upi--2020-06-04--Cristobal could approach U.S. Gulf Coast as hurricane this weekend

June 4 ( UPI ) -- Tropical Storm Cristobal , the third named tropical system of the Atlantic hurricane season , made landfall in southeastern Mexico early Wednesday and is forecast to continue lashing the country and parts of Central America with heavy rain and gusty winds into the end of the week .
Landfall occurred early Wednesday near Atasta , Mexico , just to the west of the city of Ciudad Del Carmen in the state of Campeche .
At the time of landfall , maximum sustained winds of 60 mph were reported .
In its 4 a.m. Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the storm weakened to 40 mph maximum sustained winds with higher gusts .
The storm was located about 60 miles southeast of Cuidad del Carmen and was moving at about southeast at 2 mph .
AccuWeather meteorologists expect the system to bring the risk of life-threatening flooding and mudslides with some locations expected to receive over 2 feet of rain .
Cristobal became a tropical storm midday on Tuesday in the Bay of Campeche , located in the southwestern corner of the Gulf of Mexico .
`` With the upgrade to tropical storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set for the Atlantic basin .
Cristobal has now become the earliest occurrence of a third named system in the Atlantic basin during any hurricane season in recorded history , '' said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski .
The previous record was set during the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season .
Tropical storm warnings were issued by the National Hurricane Center along the Mexico coast from Campeche to Coatzacoalcos Mexico .
Tropical storm warnings west of Coatzacoalcos were canceled late by late morning .
After becoming a tropical storm , Cristobal made a loop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved southward before making landfall .
Reports of flooding in the streets have emerged from the state of Tobasco all the way through the Yucatan Peninsula .
A total of 9,000 soldiers and National Guard members were put in position to help with preparations and relief work .
According to Tobasco Hoy , a local paper in Mexico , residents in at-risk communities , such as El Bosque Rovirosa Segunda and La Costeñita , were evacuated on Tuesday .
Waves up to 10 feet high in the area forced one harbormaster in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fourth day in a row for all vessel types .
`` With Cristobal this close to land , and even making landfall on Wednesday , the storm is likely to lose some wind strength in the coming day or two , '' said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Rob Miller .
Losing wind intensity may allow Cristobal to lose tropical storm status briefly and drop to a tropical depression .
Despite a possible drop in winds , heavy rainfall will continue to be the biggest threat to lives and property for southeastern Mexico into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cristobal for Mexico will be rounds of heavy tropical rainfall through Friday night , '' Miller said .
From Monday evening through early Wednesday morning , the city of Valladolid on the Yucatan Peninsula reported 9.6 inches of rain .
A highway on the Yucatan was reported to be flooded with rushing floodwaters .
After soaking the region for several days , widespread rainfall amounts of 10-20 inches are possible .
Southeastern Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula are not the only regions that will feel the wrath of Cristobal through the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pull in moisture from the East Pacific Ocean into northern areas of Central America , drenching the region with heavy , tropical rainfall , '' Miller said .
On Wednesday , reports came in that heavy rain caused a landslide in El Salvador , affecting several homes and vehicles .
At least seven people were reported missing in Zacatecoluca .
Guatemala and El Salvador are the same areas that were hit badly by Tropical Storm Amanda over the past weekend , leading to widespread flooding and at least 20 deaths .
Amanda was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Pacific coast of Guatemala since 2010 and only the second in recorded history .
Parts of Nicaragua and Honduras also continue to endure heavy rainfall into Wednesday .
After swirling around in the Bay of Campeche through the end of the week , Cristobal is forecast to turn northward late on Friday and travel through the western Gulf of Mexico and toward the United States this weekend .
As this happens , rainfall will begin to diminish across southeastern Mexico and Central America .
However , rough seas may linger along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Tropical Depression Cristobal is seen over Louisiana on Monday afternoon about a day after making landfall. Image courtesy NOAA
June 8 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Cristobal weakened to a tropical depression early Monday hours after it arrived on shore on the Gulf Coast, lashed the Louisiana shoreline and unleashed heavy rains as far east as Florida's western coast. The National Hurricane Center said in its 10 a.m. Monday update that the storm's center is about 15 miles east of Monroe, La., and had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. Advertisement
After lashing the central Gulf Coast with tropical downpours, tropical-storm-force winds and coastal flooding over the weekend, Cristobal will race northward along the Mississippi Valley and into Great Lakes into the middle of the week.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said the storm will interact with the cold front moving across the Plains, allowing it to pick up speed. Cristobal made landfall in the southeastern part of Louisiana Sunday.
The storm has gradually lost intensity, weakening to a tropical depression early Monday morning.
"Even though Cristobal will lose its tightly wound wind field, as it transitions to a rainstorm, strong winds can still occur over a broad area," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
This will be due in part to Cristobal's circulation getting caught up in a non-tropical storm set to eject out of the Rockies early this week. As these system's interact and perhaps merge, winds will become strong over a broad area of the Midwest and Great Lakes region.
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As Cristobal moves inland, conditions will begin to gradually improve along the Louisiana coast, as areas of heavier rain and thunderstorms drench Arkansas into Monday night.
Cristobal will continue to pick up forward speed on Tuesday and downpours are expected to spread from Missouri to Wisconsin and Minnesota. By Tuesday night, rain will cross the Canadian border and spread across parts of southern Ontario.
According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Courtney Travis, this amount of rain could cause creeks and streams across the Midwest to rise. However, more widespread river flooding may develop in the lower Mississippi Valley later this week or this weekend as runoff slowly flows downstream.
Otherwise, Cristobal will threaten areas of flash flooding, especially in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
In addition to the risk of flooding, there will be the potential for isolated tornadoes to be spawned where heavy thunderstorms erupt to the east of Cristobal's circulation.


upi--2020-06-04--Garcetti: LAPD budget to be cut by $150M to fund programs in black communities

June 4 ( UPI ) -- Amid nationwide protests ignited by the police-involved killing of George Floyd early last week , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that up to $ 150 million will be cut from the L.A. Police Department as part of relocating some $ 250 million from the city 's budget to fund programs in communities of color .
The United States has been rocked by widespread protests demanding justice and social reforms since Floyd , a 46-year-old black man , died May 25 after being pinned to the ground by the knee of a white police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd 's death during a Wednesday evening press briefing `` a modern-day lynching '' and the protests representing an `` inflection point '' as either an opportunity for hope and progress or a flash amid another dark chapter in the country 's history .
The mayor said they ca n't afford to waste the opportunity before them and to make sure it is a moment committed to changing `` who we are in America when it comes to black America and our criminal justice system . ''
Garcetti had originally planned a 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next year , bulging its budget to $ 1.86 billion , but given the situation , he would be diverting money to helping black communities .
`` This is bigger than just a budget , but I want you to know we will not be increasing our police budget .
How can we at this moment ? ''
he said .
Along with cutting $ 150 million from the LAPD , Garcetti said his administration will look to move a total of $ 250 million from departments to reinvest in services , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black communities .
He also announced a moratorium on adding people 's names to the CalGang database , which is a statewide system that identifies and tracks alleged gang members .
Officers will also be required to intervene when they see an inappropriate use of force , report misconduct and to complete de-escalation and crowd control training by the end of the year to support the ongoing peaceful protests , he said .
Among the other initiatives announced , Garcetti said he would expand the force 's mental health intervention training program to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by year 's end .
`` Black lives matter and the future depends on what we do now , '' Garcetti tweeted .
The announcement followed Minnesota authorities stating that police officer Derek Chauvin , who was seen in video pinning Floyd to the ground , has had his murder charge escalated to murder in the second-degree while the three other officers involved in the incident were charged with aiding and abetting a murder .

Hundreds of demonstrators rally outside City Hall to peacefully protest the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Tuesday. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
June 4 (UPI) -- Amid nationwide protests ignited by the police-involved killing of George Floyd early last week, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that up to $150 million will be cut from the L.A. Police Department as part of relocating some $250 million from the city's budget to fund programs in communities of color. The United States has been rocked by widespread protests demanding justice and social reforms since Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died May 25 after being pinned to the ground by the knee of a white police officer against his neck. Advertisement
Garcetti called Floyd's death during a Wednesday evening press briefing "a modern-day lynching" and the protests representing an "inflection point" as either an opportunity for hope and progress or a flash amid another dark chapter in the country's history.
The mayor said they can't afford to waste the opportunity before them and to make sure it is a moment committed to changing "who we are in America when it comes to black America and our criminal justice system."
Garcetti had originally planned a 7 percent spending increase for the LAPD for next year, bulging its budget to $1.86 billion, but given the situation, he would be diverting money to helping black communities.
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"This is bigger than just a budget, but I want you to know we will not be increasing our police budget. How can we at this moment?" he said.
Along with cutting $150 million from the LAPD, Garcetti said his administration will look to move a total of $250 million from departments to reinvest in services, such as health and job programs, in black communities.
He also announced a moratorium on adding people's names to the CalGang database, which is a statewide system that identifies and tracks alleged gang members.
Officers will also be required to intervene when they see an inappropriate use of force, report misconduct and to complete de-escalation and crowd control training by the end of the year to support the ongoing peaceful protests, he said.
Among the other initiatives announced, Garcetti said he would expand the force's mental health intervention training program to train a minimum of 900 additional officers by year's end.
"Black lives matter and the future depends on what we do now," Garcetti tweeted.
The announcement followed Minnesota authorities stating that police officer Derek Chauvin, who was seen in video pinning Floyd to the ground, has had his murder charge escalated to murder in the second-degree while the three other officers involved in the incident were charged with aiding and abetting a murder.


