upi--2020-06-22--Coronavirus cases top 9 million worldwide as daily death toll trends down

June 21 ( UPI ) -- Nearly half a year after the first coronavirus cases were confirmed in mainland China , the pandemic has spread worldwide and surpassed the 9 million cases milestone on Sunday .
The total stands at 9,044,563 , according to tracking by Worldometers.info late Sunday .
And about 5.2 percent of them have resulted in deaths : 470,665 .
Roughly 0.12 percent of the 7.8 billion people in the world have contracted the disease .
And the death toll is 60 per million people .
The outbreak started in China , then spread to Europe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States , where the first death was reported on Feb. 29 .
The United States leads the world in deaths with more than 122,000 and 2.3 million cases -- about one-quarter of the world totals .
Seven-tenths of 1 percent of the population have tested positive and 369 per million have died from the virus .
The disease has been stabilizing in many parts of the world -- with 4,428 additional deaths on Saturday compared with a high of 8,435 on April 17 .
But COVID-19 's cases and deaths are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico , Peru , Chile -- as well as India and Russia .
The first cases were confirmed on Dec. 31 in China but health experts believe people were infected with the virus months earlier in the most populous country of 1.5 billion people .
The first death from coronavirus was confirmed on Jan. 11 in the central Chinese city of Wuhan .
In all , 4,634 people have died from the disease in the Asian nation , though no fatalities have been announced since April 27 .
And since then , only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total of 83,378 , including 26 on Sunday .
One week ago , the 57 cases Sunday were the highest since 89 .
After a new outbreak was linked to a wholesale food mark in Beijing , which has 20 million people , testing was expanded with more than 360,000 tests over a few days .
Since June 11 , Beijing has recorded more than 200 locally transmitted infections .
South Korea has largely contained the outbreak with extensive testing and contact tracing , but on Saturday reported 67 new cases , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Sunday , there were 48 new cases for a total of 12,373 cases as well as 280 deaths .
In Europe , the virus hit Italy hard -- with the first death reported on Feb. 21 , peaking to a daily total of 919 on March 27 and topping the global list for weeks after displacing China .
The country instituted a nationwide lockdown on March 9 .
Although five other European nations would join Italy in the top 10 for most deaths , the fatalities have greatly diminished to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by far the lowest since the pandemic .
Germany , which is no longer in the top 10 , reported 1 death on Sunday and is in 11th place in terms of worldwide fatalities .
No .
6 Spain also counted only one death while No .
4 Italy announced 24 , No .
3 Britain increased by 43 deaths and No .
5 France rose by 7 .
Not reporting statistics yet Sunday was No .
9 Belgium , which gained 1 death on Saturday .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to further ease its nationwide lockdown .
`` You can see the direction that we 're going , '' Hancock told Sky 's Sophy Ridge .
`` We set the direction out in the plan that we published last month , and we are clearly on track for that plan because the number of cases is coming down .
On Friday the scientists were able to advise that the alert level come down , so we are on plan . ''
Britain 's chief medical officers announced Friday that the coronavirus alert level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmission is high or rising -- to level three -- it is in general circulation .
On June 1 , the government began easing lockdown restrictions in England .
People can visit outdoor attractions , retail stores and places of worship .
`` We will of course be setting out more details of that plan and in the plan , it states that on around July 4 , we will take further measures if it is safe to do so , '' he said .
`` The plan does refer to hospitality and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed that so many people want to see open . ''
In France , cafes and restaurants are reopening and people can visit family members in retirement homes , although the residents are especially vulnerable to the outbreak .
European Union residents can now travel to each other 's borders , but international travel wo n't be allowed until July .
On June 11 , the European Commission recommended all 27 members extend the entry ban on third-country nationals , which was set to expire on June 15 , for another 15 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can fly to Europe , but they will most likely need to observe a 14-day self-quarantine .
In all , 187,626 people have died from the outbreak in Europe but only 239 deaths were announced Sunday .
Russia reported 109 of them and is in 13th place worldwide in fatalities .
Cases have been spiking at a great rate -- 7,728 more for a total of 584,680 behind the United States and Brazil .
Despite the rising cases , restrictions including compulsory travel passes were lifted on June 8 .
And a national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Asia , 965 more people died with the total death toll standing at 48,256 .
India , which is the second-most populous nation with 1.4 billion people , has reported 13,703 deaths in eight place and 426,910,624 cases .
That includes 426 deaths Sunday after 307 Saturday .
The record was 2,006 on Tuesday but officials report that spike to delayed reporting of data .
The cases hit a record 15,915 Saturday and dropped to 15,183 Sunday for a total of 426,910 in fourth place .
The Delhi government ordered all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only be granted under the most compelling circumstances .
A number of countries continue to evacuate their citizens from India , amid concerns hospitals in major cities such as Delhi and Mumbai may be overwhelmed .
Although deaths have increased from 7,2087 two weeks ago , Prime Minister Narendra Modi told state leaders on Wednesday that they should get ready for the next phase of his `` unlock '' program .
`` The spread has been kept under control , '' he said .
`` Through timely tracing , treatment and reporting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The outbreak is spiking in three Latin American nations .
Brazil reported the most increases in the world with 968 , as Mexico announced 647 late Saturday , Chile 202 and Peru 201 .
On Sunday , Brazil reported 601 new deaths for most in the world over the 24-hour period followed by Mexico in third with 387 , Chile in fifth with 184 and Peru in sixth , also with 184 .
Brazil is second behind the United States with 50,617 deaths , compared with 35,957 two weeks ago .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday , 968 deaths on Saturday and 1,221 deaths the day before .
The record is 1,492 on June 4 .
Brazil also added 17,459 cases Sunday after 32,627 cases the day prior and 55,209 on Friday -- for a total 1,085,038 in second place -- almost half as many as No .
1 U.S. Brazil 's President Jair Bolsonaro has minimized the calamity of the disease , saying after the first case was reported on Feb. 26 : `` Brazilians do n't catch anything ... they already have the antibodies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has bemoaned the economic impact of a lockdown .
Sao Paulo , malls and outdoor bazaars reopened for the first time in three months , drawing large crowds '' We 're restarting things too soon , '' Atila Iamarino , a biologist at the University of Sao Paulo told Bloomberg News .
`` It 's a delicate time for the pandemic . ''
On Saturday , Chile 's death toll rose by 202 and 184 on Sunday for a total of 4,479 for 19th place .
Chile also announced 5,355 more cases on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a total of 8,045 in 14th place as well as 3,598 more cases on Sunday .
The death toll was 5,301 two weeks ago , including a record 206 on June 11 .
In all , 71,491 have died in South America .
Farther north on the hemisphere , Mexico 's deaths have risen from 13,511 to 21,825 in two weeks into seventh place .
Early Monday , Mexico reported 1,044 deaths over the previous 24 hours .
On Sunday , it reported 387 new deaths .
On Saturday , 5,030 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number dropped slightly to 4,717 before climbing to 5,343 on Monday .
On the other side of the U.S. border , Canada reported 64 deaths on Saturday and 20 on Sunday for 8,430 total in 12th place .
The United States has extended its border with those nations to July .
`` Based on the success of the existing restrictions and the emergence of additional global COVID-19 hotspots , the Department will continue to limit non-essential travel at our land ports of entry with Canada and Mexico , '' Chad Wolf , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement Tuesday .
`` This extension protects Americans while keeping essential trade and travel flowing as we reopen the American economy . ''
All but around 2,500 of the 153,944 deaths are in the United States , Mexico and Canada .
In Oceania , there have been 102 deaths in Australia and 22 in New Zealand .
The last reported death in Australia was May 23 and in New Zealand , it was May 28 .
Since that time , New Zealand has reported only five cases for a total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday .
Two women who had arrived from Britain on June 6 had been allowed out of managed quarantine early on June 13 a compassionate dispensation to visit a dying parent .
They were not tested but were later found to be infected .
The Australian Football League postponed a game Saturday between Essendon and Melbourne because a player who recently returned from Ireland has tested positive for COVID-19 but was asymptomatic .
In Africa , Egypt has reported 2,193 deaths and South Africa 1,930 among the 8,148 fatalities , compared with 5,215 @ @ @ @

