upi--2020-07-28--Masks can mitigate risk of COVID-19 'super spreaders' in rooms

Face masks can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among folks trapped in a room with an infected `` super spreader , '' a new Swiss study claims .
Most infected people with a typical COVID viral load do n't flood the air with coronavirus-infected respiratory droplets , and the risk of catching the virus from them tends to be low , estimates show .
But a severely infected person who 's coughing frequently can fill a poorly ventilated room with as many as 7.4 million copies of the coronavirus for every cubic meter of air , according to researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Swiss Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health in Winterthur .
`` The implications of these findings for everyday life and the workplace are that individuals may be at risk of infection if they spend more than a few minutes in a small room with a person who is infected with COVID-19 and has a high viral load , '' Riediker and Tsai concluded .
The study also `` highlights the importance of wearing a mask , '' said Dr. Aaron Glatt , chair of medicine and chief of infectious diseases at Mount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask clearly helps , and it will diminish the capacity of these super spreaders to spread as much . ''
For this study , the Swiss researchers gathered data from a handful of prior studies that tracked how much coronavirus the average infected person will emit by breathing normally , as well as the virus released by a very sick person who 's coughing frequently .
The team then used a mathematical model to estimate how much virus either a low- or high-emitting patient is likely to release into the air of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a high viral load could be expected to release a large amount of virus into the air , especially when they are coughing , researchers found .
These so-called super spreaders are n't very common , but if they are engaged in activities like loud speaking or singing , their viral emissions can increase by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude , the researchers said .
As far as the risk to folks sharing the room with COVID-19 patients , people who are at rest tend to breathe in about a half a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers said .
`` Thus , a person spending time in a room with an individual emitting at a typical rate and breathing normally has the chance of inhaling only a few copies of the virus when keeping distance from that person , '' the study said .
However , people who are exercising might breathe up to six times as much air as a person at rest , gulping down several cubic meters of air per hour , researchers said .
These folks clearly are at higher risk , particularly if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person who 's coughing .
The study was published July 27 in the journal JAMA Network Open .
`` This mathematical modeling study shows that when individuals are engaged in activities that result in heavy breathing , such as singing or exercising , there is a higher chance of transmission as more particles are emanating from their body , '' said Dr. Amesh Adalja , a senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore .
`` This study is consistent for what has been seen epidemiologically with outbreaks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The implication is that when engaged in these types of activities it is really important to ensure that no one sick is participating and that social distancing is practiced with higher degrees of rigor , '' Adalja said .
There are drawbacks with the new study .
Because it 's a mathematical model , its findings ca n't be directly applied to the real world , Glatt noted .
The study also does n't give all the information needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 because it ca n't estimate the actual infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the air , noted Dr. Michael Klompas , an infectious disease doctor and associate hospital epidemiologist with Brigham and Women 's Hospital in Boston .
`` We do n't care if this virus is in the air or not .
We care if you 'll get infected or not , '' Klompas said .
`` This is a good building block and a helpful context study , but it does n't give us the answer to what we want to know . ''
That said , mask wearing would prevent super spreaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Glatt concluded .
`` It boggles the mind why people are so resistant to wearing a mask , '' Glatt said .
`` They have to understand they 're not wearing the mask for themselves .
They 're wearing the mask for people that are unfortunately not capable of protecting themselves .
They 're wearing the mask for everybody else in the world , not for themselves . ''
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have more about COVID-19 .

Even around a coughing super spreader in a small room, researchers say masks can prevent the spread of coronavirus. Pictured, a women wears a protective face mask in New York City in April. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Face masks can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among folks trapped in a room with an infected "super spreader," a new Swiss study claims. Most infected people with a typical COVID viral load don't flood the air with coronavirus-infected respiratory droplets, and the risk of catching the virus from them tends to be low, estimates show. Advertisement
But a severely infected person who's coughing frequently can fill a poorly ventilated room with as many as 7.4 million copies of the coronavirus for every cubic meter of air, according to researchers Michael Riediker and Dai-Hua Tsai, from the Swiss Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health in Winterthur.
"The implications of these findings for everyday life and the workplace are that individuals may be at risk of infection if they spend more than a few minutes in a small room with a person who is infected with COVID-19 and has a high viral load," Riediker and Tsai concluded.
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The study also "highlights the importance of wearing a mask," said Dr. Aaron Glatt, chair of medicine and chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau. "Wearing a mask clearly helps, and it will diminish the capacity of these super spreaders to spread as much."
For this study, the Swiss researchers gathered data from a handful of prior studies that tracked how much coronavirus the average infected person will emit by breathing normally, as well as the virus released by a very sick person who's coughing frequently.
The team then used a mathematical model to estimate how much virus either a low- or high-emitting patient is likely to release into the air of a closed room.
A COVID-19 patient with a high viral load could be expected to release a large amount of virus into the air, especially when they are coughing, researchers found.
These so-called super spreaders aren't very common, but if they are engaged in activities like loud speaking or singing, their viral emissions can increase by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude, the researchers said.
As far as the risk to folks sharing the room with COVID-19 patients, people who are at rest tend to breathe in about a half a cubic meter of air every hour, researchers said.
Advertisement
"Thus, a person spending time in a room with an individual emitting at a typical rate and breathing normally has the chance of inhaling only a few copies of the virus when keeping distance from that person," the study said.
However, people who are exercising might breathe up to six times as much air as a person at rest, gulping down several cubic meters of air per hour, researchers said. These folks clearly are at higher risk, particularly if they're in a small room with a person who's coughing.
The study was published July 27 in the journal JAMA Network Open.
"This mathematical modeling study shows that when individuals are engaged in activities that result in heavy breathing, such as singing or exercising, there is a higher chance of transmission as more particles are emanating from their body," said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore. "This study is consistent for what has been seen epidemiologically with outbreaks in choir practice, for example.
"The implication is that when engaged in these types of activities it is really important to ensure that no one sick is participating and that social distancing is practiced with higher degrees of rigor," Adalja said.
Advertisement
There are drawbacks with the new study. Because it's a mathematical model, its findings can't be directly applied to the real world, Glatt noted.
The study also doesn't give all the information needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 because it can't estimate the actual infection risk posed by the amount of virus in the air, noted Dr. Michael Klompas, an infectious disease doctor and associate hospital epidemiologist with Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
"We don't care if this virus is in the air or not. We care if you'll get infected or not," Klompas said. "This is a good building block and a helpful context study, but it doesn't give us the answer to what we want to know."
That said, mask wearing would prevent super spreaders from filling the air with virus, Glatt concluded.
"It boggles the mind why people are so resistant to wearing a mask," Glatt said. "They have to understand they're not wearing the mask for themselves. They're wearing the mask for people that are unfortunately not capable of protecting themselves. They're wearing the mask for everybody else in the world, not for themselves."
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have more about COVID-19.
Advertisement
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-07-28--Famous birthdays for July 28: John David Washington, Elizabeth Berkley