upi--2020-06-04--San Diego County law enforcement agencies ban carotid restraint

June 4 ( UPI ) -- Following nationwide protests over the police-involved death of George Floyd , police departments throughout San Diego County announced they have instructed officers to stop using the carotid restraint when subduing a suspect .
Several local police departments , including the San Diego County Sheriff 's Department , said Wednesday they have immediately halted the controversial hold 's use .
`` In light of community concerns , and after consultation with many elected officials throughout the county , I am stopping the use of the carotid restraint by my deputies effective immediately , '' Sheriff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sheriff 's Department said in a statement .
`` I have and always will listen to any feedback about the public safety services we provide . ''
Roxana Kennedy , chief of the Chula Vista Police Department and president of the San Diego Chiefs and Sheriffs Association , announced that by the end of Wednesday 14 local San Diego police departments plus the sheriff 's office had `` unanimously decided to discontinue the use of the carotid restraint hold effective immediately . ''
The move follows San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using the hold that renders a person unconscious by applying pressure to the vascular veins in one 's neck .
County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher then sent Gore a letter urging him to ban the hold so as to align the policies of the San Diego County sheriff and police departments .
`` These restraints can lead to serious injuries or even death and are disproportionately used on people of color , '' Fletcher wrote .
`` And an even greater disproportionate use on the black community . ''
The California Department of Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twice as likely to be put in so-called chokehold restraints than white people .
According to the website # 8cantwait , a project by Campaign Zero that aims to decrease police violence through departments adopting new policies , banning choke and strangleholds , including carotid restraints , can reduce police-involved killings by 22 percent .
Carlsbad Police Chief Neil Gallucci said Wednesday his department would ban the carotid hold , which officers in his city had only used eight times since 2017 .
`` We join law enforcement from throughout our region in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of this technique following the choking video from Minneapolis and the tragic death of George Floyd , '' he said in a statement .
Floyd died March 25 during a police interaction after a convenience store clerk reported he had used a counterfeit $ 20 bill .
In video of the incident , Derek Chauvin , a former Minneapolis police officer , is seen kneeing Floyd , who is prostrate and handcuffed on the ground , in the neck in excess of 8 minutes .
Chauvin has since been charged with murder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been charged with aiding and abetting murder in the second-degree .
Floyd 's death has sparked nationwide protests demanding accountability for his killing and police reforms .
In Oceanside , Chief of Police Frank S. McCoy said in his announcement banning the hold that he is aware it is time for officers to consider other means when dealing with suspects .
`` It is time for our department to focus on alternative de-escalation tools and techniques that will help ensure the safety of those individuals in our custody , '' McCoy said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Department is committed to continuing to provide our officers with extensive training on de-escalation tactics and promoting new tools as appropriate alternatives . ''

Protesters jam the streets during a demonstration in memory of George Floyd on 18th Street by Delores Park in San Francisco on Wednesday. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
June 4 (UPI) -- Following nationwide protests over the police-involved death of George Floyd, police departments throughout San Diego County announced they have instructed officers to stop using the carotid restraint when subduing a suspect. Several local police departments, including the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, said Wednesday they have immediately halted the controversial hold's use. Advertisement
"In light of community concerns, and after consultation with many elected officials throughout the county, I am stopping the use of the carotid restraint by my deputies effective immediately," Sheriff Bill Gore of the San Diego Country Sheriff's Department said in a statement. "I have and always will listen to any feedback about the public safety services we provide."
Roxana Kennedy, chief of the Chula Vista Police Department and president of the San Diego Chiefs and Sheriffs Association, announced that by the end of Wednesday 14 local San Diego police departments plus the sheriff's office had "unanimously decided to discontinue the use of the carotid restraint hold effective immediately."
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The move follows San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit on Monday stating his police force would stop using the hold that renders a person unconscious by applying pressure to the vascular veins in one's neck.
County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher then sent Gore a letter urging him to ban the hold so as to align the policies of the San Diego County sheriff and police departments.
"These restraints can lead to serious injuries or even death and are disproportionately used on people of color," Fletcher wrote. "And an even greater disproportionate use on the black community."
The California Department of Justice has said people of color are nationwide twice as likely to be put in so-called chokehold restraints than white people.
According to the website #8cantwait, a project by Campaign Zero that aims to decrease police violence through departments adopting new policies, banning choke and strangleholds, including carotid restraints, can reduce police-involved killings by 22 percent.
Carlsbad Police Chief Neil Gallucci said Wednesday his department would ban the carotid hold, which officers in his city had only used eight times since 2017.
"We join law enforcement from throughout our region in acknowledging the community's concerns over the use of this technique following the choking video from Minneapolis and the tragic death of George Floyd," he said in a statement.
Advertisement
Floyd died March 25 during a police interaction after a convenience store clerk reported he had used a counterfeit $20 bill.
In video of the incident, Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, is seen kneeing Floyd, who is prostrate and handcuffed on the ground, in the neck in excess of 8 minutes.
Chauvin has since been charged with murder and three other officers on the scene have been charged with aiding and abetting murder in the second-degree.
Floyd's death has sparked nationwide protests demanding accountability for his killing and police reforms.
In Oceanside, Chief of Police Frank S. McCoy said in his announcement banning the hold that he is aware it is time for officers to consider other means when dealing with suspects.
"It is time for our department to focus on alternative de-escalation tools and techniques that will help ensure the safety of those individuals in our custody," McCoy said in a statement. "The Oceanside Police Department is committed to continuing to provide our officers with extensive training on de-escalation tactics and promoting new tools as appropriate alternatives."


upi--2020-06-04--Plasma helps recovery of seriously ill COVID-19 patients, study shows

The blood plasma of people who have recovered from the new coronavirus infection may help critically ill COVID-19 patients recover , a new study finds .
Of 25 sick patients given plasma transfusions , 19 improved and 11 left the hospital , the researchers reported .
None of the patients had side effects from the transfusion .
`` While physician scientists around the world scrambled to test new drugs and treatments against the COVID-19 virus , convalescent serum therapy emerged as potentially one of the most promising strategies , '' explained lead researcher Dr. James Musser , chair of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Houston Methodist hospital .
`` With no proven treatments or cures for COVID-19 patients , now was the time in our history to move ahead rapidly . ''
Plasma transfusions from recovered patients have been used since at least 1918 during the Spanish Flu pandemic and in 2003 in the SARS -- severe acute respiratory syndrome -- pandemic .
It was also employed in the influenza H1N1 pandemic in 2009 and the 2015 Ebola outbreak in Africa , the researchers noted .
The new report was published online recently in the American Journal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't the only research looking into the power of plasma transfusions in treating COVID-19 .
Two groups of researchers are testing the theory in clinical trials .
One study , from doctors at NYU Grossman School of Medicine , Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City , will try to determine whether `` convalescent plasma '' injected into hospitalized COVID-19 patients can protect them from developing severe disease or requiring a ventilator .
Meanwhile , researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new studies looking at the use of plasma in health care workers and those who are sick at home with COVID-19 .
Dr. Corita Grudzen , vice chair for research in NYU Langone Health 's department of emergency medicine , wrote the study protocol for the New York City study .
`` What we hope to see is that convalescent plasma , used at this stage of disease , so early on , prevents patients from dying , from going on a mechanical ventilator , or any sort of bad outcome , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The tactic is `` sort of a stopgap measure in the sense that , when you do n't have a vaccine , it 's something that can be used in a new infection where we do n't have known drugs or other therapeutics or biologics that we know can work against the disease , '' Grudzen explained .
Exactly what is blood plasma ?
`` Blood plasma is the liquid part of the blood , '' explained Dr. Arturo Casadevall , chair of Hopkins ' department of molecular microbiology and immunology and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Characterized by its yellowish cast , plasma contains both red and white blood cells , as well as the colorless platelets the body deploys to clot and stem bleeding from wounds or cuts .
`` And that 's [ also ] where the antibodies are , '' Casadevall noted .
`` The antibodies are floating in the liquid . ''
With plasma therapy , he explained , `` you 're taking the antibodies that somebody else made when they recovered and you 're transferring them to a new person .
So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and can use them right away . ''
Convalescent plasma is not without dangers .
The two main ones are the patient catching an infectious disease , though blood screening helps to lessen that possibility , or a patient 's immune system reacting badly to the injected plasma of another person .
Grudzen noted that , `` especially in older people , it 's a little more risky . ''
And Casadevall cautioned that plasma therapy still needs to be tested on COVID-19 to see if it 'll work against this specific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new organism . ''
To that end , Hopkins is set to start two COVID-19 plasma investigations simultaneously , with funding coming from Bloomberg Philanthropies , the state of Maryland , and Hopkins .
`` The first trial is focused on trying to use plasma on high-risk populations , '' he noted .
That investigation will include health care workers on the frontlines of the pandemic and nursing home residents , with a minimum of 150 participants .
`` The second trial is focused on people who are sick at home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most people recover .
Most people today who are sick are sitting at home hoping to get better .
But we also know that some fraction of them will get worse , '' he added .
There 's more about the COVID-19 pandemic at Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center .

