upi--2020-02-21--Tiger Woods skipping Honda Classic for second consecutive year

Feb. 21 ( UPI ) -- Tiger Woods will skip an opportunity to play near his South Florida home next week at the Honda Classic .
Woods did n't enter the tournament before Friday 's 5 p.m. EST deadline , according to ESPN and the South Florida Sun Sentinel .
The Jupiter Island resident also skipped this week 's WGC-Mexico Championship .
It marked the second consecutive year that Woods opted to skip the Honda Classic .
His decision to bypass the event was n't surprising based on what the 44-year-old golfer said Sunday after a last-place finish among players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Invitational .
`` I was just off -- it happens , '' Woods said .
`` I 'm off and I got a chance to have the week off this week and do a little prep , a little practicing , some training , be at home and all positive things . ''
Woods said he was impacted by back stiffness at the tournament , posting his first two over-par rounds of this season .
In three official tournaments this season , Woods won the Zozo Championship for his 82nd PGA Tour win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Insurance Open and finished in 68th at the Genesis Invitational .
Woods , who is ranked ninth in the world , has played in the Honda Classic five times , finishing in 12th place in his most recent appearance at the event in 2018 .
His best outing was a tie for second in 2012 behind winner Rory McIlroy .

Tiger Woods finished last among players who made the cut at the Genesis Invitational last weekend. File Photo by Rob Prezioso/EPA-EFE
Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods will skip an opportunity to play near his South Florida home next week at the Honda Classic. Woods didn't enter the tournament before Friday's 5 p.m. EST deadline, according to ESPN and the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The Jupiter Island resident also skipped this week's WGC-Mexico Championship. Advertisement
It marked the second consecutive year that Woods opted to skip the Honda Classic. His decision to bypass the event wasn't surprising based on what the 44-year-old golfer said Sunday after a last-place finish among players who made the cut at the Genesis Invitational.
"I was just off -- it happens," Woods said. "I'm off and I got a chance to have the week off this week and do a little prep, a little practicing, some training, be at home and all positive things."
Woods said he was impacted by back stiffness at the tournament, posting his first two over-par rounds of this season.
In three official tournaments this season, Woods won the Zozo Championship for his 82nd PGA Tour win, tied for ninth at the Farmers Insurance Open and finished in 68th at the Genesis Invitational.
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Woods, who is ranked ninth in the world, has played in the Honda Classic five times, finishing in 12th place in his most recent appearance at the event in 2018. His best outing was a tie for second in 2012 behind winner Rory McIlroy.


upi--2020-02-21--Even as snowstorm leaves N.C., officials urge people to 'stay off the roads'

Feb. 21 ( UPI ) -- A quick-hitting storm painted a wintry scene across the Carolinas and Virginia on Thursday , spreading snow across some of the region 's largest cities .
Spreading the first measurable snowfall in central North Carolina in 437 days , the storm snapped the snow drought with icy impacts .
Even officers found themselves stricken by the icy conditions , as the Department of Public Safety tweeted as a State Capitol Police officer was involved in an accident in Raleigh while driving to work on Friday .
She was reportedly treated for non-life threatening injuries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's highway patrol urged motorists to `` use extreme caution '' when venturing onto the slick roads .
The last time North Carolina received extensive snowfall , hundreds of accidents swept the state , thousands of power outages left the state in the dark and three fatalities were tied to the storm .
While this year 's storm was met with weeklong preparation , the wintry weather still caused disruptions to daily activities and left more than 25,000 customers without power as of 9 p.m. Thursday , according to PowerOutage.US .
The inclement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mecklenburg County Board of Elections early voting sites and other county-sponsored evening programs .
No reported injuries or fatalities were connected with traffic accidents , although a numerous accidents reports were posted .
On Interstate 95 near Fayetteville , a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a car closed a lane and backed up traffic for hours .
Air travel also saw hinderances at Charlotte Douglas International Airport .
Despite deicing efforts , 230 flights at the airport were canceled and another 368 flights delayed , according to FlightAware .
Areas in Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all saw at least 3.5 inches of snow , more accumulation than has fallen in Philadelphia , Baltimore and Washington , D.C. , combined this winter ( 2.7 inches ) .
By the time night fell , the snow had come to an end for the western Carolinas and Georgia .
Most of the accumulation had stuck in the mountainous regions while cities in lower elevations saw an inch or less of snow .
`` The exception is Oconee and Pickens County , South Carolina , and far northeastern Georgia , where it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower elevations and 4 to 8 inches above 3,000 feet , '' AccuWeather senior meteorologist Frank Strait said .
The Charlotte area saw no more than half an inch of snow , while the Greensboro and Winston Salem area saw 1 inch to 3 inches .
`` Where the snow has ended , temperatures are below freezing or will fall below freezing ( Thursday night ) .
Lingering meltwater or slush on the roads will freeze solid , leading to icy patches on the roads and sidewalks , '' Strait said .
Snowfall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Carolina and southeastern Virginia .
As AccuWeather correctly predicted , the Raleigh area ended with a fresh 2 inches to 3 inches of snowfall across the metro area .
`` Areas that see the heaviest snow will take more time to recover due to limited available resources for snow removal and treating the roads , '' Strait said .
`` Motorists in parts of eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia may not see the roads truly clear of snow or ice until Saturday afternoon , particularly the back roads in this area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state had ramped up preparations to mitigate the potential hazards of the rain and snow before the worst could set in .
For many areas , that has meant school being canceled , businesses being closed and residents staying inside .
On Thursday morning , Gov .
Roy Cooper said 29 school districts in the state would be closed for the day while 55 others were releasing students early in advance of the snow .
As the storm progressed into Thursday night , North Carolina school districts announced delays or closings for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ snow abounded among residents and students , such as the ones running to the window at McNair Elementary School in Browns Summit , N.C. , to see the flakes falling .
`` Naturally , as a Southern person , you 're excited because it 's snow and we do n't normally have it , '' Rayna Yvars , a Raleigh resident told AccuWeather national reporter Bill Wadell .
`` But at the same , the whole state shuts down . ''
Others , such as Jenny Berry , said they never know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year the weather might allow for time on the beach and another year could bring snow .
`` Oh , I love snow , I just do n't like the ice that follows , '' Raleigh resident Sam Regaldo said .
`` It just melts a little , then it freezes again . ''
`` This past week , we put the tanks on and made the decision to first hit hot spots like bridges and overpasses , so we loaded the trucks up [ on Tuesday and Wednesday ] , '' Jason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told Wadell .
`` Started hitting bridges , hot spots , overpasses and exit ramps then the forecast changed from 1 inch to 3 inches , so we made the call to hit all of our bare pavement routes . ''
Dunigan added that trucks hit the road by 11 a.m. on Thursday morning , with an extra crew of contracted drivers coming in later in the day .
`` There 's definitely going to be some slick spots because temperatures are going to fall to 26 , 27 degrees by [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We 're just going to be here , we 're going to be here all night long and throughout the morning ... we 'll be ready for those . ''
Cooper pointed to whiteout conditions near the coast as a weather threat of specific concern for travelers .
The day 's tumultuous precipitation began with rain before succumbing to the stormy weather , which crawled northeastward .
Reports and footage of snowfall from eastern Tennessee and northern Georgia began on on Thursday morning in areas such as Crossville , Tenn. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I-40 while elevated surfaces in the area measured 2 inches of accumulation .

