upi--2020-02-05--Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel to star in Netflix horror series 'Midnight Mass'

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- Netflix is unveiling its cast for the new horror series Midnight Mass .
The streaming service announced in a tweet Wednesday that Zach Gilford , Kate Siegel , Hamish Linklater , Annabeth Gish , Rahul Kohli , Henry Thomas and Michael Trucco will star in the new series .
Midnight Mass hails from The Haunting of Hill House creators Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy .
The show centers on an island community that experiences miraculous events and frightening omens following the arrival of a mysterious priest .
Flanagan will direct all seven episodes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Production begins in Vancouver , B.C.
, in the spring .
Midnight Mass is the latest project to emerge from Flanagan and Macy 's multi-year deal with Netflix .
The pair are also creating a new season of The Haunting of Hill House , titled The Haunting of Bly Manor .
`` Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy are masterful at creating authentically frightening stories that leave audiences on the edge of their seats but unable to look away , '' Netflix vice president of originals Cindy Holland said in 2019 .
Gilford is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Night Lights , while Linklater portrayed Matthew Kimble on The New Adventures of Old Christine .
Siegel and Gish played Theodora and Clara in The Haunting of Hill House .

Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel, Hamish Linklater, Annabeth Gish, Rahul Kohli, Henry Thomas, & Michael Trucco will star in Midnight Mass -Mike Flanagan & Trevor Macy's new series about an island community that experiences miracles and frightening omens when a mysterious priest arrives pic.twitter.com/EzmfbpV73r— See What's Next (@seewhatsnext) February 5, 2020
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Netflix is unveiling its cast for the new horror series Midnight Mass.
The streaming service announced in a tweet Wednesday that Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel, Hamish Linklater, Annabeth Gish, Rahul Kohli, Henry Thomas and Michael Trucco will star in the new series.
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Midnight Mass hails from The Haunting of Hill House creators Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy. The show centers on an island community that experiences miraculous events and frightening omens following the arrival of a mysterious priest.
Flanagan will direct all seven episodes and co-executive produce the show with Macy. Production begins in Vancouver, B.C., in the spring.
Midnight Mass is the latest project to emerge from Flanagan and Macy's multi-year deal with Netflix. The pair are also creating a new season of The Haunting of Hill House, titled The Haunting of Bly Manor.
"Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy are masterful at creating authentically frightening stories that leave audiences on the edge of their seats but unable to look away," Netflix vice president of originals Cindy Holland said in 2019.
Gilford is known for playing Matt Saracen on Friday Night Lights, while Linklater portrayed Matthew Kimble on The New Adventures of Old Christine. Siegel and Gish played Theodora and Clara in The Haunting of Hill House.


upi--2020-02-06--Scottish finance head Derek Mackay resigns over texts with teen boy

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- Scotland Finance Minister Derek Mackay has resigned over hundreds of inappropriate text messages he 'd secretly sent to a 16-year-old boy , he said Thursday .
Mackay , 42 , befriended the teen online and had sent at least 270 messages to him .
The boy 's mother called on Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for his dismissal .
`` I take full responsibility for my actions , '' Mackey said upon his resignation Thursday .
`` I have behaved foolishly and I am truly sorry .
I apologize unreservedly to the individual involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last night with the first minister and tendered my resignation with immediate effect .
Serving in government has been a huge privilege and I am sorry to have let colleagues and supporters down . ''
Sturgeon said she accepted Mackay 's resignation , adding that he made a `` significant contribution to government , '' but his behavior in this instance `` has failed to meet the standards required . ''
`` Derek has taken full responsibility for his actions and apologizes unreservedly for them to the individual involved and to those he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mackay , once considered a possible successor to Sturgeon as leader of Scotland , was scheduled to deliver Edinburgh 's draft budget Thursday .
That will now be given by Deputy Finance Minister Kate Forbes .
Jackson Carlaw , acting leader of the Scottish Conservatives , said Mackay has not gone far enough and should also resign as a member of the Scottish Parliament .
`` I 'm shocked , and I think everybody will be , '' Carlaw said .
`` It 's not just a blow to the Scottish government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reputation of the Scottish Parliament , and to politics in Scotland generally . ''

Scottish national flags are posted on a statue in George Square in Glasgow, Scotland. The nation's finance minister has resigned over inappropriate communications with a 16-year-old boy, leader Nicola Sturgeon said Thursday. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Scotland Finance Minister Derek Mackay has resigned over hundreds of inappropriate text messages he'd secretly sent to a 16-year-old boy, he said Thursday. Mackay, 42, befriended the teen online and had sent at least 270 messages to him. The boy's mother called on Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for his dismissal. Advertisement
"I take full responsibility for my actions," Mackey said upon his resignation Thursday. "I have behaved foolishly and I am truly sorry. I apologize unreservedly to the individual involved and his family.
"I spoke last night with the first minister and tendered my resignation with immediate effect. Serving in government has been a huge privilege and I am sorry to have let colleagues and supporters down."
Sturgeon said she accepted Mackay's resignation, adding that he made a "significant contribution to government," but his behavior in this instance "has failed to meet the standards required."
"Derek has taken full responsibility for his actions and apologizes unreservedly for them to the individual involved and to those he has let down," Sturgeon said.
Mackay, once considered a possible successor to Sturgeon as leader of Scotland, was scheduled to deliver Edinburgh's draft budget Thursday. That will now be given by Deputy Finance Minister Kate Forbes.
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Jackson Carlaw, acting leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said Mackay has not gone far enough and should also resign as a member of the Scottish Parliament.
"I'm shocked, and I think everybody will be," Carlaw said. "It's not just a blow to the Scottish government but it's a blow to the reputation of the Scottish Parliament, and to politics in Scotland generally."


upi--2020-02-06--Watch live: President Donald Trump speaks at National Prayer Breakfast

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump will make his first post-impeachment trial appearance Thursday at the 68th annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington , D.C .
Attention will be trained on the president after the Senate voted Wednesday afternoon to acquit him on two charges , which was the expected outcome of the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history .
The chamber voted 52-48 to acquit Trump on the charge of abuse of power charge and 53-47 on the charge of obstructing Congress charge .
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney was the only Republican to join Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speak to a gathering of 3,500 at Thursday 's prayer breakfast , which will include elected officials , diplomats and religious and political leaders .
The all-day event is hosted by GOP members of Congress and organized by the non-profit Fellowship Foundation .
Te event will begin at 8 a.m. EST .
The setting for the event should be favorable for Trump as he addresses staunch supporters within the evangelical Christian community .
Organizers have long discouraged using the occasion to make partisan political remarks and instead encourages speakers to talk about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and careers .
Also set to attend is Taiwanese Vice President-elect William Lai Ching-te , raising the possibility he could meet with Trump .
The visit by Lai , a staunch backer of the self-governing island 's formal independence from China , is seen as the highest-profile trip by a Taiwanese politician to the United States in decades .
Analysts said it could have the potential to further strain ties between Washington and Beijing as the two nations continue to negotiate an end to the trade conflict and coordinate a response to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China .
Formally , the United States adopts a `` One China Policy , '' which does n't recognize Taiwan 's officially calling itself the Republic of China .

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President Donald Trump holds a newspaper heralding his acquittal in the Senate as he arrives at the National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton on Thursday. Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump, making his first post-trial appearance Thursday, blasted the "dishonest and corrupt people" responsible for his impeachment. Speaking at the 68th annual National Prayer Breakfast, Trump, without specifically naming the House Democrats who in December approved two articles of impeachment against him, said he and the country had been put through "a terrible ordeal." Advertisement
"As everybody knows, my family, our great country and your president have been put through a terrible ordeal by some very dishonest and corrupt people," he said. "They have done everything possible to destroy us and by so doing very badly hurt out nation. They know what they are doing is wrong, but they put themselves far ahead of our great country."
The Senate voted Wednesday afternoon to acquit him on two charges. Trump is the third president in U.S. history to be impeached.
The vote was 52-48 to acquit Trump on the charge of abuse of power and 53-47 on the charge of obstructing Congress. Utah Sen. Mitt Romney was the only Republican to join Democrats on the first charge.
Trump praised the Senate Republicans who acquitted him.
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"Weeks ago and again yesterday, courageous Republican leaders and politicians had the wisdom, fortitude and strength to do what everyone knows was right," he said, adding, "So many people have been hurt and we can't let that go on."
Trump spoke to a gathering of 3,500 at the prayer breakfast, which included elected officials, diplomats and religious and political leaders. The all-day event is hosted by GOP members of Congress and organized by the non-profit Fellowship Foundation.
One of the other attendees was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who led the impeachment effort. Taking the podium before the president, she prayed for oppressed religious minorities around the world.
Also set to attend is Taiwanese Vice President-elect William Lai Ching-te, raising the possibility he could meet with Trump. The visit by Lai, a staunch backer of the self-governing island's formal independence from China, is among the highest-profile trips by a Taiwanese politician to the United States in decades.
Analysts said it could have the potential to further strain ties between Washington and Beijing as the two nations continue to negotiate an end to the trade conflict and coordinate a response to a deadly coronavirus outbreak, which originated in China. Formally, the United States adopts a "One China Policy," which doesn't recognize Taiwan's officially calling itself the Republic of China.


upi--2020-02-06--Terry Crews says 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' keeps 'changing up the world'