1/2
Chinese cycle past one of two 'Guardian Lions' wearing a protective face mask in a deserted, but normally bustling, tourist area as the Covid-19 has returned to the capital forcing the government to lockdown Beijing on Saturday. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI. | License Photo
June 21 (UPI) -- Nearly half a year after the first coronavirus cases were confirmed in mainland China, the pandemic has spread worldwide and surpassed the 9 million cases milestone on Sunday. The total stands at 9,044,563, according to tracking by Worldometers.info late Sunday. And about 5.2 percent of them have resulted in deaths: 470,665. Advertisement
Roughly 0.12 percent of the 7.8 billion people in the world have contracted the disease. And the death toll is 60 per million people.
The outbreak started in China, then spread to Europe, especially Italy, before hitting hard in the United States, where the first death was reported on Feb. 29. The United States leads the world in deaths with more than 122,000 and 2.3 million cases -- about one-quarter of the world totals. Seven-tenths of 1 percent of the population have tested positive and 369 per million have died from the virus.
Advertisement
The disease has been stabilizing in many parts of the world -- with 4,428 additional deaths on Saturday compared with a high of 8,435 on April 17. But COVID-19's cases and deaths are mounting in Latin America -- Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Chile -- as well as India and Russia.
The first cases were confirmed on Dec. 31 in China but health experts believe people were infected with the virus months earlier in the most populous country of 1.5 billion people.
The first death from coronavirus was confirmed on Jan. 11 in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. In all, 4,634 people have died from the disease in the Asian nation, though no fatalities have been announced since April 27. And since then, only 522 cases have been added for a total of 83,378, including 26 on Sunday. One week ago, the 57 cases Sunday were the highest since 89.
After a new outbreak was linked to a wholesale food mark in Beijing, which has 20 million people, testing was expanded with more than 360,000 tests over a few days. Since June 11, Beijing has recorded more than 200 locally transmitted infections.
South Korea has largely contained the outbreak with extensive testing and contact tracing, but on Saturday reported 67 new cases, the largest daily jump in about three weeks. On Sunday, there were 48 new cases for a total of 12,373 cases as well as 280 deaths.
Advertisement
In Europe, the virus hit Italy hard -- with the first death reported on Feb. 21, peaking to a daily total of 919 on March 27 and topping the global list for weeks after displacing China. The country instituted a nationwide lockdown on March 9.
Although five other European nations would join Italy in the top 10 for most deaths, the fatalities have greatly diminished to a few hundred among all of them -- by far the lowest since the pandemic.
Germany, which is no longer in the top 10, reported 1 death on Sunday and is in 11th place in terms of worldwide fatalities. No. 6 Spain also counted only one death while No. 4 Italy announced 24, No. 3 Britain increased by 43 deaths and No. 5 France rose by 7. Not reporting statistics yet Sunday was No. 9 Belgium, which gained 1 death on Saturday.
European nations are easing restrictions.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Sunday that Britain is "on track" to further ease its nationwide lockdown.
"You can see the direction that we're going," Hancock told Sky's Sophy Ridge. "We set the direction out in the plan that we published last month, and we are clearly on track for that plan because the number of cases is coming down. On Friday the scientists were able to advise that the alert level come down, so we are on plan."
Advertisement
Britain's chief medical officers announced Friday that the coronavirus alert level had been lowered from level four -- transmission is high or rising -- to level three -- it is in general circulation.
On June 1, the government began easing lockdown restrictions in England. People can visit outdoor attractions, retail stores and places of worship.
"We will of course be setting out more details of that plan and in the plan, it states that on around July 4, we will take further measures if it is safe to do so," he said. "The plan does refer to hospitality and some of the other things that are closed that so many people want to see open."
In France, cafes and restaurants are reopening and people can visit family members in retirement homes, although the residents are especially vulnerable to the outbreak.
European Union residents can now travel to each other's borders, but international travel won't be allowed until July.
On June 11, the European Commission recommended all 27 members extend the entry ban on third-country nationals, which was set to expire on June 15, for another 15 days, until June 30.
People generally can fly to Europe, but they will most likely need to observe a 14-day self-quarantine.
Advertisement
In all, 187,626 people have died from the outbreak in Europe but only 239 deaths were announced Sunday.
Russia reported 109 of them and is in 13th place worldwide in fatalities. Cases have been spiking at a great rate -- 7,728 more for a total of 584,680 behind the United States and Brazil.
Despite the rising cases, restrictions including compulsory travel passes were lifted on June 8. And a national vote is still scheduled for July 1.
In Asia, 965 more people died with the total death toll standing at 48,256.
India, which is the second-most populous nation with 1.4 billion people, has reported 13,703 deaths in eight place and 426,910,624 cases. That includes 426 deaths Sunday after 307 Saturday. The record was 2,006 on Tuesday but officials report that spike to delayed reporting of data. The cases hit a record 15,915 Saturday and dropped to 15,183 Sunday for a total of 426,910 in fourth place.
The Delhi government ordered all leave canceled and said further leave would only be granted under the most compelling circumstances.
A number of countries continue to evacuate their citizens from India, amid concerns hospitals in major cities such as Delhi and Mumbai may be overwhelmed.
Advertisement
Although deaths have increased from 7,2087 two weeks ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told state leaders on Wednesday that they should get ready for the next phase of his "unlock" program.
"The spread has been kept under control," he said. "Through timely tracing, treatment and reporting, the number of those recovering is rising."
The outbreak is spiking in three Latin American nations.
Brazil reported the most increases in the world with 968, as Mexico announced 647 late Saturday, Chile 202 and Peru 201.
On Sunday, Brazil reported 601 new deaths for most in the world over the 24-hour period followed by Mexico in third with 387, Chile in fifth with 184 and Peru in sixth, also with 184.
Brazil is second behind the United States with 50,617 deaths, compared with 35,957 two weeks ago. The South American nation reported 641 deaths on Sunday, 968 deaths on Saturday and 1,221 deaths the day before. The record is 1,492 on June 4. Brazil also added 17,459 cases Sunday after 32,627 cases the day prior and 55,209 on Friday -- for a total 1,085,038 in second place -- almost half as many as No. 1 U.S.
Advertisement
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has minimized the calamity of the disease, saying after the first case was reported on Feb. 26: "Brazilians don't catch anything ... they already have the antibodies to keep it from spreading."
He has bemoaned the economic impact of a lockdown. Sao Paulo, malls and outdoor bazaars reopened for the first time in three months, drawing large crowds
"We're restarting things too soon," Atila Iamarino, a biologist at the University of Sao Paulo told Bloomberg News. "It's a delicate time for the pandemic."
On Saturday, Chile's death toll rose by 202 and 184 on Sunday for a total of 4,479 for 19th place. Chile also announced 5,355 more cases on Saturday and 5,607 on Sunday.
Peru has a total of 8,045 in 14th place as well as 3,598 more cases on Sunday. The death toll was 5,301 two weeks ago, including a record 206 on June 11.
In all, 71,491 have died in South America.
Farther north on the hemisphere, Mexico's deaths have risen from 13,511 to 21,825 in two weeks into seventh place. Early Monday, Mexico reported 1,044 deaths over the previous 24 hours. On Sunday, it reported 387 new deaths.
Advertisement
On Saturday, 5,030 cases were reported. On Sunday, that number dropped slightly to 4,717 before climbing to 5,343 on Monday.
On the other side of the U.S. border, Canada reported 64 deaths on Saturday and 20 on Sunday for 8,430 total in 12th place.
The United States has extended its border with those nations to July.
"Based on the success of the existing restrictions and the emergence of additional global COVID-19 hotspots, the Department will continue to limit non-essential travel at our land ports of entry with Canada and Mexico," Chad Wolf, the acting U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, said in a statement Tuesday. "This extension protects Americans while keeping essential trade and travel flowing as we reopen the American economy."
All but around 2,500 of the 153,944 deaths are in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
In Oceania, there have been 102 deaths in Australia and 22 in New Zealand. The last reported death in Australia was May 23 and in New Zealand, it was May 28.
Since that time, New Zealand has reported only five cases for a total of 1,511. But two were reported Saturday.
Two women who had arrived from Britain on June 6 had been allowed out of managed quarantine early on June 13 a compassionate dispensation to visit a dying parent. They were not tested but were later found to be infected.
Advertisement
The Australian Football League postponed a game Saturday between Essendon and Melbourne because a player who recently returned from Ireland has tested positive for COVID-19 but was asymptomatic.
Australia has 7,409 cases.
In Africa, Egypt has reported 2,193 deaths and South Africa 1,930 among the 8,148 fatalities, compared with 5,215 two weeks ago.


upi--2020-06-22--Army suspects 'foul play' in death of Fort Hood soldier

June 21 ( UPI ) -- Military officials said Sunday that foul play is suspected in the death of a soldier stationed in Fort Hood , Texas , who went missing some 10 months ago .
Pvt .
Gregory Wedel-Morales was last seen Aug. 19 , 2019 , driving a black Kia Rio near the Fort Hood base with his last known contact occurring the next day , igniting a search by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command for the 23-year-old Sapulpa , Okla. , native .
The search ended Friday when the Killeen Police Department , home to Fort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day in a field in the central Texas city had been identified as those of Wedel-Morales .
On Sunday , the Army Criminal Investigation Command said in a statement Sunday that `` foul play is suspected . ''
Army special agents are working with the Killeen Police Department and have offered up to $ 25,000 for information concerning Wedel-Morales ' death .
`` Morales was positively identified using dental records with the assistance of the U.S. Army Dental Corps , '' the statement published on the Fort Hood Facebook page said , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine the cause and manner of his death .
`` The First Team is saddened by the news of the passing of Pvt .
Gregory Morales , '' said Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater , commander of the 1st Cavalry Division , which Morales had been assigned to in November 2016 .
Military officials said Morales was processing out from the Army and was scheduled to be discharged within days of his disappearance .
He is the second soldier stationed at the base to disappear in the past year , though officials said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no credible information '' has been found connecting the two cases .
Pfc .
Vanessa Guillen was last seen April 22 in the parking lot of her Regimental Engineer Squadron Headquarters at Fort Hood , Army officials said , adding that her car keys , barracks room key , identification and wallet were later found in the armory where she had worked earlier that day .
`` At this point , investigators have no credible information or report that Vanessa Guillen was sexually assaulted or that this case is in any way connected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pvt .
Gregory Wedel-Morales , '' a statement published last week on the Fort Hood Facebook page said .
`` Both of these allegations have been widely circulated via the media and on social media . ''
More than 150 people have been interviewed concerning her disappearance , officials said .
A $ 25,000 reward has also been offered to anyone with information leading to her whereabouts .
`` We know somebody out there has some very critical information pertaining to this investigation and we strongly encourage you to do the right thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grey , spokesman for the Army Criminal Investigation Division .
`` Do it for Vanessa and do it for her family , friends and fellow soldiers . ''

