upi--2020-06-24--Oklahoma City Thunder re-sign Luguentz Dort ahead of Orlando restart

Dort , 21 , confirmed the deal on social media with a birthday post dedicated to his mother .
`` Happy Birthday Mom !
Best gift I could 've given you after all you have done for me , '' Dort wrote on Twitter .
`` Without you none of this would be possible .
All praise to God and thank you @ okcthunder for believing in me . ''
Dort started the 2019-20 season on a two-way contract with the Thunder .
After making an impact off the bench , he became a full-time starter at shooting guard in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dort 's 21 starts , the Thunder posted a 16-5 record .
He has appeared in 29 total games this season , which was delayed in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Dort , a Montreal native , went undrafted out of Arizona State , where he was Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and named to the conference 's All-Defense team .
Dort quickly became a fan favorite in Oklahoma City , averaging 6.2 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in limited playing time .
He scored a career-high 23 points against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 2019-20 NBA season is expected to resume July 30 in Orlando , Fla .
Under the league 's restart plan , 22 teams will compete at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex .

June 24 (UPI) -- The Oklahoma City Thunder gave guard Luguentz Dort a multiyear contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.
Dort, 21, confirmed the deal on social media with a birthday post dedicated to his mother.
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"Happy Birthday Mom! Best gift I could've given you after all you have done for me," Dort wrote on Twitter. "Without you none of this would be possible. All praise to God and thank you @okcthunder for believing in me."
Dort started the 2019-20 season on a two-way contract with the Thunder. After making an impact off the bench, he became a full-time starter at shooting guard in the absence of Terrance Ferguson.
In Dort's 21 starts, the Thunder posted a 16-5 record. He has appeared in 29 total games this season, which was delayed in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Happy Birthday Mom! Best gift I could've given you after all you have done for me. Without you none of this would be possible.  All praise to God and Thank You @okcthunder for Believing in me#ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/CLJz4WEY5I— Luguentz Dort (@luguentz) June 24, 2020
Advertisement Thunder Signs Luguentz Dort to Multi-Year Contract | https://t.co/hmSVb6oACA pic.twitter.com/DcZy9Fnrxc— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 24, 2020
Dort, a Montreal native, went undrafted out of Arizona State, where he was Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and named to the conference's All-Defense team.
Dort quickly became a fan favorite in Oklahoma City, averaging 6.2 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in limited playing time. He scored a career-high 23 points against the Sacramento Kings on Jan. 29.
The 2019-20 NBA season is expected to resume July 30 in Orlando, Fla. Under the league's restart plan, 22 teams will compete at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.


upi--2020-06-24--Trump administration to end funding for 13 drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites

June 24 ( UPI ) -- The Trump administration is set to end federal support for 13 drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites on June 30 , calling on states to take over the operations .
The Health and Human Services Department said the sites are spread across five states , including seven in Texas .
Trump administration testing czar Adm. Brett Giroir said they will remain open under state and local control .
The other testing locations are in Colorado , Illinois , New Jersey and Pennsylvania .
Giroir said the administration was not withdrawing federal support but instead `` providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` We are transitioning 13 sites from the original , now antiquated , program to the more efficient and effective testing sites , '' he said .
The decision comes as Texas has experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases , reporting 5,551 new cases on Wednesday and 5,489 the day before for a total of 125,921 positive cases reported in the state .
President Donald Trump has made repeated comments about how reducing testing would reduce the number of cases reported in the United States , although Giroir and other federal health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the president to conduct less testing in testimony before Congress on Tuesday .
`` We are going to increase testing , both in the number and the quality and in the targeting on social media , '' Giroir said Wednesday .
In April , the Federal Emergency Management Agency requested that states determine whether they would transition from federal coronavirus testing sites to state-run locations , a decision that faced pushback from lawmakers .
Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas , called on the administration to continue direct funding to he sites , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to urge [ health officials ] to extend the community testing sites in Texas . ''
Fellow Texan senator , John Cornyn , agreed that the government should continue to provide federal support `` at least until we get this most recent uptick in cases addressed . ''
`` It 's pretty clear to me and I think it 's clear to all of us , that with the uptick of cases , now is not a time to retreat from our vigilance in testing , '' said Cornyn .

The federal government will end funding for 13 drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites, including seven in Texas, on June 30, instead of calling for states to take up funding and operation of the sites. File Photo by Peter DaSilva/UPI | License Photo
June 24 (UPI) -- The Trump administration is set to end federal support for 13 drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites on June 30, calling on states to take over the operations. The Health and Human Services Department said the sites are spread across five states, including seven in Texas. Trump administration testing czar Adm. Brett Giroir said they will remain open under state and local control. Advertisement
The other testing locations are in Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Giroir said the administration was not withdrawing federal support but instead "providing federal support in a different way."
"We are transitioning 13 sites from the original, now antiquated, program to the more efficient and effective testing sites," he said.
The decision comes as Texas has experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases, reporting 5,551 new cases on Wednesday and 5,489 the day before for a total of 125,921 positive cases reported in the state.
President Donald Trump has made repeated comments about how reducing testing would reduce the number of cases reported in the United States, although Giroir and other federal health officials denied that they had been directed by the president to conduct less testing in testimony before Congress on Tuesday.
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"We are going to increase testing, both in the number and the quality and in the targeting on social media," Giroir said Wednesday.
In April, the Federal Emergency Management Agency requested that states determine whether they would transition from federal coronavirus testing sites to state-run locations, a decision that faced pushback from lawmakers.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called on the administration to continue direct funding to he sites, saying he "has urged and will continue to urge [health officials] to extend the community testing sites in Texas."
Fellow Texan senator, John Cornyn, agreed that the government should continue to provide federal support "at least until we get this most recent uptick in cases addressed."
"It's pretty clear to me and I think it's clear to all of us, that with the uptick of cases, now is not a time to retreat from our vigilance in testing," said Cornyn.
Texas reported a record number of new coronavirus cases Wednesday -- 5,551.


upi--2020-06-24--5.8-magnitude earthquake rattles Southern California

June 24 ( UPI ) -- A 5.8-magnitude earthquake rattled Southern California on Wednesday , causing little damage throughout the @ @ @ @ @ the temblor was located 11 miles north-northwest of Lone Pine , Calif. , and about @ @ @ @ @ Angeles , where some residents reported feeling shaking .
People also said they felt the @ @ @ @ @ A resident of Clovis , Calif. , told KABC-TV the earthquake caused a crack in @ @ @ @ @ .
A grocery store in Lone Pine also shared footage of food strewn across the @ @ @ @ @ The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said a nearby aqueduct showed no signs @ @ @ @ @ Geological Survey said there were several aftershocks after the original earthquake around 10:30 a.m .

The epicenter of the earthquake was about 17 miles outside Lone Pine, Calif. Image courtesy of USGS
June 24 (UPI) -- A 5.8-magnitude earthquake rattled Southern California on Wednesday, causing little damage throughout the region. The epicenter of the temblor was located 11 miles north-northwest of Lone Pine, Calif., and about 160 miles north of Los Angeles, where some residents reported feeling shaking. People also said they felt the quake in Las Vegas. Advertisement
A resident of Clovis, Calif., told KABC-TV the earthquake caused a crack in the tile of her home. A grocery store in Lone Pine also shared footage of food strewn across the floor of the business.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said a nearby aqueduct showed no signs of damage.
The U.S. Geological Survey said there were several aftershocks after the original earthquake around 10:30 a.m.


upi--2020-06-24--Jeremy Christian sentenced to life in prison in Portland, Ore., train murders

June 24 ( UPI ) -- A judge on Wednesday sentenced Jeremy Christian to spend the rest of his life in prison without parole after he was convicted in the murders of two passengers on a train in Portland , Ore. , in May 2017 .
Multnomah County Circuit Judge Cheryl Albrecht sentenced Christian , 38 , to two consecutive life sentences on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of Taliesin Namkai-Meche , 23 , and Ricky Best , 53 .
Albrecht also sentenced Christian to 25 additional years in prison for other crimes including attempted first-degree murder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christian stabbed him in the neck , and multiple hate crimes leading up to and during the incident on the train .
`` I 'm hoping you 're able to accept your responsibility one day , '' Albrecht said .
Christian was found guilty in February on 12 counts , including first-degree murder , attempted murder , assault , intimidation , unlawful use of a weapon and menacing for stabbing multiple people on a Metropolitan Area Express light-rail train .
Portland police Sgt .
Pete Simpson said Christian was `` ranting and raving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as hate speech , including directing comments at a black teenager and her friend , an immigrant from Somalia who was wearing a hijab .
Evidence presented at the trial stated that Christian swatted Namkai-Meche 's phone to the floor after he attempted to record the rant and Fletcher responded by shoving Christian and telling him to get off the train .
Christian then stabbed Namkai-Meche and Fletcher as well as Best who was standing nearby .
Fletcher delivered an impact statement , along with members of the other victims ' families , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sleep or confidently go out in public following the attack .
`` There is not a room in this world that I can enter without at least scanning it first to decide who the person is who is most likely to hurt me , '' he said .
Christian also delivered a statement from a remote location after he was barred from the courtroom after threatening a victim to make a statement , screaming he wished he 'd killed her .
He said he regreted that Namkai-Meche and Best died but said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying that he acted in self-defense while alleging Fletcher was the aggressor and describing his conviction as `` laughable . ''
`` I did not commit an act of violence against anyone on that train , '' Christian said .