NEW YORK , Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- Terry Crews said Brooklyn Nine-Nine holds the interest of its stars and viewers because it is never afraid to shake up story-lines or character relationships .
The show is a workplace comedy set in a New York City police station staffed by quirky detectives .
It co-stars Andre Braugher , Andy Samberg , Stephanie Beatriz , Melissa Fumero and Joe Lo Truglio .
Season 6 ended with Crews ' popular Sgt .
Terry Jeffords promoted to lieutenant and Braugher 's by-the-books Capt .
Raymond Holt busted down to patrol officer after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skipped some of his early training .
When Season 7 begins on NBC on Thursday , Jeffords is in charge .
`` They keep things fresh by changing up the world every five minutes , '' Crews told UPI in New York recently .
`` I am now a lieutenant , which changes the dynamic , but also I 'm over the precinct because Capt .
Holt has been demoted to an officer , which everyone is having just the hardest time with , '' the 51-year-old retired football player-turned-TV-star added .
Crews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ character 's reversal of fortune .
`` In between scenes , I was just sitting at his desk , which is now my office .
...
He walks in and says , 'That 's my desk . '
And I 'm like , 'Not any more ! '
And we 're not filming , '' Crews laughed .
`` I was like , 'But I 'm going to get up , anyway .
I 'm so sorry , Mr. Braugher .
Go ahead ! '
That 's how weird the dynamic is watching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's so crazy !
I do n't think anybody 's really ready for what they are about to see in this new season . ''
The network released the first 99 seconds of the season premiere , showing Jeffords and other squad members responding to the call of an assassination attempt on a city councilman .
The detectives arrive to find civilians wandering through the crime scene .
One officer , played by guest star Vanessa Bayer , explains it was her new partner , Officer Holt , who failed to maintain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the new season , Jeffords and the detectives see the disgraced Holt at the crime scene .
`` I 've been stripped of all my accomplishments and lost the respect of everyone in my life , including my dog .
He only poops for [ my husband ] Kevin , '' Holt complains .

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"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" stars, left to right, Andre Braugher, Stephanie Beatriz and Terry Crews arrive on the red carpet at the NBC Midseason New York Press Junket on January 23 in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
NEW YORK, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Terry Crews said Brooklyn Nine-Nine holds the interest of its stars and viewers because it is never afraid to shake up story-lines or character relationships. The show is a workplace comedy set in a New York City police station staffed by quirky detectives. It co-stars Andre Braugher, Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Melissa Fumero and Joe Lo Truglio. Advertisement
Season 6 ended with Crews' popular Sgt. Terry Jeffords promoted to lieutenant and Braugher's by-the-books Capt. Raymond Holt busted down to patrol officer after boasting to a rival about how he skipped some of his early training.
When Season 7 begins on NBC on Thursday, Jeffords is in charge.
"They keep things fresh by changing up the world every five minutes," Crews told UPI in New York recently.
"I am now a lieutenant, which changes the dynamic, but also I'm over the precinct because Capt. Holt has been demoted to an officer, which everyone is having just the hardest time with," the 51-year-old retired football player-turned-TV-star added.
Crews has been teasing his cast-mate about his character's reversal of fortune.
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"In between scenes, I was just sitting at his desk, which is now my office. ... He walks in and says, 'That's my desk.' And I'm like, 'Not any more!' And we're not filming," Crews laughed.
"I was like, 'But I'm going to get up, anyway. I'm so sorry, Mr. Braugher. Go ahead!' That's how weird the dynamic is watching Holt in an officer's uniform. It's so crazy! I don't think anybody's really ready for what they are about to see in this new season."
The network released the first 99 seconds of the season premiere, showing Jeffords and other squad members responding to the call of an assassination attempt on a city councilman.
The detectives arrive to find civilians wandering through the crime scene.
One officer, played by guest star Vanessa Bayer, explains it was her new partner, Officer Holt, who failed to maintain the perimeter.
In a 1980s-style trailer for the new season, Jeffords and the detectives see the disgraced Holt at the crime scene.
"I've been stripped of all my accomplishments and lost the respect of everyone in my life, including my dog. He only poops for [my husband] Kevin," Holt complains.


upi--2020-02-06--AEW Dynamite: MJF gives Cody 10 lashes, Jon Moxley gets revenge

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- MJF whipped Cody 10 times with a belt on Dynamite , the first of three stipulations Cody must complete in order to earn a match against his rival at the Revolution pay-per-view event on Feb. 29 .
MJF performed the violent deed in Dynamite 's final segment on Wednesday .
If Cody could not withstand the pain , his match against MJF would be canceled .
The American Nightmare must also not touch MJF until Revolution and will have to face his bodyguard Wardlow in a steel cage match in two weeks .
Cody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down to the ground in pain .
The grappler 's coach Arn Anderson came down to the ring to try and motivate Cody to keep pushing through the pain .
Cody 's brother Dustin Rhodes , his Elite teammates The Young Bucks and his wife Brandi Rhodes also all came down to the ring to offer moral support .
Cody 's back became red and was covered in welts .
Wardlow also delivered perhaps the hardest lashing of the night which caused Cody to bleed .
MJF then used the belt to whip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
MJF , before leaving , then kicked Cody below the belt for good measure before he and Wardlow exited through the audience .
Also on Dynamite , the No .
1 contender for Chris Jericho 's AEW World Championship Jon Moxley took on Ortiz of Jericho 's Inner Circle .
Moxley was still wearing an eye patch due to Jericho poking his eye out weeks ago with a spike .
Ortiz was joined at ringside by his tag team partner Santana while Jericho and his other Inner Circle members Sammy Guevara and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended the competitive match by nailing Ortiz with the Paradigm Shift for the three count .
Moxley then got revenge on Jericho by taking out one of Santana 's eyes by using the car keys to Jericho 's Ford GT .
Santana , afterwards , then challenged Moxley to a match that will take place next week on Dynamite .
AEW World Tag Team Champions Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page teamed up with their fellow Elite members The Young Bucks to take on The Lucha Bros , The Butcher and The Blade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together at first , started to falter once Page refused to tag in one of the Young Bucks after he had hurt his knee .
This allowed The Lucha Bros. to take out Page and secure the victory .
The Young Bucks argued with Page inside the ring afterwards with Omega needing to separate everyone .
Page left the ring and started drinking beer .
Other moments from Dynamite included SCU defeating Best Friends with Orange Cassidy before both groups were attacked by The Dark Order ; Yuka Sakazaki defeating Dr. Britt Baker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacked Sakazaki which caused a tooth to fall out ; Pac getting Omega to agree to a match after Pac had Nyla Rose attack AEW Women 's World Champion Riho ; and Kip Sabian with his girlfriend Penelope Ford defeating Joey Janela .

Feb. 6 (UPI) -- MJF whipped Cody 10 times with a belt on Dynamite, the first of three stipulations Cody must complete in order to earn a match against his rival at the Revolution pay-per-view event on Feb. 29.
MJF performed the violent deed in Dynamite's final segment on Wednesday. If Cody could not withstand the pain, his match against MJF would be canceled. The American Nightmare must also not touch MJF until Revolution and will have to face his bodyguard Wardlow in a steel cage match in two weeks.
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Cody, after the third lash, fell down to the ground in pain. The grappler's coach Arn Anderson came down to the ring to try and motivate Cody to keep pushing through the pain. Cody's brother Dustin Rhodes, his Elite teammates The Young Bucks and his wife Brandi Rhodes also all came down to the ring to offer moral support.
Cody's back became red and was covered in welts. Wardlow also delivered perhaps the hardest lashing of the night which caused Cody to bleed. MJF then used the belt to whip Cody's chest for the final lashing.
MJF, before leaving, then kicked Cody below the belt for good measure before he and Wardlow exited through the audience.
Also on Dynamite, the No. 1 contender for Chris Jericho's AEW World Championship Jon Moxley took on Ortiz of Jericho's Inner Circle. Moxley was still wearing an eye patch due to Jericho poking his eye out weeks ago with a spike.
Ortiz was joined at ringside by his tag team partner Santana while Jericho and his other Inner Circle members Sammy Guevara and Jake Hager gave guest commentary.
Moxley ended the competitive match by nailing Ortiz with the Paradigm Shift for the three count. Moxley then got revenge on Jericho by taking out one of Santana's eyes by using the car keys to Jericho's Ford GT.
Santana, afterwards, then challenged Moxley to a match that will take place next week on Dynamite.
AEW World Tag Team Champions Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page teamed up with their fellow Elite members The Young Bucks to take on The Lucha Bros, The Butcher and The Blade.
The Elite, despite working well together at first, started to falter once Page refused to tag in one of the Young Bucks after he had hurt his knee. This allowed The Lucha Bros. to take out Page and secure the victory.
The Young Bucks argued with Page inside the ring afterwards with Omega needing to separate everyone. Page left the ring and started drinking beer.
Other moments from Dynamite included SCU defeating Best Friends with Orange Cassidy before both groups were attacked by The Dark Order; Yuka Sakazaki defeating Dr. Britt Baker in her Dynamite debut before Baker viciously attacked Sakazaki which caused a tooth to fall out; Pac getting Omega to agree to a match after Pac had Nyla Rose attack AEW Women's World Champion Riho; and Kip Sabian with his girlfriend Penelope Ford defeating Joey Janela.