Officials said black ice caused crashes throughout North Carolina. Photo courtesy of the North Carolina Highway Patrol
Feb. 21 (UPI) -- A quick-hitting storm painted a wintry scene across the Carolinas and Virginia on Thursday, spreading snow across some of the region's largest cities. Spreading the first measurable snowfall in central North Carolina in 437 days, the storm snapped the snow drought with icy impacts. Even officers found themselves stricken by the icy conditions, as the Department of Public Safety tweeted as a State Capitol Police officer was involved in an accident in Raleigh while driving to work on Friday. She was reportedly treated for non-life threatening injuries. Advertisement
On Friday morning, the state's highway patrol urged motorists to "use extreme caution" when venturing onto the slick roads.
The last time North Carolina received extensive snowfall, hundreds of accidents swept the state, thousands of power outages left the state in the dark and three fatalities were tied to the storm.
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While this year's storm was met with weeklong preparation, the wintry weather still caused disruptions to daily activities and left more than 25,000 customers without power as of 9 p.m. Thursday, according to PowerOutage.US.
The inclement weather also lead to the early closing of Mecklenburg County Board of Elections early voting sites and other county-sponsored evening programs.
No reported injuries or fatalities were connected with traffic accidents, although a numerous accidents reports were posted. On Interstate 95 near Fayetteville, a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a car closed a lane and backed up traffic for hours.
Air travel also saw hinderances at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Despite deicing efforts, 230 flights at the airport were canceled and another 368 flights delayed, according to FlightAware.
Areas in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia all saw at least 3.5 inches of snow, more accumulation than has fallen in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., combined this winter (2.7 inches).
By the time night fell, the snow had come to an end for the western Carolinas and Georgia. Most of the accumulation had stuck in the mountainous regions while cities in lower elevations saw an inch or less of snow.
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"The exception is Oconee and Pickens County, South Carolina, and far northeastern Georgia, where it was generally 2 to 4 inches at lower elevations and 4 to 8 inches above 3,000 feet," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Frank Strait said.
The Charlotte area saw no more than half an inch of snow, while the Greensboro and Winston Salem area saw 1 inch to 3 inches.
"Where the snow has ended, temperatures are below freezing or will fall below freezing (Thursday night). Lingering meltwater or slush on the roads will freeze solid, leading to icy patches on the roads and sidewalks," Strait said.
Snowfall has begun to wind down over eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. As AccuWeather correctly predicted, the Raleigh area ended with a fresh 2 inches to 3 inches of snowfall across the metro area.
"Areas that see the heaviest snow will take more time to recover due to limited available resources for snow removal and treating the roads," Strait said. "Motorists in parts of eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia may not see the roads truly clear of snow or ice until Saturday afternoon, particularly the back roads in this area."
Earlier in the day, the state had ramped up preparations to mitigate the potential hazards of the rain and snow before the worst could set in. For many areas, that has meant school being canceled, businesses being closed and residents staying inside.
Advertisement
On Thursday morning, Gov. Roy Cooper said 29 school districts in the state would be closed for the day while 55 others were releasing students early in advance of the snow. As the storm progressed into Thursday night, North Carolina school districts announced delays or closings for Friday as well.
When you haven't seen snow in 436 days, it becomes a brain break. pic.twitter.com/y3MbNssv36— McNair Elementary School (@McNairElemGCS) February 20, 2020
Excitement for the snow abounded among residents and students, such as the ones running to the window at McNair Elementary School in Browns Summit, N.C., to see the flakes falling.
"Naturally, as a Southern person, you're excited because it's snow and we don't normally have it," Rayna Yvars, a Raleigh resident told AccuWeather national reporter Bill Wadell. "But at the same, the whole state shuts down."
Others, such as Jenny Berry, said they never know what to expect in February, as one year the weather might allow for time on the beach and another year could bring snow.
"Oh, I love snow, I just don't like the ice that follows," Raleigh resident Sam Regaldo said. "It just melts a little, then it freezes again."
Advertisement
"This past week, we put the tanks on and made the decision to first hit hot spots like bridges and overpasses, so we loaded the trucks up [on Tuesday and Wednesday]," Jason Dunigan, a Wake County Maintenance engineer, told Wadell. "Started hitting bridges, hot spots, overpasses and exit ramps then the forecast changed from 1 inch to 3 inches, so we made the call to hit all of our bare pavement routes."
Dunigan added that trucks hit the road by 11 a.m. on Thursday morning, with an extra crew of contracted drivers coming in later in the day.
"There's definitely going to be some slick spots because temperatures are going to fall to 26, 27 degrees by [Friday] morning," Dunigan said. "We're just going to be here, we're going to be here all night long and throughout the morning ... we'll be ready for those."
Cooper pointed to whiteout conditions near the coast as a weather threat of specific concern for travelers.
The day's tumultuous precipitation began with rain before succumbing to the stormy weather, which crawled northeastward.
Reports and footage of snowfall from eastern Tennessee and northern Georgia began on on Thursday morning in areas such as Crossville, Tenn., where snow made for slick lanes on I-40 while elevated surfaces in the area measured 2 inches of accumulation.
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Additional reporting by Bill Wadell.


upi--2020-02-21--Climate change a top priority as Nevada Democrats begin to caucus

Feb. 21 ( UPI ) -- LAS VEGAS -- Climate change will be among the top priorities for Democratic voters in Nevada as the state begins to caucus Saturday .
Climate and environmental protection is a `` very important '' or the `` most important '' issue for 86 percent of likely Democratic caucus-goers in Nevada , according to a recent study conducted by the League of Conservation Voters and the Nevada Conservation League .
Healthcare edged out climate change as the top policy concern , although climate change consistently appeared as one of the top two priorities among voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For a lot of the summer , it 's over 110-115 degrees , which is ridiculous , '' said Stephanie Pickett , a Las Vegas resident and supporter of Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass .
`` You go from your air-conditioned house , to your air-conditioned car , to your air-conditioned job , and you grocery shop at 2 in the morning . ''
The data firm Public Policy Polling surveyed 859 likely Democratic caucus-goers for the poll .
More than half of the surveys were conducted via text and the remaining 48 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ English or Spanish , from Jan. 29-30 .
Over the past few years , Nevada 's temperatures have surged , with consecutive high-temperature days with little nighttime relief , climate records show .
Since 1970 , the average daily temperature has increased by 5.8 degrees , making it the fastest-warming city in the United States , according to a 2019 report by the research group Climate Central .
`` We 're already a hot state , and we continue to get hotter , '' said Andy Maggi , executive director at Nevada Conservation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desert state and we continue to get drier .
We have extended droughts .
Because of the heat , because of the drought , we also see increases in things like air pollution . ''
Last August , the state broke a record for the most consecutive days with temperatures over 105 degrees .
Summer 2019 tied with summer 2016 as the hottest on record in the northern hemisphere , according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .
`` We 're experiencing climate change faster and hotter than anyone else in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nevada state director at Center for Biological Diversity , during a climate change town hall in Las Vegas organized by the Bernie Sanders for Nevada campaign .
`` I prioritize working for the environment [ not only ] for my career [ but also ] for my life . ''
The rise in extreme heat is one of the reasons behind an increase in heat-related deaths in recent years in Southern Nevada , according to a 2019 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology .
`` We found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of heat-related deaths , '' said Erick Bandala , an assistant research professor at Desert Research Institute and lead author of the study .
Between 2007 and 2016 , Las Vegas registered a record number of 437 heat-related deaths , with the greatest number occurring in 2016 , the study shows .
Extreme heat is also a `` threat multiplier '' for a number of diseases , from heart to lung diseases , Maggi said .
As a result of a rise in heat , Nevada had a record number of poor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the southern region .
`` The hotter the air gets , the more pollution sticks around in the air , '' Maggi said .
`` That means that even people without respiratory diseases have a hard time being outside , exercising , hiking , doing yard work , running errands .
It limits your ability to live your life . ''
The sentiment towards climate change is even stronger among Latinx caucus goers , who ranked it as their top priority in the poll .
`` If you are one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you 're brown , Latinx , Asian American , Pacific Islander indigenous , you are feeling all the impacts of climate change in higher rates and in more exaggerated ways , '' Maggi explained .
Predominantly black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Las Vegas are the city 's hottest and have the worst air quality .
As a result , one out of 12 kids suffers from asthma , said Rudy Zamora , director of Chispa Nevada , the program within the League of Conservation Voters that focuses on Latinx communities .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffers from asthma , [ I know that without the ] asthma medication [ my son ] takes ... day to day he ca n't go outside or participate in school activities , '' Zamora said .
The environmental injustice that black and brown communities `` endure all the time takes away from people 's quality of life , '' said former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner , a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. As climate change receives greater attention in national politics , Hispanic Americans have been among the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The effort has crossed party lines , from former Rep. Carlos Curbelo , R-Fla. , who tried to forge bipartisan support for climate action before losing his seat in the 2018 midterm election , to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , D-N.Y. , a champion of the Green New Deal and denouncer of the racial and economic inequality that accompanies climate change .
Almost half of Latinx voters said they are `` much more likely '' to support a candidate who makes climate change a top priority .
But because climate change is an intersectional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Zamora said .
`` Climate change impacts everything -- it impacts water , agriculture , housing .
We live in a time of multiple overlapping and intersecting crises .
They are all urgent and they are all existential , '' Naomi Klein , author of On Fire : The ( burning ) Case for a Geen New Deal , explained .
`` So , we just need to multitask -- that 's the bottom line . ''
But there is not much time left , Maggi added , and the presidential election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure adequate action .
`` We need a president who is going to do everything they can at the national level to make this a national priority because at the end of the day , Nevada can do everything , but it only produces so much carbon -- it only represents so much of the carbon 's picture globally and nationally , '' she said .
`` And so we really need the federal government . ''
`` There is no way that the local authority can deal with all these problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 38 percent of Latinx respondents , candidates are not addressing climate change extensively enough .
`` Every debate we watched , we maybe got a minute or two [ on the topic ] , or we were more than halfway through and only then there was a really small question , '' said Sayuri Rupani-Hayes , a Nevada resident .
`` Climate change is a global crisis and it needs to be talked about more . ''
During Wednesday 's presidential debate , a climate reporter was among the moderators for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election season .