June 24 (UPI) -- A judge on Wednesday sentenced Jeremy Christian to spend the rest of his life in prison without parole after he was convicted in the murders of two passengers on a train in Portland, Ore., in May 2017.
Multnomah County Circuit Judge Cheryl Albrecht sentenced Christian, 38, to two consecutive life sentences on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of Taliesin Namkai-Meche, 23, and Ricky Best, 53.
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Albrecht also sentenced Christian to 25 additional years in prison for other crimes including attempted first-degree murder of 24-year-old Micah Fletcher, who survived after Christian stabbed him in the neck, and multiple hate crimes leading up to and during the incident on the train.
"I'm hoping you're able to accept your responsibility one day," Albrecht said.
Christian was found guilty in February on 12 counts, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault, intimidation, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing for stabbing multiple people on a Metropolitan Area Express light-rail train.
Portland police Sgt. Pete Simpson said Christian was "ranting and raving" about topics that would be characterized as hate speech, including directing comments at a black teenager and her friend, an immigrant from Somalia who was wearing a hijab.
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Evidence presented at the trial stated that Christian swatted Namkai-Meche's phone to the floor after he attempted to record the rant and Fletcher responded by shoving Christian and telling him to get off the train.
Christian then stabbed Namkai-Meche and Fletcher as well as Best who was standing nearby.
Fletcher delivered an impact statement, along with members of the other victims' families, in which he described being unable to sleep or confidently go out in public following the attack.
"There is not a room in this world that I can enter without at least scanning it first to decide who the person is who is most likely to hurt me," he said.
Christian also delivered a statement from a remote location after he was barred from the courtroom after threatening a victim to make a statement, screaming he wished he'd killed her.
He said he regreted that Namkai-Meche and Best died but said he ultimately did not regret his actions, saying that he acted in self-defense while alleging Fletcher was the aggressor and describing his conviction as "laughable."
"I did not commit an act of violence against anyone on that train," Christian said.


upi--2020-06-24--Appeals court OKs 2nd execution attempt for Romell Broom

June 24 ( UPI ) -- A federal appeals court has declined to stop Ohio from attempting to execute a man a second time , more than a decade after state officials spent 2 hours trying to find a vein during a botched lethal injection .
The 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said Tuesday that Romell Broom , 64 , is n't protected by the 5th Amendment of the Constitution , which prohibits a person from being punished twice for the same crime -- a clause known as `` double jeopardy . ''
Prison officials spent more than 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 18 times with needles trying to find a vein for an IV line to administer lethal injection drugs .
After they failed to find a vein , officials returned to him to jail cell to await a second attempt at an execution .
The appeals court also declined Broom 's challenge based on his 8th Amendment rights , which protects against cruel and unusual punishment .
The three-judge panel agreed with the Ohio Supreme Court 's ruling , that Broom is n't likely to `` suffer severe pain '' during a second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since amended its execution protocols ... and has executed numerous prisoners under those revamped protocols . ''
Broom was convicted of kidnapping , raping and killing a 14-year-old girl , Tryna Middleton , in East Cleveland in 1984 .

Romell Broom, 64, was convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing a 14-year-old girl, Tryna Middleton, in East Cleveland in 1984. File Photo courtesy of Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
June 24 (UPI) -- A federal appeals court has declined to stop Ohio from attempting to execute a man a second time, more than a decade after state officials spent 2 hours trying to find a vein during a botched lethal injection. The 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said Tuesday that Romell Broom, 64, isn't protected by the 5th Amendment of the Constitution, which prohibits a person from being punished twice for the same crime -- a clause known as "double jeopardy." Advertisement
Prison officials spent more than 2 hours in September 2009 sticking him at least 18 times with needles trying to find a vein for an IV line to administer lethal injection drugs. After they failed to find a vein, officials returned to him to jail cell to await a second attempt at an execution.
The appeals court also declined Broom's challenge based on his 8th Amendment rights, which protects against cruel and unusual punishment. The three-judge panel agreed with the Ohio Supreme Court's ruling, that Broom isn't likely to "suffer severe pain" during a second execution attempt "because the state has since amended its execution protocols ... and has executed numerous prisoners under those revamped protocols."
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Broom was convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing a 14-year-old girl, Tryna Middleton, in East Cleveland in 1984.
He's scheduled to be executed March 16, 2022.


upi--2020-06-24--Brooks Koepka out of Travelers Championship after caddie's positive COVID-19 test

June 24 ( UPI ) -- Brooks Koepka has decided to withdraw from this week 's Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell , Conn. , after his caddie , Ricky Elliott , tested positive for the coronavirus .
Koepka -- the world 's fourth-ranked player -- announced his decision Wednesday , about 24 hours before the opening round of the PGA Tour 's third tournament in its restart .
`` I have n't tested positive for COVID-19 , but as I 've said all along , I 'm taking this very seriously , '' Koepka said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do anything that might jeopardize the health of any player in the field or his ability to compete .
`` The right thing to do right now is get home , support Ricky and feel confident that I 'm doing what I can do protecting my fellow Tour members , my PGA Tour friends and everyone associated with the Travelers Championship this week . ''
Koepka was among five players to withdraw from the Travelers Championship , a group that included world No .
5 Webb Simpson -- who won the RBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brother , Chase .
Both players tested negative for the virus but said they were exercising caution by declining to compete .
Koepka , coach Claude Harmon III and Elliott tested negative Monday after arriving at the event , but the group took another test after learning that Graeme McDowell 's caddie , Ken Comboy , tested positive .
McDowell also has withdrawn from the tournament .
Koepka , who is coming off a seventh-place finish at the RBC Heritage , told Golfweek that Elliott took three tests at the Travelers Championship , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive .
`` We all got tested Monday -- myself , Claude and Ricky , '' Koepka said .
`` We had no symptoms .
Nothing .
Ricky has my full support in this .
I feel bad for him .
We 've got to do everything we can not to spread it .
We have to protect the field .
That 's why we have these rules . ''
The PGA Tour announced later Wednesday that it will enforce extra testing and stricter monitoring of protocols moving forward .
Last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ player to test positive for the virus since its return .
Cameron Champ tested positive on Tuesday at the Travelers .

Brooks Koepka (pictured) was among five players to withdraw from this week's Travelers Championship. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI | License Photo
June 24 (UPI) -- Brooks Koepka has decided to withdraw from this week's Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., after his caddie, Ricky Elliott, tested positive for the coronavirus. Koepka -- the world's fourth-ranked player -- announced his decision Wednesday, about 24 hours before the opening round of the PGA Tour's third tournament in its restart. Advertisement
"I haven't tested positive for COVID-19, but as I've said all along, I'm taking this very seriously," Koepka said in a statement. "I don't want to do anything that might jeopardize the health of any player in the field or his ability to compete.
"The right thing to do right now is get home, support Ricky and feel confident that I'm doing what I can do protecting my fellow Tour members, my PGA Tour friends and everyone associated with the Travelers Championship this week."
Koepka was among five players to withdraw from the Travelers Championship, a group that included world No. 5 Webb Simpson -- who won the RBC Heritage on Sunday -- and Koepka's brother, Chase. Both players tested negative for the virus but said they were exercising caution by declining to compete.
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Koepka, coach Claude Harmon III and Elliott tested negative Monday after arriving at the event, but the group took another test after learning that Graeme McDowell's caddie, Ken Comboy, tested positive. McDowell also has withdrawn from the tournament.
Koepka, who is coming off a seventh-place finish at the RBC Heritage, told Golfweek that Elliott took three tests at the Travelers Championship, with only his second test coming back positive.
"We all got tested Monday -- myself, Claude and Ricky," Koepka said. "We had no symptoms. Nothing. Ricky has my full support in this. I feel bad for him. We've got to do everything we can not to spread it. We have to protect the field. That's why we have these rules."
The PGA Tour announced later Wednesday that it will enforce extra testing and stricter monitoring of protocols moving forward.
Last week, Nick Watney became the first PGA Tour player to test positive for the virus since its return. Cameron Champ tested positive on Tuesday at the Travelers.


upi--2020-06-24--Hugh Jackman's 'Music Man' to open on Broadway in spring 2021

June 24 ( UPI ) -- The Greatest Showman star Hugh Jackman 's Broadway revival of The Music Man has @ @ @ @ @ , producers announced on Wednesday .
The return of the classic stage musical , which @ @ @ @ @ , is being delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Social-distancing practices intended to slow @ @ @ @ @ has kept most New York performance venues closed since March .
It is unclear exactly @ @ @ @ @ .
The Music Man was scheduled to begin performances at the Winter Garden Theatre this @ @ @ @ @ start previews on April 7 .