upi--2020-02-06--'Snowmageddon' blizzard buried eastern U.S. 10 years ago

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- A blizzard known as `` Snowmageddon '' buried much of the eastern United States in record depths and shut down the federal government 10 years ago Thursday .
The main brunt of the storm arrived on Feb. 6 , 2010 , and dumped nearly 30 inches of snow in Washington , D.C. , and Philadelphia and more than 3 feet in some areas of Virginia .
Similar substantial snowfall was seen as far west as Ohio .
Over a 12-day period from Jan. 25 to Feb. 6 , which included a smaller storm dubbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , received a record 38.3 inches of snow -- topping a record 34.2 inches set in 1899 over the same period of time .
Washington 's airports were also buried in new powder -- more than 50 inches at Washington Dulles International Airport and nearly 55 inches at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport .
February 2010 , in fact , was the snowiest month on record in Baltimore , Philadelphia and Atlantic City , N.J. States of emergency were declared in Washington , D.C. , Maryland , New Jersey , Pennsylvania , Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ snow brought down power lines and cut electricity to hundreds of thousands and buried vital roadways in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast .
`` Snowmageddon '' was also too much for the federal government , which closed on Feb. 7 , but the Senate managed to squeeze in sessions between storms three days later to act on nominations from President Barack Obama , then just a year into his presidency .
Many schools and places of business were shuttered by the mega-storm and some people seized on the opportunity .
Hundreds participated in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D.C. 's Dupont Circle and snowboarders in Philadelphia used the steps of the Art Museum -- the same ones immortalized by Rocky Balboa in seven films -- as a ski slope .
The response to the snowstorms put a strain on road clearing crews as about a quarter of Washington , D.C. , snowplows were out of service and road salt was being rationed by Feb. 9 .
Reflecting on the historic storm , Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto 's chief of staff said the city has improved its infrastructure to better prepare for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future .
`` We are much better prepared than we were 10 years ago to deal with a storm the size of Snowmageddon , '' he said .

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A snow-covered car is seen after "Snowmageddon" dumped 20-30 inches on the Washington, D.C., metro area on February 6, 2010. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- A blizzard known as "Snowmageddon" buried much of the eastern United States in record depths and shut down the federal government 10 years ago Thursday. The main brunt of the storm arrived on Feb. 6, 2010, and dumped nearly 30 inches of snow in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia and more than 3 feet in some areas of Virginia. Similar substantial snowfall was seen as far west as Ohio. Advertisement
Over a 12-day period from Jan. 25 to Feb. 6, which included a smaller storm dubbed "Snowverkill," Washington, D.C., received a record 38.3 inches of snow -- topping a record 34.2 inches set in 1899 over the same period of time. Washington's airports were also buried in new powder -- more than 50 inches at Washington Dulles International Airport and nearly 55 inches at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
February 2010, in fact, was the snowiest month on record in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Atlantic City, N.J.
States of emergency were declared in Washington, D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware and West Virginia as the snow brought down power lines and cut electricity to hundreds of thousands and buried vital roadways in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
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"Snowmageddon" was also too much for the federal government, which closed on Feb. 7, but the Senate managed to squeeze in sessions between storms three days later to act on nominations from President Barack Obama, then just a year into his presidency.
Many schools and places of business were shuttered by the mega-storm and some people seized on the opportunity. Hundreds participated in a mass group snowball fight in Washington, D.C.'s Dupont Circle and snowboarders in Philadelphia used the steps of the Art Museum -- the same ones immortalized by Rocky Balboa in seven films -- as a ski slope.
The response to the snowstorms put a strain on road clearing crews as about a quarter of Washington, D.C., snowplows were out of service and road salt was being rationed by Feb. 9.
Reflecting on the historic storm, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto's chief of staff said the city has improved its infrastructure to better prepare for the possibility of similar storms in the future.
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"We are much better prepared than we were 10 years ago to deal with a storm the size of Snowmageddon," he said.


upi--2020-02-06--Justice Department opens probe into Mississippi prisons

Feb. 5 ( UPI ) -- The Justice Department 's Civil Rights Division announced Wednesday it has opened an investigation into conditions at four Mississippi prisons after 15 inmates have died in the state 's custody since December .
The investigation will focus on whether the Mississippi Department of Corrections properly protects prisoners from physical harm at the hands of other prisoners at the four prisons , the Justice Department said in a statement .
Authorities said they will also investigate whether there is adequate suicide prevention including mental health care and appropriate use of isolation as punishment at Mississippi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the majority of the 15 deaths have occurred .
The other three facilities under probe are Southern Mississippi Correctional Institute , the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility and the Wilkinson County Correctional Facility .
The most recent death to occur was that of Jesus Garcia , 39 , who was found dead in his cell Saturday .
`` We are grateful that President Trump 's administration has taken a focused interest in criminal justice reform and that they care enough about Mississippi to engage on this critical issue , '' said Renae Eze @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reeves , in an emailed statement .
`` As we continue our own investigations , we look forward to cooperating with them and working together to right this ship . ''
Late last month , Reeves vowed in his first State of the State address to close Unit 29 at Parchman .
The deaths at the prison have garnered wide attention , including from entertainment mogul Jay-Z , who filed a lawsuit mid-January on behalf of 29 inmates in the state 's penal system , accusing authorities of failing to stem violence in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson called on U.S. Attorney General William Barr to launch an investigation into the safety conditions at the state 's Department of Corrections .
`` This is unacceptable , '' Thompson said via Twitter .
In a 23-page request for the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into the prisons filed by Thompson , other local politicians and civil rights groups , they said the prison system was in `` a state of acute and undeniable crisis '' and has `` a history of preventable deaths and injuries @ @ @ @ @

There have been at least 15 deaths at Mississippi correctional facilities since late December. Photo courtesy of Mississippi Department of Corrections/ Twitter
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division announced Wednesday it has opened an investigation into conditions at four Mississippi prisons after 15 inmates have died in the state's custody since December. The investigation will focus on whether the Mississippi Department of Corrections properly protects prisoners from physical harm at the hands of other prisoners at the four prisons, the Justice Department said in a statement. Advertisement
Authorities said they will also investigate whether there is adequate suicide prevention including mental health care and appropriate use of isolation as punishment at Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman -- the location where the majority of the 15 deaths have occurred.
The other three facilities under probe are Southern Mississippi Correctional Institute, the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility and the Wilkinson County Correctional Facility.
The most recent death to occur was that of Jesus Garcia, 39, who was found dead in his cell Saturday.
"We are grateful that President Trump's administration has taken a focused interest in criminal justice reform and that they care enough about Mississippi to engage on this critical issue," said Renae Eze, a spokeswoman for Gov. Tate Reeves, in an emailed statement. "As we continue our own investigations, we look forward to cooperating with them and working together to right this ship."
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Late last month, Reeves vowed in his first State of the State address to close Unit 29 at Parchman.
The deaths at the prison have garnered wide attention, including from entertainment mogul Jay-Z, who filed a lawsuit mid-January on behalf of 29 inmates in the state's penal system, accusing authorities of failing to stem violence in their facilities.
In early January, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson called on U.S. Attorney General William Barr to launch an investigation into the safety conditions at the state's Department of Corrections.
"This is unacceptable," Thompson said via Twitter.
Tomorrow, I will be requesting that the U.S. Attorney General launch an investigation into the ongoing failures in safety, security, health, and environmental standards within the Mississippi Department of Corrections. This is unacceptable.— Bennie G. Thompson (@BennieGThompson) January 5, 2020
In a 23-page request for the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into the prisons filed by Thompson, other local politicians and civil rights groups, they said the prison system was in "a state of acute and undeniable crisis" and has "a history of preventable deaths and injuries stretching back years."


upi--2020-02-06--China to slash punitive tariffs on $75B worth of U.S. goods

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- China announced Thursday it will be slashing punitive tariffs imposed on about $ 75 billion worth of U.S. exports as the two countries continue to work out a trade deal .
In a statement , China 's Ministry of Finance said it would be halving punitive taxes it imposed last fall on U.S. products .
Staring Feb. 14 , China said it will cut a 10 percent tariff to 5 percent and cut a 5 percent tax on other goods to 2.5 percent .
China said it cut the tariffs to `` promote the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and trade relations . ''
China announced the retaliatory tariffs in August and that they were to be imposed in two batches -- one in September and the other in December .
Following the announcement , U.S. President Donald Trump increased tariffs on more than $ 500 billion in Chinese goods .
However , China 's December measures were never implemented as days before they were to go into effect the two countries signed a `` phase one '' preliminary trade agreement that included the United States cutting some of the tariffs it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday its move to cut tariffs was done to mirror those by the United States .
`` China hopes that both parties can abide by the agreement , strive to implement the relevant content of the agreement , strengthen market confidence , promote the development of bilateral economic and trade relations and promote world economic growth , '' the ministry said .
The ministry said it will follow through with a further step of tariff adjustments depending on how the economic relations between the two countries advances .
`` We hope to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elimination of all tariff increases , '' it said .