Eighty-six percent of likely Democratic caucus-goers say climate change is a very important or the most important issue in politics. Photo by Etienne Laurent/EPA-EFE
Feb. 21 (UPI) -- LAS VEGAS -- Climate change will be among the top priorities for Democratic voters in Nevada as the state begins to caucus Saturday. Climate and environmental protection is a "very important" or the "most important" issue for 86 percent of likely Democratic caucus-goers in Nevada, according to a recent study conducted by the League of Conservation Voters and the Nevada Conservation League. Healthcare edged out climate change as the top policy concern, although climate change consistently appeared as one of the top two priorities among voters. Advertisement
"It keeps getting warmer. For a lot of the summer, it's over 110-115 degrees, which is ridiculous," said Stephanie Pickett, a Las Vegas resident and supporter of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. "You go from your air-conditioned house, to your air-conditioned car, to your air-conditioned job, and you grocery shop at 2 in the morning."
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The data firm Public Policy Polling surveyed 859 likely Democratic caucus-goers for the poll. More than half of the surveys were conducted via text and the remaining 48 percent over the phone, either in English or Spanish, from Jan. 29-30.
Over the past few years, Nevada's temperatures have surged, with consecutive high-temperature days with little nighttime relief, climate records show. Since 1970, the average daily temperature has increased by 5.8 degrees, making it the fastest-warming city in the United States, according to a 2019 report by the research group Climate Central.
"We're already a hot state, and we continue to get hotter," said Andy Maggi, executive director at Nevada Conservation League. "We're already a desert state and we continue to get drier. We have extended droughts. Because of the heat, because of the drought, we also see increases in things like air pollution."
Last August, the state broke a record for the most consecutive days with temperatures over 105 degrees. Summer 2019 tied with summer 2016 as the hottest on record in the northern hemisphere, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"We're experiencing climate change faster and hotter than anyone else in the country," said Patrick Donnelly, Nevada state director at Center for Biological Diversity, during a climate change town hall in Las Vegas organized by the Bernie Sanders for Nevada campaign. "I prioritize working for the environment [not only] for my career [but also] for my life."
Advertisement
The rise in extreme heat is one of the reasons behind an increase in heat-related deaths in recent years in Southern Nevada, according to a 2019 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology.
"We found that when temperatures increase, so does the number of heat-related deaths," said Erick Bandala, an assistant research professor at Desert Research Institute and lead author of the study.
Between 2007 and 2016, Las Vegas registered a record number of 437 heat-related deaths, with the greatest number occurring in 2016, the study shows.
Extreme heat is also a "threat multiplier" for a number of diseases, from heart to lung diseases, Maggi said.
As a result of a rise in heat, Nevada had a record number of poor air quality days in 2019, especially in the southern region.
"The hotter the air gets, the more pollution sticks around in the air," Maggi said. "That means that even people without respiratory diseases have a hard time being outside, exercising, hiking, doing yard work, running errands. It limits your ability to live your life."
The sentiment towards climate change is even stronger among Latinx caucus goers, who ranked it as their top priority in the poll.
Advertisement
"If you are one of the people of color in Southern Nevada, if you're brown, Latinx, Asian American, Pacific Islander indigenous, you are feeling all the impacts of climate change in higher rates and in more exaggerated ways," Maggi explained.
Predominantly black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Las Vegas are the city's hottest and have the worst air quality. As a result, one out of 12 kids suffers from asthma, said Rudy Zamora, director of Chispa Nevada, the program within the League of Conservation Voters that focuses on Latinx communities.
"As a father of a 5-year-old who suffers from asthma, [I know that without the] asthma medication [my son] takes ... day to day he can't go outside or participate in school activities," Zamora said.
The environmental injustice that black and brown communities "endure all the time takes away from people's quality of life," said former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner, a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
As climate change receives greater attention in national politics, Hispanic Americans have been among the most vocal advocates for an action plan. The effort has crossed party lines, from former Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., who tried to forge bipartisan support for climate action before losing his seat in the 2018 midterm election, to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., a champion of the Green New Deal and denouncer of the racial and economic inequality that accompanies climate change.
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Almost half of Latinx voters said they are "much more likely" to support a candidate who makes climate change a top priority.
But because climate change is an intersectional issue, it requires a comprehensive plan, Zamora said.
"Climate change impacts everything -- it impacts water, agriculture, housing. We live in a time of multiple overlapping and intersecting crises. They are all urgent and they are all existential," Naomi Klein, author of On Fire: The (burning) Case for a Geen New Deal, explained. "So, we just need to multitask -- that's the bottom line."
But there is not much time left, Maggi added, and the presidential election is "our last best chance" to ensure adequate action.
"We need a president who is going to do everything they can at the national level to make this a national priority because at the end of the day, Nevada can do everything, but it only produces so much carbon -- it only represents so much of the carbon's picture globally and nationally," she said. "And so we really need the federal government."
"There is no way that the local authority can deal with all these problems," Bandala agreed.
But according to 38 percent of Latinx respondents, candidates are not addressing climate change extensively enough.
Advertisement
"Every debate we watched, we maybe got a minute or two [on the topic], or we were more than halfway through and only then there was a really small question," said Sayuri Rupani-Hayes, a Nevada resident. "Climate change is a global crisis and it needs to be talked about more."
During Wednesday's presidential debate, a climate reporter was among the moderators for the first time in a Democratic debate this election season.


upi--2020-02-21--NFLPA board delays vote on owners' collective bargaining agreement proposal

Feb. 21 ( UPI ) -- The NFL Players Association 's board of player representatives declined to vote on the new collective bargaining agreement proposal , the players union announced Friday .
According to a statement released by the NFLPA , the union wants to have additional discussions with NFL owners on key details of the proposal before taking a vote .
`` Today , the NFLPA Board of Player Representatives did not take a vote on the principal terms of the proposed new collective bargaining agreement , '' the statement said .
`` Our player leadership looks forward to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the Board takes a vote shortly after . ''
League sources told ESPN and NFL Media on Friday that the league has agreed to meet with the NFLPA on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis .
It 's unclear whether that meeting will result in further negotiations about terms of the proposal .
The NFLPA board of player reps then plans to vote either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning , with the full vote waiting until after the result of the board 's vote on a recommendation .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receptive to further discussion on the CBA proposal .
The turn of events comes only a day after NFL owners accepted the terms of the new CBA proposal , with more than the required three-fourths of the owners voting to ratify it .
According to an NFLPA memo obtained by ESPN and NFL Media , some of the key terms included in the proposal are the elimination of any game suspensions for positive marijuana tests , reduction in the number of players tested for marijuana , `` gambling definitions '' that ensure players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alterations to training camp .
The proposal includes a game-day roster increase from 46 players to 48 , with overall roster sizes jumping from 53 to 55 , according to ESPN .
NFL teams would also be permitted to bring back three players from injured reserve each season , and practice squads would expand from the 10 players last season .
The proposed CBA also would allow the NFL to expand the regular season from 16 games to 17 at some point in the next four years , according to ESPN .
Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would expand to 14 teams starting in 2020 , and the preseason would eventually be shortened to three games instead of four .

The NFL Players Association declined to vote on the new collective bargaining agreement proposal in hopes of further meetings with NFL owners. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 21 (UPI) -- The NFL Players Association's board of player representatives declined to vote on the new collective bargaining agreement proposal, the players union announced Friday. According to a statement released by the NFLPA, the union wants to have additional discussions with NFL owners on key details of the proposal before taking a vote. Advertisement
"Today, the NFLPA Board of Player Representatives did not take a vote on the principal terms of the proposed new collective bargaining agreement," the statement said. "Our player leadership looks forward to meeting with NFL management again next week before the Board takes a vote shortly after."
League sources told ESPN and NFL Media on Friday that the league has agreed to meet with the NFLPA on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. It's unclear whether that meeting will result in further negotiations about terms of the proposal.
The NFLPA board of player reps then plans to vote either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, with the full vote waiting until after the result of the board's vote on a recommendation. According to ESPN, some owners would not be receptive to further discussion on the CBA proposal.
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The turn of events comes only a day after NFL owners accepted the terms of the new CBA proposal, with more than the required three-fourths of the owners voting to ratify it.
According to an NFLPA memo obtained by ESPN and NFL Media, some of the key terms included in the proposal are the elimination of any game suspensions for positive marijuana tests, reduction in the number of players tested for marijuana, "gambling definitions" that ensure players receive a portion of gambling revenue and alterations to training camp.
The proposal includes a game-day roster increase from 46 players to 48, with overall roster sizes jumping from 53 to 55, according to ESPN. NFL teams would also be permitted to bring back three players from injured reserve each season, and practice squads would expand from the 10 players last season.
The proposed CBA also would allow the NFL to expand the regular season from 16 games to 17 at some point in the next four years, according to ESPN. Under the new proposal, the playoff field would expand to 14 teams starting in 2020, and the preseason would eventually be shortened to three games instead of four.
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upi--2020-02-22--3 killed, 18 injured in southern California charter bus crash

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- Three people were killed and 18 injured after a charter bus rolled down an @ @ @ @ @ southern California Saturday .
North County FIre and Protection District , which responded to the @ @ @ @ @ Cal Fire , Vista Fire , Camp Pendleton and Pala , told the L.A. Times @ @ @ @ @ the bus driver swerved and lost control amid heavy rain in the area .
According @ @ @ @ @ departed from Los Angeles for San Ysidro and was carrying a mix of adults and @ @ @ @ @ were trapped in the wreckage when emergency services arrived .
Authorities said it did not @ @ @ @ @ involved in the wreck .
The ages of the victims have not been released and @ @ @ @ @ the owner of the bus .

Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Three people were killed and 18 injured after a charter bus rolled down an embankment off Interstate 15 in southern California Saturday.
North County FIre and Protection District, which responded to the crash along with units from Cal Fire, Vista Fire, Camp Pendleton and Pala, told the L.A. Times that at about 10:20 a.m. the bus driver swerved and lost control amid heavy rain in the area.
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According to authorities the bus had departed from Los Angeles for San Ysidro and was carrying a mix of adults and children, many of whom were trapped in the wreckage when emergency services arrived.
#FreewayIC (Final): We had 21 total patients. 18 have been transported. We are brokenhearted to report we have 3 deceased on scene. We would like to thank our automatic partners for your assistance on this call. @CALFIRESANDIEGO, @OFA3736, @Vistafire, Pala Fire, and MCP FD.— North County Fire (@NorthCountyFire) February 22, 2020
Authorities said it did not appear any other victims were involved in the wreck.
The ages of the victims have not been released and authorities did not immediately identify the owner of the bus.


upi--2020-02-22--Greyhound will not allow Border Patrol searches without warrants

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- Greyhound has announced it will no longer allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to conduct routine immigration checks on its buses without warrants , reversing a statement two years ago that it would allow them .
A CBP spokesperson told CNN Border Patrol agents had been trained at the academy on protocols to ask for consent for years in a report about the Greyhound statement made Friday .
Greyhound will also notify the Department of Homeland Security in a letter that `` we do not consent to warrantless searches on our buses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the public , '' the company statement said .
`` Our primary concern is the safety of our customers and team members . ''
`` And we are confident these changes will lead to an improved experience for all parties involved , '' it added .
The statement also said the company 's drivers and employees would receive updated training on the policy change and stickers would be placed on buses to make it clear that it does not consent to such searches .
A Greyhound statement two years ago called on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it said had a negative impact , but under law were `` still legal , '' so it would allow them .
`` We understand our customers ' concerns about U.S. Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) conducting warrantless , but still legal , searches on our buses , '' the October 2018 statement said .
`` CBP officers do not ask permission to board our buses .
We do not want to put our drivers ' safety or the safety of our passengers at risk by attempting to stop a federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Civil Liberties Union had pressured Greyhound to change its policy , arguing that CBP agents had a history of boarding buses and subjecting passengers to racial profiling in unjustified interrogations .
The nonprofit organization argued that Greyhound actually had a Fourth Amendment right as a private business to deny CBP permission to board and search its buses .
Greyhound had previously argued that case law did not extend the Fourth Amendment 's protections to commercial carriers .
`` We are pleased to see Greyhound clearly communicate that it does not consent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Andrea Flores , deputy director for policy in the A.C.L.U 's equality division .
`` We will continue to push other transportation companies to follow its leadership . ''
Other bus companies , such as Jefferson Lines and MTRWestern say on their websites that they do not provide consent to warrantless immigration enforcement checks .
Immigration checks on buses have been ramped up under President Donald Trump 's administration .
The practice of allowing CBP agents aboard `` falls particularly harshly on passengers of color , '' who are `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and detention , '' Attorney General of Washington State Bob Ferguson said in a letter to Greyhound last year .