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Hugh Jackman's "The Music Man" is set to open on Broadway in Spring 2021. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
June 24 (UPI) -- The Greatest Showman star Hugh Jackman's Broadway revival of The Music Man has been postponed until spring 2021, producers announced on Wednesday. The return of the classic stage musical, which will also feature Sutton Foster, is being delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Advertisement
Social-distancing practices intended to slow the spread of the virus has kept most New York performance venues closed since March. It is unclear exactly when Broadway theaters will reopen.
The Music Man was scheduled to begin performances at the Winter Garden Theatre this September, but will now start previews on April 7.


upi--2020-06-24--Trump says some U.S. troops withdrawn from Germany may be sent to Poland

June 24 ( UPI ) -- Polish President Andrzej Duda said Wednesday he would welcome U.S. troops withdrawn from Germany in his country , as he became the first foreign leader to travel to the White House amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
Earlier this month the United States announced plans to remove one-third of the troops currently stationed in Germany .
President Donald Trump said during a joint press conference with Duda that some would `` probably '' be relocated to Poland .
`` We 're going to be reducing our forces in Germany .
Some will be coming home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places but Poland would be one of those other places , '' Trump said .
He condemned NATO member countries that are `` delinquent with respect to their dues , the money they 're supposed to be paying on defense '' citing Germany 's defense spending as a reason for the reduction of forces .
`` We will be only satisfied when all members are paying their fair share , '' Trump said .
Duda said he would be ready to receive U.S. troops and that withdrawing forces from Germany would be `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He asked the United States to consider maintaining its military presence in Europe .
`` In our belief , it is deeply justified to ensure U.S. troops are left in Europe , '' he said .
The White House described Wednesday 's meeting as coming during a `` critical time '' as both countries seek to reopen their economies after shutdowns implemented to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
Trump said the two countries would collaborate on developing and distributing a vaccine for COVID-19 .
`` We will be getting Poland involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also in terms of taking care of the Polish people once we have the vaccine , but I think we 're gon na have it very soon , '' he said .

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said some U.S. troops withdrawn from Germany may be sent to Poland. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI | License Photo
June 24 (UPI) -- Polish President Andrzej Duda said Wednesday he would welcome U.S. troops withdrawn from Germany in his country, as he became the first foreign leader to travel to the White House amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this month the United States announced plans to remove one-third of the troops currently stationed in Germany. President Donald Trump said during a joint press conference with Duda that some would "probably" be relocated to Poland. Advertisement
"We're going to be reducing our forces in Germany. Some will be coming home and some will be going to other places but Poland would be one of those other places," Trump said.
He condemned NATO member countries that are "delinquent with respect to their dues, the money they're supposed to be paying on defense" citing Germany's defense spending as a reason for the reduction of forces.
"We will be only satisfied when all members are paying their fair share," Trump said.
Duda said he would be ready to receive U.S. troops and that withdrawing forces from Germany would be "very detrimental to European security." He asked the United States to consider maintaining its military presence in Europe.
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"In our belief, it is deeply justified to ensure U.S. troops are left in Europe," he said.
The White House described Wednesday's meeting as coming during a "critical time" as both countries seek to reopen their economies after shutdowns implemented to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Trump said the two countries would collaborate on developing and distributing a vaccine for COVID-19.
"We will be getting Poland involved, both in terms of helping but also in terms of taking care of the Polish people once we have the vaccine, but I think we're gonna have it very soon," he said.


upi--2020-06-24--Dust in the wind: Enormous cloud stretches clear across Atlantic Ocean

June 24 ( UPI ) -- The monstrous size of the Saharan dust cloud trekking from Africa to the Gulf Coast has made meteorologists ' heads turn and has stirred up conversation on how this year 's health impacts from the plume could be more concerning than others in the past .
By Wednesday afternoon , the leading edge of the Saharan Air Layer dust plume had invaded the airspace over the Gulf of Mexico , satellite imagery showed .
Satellites show two areas of concentration with the dust as the plume stretches from continent to continent .
The first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a week after a thunderstorm complex that had moved across western Africa kicked up the dust .
`` Dust has been flowing off the coast of Africa for several weeks now , which is not uncommon , '' AccuWeather senior meteorologist and lead hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski said .
`` But the extent and concentration of dust currently in the Caribbean is by far very impressive .
`` The depth of the dust , as measured in various places , suggests that this is one of the most concentrated areas of dust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , '' Kottlowski said , although he acknowledged that records of dust concentrations are not well established .
The bulk of the first concentration of dust reached Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Monday , not just clouding the sky but turning it a milky white .
Visibility at the airport on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands dropped to 3 miles and was limited to 5 miles in San Juan , Puerto Rico .
In past years , the SAL plumes have allowed 10 or more miles of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gabriel Lorejo , a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in San Juan .
`` We have many models that indicate the highest dust concentration is from around 5,000 feet all the way down to the surface .
It 's pretty extreme , '' Lorejo told The Washington Post .
The aerosol optical depth , a measurement commonly used to estimate the amount of particulate matter in the air , was as high as 2 on Monday , a level not seen there during June in 15 years of record-keeping , Dr. Olga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Puerto Rico , told The Washington Post .
`` This is probably the worst air quality caused by Saharan dust in recent memory , '' Kottlowski said .
`` Dust particles are like any other pollution such as smoke .
Low-level dust is usually a very short-term issue such as when one experiences dust in a dust storm .
But this is different because it 's not local dust , it 's dust that originated at least 4,000 miles away and has been falling out to the ground since then .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ air quality in Negril , Jamaica , on the island 's west coast , provided by Plume Labs showed that conditions were `` very unhealthy '' as the Saharan dust enveloped the atmosphere .
AccuWeather and Plume Labs have a partnership that allows users to monitor the realtime air quality in a given location from the AccuWeather website or mobile app .
Air quality in Puerto Rico was fair as of Wednesday morning , according to the data from Plume Labs .
But the SAL has coated some cars left outside in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
Ada Monzon , chief broadcast meteorologist at WAPA-TV in Puerto Rico , has been following the dust plume as it 's moved over the Atlantic toward the Caribbean .
She posted photos on Twitter sent to her by viewers showing how outdoor surfaces had been covered in a thin film of dust .
The reddish color of the dust indicates the iron contained in it .
When this iron is deposited over a large body of water , it can promote the growth of algae blooms , according to Kottlowski .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ satellite imagery on Twitter showing the huge dust plume moving across the Atlantic over a five-day period .
The images , seen below , were captured by the GOES-16 satellite .
`` Extensive dust extends west to the eastern Yucatan Peninsula and Belize , but the worst of the dust wo n't reach that area until Wednesday , '' Kottlowski said .
`` However , an upper-level disturbance that will cause heavy and perhaps flooding rainfall over East Texas the next two to three days will halt the westward progression of dust for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forecast to lift out to the northeast between Thursday and Friday , opening the door for more concentrated dust to fill the skies over East Texas Friday or Friday night into Saturday .
Like it has in the Caribbean , the dust is expected to bring reduced visibility and poor air quality from eastern Texas to Louisiana .
`` Those sensitive to poor air quality should pay close attention to local officials advising the public on air quality , '' Kottlowski said .
`` Eventually , the dust will flow up into other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northern periphery of an area of high pressure nosing into the northern Gulf of Mexico . ''
Residents in the southern areas of Mississippi , Alabama , Georgia and parts of Florida are likely to see hazy skies and deal with a drop in air quality this weekend into early next week .
As the dust moves westward , some of the more concentrated dust will precipitate out or spread out , becoming less concentrated , according to Kottlowski .
With the diminishing of dust levels , the impacts most likely wo n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen in Puerto Rico .
`` However , it will still be unusual , and people will notice some haze and a milky-looking sky with little or no blue sky visible for most of Friday , Saturday and Sunday over East Texas , '' Kottlowski said .
Dust particles hanging in the air have been known to cause hazy , red sunrises and sunsets .
Volcanic ash and smoke from wildfires have had similar effects .
However , if there are too many particles in the air , they could instead dull the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Caribbean lately .
The concentration of dust this year will most likely continue to cause poor air quality in the Gulf Coast , coming at a time with high concerns over COVID-19 , which affects the respiratory system .
`` Air quality could also drop to moderate to unhealthy this weekend over South and East Texas due to the dust , '' Kottlowski said .
`` So , people with respiratory issues should not spend any long periods of time outdoors .
Some people with severe respiratory conditions may just want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas are currently at a breaking point .
In Houston , the Texas Children 's Hospital has been admitting adult patients to help ease the strain on other facilities .
As of Tuesday , the state had 118,093 confirmed cases , placing it as the fifth state with the most cases , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
The state 's death toll as of Wednesday stood at 2,236 .