Trucks deliver offloaded containers to designated areas at the Qingdao New Qianwan Automatic Container Terminal in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China on October 14. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- China announced Thursday it will slash punitive tariffs imposed on about $75 billion worth of U.S. exports as the two countries continue to work out a trade deal. In a statement, China's Ministry of Finance said it would halve punitive taxes it imposed last fall on U.S. products. Advertisement
Staring Feb. 14, China said it will cut a 10 percent tariff to 5 percent and cut a 5 percent tax on other goods to 2.5 percent.
China said it cut the tariffs to "promote the health and stable development of Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations."
China announced the retaliatory tariffs in August, to be imposed in two batches -- one in September and the other in December.
Following that announcement, U.S. President Donald Trump increased tariffs on more than $500 billion in Chinese goods.
However, China's December measures were never implemented as days before they were to go into effect the two countries signed a "phase one" preliminary trade agreement that included the United States cutting some of the tariffs it had imposed on China.
China said Thursday its move to cut tariffs was done to mirror those by the United States.
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"China hopes that both parties can abide by the agreement, strive to implement the relevant content of the agreement, strengthen market confidence, promote the development of bilateral economic and trade relations and promote world economic growth," the ministry said.
The ministry said it will follow through with a further step of tariff adjustments depending on how the economic relations between the two countries advance.
"We hope to work with the United States toward the ultimate elimination of all tariff increases," it said.


upi--2020-02-06--Record-setting astronaut Christina Koch returns to Earth

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- NASA astronaut Christina Koch has spent more time in space on a single mission than any other woman .
She has been living on the International Space Station since March 14 , 2019 .
On Thursday , Koch and two others , Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency and Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos , departed from ISS and returned to Earth .
The trio boarded the Soyuz MS-13 crew spacecraft late Wednesday night .
The Soyuz hatch was closed just after 9:30 p.m .
ET , and the spacecraft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Parmitano and Skvortsov spent the wee hours of Thursday morning descending toward Earth .
The three space travelers executed a deorbit burn at 3:18 a.m ET .
They then made a parachute-assisted landing at 4:12 a.m. in the desert outside of Dzhezkazgan , Kazakhstan .
The crew landed at approximately 3:12 p.m. Kazakhstan time .
Coverage of the Soyuz undocking started shortly after midnight .
The Soyuz deorbit burn and landing coverage started at 3 a.m. on Thursday morning .
Koch has been in space for 328 days , the longest single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one U.S. astronaut , Scott Kelly , has spent more consecutive days in space .
`` Koch will have spanned 5,248 orbits of the Earth -- a journey of 139 million miles , roughly the equivalent of 291 round trips to the Moon , '' according to NASA .
`` She conducted six spacewalks during her 11 months on orbit , spending 42 hours and 15 minutes outside the station .
She witnessed the arrival of a dozen visiting vehicles and the departure of another dozen . ''
Late last year , Koch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first two women to conduct a spacewalk together .

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Christina Koch returned to Earth after logging 328 days in space --- the longest spaceflight in history by a woman --- as a member of Expeditions 59-60-61 on the International Space Station. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA | License Photo
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- NASA astronaut Christina Koch has spent more time in space on a single mission than any other woman. She has been living on the International Space Station since March 14, 2019. On Thursday, Koch and two others, Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency and Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, departed from ISS and returned to Earth. Advertisement
The trio boarded the Soyuz MS-13 crew spacecraft late Wednesday night. The Soyuz hatch was closed just after 9:30 p.m. ET, and the spacecraft detached from ISS at 12:50 a.m.
Koch, Parmitano and Skvortsov spent the wee hours of Thursday morning descending toward Earth. The three space travelers executed a deorbit burn at 3:18 a.m ET. They then made a parachute-assisted landing at 4:12 a.m. in the desert outside of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. The crew landed at approximately 3:12 p.m. Kazakhstan time.
Coverage of the Soyuz undocking started shortly after midnight. The Soyuz deorbit burn and landing coverage started at 3 a.m. on Thursday morning.
Koch has been in space for 328 days, the longest single space mission by a woman. Only one U.S. astronaut, Scott Kelly, has spent more consecutive days in space.
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"Koch will have spanned 5,248 orbits of the Earth -- a journey of 139 million miles, roughly the equivalent of 291 round trips to the Moon," according to NASA. "She conducted six spacewalks during her 11 months on orbit, spending 42 hours and 15 minutes outside the station. She witnessed the arrival of a dozen visiting vehicles and the departure of another dozen."
Late last year, Koch and fellow NASA astronaut Jessica Meir became the first two women to conduct a spacewalk together.


upi--2020-02-06--Ban on fruit-, mint-flavored vaping pods takes effect

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- The ban on flavored replaceable e-cigarette pods and cartridges takes effect Thursday .
Whether it helps reduce teen vaping , however , remains to be seen .
The ban , announced in December , covers the mint- and fruit-flavored products research shows teens favor .
Menthol and tobacco-flavored products remain legal .
Juul , the most widely used e-cigarette in the U.S. , voluntarily pulled its flavors from the market in November .
Young users may be moving to alternatives , though -- including refillable vapor devices , as well as disposable vape devices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both , and others like them , will remain available under the ban .
`` I think the ban is a step in the right direction in terms of protecting youth , though we still have a long way to go , '' Jessica Barrington-Trimis , an assistant professor at the Institute for Addiction Science at the University of Southern California , told UPI .
The ban was put in place in spite of evidence suggesting e-cigarettes may help cigarette smokers quit .
Debate about their efficacy in smoking cessation aside , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among adolescents and teens is a more pressing public health issue .
An analysis of the Monitoring the Future study published in November revealed that e-cigarette use among teens had more than doubled between 2017 and 2019 , with 27.5 percent of high school students and 10.5 percent of middle schoolers reporting current e-cigarette use .
In analyses of data from teen surveys , Barrington-Trimis and researchers at USC found teens preferred mango and mint flavored pods by significant margins .
The studies suggest the flavors may have encouraged young people to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in stores and on social media .
Although the ban includes several flavors favored by young vapers , others , such as menthol- and tobacco-flavored products , will remain available under the measure .
In addition , the ban only applies to specific types of vaping devices -- namely , the cartridge or pre-filled pod products manufactured by companies such as Juul .
All other vaping devices will be left on the market .

While Juul voluntarily pulled their fruit- and mint-flavored products from stores in November 2019, a federal ban on all replaceable e-cigarette cartridges and pods goes into effect on Thursday. Disposable flavored e-cigarettes, however, remain on sale. Photo by sarahj1 /Pixabay
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The ban on flavored replaceable e-cigarette pods and cartridges takes effect Thursday. Whether it helps reduce teen vaping, however, remains to be seen. The ban, announced in December, covers the mint- and fruit-flavored products research shows teens favor. Menthol and tobacco-flavored products remain legal. Advertisement
Juul, the most widely used e-cigarette in the U.S., voluntarily pulled its flavors from the market in November. Young users may be moving to alternatives, though -- including refillable vapor devices, as well as disposable vape devices, such as Puff Bars and Stig. Both, and others like them, will remain available under the ban.
"I think the ban is a step in the right direction in terms of protecting youth, though we still have a long way to go," Jessica Barrington-Trimis, an assistant professor at the Institute for Addiction Science at the University of Southern California, told UPI.
The ban was put in place in spite of evidence suggesting e-cigarettes may help cigarette smokers quit. Debate about their efficacy in smoking cessation aside, experts say the appeal of flavored e-cigarettes among adolescents and teens is a more pressing public health issue.
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An analysis of the Monitoring the Future study published in November revealed that e-cigarette use among teens had more than doubled between 2017 and 2019, with 27.5 percent of high school students and 10.5 percent of middle schoolers reporting current e-cigarette use.
In analyses of data from teen surveys, Barrington-Trimis and researchers at USC found teens preferred mango and mint flavored pods by significant margins. The studies suggest the flavors may have encouraged young people to use the products, as did heavy marketing in stores and on social media.
Although the ban includes several flavors favored by young vapers, others, such as menthol- and tobacco-flavored products, will remain available under the measure.
In addition, the ban only applies to specific types of vaping devices -- namely, the cartridge or pre-filled pod products manufactured by companies such as Juul. All other vaping devices will be left on the market.


upi--2020-02-06--Coronavirus death toll surges to 565

Coronavirus death toll surges to 565

Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- The global death toll from a deadly new virus skyrocketed to 565 as Chinese health officials confirmed a new daily record of 73 fatalities over Wednesday .
China 's National Health Commission confirmed the new figures in a Thursday morning statement , detailing that 70 of the deaths were recorded in Hubei province , the disease 's epicenter .
Hubei health officials further explained that of those deaths , 52 occurred in Wuhan , the city the disease is believed to have emerged from .
The number of confirmed cases also ballooned by 3,694 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , with 2,987 of the new cases reported in Hubei .
As of Thursday , 563 people have died from the coronavirus named 2019-nCoV in mainland China since the outbreak began in early December .
Globally , there have only been two deaths outside mainland China -- one in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines -- and 24 countries have recorded at least one confirmed case of the disease , according to data from the World Health Organization .
Taiwan on Thursday confirmed two new cases of pneumonia caused by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Welfare identified the two patients in a statement as a man in his 40s and a female in her 20s .
The man had worked in Wuhan in December before traveling to mainland China mid-January .
He returned to Taiwan Sunday before developing a fever and other symptoms the next day .
The woman had been living in Wuhan before traveling to Taiwan Jan. 21 .
On Saturday , she began to experience symptoms .
`` At present , they are being treated in isolation wards , '' the health ministry said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The two new cases are the 12th and 13th confirmed in Taiwan , it said .
Taiwan also announced effective immediately it would be banning port calls by cruise liners to prevent further spread of the disease , its latest move to stem further infection of the island .
On Wednesday , it raised its travel advisory for travelers from Hong Kong and Macau , ordering residents with `` a history of travel to China , Hong Kong and Macau '' to a 14-day home quarantine on returning to Taiwan .
Earlier in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday foreign nationals who have visited or lived in mainland China within 14 days of the date would be barred from entering the island .
The news of the measures came as the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control said Thursday it was notified by Japan that a Taiwanese national quarantined on a cruise ship off the Asian nation 's coast has been diagnosed with the disease .
Princess Cruises instituted a quarantine Wednesday for some 3,700 passengers and crew aboard a ship anchored at Yokohama , Japan , after 10 people aboard tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passenger has been hospitalized in the designated hospital in Japan to receive medical treatment in an isolation ward , '' Taiwan 's Central Epidemic Command Center said in a statement .
`` The health authority has requested that other Taiwanese passengers remain in the cabin and at least under quarantine on board for 14 days . ''
Meanwhile , Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said 36 citizens who were evacuated from Wuhan upon an Air New Zealand flight have arrived safely on Christmas Island where they will join more than 200 others currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus remains on keeping Australians safe , '' he said via Twitter .
The flight departed Wuhan on Wednesday with 190 passengers for New Zealand .
On Wednesday , WHO announced a $ 675 million international preparedness and response plan that will run from February through April to try and prevent further spread of the disease .
The new plan focuses on establishing international coordination and operational support , scaling up country readiness and response operations and accelerating priority research and innovation .
`` My biggest worry is that there are countries today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place to detect people who have contracted with the virus , even if it were to emerge , '' said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement .
`` Urgent support is needed to bolster weak health systems to detect , diagnose and care for people with the virus , to prevent further transmission and protect health workers . ''

