful 19-hour journey to the space station makes SpaceX the first private company to send astronauts into orbit. It also was the first time since the final space shuttle mission that NASA didn't have to rely on Russia to get people into space.
After the launch on Saturday, Musk said he considers the launch a boost for SpaceX's ultimate goal of traveling to Mars. The company has been testing prototypes of its next-generation rocket and habitat, Starship, in Texas.
"This is hopefully the first step on a journey toward a civilization on Mars, of life becoming multi-planetary," Musk said. "That's seeming increasingly real after what happened today, getting people to orbit, finally after 18 years."
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The astronauts slept for about eight hours before the approach to the space station.
No issues with the spacecraft have been reported -- described by a SpaceX commentator as "pretty boring for the astronauts, but that's what we wanted.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said the launch proved that NASA's new approach of contracting with private companies for entire missions is successful.
"America is leading again in space," Bridenstine said.
SpaceX secured a contract to provide ferry service to the space station for a fixed cost in 2014, and developed the rocket and capsule with NASA's cooperation.
The Falcon 9 rocket had already been proven as a reliable workhorse for carrying supplies to the space station 250 miles above Earth in 20 flights.
The space station travels at more than 17,000 mph, so the capsule performed several orbits to match its speed and altitude. The capsule docked autonomously.
Behnken and Hurley don't know how long they will be on the space station.
NASA has said it could be as little as six weeks and as much as 16 weeks, depending on how quickly the crew completes necessary maintenance on the space station and how favorable weather conditions are for spacecraft splashdown.
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Behnken is scheduled to make several spacewalks with Cassidy, as Hurley monitors and controls instruments inside the station.
If the mission ultimately is successful, NASA plans to launch another SpaceX capsule to the space station Aug. 30, Bridenstine said.
Crew members for that mission are to be NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, along with Soichi Noguchi, an astronaut with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Over the past decade, NASA astronauts only used Russian Soyuz rockets and capsules to reach the space station, at a cost of more than $70 million per seat.
Behnken, 49, and Hurley, 53, have been astronauts since their selection in 2000. They worked closely with SpaceX to develop the new spacecraft systems.
The return to Earth for the Demo 2 mission would mark the first splashdown of a U.S. space capsule carrying astronauts since the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975.


upi--2020-05-31--Tyler Perry, Beyonce, Gaga react to George Floyd death, subsequent protests

May 31 ( UPI ) -- Filmmaker Tyler Perry and singer Beyonce are among the stars publicly speaking out about the death of George Floyd and the protests that have followed it .
Floyd was an unarmed black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis last week .
Four police officers were fired because of the incident and one -- Derek Chauvin -- has been charged with third-degree murder for pinning Floyd to the ground by the neck for several minutes , an action that was caught on a widely viewed video .
Floyd 's death ignited nationwide protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , resulting in injuries , fires , theft and property damage in cities such as Minneapolis , New York , Washington , D.C. , Philadelphia , Atlanta and Seattle .
`` Please , please stop this violence !
!
Looting is NOT THE ANSWER !
!
!
! ''
Perry -- who has a film and TV studio in Georgia -- said in a Facebook message .
Beyonce demanded justice for Floyd in an Instagram video .
`` We all witnessed his murder in broad daylight .
We 're broken and we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain , '' the pop star said .
`` I 'm not only speaking to people of color .
If you 're white , black , brown or anything in between , I 'm sure you feel hopeless by the racism going on in America right now .
No more senseless killings of human beings .
No more seeing people of color as less than human .
We can no longer look away , '' Beyonce said .
`` George is all of our family in humanity .
He 's our family because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lady Gaga also weighed in on the turmoil .
`` Right now is a critical time for the black community to be supported by all other communities so we can put a stop to something that is intrinsically wrong by the grace of God or whatever creator you do or do not believe in , '' Gaga wrote on Instagram .
`` I urge people to speak gently to each other , speak with passion , inspiration , and impress the importance of this issue until the systems that keep us sick die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Celebrities such as Steve Carell , Don Cheadle , Seth Rogen , Kehlani , Janelle Monae , Chrissy Teigen , Ben Schwartz and Rob Delaney have all shared on social media that they donated money to the Minnesota Freedom Fund , a nonprofit organization bailing out low-income individuals arrested while protesting .
Streaming entertainment giants Netflix and Amazon pledged their support to people of color this weekend .
Netflix said it felt it was its `` duty to our Black members , employees , creators and talent to speak up . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ complicit .
Black lives matter , '' Netflix said .
Amazon said in its own statement , `` Together we stand with the Black community -- colleagues , artists , writers , storytellers , producers , our viewers -- and all allies in the fight against racism and injustice . ''