A dust cloud that originated in the Sahara desert creates hazy conditions Wednesday in Havana, Cuba. Photo by Ernesto Mastrascusa/EPA-EFE
June 24 (UPI) -- The monstrous size of the Saharan dust cloud trekking from Africa to the Gulf Coast has made meteorologists' heads turn and has stirred up conversation on how this year's health impacts from the plume could be more concerning than others in the past. By Wednesday afternoon, the leading edge of the Saharan Air Layer dust plume had invaded the airspace over the Gulf of Mexico, satellite imagery showed. Advertisement
Satellites show two areas of concentration with the dust as the plume stretches from continent to continent. The first concentration now clouds the Caribbean, more than a week after a thunderstorm complex that had moved across western Africa kicked up the dust.
"Dust has been flowing off the coast of Africa for several weeks now, which is not uncommon," AccuWeather senior meteorologist and lead hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski said. "But the extent and concentration of dust currently in the Caribbean is by far very impressive.
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"The depth of the dust, as measured in various places, suggests that this is one of the most concentrated areas of dust we have seen in the past several years," Kottlowski said, although he acknowledged that records of dust concentrations are not well established.
A magnificent view of a dust plume from @NOAA's #GOESEast, from June 23. Known as the #SaharanAirLayer, this particular plume has reportedly spread over the Caribbean, reducing visibility in some areas to five miles. See our world: https://t.co/ZcDtqO5ZoH pic.twitter.com/7jHIIJTm88— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) June 24, 2020
The bulk of the first concentration of dust reached Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Monday, not just clouding the sky but turning it a milky white.
Visibility at the airport on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands dropped to 3 miles and was limited to 5 miles in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In past years, the SAL plumes have allowed 10 or more miles of visibility at the surface, according to Gabriel Lorejo, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in San Juan.
"We have many models that indicate the highest dust concentration is from around 5,000 feet all the way down to the surface. It's pretty extreme," Lorejo told The Washington Post.
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The aerosol optical depth, a measurement commonly used to estimate the amount of particulate matter in the air, was as high as 2 on Monday, a level not seen there during June in 15 years of record-keeping, Dr. Olga Mayo, an atmospheric chemist at the University of Puerto Rico, told The Washington Post.
"This is probably the worst air quality caused by Saharan dust in recent memory," Kottlowski said. "Dust particles are like any other pollution such as smoke. Low-level dust is usually a very short-term issue such as when one experiences dust in a dust storm. But this is different because it's not local dust, it's dust that originated at least 4,000 miles away and has been falling out to the ground since then."
Indeed, a look at the air quality in Negril, Jamaica, on the island's west coast, provided by Plume Labs showed that conditions were "very unhealthy" as the Saharan dust enveloped the atmosphere. AccuWeather and Plume Labs have a partnership that allows users to monitor the realtime air quality in a given location from the AccuWeather website or mobile app.
Air quality in Puerto Rico was fair as of Wednesday morning, according to the data from Plume Labs. But the SAL has coated some cars left outside in a fine layer of dust early in the week. Ada Monzon, chief broadcast meteorologist at WAPA-TV in Puerto Rico, has been following the dust plume as it's moved over the Atlantic toward the Caribbean. She posted photos on Twitter sent to her by viewers showing how outdoor surfaces had been covered in a thin film of dust.
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The reddish color of the dust indicates the iron contained in it. When this iron is deposited over a large body of water, it can promote the growth of algae blooms, according to Kottlowski.
Meteorologists at NOAA on Tuesday posted animated satellite imagery on Twitter showing the huge dust plume moving across the Atlantic over a five-day period. The images, seen below, were captured by the GOES-16 satellite.
#SATELLITE SPOTLIGHT: This #SaharanAirLayer (#SAL) tracking animation shows how the plume of #dust and #sand from the #SaharaDesert has moved westward over the last 5 days. Areas of red and pink represent the dry, dusty air as seen from @NOAA's #GOES16  pic.twitter.com/mh7gULXFSU— NOAA Satellites - Public Affairs (@NOAASatellitePA) June 23, 2020
"Extensive dust extends west to the eastern Yucatan Peninsula and Belize, but the worst of the dust won't reach that area until Wednesday," Kottlowski said. "However, an upper-level disturbance that will cause heavy and perhaps flooding rainfall over East Texas the next two to three days will halt the westward progression of dust for a time."
The system is forecast to lift out to the northeast between Thursday and Friday, opening the door for more concentrated dust to fill the skies over East Texas Friday or Friday night into Saturday. Like it has in the Caribbean, the dust is expected to bring reduced visibility and poor air quality from eastern Texas to Louisiana.
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"Those sensitive to poor air quality should pay close attention to local officials advising the public on air quality," Kottlowski said. "Eventually, the dust will flow up into other Gulf Coast states around the western then northern periphery of an area of high pressure nosing into the northern Gulf of Mexico."
Residents in the southern areas of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and parts of Florida are likely to see hazy skies and deal with a drop in air quality this weekend into early next week.
As the dust moves westward, some of the more concentrated dust will precipitate out or spread out, becoming less concentrated, according to Kottlowski. With the diminishing of dust levels, the impacts most likely won't be as dramatic as what has been seen in Puerto Rico.
"However, it will still be unusual, and people will notice some haze and a milky-looking sky with little or no blue sky visible for most of Friday, Saturday and Sunday over East Texas," Kottlowski said.
Dust particles hanging in the air have been known to cause hazy, red sunrises and sunsets. Volcanic ash and smoke from wildfires have had similar effects. However, if there are too many particles in the air, they could instead dull the sunrises and sunsets as they have in the Caribbean lately.
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The concentration of dust this year will most likely continue to cause poor air quality in the Gulf Coast, coming at a time with high concerns over COVID-19, which affects the respiratory system.
"Air quality could also drop to moderate to unhealthy this weekend over South and East Texas due to the dust," Kottlowski said. "So, people with respiratory issues should not spend any long periods of time outdoors. Some people with severe respiratory conditions may just want to stay indoors."
The hospitals in Texas are currently at a breaking point. In Houston, the Texas Children's Hospital has been admitting adult patients to help ease the strain on other facilities. As of Tuesday, the state had 118,093 confirmed cases, placing it as the fifth state with the most cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The state's death toll as of Wednesday stood at 2,236.


upi--2020-06-24--Lottery winner's screams of joy prompt wellness check from neighbors

June 24 ( UPI ) -- An Australian man said he screamed so loud upon learning he had won a lottery jackpot of over $ 500,000 that his neighbors showed up to make sure he was n't injured .
The Lutwyche , Queensland , man told The Lott officials he had been talking to a friend about the winning numbers from Saturday 's Lotto $ 20 Million Superdraw when he noticed the numbers sounded a little familiar .
The man said he called his son to check the numbers on his ticket to see if they matched the winning digits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way , I think you 've won division one , ' '' the man recalled of his conversation with his son .
`` I did n't believe him , so I checked all of the numbers again and sure enough , he was right . ''
The winner said the news made him so excited he screamed with joy .
`` I was screaming so much that the neighbors came over because they thought something was wrong , '' he said .
The man was one of 27 players to score a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The winner said he plans to use some of his winnings to buy a home .
`` I am so sick of renting , so I think I am going to buy myself a little home , '' he said .
`` I am going to put some drinks on for all my mates and do some celebrating , too . ''

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June 24 (UPI) -- An Australian man said he screamed so loud upon learning he had won a lottery jackpot of over $500,000 that his neighbors showed up to make sure he wasn't injured.
The Lutwyche, Queensland, man told The Lott officials he had been talking to a friend about the winning numbers from Saturday's Lotto $20 Million Superdraw when he noticed the numbers sounded a little familiar.
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The man said he called his son to check the numbers on his ticket to see if they matched the winning digits.
"He said to me 'no way, I think you've won division one,'" the man recalled of his conversation with his son. "I didn't believe him, so I checked all of the numbers again and sure enough, he was right."
The winner said the news made him so excited he screamed with joy.
"I was screaming so much that the neighbors came over because they thought something was wrong," he said.
The man was one of 27 players to score a $508,959.20 Division One jackpot from the drawing.
The winner said he plans to use some of his winnings to buy a home.
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"I am so sick of renting, so I think I am going to buy myself a little home," he said. "I am going to put some drinks on for all my mates and do some celebrating, too."


upi--2020-06-24--Bearded dragon found 2 1/2 miles from home after 10 days on the loose

June 24 ( UPI ) -- A bearded dragon that escaped from a Canadian man 's yard is back home after taking a 10-day trek to where the pet was found 2 1/2 miles away .
William Hill said his pet lizard , Groot , ran off from his home in the Elmwood area of Winnipeg , Manitoba , when his father took the animal outside for some fresh air June 13 .
Hill said he searched the area for his pet , but he feared Groot would not be able to survive without a consistent source of heat to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who lives in the St. Boniface area of Winnipeg , about 2 1/2 miles from Hill 's home , said she heard a commotion outside her house Tuesday night and went out to discover some neighborhood kids had found a large lizard underneath a parked vehicle .
Velnes brought the dragon inside , where she just happened to have an empty tank for a bearded dragon she had once considered getting her children for Christmas before their wish lists changed .
Velnes posted about the discovery on a St. Boniface Facebook group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's post about Groot 's escape on a Facebook group for local lost pets .
Velnes got into contact with Hill , who soon arrived at her home with his sister .
Hill said Groot appeared to be in good health , but he is planning to have the reptile examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible .
Velnes said the incident might lead to her buying a bearded dragon to fill the once-again vacant tank .