Twenty-four countries have recorded at least one confirmed case of the disease. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The global death toll from a deadly new virus skyrocketed to more than 600 as Chinese health officials reported 73 new fatalities over Thursday and confirmed the number of infected surpassed 30,000. Health officials reported the new figures early Friday, explaining 69 of the newly reported deaths occurred in the disease's epicenter, Hubei province, with 64 of them reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan where the disease is believed to have emerged from. Advertisement
As of midnight Thursday, the global death toll from the novel coronavirus -- named 2019-nCoV -- stands at 638 with 619 of those deaths occurring in Hubei.
One of those deaths reported Friday was that of a 34-year-old Chinese doctor who was accused by law enforcement of "spreading rumors" about the coronavirus during the initial stages of its outbreak in early December.
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Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist at Wuhan Central Hospital, died at 2:58 a.m. Friday after "emergency treatment" failed, his hospital announced in a statement.
"We deeply deplore and mourn [his death]," the hospital said.
Li was accused by law enforcement officials in Wuhan of spreading rumors about the disease after warning friends that his hospital was seeing patients with an unusual pneumonia that was comparable to SARS, which killed some 800 people in China and Hong Kong in the early 2000s.
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that he had contracted the disease he had tried to warn others about.
On Friday, national and Hubei health officials reported 3,143 new cases nationwide. The majority of the newly confirmed cases totaling 2,447 were reported in Hubei with 1,501of those reported in Wuhan, ballooning the number of confirmed coronavirus cases nationwide to 31,161.
Outside of mainland China there have only been two deaths -- one in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines. Twenty-four countries aside from China have recorded at least one confirmed case of the disease equalling at least 216 cases, according to the World Health Organization.
Taiwan on Thursday confirmed two new cases of pneumonia caused by the coronavirus.
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The Ministry of Health and Welfare identified the two patients in a statement as a man in his 40s and a woman in her 20s.
The man had worked in Wuhan in December before traveling to mainland China mid-January. He returned to Taiwan Sunday before developing a fever and other symptoms the next day.
The woman had been living in Wuhan before traveling to Taiwan Jan. 21. On Saturday, she began to experience symptoms.
"At present, they are being treated in isolation wards," the health ministry said. "The condition is stable."
The two new cases are the 12th and 13th confirmed in Taiwan, it said.
Taiwan also announced effective immediately it would be banning port calls by cruise liners to prevent further spread of the disease, its latest move to stem further infection of the island.
On Wednesday, it raised its travel advisory for travelers from Hong Kong and Macau, ordering residents with "a history of travel to China, Hong Kong and Macau" to a 14-day home quarantine on returning to Taiwan.
Earlier in the week, it announced that starting Friday foreign nationals who have visited or lived in mainland China within 14 days of the date would be barred from entering the island.
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The news of the measures came as the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control said Thursday it was notified by Japan that a Taiwanese national quarantined on a cruise ship off the Asian nation's coast has been diagnosed with the disease.
Princess Cruises instituted a quarantine Wednesday for some 3,700 passengers and crew aboard a ship anchored at Yokohama, Japan, after 10 people aboard tested positive for the coronavirus.
"The passenger has been hospitalized in the designated hospital in Japan to receive medical treatment in an isolation ward," Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center said in a statement. "The health authority has requested that other Taiwanese passengers remain in the cabin and at least under quarantine on board for 14 days."
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said 36 citizens who were evacuated from Wuhan upon an Air New Zealand flight have arrived safely on Christmas Island where they will join more than 200 others currently under a 14-day quarantine.
"Our focus remains on keeping Australians safe," he said via Twitter.
The flight departed Wuhan on Wednesday with 190 passengers for New Zealand.
On Wednesday, WHO said it is seeking $675 million to fund an international preparedness and response plan that will run from February through April to try and prevent further spread of the disease.
Advertisement
The new plan focuses on establishing international coordination and operational support, scaling up country readiness and response operations and accelerating priority research and innovation.
"My biggest worry is that there are countries today who do not have the systems in place to detect people who have contracted with the virus, even if it were to emerge," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement. "Urgent support is needed to bolster weak health systems to detect, diagnose and care for people with the virus, to prevent further transmission and protect health workers."


upi--2020-02-06--On This Day, Feb. 6: Woman pretending to be lost Anastasia arrives in U.S.

Feb. 06 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1819 , Singapore was founded with the establishment of a British East India Co. trading post .
In 1865 , Gen. Robert E. Lee was appointed commander in chief of the armies of the Confederacy .
In 1928 , a young woman claiming to be Anastasia , daughter of the slain Russian Czar Nicholas , arrived in the United States .
In the 1990s , DNA testing conducted on the woman 's remains concluded she was n't a member of the Romanov family , which was executed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspired a French play and a later American movie .
In 1943 , U.S. Army Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was named commander of Allied expeditionary forces in North Africa .
In 1952 , Princess Elizabeth became sovereign of Great Britain upon the death of her father , King George VI .
She was crowned Queen Elizabeth II on June 2 , 1953 .
In 1958 , a British airliner crashed upon takeoff from a Munich , Germany , airport .
The crash killed 23 people , including eight members of the Manchester United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no-smoking rules took effect for 890,000 employees in 6,800 U.S. federal buildings nationwide .
In 1992 , a military transport plane crashed into a restaurant and hotel in Evansville , Ind.
, killing 16 people .
In 2001 , Ariel Sharon was elected prime minister of Israel .
In 2004 , a suicide bomber detonated explosives in a suitcase on a Moscow subway car , killing 39 people and injuring about 200 .
In 2006 , U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told Congress that President George W. Bush was within his legal rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States by the National Security Agency .
In 2014 , Jay Leno ended his 22-year stint as host of The Tonight Show .
Jimmy Fallon took over hosting duties , moving the talk show from Burbank , Calif. , to New York City .
In 2016 , a magnitude-6.4 earthquake rocked Taiwan , leaving at least 117 dead and 550 people injured when several buildings collapsed .
In 2018 , SpaceX launched the world 's most powerful rocket , the Falcon Heavy , for the first time , sending Elon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dummy in a spacesuit listening to David Bowie 's `` Space Oddity '' -- into space .
In 2019 , President Donald Trump gave his second State of the Union address a week later than normal because of a record-long government shutdown .

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Photo shows members of the Romanovs, the last imperial family of Russia including: seated (left to right) Marie, Queen Alexandra, Czar Nicholas II, Anastasia, Alexei (front), and standing (left to right), Olga and Tatiana in 1913 or 1914. On February 6, 1928, a young woman claiming to be the slain Anastasia arrived in the United States. File Photo courtesy the Library of Congress
Feb. 06 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1819, Singapore was founded with the establishment of a British East India Co. trading post. Advertisement
In 1865, Gen. Robert E. Lee was appointed commander in chief of the armies of the Confederacy.
In 1928, a young woman claiming to be Anastasia, daughter of the slain Russian Czar Nicholas, arrived in the United States. In the 1990s, DNA testing conducted on the woman's remains concluded she wasn't a member of the Romanov family, which was executed in 1918. The woman's story inspired a French play and a later American movie.
In 1943, U.S. Army Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was named commander of Allied expeditionary forces in North Africa.
In 1952, Princess Elizabeth became sovereign of Great Britain upon the death of her father, King George VI. She was crowned Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953.
File Photo by Michael Jacobs/UPI
In 1958, a British airliner crashed upon takeoff from a Munich, Germany, airport. The crash killed 23 people, including eight members of the Manchester United soccer team.
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In 1987, broad no-smoking rules took effect for 890,000 employees in 6,800 U.S. federal buildings nationwide.
In 1992, a military transport plane crashed into a restaurant and hotel in Evansville, Ind., killing 16 people.
In 2001, Ariel Sharon was elected prime minister of Israel.
In 2004, a suicide bomber detonated explosives in a suitcase on a Moscow subway car, killing 39 people and injuring about 200.
In 2006, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told Congress that President George W. Bush was within his legal rights when he authorized warrantless surveillance of people in the United States by the National Security Agency.
File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI
In 2014, Jay Leno ended his 22-year stint as host of The Tonight Show. Jimmy Fallon took over hosting duties, moving the talk show from Burbank, Calif., to New York City.
In 2016, a magnitude-6.4 earthquake rocked Taiwan, leaving at least 117 dead and 550 people injured when several buildings collapsed.
In 2018, SpaceX launched the world's most powerful rocket, the Falcon Heavy, for the first time, sending Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster -- complete with a dummy in a spacesuit listening to David Bowie's "Space Oddity" -- into space.
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In 2019, President Donald Trump gave his second State of the Union address a week later than normal because of a record-long government shutdown.