Greyhound said in a statement Friday it will no longer allow Border Patrol to conduct immigration checks on its buses without a warrant. File Photo by Natalie Krebs/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Greyhound has announced it will no longer allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to conduct routine immigration checks on its buses without warrants, reversing a statement two years ago that it would allow them. A CBP spokesperson told CNN Border Patrol agents had been trained at the academy on protocols to ask for consent for years in a report about the Greyhound statement made Friday. Advertisement
Greyhound will also notify the Department of Homeland Security in a letter that "we do not consent to warrantless searches on our buses and in terminal areas that are not open to the public," the company statement said. "Our primary concern is the safety of our customers and team members."
"And we are confident these changes will lead to an improved experience for all parties involved," it added.
The statement also said the company's drivers and employees would receive updated training on the policy change and stickers would be placed on buses to make it clear that it does not consent to such searches.
A Greyhound statement two years ago called on legislation to stop warrantless searches, which it said had a negative impact, but under law were "still legal," so it would allow them.
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"We understand our customers' concerns about U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducting warrantless, but still legal, searches on our buses," the October 2018 statement said. "CBP officers do not ask permission to board our buses. We do not want to put our drivers' safety or the safety of our passengers at risk by attempting to stop a federal agent from conducting checks."
The American Civil Liberties Union had pressured Greyhound to change its policy, arguing that CBP agents had a history of boarding buses and subjecting passengers to racial profiling in unjustified interrogations. The nonprofit organization argued that Greyhound actually had a Fourth Amendment right as a private business to deny CBP permission to board and search its buses.
Greyhound had previously argued that case law did not extend the Fourth Amendment's protections to commercial carriers.
"We are pleased to see Greyhound clearly communicate that it does not consent to racial profiling and harassment on its buses," said Andrea Flores, deputy director for policy in the A.C.L.U's equality division. "We will continue to push other transportation companies to follow its leadership."
Other bus companies, such as Jefferson Lines and MTRWestern say on their websites that they do not provide consent to warrantless immigration enforcement checks.
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Immigration checks on buses have been ramped up under President Donald Trump's administration.
The practice of allowing CBP agents aboard "falls particularly harshly on passengers of color," who are "reportedly singled out by CBP for questioning and detention," Attorney General of Washington State Bob Ferguson said in a letter to Greyhound last year.


upi--2020-02-22--Court blocks transfer of coronavirus patients to California city

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- A federal court granted a temporary restraining order preventing the government from transferring dozens of patients who have tested positive for coronavirus from Travis Air Force Base in Northern California to a building in Southern California .
The city of Costa Mesa filed a request for an injunction Friday against the Department of Health and Human Services , the Department of Defense , the U.S. Air Force , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the California Governor 's Office of Emergency Services and the California Department of General Services .
U.S. District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which concerned the potential transfer of 50 patients to a complex the city said was not suitable to house patients .
An expedited hearing is expected to be held Monday .
In its lawsuit , the city , which is about 40 miles south of Los Angeles , also accused federal and state authorities of not informing or working with Costa Mesa officials on the quarantine .
`` We have received no information regarding how the facility will be prepared , what precautions will be taken to protect those in the facility as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other important planning measures , '' Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley said .
Before Friday , there were 15 confirmed cases of the virus in the United States , according to the Centers for Disease Control .
That number more than doubled when the CDC announced that 28 Americans , who have returned home after exposure to coronavirus aboard a Princess Cruise Ship in the Pacific , have tested positive for the illness .

The city of Costa Mesa, Calif., has temporarily succeeded in preventing the transfer of patients who've tested positive for coronavirus to a Costa Mesa facility the city says is unsuitable to house them. Currently the patients in question are lodged at Travis Air Force Base in California, shown here. Photo by Nicholas Pilch/U.S. Air Force
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- A federal court granted a temporary restraining order preventing the government from transferring dozens of patients who have tested positive for coronavirus from Travis Air Force Base in Northern California to a building in Southern California. The city of Costa Mesa filed a request for an injunction Friday against the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Air Force, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the California Department of General Services. Advertisement
U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton issued the ruling, which concerned the potential transfer of 50 patients to a complex the city said was not suitable to house patients.
An expedited hearing is expected to be held Monday.
In its lawsuit, the city, which is about 40 miles south of Los Angeles, also accused federal and state authorities of not informing or working with Costa Mesa officials on the quarantine.
"We have received no information regarding how the facility will be prepared, what precautions will be taken to protect those in the facility as well as those who live nearby, and other important planning measures," Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley said.
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Before Friday, there were 15 confirmed cases of the virus in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
That number more than doubled when the CDC announced that 28 Americans, who have returned home after exposure to coronavirus aboard a Princess Cruise Ship in the Pacific, have tested positive for the illness.


upi--2020-02-22--Jeanne Evert Dubin, sister of tennis great Chris Evert, dies at 62

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- A funeral Mass will be held Monday in Florida for world-class tennis player Jeanne Evert Dubin , the younger sister of superstar Chris Evert .
She was 62 and had been battling ovarian cancer .
`` Jeanne was selfless , caring and kind , '' Chris Evert said in her sister 's obituary .
`` As a sister , I admired her stellar character and unwavering devotion to her loved ones .
She fought a brave battle , and now Heaven is lucky to have her . ''
Jeanne Colette Evert had an outstanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1973 at age 15 , a year after she defeated tennis luminaries Rosie Casals and World No .
1 Margaret Court .
She was trained by her father , Jimmy Evert , who died in 2015 .
In summer 1973 , she became the youngest woman 's tennis player ever to represent her country in the Wightman Cup team competition against Great Britain .
She often played doubles with her sister , and they were ranked No 4 in the United States in 1972 and No .
5 the next year .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
9 in the United States in singles , and she reached No .
28 in the world in 1978 , the year in which she ended her professional career .
While competing in Montreal that year , she met Braham Dubin , whose company managed municipal golf courses and the Delray Beach ( Fla. ) Tennis Center .
They wed in 1979 and became parents of Eric and Catie Dubin .
Her husband died of complications of lung cancer in 2006 .
In 2014 , she met Tower Krauss , a Realtor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death on Thursday .
They lived in Delray Beach .
Jeanne Evert 's attitude toward the game , though serious , was less intense than her highly driven father and sister , who retired as a professional in 1989 .
`` You see , my father does n't believe in doing things halfway , '' Jeanne Evert told the New York Times in 1976 .
`` Neither does Chris .
When I tell him my goal is to be happy , it blows his mind ; it 's too vague . ''
Professional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profile story , `` She 's just not like any other tennis player .
She has so many friends .
...
I never saw anyone smile so much . ''
Monday 's funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. EST at St. Anthony 's Church in Fort Lauderdale , Fla. Lorne & Sons Funeral Home in Delray Beach is in charge of arrangements .

Feb. 22 (UPI) -- A funeral Mass will be held Monday in Florida for world-class tennis player Jeanne Evert Dubin, the younger sister of superstar Chris Evert. She was 62 and had been battling ovarian cancer. "Jeanne was selfless, caring and kind," Chris Evert said in her sister's obituary. "As a sister, I admired her stellar character and unwavering devotion to her loved ones. She fought a brave battle, and now Heaven is lucky to have her." Advertisement
Jeanne Colette Evert had an outstanding junior career. She turned professional in 1973 at age 15, a year after she defeated tennis luminaries Rosie Casals and World No. 1 Margaret Court. She was trained by her father, Jimmy Evert, who died in 2015.
In summer 1973, she became the youngest woman's tennis player ever to represent her country in the Wightman Cup team competition against Great Britain. She often played doubles with her sister, and they were ranked No 4 in the United States in 1972 and No. 5 the next year.
In 1974, Jeanne Evert rose to No. 9 in the United States in singles, and she reached No. 28 in the world in 1978, the year in which she ended her professional career.
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While competing in Montreal that year, she met Braham Dubin, whose company managed municipal golf courses and the Delray Beach (Fla.) Tennis Center. They wed in 1979 and became parents of Eric and Catie Dubin. Her husband died of complications of lung cancer in 2006.
In 2014, she met Tower Krauss, a Realtor, who was her partner until her death on Thursday. They lived in Delray Beach.
Jeanne Evert's attitude toward the game, though serious, was less intense than her highly driven father and sister, who retired as a professional in 1989.
"You see, my father doesn't believe in doing things halfway," Jeanne Evert told the New York Times in 1976. "Neither does Chris. When I tell him my goal is to be happy, it blows his mind; it's too vague."
Professional Terry Holladay told the Times in that profile story, "She's just not like any other tennis player. She has so many friends. ... I never saw anyone smile so much."
Monday's funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. EST at St. Anthony's Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Lorne & Sons Funeral Home in Delray Beach is in charge of arrangements.