The remains of Pvt. Gregory Wedel-Morales were found in a field near Fort Hood, Texas, where he was stationed. Photo courtesy of U.S. Army/ Facebook
June 21 (UPI) -- Military officials said Sunday that foul play is suspected in the death of a soldier stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, who went missing some 10 months ago. Pvt. Gregory Wedel-Morales was last seen Aug. 19, 2019, driving a black Kia Rio near the Fort Hood base with his last known contact occurring the next day, igniting a search by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command for the 23-year-old Sapulpa, Okla., native. Advertisement
The search ended Friday when the Killeen Police Department, home to Fort Hood, announced remains found earlier that day in a field in the central Texas city had been identified as those of Wedel-Morales.
On Sunday, the Army Criminal Investigation Command said in a statement Sunday that "foul play is suspected."
Army special agents are working with the Killeen Police Department and have offered up to $25,000 for information concerning Wedel-Morales' death.
"Morales was positively identified using dental records with the assistance of the U.S. Army Dental Corps," the statement published on the Fort Hood Facebook page said, adding that an autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause and manner of his death.
Advertisement
"The First Team is saddened by the news of the passing of Pvt. Gregory Morales," said Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, which Morales had been assigned to in November 2016.
Military officials said Morales was processing out from the Army and was scheduled to be discharged within days of his disappearance.
He is the second soldier stationed at the base to disappear in the past year, though officials said that at this point in their investigation "no credible information" has been found connecting the two cases.
Pfc. Vanessa Guillen was last seen April 22 in the parking lot of her Regimental Engineer Squadron Headquarters at Fort Hood, Army officials said, adding that her car keys, barracks room key, identification and wallet were later found in the armory where she had worked earlier that day.
"At this point, investigators have no credible information or report that Vanessa Guillen was sexually assaulted or that this case is in any way connected to the investigation into the disappearance of Pvt. Gregory Wedel-Morales," a statement published last week on the Fort Hood Facebook page said. "Both of these allegations have been widely circulated via the media and on social media."
Advertisement
More than 150 people have been interviewed concerning her disappearance, officials said.
A $25,000 reward has also been offered to anyone with information leading to her whereabouts.
"We know somebody out there has some very critical information pertaining to this investigation and we strongly encourage you to do the right thing and come forward," said Chris Grey, spokesman for the Army Criminal Investigation Division. "Do it for Vanessa and do it for her family, friends and fellow soldiers."


upi--2020-06-21--Redskins retire Bobby Mitchell's number, remove ex-owner's name from seating level

June 21 ( UPI ) -- The Washington Redskins are retiring the number worn by the late Bobby Mitchell and renaming the lower level of the team 's FedEx Field in his honor , the club announced Saturday .
Mitchell -- the first African American player in the franchise 's history -- will become only the second player in the Redskins ' 88-year history to have his jersey number retired .
Sammy Baugh 's No .
33 previously was the only retired number .
Mitchell , who wore No .
49 with the Redskins , died in early April at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one more deserving of these honors than the late Bobby Mitchell , '' Redskins owner Dan Snyder said in a statement .
`` Bobby was one of the most influential players not only in our team 's history , but in the National Football League .
`` He excelled on the field , in the front office and most importantly in his community where he had a tremendous impact on the lives of so many through his charitable efforts .
He was one of the greatest men I have ever known . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ day after the statue of former Redskins founding owner George Preston Marshall , the last NFL owner to integrate his roster in the 1960s , was removed from outside of the team 's former home at RFK Stadium .
The lower bowl of the Redskins ' FedEx Field had been named after Marshall , who owned the franchise from its inception in 1932 until his death in 1969 .
Mitchell -- a five-time All-Pro wide receiver -- played seven seasons for the Redskins and was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame @ @ @

Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Bobby Mitchell (M) will become only the second player in Washington Redskins history to have his jersey number retired. File Photo by Stephen M. Gross/UPI | License Photo
June 21 (UPI) -- The Washington Redskins are retiring the number worn by the late Bobby Mitchell and renaming the lower level of the team's FedEx Field in his honor, the club announced Saturday. Mitchell -- the first African American player in the franchise's history -- will become only the second player in the Redskins' 88-year history to have his jersey number retired. Sammy Baugh's No. 33 previously was the only retired number. Advertisement
Mitchell, who wore No. 49 with the Redskins, died in early April at age 84.
"There is no one more deserving of these honors than the late Bobby Mitchell," Redskins owner Dan Snyder said in a statement. "Bobby was one of the most influential players not only in our team's history, but in the National Football League.
"He excelled on the field, in the front office and most importantly in his community where he had a tremendous impact on the lives of so many through his charitable efforts. He was one of the greatest men I have ever known."
We're pleased to announce the official jersey retirement (#49) of Pro Football Hall of Famer, humanitarian, and all-time legend Bobby Mitchell. Advertisement Only the second player in our history to receive this honor (Sammy Baugh #33). Details: https://t.co/ih6STuP24d pic.twitter.com/xaPPvnc22t— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) June 20, 2020
The moves to honor Mitchell came one day after the statue of former Redskins founding owner George Preston Marshall, the last NFL owner to integrate his roster in the 1960s, was removed from outside of the team's former home at RFK Stadium.
The lower bowl of the Redskins' FedEx Field had been named after Marshall, who owned the franchise from its inception in 1932 until his death in 1969.
Mitchell -- a five-time All-Pro wide receiver -- played seven seasons for the Redskins and was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.


upi--2020-06-21--RBC Heritage: Webb Simpson storms back to win at Hilton Head

June 21 ( UPI ) -- Following a three-hour weather delay , Webb Simpson rattled off five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine to claim a one-shot win over Abraham Ancer in the RBC Heritage .
Simpson closed with a bogey-free 7-under 64 on Sunday at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head , S.C .
He finished at 22-under 262 , breaking the tournament record set by Brian Gay in 2009 by two strokes .
`` It was a crazy day , '' Simpson said .
`` I did n't get it going until [ hole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going in and I started getting confident .
It 's amazing to be standing here right now . ''
Simpson -- who won the Phoenix Open in February -- jumped to No .
5 in the world after his victory , tying his career-best position ( 2012 ) .
He also climbed to the top of the FedEx Cup standings .
Ancer tied for the lead with a birdie on hole No .
15 and stayed in the game with another on No .
17 , but he could n't pull any closer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all 18 greens and finished with a bogey-free 65 .
Daniel Berger , who won last week 's Charles Schwab Challenge , was in the mix after chipping in for birdie on No .
17 and closing with a 65 .
Tyrrell Hatton shot 66 and tied with Berger for third .
Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann were tied for fifth at 19-under par for the tournament .
Brooks Koepka closed with a 65 Sunday and finished seventh , his best result since the Tour Championship .
Rory McIlroy closed with a 70 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consecutive finish outside of the top 30 after going seven straight events with no result worse than fifth .
The PGA Tour now travels to Connecticut for this week 's Travelers Championship .

June 21 (UPI) -- Following a three-hour weather delay, Webb Simpson rattled off five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine to claim a one-shot win over Abraham Ancer in the RBC Heritage.
Simpson closed with a bogey-free 7-under 64 on Sunday at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, S.C. He finished at 22-under 262, breaking the tournament record set by Brian Gay in 2009 by two strokes.
Advertisement
"It was a crazy day," Simpson said. "I didn't get it going until [hole] 12 and then the putts started going in and I started getting confident. It's amazing to be standing here right now."
Simpson -- who won the Phoenix Open in February -- jumped to No. 5 in the world after his victory, tying his career-best position (2012). He also climbed to the top of the FedEx Cup standings.
CLUTCH!@WebbSimpson1 birdies the 71st hole to take a 2-shot lead. He's birdied 5 of the past 6 holes. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/E2s51MOXwq— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 22, 2020
All in the family.@WebbSimpson1 has now won on ... • Father's Day in 2012 (@USOpenGolf) • Mother's Day in 2018 (@THEPLAYERSChamp) • Father's Day in 2020 (@RBC_Heritage) pic.twitter.com/9KiLWe6j0s— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 22, 2020
Advertisement
Ancer tied for the lead with a birdie on hole No. 15 and stayed in the game with another on No. 17, but he couldn't pull any closer to the red-hot Simpson. He hit all 18 greens and finished with a bogey-free 65.
Daniel Berger, who won last week's Charles Schwab Challenge, was in the mix after chipping in for birdie on No. 17 and closing with a 65. Tyrrell Hatton shot 66 and tied with Berger for third.
Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann were tied for fifth at 19-under par for the tournament. Brooks Koepka closed with a 65 Sunday and finished seventh, his best result since the Tour Championship.
Rory McIlroy closed with a 70 and tied for 41st, his second consecutive finish outside of the top 30 after going seven straight events with no result worse than fifth.
The PGA Tour now travels to Connecticut for this week's Travelers Championship.


upi--2020-06-22--Alex Antetokounmpo, brother of Giannis, signs with Spanish pro team

June 22 ( UPI ) -- Alex Antetokounmpo , the youngest brother of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo , has signed with Spanish professional team UCAM Murcia .
He announced his signing with the Spanish basketball team on Monday .
According to EuroHoops , the youngest Antetokounmpo brother reached a three-year deal -- which includes an NBA opt-out clause every summer -- with UCAM Murcia .
`` Big move @ alex_ante34 I 'm so happy and proud of you , '' Giannis Antetokounmpo wrote on social media .
`` Now let 's get it . ''
Last month , Alex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play professionally in Europe .
He had reportedly received offers from Wisconsin-Green Bay , Ohio and DePaul , among other schools .
Alex Antetokounmpo , 18 , moved from Greece to the Milwaukee area in 2013 , when Giannis was beginning his NBA career with the Bucks .
He graduated from Dominican High School in Wisconsin this year .
Alex Antetokounmpo , listed at 6-foot-7 and 190 pounds , was a three-star recruit , according to ESPN and 247Sports .
He was a first-team all-state selection on two occasions , averaging 20 points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior season .
If he makes it to the NBA , Alex would become the fourth Antetokounmpo brother to reach the league .
Giannis and Thanasis both play for the Bucks , while Kostas plays for the Los Angeles Lakers .
Alex Antetokounmpo will be eligible for the NBA Draft starting in 2021 .