upi--2020-02-06--Fran Drescher hopes new sitcom ‘Indebted’ makes her parents happy

NEW YORK , Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- The Nanny icon Fran Drescher may be 62 , but she still wants to please her mom and dad .
`` The last series that I did , my parents kept complaining that their friends could n't find the channel , and everyone can find NBC , '' Drescher recently told UPI in New York , comparing her canceled TV Land comedy Happily Divorced to her new NBC sitcom Indebted .
`` My parents -- God bless them -- are still alive and well and they are so excited that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell me , 'Everyone loves you ! '
They ca n't go to Publix without someone saying , 'When 's your daughter going to be back on TV ? '
They get very excited and I want them to have one last zhuzh . ''
Set to debut Thursday , Indebted follows cash-strapped boomers Linda and Stew [ Drescher and Steven Weber ] as they move in with their millennial son Dave [ Adam Pally , ] his wife Rebecca [ Abby Elliott ] and their kids .
`` I do n't know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show that was what drew me .
They wrote in the script , in every way , as this is a Fran Drescher type , so I started out being flattered .
So , that is always a good beginning , '' Drescher laughed .
`` I was just ready to come back to TV and I was about to start taking meetings for an idea that I created , which is normally the way in for me , but this was further along .
It was at Sony , which is my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The chemistry between Drescher and her co-stars immediately was evident , another sign that she should take the job .
`` It all came together very nicely .
I love the people .
Honestly , if there was one rotten apple in it , I probably would have quit .
It 's too late in the game to have any kind of problems , '' said Drescher .
Although she has been successful for decades , it is still easy for Drescher to remember what it was like to struggle financially like her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two jobs when I was young .
You never forget that and I 've been poor and I 've been rich and I know how to be happy in both worlds , '' Drescher said .
`` If I do n't want to work anymore , I would not have any problem with downsizing and living off whatever I 've got left to my last breath .
I can live small and live well and be happy and grateful .
I 'm still driving a 2001 car .
I do n't have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alum Elliott -- the real-life daughter of Schitt 's Creek actor Chris Elliott -- said she was intrigued by the millennials versus boomers dynamic of Indebted .
`` There are a lot of things that my parents do n't understand and that I do n't understand from their generation , so we learn from each other and this show really highlights all of those differences , '' the 32-year-old actress said .
The in-laws are invasive -- getting into everyone 's business and failing to respect boundaries like a closed bedroom door -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having her husband 's parents move into her house .
`` It 's frustrating and difficult , the way it should be , but Rebecca kind of likes having them around .
They are built-in baby sitters and additional sets of hands , '' Elliott said , emphasizing it does n't really matter that it is Rebecca 's in-laws as opposed to her own parents who unexpectedly shoehorn themselves into her daily life .
`` Dave gets just as annoyed -- sometimes more -- than my character , the daughter-in-law , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with suddenly combining households , all members of the family basically are warm people who love each other and get along , Pally said .
`` The question is never about 'When this will end ? '
They all enjoy it .
It 's just a lot , '' said the 37-year-old actor known for his roles in The Mindy Project and Happy Endings .
`` Imagine what it 's like having your parents in your space every day .
Imagine the little things you are accustomed to that Fran Drescher would n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stew ] interfere with only the best intentions .
That 's what 's so nice about the show .
It 's never cruel . ''
The show is timely , but not political , he added .
`` We want everyone to enjoy it , whether or not we agree with your views .
I am a Hollywood , liberal elite , so I , obviously , have my own views , '' he chuckled .
`` But I respect everybody 's views , and I wanted to do a show that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the division '' Americans experience when they discuss politics or culture .
Show creator Dan Levy thinks Indebted viewers will appreciate how accurately and hilariously the show reflects real-life problems and relationships .
`` I think we 're in this position because a lot of baby boomers in the 1980s and '90s started making money and they were living their lives , '' Levy said .
`` They were n't thinking about long-term healthcare , future retirement .
I just do n't think it was something in their heads , whereas a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more nervous and more paranoid .
My parents lived in the 1980s , raised me in the '80s , bought a bunch of leather jackets and were like , 'We 'll figure it out ! '
And now there is a show about this . ''

1/4
Fran Drescher from "Indebted" arrives on the red carpet at the NBC Midseason New York Press Junket at the Four Seasons hotel on January 23. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
NEW YORK, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The Nanny icon Fran Drescher may be 62, but she still wants to please her mom and dad. "The last series that I did, my parents kept complaining that their friends couldn't find the channel, and everyone can find NBC," Drescher recently told UPI in New York, comparing her canceled TV Land comedy Happily Divorced to her new NBC sitcom Indebted. Advertisement
"My parents -- God bless them -- are still alive and well, and they are so excited that I am going back to television. They tell me, 'Everyone loves you!' They can't go to Publix without someone saying, 'When's your daughter going to be back on TV?' They get very excited, and I want them to have one last zhuzh."
Set to premiere Thursday, Indebted follows cash-strapped boomers Debbie and Stew (Drescher and Steven Weber) as they move in with their millennial son Dave (Adam Pally), his wife, Rebecca (Abby Elliott) and their kids.
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"I don't know if it was the premise of the show that was what drew me. They wrote in the script, in every way, as this is a Fran Drescher type, so I started out being flattered. So, that is always a good beginning," Drescher laughed.
"I was just ready to come back to TV, and I was about to start taking meetings for an idea that I created, which is normally the way in for me, but this was further along. It was at Sony, which is my parent [production] company."
The chemistry between Drescher and her co-stars immediately was evident, another sign that she should take the job.
"It all came together very nicely. I love the people. Honestly, if there was one rotten apple in it, I probably would have quit. It's too late in the game to have any kind of problems," she said.
Although she has been successful for decades, it is still easy for Drescher to remember what it was like to struggle financially like her Indebted character.
"My dad worked two jobs when I was young. You never forget that, and I've been poor, and I've been rich, and I know how to be happy in both worlds," Drescher said.
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"If I don't want to work anymore, I would not have any problem with downsizing and living off whatever I've got left to my last breath. I can live small and live well and be happy and grateful. I'm still driving a 2001 car. I don't have to impress anybody."
Saturday Night Live alum Elliott -- the real-life daughter of Schitt's Creek actor Chris Elliott -- said she was intrigued by the millennials versus boomers dynamic of Indebted.
"There are a lot of things that my parents don't understand and that I don't understand from their generation, so we learn from each other, and this show really highlights all of those differences," the 32-year-old actress said.
The in-laws are invasive -- getting into everyone's business and failing to respect boundaries like a closed bedroom door -- but Rebecca finds a bright side to having her husband's parents move into her house.
"It's frustrating and difficult, the way it should be, but Rebecca kind of likes having them around. They are built-in baby sitters and additional sets of hands," Elliott said, emphasizing it doesn't really matter that it is Rebecca's in-laws as opposed to her own parents who unexpectedly shoehorn themselves into her daily life.
Advertisement
"Dave gets just as annoyed -- sometimes more -- than my character, the daughter-in-law," she said.
Despite the inconvenience that comes with suddenly combining households, all members of the family basically are warm people who love each other and get along, Pally said.
"The question is never about 'When this will end?' They all enjoy it. It's just a lot," said the 37-year-old actor known for his roles in The Mindy Project and Happy Endings.
"Imagine what it's like having your parents in your space every day. Imagine the little things you are accustomed to that Fran Drescher wouldn't be accustomed to. [Linda and Stew] interfere with only the best intentions. That's what's so nice about the show. It's never cruel."
The show is timely, but not political, he added.
"We want everyone to enjoy it, whether or not we agree with your views. I am a Hollywood, liberal elite, so I, obviously, have my own views," he chuckled. "But I respect everybody's views, and I wanted to do a show that is about everybody's family and not about the division" Americans experience when they discuss politics or culture.
Show creator Dan Levy said Indebted viewers will appreciate how accurately and hilariously the show reflects real-life problems and relationships.
Advertisement
"I think we're in this position because a lot of baby boomers in the 1980s and '90s started making money, and they were living their lives," Levy said.
"They weren't thinking about long-term healthcare, future retirement. I just don't think it was something in their heads, whereas a lot of millennials are thinking about savings and more nervous and more paranoid. My parents lived in the 1980s, raised me in the '80s, bought a bunch of leather jackets and were like, 'We'll figure it out!' And now there is a show about this."
Indebted airs Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on NBC.


upi--2020-02-06--Famous birthdays for Feb. 6: Tom Brokaw, Charlie Heaton

Feb. 06 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Aquarius .
-- Former @ @ @ @ @ 1911

Tom Brokaw arrives on the red carpet at the opening night premiere of "Live From New York!" at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival at the Beacon Theatre in New York City on April 15, 2015. He turns 80 on February 6. File Photo by Dennis Van Tine/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 06 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Aquarius. They include: Advertisement
-- England's Queen Anne in 1665
-- Statesman Aaron Burr in 1756
-- Baseball great George Herman "Babe" Ruth in 1895
-- Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1911
-- Eva Braun, mistress of Adolf Hitler, in 1912
-- Actor Zsa Zsa Gabor in 1917
-- Actor Patrick Macnee in 1922
-- Actor Rip Torn in 1931
-- Actor Mamie Van Doren in 1931 (age 89)
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-- French film director Francois Truffaut in 1932
-- Actor Mike Farrell in 1939 (age 81)
-- TV newsman Tom Brokaw in 1940 (age 80)
-- Handgun control activist Sarah Brady in 1942
-- Singer Fabian Forte in 1943 (age 77)
-- Actor Michael Tucker in 1945 (age 75)
-- Jamaican reggae singer/songwriter Bob Marley in 1945
-- Singer Natalie Cole in 1950
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-- Actor Kevin Whately in 1951 (age 69)
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-- Actor Kathy Najimy in 1957 (age 63)
-- Singer W. Axl Rose in 1962 (age 58)
-- Singer Gordon Downie in 1964
-- Singer Rick Astley in 1966 (age 54)
-- Actor Alice Eve in 1982 (age 38)
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-- Actor Charlie Heaton in 1994 (age 26)


upi--2020-02-06--Midwest farmers afraid spring will bring more widespread flooding