A Manitoba man was reunited with his pet bearded dragon after it turned up 2 1/2 miles from home 10 days after running away. Photo by Wildfaces/Pixabay.com
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe June 24 (UPI) -- A bearded dragon that escaped from a Canadian man's yard is back home after taking a 10-day trek to where the pet was found 2 1/2 miles away. William Hill said his pet lizard, Groot, ran off from his home in the Elmwood area of Winnipeg, Manitoba, when his father took the animal outside for some fresh air June 13. Advertisement
Hill said he searched the area for his pet, but he feared Groot would not be able to survive without a consistent source of heat to emulate his native environment.
Cara Velnes, who lives in the St. Boniface area of Winnipeg, about 2 1/2 miles from Hill's home, said she heard a commotion outside her house Tuesday night and went out to discover some neighborhood kids had found a large lizard underneath a parked vehicle.
Velnes brought the dragon inside, where she just happened to have an empty tank for a bearded dragon she had once considered getting her children for Christmas before their wish lists changed.
Velnes posted about the discovery on a St. Boniface Facebook group, where another member recalled seeing Hill's post about Groot's escape on a Facebook group for local lost pets.
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Velnes got into contact with Hill, who soon arrived at her home with his sister.
Hill said Groot appeared to be in good health, but he is planning to have the reptile examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Velnes said the incident might lead to her buying a bearded dragon to fill the once-again vacant tank.


upi--2020-06-24--Georgia grand jury formally indicts 3 men in death of Ahmaud Arbery

Ahmaud Arbery was fatally shot on February 23 while jogging near Brunswick, Ga. File Photo courtesy the Family of Ahmaud Arbery/UPI | License Photo
June 24 (UPI) -- A Georgia grand jury on Wednesday formally indicted three men accused in the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery in February. Gregory McMichael, 64, his son Travis McMichael, 34, and William "Roddie" Bryan, 50, each face nine counts, including malice murder, four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment. Advertisement
"This is another step forward in seeking justice for Ahmaud," Cobb County District Attorney Joyette Holmes said.
"Our team from the Cobb Judicial Circuit has been committed to effectively bringing forward the evidence in this case and today was no exception. We will continue to be intentional in the pursuit of justice for this family and the community at large as the prosecution of this case continues."
Video footage from Bryan's vehicle showed Arbery's death Feb. 23 as he was jogging through a Brunswick neighborhood less than 2 miles from his home. It shows Arbery, 25, being boxed in by two pickup trucks driven by the defendants. Travis McMichael then appears to get out of his vehicle and shoot Arbery three times with a shotgun.
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The elder McMichael told police they pursued Arbery after suspecting he'd committed a series of break-ins in the neighborhood.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Richard Dial testified that Travis McMichael called Arbery a racial slur after firing the fatal shots.
His death preceded the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota and the case has been a part of national protests over the past several weeks opposing the extrajudicial killing of black Americans.
Protesters demand justice in police killing of George Floyd
Demonstrators hold a sign in Los Angeles on June 14 for Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was shot by police in her home while she was sleeping. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo


upi--2020-06-24--Ring lost on Florida beach found in the sand 18 years later

June 24 ( UPI ) -- A Georgia woman who lost her class ring on a Florida beach in 2002 has the ring back on her finger after a man with a metal detector found it 18 years later .
John Porcella said he often uses his metal detector to comb the beach near the pier at Jacksonville Beach , and on a recent search in the sand he uncovered a 2001 class ring from Collins High School in Suwanee , Ga. Porcella contacted the school , which identified the ring as belonging to a graduate named Amy Goetz , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on file was disconnected and an e-mail to her listed address came back as undeliverable .
The metal detector hobbyist said he tried finding Goetz on social media , but despite contacting multiple women sharing her name , he was unable to turn up any leads .
Porcella enlisted the help of the Gwinnett County Police Department , which was able to contact Goetz and tell her the story of her ring being found .
Goetz said she received the ring in the mail this week and was pleased to find it still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she had been unclear on when she lost her ring , but its discovery revealed she must have dropped it during a trip to Jacksonville Beach in 2002 .
Porcella said he was shocked to learn how long the ring had been missing .
`` I think it 's amazing , '' Porcella told the Gwinnett Daily Post .
`` It got washed out into the ocean and then the ocean kicked it back up on the beach .
I just happened to be right there at the right moment at the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beach many , many times and never found it , and then all of a sudden I did .
It 's interesting . ''

A Florida man walking with his metal detector on Jacksonville Beach found a class ring that turned out to have been lost by a Georgia woman who visited the beach 18 years earlier. Photo by Counselling/Pixabay.com
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe June 24 (UPI) -- A Georgia woman who lost her class ring on a Florida beach in 2002 has the ring back on her finger after a man with a metal detector found it 18 years later. John Porcella said he often uses his metal detector to comb the beach near the pier at Jacksonville Beach, and on a recent search in the sand he uncovered a 2001 class ring from Collins High School in Suwanee, Ga. Advertisement
Porcella contacted the school, which identified the ring as belonging to a graduate named Amy Goetz, but the phone number the school had on file was disconnected and an e-mail to her listed address came back as undeliverable.
The metal detector hobbyist said he tried finding Goetz on social media, but despite contacting multiple women sharing her name, he was unable to turn up any leads.
Porcella enlisted the help of the Gwinnett County Police Department, which was able to contact Goetz and tell her the story of her ring being found.
Goetz said she received the ring in the mail this week and was pleased to find it still fits on her finger. She said she had been unclear on when she lost her ring, but its discovery revealed she must have dropped it during a trip to Jacksonville Beach in 2002.
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Porcella said he was shocked to learn how long the ring had been missing.
"I think it's amazing," Porcella told the Gwinnett Daily Post. "It got washed out into the ocean and then the ocean kicked it back up on the beach. I just happened to be right there at the right moment at the right time. I worked that area of the beach many, many times and never found it, and then all of a sudden I did. It's interesting."


upi--2020-06-24--Navy receives first operational CMV-22B Osprey

June 24 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Navy received its first fleet CMV-22B Osprey , a tilt-wing helicopter redesigned for use on aircraft carriers , the Navy said on Wednesday .
Designed and built by Bell Textron Inc. and Boeing Co. , it was delivered at Naval Air Station North Island , Calif. , on Monday .
Two prior CMV-22Bs were delivered to the Navy , in February and in May , for developmental testing .
`` We are thrilled to bring the Osprey 's capabilities as a warfighting enabler and its ability to provide time sensitive logistics to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world in support of U.S. Navy operations , '' Kurt Fuller , program director of the Bell Boeing consortium , said in a statement .
The variant of the Navy 's V-22 aircraft will take over the Carrier Onboard Delivery Mission , replacing the C-2A Greyhound , in use since 1964 .
It is a tiltrotor V/STOL aircraft that can take off and land as a helicopter , as well as transit as a turboprop aircraft .
The aircraft can carry 6,000 pounds of cargo , enough to transport the engine power module @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its increased fuel capacity allows it to travel over 1,150 nautical miles .
The CMV-22B is seen as the transporter of goods and other logistical support between aircraft carriers , and between land and a carrier .
Capt .
Dewon Chaney , commodore of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron 30 , or VRM-30 , stationed at Naval Air Station North Island , praised the work involved in delivering the plane to the Navy on schedule .
`` Today marks our birthday as a squadron , '' Cmdr .
Tervor Hermann , commanding officer of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This is the instrument that will bring lethality to the fleet . ''
Boeing temporarily closed its Philadelphia manufacturing site in April as it contended with the pandemic .
`` Between COVID-19 and the aircraft delivery schedule , everyone stayed focused to deliver this chariot to us , '' said Chaney .
`` It is so amazing that we have this capable machine to deploy in the fleet in order to develop combat lethality , and I am just glad that I get to witness this as your commodore . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The first CMV-22B Osprey assigned to Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron, or VRM, 30 lands at Naval Air Station North Island. VRM 30 was established in late 2018 to begin the Navy's transition from the C-2A Greyhound to the Osprey. Photo by MCS 2nd Class Chelsea D. Meiller/U.S. Navy
June 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy received its first fleet CMV-22B Osprey, a tilt-wing helicopter redesigned for use on aircraft carriers, the Navy said on Wednesday. Designed and built by Bell Textron Inc. and Boeing Co., it was delivered at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., on Monday. Advertisement
Two prior CMV-22Bs were delivered to the Navy, in February and in May, for developmental testing.
"We are thrilled to bring the Osprey's capabilities as a warfighting enabler and its ability to provide time sensitive logistics to the men and women deployed around the world in support of U.S. Navy operations," Kurt Fuller, program director of the Bell Boeing consortium, said in a statement.
The variant of the Navy's V-22 aircraft will take over the Carrier Onboard Delivery Mission, replacing the C-2A Greyhound, in use since 1964. It is a tiltrotor V/STOL aircraft that can take off and land as a helicopter, as well as transit as a turboprop aircraft.
The aircraft can carry 6,000 pounds of cargo, enough to transport the engine power module of an F-35 fighter plane, and its increased fuel capacity allows it to travel over 1,150 nautical miles.
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The CMV-22B is seen as the transporter of goods and other logistical support between aircraft carriers, and between land and a carrier. Capt. Dewon Chaney, commodore of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron 30, or VRM-30, stationed at Naval Air Station North Island, praised the work involved in delivering the plane to the Navy on schedule.
"Today marks our birthday as a squadron," Cmdr. Tervor Hermann, commanding officer of VRM-30, said in a statement. "This is the instrument that will bring lethality to the fleet."
Boeing temporarily closed its Philadelphia manufacturing site in April as it contended with the pandemic.
"Between COVID-19 and the aircraft delivery schedule,everyone stayed focused to deliver this chariot to us," said Chaney. "It is so amazing that we have this capable machine to deploy in the fleet in order to develop combat lethality, and I am just glad that I get to witness this as your commodore."
The Navy projects an inventory of 44 CMV-22Bs.