June 22 (UPI) -- Alex Antetokounmpo, the youngest brother of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, has signed with Spanish professional team UCAM Murcia.
He announced his signing with the Spanish basketball team on Monday. According to EuroHoops, the youngest Antetokounmpo brother reached a three-year deal -- which includes an NBA opt-out clause every summer -- with UCAM Murcia.
Advertisement
"Big move @alex_ante34 I'm so happy and proud of you," Giannis Antetokounmpo wrote on social media. "Now let's get it."
Big move @alex_ante34 I'm so happy and proud of you. Now let's get it @UCAMMurcia pic.twitter.com/yZzMucCbBu— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) June 22, 2020
Last month, Alex Antetokounmpo announced he was skipping college to play professionally in Europe. He had reportedly received offers from Wisconsin-Green Bay, Ohio and DePaul, among other schools.
Alex Antetokounmpo, 18, moved from Greece to the Milwaukee area in 2013, when Giannis was beginning his NBA career with the Bucks. He graduated from Dominican High School in Wisconsin this year.
Advertisement
Alex Antetokounmpo, listed at 6-foot-7 and 190 pounds, was a three-star recruit, according to ESPN and 247Sports. He was a first-team all-state selection on two occasions, averaging 20 points and 7.3 rebounds per game during his senior season.
If he makes it to the NBA, Alex would become the fourth Antetokounmpo brother to reach the league. Giannis and Thanasis both play for the Bucks, while Kostas plays for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Alex Antetokounmpo will be eligible for the NBA Draft starting in 2021.


upi--2020-06-22--Kobe Bryant high school basketball footage to be auctioned in July

June 22 ( UPI ) -- The auction house Profiles in History will sell more than 22 hours of footage from Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant 's high school basketball career in late July .
According to the organization , it is auctioning off a video library that includes clips of Bryant in games and interviews during his prep career at Lower Merion High School outside of Philadelphia .
The footage comes from the media library of Stu Ross , who produced High School Sports Show , which was a syndicated weekly television series viewed in 35 cities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 700 athletes , including LeBron James , Tom Brady , Wayne Gretzky , Shaquille O'Neal , Michael Phelps , Dwyane Wade and Allen Iverson .
The collection will be auctioned off in one lot , and Profiles in History estimates the price could reach between $ 250,000 to $ 350,000 .
The auction will take place July 23 in Calabasas , Calif. Before the Lakers selected him in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft , Bryant starred at Lower Merion .
He helped the Aces win a state title @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 53 years -- and was a McDonald 's All-American as a senior .
Bryant , a five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star selection , died in a helicopter crash Jan. 26 .
He was 41 .

Before the Los Angeles Lakers selected him in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft, Kobe Bryant (C) starred at Lower Merion High School. He helped the Aces win a state title in 1996, the school's first in 53 years. File Photo by Steve Grayson/UPI | License Photo
June 22 (UPI) -- The auction house Profiles in History will sell more than 22 hours of footage from Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant's high school basketball career in late July. According to the organization, it is auctioning off a video library that includes clips of Bryant in games and interviews during his prep career at Lower Merion High School outside of Philadelphia. Advertisement
The footage comes from the media library of Stu Ross, who produced High School Sports Show, which was a syndicated weekly television series viewed in 35 cities. His video collection includes 130 hours and more than 700 athletes, including LeBron James, Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Shaquille O'Neal, Michael Phelps, Dwyane Wade and Allen Iverson.
The collection will be auctioned off in one lot, and Profiles in History estimates the price could reach between $250,000 to $350,000. The auction will take place July 23 in Calabasas, Calif.
Before the Lakers selected him in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft, Bryant starred at Lower Merion. He helped the Aces win a state title in 1996 -- the school's first in 53 years -- and was a McDonald's All-American as a senior.
Advertisement
Bryant, a five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star selection, died in a helicopter crash Jan. 26. He was 41.


upi--2020-06-22--Orlando Pride withdraws from NWSL Cup after positive coronavirus tests

June 22 ( UPI ) -- The Orlando Pride have pulled out from the upcoming National Women 's Soccer League Challenge Cup after multiple players and staff members tested positive for the coronavirus , the club announced Monday .
The team said in a statement that all players and staff who tested positive were symptomatic .
According to the NWSL , six players and four staff members with the Pride tested positive for the virus .
`` This was obviously a difficult and disappointing outcome for our players , our staff and fans , however this is a decision that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health of all involved in the Challenge Cup , '' Pride executive vice president Amanda Duffy said in a statement .
`` While we were all excited to see the 2020 Pride on the field this weekend , our priority is now making sure our players and staff safely recover and providing any support wherever and however possible . ''
NWSL clubs were in the preseason when the coronavirus pandemic effectively shut down sports across the globe in March .
The league announced in late May that it would resume competition with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Orlando was scheduled to play the Chicago Red Stars on the opening day of the Challenge Cup .
The tournament is set to run from June 27 to July 26 .

June 22 (UPI) -- The Orlando Pride have pulled out from the upcoming National Women's Soccer League Challenge Cup after multiple players and staff members tested positive for the coronavirus, the club announced Monday.
The team said in a statement that all players and staff who tested positive were symptomatic. According to the NWSL, six players and four staff members with the Pride tested positive for the virus.
Advertisement
"This was obviously a difficult and disappointing outcome for our players, our staff and fans, however this is a decision that was made in order to protect the health of all involved in the Challenge Cup," Pride executive vice president Amanda Duffy said in a statement.
"While we were all excited to see the 2020 Pride on the field this weekend, our priority is now making sure our players and staff safely recover and providing any support wherever and however possible."
NWSL clubs were in the preseason when the coronavirus pandemic effectively shut down sports across the globe in March. The league announced in late May that it would resume competition with a tournament in Utah involving all nine teams.
Advertisement
Orlando was scheduled to play the Chicago Red Stars on the opening day of the Challenge Cup. The tournament is set to run from June 27 to July 26.


upi--2020-06-22--Ryan Blaney wins GEICO 500 in photo finish; Bubba Wallace finishes 14th

June 22 ( UPI ) -- Ryan Blaney edged Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by the nose of his No .
12 Ford to win the GEICO 500 in overtime Monday at Talladega Superspeedway .
Blaney led a race-best 63 of the 191 laps in the GEICO 500 , which was pushed back one day because of inclement weather Sunday at the central Alabama track .
Poor weather also impacted Monday 's event , as storms in the area forced a delay that lasted about one hour with 57 laps complete .
Blaney 's second consecutive win at the 2.66-mile track was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Really excited to get our first win of the year at a cool place , '' Blaney said .
`` That was a lot of fun . ''
Stenhouse squeezed by Aric Almirola for second place , finishing only .007 seconds back from Blaney at the checkered flag .
Almirola came in third , followed by Denny Hamlin ( fourth ) and Erik Jones ( fifth ) .
Prior to the race , fellow NASCAR drivers and crew members showed their support for Bubba Wallace , who was the target of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area .
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal authorities launched an investigation after a noose was found in Wallace 's garage .
In response to the incident , drivers and pit crew personnel stood beside Wallace during the national anthem and then pushed his No .
43 Chevrolet to the front of the grid before the Cup Series race .
Wallace , who is the only black driver in the Cup Series , ran as high as third in the final 20 laps before dropping to 14th because of a fuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The deal that happened yesterday , I just wanted to show whoever it was that you 're not going to take away my smile , '' Wallace said after the race .
`` I 'm going to keep on going .
...
The pre-race deal was probably one of the hardest things I 've ever had to witness in my life .
`` From all the supporters , from drivers , from crew members , everybody here ...
It was truly incredible and I 'm proud to be a part of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , Alex Bowman ( seventh ) , John Hunter Nemechek ( eighth ) , Kurt Busch ( ninth ) and Kevin Harvick ( 10th ) rounded out the top 10 .
Jimmie Johnson finished 13th and Joey Logano ended up in 17th .
The crowd at Talladega dwindled significantly from Sunday , when up to 5,000 fans were allowed into the track .
It was the second race with fans since NASCAR returned from its pandemic-related shutdown .
The NASCAR Cup Series ' next race weekend features a doubleheader , with events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Long Pond , Pa .

Ryan Blaney earned his fourth career Cup Series win Monday at Talladega Superspeedway. File Photo by Edwin Locke/UPI | License Photo
June 22 (UPI) -- Ryan Blaney edged Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by the nose of his No. 12 Ford to win the GEICO 500 in overtime Monday at Talladega Superspeedway. Blaney led a race-best 63 of the 191 laps in the GEICO 500, which was pushed back one day because of inclement weather Sunday at the central Alabama track. Poor weather also impacted Monday's event, as storms in the area forced a delay that lasted about one hour with 57 laps complete. Advertisement
Blaney's second consecutive win at the 2.66-mile track was the fourth of his Cup Series career.
"Really excited to get our first win of the year at a cool place," Blaney said. "That was a lot of fun."
Stenhouse squeezed by Aric Almirola for second place, finishing only .007 seconds back from Blaney at the checkered flag. Almirola came in third, followed by Denny Hamlin (fourth) and Erik Jones (fifth).
Another chapter written in the book of thrilling @TalladegaSuperS finishes. Once again, it was @Blaney holding off the pack to score the victory. pic.twitter.com/jPEQC91QcA— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 23, 2020
Advertisement
Prior to the race, fellow NASCAR drivers and crew members showed their support for Bubba Wallace, who was the target of a racist incident Sunday in the garage area.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal authorities launched an investigation after a noose was found in Wallace's garage.
In response to the incident, drivers and pit crew personnel stood beside Wallace during the national anthem and then pushed his No. 43 Chevrolet to the front of the grid before the Cup Series race.
Wallace, who is the only black driver in the Cup Series, ran as high as third in the final 20 laps before dropping to 14th because of a fuel shortage.
"The sport is changing. The deal that happened yesterday, I just wanted to show whoever it was that you're not going to take away my smile," Wallace said after the race. "I'm going to keep on going. ... The pre-race deal was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to witness in my life.
"From all the supporters, from drivers, from crew members, everybody here ... It was truly incredible and I'm proud to be a part of this sport."
Advertisement "I wanted to show whoever it was that you're not going to take away my smile." - @BubbaWallace pic.twitter.com/wVSaGOxXtN— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 23, 2020
Chris Buescher (sixth), Alex Bowman (seventh), John Hunter Nemechek (eighth), Kurt Busch (ninth) and Kevin Harvick (10th) rounded out the top 10. Jimmie Johnson finished 13th and Joey Logano ended up in 17th.
The crowd at Talladega dwindled significantly from Sunday, when up to 5,000 fans were allowed into the track. It was the second race with fans since NASCAR returned from its pandemic-related shutdown.
The NASCAR Cup Series' next race weekend features a doubleheader, with events scheduled Saturday and Sunday at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.