St. Louis Blues broadcaster and former coronavirus patient John Kelly donate plasma at the Red Cross donation center in Crestwood, Mo., in May. Doctors have found plasma from recovered patients can help treatment of COVID-19, a new study shows. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
The blood plasma of people who have recovered from the new coronavirus infection may help critically ill COVID-19 patients recover, a new study finds. Of 25 sick patients given plasma transfusions, 19 improved and 11 left the hospital, the researchers reported. None of the patients had side effects from the transfusion. Advertisement
"While physician scientists around the world scrambled to test new drugs and treatments against the COVID-19 virus, convalescent serum therapy emerged as potentially one of the most promising strategies," explained lead researcher Dr. James Musser, chair of the department of pathology and genomic medicine at Houston Methodist hospital. "With no proven treatments or cures for COVID-19 patients, now was the time in our history to move ahead rapidly."
Plasma transfusions from recovered patients have been used since at least 1918 during the Spanish Flu pandemic and in 2003 in the SARS -- severe acute respiratory syndrome -- pandemic. It was also employed in the influenza H1N1 pandemic in 2009 and the 2015 Ebola outbreak in Africa, the researchers noted.
Advertisement
The new report was published online recently in the American Journal of Pathology.
This latest study isn't the only research looking into the power of plasma transfusions in treating COVID-19.
Two groups of researchers are testing the theory in clinical trials.
One study, from doctors at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, will try to determine whether "convalescent plasma" injected into hospitalized COVID-19 patients can protect them from developing severe disease or requiring a ventilator.
Meanwhile, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore are poised to launch a pair of new studies looking at the use of plasma in health care workers and those who are sick at home with COVID-19.
Dr. Corita Grudzen, vice chair for research in NYU Langone Health's department of emergency medicine, wrote the study protocol for the New York City study.
"What we hope to see is that convalescent plasma, used at this stage of disease, so early on, prevents patients from dying, from going on a mechanical ventilator, or any sort of bad outcome," Grudzen said in a HealthDay Live interview.
The tactic is "sort of a stopgap measure in the sense that, when you don't have a vaccine, it's something that can be used in a new infection where we don't have known drugs or other therapeutics or biologics that we know can work against the disease," Grudzen explained.
Advertisement
Exactly what is blood plasma?
"Blood plasma is the liquid part of the blood," explained Dr. Arturo Casadevall, chair of Hopkins' department of molecular microbiology and immunology and lead researcher on the two Hopkins studies.
Characterized by its yellowish cast, plasma contains both red and white blood cells, as well as the colorless platelets the body deploys to clot and stem bleeding from wounds or cuts.
"And that's [also] where the antibodies are," Casadevall noted. "The antibodies are floating in the liquid."
With plasma therapy, he explained, "you're taking the antibodies that somebody else made when they recovered and you're transferring them to a new person. So, the new person gets them already made, and can use them right away."
Convalescent plasma is not without dangers.
The two main ones are the patient catching an infectious disease, though blood screening helps to lessen that possibility, or a patient's immune system reacting badly to the injected plasma of another person. Grudzen noted that, "especially in older people, it's a little more risky."
And Casadevall cautioned that plasma therapy still needs to be tested on COVID-19 to see if it'll work against this specific virus, "simply because it's a new organism."
To that end, Hopkins is set to start two COVID-19 plasma investigations simultaneously, with funding coming from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the state of Maryland, and Hopkins.
Advertisement
"The first trial is focused on trying to use plasma on high-risk populations," he noted. That investigation will include health care workers on the frontlines of the pandemic and nursing home residents, with a minimum of 150 participants.
"The second trial is focused on people who are sick at home," Casadevall said. "We know most people recover. Most people today who are sick are sitting at home hoping to get better. But we also know that some fraction of them will get worse," he added.
More information
There's more about the COVID-19 pandemic at Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-06-04--On This Day, June 4: Evacuation of Dunkirk completed

On this date in history : In 1783 , the first public demonstration of a hot-air balloon occurred at Annonay , France .
In 1784 , France 's Marie Thible of Lyons became the first woman to fly in a hot-air balloon .
In 1896 , Henry Ford wheeled his first car from a brick shed in Detroit and drove it around darkened streets on a trial run .
In 1917 , the first Pulitzer Prizes were awarded .
In 1940 , the World War II evacuation of Dunkirk , France , was completed .
A flotilla of small boats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Channel to rescue nearly 350,000 British , French and Belgian troops from advancing German forces .
In 1942 , the Battle of Midway began .
It raged for four days and was the turning point for the United States in the World War II Pacific campaign against Japan .
In 1944 , the last of German occupiers fled Rome ahead of the advancing U.S. 9th Army .
Reynolds Packard reopened the United Press ' offices the next day .
In 1963 , President John F. Kennedy ordered Alabama Gov .
George C. Wallace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any unlawful obstruction of justice in connection with the admission of two African-American students to the University of Alabama .
The order was a final technical step required before the president could use federal troops to enforce the court order for desegregation of the university .
In 1972 , black militant Angela Davis was acquitted of murder , kidnapping and criminal conspiracy charges stemming from a California courtroom shootout in which a judge and three other people were killed .
In 1985 , the U.S. Supreme Court struck down an Alabama minute-of-silence law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1986 , American Jonathan Pollard , accused of selling stacks of secret documents to Israel , and his wife pleaded guilty to espionage charges , admitting they were part of an Israeli spy network that included three Israeli officials and an embassy secretary .
In 1989 , in what became known as the Tiananmen Square massacre , hundreds of student-led pro-democracy demonstrators were reported killed and thousands injured as Chinese troops removed them from the square in Beijing .
In 1990 , an Oregon woman , Janet Adkins , killed herself in Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by `` Dr. Death '' Jack Kevorkian .
She was the retired pathologist 's first reported `` medicide '' patient .
In 1998 , Terry Nichols was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for his part in the 1995 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City .
In 2005 , the Covington Diocese in Kentucky agreed to pay up to $ 120 million to more than 100 alleged victims of child molestation from the past 50 years .
In 2010 , U.S. President Barack Obama named Lt. Gen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence .
In 2019 , after racking up $ 2.4 million in prize money , professional sports gambler James Holzhauer 's record-breaking run on Jeopardy !
came to an end .
In 33 games , he set 15 records for the most money won in a single episode , topping out with $ 131,127 on April 17 .

1/7
On June 4, 1940, the World War II evacuation of Dunkirk, France, was completed. File Photo courtesy of the Imperial War Museum
On this date in history: In 1783, the first public demonstration of a hot-air balloon occurred at Annonay, France. Advertisement
In 1784, France's Marie Thible of Lyons became the first woman to fly in a hot-air balloon.
In 1896, Henry Ford wheeled his first car from a brick shed in Detroit and drove it around darkened streets on a trial run.
In 1917, the first Pulitzer Prizes were awarded.
In 1940, the World War II evacuation of Dunkirk, France, was completed. A flotilla of small boats spent nearly a week crossing the English Channel to rescue nearly 350,000 British, French and Belgian troops from advancing German forces.
In 1942, the Battle of Midway began. It raged for four days and was the turning point for the United States in the World War II Pacific campaign against Japan.
In 1944, the last of German occupiers fled Rome ahead of the advancing U.S. 9th Army. Reynolds Packard reopened the United Press' offices the next day.
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In 1963, President John F. Kennedy ordered Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace "to cease and desist" from any unlawful obstruction of justice in connection with the admission of two African-American students to the University of Alabama. The order was a final technical step required before the president could use federal troops to enforce the court order for desegregation of the university.
UPI File Photo
In 1972, black militant Angela Davis was acquitted of murder, kidnapping and criminal conspiracy charges stemming from a California courtroom shootout in which a judge and three other people were killed.
In 1985, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down an Alabama minute-of-silence law as specifically fostering classroom prayer.
In 1986, American Jonathan Pollard, accused of selling stacks of secret documents to Israel, and his wife pleaded guilty to espionage charges, admitting they were part of an Israeli spy network that included three Israeli officials and an embassy secretary.
In 1989, in what became known as the Tiananmen Square massacre, hundreds of student-led pro-democracy demonstrators were reported killed and thousands injured as Chinese troops removed them from the square in Beijing.
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In 1990, an Oregon woman, Janet Adkins, killed herself in Michigan using a "suicide machine" developed by "Dr. Death" Jack Kevorkian. She was the retired pathologist's first reported "medicide" patient.
In 1991, Albania's Cabinet resigned, ending 46 years of Communist rule.
In 1998, Terry Nichols was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for his part in the 1995 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City.
Teary-eyed Marsha Kight speaks about the closure of the Oklahoma City bombing trial with the press outside of the Federal Courthouse in Denver where Terry Nichols was sentenced June 4, 1998, to a life sentence without parole. File Photo by David O'Connor/UPI
In 2005, the Covington Diocese in Kentucky agreed to pay up to $120 million to more than 100 alleged victims of child molestation from the past 50 years.
In 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama named Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper Jr. director of national intelligence.
In 2019, after racking up $2.4 million in prize money, professional sports gambler James Holzhauer's record-breaking run on Jeopardy! came to an end. In 33 games, he set 15 records for the most money won in a single episode, topping out with $131,127 on April 17.
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upi--2020-06-04--Famous birthdays for June 4: Angelina Jolie, Scott Wolf

June 4 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Gemini .
-- George @ @ @ @ @ during the American Revolutionary War , in 1738