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Actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry is among the celebrities speaking out following the death of George Floyd -- an unarmed black man -- at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
May 31 (UPI) -- Filmmaker Tyler Perry and singer Beyonce are among the stars publicly speaking out about the death of George Floyd and the protests that have followed it. Floyd was an unarmed black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis last week. Advertisement
Four police officers were fired because of the incident and one -- Derek Chauvin -- has been charged with third-degree murder for pinning Floyd to the ground by the neck for several minutes, an action that was caught on a widely viewed video.
Floyd's death ignited nationwide protests, some of which have turned violent, resulting in injuries, fires, theft and property damage in cities such as Minneapolis, New York, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta and Seattle.
"Please, please stop this violence!! Looting is NOT THE ANSWER!!!!" Perry -- who has a film and TV studio in Georgia -- said in a Facebook message.
Beyonce demanded justice for Floyd in an Instagram video.
"We all witnessed his murder in broad daylight. We're broken and we're disgusted. We cannot normalize this pain," the pop star said.
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"I'm not only speaking to people of color. If you're white, black, brown or anything in between, I'm sure you feel hopeless by the racism going on in America right now. No more senseless killings of human beings. No more seeing people of color as less than human. We can no longer look away," Beyonce said. "George is all of our family in humanity. He's our family because he's a fellow American."
Lady Gaga also weighed in on the turmoil.
"Right now is a critical time for the black community to be supported by all other communities so we can put a stop to something that is intrinsically wrong by the grace of God or whatever creator you do or do not believe in," Gaga wrote on Instagram. "I urge people to speak gently to each other, speak with passion, inspiration, and impress the importance of this issue until the systems that keep us sick die, instead of people we love."
Celebrities such as Steve Carell, Don Cheadle, Seth Rogen, Kehlani, Janelle Monae, Chrissy Teigen, Ben Schwartz and Rob Delaney have all shared on social media that they donated money to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, a nonprofit organization bailing out low-income individuals arrested while protesting.
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Streaming entertainment giants Netflix and Amazon pledged their support to people of color this weekend.
Netflix said it felt it was its "duty to our Black members, employees, creators and talent to speak up."
"To be silent is to be complicit. Black lives matter," Netflix said.
Amazon said in its own statement, "Together we stand with the Black community -- colleagues, artists, writers, storytellers, producers, our viewers -- and all allies in the fight against racism and injustice."


upi--2020-05-31--Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s wife Lauren suffers miscarriage

May 31 ( UPI ) -- The Bachelor alum Arie Luyendyk Jr. and his wife Lauren are mourning the loss of their unborn child .
The couple explained in a YouTube video that they were surprised and excited to learn more than a month ago that Lauren was pregnant with a sibling for their 1-year-old daughter , Alessi .
`` We made so many plans , '' the Luyendyks said in a written message accompanying the video .
`` We bought a new house with more space , we planned how we wanted to tell you all and we envisioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We were planning to share our journey through pregnancy with you , but unfortunately we did n't get the happy story we had hoped for . ''
The couple explained Lauren , 28 , suffered a `` missed miscarriage '' at around five weeks , meaning the fetus died but her body did n't recognize the loss or expel the tissue , instead continuing to release hormones and making Lauren feel as though she was still pregnant .
Luyendyk Jr. , 38 , is a race-car driver .
He met the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Bachelor in 2017 and married her in January 2019 .