upi--2020-06-22--LGBTQ groups sue Trump administration over transgender health rollbacks

June 22 ( UPI ) -- A group of LGBTQ advocates and clinics filed suit Monday to stop the Trump administration 's rollback of federal healthcare discrimination protections for transgender people .
A coalition of clinics filed the suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after the Department of Health and Human Services announced June 12 that the government would take a narrower interpretation of sexual discrimination under the Affordable Care Act .
`` Everyone deserves easy access to health care , and health care that is respectful of who we are , '' Bamby Salcedo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coalition , told NPR in a statement .
`` This rule will hurt marginalized communities who already experience barriers to care . ''
TransLatin @ Coalition is listed as a plaintiff in the suit , along with the American Association of Physicians for Human Rights , the Philadelphia-based Association of LGBTQ Psychiatrists as well as clinics and doctors in Washington , D.C. , Los Angeles and Pennsylvania .
In 2016 , the HHS ruled that patients under the Affordable Care Act were protected from sexual discrimination based on gender identity , which included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a combination of male and female . ''
But new Trump administration rule limited that language to only apply to the word `` sex . ''
HHS said the change would save hospitals and insurers $ 2.9 billion in `` unnecessary regulatory burdens '' over five years .
The new rule means those regulated entities wo n't have to send patients and customers notices about non-discrimination practices , the agency said .
The Human Rights Campaign also said it planned to sue the Trump administration for the rule change .
`` LGBTQ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care .
LGBTQ people should not live in fear that they can not get the care they need simply because of who they are , '' the organization 's president Alphonso David said .
`` It is clear that this administration does not believe that LGBTQ people , or other marginalized communities , deserve equality under the law . ''
Last week , the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that LGBTQ employees were protected under civil rights law from being fired from their jobs based on their sexual orientation .

A group of LGBTQ advocates and clinics sued Monday to try to stop the Trump administration's rollbacks of healthcare sex discrimination for transgender patients. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
June 22 (UPI) -- A group of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocates and clinics filed suit Monday to stop the Trump administration's rollback of federal healthcare discrimination protections for transgender people. A coalition of clinics filed the suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after the Department of Health and Human Services announced June 12 that the government would take a narrower interpretation of sexual discrimination under the Affordable Care Act. Advertisement
"Everyone deserves easy access to healthcare and healthcare that is respectful of who we are," Bamby Salcedo, president and CEO of the TransLatin@ Coalition, told NPR in a statement. "This rule will hurt marginalized communities who already experience barriers to care."
TransLatin@ Coalition is listed as a plaintiff in the suit, along with the American Association of Physicians for Human Rights, the Philadelphia-based Association of LGBTQ Psychiatrists, as well as clinics and doctors in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Pennsylvania.
In 2016, the HHS ruled that patients under the Affordable Care Act were protected from sexual discrimination based on gender identity, which included "male, female, neither, or a combination of male and female." But a new Trump administration rule limited that language to only apply to the word "sex."
Advertisement
HHS said the change would save hospitals and insurers $2.9 billion in "unnecessary regulatory burdens" over five years. The new rule means those regulated entities won't have to send patients and customers notices about non-discrimination practices, the agency said.
The Human Rights Campaign also said it planned to sue the Trump administration for the rule change.
"LGBTQ people get sick. LGBTQ people need healthcare. LGBTQ people should not live in fear that they cannot get the care they need simply because of who they are," the organization's president Alphonso David said. "It is clear that this administration does not believe that LGBTQ people, or other marginalized communities, deserve equality under the law."
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that LGBTQ employees were protected under civil rights law from being fired from their jobs based on their sexual orientation.


upi--2020-06-22--Idaho mother called missing children 'zombies;'  affidavit says

June 22 ( UPI ) -- The mother of two missing Idaho children referred to them as `` zombies '' after their disappearance , court records show .
Idaho Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins unsealed an arrest affidavit Friday , published by the East Idaho News , as law enforcement officials and the FBI have been following a trail between Arizona and Idaho of multiple mysterious deaths and unusual religious beliefs as they searched for the children since November 2019 .
Authorities from the FBI and Idaho law enforcement agencies found remains of Joshua `` JJ '' Vallow , 7 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 on the Rexburg , Idaho , property of author Chad Daybell , who is being held on $ 1 million bail .
The children 's mother , Lori Vallow , 46 , who married Daybell after the children disappeared and his first wife died unexpectedly , has been held on $ 1 million bail for refusing to tell authorities the location of her children .
A friend , Melanie Gibb , told police that she visited Lori Vallow 's townhome from Sept. 19 through Sept. 24 .
Gibb agreed to work with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Hawaii , claiming her children were with Gibb .
Gibb told police that Lori Vallow repeatedly referred to her children as `` zombies . ''
Lori told her she and Chad Daybell were given an earthly mission to remove zombies from the world , Gibb said .
Gibb told police she had seen JJ , and inquired about Tylee 's whereabouts .
Lori told her that her daughter had moved out to attend Brigham Young University-Idaho , the affidavit said .
Earlier Lori had told Gibb that Tylee had become a zombie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she had become hard to handle , Gibb told police .
Gibb told police that when she visited , Lori Vallow also called her son JJ a zombie .
Vallow gave evidence that he watched television without speaking , but had an increased vocabulary .
She also claimed that he had said he `` loved Satan '' and had knocked an image of Jesus off the refrigerator .
Gibb told police she did n't observe any difference in JJ 's behavior , the affidavit said .
Gibb told police she last saw JJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Sept. 22 .
On Sept. 23 , cell phone data showed Cox was at the Daybell property for 17 minutes near a pond .
Police found remains after cell phone records showed pings near a pet cemetery on their step-father 's property .
In the affidavit , police said they analyzed the cellphone data of Lori Vallow 's late brother , Alex Cox , who lived in the same townhome complex .
Cox died in December , 2019 , under unknown circumstances .
Tylee was last seen Sept. 8 , on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncle , brother and mother .
Early in the morning , Sept. 9 , cellphone records showed Cox visited Lori Vallow 's townhome and then traveled to a location behind Chad Daybell 's home near a fire pit behind the barn , the affidavit said .
Later that day , Chad Daybell texted his wife that he had shot a raccoon and buried it in a pet cemetery on the property .
`` I found the text suspicious because raccoons are normally nocturnal animals and are not regularly out during the day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Investigators with a warrant found evidence of disrupted earth near the spot , and later found the children 's bodies nearby .
Later in September , Lori withdrew her son JJ from school in Rexburg , saying she planned to homeschool the child .
He was last seen in school on Sept. 22 .
The children 's remains were found near the pet cemetery and pond , authorities said .
Other mysterious deaths are connected to the case .
Alex Cox shot and killed Lori Vallow 's estranged former husband Charles Vallow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2019 , claiming he was acting in self-defense .
Cox then died in December .
After the children disappeared , Chad Daybell 's first wife , and mother of his five children , Tammy Daybell , died in October .
Chad and Lori Vallow were married two weeks later .
Authorities have re-opened the investigation into Tammy Daybell 's death .

Lori Vallow referred to her two missing children as "zombies" according to an affidavit in the murders of JJ Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17. Photo courtesy of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
June 22 (UPI) -- The mother of two missing Idaho children referred to them as "zombies" after their disappearance, court records show. Idaho Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins unsealed an arrest affidavit Friday, published by the East Idaho News, as law enforcement officials and the FBI have been following a trail between Arizona and Idaho of multiple mysterious deaths and unusual religious beliefs as they searched for the children since November 2019. Advertisement
Authorities from the FBI and Idaho law enforcement agencies found remains of Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17, June 9 on the Rexburg, Idaho, property of author Chad Daybell, who is being held on $1 million bail.
The children's mother, Lori Vallow, 46, who married Daybell after the children disappeared and his first wife died unexpectedly, has been held on $1 million bail for refusing to tell authorities the location of her children.
Advertisement
A friend, Melanie Gibb, told police that she visited Lori Vallow's townhome from Sept. 19 through Sept. 24.
Gibb agreed to work with investigators after Lori Vallow lied to police in Hawaii, claiming her children were with Gibb.
Gibb told police that Lori Vallow repeatedly referred to her children as "zombies." Lori told her she and Chad Daybell were given an earthly mission to remove zombies from the world, Gibb said.
Gibb told police she had seen JJ, and inquired about Tylee's whereabouts. Lori told her that her daughter had moved out to attend Brigham Young University-Idaho, the affidavit said.
Earlier Lori had told Gibb that Tylee had become a zombie at around age 12 or 13 when she had become hard to handle, Gibb told police.
Gibb told police that when she visited, Lori Vallow also called her son JJ a zombie.
Vallow gave evidence that he watched television without speaking, but had an increased vocabulary. She also claimed that he had said he "loved Satan" and had knocked an image of Jesus off the refrigerator. Gibb told police she didn't observe any difference in JJ's behavior, the affidavit said.
Gibb told police she last saw JJ with his uncle Alex Cox the evening of Sept. 22. On Sept. 23, cell phone data showed Cox was at the Daybell property for 17 minutes near a pond.
Advertisement
Police found remains after cell phone records showed pings near a pet cemetery on their step-father's property.
In the affidavit, police said they analyzed the cellphone data of Lori Vallow's late brother, Alex Cox, who lived in the same townhome complex. Cox died in December, 2019, under unknown circumstances.
Tylee was last seen Sept. 8, on a visit to Yellowstone National Park with her uncle, brother and mother.
Early in the morning, Sept. 9, cellphone records showed Cox visited Lori Vallow's townhome and then traveled to a location behind Chad Daybell's home near a fire pit behind the barn, the affidavit said.
Later that day, Chad Daybell texted his wife that he had shot a raccoon and buried it in a pet cemetery on the property.
"I found the text suspicious because raccoons are normally nocturnal animals and are not regularly out during the day," an investigator wrote in the affidavit.
Investigators with a warrant found evidence of disrupted earth near the spot, and later found the children's bodies nearby.
Later in September, Lori withdrew her son JJ from school in Rexburg, saying she planned to homeschool the child. He was last seen in school on Sept. 22.
Advertisement
The children's remains were found near the pet cemetery and pond, authorities said.
Other mysterious deaths are connected to the case.
Alex Cox shot and killed Lori Vallow's estranged former husband Charles Vallow in Chandler, Ariz., in July of 2019, claiming he was acting in self-defense. Cox then died in December.
After the children disappeared, Chad Daybell's first wife, and mother of his five children, Tammy Daybell, died in October. Chad and Lori Vallow were married two weeks later. Authorities have re-opened the investigation into Tammy Daybell's death.