upi--2020-02-22--London protesters rally against Julian Assange extradition

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- Hundreds of supporters of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange gathered in London 's Parliament Square on Saturday to protest his potential extradition to the United States .
Those present at the rally included Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters , fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis .
Assange , 48 , who founded Wikileaks in 2006 , has been charged with 18 criminal counts of conspiring to hack government computers and with violating an espionage law , all in connection with his work with the site .
In 2010 Wikileaks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Guardian , published classified U.S. military documents and field reports from the Iraq and Afghanistan war , which supporters say shed light on previously undisclosed aspects of the wars , including civilian death counts .
Two years later Assange , who is originally from Australia , took refuge in Ecuadorian Embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden , where he was accused of sexual assault .
The Swedish government announced in November that it was discontinuing that investigation .
Assange was removed from the Ecuadorian Embassy in April and has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extradition .
Earlier this week 100 physicians signed an open letter saying Assange was suffering from `` psychological torture and medical neglect '' in prison .
His hearing at Woolwich Crown Court is expected to begin Monday .
The court can not evaluate whether Assange is innocent of the charges themselves , but can decide whether they are politically motivated , as his attorneys are expected to argue .
`` This is not about left or right , we can unite on this , it is a dark force against [ those ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Kristinn Hrafnsson , editor in chief of WikiLeaks , said at Saturday 's protest .
Assange could face a 170-year prison sentence if extradited to the United States and convicted .

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The trial to extradite Julian Assange begins on Monday in London. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Hundreds of supporters of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange gathered in London's Parliament Square on Saturday to protest his potential extradition to the United States. Those present at the rally included Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis. Advertisement
Assange, 48, who founded Wikileaks in 2006, has been charged with 18 criminal counts of conspiring to hack government computers and with violating an espionage law, all in connection with his work with the site.
In 2010 Wikileaks, along with The New York Times and The Guardian, published classified U.S. military documents and field reports from the Iraq and Afghanistan war, which supporters say shed light on previously undisclosed aspects of the wars, including civilian death counts.
Two years later Assange, who is originally from Australia, took refuge in Ecuadorian Embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he was accused of sexual assault.
The Swedish government announced in November that it was discontinuing that investigation.
Assange was removed from the Ecuadorian Embassy in April and has been in prison since the United States requested extradition.
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Earlier this week 100 physicians signed an open letter saying Assange was suffering from "psychological torture and medical neglect" in prison.
His hearing at Woolwich Crown Court is expected to begin Monday.
The court cannot evaluate whether Assange is innocent of the charges themselves, but can decide whether they are politically motivated, as his attorneys are expected to argue.
"This is not about left or right, we can unite on this, it is a dark force against [those] who want justice, transparency and truth," Kristinn Hrafnsson, editor in chief of WikiLeaks, said at Saturday's protest.
Assange could face a 170-year prison sentence if extradited to the United States and convicted.


upi--2020-02-22--Coronavirus: Iran death toll hits 5, the highest outside China

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- Iran confirmed five deaths from the coronavirus Saturday , the highest death toll outside of China where the figure has reached 2,345 .
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organization was `` especially concerned about the increase in cases in the Islamic Republic of Iran . ''
Iran confirmed 28 cases of COVID-19 infection despite the country insisting as recently as Tuesday that it had no cases .
By Wednesday , Iran said it had five cases in people with a history of travel to China and two deaths .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran from the outbreak .
Furthermore , a case in Lebanon appeared to be linked to Iran , along with a new case in Canada .
Iran was the first in the Middle East to declare deaths related to the virus .
Kianush Jahnpur , a health ministry spokesperson , wrote in a tweet that at least two cases were in Qom , 80 miles south of the capital of Tehran .
Officials also confirmed coronavirus cases in Tehran and the northern city of Rasht .
Fars New Agency tweeted a video showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line to vote in Iran 's weekend parliamentary elections .
A team of World Health Organization experts traveled Saturday to the Chinese city of Wuhan , where the outbreak started .
Ghebreyesus confirmed the trip during an address Saturday to African officials from Geneva where he spoke on the global spread and urged them to prepare .
The continent has only one case in Egypt of the coronavirus , but health officials warned that the outbreak could be deadly in countries where the health system is already strained .
WHO provided online training @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
`` The cases that we see in the rest of the world , although numbers are small , but not linked to Wuhan or China , it 's very worrisome , '' Ghebreyesus said Friday .
`` Those dots are actually very concerning . ''
Meanwhile , the number of infections in China rose above 76,000 Saturday with a dozen infections confirmed at a single nursing home in Wuhan .
The nursing home , Wuhan Social Welfare Institute , said 11 residents and one employee had the virus , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bureau in Wuhan .
The notice said one of the residents died .
Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to the virus with many reported deaths occurring in people 60 and older .
Nursing homes usually house residents in close quarters , which facilitates the rapid spread of the virus , The New York Times reported .
In the United States , the number of cases rose to 35 .
President Donald Trump was upset that 14 U.S. citizens on the Diamond Princess Cruise who tested positive for the coronavirus would be returned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington Post first reported .
In South Korea , 229 new cases were reported Saturday , bringing the total number of cases to 433 , with more than half among a secretive religious sect , their family members or others linked to them .
Officials were trying to track down 700 members of the sect , the Shincheonji Church of Jesus , to be screened .
More than 1,250 sect members have reported potential symptoms .
Between Daegu , South Korea 's fourth largest city , and a nearby province where sect members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive .
Banks , coffee shops , restaurants and convenience stores have all been shut down in the area .
The South Korean smartphone maker Samsung has shut down a factory after a worker tested positive for the virus .
Samsung said the factory was expected to resume operations Monday , but the floor where the patient worked will be closed until Tuesday morning .
Israel barred South Korean tourists hours after nine South Korean tourists tested positive for the coronavirus upon returning home .
In Italy , the number of sickened rose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandatory quarantine measures in a dozen towns in northern Italy locked down after reports of two deaths tied to the outbreak in the region .
One person died in the Lombardy region and another in the Veneto region , ANSA news agency reported .
Local officials in both regions ordered the lockdown , which affected schools , businesses and a restaurant , along with sporting events .
Civil protections crews in Veneto set up a tent to screen medical staff outside a closed hospital where several people with confirmed illnesses were held in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Lodi , the first patient in Italy was in critical condition Saturday and a few people out on the streets wore face masks .
In the city of Milan in Italy 's northern Lombardy region , Mayor Giuseppe Sala said workers were suspended from work `` where there is a cluster of infection . ''
Fourteen employees were suspended , Sky Italia reported .
A map of global cases by Johns Hopkins showed 634 cases from the Diamond Princess cruise ship , the largest number outside China , followed by South Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Singapore at 85 , Hong Kong at 69 , Italy at 62 , and the United States and Thailand both at 35 , and Iran at 28 cases .

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Transit workers use a thermal sensor to check a passenger's body temperature at a subway station in Daegu, South Korea, on Friday. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Iran confirmed five deaths from the coronavirus Saturday, the highest death toll outside of China where the figure has reached 2,345. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organization was "especially concerned about the increase in cases in the Islamic Republic of Iran." Advertisement
Iran confirmed 28 cases of COVID-19 infection despite the country insisting as recently as Tuesday that it had no cases. By Wednesday, Iran said it had five cases in people with a history of travel to China and two deaths. By Friday, four deaths were confirmed in Iran from the outbreak.
Furthermore, a case in Lebanon appeared to be linked to Iran, along with a new case in Canada.
Iran was the first in the Middle East to declare deaths related to the virus.
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Kianush Jahnpur, a health ministry spokesperson, wrote in a tweet that at least two cases were in Qom, 80 miles south of the capital of Tehran. Officials also confirmed coronavirus cases in Tehran and the northern city of Rasht.
Fars New Agency tweeted a video showing some people wearing masks while waiting in line to vote in Iran's weekend parliamentary elections.
A team of World Health Organization experts traveled Saturday to the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak started.
Ghebreyesus confirmed the trip during an address Saturday to African officials from Geneva where he spoke on the global spread and urged them to prepare.
The continent has only one case in Egypt of the coronavirus, but health officials warned that the outbreak could be deadly in countries where the health system is already strained.
WHO provided online training to 11,000 African health workers on the coronavirus.
"The cases that we see in the rest of the world, although numbers are small, but not linked to Wuhan or China, it's very worrisome," Ghebreyesus said Friday. "Those dots are actually very concerning."
Meanwhile, the number of infections in China rose above 76,000 Saturday with a dozen infections confirmed at a single nursing home in Wuhan. The nursing home, Wuhan Social Welfare Institute, said 11 residents and one employee had the virus, according to a notice from the municipal civil affairs bureau in Wuhan.
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The notice said one of the residents died.
Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to the virus with many reported deaths occurring in people 60 and older. Nursing homes usually house residents in close quarters, which facilitates the rapid spread of the virus, The New York Times reported.
In the United States, the number of cases rose to 35.
President Donald Trump was upset that 14 U.S. citizens on the Diamond Princess Cruise who tested positive for the coronavirus would be returned to the United States this week, The Washington Post first reported.
In South Korea, 229 new cases were reported Saturday, bringing the total number of cases to 433, with more than half among a secretive religious sect, their family members or others linked to them.
Officials were trying to track down 700 members of the sect, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, to be screened. More than 1,250 sect members have reported potential symptoms.
Between Daegu, South Korea's fourth largest city, and a nearby province where sect members do volunteer work, 352 people tested positive.
Banks, coffee shops, restaurants and convenience stores have all been shut down in the area.
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The South Korean smartphone maker Samsung has shut down a factory after a worker tested positive for the virus.
Samsung said the factory was expected to resume operations Monday, but the floor where the patient worked will be closed until Tuesday morning.
Israel barred South Korean tourists hours after nine South Korean tourists tested positive for the coronavirus upon returning home.
In Italy, the number of sickened rose to 62 and the country has ordered mandatory quarantine measures in a dozen towns in northern Italy locked down after reports of two deaths tied to the outbreak in the region.
One person died in the Lombardy region and another in the Veneto region, ANSA news agency reported.
Local officials in both regions ordered the lockdown, which affected schools, businesses and a restaurant, along with sporting events.
Civil protections crews in Veneto set up a tent to screen medical staff outside a closed hospital where several people with confirmed illnesses were held in isolation.
In Codogno in the province of Lodi, the first patient in Italy was in critical condition Saturday and a few people out on the streets wore face masks.
In the city of Milan in Italy's northern Lombardy region, Mayor Giuseppe Sala said workers were suspended from work "where there is a cluster of infection." Fourteen employees were suspended, Sky Italia reported.
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A map of global cases by Johns Hopkins showed 634 cases from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, the largest number outside China, followed by South Korea at 433 cases, Japan at 122, Singapore at 85, Hong Kong at 69, Italy at 62, and the United States and Thailand both at 35, and Iran at 28 cases.