EVANSVILLE , Ind.
, Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- Midwestern farmers , who endured record-breaking floods in 2019 that hindered planting and harvesting , now face the strong possibility that widespread flooding will return for the 2020 planting season .
`` It will probably be more of the same , '' said Tom Christensen , a farmer in southeastern North Dakota who grows wheat , corn and soybeans .
The problem , Christensen said , is that the ground still soaked from last year 's flooding and it simply ca n't absorb any more water .
`` In much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record saturation , '' said Bryce Anderson , a senior ag meteorologist at DTN , a Minnesota-based analytics company that tracks agricultural markets and weather .
`` So , that means any occurrence of precipitation , even normal amounts , is likely going to be too much . ''
Early predictions from the National Weather Service indicate much of the Midwest could be in for another year of above average rainfall this spring .
If conditions remain this wet , farmers will struggle again to get their crops planted .
In 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal `` prevent plant '' insurance claims .
That means flooding prevented farmers from planting 20 million acres of insurable crops .
Of the crops that were planted , it 's unclear how many acres farmers were able to harvest .
In North Dakota , Christensen still has not harvested his corn .
The ground in his area never dried out enough for him to drive his tractor into the fields .
Corn can keep in fields overwinter , but with more rain coming , Christensen fears he wo n't be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new crop .
Many the farmers in his area are in similar situations , Christensen said .
`` I imagine this will reduce incomes again , '' he said .
`` Depending on their financial situation , some farmers could be done . ''
North Dakota farmers are not alone .
In Iowa , nearly 75 percent of Leo Ettlemen 's fields were too flooded to plant in 2019 .
`` It is still too wet for us to get to the fields , '' said Ettlemen , who grows corn and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still covered in sand with holes and debris all over them .
We 're going to need a lot of dry weather this year to get our fields planted . ''
Springs are becoming wetter across much of the corn belt , Anderson said , adding , `` It 's the impact of climate change . ''
Warmer temperatures are bringing more frequent -- and much heavier -- rains to the region , he said .
`` We are on a long term trend of having wetter springs , '' Anderson said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is getting us away from that this year . ''

A 2019 aerial view of a flooded farm in western Iowa shows two burst grain bins with golden corn spilled across the ground. File Photo courtesy of Beth Kellogg
EVANSVILLE, Ind., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Midwestern farmers, who endured record-breaking floods in 2019 that hindered planting and harvesting, now face the strong possibility that widespread flooding will return for the 2020 planting season. "It will probably be more of the same," said Tom Christensen, a farmer in southeastern North Dakota who grows wheat, corn and soybeans. Advertisement
The problem, Christensen said, is that the ground is still soaked from last year's flooding, and it simply can't absorb any more water.
"In much of the Midwest, soils are at record saturation," said Bryce Anderson, a senior agricultural meteorologist at DTN, a Minnesota-based analytics company that tracks agricultural markets and weather. "So, that means any occurrence of precipitation, even normal amounts, is likely going to be too much."
Early predictions from the National Weather Service indicate much of the Midwest could be in for another year of above-average rainfall this spring. If conditions remain this wet, farmers will struggle again to get their crops planted.
In 2019, a record 20 million acres qualified for federal "prevent plant" insurance claims. That means flooding prevented farmers from planting 20 million acres of insurable crops.
Of the crops that were planted, it's unclear how many acres farmers were able to harvest.
Advertisement
In North Dakota, Christensen still has not harvested his corn. The ground in his area never dried out enough for him to drive his tractor into the fields.
Corn can keep in fields over winter, but with more rain coming, Christensen fears he won't be able to harvest those fields in time to plant a new crop.
Many of the farmers in his area are in similar situations, Christensen said.
"I imagine this will reduce incomes again," he said. "Depending on their financial situation, some farmers could be done."
North Dakota farmers are not alone. In Iowa, nearly 75 percent of Leo Ettlemen's fields were too flooded to plant in 2019.
"It is still too wet for us to get to the fields," said Ettlemen, who grows corn and soybeans. "I've got fields still covered in sand with holes and debris all over them. We're going to need a lot of dry weather this year to get our fields planted."
Springs are becoming wetter across much of the corn belt, Anderson said, adding, "It's the impact of climate change."
Warmer temperatures are bringing more frequent -- and much heavier -- rains to the region, he said.
"We are on a long-term trend of having wetter springs," Anderson said. "And I don't see anything that is getting us away from that this year."


upi--2020-02-06--New wildlife crossings in the West designed to save animals' lives

DENVER , Feb. 6 ( UPI ) -- More wildlife overpasses and underpasses are coming to highways in the western United States , thanks to a better understanding of migration corridors boosted by GPS collar technology .
Utilizing now-affordable tracking collars , wildlife researchers have learned that deer and other animals that dart into the road are driven by an ancient instinct to follow migratory paths in existence long before automobiles were introduced .
A meeting last summer of the Western Governors Association brought new focus on migratory corridors and how to create more wildlife crossings .
Additional crossings to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Wyoming , Colorado , Oregon and California .
States are seeking more money for wildlife crossings from highway funds via the federal Fixing America 's Surface Transportation Act , which expires this year .
They say the need is great , and they cite the danger to both motorists and animals from sudden , unexpected collisions .
Between 1 million and 2 million vehicle collisions with large animals occur every year in the United States , according to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration .
Those collisions cause almost 30,000 injuries and about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dollars in auto repair costs .
`` Really traumatizing '' was how Jill Randall described hitting a migrating moose on Wyoming 's U.S. 191 , locally nicknamed `` the gauntlet '' near Trapper 's Point .
Randall , based in Pinedale , Wyo.
, is big-game migration coordinator for Wyoming 's Department of Game and Fish .
`` If you drive enough of those roads , [ animal collisions ] just happen , '' she said .
Multiple wildlife crossings , costing $ 9.4 million , and about 12 miles of fencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop by more than 80 percent , she said .
Pinedale is a crucial spot on the migration paths of moose , as well as North America 's longest migration paths of mule deer and pronghorn antelope , as mapped out by biologists using radio collars .
`` I love waking up in the morning and seeing moose in my backyard , '' Pinedale Mayor Matt Murdock said .
But no one wants to encounter one on the road .
Keeping wildlife corridors connected gives animals a better chance of species survival , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ore.-based manager for the Pew Charitable Trusts .
He focuses on these corridors .
`` We have known large herds of animals were migrating across the west since European settlement , but we did n't have a good sense of where they went , '' Skroch said .
`` These GPS collars represent an age of discovery that gives us new information that will allow us to make better policy decisions to conserve this migratory habitat . ''
Populations of mule deer are dropping across the country , Skroch said , due in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roads and human encroachment , including mining and gas extraction , housing developments and agriculture .
Nevada was among the first states to create wildlife overpasses in 2010 .
Thousands of migrating mule deer in rural Elko County caused havoc every year as they darted across Highway 93 , leaving destroyed vehicles and hundreds of roadkill carcasses every spring .
Wildlife migration routes were mapped onto carcass records and crash data to construct the bridge .
`` It becomes really obvious where the deer want to cross when you look at the carcass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , game biologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife .
`` Then the engineers decide where to put the crossing . ''
Eight-foot fencing funnels the animals to the wildlife bridge .
In the past decade , Nevada 's highway department built six other animal crossings , including one across Interstate 90 .
Collisions have dropped by 90 percent and at least 37,000 mule deer have used the crossings in the past 10 years , officials said .
In Wyoming , wildlife scientists using radio collars have mapped out the longest mule deer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from southwest Wyoming 's Red Desert to an area called the Hoback .
They 've also mapped the 100-mile Path of the Pronghorn between Pinedale and Grand Teton National Park .
Deer and antelope are netted from helicopters , and then rangers transport them , blindfolded and hobbled , to health-checking stations where they snap on the collars .
Radio collars can transmit for several years , and will detach and fall off when batteries die , migratory biologist Jill Randall said .
Collars cost about $ 500 each , plus data fees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been available from the U.S. Department of Interior , Randall said .
Collar data has tracked the fidelity of mule deer fawns who return to `` within 200 yards '' of the same spot they were born , Randall said .
`` It 's learned behavior from mom . ''
Animals migrate from high-altitude summer feeding and fawning grounds to forage areas where snow is not as deep .
Then , in the spring , they `` surf the green wave , '' following sprouting new grass back up the mountains , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unlikely sojourn through natural bottlenecks over cliffs and snow-filled passes , GPS data shows .
They dart through timbered forests and swim rivers , said Jackson Hole-based Mark Gocke of Wyoming Game and Fish .
`` These are all habitats where pronghorn feel vulnerable .
We did n't expect to find them in the same [ cliff ] habitat with bighorn sheep , but that 's where they go , '' Gocke said .
Animals pay no mind to human boundaries or whether land is owned by federal , state or private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human uses of the land , Randall said .
About 5,000 mule deer migrate across private property at a pinch point near Fremont Lake , near Pinedale .
`` It was undeveloped sagebrush habitat , land with a great lake view , with a high potential for development , '' Randall said .
When identified by GPS data , a group of private entities led by the Conservation Fund bought the property from the landowner and donated it to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission , she said .
Pinedale 's mayor Murdock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with recreation use and land for oil and gas extraction , which employs many area residents .
`` It 's an interesting seesaw to keep everybody balanced , '' he said .
A 2018 wildlife corridor protection order from then-Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke directs state and federal agencies to prioritize habitats within migration corridors in the West .
`` The science [ from the GPS collars ] is the building block of the momentum , '' Pew 's Skroch said .
`` This is allowing the states and the federal agencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ habitat and improve highway safety . ''