July 28 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Leo .
-- Former @ @ @ @ @ Onassis in 1929 -- Bill Bradley , former U.S. senator/basketball Hall of Fame member , @ @ @ @ @ )

1/3
John David Washington attends the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California on January 6, 2019. The actor turns the 36 on July 28. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
July 28 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Leo. They include: Advertisement
-- Author Beatrix Potter in 1866
-- Suffragist Lucy Burns in 1879
-- French surrealist artist Marcel Duchamp in 1887
-- Singer/actor/band leader Rudy Vallee in 1901
-- Tupperware founder Earl Tupper in 1907
-- Former U.S. first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1929
-- Bill Bradley, former U.S. senator/basketball Hall of Fame member, in 1943 (age 76)
File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
-- "Garfield" creator Jim Davis in 1945 (age 75)
-- Actor Sally Struthers in 1947 (age 73)
-- Actor Georgia Engel in 1948
-- Former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in 1954
-- Actor Lori Loughlin in 1964 (age 56)
-- Dana White, Ultimate Fighting Championship president, in 1969 (age 51)
-- Actor Elizabeth Berkley in 1972 (age 48)
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
-- Rapper Afroman, born Joseph Edgar Foreman, in 1974 (age 46)
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-- Papa Roach singer Jacoby Shaddix in 1976 (age 44)
-- Actor John David Washington in 1984 (age 36)
-- Actor Nolan Gerard Funk in 1986 (age 34)
-- Rapper Soulja Boy, born DeAndre Cortez Way, in 1990 (age 30)
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI


upi--2020-07-28--Poll: 77% of Americans trust CDC over White House on COVID-19 information

July 28 ( UPI ) -- A majority of American voters trust the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than the White House with regards to COVID-19 data , according to a poll by The Hill and HarrisX released Tuesday .
The survey conducted July 17-20 found that 77 % of registered voters said they trust the CDC to more accurately report data related to the coronavirus , while 23 % trust the White House more .
A majority of Americans said they trust the CDC more regardless of party affiliation as 93 % of Democrats , 77 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they had more faith in the information provided by the agency than that provided by the White House .
The poll came after the Trump administration transferred responsibility for collecting hospitalization data on COVID-19 from the CDC to the Department of Health and Human Services .
Beginning last week , President Donald Trump has also resumed daily briefings on the coronavirus .
However , unlike briefings conducted earlier in the pandemic , he has not been accompanied by members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force such as coronavirus response coordinator Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease .
Trump , answering a reporter 's question about the absence of the medical professionals in a briefing last week , said he had been briefed by the doctors before addressing media .
`` I just spoke to Dr. Fauci .
Dr. Birx is right outside and they 're giving me all of everything they know as of this point in time and I 'm giving the information to you and I think it 's probably a very concise way of doing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very well , '' Trump said .

A poll by The Hill and HarrisX released Tuesday found that 77% of American voters trust the Centers for Disease Control to report accurately on coronavirus data, rather than the White House. Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI | License Photo
July 28 (UPI) -- A majority of American voters trust the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than the White House with regards to COVID-19 data, according to a poll by The Hill and HarrisX released Tuesday. The survey conducted July 17-20 found that 77% of registered voters said they trust the CDC to more accurately report data related to the coronavirus, while 23% trust the White House more. Advertisement
A majority of Americans said they trust the CDC more regardless of party affiliation as 93% of Democrats, 77% of independents and 59% of Republicans said they had more faith in the information provided by the agency than that provided by the White House.
The poll came after the Trump administration transferred responsibility for collecting hospitalization data on COVID-19 from the CDC to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Beginning last week, President Donald Trump has also resumed daily briefings on the coronavirus. However, unlike briefings conducted earlier in the pandemic, he has not been accompanied by members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force such as coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx and Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.
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Trump, answering a reporter's question about the absence of the medical professionals in a briefing last week, said he had been briefed by the doctors before addressing media.
"I just spoke to Dr. Fauci. Dr. Birx is right outside and they're giving me all of everything they know as of this point in time and I'm giving the information to you and I think it's probably a very concise way of doing it. It seems to be working out very well," Trump said.


upi--2020-07-28--Los Angeles Chargers signing Joey Bosa to record 5-year, $135M extension

July 28 ( UPI ) -- The Los Angeles Chargers and two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Joey Bosa have reached an agreement on a multiyear contract extension that will keep him with the franchise for the next six years .
League sources told ESPN and NFL Media on Tuesday that Bosa agreed to a five-year , $ 135 million extension with the Chargers .
According to the outlets , Bosa 's deal includes $ 78 million fully guaranteed at signing and $ 102 million in total guarantees , a new NFL record for a defensive player .
The extension is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a player and is the first $ 100 million deal in franchise history , according to ESPN .
Bosa , who is entering the final season of his rookie contract , reported to training camp Tuesday .
According to Spotrac , he is scheduled to earn a base salary of about $ 14.4 million in the final year of his rookie deal in 2020 .
The Chargers selected Bosa with the No .
3 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Ohio State .
He was named to the Pro Football @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after recording 40 total tackles and 10.5 sacks in his first season .
In 51 career games with the Chargers , Bosa has notched 201 total tackles , 40 sacks , six forced fumbles , two fumble recoveries and one pass defensed .
Bosa 's best season came in 2017 , when he set career highs in tackles ( 70 ) , sacks ( 12.5 ) and forced fumbles ( four ) .
He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2017 and 2019 .

Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa (97) has notched 201 total tackles, 40 sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one pass defensed in his NFL career. File Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo
July 28 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Chargers and two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Joey Bosa have reached an agreement on a multiyear contract extension that will keep him with the franchise for the next six years. League sources told ESPN and NFL Media on Tuesday that Bosa agreed to a five-year, $135 million extension with the Chargers. According to the outlets, Bosa's deal includes $78 million fully guaranteed at signing and $102 million in total guarantees, a new NFL record for a defensive player. Advertisement
The extension is the largest the Chargers have ever given a player and is the first $100 million deal in franchise history, according to ESPN.
Bosa, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract, reported to training camp Tuesday. According to Spotrac, he is scheduled to earn a base salary of about $14.4 million in the final year of his rookie deal in 2020.
The Chargers selected Bosa with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. He was named to the Pro Football Writers Association's All-Rookie Team in 2016 after recording 40 total tackles and 10.5 sacks in his first season.
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In 51 career games with the Chargers, Bosa has notched 201 total tackles, 40 sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one pass defensed.
Bosa's best season came in 2017, when he set career highs in tackles (70), sacks (12.5) and forced fumbles (four). He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2017 and 2019.