upi--2020-02-22--Conservatives expect to take majority in Iranian Parliament

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- Early returns from Iran 's parliamentary election show conservative allies of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gaining a sizable majority , elections officials said Saturday .
Iranian officials said that 42 seats of the 290-seat Parliament were won outright by conservatives , and some forecasts show them taking more than two-thirds of the seats .
Projections showed reformists , who made up the largest grouping in the outgoing Parliament , taking 17 seats .
Official turnout numbers from Friday 's election have not been released , but Abbasali Kadkhodai , spokesman for the watchdog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be about 50 percent .
In 2016 , 62 percent of eligible voters cast votes in the parliamentary election , and 66 percent of those eligible voted in 2012 .
Conservatives were projected to win all 30 seats representing Tehran .
Prior to the election Iran 's Guardian Council disbarred from standing nearly half of the election 's 16,033 hopefuls .
Most of those deemed ineligible to run were moderates and reformers , and citizens who spoke with media said they were unsurprised by results .
`` Why should we wait for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclusion and has been fixed in advance .
They can do what they want , and we just have to get on making a living .
We face years more of sanctions , '' a shopper in Tehran told The Guardian .

An Iranian woman casts her ballot at a polling station during the parliamentary elections in Tehran on Friday. Early returns show conservatives gaining a majority of seats in the country's Parliament. Photo by Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA-EFE
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Early returns from Iran's parliamentary election show conservative allies of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gaining a sizable majority, elections officials said Saturday. Iranian officials said that 42 seats of the 290-seat Parliament were won outright by conservatives, and some forecasts show them taking more than two-thirds of the seats. Advertisement
Projections showed reformists, who made up the largest grouping in the outgoing Parliament, taking 17 seats.
Official turnout numbers from Friday's election have not been released, but Abbasali Kadkhodai, spokesman for the watchdog Guardian Council, predicted that the turnout would be about 50 percent.
In 2016, 62 percent of eligible voters cast votes in the parliamentary election, and 66 percent of those eligible voted in 2012.
Conservatives were projected to win all 30 seats representing Tehran.
Prior to the election Iran's Guardian Council disbarred from standing nearly half of the election's 16,033 hopefuls.
Most of those deemed ineligible to run were moderates and reformers, and citizens who spoke with media said they were unsurprised by results.
"Why should we wait for the result? It is a foregone conclusion and has been fixed in advance. They can do what they want, and we just have to get on making a living. We face years more of sanctions," a shopper in Tehran told The Guardian.
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upi--2020-02-22--Twitter suspends 70 pro-Mike Bloomberg accounts for violating rules

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- Twitter has suspended 70 accounts belonging to paid Mike Bloomberg campaign workers for violating its platform rules .
The former New York City mayor 's presidential campaign developed a social media strategy to promote his online following .
The Los Angeles Times first reported Twitter citing `` platform manipulation '' in the suspension of these accounts in violation of its Platform Manipulation and Spam Policy .
The rules were created to prevent manipulation and fake accounts prevalent among Russian-sponsored troll networks in the 2016 presidential election .
Twitter 's policy prohibits the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppress information . ''
They also prohibit engaging in `` deceptive activity that misleads others . ''
`` We have taken enforcement action on a group of accounts for violating our rules against platform manipulation and spam , '' a Twitter spokesman told the Los Angeles Times .
The spokesman added that some suspensions will be permanent and in other cases account owners will have to verify they have control of their accounts .
The campaign sponsored hundreds of new accounts that directly copied content , which violated Twitter platform rules against `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Twitter said .
It also violated platform rules against `` posting identical or substantially similar Tweets or hashtags from multiple accounts you operate , '' and `` coordinating with or compensating others to engage in artificial engagement or amplification , even if the people involved use only one account , '' the company added .
The Wall Street Journal reported that documents showed that the Bloomberg campaign hired more than 500 `` deputy digital organizers '' to work 20 hours to 30 hours a week for $ 2,500 a month .

Twitter has suspended 70 accounts promoting Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg over alleged violation of platform rules. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Twitter has suspended 70 accounts belonging to paid Mike Bloomberg campaign workers for violating its platform rules. The former New York City mayor's presidential campaign developed a social media strategy to promote his online following. Advertisement
The Los Angeles Times first reported Twitter citing "platform manipulation" in the suspension of these accounts in violation of its Platform Manipulation and Spam Policy. The rules were created to prevent manipulation and fake accounts prevalent among Russian-sponsored troll networks in the 2016 presidential election.
Twitter's policy prohibits the use of such accounts to "artificially amplify or suppress information." They also prohibit engaging in "deceptive activity that misleads others."
"We have taken enforcement action on a group of accounts for violating our rules against platform manipulation and spam," a Twitter spokesman told the Los Angeles Times.
The spokesman added that some suspensions will be permanent and in other cases account owners will have to verify they have control of their accounts.
The campaign sponsored hundreds of new accounts that directly copied content, which violated Twitter platform rules against "creating multiple accounts to post duplicative content," Twitter said.
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It also violated platform rules against "posting identical or substantially similar Tweets or hashtags from multiple accounts you operate," and "coordinating with or compensating others to engage in artificial engagement or amplification, even if the people involved use only one account," the company added.
The Wall Street Journal reported that documents showed that the Bloomberg campaign hired more than 500 "deputy digital organizers" to work 20 hours to 30 hours a week for $2,500 a month.


upi--2020-02-22--Pope Francis clears two for sainthood

Pope Francis clears two for sainthood

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- Pope Francis has cleared two people for sainthood including an Indian layman Roman Catholics consider to be a martyr , and a religious institute founder and alleged miracle worker in Italy .
The pope on Friday authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to put into effect eight decrees among 10 candidates , and cleared two of them for sainthood .
Devasahayam Pillai of India , an 18th century Hindu man who converted to Catholicism and has been considered a martyr of the Christian faith , was among the two cleared for sainthood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of high caste in Hindu and was raised by his uncle on his mother 's side , according to his biography .
Pope Benedict XVI declared him blessed on December 2 , 2012 , 300 years after his birth .
Roman Catholics believe he was killed by the Indian kingdom of Travancore for upholding his Christian faith .
Leaders of his native religion did not approve of his conversion and brought false charges of treason and espionage against him , while divesting his post in the royal administration .
He was a Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead in the Aralvaimozhy forest on Jan. 14,1752 .
Devotees mourn him at his tomb at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Nagercoil , India .
Francis also cleared Blessed Maria Francesca di Gesu , who was born Anna Maria Rubatto , on February 14 , 1844 , in Carmagnola , Italy , for canonization .
She was the founder of the Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto .
She died in Motevideo , Uruguay on August 6 , 1904 .
In 1883 , the Capuchin friar Father Angelico da Sestri Ponente invited Rubatto , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her sister , to take care of a nascent Religious Institute .
Rubatto changed her name to Sister Maria Francesca di Gesu and simultaneously became the first superior general of the Institute , a position she held until her death .
On January 23 , 1885 , she founded a religious institute that would become known as Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto and aimed to help the sick and help with Christian education of youth , the website shows .
On October 10 , 1993 , Saint John Paul II beatified her , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Uruguay .
The beatification was related to an alleged miraculous event in 1939 in which a child suffering from a serious infection and septic shock after a tonsillectomy operation was healed following prayers address to God through the intercession of Rubatto .