upi--2020-06-24--Dow falls 700 points amid surging coronavirus cases, quarantine orders for travelers

June 24 ( UPI ) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 700 points on Wednesday amid concerns over rising COVID-19 cases in parts of the country .
The blue chip index slid 710.26 points or 2.72 percent , its worst day since June 11 , as Florida saw a record increase in coronavirus cases and states in the Northeast put orders in place requiring visitors from some states to quarantine for 14 days .
Meanwhile , the S & P fell 2.59 percent and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.19 percent , its first decline in nine sessions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 cases on Wednesday , a single-day record for the state , while Connecticut , New Jersey and New York announced that visitors from Alabama , Arkansas , Arizona , Florida , North Carolina , South Carolina , Washington , Utah and Texas would face a 14-day quarantine due to high infection rates in those states .
The surge of coronavirus cases and quarantine orders caused airline stocks to fall , as United stock dropped 8.34 percent , while Delta , Southwest and American Airlines each declined more than 7 percent .
Cruise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Line stock fell 12.42 percent and Carnival and Royal Caribbean stocks slid more than 11 percent .
Disney stock fell 3.88 percent as workers petitioned for the company to move back the reopenings of its theme parks scheduled for next month .
Stocks had previously come off of a strong start to the week as the Nasdaq reported its 21st closing record of 2020 on Tuesday .

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 700 points on Wednesday and the Nasdaq Composite ended with its first decline in nine sessions amid a record surge in coronavirus cases in Florida and states in the Northeast announcing quarantines for travelers from nine states. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
June 24 (UPI) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 700 points on Wednesday amid concerns over rising COVID-19 cases in parts of the country. The blue chip index slid 710.26 points or 2.72 percent, its worst day since June 11, as Florida saw a record increase in coronavirus cases and states in the Northeast put orders in place requiring visitors from some states to quarantine for 14 days. Advertisement
Meanwhile, the S&P fell 2.59 percent and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.19 percent, its first decline in nine sessions.
Florida reported more than 5,000 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, a single-day record for the state, while Connecticut, New Jersey and New York announced that visitors from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas would face a 14-day quarantine due to high infection rates in those states.
The surge of coronavirus cases and quarantine orders caused airline stocks to fall, as United stock dropped 8.34 percent, while Delta, Southwest and American Airlines each declined more than 7 percent.
Cruise line stocks also plummeted as Norwegian Cruise Line stock fell 12.42 percent and Carnival and Royal Caribbean stocks slid more than 11 percent.
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Disney stock fell 3.88 percent as workers petitioned for the company to move back the reopenings of its theme parks scheduled for next month.
Stocks had previously come off of a strong start to the week as the Nasdaq reported its 21st closing record of 2020 on Tuesday.


upi--2020-06-24--Bayer settles Roundup lawsuits for $10 billion

June 24 ( UPI ) -- Bayer on Wednesday agreed to pay $ 10 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits claiming the Roundup weed killer causes cancer .
As part of the agreement , Bayer -- which purchased Monsanto , the maker of Roundup , in 2018 -- admitted no wrongdoing or liability .
Bayer CEO Werner Baumann said the settlement puts an end to a long period of uncertainty for the company .
`` It is financially reasonable when viewed against the significant financial risks of continued , multiyear litigation and the related impacts to our reputation and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The decision to resolve the Roundup litigation enables us to focus fully on the critical supply of healthcare and food .
It will also return the conversation about the safety and utility of glyphosate-based herbicides to the scientific and regulatory arena and to the full body of science . ''
The plaintiffs in the lawsuits said the herbicide caused illness because it contains glyphosate , which the World Health Organization classifies as `` probably carcinogenic in humans . ''
The lawsuits say Monsanto ignored warnings and covered up the potential threats to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California jury awarded $ 80 million to a man who said Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin lymphoma .
An appellate judge lowered the award to $ 25.27 million .

Bayer purchased the maker of Roundup, Monsanto, in 2018 after lawsuits said the herbicide caused cancer. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
June 24 (UPI) -- Bayer on Wednesday agreed to pay $10 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits claiming the Roundup weed killer causes cancer. As part of the agreement, Bayer -- which purchased Monsanto, the maker of Roundup, in 2018 -- admitted no wrongdoing or liability. Advertisement
Bayer CEO Werner Baumann said the settlement puts an end to a long period of uncertainty for the company.
"It is financially reasonable when viewed against the significant financial risks of continued, multiyear litigation and the related impacts to our reputation and to our business," he said.
"The decision to resolve the Roundup litigation enables us to focus fully on the critical supply of healthcare and food. It will also return the conversation about the safety and utility of glyphosate-based herbicides to the scientific and regulatory arena and to the full body of science."
The plaintiffs in the lawsuits said the herbicide caused illness because it contains glyphosate, which the World Health Organization classifies as "probably carcinogenic in humans." The lawsuits say Monsanto ignored warnings and covered up the potential threats to customers.
In March 2019, a California jury awarded $80 million to a man who said Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin lymphoma. An appellate judge lowered the award to $25.27 million.
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upi--2020-06-24--Clouds make newer climate models more realistic, but also less certain

June 24 ( UPI ) -- Efforts to improve the precision with which climate models simulate cloud processes have yielded more realistic models .
New research suggests these efforts have also introduced greater uncertainty , according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances .
When the latest generation of climate models started producing results last year , researchers noticed that several models were predicting higher amounts of warming than previous models .
The results of the new models inspired news headlines that suggested global warming might be worse than previously thought .
As researchers with the Coupled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found out , a few of the latest generation of models predicted smaller levels of warming than previous models .
To identify the cause of this uncertainty , CMIP6 researchers decided some historical context was needed .
One way to measure and compare the predictions of different climate models is by calculating the equilibrium climate sensitivity , or ECS .
`` It 's kind of an abstract measure , but it 's one these metrics that has been around for a long time , '' Gerald Meehl , a senior scientist at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UPI .
Essentially , scientists double the CO2 in a model and let the simulation run its course until the climate stabilizes .
Each model -- and each new generation of models -- produces a narrow range of warming , between 1.5 to 4.5 degrees Celsius , or 2.7 to 8.1 degrees Fahrenheit .
`` This kind of range has been out there for some time , and with each successive generation of models has produced about the same range in terms of degrees , '' Meehl said .
`` With the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has stayed roughly the same , but the range has gotten bigger than ever -- at both the low and the high end . ''
When Meehl and his colleagues asked members of the groups responsible for the 39 new CMIP6 models why they thought the ECS value got bigger , most of them pointed to clouds .
To improve the accuracy of the latest generation of climate models , scientists have worked hard to simulate small-scale cloud processes .
But these efforts have introduced a variety of new interactions between clouds and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can produce contradictory results .
`` For example , if you have polluted air , particularly sulfur oxide , that can influence clouds .
Sulfur oxide is emitted from cars and factories , and it goes into the air and forms sulfate aerosols , '' Meehl said .
`` When you see the sky and it looks orange and hazy , chances are that a lot of that is caused by an abundance of sulfate aerosols . ''
According to Meehl , these aerosols operate as cloud condensation nuclei .
When these aerosols @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot more tiny droplets .
`` That increased number of small droplets makes the cloud brighter , and it 's going to reflect more sunlight and have a cooling effect , '' Meehl said .
But this phenomena , now rendered more precisely in climate models , can also yield the opposite effect .
`` On the other hand , you 've formed all these droplets in the sky , they aggregate and rain out more quickly and the cloud 's lifetime goes down , '' Meehl said .
`` That allows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and now you have a warming effect . ''
Cloud-aerosol interactions are just one example of new simulated intricacies that offer both greater realism and greater uncertainty .
According to Meehl , there are a variety of interacting processes involving a variety of different cloud types at different altitudes .
`` With more interacting processes , your level of uncertainty can go up , '' he said .
But ECS is n't the only way to test and compare climate models .
Most climate modelers prefer to use transient climate response , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 1 percent per year , compounded , until the time you double the amount of carbon dioxide , which is usually about 70 years , '' Meehl said .
TCR works on a smaller timescale and works more like actual climate change .
When scientists calculated the TCR range for the newest generation of climate models , they got the same average warming value but a smaller range .
Meehl and his colleagues shared the ECS and TCR values produced by the latest CMIP6 models in the new paper .
In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ models into historical context , Meehl hopes the new study will inspire cloud modeling improvements .
`` We 're doing a better job of simulating the clouds themselves , but now we have these different feedbacks that give you more uncertainty , '' he said .
Now that researchers have highlighted this uncertainty , Meehl hopes climate research institutions and the climate modeling community will work to address the issue by directing more funds to relevant observational and analysis programs .
`` You ca n't simulate what you do n't understand , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exactly clouds will effect climate and vice versa , in the future , scientists need more robust observational programs and better satellite measurements .