Lauren (L) and Arie Luyendyk Jr. announced this weekend that they have lost a pregnancy. File Photo by Edwin Locke/UPI | License Photo
May 31 (UPI) -- The Bachelor alum Arie Luyendyk Jr. and his wife Lauren are mourning the loss of their unborn child. The couple explained in a YouTube video that they were surprised and excited to learn more than a month ago that Lauren was pregnant with a sibling for their 1-year-old daughter, Alessi. Advertisement
"We made so many plans," the Luyendyks said in a written message accompanying the video.
"We bought a new house with more space, we planned how we wanted to tell you all and we envisioned our future with Alessi's little brother/sister. We were planning to share our journey through pregnancy with you, but unfortunately we didn't get the happy story we had hoped for."
The couple explained Lauren, 28, suffered a "missed miscarriage" at around five weeks, meaning the fetus died but her body didn't recognize the loss or expel the tissue, instead continuing to release hormones and making Lauren feel as though she was still pregnant.
Luyendyk Jr., 38, is a race-car driver. He met the former Lauren Burnham while filming Season 22 of The Bachelor in 2017 and married her in January 2019.
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upi--2020-05-31--Meteorological summer to start off with sizzling temperatures across U.S. center

May 31 ( UPI ) -- The same dome of heat that resulted in record-breaking temperatures across the West last week will shift eastward , bringing along summerlike conditions just in time for the start of meteorological summer .
From the central Rockies eastward to the Mississippi River Valley , temperatures ranging from 5-15 degrees Fahrenheit above average are to be expected through a majority of the week .
Although millions of Americans across the nation will experience this June warmth , the core of the heat will target the Plains .
During the day on Sunday , temperatures in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ High Plains .
Amid the heat , there will be a localized threat of severe weather , primarily across Montana and Wyoming .
Into the evening hours , remaining storms could track into places like Rapid City and the Black Hills of South Dakota .
Throughout the week , rounds of showers and thunderstorms will generally target areas along the fringes of the hot weather .
While these localized showers and storms could provide a brief reprieve from the heat , air conditioning units will be working overtime across the center of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kan. , will be one of many cities scorching across the Plains .
The current forecast has afternoon high temperatures topping out above 90 degrees through the entire week .
The city 's average high through the same time frame is 82-83 degrees , suggesting that the city could experience temperatures 10-15 degrees above average .
An extended stretch of above-average temperatures can be expected in places like Denver , Kansas City , St. Louis and even into the Chicago metro area into midweek as the heat slowly shifts eastward .
On top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Plains into the Midwest will deal with very humid conditions as moisture is funneled northward out of the Gulf of Mexico .
Combining these factors , AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures® will climb even higher than what the mercury actually reads .
People spending time outdoors will want to make sure they stay properly hydrated and protected from the sun by wearing hats , sunglasses and sunscreen .
If you must work outside , taking frequent breaks in the shade and drinking plenty of water or electrolyte beverages will greatly lower the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , remember to never leave children or pets in a sealed vehicle for any length of time .
The temperature inside the vehicle can rise to lethal levels in a matter of minutes , even during the early spring months .
For portions of the Plains and mid-Mississippi Valley , this stretch of hot weather could extend through the week .
Large-scale atmospheric conditions show hints of slightly lower temperatures compared to the midweek highs , but the forecast outlook looks likely that above-average warmth could continue into next week