upi--2020-06-22--MLB players rejects owners' latest 60-game proposal

June 22 ( UPI ) -- The Major League Baseball Players Association on Monday turned down MLB 's 60-game proposal with full prorated pay and expanded playoffs .
League sources told ESPN and The Athletic that the MLBPA voted 33-5 to reject the owners ' latest offer , putting MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in a position to implement a schedule of his choice -- likely between 50 to 60 games .
League owners also could vote not to play the 2020 campaign .
It would require eight no votes to cancel the season .
`` The MLBPA Executive Board met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the status of our efforts to resume the 2020 season , '' the union said in a statement Monday .
`` Earlier this evening , the full board reaffirmed the players ' eagerness to return to work as soon and as safely as possible .
`` To that end we anticipate finalizing a comprehensive set of health and safety protocols with Major League Baseball in the coming days , and we await word from the league on the resumption of spring training camps and a proposed 2020 schedule .
`` While we had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work agreement with the league , the players remain fully committed to proceeding under our current agreement and getting back on the field for the fans , for the game , and for each other . ''
The owners delivered their latest offer to the players ' union last week .
In response to that proposal , the MLBPA sent a 70-game counteroffer to the league , which was quickly rejected by the owners .
The players ' union then delayed its vote on the owners ' proposal to collect new data regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training facilities in Florida and Arizona last week .
The league temporarily closed all training camps Friday , later announcing that a restart of spring training would only happen in team 's home cities .
The MLBPA delayed its vote again after Manfred made late adjustments to the offer .
In an email to MLBPA executive director Tony Clark , the baseball commissioner wanted to cancel the expanded postseason and universal designated hitter ideas for the 2021 season if a full season is n't played in 2020 .
By turning down the owners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their right to file a potential grievance over the terms of the March agreement between the MLBPA and the league .
If the parties ca n't reach a deal , the league has the power to implement a season of its desired length -- likely about 50 games -- per the March 26 agreement between the two sides .
The MLBPA is expected to file a grievance against the owners if MLB moves forward with that plan .

The MLBPA previously delayed its vote after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred made late adjustments to the league's 60-game offer. File Photo by Lori Shepler/UPI | License Photo
June 22 (UPI) -- Major League Baseball owners voted unanimously to play the 2020 season under the terms of their March agreement with the MLB Players Association, the league announced Monday night. The league's owners voted to implement a 60-game season, hours after the MLBPA's executive board turned down MLB's latest 60-game proposal that included full prorated pay and expanded playoffs. According to ESPN and The Athletic, the union voted 33-5 to reject the owners' offer. Advertisement
"The MLBPA Executive Board met multiple times in recent days to assess the status of our efforts to resume the 2020 season," the union said in a statement earlier Monday. "Earlier this evening, the full board reaffirmed the players' eagerness to return to work as soon and as safely as possible.
Advertisement
"To that end we anticipate finalizing a comprehensive set of health and safety protocols with Major League Baseball in the coming days, and we await word from the league on the resumption of spring training camps and a proposed 2020 schedule.
"While we had hoped to reach a revised back to work agreement with the league, the players remain fully committed to proceeding under our current agreement and getting back on the field for the fans, for the game, and for each other."
In its statement, the league asked the players' union to provide two pieces of information by 5 p.m. EDT Tuesday, with the first being whether players will be able to report to training camp in their respective cities by July 1. The second is whether the union will agree on the operating manual of health and safety protocols.
"Today, the Major League Baseball Players Association informed us that they have rejected the agreement framework developed by Commissioner Manfred and [MLBPA executive director] Tony Clark," MLB said in its statement. "Needless to say, we are disappointed by this development.
"In view of this rejection, the MLB clubs have unanimously voted to proceed with the 2020 season under the terms of the March 26 agreement."
Advertisement
The MLBPA is expected to sign off on MLB's proposed July 1 report date and the health and safety protocols to lock in a 60-game season that will begin around July 24, according to ESPN.
The owners delivered their latest offer to the players' union last week. In response to that proposal, the MLBPA sent a 70-game counteroffer to the league, which was quickly rejected by the owners.
The players' union then delayed its vote on the owners' proposal to collect new data regarding coronavirus testing after multiple outbreaks at spring training facilities in Florida and Arizona last week. The league temporarily closed all training camps Friday, later announcing that a restart of spring training would only happen in team's home cities.
The MLBPA delayed its vote again after Manfred made late adjustments to the offer. In an email to MLBPA executive director Tony Clark, the baseball commissioner wanted to cancel the expanded postseason and universal designated hitter ideas for the 2021 season if a full season isn't played in 2020.
By turning down the owners' 60-game plan, the players retained their right to file a potential grievance over the terms of the March agreement between the MLBPA and the league.


upi--2020-06-22--Two Trump campaign staffers test positive for COVID-19 after Tulsa rally

June 22 ( UPI ) -- Two staffers who attended President Donald Trump 's rally in Oklahoma on Saturday tested positive for COVID-19 , Trump 's campaign said Monday .
Tim Murtaugh , the communications director for Trump 's campaign , confirmed that two members of a campaign advance team who attended the rally at the Bank of Oklahoma Center tested positive for the coronavirus .
Previously , the campaign had announced that six other members tested positive for the virus ahead of the event and did not attend the rally as a result .
`` After another round of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two additional members of the advance team tested positive for the coronavirus , '' said Murtaugh .
`` These staff members attended the rally but were wearing masks during the entire event .
Upon the positive tests , the campaign immediately established quarantine and contact-tracing protocols . ''
Murtaugh said that campaign staffers are tested before events and the two who most recently tested positive were tested after the rally as a precaution before flying home .
The rally in Tulsa was Trump 's first campaign event since March before widespread efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the canceling of large gatherings and other events .
During the rally , Trump referred to the coronavirus as the `` Kung Flu , '' blaming China for its arrival in the United States .
He said he told officials in his administration to `` slow the testing down '' as an increase in testing would lead to an increase in coronavirus cases .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said during a press conference Monday that Trump was joking when he made the comments about slowing the rate of testing .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back temperature checks for visitors , as Washington , D.C. , entered its second phase in its plan to reopen following restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus .
The United States has reported 2,305,950 cases of COVID-19 and 120,340 deaths related to the virus , more than any other nation , according to figures from Johns Hopkins University .

President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Bank of Oklahoma Center in Tulsa, Okla., on June 20, 2020. Photo by Kyle Rivas/UPI | License Photo
June 22 (UPI) -- Two staffers who attended President Donald Trump's rally in Oklahoma on Saturday tested positive for COVID-19, Trump's campaign said Monday. Tim Murtaugh, the communications director for Trump's campaign, confirmed that two members of a campaign advance team who attended the rally at the Bank of Oklahoma Center tested positive for the coronavirus. Advertisement
Previously, the campaign had announced that six other members tested positive for the virus ahead of the event and did not attend the rally as a result.
"After another round of testing for campaign staff in Tulsa, two additional members of the advance team tested positive for the coronavirus," said Murtaugh. "These staff members attended the rally but were wearing masks during the entire event. Upon the positive tests, the campaign immediately established quarantine and contact-tracing protocols."
Murtaugh said that campaign staffers are tested before events and the two who most recently tested positive were tested after the rally as a precaution before flying home.
The rally in Tulsa was Trump's first campaign event since March before widespread efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 resulted in the canceling of large gatherings and other events.
Advertisement
During the rally, Trump referred to the coronavirus as the "Kung Flu," blaming China for its arrival in the United States. He said he told officials in his administration to "slow the testing down" as an increase in testing would lead to an increase in coronavirus cases.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said during a press conference Monday that Trump was joking when he made the comments about slowing the rate of testing.
On Monday, the White House also scaled back temperature checks for visitors, as Washington, D.C., entered its second phase in its plan to reopen following restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus.
The United States has reported 2,305,950 cases of COVID-19 and 120,340 deaths related to the virus, more than any other nation, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.


upi--2020-06-22--Trump signs executive order temporarily suspending work visas

June 22 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday halting access to various temporary work visas through the end of the year .
The order cites the COVID-19 pandemic in implementing a freeze new H1-B , H-4 , L and most J visas as well as some H2-B visas with an exception for food processing workers , extending a prior 60-day limit on immigration signed in April that was set to expire .
A hold on the issuance of new green cards issued in response to the coronavirus will also remain in place through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under ordinary circumstances , properly administered temporary worker programs can provide benefits to the economy , '' Trump said in the order .
`` But under the extraordinary circumstances of the economic contraction resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak , certain nonimmigrant visa programs authorizing such employment pose an unusual threat to the employment of American workers . ''
H-1B visas grant temporary work authorizations to people with highly specialized knowledge and are commonly utilized in the tech industry , while H-4 visas are issued to immediate family members of people who hold H-1B @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently capped to 85,000 annually .
H-2 visas provide temporary work for agriculture , construction , forestry and other industries , L visas are for temporary intracompany transfers who serve in management positions or have specialized knowledge and J visas are provided for study-based exchange visitor programs .
RJ Hauman , government relations director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform , praised the order as a `` big win for American workers '' while expressing some worry about the implementation .
`` We have some concern over potential abuse of broadly written @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for that to be addressed , both now and during implementation , '' Hauman told NPR .
Leon Fresco , a former deputy assistant attorney general during the Obama administration who currently represents H-1B workers condemned the decision by the White House .
`` The ban on H-1B visas , which are often used to fill very niche positions that are not easily found in the American workforce , will ultimately prove to be counterproductive and is an example of using a nuclear bomb to address a bar fight , '' said Fresco @