Researchers say that incorporating clouds into climate models has offered more realistic predictions, but that the predictions are also less certain. Photo by NOAA/UPI | License Photo
June 24 (UPI) -- Efforts to improve the precision with which climate models simulate cloud processes have yielded more realistic models. New research suggests these efforts have also introduced greater uncertainty, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances. When the latest generation of climate models started producing results last year, researchers noticed that several models were predicting higher amounts of warming than previous models. The results of the new models inspired news headlines that suggested global warming might be worse than previously thought. Advertisement
As researchers with the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, CMIP6, soon found out, a few of the latest generation of models predicted smaller levels of warming than previous models. To identify the cause of this uncertainty, CMIP6 researchers decided some historical context was needed.
One way to measure and compare the predictions of different climate models is by calculating the equilibrium climate sensitivity, or ECS.
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"It's kind of an abstract measure, but it's one these metrics that has been around for a long time," Gerald Meehl, a senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, told UPI.
Essentially, scientists double the CO2 in a model and let the simulation run its course until the climate stabilizes. Each model -- and each new generation of models -- produces a narrow range of warming, between 1.5 to 4.5 degrees Celsius, or 2.7 to 8.1 degrees Fahrenheit.
"This kind of range has been out there for some time, and with each successive generation of models has produced about the same range in terms of degrees," Meehl said. "With the latest generation of models, the average warming has stayed roughly the same, but the range has gotten bigger than ever -- at both the low and the high end."
When Meehl and his colleagues asked members of the groups responsible for the 39 new CMIP6 models why they thought the ECS value got bigger, most of them pointed to clouds.
To improve the accuracy of the latest generation of climate models, scientists have worked hard to simulate small-scale cloud processes. But these efforts have introduced a variety of new interactions between clouds and tiny particles called aerosols -- interactions that can produce contradictory results.
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"For example, if you have polluted air, particularly sulfur dioxide, that can influence clouds. Sulfur dioxide is emitted from cars and factories, and it goes into the air and forms sulfate aerosols," Meehl said. "When you see the sky and it looks orange and hazy, chances are that a lot of that is caused by an abundance of sulfate aerosols."
According to Meehl, these aerosols operate as cloud condensation nuclei. When these aerosols seed clouds, they seed clouds with a lot more tiny droplets.
"That increased number of small droplets makes the cloud brighter, and it's going to reflect more sunlight and have a cooling effect," Meehl said.
But this phenomena, now rendered more precisely in climate models, can also yield the opposite effect.
"On the other hand, you've formed all these droplets in the sky, but the aerosols absorb some sunlight, warm the air, and evaporate some of the droplets and that reduces the amount of clouds," Meehl said. "That allows a little more sun into the system, and now you have a warming effect."
Cloud-aerosol interactions are just one example of new simulated intricacies that offer both greater realism and greater uncertainty. According to Meehl, there are a variety of interacting processes involving a variety of different cloud types at different altitudes.
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"With more interacting processes, your level of uncertainty can go up," he said.
But ECS isn't the only way to test and compare climate models. Most climate modelers prefer to use transient climate response, or TCR.
"You increase CO2 at 1 percent per year, compounded, until the time you double the amount of carbon dioxide, which is usually about 70 years," Meehl said.
TCR works on a smaller timescale and works more like actual climate change. When scientists calculated the TCR range for the newest generation of climate models, they got the same average warming value but a smaller range.
Meehl and his colleagues shared the ECS and TCR values produced by the latest CMIP6 models in the new paper.
In addition to putting the latest generation of climate models into historical context, Meehl hopes the new study will inspire cloud modeling improvements.
"We're doing a better job of simulating the clouds themselves, but now we have these different feedbacks that give you more uncertainty," he said.
Now that researchers have highlighted this uncertainty, Meehl hopes climate research institutions and the climate modeling community will work to address the issue by directing more funds to relevant observational and analysis programs.
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"You can't simulate what you don't understand," Meehl said.
And to understand how exactly clouds will effect climate and vice versa, in the future, scientists need more robust observational programs and better satellite measurements.


upi--2020-06-25--Watch live: CBP chief Mark Morgan testifies at Senate oversight hearing

June 25 ( UPI ) -- Acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan will testify at a Senate oversight hearing Thursday that will examine immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border .
Morgan will testify before the Senate committee on homeland security and governmental affairs in a hearing titled `` CBP Oversight : Examining the Evolving Challenges Facing the Agency . ''
The hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. EDT and will be streamed live .
Thursday 's hearing comes two days after Morgan accompanied President Donald Trump on a visit to a section of border wall in Arizona , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barrier .
The administration aims to build 450 miles by the end of the year .
`` My administration has done more than any administration in the history to secure our southern border .
Our border has never been more secure , '' Trump said during Tuesday 's visit .
The number of migrants arrested at the border has decreased dramatically since an unprecedented surge that saw 133,000 migrants arrested in May 2019 , according to CPB statistics .
Last month , CBP apprehended 21,000 migrants , most of whom were immediately deported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CBP came under criticism from House Democrats this month when it was reported the agency was part of a federal effort that used drones , airplanes and helicopters in several cities to monitor activists protesting the police killing of George Floyd .
`` This administration has undermined the First Amendment freedoms of Americans of all races who are rightfully protesting George Floyd 's killing , '' a group of Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf , demanding a `` complete list of jurisdictions where DHS conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests . ''
Morgan denied drones were used for surveillance and called the reports `` false narratives . ''

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Acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Mark Morgan is sworn-in Thursday as he testifies at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee oversight hearing examining the CBP on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Pool Photo by Alexander Drago/UPI | License Photo
June 25 (UPI) -- Acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan on Thursday defended an emergency order to quickly expel migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border during the coronavirus pandemic. Testifying during a Senate oversight hearing to examine immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, Morgan said the controversial order -- first issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in March and since extended indefinitely -- is vital for the health of migrants already being held in detention. Advertisement
"The CDC has determined that without the order, CBP would have to hold large numbers of migrants in close proximity to each other in congregate, often enclosed areas for the duration of immigration processing," he said.
"That situation would dramatically increase the risk of an outbreak inside CBP facilities that could spread into local communities via the healthcare system or from CBP personnel, who live and work in border communities."
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CBP reported it carried out nearly 42,000 expulsions under the CDC order during March, April and May, including more than 2,000 unaccompanied minors.
The number of migrants arrested at the border, however, has decreased dramatically since an unprecedented surge that saw 133,000 migrants arrested in May 2019.
Critics accuse the Trump administration of using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to violate U.S. and international law by establishing what is essentially a two-track process in which some migrants claiming asylum are turned away at the border by citing health concerns while others are allowed to be processed.
While many committee members praised CBP's response in following CDC guidelines to limit immigration to the U.S. amid the pandemic, Sens. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Margaret Hassan, D-N.H., pressed Morgan on agents' involvement in police brutality protests and allegations of misspending.
The hearing came exactly two weeks after a Government Accountability Office report revealed CBP misspent part of a 2019 emergency funding bill reserved for migrant care.
According to a June 11 audit from the GAO, CBP spent an unspecified amount of Congress' nearly $4.6 billion emergency appropriations bill on items such as dirt bikes, boats, a CBP-wide vaccine program for personnel and computer network updates.
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The bill, also known as the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, allocated funds to CBP and other government agencies to cover expenses related to the growing number of Central American migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border last year.
According to the GAO audit, CBP's misspending came from a $112 million portion of the bill that was allocated specifically for "consumables and medical care."
Hassan asked Morgan how much CBP misspent on equipment, but did not provide a definite answer and said that confusion over some of CBP's spending is a result of "technical errors."
Morgan said the GAO is questioning $60 million of the designated funds.
"About half of that, we believe, were due to some technical errors ... $30 million is really what is left that we think is in question," Morgan said.
Morgan said he does not agree that the money was "misspent" and the $30 million in question requires further analysis.
"We believe that there was no violation to the Antideficiency Act, meaning we believe all the charges appear to be valid CBP-operating expenses, we just may have put them in the wrong buckets," he said.
The Antideficiency Act prohibits federal agencies from obligating or spending federal funds that are in excess of the amounts or purposes approved by Congress.
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Harris also pressed Morgan on why she hadn't received a response from CBP on several questions she had posed to the agency related to its deployment of personnel to recent police brutality protests across the United States.
In a June 1 tweet about the deployments, Morgan said, "Border Patrol Sectors are working with law enforcement partners across our nation to prevent further looting, rioting, arson, vandalism & destruction of property. As a federal law enforcement agency, it's our duty & responsibility to respond when our partners request support."
Harris said she sent a letter to Morgan on June 5 asking for CBP to provide information regarding the agency's actions at those demonstrations, including the types of identification and equipment CBP personnel were authorized to carry and the forms of force they were authorized to use.
She also asked Morgan to clarify who specifically ordered the deployment of CBP personnel to the ongoing nationwide protests.
According to Morgan, CBP received requests to deploy CBP personnel from various federal agencies and state and local police departments. He did not name any individuals or specific agencies.
CBP also came under criticism from House Democrats this month when it was reported the agency was part of a federal effort that used drones, airplanes and helicopters in several cities to monitor activists protesting the police killing of George Floyd.
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"This administration has undermined the First Amendment freedoms of Americans of all races who are rightfully protesting George Floyd's killing," a group of Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, demanding a "complete list of jurisdictions where DHS conducted or assisted in conducting surveillance of any protests."
Morgan denied drones were used for surveillance and called the reports "false narratives."
Thursday's hearing came two days after Morgan accompanied President Donald Trump on a visit to a section of border wall in Arizona, which marked the completion of 200 miles of barrier. The administration aims to build 450 miles by the end of the year.
"My administration has done more than any administration in the history to secure our southern border. Our border has never been more secure," Trump said during Tuesday's visit.