upi--2020-07-28--Pelicans' Zion Williamson clears quarantine, returns to practice

July 28 ( UPI ) -- New Orleans Pelicans rookie forward Zion Williamson completed his four-day quarantine and returned to practice Tuesday .
Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry told reporters that Williamson , who returned to the NBA 's bubble Friday , had a light workload on his first day back .
The standout rookie left the bubble in Orlando , Fla. , on July 16 to attend to an urgent family medical matter .
Williamson participated in 3-on-0 and 5-on-0 work but did n't take part in 5-on-5 drills , according to Gentry .
`` He 's well-liked by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teammates , '' Gentry said .
`` Just to have him back in the gym is a real positive , a lift in energy when he 's in the building . ''
Gentry said the team will conduct another practice Wednesday and evaluate whether Williamson -- who has gone about 12 days without taking part in team activities -- can play in the Pelicans ' restart opener against the Utah Jazz on Thursday night .
`` The medical staff will evaluate and see where he is and see if it makes sense for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Gentry said .
`` ...
It really is n't a tough decision , guys .
If he 's ready to play , he 'll play .
If he 's not , we wo n't play him .
You 're not going to risk anything long term for something very , very short term .
We 'll see and evaluate tomorrow where he is .
`` The medical people will and so will Zion .
Zion will tell us how he feels .
From there , we 'll go and see and make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and what is best for our team . ''
The Pelicans won all three of their scrimmage games without Williamson , including Monday 's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks .
New Orleans also played 44 games without him in the regular season after he suffered a torn meniscus in the pre-season .
Williamson -- in 19 starts -- was averaging 23.6 points , 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game before the NBA suspended play in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The Pelicans posted a 28-36 record before play was halted @

July 28 (UPI) -- New Orleans Pelicans rookie forward Zion Williamson completed his four-day quarantine and returned to practice Tuesday.
Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry told reporters that Williamson, who returned to the NBA's bubble Friday, had a light workload on his first day back. The standout rookie left the bubble in Orlando, Fla., on July 16 to attend to an urgent family medical matter.
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Williamson participated in 3-on-0 and 5-on-0 work but didn't take part in 5-on-5 drills, according to Gentry.
"He's well-liked by his teammates and likes being around his teammates," Gentry said. "Just to have him back in the gym is a real positive, a lift in energy when he's in the building."
Gentry said the team will conduct another practice Wednesday and evaluate whether Williamson -- who has gone about 12 days without taking part in team activities -- can play in the Pelicans' restart opener against the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.
"The medical staff will evaluate and see where he is and see if it makes sense for him to go out and play," Gentry said. "... It really isn't a tough decision, guys. If he's ready to play, he'll play. If he's not, we won't play him. You're not going to risk anything long term for something very, very short term. We'll see and evaluate tomorrow where he is.
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"The medical people will and so will Zion. Zion will tell us how he feels. From there, we'll go and see and make decisions on what is best for him and what is best for our team."
#Pelicans coaches and players excited to see Zion Williamson return to team practice Tuesday in Orlando. Lonzo Ball: "We're happy to have him back. He puts our team at full strength." Story: https://t.co/auhcwZPXhS pic.twitter.com/NRFjBLB7v8— Jim Eichenhofer (@Jim_Eichenhofer) July 29, 2020
The Pelicans won all three of their scrimmage games without Williamson, including Monday's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. New Orleans also played 44 games without him in the regular season after he suffered a torn meniscus in the pre-season.
Williamson -- in 19 starts -- was averaging 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game before the NBA suspended play in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Pelicans posted a 28-36 record before play was halted.


upi--2020-07-28--MLB postpones 6 Marlins games due to virus; Goodell writes to NFL fans

July 28 ( UPI ) -- Major League Baseball on Tuesday postponed the Miami Marlins ' next six games because of the team 's recent coronavirus outbreak , while commissioner Roger Goodell wrote about the NFL 's difficult journey toward a season as the coronavirus continues to impact sports leagues .
Goodell and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred have expressed less confidence than previously about completing their seasons as the pandemic lingers .
In announcing the postponements and other schedule changes , MLB said : `` It is most prudent to allow the Marlins time to focus on providing care for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a resumption early next week . ''
The Marlins had as many as 14 reported positive cases among players and coaches , and sources told MLB Network , the Miami Herald and ESPN on Tuesday that the latest round of coronavirus tests yielded four more positive results .
The team has not provided details about the players ' conditions or when they might return .
Other teams ' schedules have been impacted by the Marlins ' outbreak .
The Baltimore Orioles -- who were to play two games against Miami starting Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Yankees on Wednesday and Thursday .
The Yankees ' game against the Phillies on Tuesday in Philadelphia was postponed `` out of an abundance of caution . ''
Philadelphia was scheduled to play Wednesday and Thursday against the Yankees in New York , but will now travel to Baltimore to play the Orioles .
Meanwhile , the Washington Nationals , who were to play three games in Miami starting Friday , are in limbo after a majority of players voted against playing the Marlins , according to ESPN .
While Miami @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date , the Washington Nationals had the highest-profile player test positive .
Pre-season MVP candidate Juan Soto received a positive test result Thursday , the day the Nationals played the Yankees in the first game of the 2020 MLB season .
Soto still is in the league 's coronavirus protocol .
He returned a negative result Saturday , but must show a second MLB-approved negative test before he can return .
Soto 's absence creates a huge hole in the Nationals ' lineup and exemplifies how quickly the coronavirus could potentially dismantle a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' positive tests , a majority of Nationals players voted against traveling to Miami for a three-game weekend series , which is set to start Friday .
Nationals manager Dave Martinez , who missed part of last season due to a heart condition , told reporters Monday he would be concerned about his safety if his team traveled to Florida .
`` I 'm going to be honest with you , I 'm scared , '' Martinez said .
`` My level of concern went from about an eight to a 12 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ now .
...
I got guys in our clubhouse that are really concerned , as well . ''
The Marlins likely would have to replace half of their team 's active roster with prospects and low-level veterans if the team is allowed to return to the field Wednesday .
The team claimed two pitchers Monday after the first wave of positive tests .
The Marlins remain in Philadelphia .
MLB protocol stipulates that players and staff members are not allowed to travel or enter club facilities after a positive COVID-19 test until they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours apart .
Players or staff members who test positive also must not have a fever for at least 72 hours , complete an antibody test and be cleared by a team physician and the league 's COVID-19 joint committee .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious diseases expert , told Good Morning America on Tuesday that the Marlins ' outbreak could put the 2020 MLB season `` in danger , '' but he does n't think officials need to pause or end the season .
`` I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we just need to follow this and see what happens with other teams on a day-by-day basis , '' Fauci said .
MLB 's commissioner did not have the luxury of time when the coronavirus halted seasons around the world .
The MLB season was delayed for four months after the pandemic led to a canceled spring training .
Other sports leagues , like the NFL , had time to watch how MLB and European and Asian sports leagues allowed teams to return to play , but still have had major difficulties to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commissioner Roger Goodell detailed the league 's path to play in a letter published Monday , which outlined how the league crafted coronavirus safety protocols and plans to move forward .
His letter provided a less-optimistic tone than previously to speak about the 2020 season -- but still said the league plans to play a complete schedule .
`` In the months since the COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down , we have navigated the time carefully , thoughtfully and in partnership with the NFL Players Association with a shared goal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Goodell said .
`` This process has not been easy .
COVID-19 will continue to present a major challenge to nearly every area of American life .
Football is no exception . ''
The 32-team league plans to start training camps this week after individual team facilities were closed to players this off-season due to the pandemic .
The NFL had teams meet through video conferences amid the stoppage of in-person workouts and has canceled preseason games .
In April , Goodell said the league would be prepared for the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schedule with its typical fall start .
Many NFL players voiced concern in mid-July for what they characterized as a lack of preparation .
Several players have since opted out of the 2020 NFL season and cited safety concerns .
New England Patriots Pro Bowl linebacker Dont ' a Hightower is the highest-profile player to skip the season .
Five other Patriots players , including starting safety Patrick Chung , also have opted out .
League sources told ESPN and NFL Media that Chicago Bears star defensive lineman Eddie Goldman plans to opt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health concerns related to the coronavirus .
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Marquise Goodwin , Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Michael Pierce , Green Bay Packers receiver Devin Funchess and Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Star Lotulelei also have decided to skip this season due to concerns related to the virus .
Goodell said players and coaches will be tested for the virus `` regularly , including every day for a while , '' when they return to facilities .
He also said state and local health guidelines will help determine if fans can attend games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professional sports leagues in the United States , the NFL does not plan to use a protective bubble strategy for the 2020 season .
Recent test results from the WNBA , NBA , MLS , WNBA and NWSL bubbles have shown decreased levels or no positive results in recent weeks .
The NBA and MLS have practice , games and lodging at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando , Fla. WNBA teams met for their season on the IMG Academy Campus in Bradenton , Fla. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for a tournament , which started June 27 and ended Sunday .
The NHL 's bubble in Canada is a bit more broad , with Toronto and Edmonton set to split 24 teams for games that start Tuesday .
Seven NHL teams did n't qualify for the resumed season after the 2019-2020 campaign was suspended in mid-March .