Angelina Jolie attends the premiere of "Maleficient: Mistress Of Evil" at Odeon Imax Waterloo in London on October 9. The actor turns 45 on June 4. File Photo by Rune Hellestad/UPI | License Photo
June 4 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Gemini. They include: Advertisement
-- George III, king of England during the American Revolutionary War, in 1738
-- Actor Rosalind Russell in 1907
-- Actor Dennis Weaver in 1924
-- Radio/TV host Ruth Westheimer in 1928 (age 92)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- Actor Bruce Dern in 1936 (age 84)
-- Singer Freddy Fender in 1937
-- Publisher/commentator Mortimer Zuckerman in 1937 (age 83)
-- Singer/actor Michelle Phillips in 1944 (age 76)
-- Actor Parker Stevenson in 1952 (age 68)
-- Actor Bradley Walsh in 1960 (age 60)
-- Singer Eldra "El" DeBarge in 1961 (age 59)
-- Fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli in 1963 (age 57)
-- Actor Scott Wolf in 1968 (age 52)
File Photo by James Atoa/UPI
-- Actor Horatio Sanz in 1969 (age 51)
-- Actor Noah Wyle in 1971 (age 49)
-- Comedian Russell Brand in 1975 (age 45)
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-- Actor/filmmaker Angelina Jolie in 1975 (age 45)
-- Actor Robin Lord Taylor in 1978 (age 42)
-- Actor Josh McDermitt in 1978 (age 42)
-- Actor T.J. Miller in 1981 (age 39)
-- Model Bar Refaeli in 1985 (age 35)
-- U.S. Olympic figure skater Evan Lysacek in 1985 (age 35)
-- Actor/musician Quincy Brown in 1991 (age 29)
File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI


upi--2020-06-04--Defector Ji Seong-ho: leaflets to North Korea should continue

SEOUL , June 4 ( UPI ) -- Ji Seong-ho , the high-profile North Korean defector who was elected to South Korea 's parliament in April , said on Thursday that efforts to send information such as leaflets into his isolated former country should continue despite a warning from Pyongyang over the practice .
`` Of course I understand that these kind of activities create many problems , '' Ji said at a press conference for international media at the National Assembly on Thursday morning .
`` I want to emphasize the importance of the North Korean people 's right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a human right . ''
Ji 's remarks came after Kim Yo Jong , the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un , issued a statement through state-run media calling the sending of information leaflets by defectors a `` sordid and wicked act of hostility '' and threatened that Pyongyang would withdraw from a military agreement with Seoul unless the South took action .
`` Clearly speaking , the [ S ] outh Korean authorities will be forced to pay a dear price if they let this situation go on while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on Thursday morning in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency .
Kim warned that North Korea would abandon a military agreement signed in 2018 that sought to remove cross-border tensions and would suspend operations of a joint liaison office in the city of Kaesong if South Korea did not act to stop the leaflets .
She added that the South had `` better get themselves ready for possibility of the complete withdrawal of the already desolate Kaesong Industrial Park following the [ stopping of tours ] of Mt .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the administration of South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been eager to restart .
In the statement , Kim referred specifically to hundreds of thousands of leaflets criticizing North Korea 's nuclear weapons program that were sent by defector groups on balloons across the border on May 31 .
She called the defectors `` human scum little short of wild animals who betrayed their own homeland . ''
The South Korean government has in the past criticized the practice of sending leaflets , saying it causes danger to residents living near the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stop to the campaigns .
Yoh Sang-key , spokesman for the Ministry of Unification , which oversees relations between the two Koreas , said that his ministry is planning to institute a ban on the `` tension-causing acts . ''
`` Actually , most of the leaflets have been found in our territory , causing environmental pollution and increasing burden on local people to get rid of them , '' he said at a daily briefing , according to news agency Yonhap .
`` Any act that could pose a threat to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be stopped . ''
Ji , the defector who rose to international fame when he was invited to the 2018 State of the Union address by U.S. President Donald Trump , said that efforts such as sending the leaflets are vital for giving North Koreans information about the outside world .
`` Before the [ South Korean ] government talks about stopping the sending of leaflets , I believe that they should come up with an alternative measure that will enable us to send information to North Korea , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop this , they will not be exempt from criticism from the international community . ''
Ji was speaking to reporters on Thursday to announce that he would be proposing a bill in the legislature to allow the roughly 35,000 North Korean defectors living in South Korea to receive compensation for human rights violations suffered in the North .
The defector-turned-politician lost an arm and a leg at the age of 13 after being hit by a train in North Korea and escaped on crutches in 2006 .
He said that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country hear stories such as his to allow them to imagine greater possibilities of their own .
`` I want to show the North Koreans that there is a world where a poor boy who had to scour the marketplaces could become a member of parliament , that a disabled person who was discriminated against in North Korea can become a member of parliament , '' he said .
An activist group called the Fighters for a Free North Korea said in early May that it sent leaflets to the North announcing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defector , Thae Yong-ho , to the South Korean National Assembly on April 15 .
Ji , a former human rights activist , said that his goal is to see the North Korean regime changed `` from the bottom up '' by citizens who are craving freedom .
`` I believe the minute the moment that the North Koreans realize the value of freedom , that will be the time when our aspiration towards a peaceful unification will begin , '' he said .
The Moon Jae-in administration has been criticized by some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human rights under the repressive North Korean regime in the interest of advancing its peace agenda .
Ji said that a diplomatic approach that addresses only the demands of North Korea 's leaders and ignores its citizenry is doomed to fail .
`` I want to emphasize that a North Korean policy that overlooks its people and focuses only on the regime has no hope , '' he said .
`` It will not succeed . ''

Ji Seong-ho, a high-profile North Korean defector who was elected to South Korean parliament in April, said Thursday that information campaigns such as sending leaflets to the North should continue. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI
SEOUL, June 4 (UPI) -- Ji Seong-ho, the high-profile North Korean defector who was elected to South Korea's parliament in April, said Thursday that efforts to send information such as leaflets into his isolated former country should continue despite a warning from Pyongyang over the practice. "Of course I understand that these kind of activities create many problems," Ji said at a press conference for international media at the National Assembly on Thursday. "I want to emphasize the importance of the North Korean people's right to know. The right to know is a human right." Advertisement
Ji's remarks came after Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, issued a statement through state-run media calling the sending of information leaflets by defectors a "sordid and wicked act of hostility" and threatened that Pyongyang would withdraw from a military agreement with Seoul unless the South took action.
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"Clearly speaking, the [S]outh Korean authorities will be forced to pay a dear price if they let this situation go on while making sort of excuses," she said Thursday in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.
Kim Yo Jong warned that North Korea would abandon a military agreement signed in 2018 that sought to remove cross-border tensions and would suspend operations of a joint liaison office in the city of Kaesong if South Korea did not act to stop the leaflets.
She added that the South had "better get themselves ready for possibility of the complete withdrawal of the already desolate Kaesong Industrial Park following the [stopping of tours] of Mount Kumgang," two joint projects that the administration of South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been eager to restart.
In the statement, Kim Yo Jong referred specifically to hundreds of thousands of leaflets criticizing North Korea's nuclear weapons program that were sent by defector groups on balloons across the border on Sunday.
She called the defectors "human scum little short of wild animals who betrayed their own homeland."
The South Korean government has in the past criticized the practice of sending leaflets, saying it causes danger to residents living near the border and on Thursday called for a stop to the campaigns.
Advertisement
Yoh Sang-key, spokesman for the Ministry of Unification, which oversees relations between the two Koreas, said his ministry is planning to institute a ban on the "tension-causing acts."
"Actually, most of the leaflets have been found in our territory, causing environmental pollution and increasing burden on local people to get rid of them," he said at a daily briefing, according to news agency Yonhap. "Any act that could pose a threat to the life and property of those people should be stopped."
Ji, the defector who rose to international fame when he was invited to the 2018 State of the Union address by U.S. President Donald Trump, said efforts such as sending the leaflets are vital for giving North Koreans information about the outside world.
"Before the [South Korean] government talks about stopping the sending of leaflets, I believe that they should come up with an alternative measure that will enable us to send information to North Korea," he said. "If the current government tries to stop this, they will not be exempt from criticism from the international community."
Ji was speaking to reporters on Thursday to announce that he would be proposing a bill in the legislature to allow the roughly 35,000 North Korean defectors living in South Korea to receive compensation for human rights violations suffered in the North.
Advertisement
The defector-turned-politician lost an arm and a leg at the age of 13 after being hit by a train in North Korea and escaped on crutches in 2006. He said that it was important that people in his former country hear stories such as his to allow them to imagine greater possibilities of their own.
"I want to show the North Koreans that there is a world where a poor boy who had to scour the marketplaces could become a member of parliament, that a disabled person who was discriminated against in North Korea can become a member of parliament," he said.
An activist group called the Fighters for a Free North Korea said in early May that it sent leaflets to the North announcing the election of Ji and another North Korean defector, Thae Yong-ho, to the South Korean National Assembly on April 15.
Ji, a former human rights activist, said that his goal is to see the North Korean regime changed "from the bottom up" by citizens who are craving freedom.
"I believe the minute the moment that the North Koreans realize the value of freedom, that will be the time when our aspiration toward a peaceful unification will begin," he said.
Advertisement
The Moon Jae-in administration has been criticized by some rights groups for underplaying the issue of human rights under the repressive North Korean regime in the interest of advancing its peace agenda.
Ji said that a diplomatic approach that addresses only the demands of North Korea's leaders and ignores its citizenry is doomed to fail.
"I want to emphasize that a North Korean policy that overlooks its people and focuses only on the regime has no hope," he said. "It will not succeed."