President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order suspending access to H1-B, H-4 and visas as well as H2-B and J visas through the end of the year with some exceptions. Photo by Michael Reynolds/UPI | License Photo
June 22 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday halting access to various temporary work visas through the end of the year. The order cites the COVID-19 pandemic in implementing a freeze new H1-B, H-4, L and most J visas as well as some H2-B visas with an exception for food processing workers, extending a prior 60-day limit on immigration signed in April that was set to expire. Advertisement
A hold on the issuance of new green cards issued in response to the coronavirus will also remain in place through the end of the year.
"Under ordinary circumstances, properly administered temporary worker programs can provide benefits to the economy," Trump said in the order. "But under the extraordinary circumstances of the economic contraction resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak, certain nonimmigrant visa programs authorizing such employment pose an unusual threat to the employment of American workers."
H-1B visas grant temporary work authorizations to people with highly specialized knowledge and are commonly utilized in the tech industry, while H-4 visas are issued to immediate family members of people who hold H-1B visas. Issuances of H-1B visas are currently capped to 85,000 annually.
Advertisement
H-2 visas provide temporary work for agriculture, construction, forestry and other industries, L visas are for temporary intracompany transfers who serve in management positions or have specialized knowledge and J visas are provided for study-based exchange visitor programs.
RJ Hauman, government relations director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, praised the order as a "big win for American workers" while expressing some worry about the implementation.
"We have some concern over potential abuse of broadly written exceptions, but there is still time for that to be addressed, both now and during implementation," Hauman told NPR.
Leon Fresco, a former deputy assistant attorney general during the Obama administration who currently represents H-1B workers condemned the decision by the White House.
"The ban on H-1B visas, which are often used to fill very niche positions that are not easily found in the American workforce, will ultimately prove to be counterproductive and is an example of using a nuclear bomb to address a bar fight," said Fresco.


upi--2020-06-22--35 COVID-19 cases found in single Air Force unit in Guam

June 22 ( UPI ) -- A sudden increase in COVID-19 infections at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam is under investigation , officials said on Monday .
An unidentified Air Force unit arrived in Guam on May 25 , and 35 of its members have been hospitalized and quarantined since .
The first virus case was discovered on June 11 , will all members of the unit tested by June 19 .
The group stayed at the Guam Reef Hotel , in Guam 's entertainment and shopping district , before moving to the base , and officials are investigating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` All military members are subject to the established public health emergency protocols , '' Brig .
Gen. Gentry Boswell , commander of the 36th Air Wing , stationed at the base , said on Monday .
`` If the ensuing investigation determines that members did not follow these directives in a disciplined manner , they will be held accountable for their actions under the Uniform Code of Military Justice . ''
`` Preliminary evidence in a public health investigation revealed the possibility that some of these members may not have adhered to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Boswell added .
It is unclear if the infected members of the group acquired the virus before or after they arrived in Guam .
Two other airmen deployed to Guam , not associated with the unit under investigation , tested positive for the coronavirus , the Guam Homeland Security Office of Civil Defense said on Monday .
`` To date , there have been a total of 224 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 5 deaths , 173 released from isolation , and 46 active cases , '' the Civil Defense office said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are classified as civilians , and 42 are military service members . ''
Naval Base Guam was the site of a two-month quarantine of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt .
Over 1,500 people aboard the ship tested positive for the virus .
The ship left Guam on June 4 , and the recent outbreak is not believed to be related to that aboard the ship , officials said .

Thirty-five members of a U.S. Air Force unit recently arrived at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam have contracted the COVID-19 virus, the Air Force said on Monday. Photo by A1C Christopher Quail/U.S. Air force
June 22 (UPI) -- A sudden increase in COVID-19 infections at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam is under investigation, officials said on Monday. An unidentified Air Force unit arrived in Guam on May 25, and 35 of its members have been hospitalized and quarantined since. Advertisement
The first virus case was discovered on June 11, will all members of the unit tested by June 19.
The group stayed at the Guam Reef Hotel, in Guam's entertainment and shopping district, before moving to the base, and officials are investigating if mandatory protection protocols were followed.
"All military members are subject to the established public health emergency protocols," Brig. Gen. Gentry Boswell, commander of the 36th Air Wing, stationed at the base, said on Monday. "If the ensuing investigation determines that members did not follow these directives in a disciplined manner, they will be held accountable for their actions under the Uniform Code of Military Justice."
"Preliminary evidence in a public health investigation revealed the possibility that some of these members may not have adhered to Andersen and local Public Health directives," Boswell added.
It is unclear if the infected members of the group acquired the virus before or after they arrived in Guam.
Advertisement
Two other airmen deployed to Guam, not associated with the unit under investigation, tested positive for the coronavirus, the Guam Homeland Security Office of Civil Defense said on Monday.
"To date, there have been a total of 224 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 5 deaths, 173 released from isolation, and 46 active cases," the Civil Defense office said. "Of those cases, 182 are classified as civilians, and 42 are military service members."
Naval Base Guam was the site of a two-month quarantine of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Over 1,500 people aboard the ship tested positive for the virus. The ship left Guam on June 4, and the recent outbreak is not believed to be related to that aboard the ship, officials said.


upi--2020-06-22--U.S. beekeepers saw unsually high summertime colony losses in 2019

June 22 ( UPI ) -- Beekeepers in the United States lost 43.9 percent of honey bee colonies between April 2019 and April 2020 , but surprisingly , a majority of the losses were recorded during summer months .
Every April , researchers with the Bee Informed Partnership distribute flyers to beekeepers across the United States .
Participants are asked to provide information about the colonies they managed over the past 12 months .
The results of the latest survey were released online Monday , showing summer was much worse than winter last year .
`` They give us the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , the number of splits they made or new colonies they bought , or sold , etc.
, and from all that information , we calculate the 'turnover rate , ' '' Nathalie Steinhauer , BIP 's science coordinator , told UPI in an email .
Researchers expect to see fluctuations in the turnover rate from year to year , usually with particularly bad years followed by less dramatic losses , and vice versa .
But typically , winters are worse than summers -- especially for small-scale beekeepers .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winter were down 15.5 percentage points from the winter before .
`` We recorded high losses in the summer of 2019 on the other hand , '' said Steinhauer , who is also a post-doctoral researcher in the entomology department at the University of Maryland .
`` And when we dig deeper into beekeeper categories , we realized it was mostly large sale migratory beekeepers that seemed to suffer the most that summer . ''
The Bee Informed Partnership 's survey results do n't offer a colony-by-colony autopsy report , but the questionnaires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspected cause of colony losses .
`` We ask beekeepers their opinion as to what caused their colonies to be lost , but it is rather subjective , and mostly indicative of what the beekeepers perceive are the high risks factors , '' Steinhauer said .
While understanding how beekeepers perceive risk can be useful , Steinhauer said there 's plenty of research highlighting the biggest threats to honey bee colony health .
The biggest threats to bee colony health include : parasites , particularly the Varroa mite ; a variety of viral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; and poor nutrition .
All of these threats can be exacerbated by weather patterns and poor management practices , experts say .
According to Steinhauer , weather anomalies best explain the unexpected results from the latest survey .
`` We have heard anecdotally from various sources that spring 2019 was particularly late and wet , slowing a lot of the development of colonies and queen rearing early in the year , which meant colonies did not grow as strongly as you would have wanted , '' she said .
Despite alarmist stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't on the verge of extinction .
Bee keepers are usually able to replenish their colony stocks via hive splitting and other management techniques to replace annual colony losses .
Still , there is plenty of evidence that both wild and managed bees are facing a litany of environmental threats .
`` Some level of colony turnover is normal , but the question is how much is normal and how much is too much , '' Steinhauer said .
The Bee Informed Partnership was largely started to help answer that question , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough data to say for sure .
`` We know from beekeepers that they think the current levels are really high , '' she said .
`` Also , a lot of beekeepers tell us that they 've managed to keep the colony numbers high , but they notice the colonies are not as 'plump ' as they used to be .
It 's hard because again , we do n't have historical data on those aspects either .
So , generally , we say our goal is to improve honey bee health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collect data on colony losses , Steinhauer and other honey bee researchers are working on ways to combat the honey bee 's biggest threats , including pests , pathogens , pesticides and poor nutrition .
`` Each of those can affect honey bees directly , and each of those impact the effects of the others , '' Steinhauer said .
`` Nutrient deprived bees have lower capabilities to detoxify pesticides ; infected bees will not collect as much food from their environment .
It is all a vicious circle where one stressor makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others . ''
Research suggests that when bees have access to a greater diversity of plants and live in generally healthier ecosystems , they 're better able to fight off parasites and resist disease .
`` There is no single culprit which means there is no single solution .
But if we generally improve the environment our bees -- and we -- live in , it might help more than the bees themselves , '' Steinhauer said .