The New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies game, planned for Tuesday night, was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 28 (UPI) -- Major League Baseball on Tuesday postponed the Miami Marlins' next six games because of the team's recent coronavirus outbreak, while commissioner Roger Goodell wrote about the NFL's difficult journey toward a season as the coronavirus continues to impact sports leagues. Goodell and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred have expressed less confidence than previously about completing their seasons as the pandemic lingers. Advertisement
In announcing the postponements and other schedule changes, MLB said: "It is most prudent to allow the Marlins time to focus on providing care for their players and planning their baseball operations for a resumption early next week."
The Marlins had as many as 14 reported positive cases among players and coaches, and sources told MLB Network, the Miami Herald and ESPN on Tuesday that the latest round of coronavirus tests yielded four more positive results.
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The team has not provided details about the players' conditions or when they might return.
Other teams' schedules have been impacted by the Marlins' outbreak. The Baltimore Orioles -- who were to play two games against Miami starting Wednesday -- instead will play host to the New York Yankees on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Yankees' game against the Phillies on Tuesday in Philadelphia was postponed "out of an abundance of caution." Philadelphia was scheduled to play Wednesday and Thursday against the Yankees in New York, but will now travel to Baltimore to play the Orioles.
Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals, who were to play three games in Miami starting Friday, are in limbo after a majority of players voted against playing the Marlins, according to ESPN.
While Miami has had the largest COVID-19 outbreak to date, the Washington Nationals had the highest-profile player test positive. Pre-season MVP candidate Juan Soto received a positive test result Thursday, the day the Nationals played the Yankees in the first game of the 2020 MLB season.
Still sidelined
Soto still is in the league's coronavirus protocol. He returned a negative result Saturday, but must show a second MLB-approved negative test before he can return.
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Soto's absence creates a huge hole in the Nationals' lineup and exemplifies how quickly the coronavirus could potentially dismantle a season.
In light of the Marlins' positive tests, a majority of Nationals players voted against traveling to Miami for a three-game weekend series, which is set to start Friday.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez, who missed part of last season due to a heart condition, told reporters Monday he would be concerned about his safety if his team traveled to Florida.
"I'm going to be honest with you, I'm scared," Martinez said. "My level of concern went from about an eight to a 12. I mean this thing really hits home now. ... I got guys in our clubhouse that are really concerned, as well."
The Marlins likely would have to replace half of their team's active roster with prospects and low-level veterans if the team is allowed to return to the field Wednesday. The team claimed two pitchers Monday after the first wave of positive tests.
The Marlins remain in Philadelphia. MLB protocol stipulates that players and staff members are not allowed to travel or enter club facilities after a positive COVID-19 test until they return two negative results at least 24 hours apart.
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Rules for returning
Players or staff members who test positive also must not have a fever for at least 72 hours, complete an antibody test and be cleared by a team physician and the league's COVID-19 joint committee.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, told Good Morning America on Tuesday that the Marlins' outbreak could put the 2020 MLB season "in danger," but he doesn't think officials need to pause or end the season.
"I don't believe they need to stop, but we just need to follow this and see what happens with other teams on a day-by-day basis," Fauci said.
MLB's commissioner did not have the luxury of time when the coronavirus halted seasons around the world. The MLB season was delayed for four months after the pandemic led to a canceled spring training.
Other sports leagues, like the NFL, had time to watch how MLB and European and Asian sports leagues allowed teams to return to play, but still have had major difficulties to devise adequate plans and protocols.
Goodell sees major challenge
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell detailed the league's path to play in a letter published Monday, which outlined how the league crafted coronavirus safety protocols and plans to move forward.
Advertisement
His letter provided a less-optimistic tone than previously to speak about the 2020 season -- but still said the league plans to play a complete schedule.
"In the months since the COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down, we have navigated the time carefully, thoughtfully and in partnership with the NFL Players Association with a shared goal of playing a healthy and complete 2020 season," Goodell said.
"This process has not been easy. COVID-19 will continue to present a major challenge to nearly every area of American life. Football is no exception."
The 32-team league plans to start training camps this week after individual team facilities were closed to players this off-season due to the pandemic. The NFL had teams meet through video conferences amid the stoppage of in-person workouts and has canceled preseason games.
In April, Goodell said the league would be prepared for the 2020 season and planned to play its entire schedule with its typical fall start. Many NFL players voiced concern in mid-July for what they characterized as a lack of preparation. Several players have since opted out of the 2020 NFL season and cited safety concerns.
New England Patriots Pro Bowl linebacker Dont'a Hightower is the highest-profile player to skip the season. Five other Patriots players, including starting safety Patrick Chung, also have opted out.
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League sources told ESPN and NFL Media that Chicago Bears star defensive lineman Eddie Goldman plans to opt out of the 2020 season due to health concerns related to the coronavirus.
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Michael Pierce, Green Bay Packers receiver Devin Funchess and Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Star Lotulelei also have decided to skip this season due to concerns related to the virus.
Tested regularly
Goodell said players and coaches will be tested for the virus "regularly, including every day for a while," when they return to facilities. He also said state and local health guidelines will help determine if fans can attend games this coming season.
Unlike most other professional sports leagues in the United States, the NFL does not plan to use a protective bubble strategy for the 2020 season. Recent test results from the WNBA, NBA, MLS, WNBA and NWSL bubbles have shown decreased levels or no positive results in recent weeks.
The NBA and MLS have practice, games and lodging at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.
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WNBA teams met for their season on the IMG Academy Campus in Bradenton, Fla. NWSL teams met in Herriman, Utah, for a tournament, which started June 27 and ended Sunday.
The NHL's bubble in Canada is a bit more broad, with Toronto and Edmonton set to split 24 teams for games that start Tuesday. Seven NHL teams didn't qualify for the resumed season after the 2019-2020 campaign was suspended in mid-March.