upi--2020-06-04--Valium, Xanax linked to higher risk for ectopic pregnancy

Taking benzodiazepines -- drugs such as Xanax , Valium , Klonopin , Halcion or Ativan -- to treat anxiety or insomnia before pregnancy boosts the risk of an ectopic pregnancy , new research suggests .
Ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that develops outside the uterus , typically in a fallopian tube .
The risk of ectopic pregnancy was nearly 50 percent higher for women who had filled a prescription for a benzodiazepine within three months of becoming pregnant .
`` There is a real gap in understanding what leads to ectopic pregnancy .
Past studies on psychotropic medications like benzodiazepines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the baby , '' explained study author Elizabeth Wall-Wieler , from Stanford University School of Medicine .
And that 's why the researchers started looking at what effects those medications might have on women .
`` We need a better understanding of how certain treatments might affect pregnancy outcomes , '' she said .
But it 's important to note that due to the study design , this research can not prove a direct cause-and-effect link between the sedating medications and ectopic pregnancy .
Ectopic pregnancies are relatively rare -- affecting just 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , according to the researchers .
But these pregnancies can be associated with devastating effects .
If they 're not discovered early , an ectopic pregnancy can cause a fallopian tube to burst , which triggers dangerous internal bleeding .
Ectopic pregnancies are responsible for as many as 13 percent of pregnancy-related deaths , according to the researchers .
An ectopic pregnancy can also lead to infertility .
Known risk factors for ectopic pregnancy include prior fallopian tube or other abdominal surgeries , certain sexually transmitted infections , pelvic inflammatory disease and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Obstetricians and Gynecologists .
Other factors linked to an increased risk include smoking , a history of infertility , use of assisted reproductive technology and older age ( over 35 ) .
But about half of ectopic pregnancies have no known risk factors , the researchers noted .
The study team reviewed insurance data for almost 1.7 million pregnancies between 2008 and 2015 .
The women were between the ages of 15 and 44 .
About 1 percent of the women in this group had filled a benzodiazepine prescription for at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before getting pregnant .
The findings showed that nearly 2 percent of the women in the study had an ectopic pregnancy .
About 1 percent of them had filled a benzodiazepine prescription before pregnancy .
Overall , the drugs were linked to a 50 percent higher risk of having an ectopic pregnancy .
When the researchers looked at women with specific conditions -- anxiety and insomnia -- they found that the drugs were associated with an approximately 30 percent higher risk of ectopic pregnancy .
The researchers said that difference suggests that underlying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk .
Wall-Wieler said there are plausible ways these drugs could contribute to ectopic pregnancy .
One example is that they might relax the muscles that normally contract and move the embryo from the fallopian tube into the uterus .
Dr. Adi Davidov , associate chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City , said this study `` has interesting evidence that suggests that perhaps benzodiazepine use during early pregnancy increases a woman 's risk of ectopic pregnancy . ''
He agreed that benzodiazepines might affect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embryo out of the fallopian tubes .
`` It would therefore make sense that benzodiazepines may potentially increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy , '' Davidov said .
But he cautioned that there are many other factors that could increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy .
For example , women who are prescribed benzodiazepines may be different in some ways than women who are not , he said .
Typically women who take benzodiazepines are usually older , and being older is a risk factor for ectopic pregnancy .
Wall-Wieler said these medications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for certain conditions , so women should talk with their doctors before making any changes .
She said if you 're on one of these medications and thinking of becoming pregnant , your doctor may be able to switch you to another medication .
If that 's not possible , she said , your doctor will need to monitor you for signs of ectopic pregnancy .
`` Women who are using benzodiazepines need to be aware of the symptoms of ectopic pregnancy , because what 's really dangerous is if it goes unnoticed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fallopian tube , '' she said .
The findings were published June 3 in the journal Human Reproduction .
Learn more about ectopic pregnancy from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists .

Taking benzodiazepines -- drugs such as Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, Halcion or Ativan -- to treat anxiety or insomnia before pregnancy boosts the risk of an ectopic pregnancy, new research suggests.
Ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that develops outside the uterus, typically in a fallopian tube. The risk of ectopic pregnancy was nearly 50 percent higher for women who had filled a prescription for a benzodiazepine within three months of becoming pregnant.
Advertisement
"There is a real gap in understanding what leads to ectopic pregnancy. Past studies on psychotropic medications like benzodiazepines in pregnancy looked at the effects on the baby," explained study author Elizabeth Wall-Wieler, from Stanford University School of Medicine. And that's why the researchers started looking at what effects those medications might have on women.
"We need a better understanding of how certain treatments might affect pregnancy outcomes," she said.
But it's important to note that due to the study design, this research cannot prove a direct cause-and-effect link between the sedating medications and ectopic pregnancy.
Advertisement
Ectopic pregnancies are relatively rare -- affecting just 1 percent to 2 percent of pregnancies each year, according to the researchers. But these pregnancies can be associated with devastating effects. If they're not discovered early, an ectopic pregnancy can cause a fallopian tube to burst, which triggers dangerous internal bleeding.
Ectopic pregnancies are responsible for as many as 13 percent of pregnancy-related deaths, according to the researchers. An ectopic pregnancy can also lead to infertility.
Known risk factors for ectopic pregnancy include prior fallopian tube or other abdominal surgeries, certain sexually transmitted infections, pelvic inflammatory disease and endometriosis, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Other factors linked to an increased risk include smoking, a history of infertility, use of assisted reproductive technology and older age (over 35).
But about half of ectopic pregnancies have no known risk factors, the researchers noted.
The study team reviewed insurance data for almost 1.7 million pregnancies between 2008 and 2015. The women were between the ages of 15 and 44.
About 1 percent of the women in this group had filled a benzodiazepine prescription for at least a 10-day supply in the 90 days before getting pregnant.
The findings showed that nearly 2 percent of the women in the study had an ectopic pregnancy. About 1 percent of them had filled a benzodiazepine prescription before pregnancy.
Advertisement
Overall, the drugs were linked to a 50 percent higher risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. When the researchers looked at women with specific conditions -- anxiety and insomnia -- they found that the drugs were associated with an approximately 30 percent higher risk of ectopic pregnancy.
The researchers said that difference suggests that underlying conditions may play a role in the risk.
Wall-Wieler said there are plausible ways these drugs could contribute to ectopic pregnancy. One example is that they might relax the muscles that normally contract and move the embryo from the fallopian tube into the uterus.
Dr. Adi Davidov, associate chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City, said this study "has interesting evidence that suggests that perhaps benzodiazepine use during early pregnancy increases a woman's risk of ectopic pregnancy."
He agreed that benzodiazepines might affect the ability of the muscles to push the embryo out of the fallopian tubes.
"It would therefore make sense that benzodiazepines may potentially increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy," Davidov said.
But he cautioned that there are many other factors that could increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. For example, women who are prescribed benzodiazepines may be different in some ways than women who are not, he said. Typically women who take benzodiazepines are usually older, and being older is a risk factor for ectopic pregnancy.
Advertisement
Wall-Wieler said these medications can be an important aspect of treatment for certain conditions, so women should talk with their doctors before making any changes. She said if you're on one of these medications and thinking of becoming pregnant, your doctor may be able to switch you to another medication.
If that's not possible, she said, your doctor will need to monitor you for signs of ectopic pregnancy.
"Women who are using benzodiazepines need to be aware of the symptoms of ectopic pregnancy, because what's really dangerous is if it goes unnoticed and there is a rupture of the fallopian tube," she said.
The findings were published June 3 in the journal Human Reproduction.
More information
Learn more about ectopic pregnancy from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-06-04--George Floyd autopsy report shows he tested positive for COVID-19

June 4 ( UPI ) -- The Hennepin County Medical Examiner 's Office on Wednesday released the full autopsy report for George Floyd , showing he 'd tested positive for the coronavirus and was likely asymptomatic when he died last week while being arrested by police in Minnesota .
In the 20-page report , the medical examiner said that Floyd had tested positive for the deadly and infectious coronavirus on April 3 , and a postmortem nasal swab collected the day after his day on May 26 proved positive for the virus , though he was most probably asymptomatic from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positivity for 2019-nCoV RNA can persist for weeks after the onset of clinical disease , the autopsy result most likely reflects asymptomatic but persistent PCR positivity from previous infection , '' the report read , referring to the novel coronavirus by an abbreviation .
The release of the report nine days after Floyd , a 46-year-old black man , was killed while being detained by a white police officer , was with the consent of the victim 's family and legal representatives , the medical examiner 's office said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual , restraint and neck compression . ''
The Floyd family also ordered an independent autopsy that was released Monday and ruled Floyd 's death as `` asphyxiation from sustained pressure . ''
Both ruled the death was a homicide .
The county medical examiner 's report on Monday also stated he suffered from arteriosclerotic heart disease , which is the thickening and hardening of coronary artery walls , and hypertension as well as fentanyl intoxication and had recently used methamphetamine .
The release of the autopsy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin and imposing aiding and abetting murder in the second-degree charges against former Minneapolis police officers J. Alexander Kueng , Thomas land and Tou Thano who were involved in the police interaction on May 25 that resulted in Floyd 's death .
In video of the police interaction , Chauvin is seen kneeing Floyd in the neck for more than 8 minutes as the suspect lays prostrate and handcuffed on the ground until losing consciousness .
The officers arrested Floyd outside a convenience store after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 20 bill .