Devasahayam Pillai, depicted by a statue at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Nagercoil, India, was among two candidates Pope Francis cleared for sainthood Saturday. File photo by Kumbalam/ Wikimedia Commons
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Pope Francis has cleared two people for sainthood including an Indian layman Roman Catholics consider to be a martyr, and a religious institute founder and alleged miracle worker in Italy. The pope on Friday authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to put into effect eight decrees among 10 candidates, and cleared two of them for sainthood. Advertisement
Devasahayam Pillai of India, an 18th century Hindu man who converted to Catholicism and has been considered a martyr of the Christian faith, was among the two cleared for sainthood.
Pillai came from a wealthy family of high caste in Hindu and was raised by his uncle on his mother's side, according to his biography. Pope Benedict XVI declared him blessed on December 2, 2012, 300 years after his birth.
Roman Catholics believe he was killed by the Indian kingdom of Travancore for upholding his Christian faith. Leaders of his native religion did not approve of his conversion and brought false charges of treason and espionage against him, while divesting his post in the royal administration. He was a Catholic for seven years before he was shot dead in the Aralvaimozhy forest on Jan. 14,1752.
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Devotees mourn him at his tomb at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Nagercoil, India.
Francis also cleared Blessed Maria Francesca di Gesu, who was born Anna Maria Rubatto, on February 14, 1844, in Carmagnola, Italy, for canonization. She was the founder of the Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto. She died in Motevideo, Uruguay on August 6, 1904.
In 1883, the Capuchin friar Father Angelico da Sestri Ponente invited Rubatto, who was in Loano in Liguria with her sister, to take care of a nascent Religious Institute.
Rubatto changed her name to Sister Maria Francesca di Gesu and simultaneously became the first superior general of the Institute, a position she held until her death.
On January 23, 1885, she founded a religious institute that would become known as Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto and aimed to help the sick and help with Christian education of youth, the website shows.
On October 10, 1993, Saint John Paul II beatified her, marking her as the first blessed of Uruguay. The beatification was related to an alleged miraculous event in 1939 in which a child suffering from a serious infection and septic shock after a tonsillectomy operation was healed following prayers address to God through the intercession of Rubatto.


upi--2020-02-22--BBC orders more 'Take Off with Bradley and Holly'

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- Doctor Who actor Bradley Walsh and Dancing on Ice presenter Holly Willoughby are set @ @ @ @ @ another edition of the BBC competition series Take Off With Bradley and Holly .
`` @ @ @ @ @ audience members will see their names appear on the Take Off departure board .
Competing @ @ @ @ @ games , they will have the opportunity to win seats on a plane for an @ @ @ @ @ the British network said in a news release .
The TV event will feature four @ @ @ @ @ We 're really excited to be working together again on Take Off .
We had @ @ @ @ @ and ca n't wait to give more families the chance to win an amazing holiday @ @ @ @ @ in a joint statement .
The show previously aired as a special in December .

Holly Willoughby is returning for a second edition of "Take Off with Bradley and Holly." File Photo by Rune Hellestad UPI | License Photo
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Doctor Who actor Bradley Walsh and Dancing on Ice presenter Holly Willoughby are set to return as hosts of another edition of the BBC competition series Take Off With Bradley and Holly. "Each week some lucky studio audience members will see their names appear on the Take Off departure board. Competing in a variety of entertaining games, they will have the opportunity to win seats on a plane for an unforgettable global getaway," the British network said in a news release. Advertisement
The TV event will feature four, hourlong episodes.
"We're really excited to be working together again on Take Off. We had so much fun last time and can't wait to give more families the chance to win an amazing holiday," the hosts said in a joint statement.
The show previously aired as a special in December.


upi--2020-02-22--Ed Helms, Randall Park to host NBC's 'True Story' comedy series

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- The Office alum Ed Helms and Fresh Off the Boat star Randall Park have @ @ @ @ @ 's True Story comedy series .
Helms will also executive produce the U.S. version of @ @ @ @ @ Hamish & Andy .
A network press release described the new show as a `` @ @ @ @ @ which everyday Americans sit down with Helms and Park to share their most extraordinary and @ @ @ @ @ first time . ''
Celebrity guests will then re-enact parts of the stories as they @ @ @ @ @ No premiere date has been set yet .
`` I ca n't wait to bring @ @ @ @ @ with my buddy Randall Park , '' Helms said .
`` It 's an incredibly @ @ @ @ @ show that celebrates the lost art of laughing at ourselves ... with a little help @ @ @ @ @

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Ed Helms is set to host the NBC comedy series "True Story." File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- The Office alum Ed Helms and Fresh Off the Boat star Randall Park have signed on to host NBC's True Story comedy series. Helms will also executive produce the U.S. version of Australia's True Story with Hamish & Andy. Advertisement
A network press release described the new show as a "six-episode hybrid alternative-scripted series in which everyday Americans sit down with Helms and Park to share their most extraordinary and unbelievably true stories for the first time."
Celebrity guests will then re-enact parts of the stories as they unfold, NBC said.
No premiere date has been set yet.
"I can't wait to bring True Story to American audiences with my buddy Randall Park," Helms said. "It's an incredibly warm, hilarious and kind-spirited show that celebrates the lost art of laughing at ourselves ... with a little help from epic reenactments."


upi--2020-02-22--South Sudan President Salva Kiir names Riek Machar as deputy in power-sharing agreement

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- South Sudan formed a unity government Saturday with the swearing in of rebel leader Riek Machar as vice president , a potential step toward ending civil .
President Salva Kiir selected Machar as his deputy six years after the two split over allegations of a coup d'etat plot by the latter .
The split devolved into fighting , sparking the county 's civil war , with the rebel Sudan People 's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition gaining control of swaths of northeastern and eastern South Sudan .
`` This action signifies the official end of the war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dawn in South Sudan , '' Kiir said at the ceremony .
`` Peace has come to stay , not to be shaken ever again in this nation . ''
Kiir dissolved his government Friday before naming Machar as vice president .
The decision came after negotiations that saw the president accept reversing the decision to divide the nation into 32 states .
The country will return to its original 10 states with three administrative areas .
The division of states was the major hangup in a peace agreement originally negotiated in 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vice presidency in 2016 in an attempt at a power sharing agreement , but he was replaced less than a year later citing accusations of another coup plot .
South Sudan 's civil war displaced more than 2.2 million people into other countries and made more than 1.4 million without homes .

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir (R) meets with former rebel leader Riek Machar (L) in Juba, South Sudan, on October 19. File Photo courtesy of STR/EPA-EFE
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- South Sudan formed a unity government Saturday with the swearing in of rebel leader Riek Machar as vice president, a potential step toward ending civil. President Salva Kiir selected Machar as his deputy six years after the two split over allegations of a coup d'etat plot by the latter. The split devolved into fighting, sparking the county's civil war, with the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition gaining control of swaths of northeastern and eastern South Sudan. Advertisement
"This action signifies the official end of the war and we can now declare a new dawn in South Sudan," Kiir said at the ceremony. "Peace has come to stay, not to be shaken ever again in this nation."
Kiir dissolved his government Friday before naming Machar as vice president. The decision came after negotiations that saw the president accept reversing the decision to divide the nation into 32 states. The country will return to its original 10 states with three administrative areas.
The division of states was the major hangup in a peace agreement originally negotiated in 2017.
Kiir previously welcomed back Machar to the vice presidency in 2016 in an attempt at a power sharing agreement, but he was replaced less than a year later citing accusations of another coup plot.
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South Sudan's civil war displaced more than 2.2 million people into other countries and made more than 1.4 million without homes.


upi--2020-02-22--'Schitt's Creek' actress Annie Murphy to star in 'Kevin' comedy

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- Schitt 's Creek alum Annie Murphy has signed on to star in AMC 's upcoming dark comedy series Kevin Can F*** Himself .
A news release from the cable network said the show `` probes the secret life of a type of woman we all grew up believing we knew : the sitcom wife . ''
Season 1 will consist of eight , hourlong episodes .
`` Annie is an undeniable talent with the ability both to play comedy and to break your heart .
She is the perfect fit for the role of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to life creator Valerie Armstrong 's genius vision , '' Sarah Barnett , president of AMC Networks Entertainment Group and AMC Studios , said in a statement .
`` Cracking open the conventions of the 'classic ' American sitcom to expose what 's swirling beneath , in this highly inventive and entertaining way , is the kind of story we are hugely excited to tell at AMC . ''
The development of Kevin Can F*** Himself was announced shortly after another , unrelated family sitcom named Kevin Can Wait , starring Kevin James @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after two seasons .
Former Kevin Can Wait co-star Erinn Hayes reacted on Twitter to the news of the similarly titled project .
Hayes retweeted a link to a story about Kevin Can F*** Himself , with the message , `` omg , '' followed by three crying smiley face emojis .
James and Leah Remini previously played husband and wife in the sitcom The King of Queens for nine seasons from 1998 to 2007 .
Remini guest starred in Season 1 of Kevin Can Wait and was promoted to full-time cast member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's wife , Donna , played by Hayes , was unexpectedly was killed off .

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Annie Murphy is set to star in a new dark comedy for AMC. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Schitt's Creek alum Annie Murphy has signed on to star in AMC's upcoming dark comedy series Kevin Can F*** Himself. A news release from the cable network said the show "probes the secret life of a type of woman we all grew up believing we knew: the sitcom wife." Advertisement
Season 1 will consist of eight, hourlong episodes.
"Annie is an undeniable talent with the ability both to play comedy and to break your heart. She is the perfect fit for the role of Allison, the perfect actor to bring to life creator Valerie Armstrong's genius vision," Sarah Barnett, president of AMC Networks Entertainment Group and AMC Studios, said in a statement.
"Cracking open the conventions of the 'classic' American sitcom to expose what's swirling beneath, in this highly inventive and entertaining way, is the kind of story we are hugely excited to tell at AMC."
The development of Kevin Can F*** Himself was announced shortly after another, unrelated family sitcom named Kevin Can Wait, starring Kevin James, was canceled by CBS in 2018 after two seasons.
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Former Kevin Can Wait co-star Erinn Hayes reacted on Twitter to the news of the similarly titled project.
Hayes retweeted a link to a story about Kevin Can F*** Himself, with the message, "omg," followed by three crying smiley face emojis.
James and Leah Remini previously played husband and wife in the sitcom The King of Queens for nine seasons from 1998 to 2007.
Remini guest starred in Season 1 of Kevin Can Wait and was promoted to full-time cast member in Season 2 after the title character's wife, Donna, played by Hayes, was unexpectedly was killed off.