GPS mapping of migratory routes for Wyoming pronghorn and other large ungulates have helped western states build wildlife crossings. Photo by Tom Koerner, courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
DENVER, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- More wildlife overpasses and underpasses are coming to highways in the western United States, thanks to a better understanding of migration corridors boosted by GPS collar technology. Utilizing now-affordable tracking collars, wildlife researchers have learned that deer and other animals that dart into the road are driven by an ancient instinct to follow migratory paths in existence long before automobiles were introduced. Advertisement
A meeting last summer of the Western Governors Association brought new focus on migratory corridors and how to create more wildlife crossings. Additional crossings to help protect animals are planned in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Oregon and California.
States are seeking more money for wildlife crossings from highway funds via the federal Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, which expires this year. They say the need is great, and they cite the danger to both motorists and animals from sudden, unexpected collisions.
Advertisement
Between 1 million and 2 million vehicle collisions with large animals occur every year in the United States, according to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration. Those collisions cause almost 30,000 injuries and about 200 deaths a year -- and billions of dollars in auto repair costs.
Hitting a moose
"Really traumatizing" was how Jill Randall described hitting a migrating moose on Wyoming's U.S. 191, locally nicknamed "the gauntlet" near Trapper's Point.
Randall, based in Pinedale, Wyo., is big-game migration coordinator for Wyoming's Department of Game and Fish. "If you drive enough of those roads, [animal collisions] just happen," she said.
Multiple wildlife crossings, costing $9.4 million, and about 12 miles of fencing in her state have caused collisions to drop by more than 80 percent, she said.
Pinedale is a crucial spot on the migration paths of moose, as well as North America's longest migration paths of mule deer and pronghorn antelope, as mapped out by biologists using radio collars.
"I love waking up in the morning and seeing moose in my backyard," Pinedale Mayor Matt Murdock said. But no one wants to encounter one on the road.
Keeping wildlife corridors connected gives animals a better chance of species survival, said Matt Skroch, a Portland, Ore.-based manager for the Pew Charitable Trusts. He focuses on these corridors.
Advertisement
"We have known large herds of animals were migrating across the west since European settlement, but we didn't have a good sense of where they went," Skroch said. "These GPS collars represent an age of discovery that gives us new information that will allow us to make better policy decisions to conserve this migratory habitat."
Populations of mule deer are dropping across the country, Skroch said, due in part to fragmented habitats broken up by roads and human encroachment, including mining and gas extraction, housing developments and agriculture.
Nevada roadkill
Nevada was among the first states to create wildlife overpasses in 2010. Thousands of migrating mule deer in rural Elko County caused havoc every year as they darted across Highway 93, leaving destroyed vehicles and hundreds of roadkill carcasses every spring.
Wildlife migration routes were mapped onto carcass records and crash data to construct the bridge.
"It becomes really obvious where the deer want to cross when you look at the carcass retrieval records," said Kari Huebner, game biologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. "Then the engineers decide where to put the crossing." Eight-foot fencing funnels the animals to the wildlife bridge.
In the past decade, Nevada's highway department built six other animal crossings, including one across Interstate 90. Collisions have dropped by 90 percent and at least 37,000 mule deer have used the crossings in the past 10 years, officials said.
Advertisement
Netting from helicopters
In Wyoming, wildlife scientists using radio collars have mapped out the longest mule deer migration in the world -- 150-mile trek from southwest Wyoming's Red Desert to an area called the Hoback. They've also mapped the 100-mile Path of the Pronghorn between Pinedale and Grand Teton National Park.
Deer and antelope are netted from helicopters, and then rangers transport them, blindfolded and hobbled, to health-checking stations where they snap on the collars.
Radio collars can transmit for several years, and will detach and fall off when batteries die, migratory biologist Jill Randall said. Collars cost about $500 each, plus data fees. Some grant money for migration projects have been available from the U.S. Department of Interior, Randall said.
Collar data has tracked the fidelity of mule deer fawns who return to "within 200 yards" of the same spot they were born, Randall said. "It's learned behavior from mom."
Animals migrate from high-altitude summer feeding and fawning grounds to forage areas where snow is not as deep. Then, in the spring, they "surf the green wave," following sprouting new grass back up the mountains, wildlife scientists said.
Pronghorn antelope make an unlikely sojourn through natural bottlenecks over cliffs and snow-filled passes, GPS data shows. They dart through timbered forests and swim rivers, said Jackson Hole-based Mark Gocke of Wyoming Game and Fish.
Advertisement
"These are all habitats where pronghorn feel vulnerable. We didn't expect to find them in the same [cliff] habitat with bighorn sheep, but that's where they go," Gocke said.
Animals pay no mind to human boundaries or whether land is owned by federal, state or private parties, and that can conflict with human uses of the land, Randall said.
About 5,000 mule deer migrate across private property at a pinch point near Fremont Lake, near Pinedale.
"It was undeveloped sagebrush habitat, land with a great lake view, with a high potential for development," Randall said. When identified by GPS data, a group of private entities led by the Conservation Fund bought the property from the landowner and donated it to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, she said.
Pinedale's mayor Murdock said migration corridors need to be balanced with recreation use and land for oil and gas extraction, which employs many area residents.
"It's an interesting seesaw to keep everybody balanced," he said.
A 2018 wildlife corridor protection order from then-Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke directs state and federal agencies to prioritize habitats within migration corridors in the West.
"The science [from the GPS collars] is the building block of the momentum," Pew's Skroch said. "This is allowing the states and the federal agencies to make better policies to protect wildlife habitat and improve highway safety."


upi--2020-02-06--'Normal' resting heart rate can vary from person to person

A `` normal '' resting heart rate can vary significantly among individuals , a new study finds .
Your heart rate , or pulse , is how many times your heart beats per minute .
One person 's normal daily resting heart rate can differ by up to 70 beats per minute from another person 's normal rate , said Giorgio Quer , of Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla , Calif. , and colleagues .
For the study , the researchers analyzed heart rate data collected by wearable monitors , such as a Fitbit , which were worn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 92,000 people across the United States .
Collectively , factors such as age , sex , body mass index and average daily sleep accounted for less than 10 percent of heart rate variation among individuals , the investigators found .
The researchers also found a minor seasonal trend in resting heart rate , with slightly higher rates in January and slightly lower rates in July .
Another finding was that some people may occasionally have brief periods when their resting heart rate differs by 10 or more beats per minute from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report published online Feb. 5 in the journal PLOS One .
Checking a patient 's resting heart rate is typically part of a routine visit to the doctor , but only raises concern if it 's significantly different than the range established by population-level studies , the study authors said in a journal news release .
However , wearable heart rate monitors now enable continuous tracking over time , and identify normal resting heart rates at the individual level , Quer 's team explained .
The study suggests the value of further research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily resting heart rate could lead to earlier detection of potential problems .
`` Day-to-day changes in resting heart rate could be the first true , individualized digital vital sign , which is only now possible to measure thanks to wearable sensor technologies , '' the authors reported .
`` Variations in resting heart rate may allow for the identification of early unexpected changes in an individuals ' health , '' Quer 's team concluded .
The American Heart Association has more on heart rate .

A "normal" resting heart rate can vary significantly among individuals, a new study finds.
Your heart rate, or pulse, is how many times your heart beats per minute.
Advertisement
One person's normal daily resting heart rate can differ by up to 70 beats per minute from another person's normal rate, said Giorgio Quer, of Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, Calif., and colleagues.
For the study, the researchers analyzed heart rate data collected by wearable monitors, such as a Fitbit, which were worn for a median of 320 days by more than 92,000 people across the United States.
Collectively, factors such as age, sex, body mass index and average daily sleep accounted for less than 10 percent of heart rate variation among individuals, the investigators found.
The researchers also found a minor seasonal trend in resting heart rate, with slightly higher rates in January and slightly lower rates in July.
Another finding was that some people may occasionally have brief periods when their resting heart rate differs by 10 or more beats per minute from their normal range, according to the report published online Feb. 5 in the journal PLOS One.
Checking a patient's resting heart rate is typically part of a routine visit to the doctor, but only raises concern if it's significantly different than the range established by population-level studies, the study authors said in a journal news release.
Advertisement
However, wearable heart rate monitors now enable continuous tracking over time, and identify normal resting heart rates at the individual level, Quer's team explained.
The study suggests the value of further research to investigate whether tracking a person's daily resting heart rate could lead to earlier detection of potential problems.
"Day-to-day changes in resting heart rate could be the first true, individualized digital vital sign, which is only now possible to measure thanks to wearable sensor technologies," the authors reported.
"Variations in resting heart rate may allow for the identification of early unexpected changes in an individuals' health," Quer's team concluded.
More information
The American Heart Association has more on heart rate.
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