Drummers beat in front of a mural of George Floyd on 18th Street by Delores Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
June 4 (UPI) -- The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office on Wednesday released the full autopsy report for George Floyd, showing he'd tested positive for the coronavirus and was likely asymptomatic when he died last week while being arrested by police in Minnesota. In the 20-page report, the medical examiner said that Floyd had tested positive for the deadly and infectious coronavirus on April 3, and a postmortem nasal swab collected the day after his day on May 26 proved positive for the virus, though he was most probably asymptomatic from the earlier infection. Advertisement
"Since PCR positivity for 2019-nCoV RNA can persist for weeks after the onset of clinical disease, the autopsy result most likely reflects asymptomatic but persistent PCR positivity from previous infection," the report read, referring to the novel coronavirus by an abbreviation.
The release of the report nine days after Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed while being detained by a white police officer, was with the consent of the victim's family and legal representatives, the medical examiner's office said in a statement.
The reported listed Floyd's death as "cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint and neck compression."
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The Floyd family also ordered an independent autopsy that was released Monday and ruled Floyd's death as "asphyxiation from sustained pressure."
Both ruled the death was a homicide.
The county medical examiner's report on Monday also stated he suffered from arteriosclerotic heart disease, which is the thickening and hardening of coronary artery walls, and hypertension as well as fentanyl intoxication and had recently used methamphetamine.
The release of the autopsy report follows Minnesota authorities escalating the murder charge against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin and imposing aiding and abetting murder in the second-degree charges against former Minneapolis police officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas land and Tou Thano who were involved in the police interaction on May 25 that resulted in Floyd's death.
In video of the police interaction, Chauvin is seen kneeing Floyd in the neck for more than 8 minutes as the suspect lays prostrate and handcuffed on the ground until losing consciousness.
The officers arrested Floyd outside a convenience store after a clerk reported he had used a counterfeit $20 bill.
Protesters demand justice in police killing of George Floyd


upi--2020-06-03--Trump administration blacklists 7 Cuban companies, jeopardizing U.S. remittances

June 3 ( UPI ) -- The Trump administration on Wednesday blacklisted seven Cuban companies including the financial institution that handles U.S. remittances to the communist nation .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the seven Cuban military-controlled companies were added to the Cuba Restricted List , barring Americans from doing business them .
Among those blackballed Wednesday include Fincimex , which Western Union uses to send remittances from Americans to their Cuban families .
Pompeo said it was included with the six other entities to `` help address the regime 's attempts to control the flow of hard currency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` We will continue to stop the flow of money into the pockets of those who oppress the Cuban people , '' he tweeted .
`` 61 years of oppression and dictatorship are enough .
To the Cuban people : you deserve better and we stand with you . ''
Ricardo Herrero , the executive director of the Cuba Study Group , lambasted the move as `` inhumane and the height of hypocrisy '' to say they stand with the Cuban people while cutting them off from needed funds amid a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the revenue earned from a less than 15 percent tax on such monies .
`` The Cuban people should absolutely have the freedom to decide what to do with remittances sent by their loved ones .
But by sanctioning the state entity that channels & taxes those funds [ without ] providing an alternative , the Trump admin threatens to cut off all formal remittances , '' he tweeted .
Being unable to use Fincimex , Cubans will resort to third-market transfer agencies and it will incentivize money laundering , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ greater hardship of the Cuban people who this farcical policy pretends to 'support . '
'' In October of last year , the Trump administration re-capped remittances to $ 1,000 per quarter .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said then in a statement the move was being taken to `` financially isolate '' the Cuban regime .
`` Through these regulatory amendments , Treasury is denying Cuba access to hard currency , and we are curbing the Cuban government 's bad behavior while continuing to support the long-suffering people of Cuba , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all restrictions on remittances and family travel to Cuba in 2009 as part of a then-U.S. policy shift toward the Caribbean nation that has experienced a reversal under President Donald Trump .
The other Cuban military-controlled companies sanctioned Wednesday include three hotels , two scuba diving centers and a marine park .
`` The Cuban people deserve democratic government , freedom of speech and religion or belief , economic prosperity and respect for human rights , '' Pompeo said in a statement .
`` The United States stands with the Cuban people as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look forward to the day when the dream of freedom becomes reality . ''
Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla , Cuba 's Minister of Foreign Affairs , rejected the sanctions Wednesday , stating they aim to harm Cuban families .
`` Tightening the blockade during COVID-19 is both shameful and criminal , '' he tweeted .
The announcement comes on the 89th birthday of Raul Castro , the leader of the Cuban government .

June 3 (UPI) -- The Trump administration on Wednesday blacklisted seven Cuban companies including the financial institution that handles U.S. remittances to the communist nation.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the seven Cuban military-controlled companies were added to the Cuba Restricted List, barring Americans from doing business them.
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Among those blackballed Wednesday include Fincimex, which Western Union uses to send remittances from Americans to their Cuban families.
Pompeo said it was included with the six other entities to "help address the regime's attempts to control the flow of hard currency that belongs to the Cuban people."
"We will continue to stop the flow of money into the pockets of those who oppress the Cuban people," he tweeted. "61 years of oppression and dictatorship are enough. To the Cuban people: you deserve better and we stand with you."
Ricardo Herrero, the executive director of the Cuba Study Group, lambasted the move as "inhumane and the height of hypocrisy" to say they stand with the Cuban people while cutting them off from needed funds amid a pandemic in order to deny the Communist government the revenue earned from a less than 15 percent tax on such monies.
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"The Cuban people should absolutely have the freedom to decide what to do with remittances sent by their loved ones. But by sanctioning the state entity that channels & taxes those funds [without] providing an alternative, the Trump admin threatens to cut off all formal remittances," he tweeted.
Being unable to use Fincimex, Cubans will resort to third-market transfer agencies and it will incentivize money laundering, he said. "Not to mention pile on even greater hardship of the Cuban people who this farcical policy pretends to 'support.'"
In October of last year, the Trump administration re-capped remittances to $1,000 per quarter. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said then in a statement the move was being taken to "financially isolate" the Cuban regime.
"Through these regulatory amendments, Treasury is denying Cuba access to hard currency, and we are curbing the Cuban government's bad behavior while continuing to support the long-suffering people of Cuba," he said.
The Obama administration had lifted all restrictions on remittances and family travel to Cuba in 2009 as part of a then-U.S. policy shift toward the Caribbean nation that has experienced a reversal under President Donald Trump.
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The other Cuban military-controlled companies sanctioned Wednesday include three hotels, two scuba diving centers and a marine park.
"The Cuban people deserve democratic government, freedom of speech and religion or belief, economic prosperity and respect for human rights," Pompeo said in a statement. "The United States stands with the Cuban people as you struggle to achieve this vision and look forward to the day when the dream of freedom becomes reality."
Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Cuba's Minister of Foreign Affairs, rejected the sanctions Wednesday, stating they aim to harm Cuban families.
"Tightening the blockade during COVID-19 is both shameful and criminal," he tweeted.
The announcement comes on the 89th birthday of Raul Castro, the leader of the Cuban government.


upi--2020-06-03--MLB rejects players' 114-game plan with no counteroffer

June 3 ( UPI ) -- Major League Baseball on Wednesday rejected the MLB Players Association 's offer for a 114-game regular season with no additional pay cuts .
League sources told ESPN and The Athletic that MLB informed the players ' union it would not make a counteroffer , leaving both sides deadlocked in their attempts to start the 2020 season .
MLB players delivered their proposal to the league Sunday , suggesting a 114-game season instead of the league 's 82-game plan offered last week .
The players ' proposal includes a regular season from June 30 through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playoffs , $ 100 million in deferred money for players and an opt-out clause for players if they choose not to play .
According to ESPN , MLB told the players ' union it had no interest in extending the season into November , when it fears a second wave of the coronavirus could potentially disrupt postseason play .
The league has suggested playing a season as short as 50 games with no additional salary reductions , but it has n't formally proposed that concept , according to The Athletic .
The MLB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the COVID-19 outbreak .
Team owners , league officials and the players ' association have been negotiating plans for a return for nearly a month .
The league 's May 26 proposal would lower 2020 salaries from more than $ 4 billion to about $ 1.2 billion , according to The Athletic .
Players earning the $ 563,500 minimum would receive about 47 percent of their original salary , and the top-paid players -- led by Mike Trout and Gerrit Cole at $ 36 million -- would earn less than 23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer , salaries would have totaled about $ 2.8 billion , leaving each player with about 70 percent of his original salary .