upi--2020-07-28--Watchdog accuses Trump campaign of laundering $170M in campaign funds

July 28 ( UPI ) -- A campaign finance watchdog group on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission accusing President Donald Trump 's campaign of laundering $ 170 million in campaign spending .
The complaint filed by the Campaign Legal Center , a non-partisan organization based in Washington , D.C. , said the Trump campaign and an authorized joint financing committee broke the law by spending the campaign funds through firms headed by Trump 's former campaign manager , Brad Parscale , without disclosing the exact expenditures .
`` The campaign reported millions in payment -- American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the funds to the campaign 's ultimate vendors , '' the CLC said .
`` Ultimately , this hid millions in payments to companies engaged in significant work for the campaign , as well as payments to Trump family members or associates like Lara Trump and Kimberly Guilfoyle . ''
According to the complaint , the Trump campaign has `` in several instances '' described other firms as major contractors providing services to the Trump campaign , while those names did not appear on reports filed with the FEC .
`` For example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about directing and managing the development of a mobile app produced by the software company Phunware , yet the Trump campaign has not reported direct payments to the company , '' the complaint states .
Pascale dismissed the complaint as `` political theater '' in a statement to CNN and Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said that American Made Media Consultants is `` a campaign vendor responsible for arranging and executing media buys '' and does not earn any commissions or fees .
`` It builds efficiencies and saves the campaign money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be done by outside vendors , '' Murtaugh said .
`` The campaign reports all payments to [ American Made Media Consultants ] as required by the FEC .
The campaign complies with all campaign finance laws and FEC regulations . ''

A campaign finance watchdog on Tuesday accused the Trump campaign of laundering $170 million in campaign spending through firms headed by Trump's former campaign manager Brad Parscale. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
July 28 (UPI) -- A campaign finance watchdog group on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission accusing President Donald Trump's campaign of laundering $170 million in campaign spending. The complaint filed by the Campaign Legal Center, a non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C., said the Trump campaign and an authorized joint financing committee broke the law by spending the campaign funds through firms headed by Trump's former campaign manager, Brad Parscale, without disclosing the exact expenditures. Advertisement
"The campaign reported millions in payment -- American Made and Parscale Strategy -- which disbursed the funds to the campaign's ultimate vendors," the CLC said. "Ultimately, this hid millions in payments to companies engaged in significant work for the campaign, as well as payments to Trump family members or associates like Lara Trump and Kimberly Guilfoyle."
According to the complaint, the Trump campaign has "in several instances" described other firms as major contractors providing services to the Trump campaign, while those names did not appear on reports filed with the FEC.
"For example, Trump campaign officials have spoken publicly about directing and managing the development of a mobile app produced by the software company Phunware, yet the Trump campaign has not reported direct payments to the company," the complaint states.
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Pascale dismissed the complaint as "political theater" in a statement to CNN and Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said that American Made Media Consultants is "a campaign vendor responsible for arranging and executing media buys" and does not earn any commissions or fees.
"It builds efficiencies and saves the campaign money by providing these in-house services that otherwise would be done by outside vendors," Murtaugh said. "The campaign reports all payments to [American Made Media Consultants] as required by the FEC. The campaign complies with all campaign finance laws and FEC regulations."


upi--2020-07-28--Dont'a Hightower, Patrick Chung among six Patriots players to opt out of season

July 28 ( UPI ) -- Pro Bowl linebacker Dont ' a Hightower and starting safety Patrick Chung on Tuesday were among six New England Patriots players to opt out of the 2020 NFL season amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Hightower , 30 , became a first-time father earlier this month .
His mother also has diabetes .
`` Me and my fiancee are just more concerned with the health of our family than football -- especially the new addition to our family , '' Hightower told NFL Network .
Similar to Hightower , Chung spoke earlier this week about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ESPN and NFL Media .
He previously agreed to a two-year extension with the Patriots in May that included a $ 2 million signing bonus and a base salary of $ 1.1 million .
Hightower was scheduled to earn a base salary of $ 8 million in the final year of his contract .
His pact will now roll over to the 2021 season .
NFL players who choose to voluntarily opt out will receive a $ 150,000 salary advance and their contract will roll to the next season they play .
Chung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NFL season , 11 of which he has spent in New England .
In 13 regular-season games last year , he recorded 51 total tackles and three passes defensed .
Hightower , who has won three Super Bowls with the Patriots , had 71 total tackles , 13 quarterback hits , eight tackles for a loss , 5.5 sacks , four passes defensed , a fumble recovery and a touchdown in 15 starts last season .
He finished second on the team in tackles to Landon Collins , who also had 81 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back Brandon Bolden , right tackle Marcus Cannon , fullback Danny Vitale and guard Najee Toran also have opted out of the 2020 season .
The Patriots ' linebacker room will look a lot different in 2020 .
Kyle Van Noy , Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts left in free agency , in addition to Hightower opting out .
Baltimore Ravens return specialist De'Anthony Thomas , Seattle Seahawks guard Chance Warmack and Dallas Cowboys cornerback Maurice Canady are among other NFL players to opt out of the 2020 season .
The Patriots are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Week 1 at 1 p.m. EDT Sept. 13 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough , Mass .