upi--2020-06-25--Look: Bekah Martinez names son Franklin James

The 25-year-old television personality shared the name Wednesday on Instagram after giving birth to her baby boy June 19 .
Martinez posted a photo of her son sleeping while wearing a sticker reading `` Hello My Name is FRANKLIN JAMES . ''
`` Only took us 5 days , but this baby 's got a name , '' she captioned the post .
`` Welcome to the world , Frankie J ! ''
Franklin is Martinez 's son with her boyfriend , Grayston Leonard .
The couple also have a 16-month-old daughter , Ruth .
`` He 's .
HERE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 2:52am , June 19th .
7lbs , 8oz , '' she wrote .
Martinez said Monday on Instagram Stories that she had n't yet chosen a name .
`` This beautiful little man still does n't have .
name , '' she wrote .
`` We just ca n't decide .
Oh , my , but he is sweet .
It 's not even like we 're looking for the perfect name or anything like that , but we have n't found anything that clicks or fits his personality . ''
Martinez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Martinez appeared in Arie Luyendyk , Jr. 's season of The Bachelor , which aired in 2018 .

June 25 (UPI) -- Bekah Martinez has named her newborn son Franklin James.
The 25-year-old television personality shared the name Wednesday on Instagram after giving birth to her baby boy June 19.
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Martinez posted a photo of her son sleeping while wearing a sticker reading "Hello My Name is FRANKLIN JAMES."
"Only took us 5 days, but this baby's got a name," she captioned the post. "Welcome to the world, Frankie J!"
Franklin is Martinez's son with her boyfriend, Grayston Leonard. The couple also have a 16-month-old daughter, Ruth.
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Martinez announced her baby boy's birth Saturday on Instagram.
"He's. HERE. Born blissfully in our living room at 2:52am, June 19th. 7lbs, 8oz," she wrote.
Martinez said Monday on Instagram Stories that she hadn't yet chosen a name.
"This beautiful little man still doesn't have. name," she wrote. "We just can't decide. Oh, my, but he is sweet. It's not even like we're looking for the perfect name or anything like that, but we haven't found anything that clicks or fits his personality."
Martinez and Leonard started dating in early 2018. Martinez appeared in Arie Luyendyk, Jr.'s season of The Bachelor, which aired in 2018.


upi--2020-06-25--Salah, Liverpool crush Crystal Palace in Premier League soccer clash

June 25 ( UPI ) -- Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was one of four Reds players to score in a dominant display against Crystal Palace in the Premier League .
Trent Alexander-Arnold , Fabinho and Sadio Mane also scored in the 4-0 triumph Wednesday at Anfield in Liverpool , England .
Liverpool can now clinch the Premier League title if Manchester City beats Chelsea Thursday night .
`` Since I came here I said I want to win the Premier League with the team , '' Salah told reporters .
`` The city did n't win it for a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
`` Maybe last year we had a chance to win it but Manchester City also performed really good and they won it .
It 's our time to win it and it 's great . ''
The Reds and Eagles were scoreless midway through the first half before Alexander-Arnold lined up for a free kick while about 25 yards away from the Eagles goal .
The Reds right back lifted the shot over a wall of defenders and found the upper-right corner of the net in the 23rd minute .
Salah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he beat Eagles keeper Wayne Hennessey in the 44th minute .
Reds center midfielder Fabinho received a pass at midfield to spark that sequence .
Fabinho then spotted Salah deep on the Eagles half .
He took two touches forward before he chipped a beautiful pass over several defenders and onto the foot of Salah as he ran into the box .
Salah finished the play with a left-footed shot past Hennessey .
Fabinho gave the Reds a 3-0 edge in the 55th minute .
The Reds exchanged several passes on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back Andy Robertson connected with Fabinho while he stood 35 yards from the goal .
Fabinho then took two touches before he rifled a rip into the right side of the net .
Mane scored the final goal in the 69th minute .
The Senegalese striker showed off his impressive speed on that play .
Mane ran up the left flank before he sent a pass to Roberto Firmino on the Reds half to start the sequence .
He then bolted past midfield as Firmino turned and fired a pass to Salah on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salah spotted Mane 's backside run and smacked a one-touch pass between several defenders .
The ball was placed just ahead of Mane , who ran onto the pass and smacked a grounded shot by Hennessey .
`` We showed a lot , if not everything , of what helped us into the position we are in now , '' Reds manager Jurgen Klopp said .
`` There are obviously different ways of football , different ways you can play this game but you do n't have to compare it , so it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I saw [ Wednesday ] , I wanted to have that before this part of the season and I said to the boys , ' I want to see actually the best behind-closed-doors football ever . '
I 'm not sure if it was the best football but it was , for sure , the best counter-pressing behind closed doors ever . ''
Liverpool battles second-place Manchester City at 3:15 p.m. EDT July 2 at Etihad Stadium in Manchester , England .

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scored and had an assist in a win against Crystal Palace Wednesday in Liverpool, England. Pool Photo by Shaun Botterill/EPA-EFE
June 25 (UPI) -- Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was one of four Reds players to score in a dominant display against Crystal Palace in the Premier League. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho and Sadio Mane also scored in the 4-0 triumph Wednesday at Anfield in Liverpool, England. Liverpool can now clinch the Premier League title if Manchester City beats Chelsea Thursday night. Advertisement
"Since I came here I said I want to win the Premier League with the team," Salah told reporters. "The city didn't win it for a long time, so it was the right time.
"Maybe last year we had a chance to win it but Manchester City also performed really good and they won it. It's our time to win it and it's great."
The Reds and Eagles were scoreless midway through the first half before Alexander-Arnold lined up for a free kick while about 25 yards away from the Eagles goal. The Reds right back lifted the shot over a wall of defenders and found the upper-right corner of the net in the 23rd minute.
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Salah doubled the lead just before the half when he beat Eagles keeper Wayne Hennessey in the 44th minute. Reds center midfielder Fabinho received a pass at midfield to spark that sequence. Fabinho then spotted Salah deep on the Eagles half. He took two touches forward before he chipped a beautiful pass over several defenders and onto the foot of Salah as he ran into the box. Salah finished the play with a left-footed shot past Hennessey.
Fabinho gave the Reds a 3-0 edge in the 55th minute. The Reds exchanged several passes on the Eagles third of the field before left back Andy Robertson connected with Fabinho while he stood 35 yards from the goal. Fabinho then took two touches before he rifled a rip into the right side of the net.
Mane scored the final goal in the 69th minute. The Senegalese striker showed off his impressive speed on that play. Mane ran up the left flank before he sent a pass to Roberto Firmino on the Reds half to start the sequence. He then bolted past midfield as Firmino turned and fired a pass to Salah on the other side of the field. Salah spotted Mane's backside run and smacked a one-touch pass between several defenders. The ball was placed just ahead of Mane, who ran onto the pass and smacked a grounded shot by Hennessey.
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"We showed a lot, if not everything, of what helped us into the position we are in now," Reds manager Jurgen Klopp said. "There are obviously different ways of football, different ways you can play this game but you don't have to compare it, so it's not too important.
"What I saw [Wednesday], I wanted to have that before this part of the season and I said to the boys, 'I want to see actually the best behind-closed-doors football ever.' I'm not sure if it was the best football but it was, for sure, the best counter-pressing behind closed doors ever."
Liverpool battles second-place Manchester City at 3:15 p.m. EDT July 2 at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England.