The scoreboard welcomes an empty Busch Stadium on what should be Opening Day of the 2020 season in St. Louis on April 2. Coronavirus fears have put the MLB season on hold. St. Louis was scheduled to play Baltimore with an expected crowd of 49 thousand. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
June 3 (UPI) -- Major League Baseball on Wednesday rejected the MLB Players Association's offer for a 114-game regular season with no additional pay cuts. League sources told ESPN and The Athletic that MLB informed the players' union it would not make a counteroffer, leaving both sides deadlocked in their attempts to start the 2020 season. Advertisement
MLB players delivered their proposal to the league Sunday, suggesting a 114-game season instead of the league's 82-game plan offered last week. The players' proposal includes a regular season from June 30 through Oct. 31, two years of expanded playoffs, $100 million in deferred money for players and an opt-out clause for players if they choose not to play.
According to ESPN, MLB told the players' union it had no interest in extending the season into November, when it fears a second wave of the coronavirus could potentially disrupt postseason play.
The league has suggested playing a season as short as 50 games with no additional salary reductions, but it hasn't formally proposed that concept, according to The Athletic.
The MLB season has been suspended since mid-March in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Team owners, league officials and the players' association have been negotiating plans for a return for nearly a month.
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The league's May 26 proposal would lower 2020 salaries from more than $4 billion to about $1.2 billion, according to The Athletic. Players earning the $563,500 minimum would receive about 47 percent of their original salary, and the top-paid players -- led by Mike Trout and Gerrit Cole at $36 million -- would earn less than 23 percent.
In the union's latest offer, salaries would have totaled about $2.8 billion, leaving each player with about 70 percent of his original salary.


upi--2020-06-03--OMB nominee Russell Vought faces opposition from Democrats in confirmation hearing

June 3 ( UPI ) -- Senators grilled President Donald Trump 's pick to permanently lead the White House 's Office of Management and Budget during a confirmation hearing on Wednesday .
Russell Vought , who has helmed the office on an active basis since January 2019 , faced stiff opposition from Democrats on the Senate budget committee as they questioned him on his absence in coronavirus relief efforts , his role in withholding foreign aid to Ukraine and his stance on withholding funds for states who carry out elections by mail-in ballot .
Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both said they would oppose Vought 's nomination , although it is likely to be approved by the Republican-led chamber .
They were critical of the administration 's response to the COVID-19 pandemic , with Murray alleging Vought has been `` nowhere to be found '' in negotiations for relief efforts between Congress and the White House .
`` Mr. Vought , if I might , let me be very blunt -- given the enormity of this crisis and the failure of the Trump administration to respond to the unprecedented pain and suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I will be voting against your nomination , '' said Sanders .
Vought said he speaks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin `` multiple times a day '' to work together on such issues and made himself available to `` build a closer relationship '' with members of the committee .
Murray called Vought `` unfit and unqualified '' to lead the OMB arguing that he violated the law when he acted to withhold military aid to Ukraine .
`` To the chairman and my Republican colleagues , how is it we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has shown he is unwilling or unable to stand up to this president , even when directed to break the law and who has continuously displayed such a willful disregard of Congress as a coequal branch of government ? ''
Murray asked .
Sen. Ron Wyden , D-Ore. , asked Vought what he would do if Trump ordered him to cut federal aid to states who send out absentee ballots to which he replied he has so far sought to accomplish Trump 's objectives `` consistent with the law . ''
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what discretionary authority we had , but I would do it within the bounds of the law , '' said Vought .
Republicans largely praised Vought , with Pennsylvania Sen. Patrick J. Toomey saying he has been a `` constructive , transparent , accessible person '' and crediting him for the strength of the economy prior to the pandemic .

Senate Democrats grilled Russell Vought, President Donald Trump's pick to permanently lead the White House's Office of Management and Budget during a confirmation hearing on Wednesday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
June 3 (UPI) -- Senators grilled President Donald Trump's pick to permanently lead the White House's Office of Management and Budget during a confirmation hearing on Wednesday. Russell Vought, who has helmed the office on an active basis since January 2019, faced stiff opposition from Democrats on the Senate budget committee as they questioned him on his absence in coronavirus relief efforts, his role in withholding foreign aid to Ukraine and his stance on withholding funds for states who carry out elections by mail-in ballot. Advertisement
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., both said they would oppose Vought's nomination, although it is likely to be approved by the Republican-led chamber.
They were critical of the administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Murray alleging Vought has been "nowhere to be found" in negotiations for relief efforts between Congress and the White House.
"Mr. Vought, if I might, let me be very blunt -- given the enormity of this crisis and the failure of the Trump administration to respond to the unprecedented pain and suffering that the American people are now experiencing, I will be voting against your nomination," said Sanders.
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Vought said he speaks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin "multiple times a day" to work together on such issues and made himself available to "build a closer relationship" with members of the committee.
Murray called Vought "unfit and unqualified" to lead the OMB arguing that he violated the law when he acted to withhold military aid to Ukraine.
"To the chairman and my Republican colleagues, how is it we are having a hearing on a nominee who has shown he is unwilling or unable to stand up to this president, even when directed to break the law and who has continuously displayed such a willful disregard of Congress as a coequal branch of government?" Murray asked.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., asked Vought what he would do if Trump ordered him to cut federal aid to states who send out absentee ballots to which he replied he has so far sought to accomplish Trump's objectives "consistent with the law."
"I would take a review of programs and what discretionary authority we had, but I would do it within the bounds of the law," said Vought.
Republicans largely praised Vought, with Pennsylvania Sen. Patrick J. Toomey saying he has been a "constructive, transparent, accessible person" and crediting him for the strength of the economy prior to the pandemic.


upi--2020-06-03--Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott donating $1M to improve police training

June 3 ( UPI ) -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has pledged to donate $ 1 million to `` improve police training and address systematic racism through education and advocacy in our country . ''
Prescott announced the donation Wednesday on his official Instagram account .
The post on social media represented his first public comments about George Floyd , a 46-year-old black man who died while in police custody last week in Minneapolis .
`` As our communities take action , protesting and fighting for the justice of George and every black life , I am with you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Prescott said he has battled anxiety during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
He also is mourning the death of one of his brothers , Jace , in April .
`` He and I shared the same mission : find a bigger purpose , '' Prescott wrote Wednesday .
`` As I process the passing of my brother , I have come to realize we are not given a voice to pronounce how much we matter .
It is our obligation to tell our neighbor how much they matter to us and take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other . ''
Floyd died after Derek Chauvin , a white police officer , knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes .
Four police officers were fired because of the incident , and Chauvin was initially charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for pinning Floyd to the ground , an action that was caught on a widely viewed video .
On Wednesday , Minnesota authorities escalated the murder charge against Chauvin to second degree and levied charges against the other three officers involved in the arrest and death of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police but asked for them to change .
`` I have the utmost respect for those of you with a passion for protecting and serving your communities , '' Prescott wrote .
`` When you chose to wear the badge of a police officer , you pledged to protect life and property through the enforcement of our laws and regulations .
`` How can you claim to uphold the law when those within your ranks do n't abide by it ?
You need to hold your own accountable .
Each of you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beside Derek Chauvin if you do not stand up against the systemic racism plaguing our police forces nationwide .
Take action ! ''
Prescott ended the lengthy post by saying he would stand alongside law enforcement in the reform .
`` We will clean our streets and our communities not only of the looting and violence , '' he wrote , `` but most importantly the racism , racial-profiling , and hate ! ''

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) said in his post on social media that he also has battled anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
June 3 (UPI) -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has pledged to donate $1 million to "improve police training and address systematic racism through education and advocacy in our country." Prescott announced the donation Wednesday on his official Instagram account. The post on social media represented his first public comments about George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died while in police custody last week in Minneapolis. Advertisement
"As our communities take action, protesting and fighting for the justice of George and every black life, I am with you!" Prescott wrote in the post.
Prescott said he has battled anxiety during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. He also is mourning the death of one of his brothers, Jace, in April.
"He and I shared the same mission: find a bigger purpose," Prescott wrote Wednesday. "As I process the passing of my brother, I have come to realize we are not given a voice to pronounce how much we matter. It is our obligation to tell our neighbor how much they matter to us and take a stand for the greater good of each other."
Floyd died after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. Four police officers were fired because of the incident, and Chauvin was initially charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for pinning Floyd to the ground, an action that was caught on a widely viewed video.
On Wednesday, Minnesota authorities escalated the murder charge against Chauvin to second degree and levied charges against the other three officers involved in the arrest and death of Floyd.
Prescott expressed his respect for police but asked for them to change.
"I have the utmost respect for those of you with a passion for protecting and serving your communities," Prescott wrote. "When you chose to wear the badge of a police officer, you pledged to protect life and property through the enforcement of our laws and regulations.
"How can you claim to uphold the law when those within your ranks don't abide by it? You need to hold your own accountable. Each of you are as guilty as the men who stood beside Derek Chauvin if you do not stand up against the systemic racism plaguing our police forces nationwide. Take action!"
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Prescott ended the lengthy post by saying he would stand alongside law enforcement in the reform.
"We will clean our streets and our communities not only of the looting and violence," he wrote, "but most importantly the racism, racial-profiling, and hate!"


upi--2020-06-04--Ohio judge rules Trump cannot claim portion of Stormy Daniels settlement

June 4 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge in Ohio on Thursday denied President Donald Trump access to funds adult film actress Stormy Daniels received in a legal settlement .
U.S. District Judge Michael Watson ruled that Trump can not claim a portion of the $ 450,000 settlement to go toward attorney 's fees in a separate case between Daniels , who was born Stephanie Clifford , and himself .
Clifford 's former attorney Michael Avenatti also sought to claim a portion of the settlement for outstanding fees for his work representing Clifford in cases against Trump but withdrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neither Avenatti nor Trump currently have an enforceable interest in the settlement funds and that a stay to determine if they will in the future is not warranted , the court hereby directs the Clerk of court to release the funds ... to the plaintiff and her attorneys , '' Watson wrote .
Clifford , 41 , reached a settlement with the city of Columbus , Ohio , in September , in a lawsuit alleging her arrest at the Siren 's Gentleman 's Club was politically motivated .
Columbus Police Department officers arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 , 2018 , for allegedly allowing a patron to touch her .
The charges were ultimately dismissed because the law did not apply to Clifford as a guest performer at the club .
Trump sought a portion of the funds to satisfy an order by U.S. District Judge James Otero calling for Clifford to pay $ 293,052.33 in attorney fees to the president 's legal team in a defamation case she filed against Trump that was dismissed in 2018 .
In the lawsuit , Clifford alleged an April 18 tweet -- in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man who allegedly threatened her was a `` total con job '' -- constituted an accusation that she fabricated the sketch and resulted in her being exposed to ridicule and violent threats .
She had also sued Trump and his longtime attorney Michael Cohen over a non-disclosure agreement regarding her alleged 2006 affair with the president .
Avenatti , who represented Clifford in those cases , has been detained after being convicted on charges that he attempted to extort more than $ 20 million from Nike .