New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower started 15 games for the team in each of the last two seasons, but will miss the entire 2020 campaign after he opted out of the season. File Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | License Photo
July 28 (UPI) -- Pro Bowl linebacker Dont'a Hightower and starting safety Patrick Chung on Tuesday were among six New England Patriots players to opt out of the 2020 NFL season amid the coronavirus pandemic. Hightower, 30, became a first-time father earlier this month. His mother also has diabetes. Advertisement
"Me and my fiancee are just more concerned with the health of our family than football -- especially the new addition to our family," Hightower told NFL Network.
Similar to Hightower, Chung spoke earlier this week about expecting his second child, according to ESPN and NFL Media. He previously agreed to a two-year extension with the Patriots in May that included a $2 million signing bonus and a base salary of $1.1 million.
Hightower was scheduled to earn a base salary of $8 million in the final year of his contract. His pact will now roll over to the 2021 season. NFL players who choose to voluntarily opt out will receive a $150,000 salary advance and their contract will roll to the next season they play.
Chung, 32, was entering his 12th NFL season, 11 of which he has spent in New England. In 13 regular-season games last year, he recorded 51 total tackles and three passes defensed.
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Hightower, who has won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, had 71 total tackles, 13 quarterback hits, eight tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, four passes defensed, a fumble recovery and a touchdown in 15 starts last season. He finished second on the team in tackles to Landon Collins, who also had 81 in 15 starts in 2019.
Patriots running back Brandon Bolden, right tackle Marcus Cannon, fullback Danny Vitale and guard Najee Toran also have opted out of the 2020 season.
The Patriots' linebacker room will look a lot different in 2020. Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts left in free agency, in addition to Hightower opting out.
Baltimore Ravens return specialist De'Anthony Thomas, Seattle Seahawks guard Chance Warmack and Dallas Cowboys cornerback Maurice Canady are among other NFL players to opt out of the 2020 season.
The Patriots are scheduled to face the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 at 1 p.m. EDT Sept. 13 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.


upi--2020-07-28--State Department approves possible $59.6M sale of training ammo to Kuwait

July 28 ( UPI ) -- The State Department has approved a possible $ 59.6 million deal to sell various M1A2K training ammunition and related equipment to Kuwait , the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Tuesday .
According to DSCA , Kuwait asked to buy 10,260 120MM M865 Target Practice Cone Stabilized Discarding Sabot Tracer Cartridges and 9,810 120MM M1002 Target Practice Multipurpose Tracer ( TPMP-T ) Cartridges .
The sale would also include 600,000 linked cartridges , containers , munitions , support and test equipment and technical and logistics support services ; and other related elements of logistical and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East , '' the DSCA 's announcement said .
The proposed sale will also improve Kuwait 's capability to meet current and future threats by `` enabling continued employment of the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank and supporting modernization of the country 's tank fleet , '' according to the DSCA .
The principal contractor on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which can produce one million rounds per day of Small Arms Ammunition in 5.56mm and 7.62mm NATO calibres including ball , tracer and blank natures , according to its website .
In late May the State Department approved a possible deal for Patriot missile support for Kuwait for up to $ 425 million .

Ammunition is organized in this May 2016 file photo. On Tuesday the State Department approved a possible $59.6 million deal sell various M1A2K training ammunition and related equipment to Kuwait. Photo by Daniel Cole/U.S. Army
July 28 (UPI) -- The State Department has approved a possible $59.6 million deal to sell various M1A2K training ammunition and related equipment to Kuwait, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Tuesday. According to DSCA, Kuwait asked to buy 10,260 120MM M865 Target Practice Cone Stabilized Discarding Sabot Tracer Cartridges and 9,810 120MM M1002 Target Practice Multipurpose Tracer (TPMP-T) Cartridges. The sale would also include 600,000 linked cartridges, containers, munitions, support and test equipment and technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. Advertisement
"The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East," the DSCA's announcement said.
The proposed sale will also improve Kuwait's capability to meet current and future threats by "enabling continued employment of the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank and supporting modernization of the country's tank fleet," according to the DSCA.
The principal contractor on this deal would be BAE Systems, which can produce one million rounds per day of Small Arms Ammunition in 5.56mm and 7.62mm NATO calibres including ball, tracer and blank natures, according to its website.
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In late May the State Department approved a possible deal for Patriot missile support for Kuwait for up to $425 million.