Swimmers are few at the Wapelhorst Aquatic Facility in St. Charles, Missouri on Tuesday, May 26, 2020. Only several swimming facilities in the St. Louis area have opened due to extra restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The center normally would have 1,000 swimmers on a 85 degree day. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
May 31 (UPI) -- The same dome of heat that resulted in record-breaking temperatures across the West last week will shift eastward, bringing along summerlike conditions just in time for the start of meteorological summer. From the central Rockies eastward to the Mississippi River Valley, temperatures ranging from 5-15 degrees Fahrenheit above average are to be expected through a majority of the week. Although millions of Americans across the nation will experience this June warmth, the core of the heat will target the Plains. Advertisement
During the day on Sunday, temperatures in the 90s will sizzle portions of the High Plains. Amid the heat, there will be a localized threat of severe weather, primarily across Montana and Wyoming. Into the evening hours, remaining storms could track into places like Rapid City and the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Throughout the week, rounds of showers and thunderstorms will generally target areas along the fringes of the hot weather.
While these localized showers and storms could provide a brief reprieve from the heat, air conditioning units will be working overtime across the center of the country this week.
Dodge City, Kan., will be one of many cities scorching across the Plains. The current forecast has afternoon high temperatures topping out above 90 degrees through the entire week. The city's average high through the same time frame is 82-83 degrees, suggesting that the city could experience temperatures 10-15 degrees above average.
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An extended stretch of above-average temperatures can be expected in places like Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis and even into the Chicago metro area into midweek as the heat slowly shifts eastward.
On top of the scorching heat, many cities from the Plains into the Midwest will deal with very humid conditions as moisture is funneled northward out of the Gulf of Mexico. Combining these factors, AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures® will climb even higher than what the mercury actually reads.
People spending time outdoors will want to make sure they stay properly hydrated and protected from the sun by wearing hats, sunglasses and sunscreen. If you must work outside, taking frequent breaks in the shade and drinking plenty of water or electrolyte beverages will greatly lower the risk of heat-related illnesses.
Amid the heat, remember to never leave children or pets in a sealed vehicle for any length of time. The temperature inside the vehicle can rise to lethal levels in a matter of minutes, even during the early spring months.
For portions of the Plains and mid-Mississippi Valley, this stretch of hot weather could extend through the week. Large-scale atmospheric conditions show hints of slightly lower temperatures compared to the midweek highs, but the forecast outlook looks likely that above-average warmth could continue into next week


upi--2020-05-31--Astronauts return to space from U.S. soil

First NASA Crew Departs For Historic Launch from Space Center NASA Astronauts Doug Hurley ( L ) and Bob Behnken @ @ @ @ @ Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ ride in Tesla Model X vehicles to Launch Complex 39A , where they will board @ @ @ @ @ and fly on the first manned launch from the United States in more than nine @ @ @ @

NASA astronaut Douglas Hurley (C) waves to onlookers as he boards a plane at Naval Air Station Pensacola to return him and NASA astronaut Robert Behnken home to Houston a few hours after the duo landed in their SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft off the coast of Pensacola, Fla,, on August 2, 2020. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA


upi--2020-05-31--Thunderstorms to rumble around 'ring of fire' this week

May 31 ( UPI ) -- A swath of stormy weather will trace the periphery of a heat wave in parts of the U.S. this week .
Residents all the way from the northern Plains to the mid-Atlantic and perhaps even the Northeast will have to be on the lookout for the unsettled weather .
`` A ridge , or 'dome , ' of high pressure will set up across the south-central U.S. this week .
Underneath the 'dome ' hot and sticky , but otherwise relatively tranquil weather will prevail , '' explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Nicole LoBiondo .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ridge , where it 's still quite warm and humid , but the influence of high pressure is n't as strong , numerous showers and thunderstorms often develop .
Because of this , areas near the edge of the 'heat dome ' are said to be in the 'ring of fire . '
'' Early in the week , some showers and thunderstorms will fire up from the northern Plains into the Great Lakes , but they will remain more isolated in nature .
However , by late week , parts of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become particularly active .
Forecasters say a swath all the way from the Dakotas to North Carolina will see daily bouts of showers and thunderstorms , and that some of them could turn dangerous .
`` This pattern is conducive for fast-moving complexes of thunderstorms , which can cause severe weather such as extreme straight-line winds and flash flooding , '' explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rossio .
`` Sometimes they can even turn into a derecho , a line of severe thunderstorms that bring widespread damaging winds along a path several hundred miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 mph , '' Rossio said .
`` These particular derechos are called 'progressive derechos . '
They can also last well into the nighttime hours , when people are asleep , adding to the danger they can pose . ''
Because of the fast-moving nature of these storms , they can catch those outdoors off-guard .
With temperatures soaring back to well-above normal after a cool down in parts of the Midwest , many will be enjoying outdoor activities .
Hikers , campers and boaters are often at the greatest risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Where storms are strong enough to knock out power , residents could be forced to deal with the building summer heat without fans or air conditioning .
Heat is the most deadly weather related threat , according to statistics from the National Weather Service .
One of the most famous and significant events involving derechos is a historic stretch of derechos in July 1995 .
Four derechos in four days occured from the northern Plains into the Great Lakes and Northeast , killing 14 and injuring nearly 100 more , according the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casualties were hikers and campers struck by falling trees and limbs .
The U.S. Coast Guard responded to hundreds of distress calls across the Great Lakes .
`` While derechos still occur across the U.S. every year , the power , severity and huge impact of the derechos of 1995 still serve today as reminder of how dangerous and difficult to predict and warn these summertime threats can be , '' stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Isaac Longley .
The threat may even continue into the weekend , but will shift its focus farther north @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue to expand northeastward during the second half of this week , and by the weekend , the 'ring of fire ' may shift farther north into the Great Lakes , Northeast and southern Canada , '' LoBiondo said .