Honey bee colonies experienced unusually high losses in the U.S. during the summer of 2019. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License Photo
June 22 (UPI) -- Beekeepers in the United States lost 43.9 percent of honey bee colonies between April 2019 and April 2020, but surprisingly, a majority of the losses were recorded during summer months. Every April, researchers with the Bee Informed Partnership distribute flyers to beekeepers across the United States. Participants are asked to provide information about the colonies they managed over the past 12 months. Advertisement
The results of the latest survey were released online Monday, showing summer was much worse than winter last year.
"They give us the number of colonies they managed at different times, the number of splits they made or new colonies they bought, or sold, etc., and from all that information, we calculate the 'turnover rate,'" Nathalie Steinhauer, BIP's science coordinator, told UPI in an email.
Researchers expect to see fluctuations in the turnover rate from year to year, usually with particularly bad years followed by less dramatic losses, and vice versa. But typically, winters are worse than summers -- especially for small-scale beekeepers.
Advertisement
According to the latest results, losses over this past winter were down 15.5 percentage points from the winter before.
"We recorded high losses in the summer of 2019 on the other hand," said Steinhauer, who is also a post-doctoral researcher in the entomology department at the University of Maryland. "And when we dig deeper into beekeeper categories, we realized it was mostly large sale migratory beekeepers that seemed to suffer the most that summer."
The Bee Informed Partnership's survey results don't offer a colony-by-colony autopsy report, but the questionnaires distributed to beekeepers do inquire about the suspected cause of colony losses.
"We ask beekeepers their opinion as to what caused their colonies to be lost, but it is rather subjective, and mostly indicative of what the beekeepers perceive are the high risks factors," Steinhauer said.
While understanding how beekeepers perceive risk can be useful, Steinhauer said there's plenty of research highlighting the biggest threats to honey bee colony health.
The biggest threats to bee colony health include: parasites, particularly the Varroa mite; a variety of viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens; pesticides; and poor nutrition. All of these threats can be exacerbated by weather patterns and poor management practices, experts say.
Advertisement
According to Steinhauer, weather anomalies best explain the unexpected results from the latest survey.
"We have heard anecdotally from various sources that spring 2019 was particularly late and wet, slowing a lot of the development of colonies and queen rearing early in the year, which meant colonies did not grow as strongly as you would have wanted," she said.
Despite alarmist stories about bee losses, honey bees aren't on the verge of extinction. Bee keepers are usually able to replenish their colony stocks via hive splitting and other management techniques to replace annual colony losses. Still, there is plenty of evidence that both wild and managed bees are facing a litany of environmental threats.
"Some level of colony turnover is normal, but the question is how much is normal and how much is too much," Steinhauer said.
The Bee Informed Partnership was largely started to help answer that question, but Steinhauer suggests there's still not yet enough data to say for sure.
"We know from beekeepers that they think the current levels are really high," she said. "Also, a lot of beekeepers tell us that they've managed to keep the colony numbers high, but they notice the colonies are not as 'plump' as they used to be. It's hard because again, we don't have historical data on those aspects either. So, generally, we say our goal is to improve honey bee health."
Advertisement
In addition to continuing to collect data on colony losses, Steinhauer and other honey bee researchers are working on ways to combat the honey bee's biggest threats, including pests, pathogens, pesticides and poor nutrition.
"Each of those can affect honey bees directly, and each of those impact the effects of the others," Steinhauer said. "Nutrient deprived bees have lower capabilities to detoxify pesticides; infected bees will not collect as much food from their environment. It is all a vicious circle where one stressor makes it harder for bees to resist the others."
Research suggests that when bees have access to a greater diversity of plants and live in generally healthier ecosystems, they're better able to fight off parasites and resist disease.
"There is no single culprit which means there is no single solution. But if we generally improve the environment our bees -- and we -- live in, it might help more than the bees themselves," Steinhauer said.


upi--2020-06-22--Most civilian contractors have reopened, top Pentagon official says

June 22 ( UPI ) -- Defense contractors are reopening despite the COVID-19 pandemic , but a slowdown is still expected for the next several months , a top Pentagon official said on Monday .
`` Out of 10,509 companies [ the Defense Contract Management Agency ] tracks , we are down to two closed , and 267 companies having closed and reopened , '' Ellen Lord , the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment , told reporters at a press briefing .
`` Out of 11,413 companies DLA [ Defense Logistics Agency ] tracks , 31 are closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Lord said .
Those still closed tend to be smaller contractors , she added , with the weapons programs sector most impacted in the April-to-June time frame .
In April , Lord said that the aviation , shipbuilding and small space launch sectors have been most impacted by the pandemic .
`` We see an enormous amount of recovery in the defense industrial base , '' she said on Monday .
`` It depends on location and what type of work is being performed , but there is enormous progress coming back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , $ 472 million in funding has been allocated for civilian medical resources , and another $ 320 million in allocations was announced to help strengthen essential defense industrial base capabilities .
`` We do n't know what that new normal will be on speed , but we see an enormous amount of recovery , '' Lord said .
She added that the Defense Department is tracking a potential three-month delays which could negatively impact major defense programs , but did not offer examples .

Ellen M. Lord, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, offers an update on the Defense Department’s COVID-19 acquisition policy during a press briefing at the Pentagon on Monday. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders/U.S. Air Force/Department of Defense
June 22 (UPI) -- Defense contractors are reopening despite the COVID-19 pandemic, but a slowdown is still expected for the next several months, a top Pentagon official said on Monday. "Out of 10,509 companies [the Defense Contract Management Agency] tracks, we are down to two closed, and 267 companies having closed and reopened," Ellen Lord, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, told reporters at a press briefing. Advertisement
"Out of 11,413 companies DLA [Defense Logistics Agency] tracks, 31 are closed with 661 having closed and reopened," Lord said.
Those still closed tend to be smaller contractors, she added, with the weapons programs sector most impacted in the April-to-June time frame.
In April, Lord said that the aviation, shipbuilding and small space launch sectors have been most impacted by the pandemic.
"We see an enormous amount of recovery in the defense industrial base," she said on Monday. "It depends on location and what type of work is being performed, but there is enormous progress coming back."
Through the Defense Production Act, $472 million in funding has been allocated for civilian medical resources, and another $320 million in allocations was announced to help strengthen essential defense industrial base capabilities.
Advertisement
"We don't know what that new normal will be on speed, but we see an enormous amount of recovery," Lord said.
She added that the Defense Department is tracking a potential three-month delays which could negatively impact major defense programs, but did not offer examples.


upi--2020-06-22--Statins tied to significantly lower death rate from ovarian cancer

Statin drugs , used for decades to treat high cholesterol , may also reduce deaths for women with ovarian cancer , a new study suggests .
`` These drugs are appealing as they are widely used , inexpensive , and well-tolerated in most patients .
The associated reduction in ovarian cancer mortality is promising , '' said lead researcher Dr. Kala Visvanathan , a professor of epidemiology and oncology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore .
She pointed out that drugs to combat ovarian cancer are sorely needed , given its reputation as a `` silent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are no proven screening strategies '' to catch ovarian tumors early , Visvanathan said , `` so the disease is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage , when surgery is often not an option . ''
In the new study , her team collected data on more than 10,000 women with ovarian cancer who were part of a Finnish national cancer registry .
Among these women , more than 2,600 had used a statin , and 80 percent used so-called lipophilic statins , such as simvastatin and lovastatin -- a form of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Using of any type of statin was linked with a 40 percent lower death rate , compared with women not using statins , Visvanathan and colleagues found .
The use of lipophilic statins , specifically , were tied to a 43 percent risk of dying from ovarian cancer , the researchers found .
The most significant reductions in death after using statins were among women with specific subtypes of ovarian cancer -- high-grade serous carcinoma ( a 40 percent reduction ) and endometrioid ovarian cancer ( 50 percent reduction ) .
Even women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnosed with ovarian cancer had a lower odds of dying , the researchers noted .
The results of the study were scheduled to be presented June 22 at an online meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research .
`` Our results provide further evidence in support of the clinical evaluation of lipophilic statins as part of the treatment of ovarian cancer , '' Visvanathan said in a meeting news release .
Still , the results need to be confirmed in clinical trials and other populations before becoming part of standard practice , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of gynecologic medical oncology at Northwell Health Cancer Institute in Lake Success , N.Y. Reading over the new findings , she said it `` supports many other studies that have shown statins as an active agent in treatment of ovarian cancer . ''
John agreed that while the results of this retrospective study are `` exciting , '' what 's really needed is a gold-standard prospective clinical trial , where patients receive either a statin or a placebo and their outcomes are then tracked over time .
`` At this time there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statins to prevent or treat ovarian cancer , '' John said , but she is `` looking forward to a randomized prospective study to confirm these findings . ''
Study results presented at medical meetings are typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal .
For more on ovarian cancer , see the American Cancer Society .

Statin drugs, used for decades to treat high cholesterol, may also reduce deaths for women with ovarian cancer, a new study suggests.
"These drugs are appealing as they are widely used, inexpensive, and well-tolerated in most patients. The associated reduction in ovarian cancer mortality is promising," said lead researcher Dr. Kala Visvanathan, a professor of epidemiology and oncology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore.
Advertisement
She pointed out that drugs to combat ovarian cancer are sorely needed, given its reputation as a "silent killer."
That's because "there are no proven screening strategies" to catch ovarian tumors early, Visvanathan said, "so the disease is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage, when surgery is often not an option."
In the new study, her team collected data on more than 10,000 women with ovarian cancer who were part of a Finnish national cancer registry. Among these women, more than 2,600 had used a statin, and 80 percent used so-called lipophilic statins, such as simvastatin and lovastatin -- a form of the drug that dissolves within fats.
Using of any type of statin was linked with a 40 percent lower death rate, compared with women not using statins, Visvanathan and colleagues found. The use of lipophilic statins, specifically, were tied to a 43 percent risk of dying from ovarian cancer, the researchers found.
Advertisement
The most significant reductions in death after using statins were among women with specific subtypes of ovarian cancer -- high-grade serous carcinoma (a 40 percent reduction) and endometrioid ovarian cancer (50 percent reduction).
Even women who started using lipophilic statins after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer had a lower odds of dying, the researchers noted. The results of the study were scheduled to be presented June 22 at an online meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.
"Our results provide further evidence in support of the clinical evaluation of lipophilic statins as part of the treatment of ovarian cancer," Visvanathan said in a meeting news release. Still, the results need to be confirmed in clinical trials and other populations before becoming part of standard practice, she said.
Dr. Veena John is head of gynecologic medical oncology at Northwell Health Cancer Institute in Lake Success, N.Y. Reading over the new findings, she said it "supports many other studies that have shown statins as an active agent in treatment of ovarian cancer."
John agreed that while the results of this retrospective study are "exciting," what's really needed is a gold-standard prospective clinical trial, where patients receive either a statin or a placebo and their outcomes are then tracked over time.
Advertisement
"At this time there is not enough evidence to start prescribing statins to prevent or treat ovarian cancer," John said, but she is "looking forward to a randomized prospective study to confirm these findings."
Study results presented at medical meetings are typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
More information
For more on ovarian cancer, see the American Cancer Society.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.