upi--2020-07-28--Mars rover to pave way for rock sample return, human travel

July 28 ( UPI ) -- Ahead of this week 's planned Mars rover launch from Florida , NASA scientists spent Tuesday highlighting major science objectives for the mission that could impact future space travel .
The exploration and experiments that the Mars rover will undertake are aimed largely at learning about the Red Planet and how mankind someday could create an outpost there .
Several experiments traveling with the rover -- including a helicopter strapped to its undercarriage -- are meant to test technologies NASA scientists need for the first human trip to Mars , including the ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On board the Perseverance rover , which is to be launched Thursday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station , are 43 containers the size of cigar tubes designed to hold rock and dirt samples .
If all goes well , many of them will be back on Earth by 2031 as part of an international effort to study them for possible signs that life once existed on Mars .
The samples would be the first ever returned from another planet .
The plan to get them back involves several spacecraft , two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rocket from another planet .
`` It 's kind of an interplanetary relay race , '' David Parker , director of human and robotic exploration for the European Space Agency , said at a news conference Tuesday based at Kennedy Space Center .
The agency is part of the international effort to bring samples back from the Red Planet .
`` Any launch to Mars is exciting but to me , but this is exciting times 10 because of the sample return , '' Parker said .
`` The samples from Mars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our understanding of Martian planetary evolution , '' said Thomas Zurbuchen , associate administrator of NASA 's Science Mission Directorate .
Scientists have wanted for decades to obtain rock samples from Mars .
A global panel of researchers decided in 2008 that a sample return would be `` the single mission that would make the most progress '' in understanding Martian geology and possible biology .
Experts have studied meteorites that landed on Earth and are known to have come from Mars , but Perseverance offers the chance to choose Martian rocks specifically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , about the size of a small SUV , is packed with instruments that will examine rocks in the Jezero Crater just north of the Martian equator .
Scientists believe water once flowed from a river into the crater , and that the area had potential to support life at one time .
Hundreds of scientists on Earth will study the data and images Perseverance beams back and decide precisely where to drill , according to Chris Herd , a scientist with the Canadian University of Alberta in Edmonton , who is part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The goal is `` to collect at least 20 , ideally more like 30 or 35 , samples that not only have the potential to show evidence of ancient life , but also reflect a variety of different types of rocks , '' Herd said at Tuesday 's press briefing .
Finding rocks that formed in water is a key to discovering evidence of life because they could hold traces of organic compounds or even existing microbes , if any exist on Mars , he said .
Once scientists identify a rock of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and obtain a core sample about 2 inches long , according to NASA .
The robotic instruments on the rover will then seal the sample in a tube and place the tube in a storage rack on board .
The rover then will transport the tube until mission control commands it to deposit the container on the Martian surface .
Perseverance , however , is n't equipped to send the samples back to Earth .
That will be up to two spacecraft NASA and the European Space Agency plan to launch around 2026 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ESA-led Earth return orbiter .
The lander is to include a fetch rover to retrieve the samples and bring them back to the lander , from which a small rocket will launch them into Mars orbit .
The orbiter then will retrieve the samples and fly back to Earth .
NASA expects the samples to depart Mars in 2029 and return to Earth in 2031 .
The agency also plans to build a highly secure laboratory on Earth to house and study the samples .
The launch of NASA 's Perseverance mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step toward developing capabilities necessary for a safe and successful human mission to the Red Planet , scientists say .
While a human mission to Mars remains years away , the technologies being tested on the Red Planet now could pay dividends much sooner .
`` Some of the technologies demonstrated on the Perseverance mission will also be applicable for our return to the moon , '' said Michelle Rucker , Mars Integration Lead at Johnson Space Center .
The entry , descent and landing portion is the most challenging and nerve-racking portion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mars , the moon or some other planetary body , scientists say .
The challenge will be even greater and more anxiety-inducing once human lives are on the line .
`` We still ca n't land exactly where we want to be , '' Jim Watzin , director of NASA 's Mars Exploration Program , said during Tuesday 's second press briefing .
When NASA sends humans to Mars , the space agency most likely will need to land several different payloads relatively close to each other .
To execute more precise landings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ navigation .
The TRN system , which is integrated on the Mars 2020 spacecraft , uses cameras and complex image analysis algorithms to ensure the descent vehicles are headed in the right direction .
`` The lander vision system compares images of the landing site with maps that have been prepared with orbiter images , '' said Jeff Sheehy , chief engineer at NASA 's Space Technology Mission Directorate .
`` This is the kind of technology that we 'll need to land several different assets close to each other . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 28 sensors that will data during the entry , descent and landing phases .
Engineers will compare the measurements to data collected by sensors on the spacecraft that carried the Curiosity rover to the Martian surface in 2012 .
The Mars 2020 mission and the Perseverance rover also will execute a handful of technology demonstrations once on the Mars surface .
`` When we explore Mars in the future we want to be able to live off the land in some respects , '' Watzin said .
The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrate the potential for oxygen production on the planet .
According to NASA , MOXIE is the first `` in-situ resource utilization technology '' to be deployed on another world .
The instrument will capture carbon dioxide and convert it into carbon monoxide and oxygen molecules .
NASA engineers also integrated a pair of geologic and meteorological instruments onto the Perseverance rover .
The radar imager for Mars ' subsurface experiment , or RIMFAX instrument , will use ground-penetrating radar to study the Mars subsurface .
`` We 're going to start to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet ] or so of Mars to understand the soil and rock structure and start to do the necessary civil engineering to understand whether the ground will support the larger landers humans will use to get to Mars , '' Watzin said .
The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer will collect temperature , wind , air pressure and other meteorologic data that help scientists study Martian weather and better predict the hazards humans will face on Mars .
NASA researchers even will use Perseverance as an opportunity to test materials for Martian spacesuits .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mars for up to 500 days ... so I need a durable , reliable spacesuit , '' said advanced spacesuit designer Amy Ross .
`` To do that , I need to understand how my materials hold up . ''

1/3
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover onboard sits ready on the launch pad Tuesday at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo
July 28 (UPI) -- Ahead of this week's planned Mars rover launch from Florida, NASA scientists spent Tuesday highlighting major science objectives for the mission that could impact future space travel. The exploration and experiments that the Mars rover will undertake are aimed largely at learning about the Red Planet and how mankind someday could create an outpost there. Advertisement
Several experiments traveling with the rover -- including a helicopter strapped to its undercarriage -- are meant to test technologies NASA scientists need for the first human trip to Mars, including the ability to study samples from the planet at home.
On board the Perseverance rover, which is to be launched Thursday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, are 43 containers the size of cigar tubes designed to hold rock and dirt samples.
If all goes well, many of them will be back on Earth by 2031 as part of an international effort to study them for possible signs that life once existed on Mars.
Advertisement
The samples would be the first ever returned from another planet. The plan to get them back involves several spacecraft, two rovers and the first attempt to launch a rocket from another planet.
A relay race
"It's kind of an interplanetary relay race," David Parker, director of human and robotic exploration for the European Space Agency, said at a news conference Tuesday based at Kennedy Space Center. The agency is part of the international effort to bring samples back from the Red Planet.
"Any launch to Mars is exciting but to me, but this is exciting times 10 because of the sample return," Parker said.
"The samples from Mars have the potential for profound change of our understanding of Martian planetary evolution," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate.
Scientists have wanted for decades to obtain rock samples from Mars. A global panel of researchers decided in 2008 that a sample return would be "the single mission that would make the most progress" in understanding Martian geology and possible biology.
Experts have studied meteorites that landed on Earth and are known to have come from Mars, but Perseverance offers the chance to choose Martian rocks specifically for their scientific value.
Advertisement
The rover, about the size of a small SUV, is packed with instruments that will examine rocks in the Jezero Crater just north of the Martian equator. Scientists believe water once flowed from a river into the crater, and that the area had potential to support life at one time.
Selecting samples
Hundreds of scientists on Earth will study the data and images Perseverance beams back and decide precisely where to drill, according to Chris Herd, a scientist with the Canadian University of Alberta in Edmonton, who is part of the Mars sample return program.
The goal is "to collect at least 20, ideally more like 30 or 35, samples that not only have the potential to show evidence of ancient life, but also reflect a variety of different types of rocks," Herd said at Tuesday's press briefing.
Finding rocks that formed in water is a key to discovering evidence of life because they could hold traces of organic compounds or even existing microbes, if any exist on Mars, he said.
Once scientists identify a rock of interest, Perseverance will drill into it and obtain a core sample about 2 inches long, according to NASA.
The robotic instruments on the rover will then seal the sample in a tube and place the tube in a storage rack on board. The rover then will transport the tube until mission control commands it to deposit the container on the Martian surface.
Advertisement
Perseverance, however, isn't equipped to send the samples back to Earth. That will be up to two spacecraft NASA and the European Space Agency plan to launch around 2026 -- the NASA-led sample retrieval lander and an ESA-led Earth return orbiter.
The lander is to include a fetch rover to retrieve the samples and bring them back to the lander, from which a small rocket will launch them into Mars orbit. The orbiter then will retrieve the samples and fly back to Earth.
NASA expects the samples to depart Mars in 2029 and return to Earth in 2031. The agency also plans to build a highly secure laboratory on Earth to house and study the samples.
Future technologies
The launch of NASA's Perseverance mission to Mars on Thursday will be another step toward developing capabilities necessary for a safe and successful human mission to the Red Planet, scientists say.
While a human mission to Mars remains years away, the technologies being tested on the Red Planet now could pay dividends much sooner.
"Some of the technologies demonstrated on the Perseverance mission will also be applicable for our return to the moon," said Michelle Rucker, Mars Integration Lead at Johnson Space Center.
Advertisement
The entry, descent and landing portion is the most challenging and nerve-racking portion of any lander mission, whether to Mars, the moon or some other planetary body, scientists say.
The challenge will be even greater and more anxiety-inducing once human lives are on the line.
"We still can't land exactly where we want to be," Jim Watzin, director of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, said during Tuesday's second press briefing.
When NASA sends humans to Mars, the space agency most likely will need to land several different payloads relatively close to each other. To execute more precise landings, engineers at NASA developed terrain relative navigation.
The TRN system, which is integrated on the Mars 2020 spacecraft, uses cameras and complex image analysis algorithms to ensure the descent vehicles are headed in the right direction.
"The lander vision system compares images of the landing site with maps that have been prepared with orbiter images," said Jeff Sheehy, chief engineer at NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate. "This is the kind of technology that we'll need to land several different assets close to each other."
The Mars 2020 entry vehicle also is outfitted with 28 sensors that will data during the entry, descent and landing phases. Engineers will compare the measurements to data collected by sensors on the spacecraft that carried the Curiosity rover to the Martian surface in 2012.
Advertisement
Living off the land
The Mars 2020 mission and the Perseverance rover also will execute a handful of technology demonstrations once on the Mars surface.
"When we explore Mars in the future we want to be able to live off the land in some respects," Watzin said.
The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment, or MOXIE, will demonstrate the potential for oxygen production on the planet.
According to NASA, MOXIE is the first "in-situ resource utilization technology" to be deployed on another world. The instrument will capture carbon dioxide and convert it into carbon monoxide and oxygen molecules.
NASA engineers also integrated a pair of geologic and meteorological instruments onto the Perseverance rover.
The radar imager for Mars' subsurface experiment, or RIMFAX instrument, will use ground-penetrating radar to study the Mars subsurface.
"We're going to start to probe the upper 10 meters [32.8 feet] or so of Mars to understand the soil and rock structure and start to do the necessary civil engineering to understand whether the ground will support the larger landers humans will use to get to Mars," Watzin said.
The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer will collect temperature, wind, air pressure and other meteorologic data that help scientists study Martian weather and better predict the hazards humans will face on Mars.
Advertisement
Testing materials
NASA researchers even will use Perseverance as an opportunity to test materials for Martian spacesuits.
"Humans will be on the surface of Mars for up to 500 days ... so I need a durable, reliable spacesuit," said advanced spacesuit designer Amy Ross. "To do that, I need to understand how my materials hold up."