A federal judge in Ohio on Thursday ruled President Donald Trump cannot access to a $450,000 settlement obtained by Stormy Daniels to pay attorneys fees in a separate lawsuit. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
June 4 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Ohio on Thursday denied President Donald Trump access to funds adult film actress Stormy Daniels received in a legal settlement. U.S. District Judge Michael Watson ruled that Trump cannot claim a portion of the $450,000 settlement to go toward attorney's fees in a separate case between Daniels, who was born Stephanie Clifford, and himself. Advertisement
Clifford's former attorney Michael Avenatti also sought to claim a portion of the settlement for outstanding fees for his work representing Clifford in cases against Trump but withdrew his lien.
"Having concluded that neither Avenatti nor Trump currently have an enforceable interest in the settlement funds and that a stay to determine if they will in the future is not warranted, the court hereby directs the Clerk of court to release the funds ... to the plaintiff and her attorneys," Watson wrote.
Clifford, 41, reached a settlement with the city of Columbus, Ohio, in September, in a lawsuit alleging her arrest at the Siren's Gentleman's Club was politically motivated.
Columbus Police Department officers arrested Clifford and two other women on July 11, 2018, for allegedly allowing a patron to touch her. The charges were ultimately dismissed because the law did not apply to Clifford as a guest performer at the club.
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Trump sought a portion of the funds to satisfy an order by U.S. District Judge James Otero calling for Clifford to pay $293,052.33 in attorney fees to the president's legal team in a defamation case she filed against Trump that was dismissed in 2018.
In the lawsuit, Clifford alleged an April 18 tweet -- in which Trump said a composite sketch of a man who allegedly threatened her was a "total con job" -- constituted an accusation that she fabricated the sketch and resulted in her being exposed to ridicule and violent threats.
She had also sued Trump and his longtime attorney Michael Cohen over a non-disclosure agreement regarding her alleged 2006 affair with the president.
Avenatti, who represented Clifford in those cases, has been detained after being convicted on charges that he attempted to extort more than $20 million from Nike.


upi--2020-06-04--NBA G League cancels remainder of season due to coronavirus pandemic

June 4 ( UPI ) -- The remainder of the 2019-20 NBA G League season has been canceled because of issues related to the coronavirus pandemic , the league announced Thursday .
`` While canceling the remainder of our season weighs heavily on us , we recognize that it is the most appropriate action to take for our league , '' NBA G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim said in a statement .
`` I extend my sincere gratitude to NBA G League players and coaches for giving their all to their teams and fans this season .
`` And to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look forward to resuming play for the 2020-21 season . ''
The G League 's season had been suspended since mid-March due to the COVID-19 outbreak .
Before the pandemic , regular-season games were scheduled to conclude March 28 .
G League players were paid their full salaries and health benefits through the end of the schedule despite the suspension of play .
The minor league basketball organization said it will reveal its year-end awards in the next few weeks , including the league 's Most Valuable Player , Coach of the Year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcement came on the same day the NBA approved a 22-team return-to-play plan .
Under the plan , the NBA will resume in July and conclude its 2019-20 season in October .

The NBA G League said it will reveal its year-end awards in the next few weeks. File Photo by Gary C. Caskey/UPI | License Photo
June 4 (UPI) -- The remainder of the 2019-20 NBA G League season has been canceled because of issues related to the coronavirus pandemic, the league announced Thursday. "While canceling the remainder of our season weighs heavily on us, we recognize that it is the most appropriate action to take for our league," NBA G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim said in a statement. "I extend my sincere gratitude to NBA G League players and coaches for giving their all to their teams and fans this season. Advertisement
"And to our fans, I thank you and look forward to resuming play for the 2020-21 season."
The G League's season had been suspended since mid-March due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Before the pandemic, regular-season games were scheduled to conclude March 28.
G League players were paid their full salaries and health benefits through the end of the schedule despite the suspension of play.
The minor league basketball organization said it will reveal its year-end awards in the next few weeks, including the league's Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
The announcement came on the same day the NBA approved a 22-team return-to-play plan. Under the plan, the NBA will resume in July and conclude its 2019-20 season in October.


upi--2020-06-04--CDC: U.S. coronavirus death toll could reach 143K by June 27

Volunteers distribute food during a Virtual Drive-Thru and Walk-Up Giveaway sponsored by United Hands Multi-Purpose Center to help feed thousands @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 pandemic in Compton , California on Saturday , May 2 , 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ has announced a plan to purchase more food from struggling farmers and distribute it to @ @ @ @ @ 470 million this time .
The purchases , announced this week , will come in @ @ @ @ @ billion the USDA pledged to buy farm products as part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance @ @ @ @ @ 17 .
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | Hundreds of passengers form a line to @ @ @ @ @ China Southern Airlines flight to China on April 19 in Los Angeles .
Passengers at @ @ @ @ @ arrived at 5:30 a.m. , with many others standing in line since 8 a.m. to @ @ @ @ @ seat before the plane was full .
Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI |

1/2
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield testifies during a Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies subcommittee holds a hearing Thursday. The CDC predicted Thursday that U.S. deaths from the coronavirus could reach 143,000 by June 27. Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI | License Photo
June 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday forecast the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus could reach as high as 143,000 by the end of the month. In a death forecast weekly update, the CDC predicted -- based on 20 individual national forecast models from various institutions -- that the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 could reach between 118,000 and 143,000 by June 27. Advertisement
As of Thursday night, some 108,000 people in the United States have died from the coronavirus since the first U.S. infection was recorded on Jan. 20, according to a live tracker of the virus by Johns Hopkins University.
The CDC said its ensemble forecast suggests the number of newly reported COVID-19 deaths per week will continue to decline overall, though the rate of deaths is expected to vary by state.
"In some states, cumulative deaths will increase at roughly the same rate as they have in recent weeks, while other states are likely to experience only a small number of deaths from COVID-19," the agency said.
The models used for the prediction forecast four weeks out and make various assumptions based on the levels of social distancing and other interventions prescribed by state, "which may not reflect recent changes in behavior," it said.
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Last week, the CDC predicted newly reported deaths to range between 115,400 to 134,800 by June 20.
In the update Thursday, the CDC said the death forecasts are published to help inform public health decision-making by projecting the likely impact of the pandemic going forward.
"It is important to bring these forecasts together to help understand how they compare with each other and how much uncertainty there is about what may happen in the upcoming four weeks," it said.
California life in the COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-06-04--Pacific Air Forces return Global Hawk drones to Yokota Air Base

June 4 ( UPI ) -- Pacific Air Forces began rotating RQ-4 Global Hawks from Andersen Air Force Base in @ @ @ @ @ in Japan last week , the Air Force announced Thursday .
According to the Air @ @ @ @ @ Global Hawks to Yokota should provide a stable location from which the platform can operate @ @ @ @ @ as typhoons -- have historically interfered .
`` Having alternate locations to execute our mission @ @ @ @ @ ensures our ability to continue executing U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the alliance reconnaissance requirements in @ @ @ @ @ Japan and to maintain international peace and security in the region , '' Lt. Col. @ @ @ @ @ Group Detachment 1 commander , said .
The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude surveillance @ @ @ @ @ and designed to provide persistent , high-resolution , all-weather imagery of large geographic areas with @ @ @ @ @ .

An RQ-4 Global Hawk, assigned to the 319th Operations Group Detachment 1, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, lands at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May, 30, 2020, for a rotational deployment. The movement maintains operations for Global Hawks during months of inclement weather on Guam. Photo by Aaron Church/U.S. Air Force
June 4 (UPI) -- Pacific Air Forces began rotating RQ-4 Global Hawks from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam to Yokota Air Base in Japan last week, the Air Force announced Thursday. According to the Air Force, the rotation of Global Hawks to Yokota should provide a stable location from which the platform can operate when inclement weather -- such as typhoons -- have historically interfered. Advertisement
"Having alternate locations to execute our mission during seasons of inclement weather ensures our ability to continue executing U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the alliance reconnaissance requirements in support of the defense of Japan and to maintain international peace and security in the region," Lt. Col. Ben Craycraft, 319th Operations Group Detachment 1 commander, said.
The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude surveillance drone made by Northrop Grumman and designed to provide persistent, high-resolution, all-weather imagery of large geographic areas with a variety of integrated sensors.