upi--2020-02-22--Dr. Phil McGraw gets star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- Television personality , psychologist , producer and author Dr. Phil McGraw was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame .
He has hosted the syndicated Dr. Phil program since 2002 and plans to continue doing so through at least 2023 .
McGraw , 69 , is also a producer on the CBS drama Bull , which is now in its fourth season , and the syndicated medical talk show The Doctors , which is now in its 12th season .
Filmmaker Tyler Perry , singer-songwriter Ronnie Dunn and McGraw 's family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ star dedication in which he declared he was `` happier than a rabbit in a carrot patch . ''
He went on to say he frequently reminds his adult sons , who are also in the entertainment industry : `` We are so blessed to live such wonderful lives .
It 's lots of hard work , it truly is , but , really , it is pretty damn glamorous and exciting , I have to say .
I always say to them : 'Stop , take a breath , look around , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the journey . '
'' He told Variety he hopes Dr. Phil offers `` common-sense , usable information that 's delivered to people in their homes every day for free . ''
`` We want to move mental health , mental illness , to the forefront of the narrative in America and make it OK to talk about .
We want to take the stigma away from mental illness . ''

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(L-R) Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Rana Ghadban, Tyler Perry, Dr. Phil McGraw, Ronnie Dunn and Donelle Dadigan attend the star unveiling ceremony honoring McGraw on Friday. Photo by Chris Chew/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Television personality, psychologist, producer and author Dr. Phil McGraw was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has hosted the syndicated Dr. Phil program since 2002 and plans to continue doing so through at least 2023. Advertisement
McGraw, 69, is also a producer on the CBS drama Bull, which is now in its fourth season, and the syndicated medical talk show The Doctors, which is now in its 12th season.
Filmmaker Tyler Perry, singer-songwriter Ronnie Dunn and McGraw's family helped him celebrate the Walk of Fame star dedication in which he declared he was "happier than a rabbit in a carrot patch."
He went on to say he frequently reminds his adult sons, who are also in the entertainment industry: "We are so blessed to live such wonderful lives. It's lots of hard work, it truly is, but, really, it is pretty damn glamorous and exciting, I have to say. I always say to them: 'Stop, take a breath, look around, soak it up. Don't miss the journey.'"
He told Variety he hopes Dr. Phil offers "common-sense, usable information that's delivered to people in their homes every day for free."
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"We want to move mental health, mental illness, to the forefront of the narrative in America and make it OK to talk about. We want to take the stigma away from mental illness."


upi--2020-02-22--U.S., Taliban begin reduction in violence amid potential peace deal

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- U.S. forces and Taliban fighters began a near cease-fire Saturday as part of an agreement to reduce violence for a week to potentially secure a peace deal , a top U.S. military commander said .
Gen. Austin `` Scott '' Miller made the announcement to reporters in Kabul .
`` Our operations are defensive at this point , we stopped our offensive operations as part of our obligations , but we remain committed to defend our forces , '' he said .
Miller added that the reduction in violence was a `` trial period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces could still defend forces if they come under attack .
In Afghanistan , President Ashraf Ghani announced the reduction in violence in a televised address at midnight Friday .
The army will `` remain on active defense status during the week , '' he said .
The reduction in violence began just after midnight Friday and is scheduled to last a week .
The two sides hope to sign a peace deal at the end of the month if the cease-fire holds , bringing a resolution to the war that began in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hand over al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden , who authorized the September 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks on the United States .
A U.S. military operation killed bin Laden in 2011 .
In the first hours after the reduction in violence agreement went into effect early Saturday , local security forces reported a number of clashes between government and Taliban forces .
But Afghanistan 's acting defense minister Asadullah Khalid said overall violence has been reduced .
The attacks that have occurred since the agreement went into effect `` are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack in Balkh , '' Khalid said .
`` We are working to find out its cause , '' he added .
`` Maybe the message was not sent to them [ the Taliban ] on time or whatever the cause may be , it will become clear . ''
Miller did not comment on the incidents overnight , but said the goal of the cease-fire was `` about observable trends showing a reduction in violence . ''
The peace deal , which U.S. and Taliban negotiators have committed to sign if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the withdrawal of thousands of U.S. troops .
In exchange , the Taliban would pledge to begin intra-Afghan talks with various political parties in the country and not harbor terrorists to attack the West .

Afghan Army soldiers man a check point in Helmand, Afghanistan, Saturday. The Taliban has announced a decrease in hostilities in an agreement with the United States as a preliminary step to signing a peace deal with Washington on February 29. Photo by Watan Yar/EPA-EFE
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. forces and Taliban fighters began a near cease-fire Saturday as part of an agreement to reduce violence for a week to potentially secure a peace deal, a top U.S. military commander said. Gen. Austin "Scott" Miller made the announcement to reporters in Kabul. Advertisement
"Our operations are defensive at this point, we stopped our offensive operations as part of our obligations, but we remain committed to defend our forces," he said.
Miller added that the reduction in violence was a "trial period" in which U.S. and Afghanistan government forces could still defend forces if they come under attack.
In Afghanistan, President Ashraf Ghani announced the reduction in violence in a televised address at midnight Friday.
The army will "remain on active defense status during the week," he said.
The reduction in violence began just after midnight Friday and is scheduled to last a week. The two sides hope to sign a peace deal at the end of the month if the cease-fire holds, bringing a resolution to the war that began in October 2001 after the Taliban's refusal to hand over al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, who authorized the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. A U.S. military operation killed bin Laden in 2011.
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In the first hours after the reduction in violence agreement went into effect early Saturday, local security forces reported a number of clashes between government and Taliban forces.
But Afghanistan's acting defense minister Asadullah Khalid said overall violence has been reduced.
The attacks that have occurred since the agreement went into effect "are not serious, [except] for one attack in Balkh," Khalid said.
"We are working to find out its cause," he added. "Maybe the message was not sent to them [the Taliban] on time or whatever the cause may be, it will become clear."
Miller did not comment on the incidents overnight, but said the goal of the cease-fire was "about observable trends showing a reduction in violence."
The peace deal, which U.S. and Taliban negotiators have committed to sign if the reduced violence holds, would lead to the withdrawal of thousands of U.S. troops. In exchange, the Taliban would pledge to begin intra-Afghan talks with various political parties in the country and not harbor terrorists to attack the West.


upi--2020-02-22--Jeremy Joseph Christian found guilty of double murder amid anti-Muslim rant

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- An Oregon jury has found a man guilty of murder for fatally stabbing two men trying to stop him during an anti-Muslim rant in 2017 .
The jury found Jeremy Joseph Christian guilty on 12 counts , including first-degree murder , attempted murder , assault , intimidation , unlawful use of a weapon and menacing , the Multnomah County District Attorney 's Office said Friday .
`` Our community continues to feel the profound impact from this violent and racist attack that happened more than two years ago , '' District Attorney Rod Underhill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upholds the state 's belief that Jeremy Joseph Christian acted intentionally when he committed these crimes . ''
The stabbing happened May 2017 , on a Metropolitan Area Express light-rail train in Portland .
`` This suspect was on the train and he was yelling and ranting and raving , a lot of different things , including what would be characterized as hate speech or bias language , '' Portland police Sgt .
Pete Simpson said at the time .
`` In the midst of his ranting and raving , some people approached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his behavior and some of the people he was yelling at and they were attacked viciously by the suspect . ''
At one point , his remarks were directed at an African-American teen and her friend , an immigrant from Somalia who wore a hijab .
Of the three men Christian stabbed , two died and another recovered from his injuries .
The sentencing phase of Christian 's trial was scheduled to begin Tuesday .

The jury found Jeremy Joseph Christian guilty on all 12 counts he faced, including murder and attempted murder. File Photo courtesy of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Department
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- An Oregon jury has found a man guilty of murder for fatally stabbing two men trying to stop him during an anti-Muslim rant in 2017. The jury found Jeremy Joseph Christian guilty on 12 counts, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault, intimidation, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office said Friday. Advertisement
"Our community continues to feel the profound impact from this violent and racist attack that happened more than two years ago," District Attorney Rod Underhill said. "This verdict supports and upholds the state's belief that Jeremy Joseph Christian acted intentionally when he committed these crimes."
The stabbing happened May 2017, on a Metropolitan Area Express light-rail train in Portland.
"This suspect was on the train and he was yelling and ranting and raving, a lot of different things, including what would be characterized as hate speech or bias language," Portland police Sgt. Pete Simpson said at the time. "In the midst of his ranting and raving, some people approached him and appeared to try to intervene with his behavior and some of the people he was yelling at and they were attacked viciously by the suspect."
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At one point, his remarks were directed at an African-American teen and her friend, an immigrant from Somalia who wore a hijab.
Of the three men Christian stabbed, two died and another recovered from his injuries.
The sentencing phase of Christian's trial was scheduled to begin Tuesday.


upi--2020-02-22--Paramount renews 'Yellowstone' for Season 4

Feb. 22 ( UPI ) -- Paramount Network has renewed its contemporary western Yellowstone for a fourth season .
Co-created @ @ @ @ @ Linson , the drama is about a wealthy , dysfunctional Montana cattle ranching family .
@ @ @ @ @ debut this summer .
Sheridan is a filmmaker and actor whose credits include Sicario , @ @ @ @ @ High Water and Sons of Anarchy .
He this week signed an overall production and @ @ @ @ @ and Youth Brands , which will include a new series he is working on , @ @ @ @

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Paramount Network has ordered a fourth season of Kevin Costner's drama series "Yellowstone." File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Paramount Network has renewed its contemporary western Yellowstone for a fourth season. Co-created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, the drama is about a wealthy, dysfunctional Montana cattle ranching family. Advertisement
It stars Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser and Kelsey Asbille Chow.
Season 3 is set to debut this summer.
Sheridan is a filmmaker and actor whose credits include Sicario, Wind River, Hell or High Water and Sons of Anarchy. He this week signed an overall production and development pact with ViacomCBS Entertainment and Youth Brands, which will include a new series he is working on, Mayor of Kingston.