May 31 (UPI) -- A swath of stormy weather will trace the periphery of a heat wave in parts of the U.S. this week. Residents all the way from the northern Plains to the mid-Atlantic and perhaps even the Northeast will have to be on the lookout for the unsettled weather. "A ridge, or 'dome,' of high pressure will set up across the south-central U.S. this week. Underneath the 'dome' hot and sticky, but otherwise relatively tranquil weather will prevail," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Nicole LoBiondo. Advertisement
"However, near the edges of the ridge, where it's still quite warm and humid, but the influence of high pressure isn't as strong, numerous showers and thunderstorms often develop. Because of this, areas near the edge of the 'heat dome' are said to be in the 'ring of fire.'"
Early in the week, some showers and thunderstorms will fire up from the northern Plains into the Great Lakes, but they will remain more isolated in nature.
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However, by late week, parts of this 'ring of fire' are expected to become particularly active. Forecasters say a swath all the way from the Dakotas to North Carolina will see daily bouts of showers and thunderstorms, and that some of them could turn dangerous.
"This pattern is conducive for fast-moving complexes of thunderstorms, which can cause severe weather such as extreme straight-line winds and flash flooding," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rossio.
"Sometimes they can even turn into a derecho, a line of severe thunderstorms that bring widespread damaging winds along a path several hundred miles long, sometimes with wind gusts over 100 mph," Rossio said. "These particular derechos are called 'progressive derechos.' They can also last well into the nighttime hours, when people are asleep, adding to the danger they can pose."
Because of the fast-moving nature of these storms, they can catch those outdoors off-guard. With temperatures soaring back to well-above normal after a cool down in parts of the Midwest, many will be enjoying outdoor activities. Hikers, campers and boaters are often at the greatest risk of being caught without shelter in these storms.
Where storms are strong enough to knock out power, residents could be forced to deal with the building summer heat without fans or air conditioning. Heat is the most deadly weather related threat, according to statistics from the National Weather Service.
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One of the most famous and significant events involving derechos is a historic stretch of derechos in July 1995. Four derechos in four days occured from the northern Plains into the Great Lakes and Northeast, killing 14 and injuring nearly 100 more, according the Storm Prediction Center. Many of the casualties were hikers and campers struck by falling trees and limbs. The U.S. Coast Guard responded to hundreds of distress calls across the Great Lakes.
"While derechos still occur across the U.S. every year, the power, severity and huge impact of the derechos of 1995 still serve today as reminder of how dangerous and difficult to predict and warn these summertime threats can be," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Isaac Longley.
The threat may even continue into the weekend, but will shift its focus farther north and east.
"The heat humidity will continue to expand northeastward during the second half of this week, and by the weekend, the 'ring of fire' may shift farther north into the Great Lakes, Northeast and southern Canada," LoBiondo said.