upi--2020-07-28--Judge orders New York to pay unemployment benefits to Uber, Lyft drivers

July 28 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that New York must pay unemployment benefits to Uber and Lyft drivers .
District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall ordered the New York Department of Labor to clear the backlog of unemployment payments owed to drivers for the ridesharing services within 45 days , in response to a lawsuit filed against the state by drivers and the New York Taxi Workers Alliance advocacy group .
The lawsuit states that the state failed to require Uber and Lyft to submit data on driver earnings that would allow the state to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hall said the state 's failure to do so created `` an avoidable and inexcusable delay in the payment of unemployment insurance '' as drivers do not have earnings on file related to their work for the ridesharing services .
Hall gave the New York Department of Labor seven days to convene and train a workgroup of about 35 staff members to identify claims by drivers who have sought reconsideration after being told they were ineligible and take the steps to provide their unemployment benefits .
Uber and Lyft have maintained that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees and in her ruling Hall noted that the state made efforts to obtain wage earnings and information from Uber , Lyft and other app-based companies but they `` appealed the vast majority of those decisions -- and then abandoned most of those appeals , resulting in more delays . ''
`` While the New York Department of Labor may be hamstrung by the conduct of app-based for hire vehicle companies in its effort to obtain wage and earnings data universally , this should not , as it has , result in delays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to drivers , '' she wrote .

A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that the New York Department of Labor must pay backlogged unemployment benefits to Uber and Lyft drivers within 45 days. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 28 (UPI) -- A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that New York must pay unemployment benefits to Uber and Lyft drivers. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall ordered the New York Department of Labor to clear the backlog of unemployment payments owed to drivers for the ridesharing services within 45 days, in response to a lawsuit filed against the state by drivers and the New York Taxi Workers Alliance advocacy group. Advertisement
The lawsuit states that the state failed to require Uber and Lyft to submit data on driver earnings that would allow the state to process unemployment benefits.
In her ruling, Hall said the state's failure to do so created "an avoidable and inexcusable delay in the payment of unemployment insurance" as drivers do not have earnings on file related to their work for the ridesharing services.
Hall gave the New York Department of Labor seven days to convene and train a workgroup of about 35 staff members to identify claims by drivers who have sought reconsideration after being told they were ineligible and take the steps to provide their unemployment benefits.
Uber and Lyft have maintained that their workers are independent contractors and not employees and in her ruling Hall noted that the state made efforts to obtain wage earnings and information from Uber, Lyft and other app-based companies but they "appealed the vast majority of those decisions -- and then abandoned most of those appeals, resulting in more delays."
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"While the New York Department of Labor may be hamstrung by the conduct of app-based for hire vehicle companies in its effort to obtain wage and earnings data universally, this should not, as it has, result in delays to the prompt payment of unemployment benefits to drivers," she wrote.


upi--2020-07-28--Lakers' Frank Vogel: 'There is concern' Anthony Davis could miss restart opener

July 28 ( UPI ) -- The Los Angeles Lakers could be without superstar forward Anthony Davis in their restart opener against the L.A. Clippers on Thursday .
Davis , who was accidentally poked in his right eye by Michael Carter-Williams during Saturday 's scrimmage against the Orlando Magic , did n't practice with the Lakers on Tuesday .
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel labeled the All-Star big man as `` day-to-day '' because of the eye injury and said `` there is some concern '' that Davis could possibly miss the team 's first game back .
`` He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still dealing with discomfort there is some concern that he could potentially not play Thursday , '' Vogel told reporters Tuesday .
`` But we 're hopeful that he does , and we 'll see how that plays out .
He 's going to continue to be evaluated each day . ''
Davis was having a dominant performance in the Lakers ' second scrimmage since reporting to the NBA 's bubble in Orlando , Fla. , putting up nine points and 10 rebounds in limited action before departing the game .
Carter-Williams ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was swiping for the ball .
Davis , a seven-time All-Star selection , was averaging 26.7 points , 9.4 rebounds , 3.1 assists and 2.4 blocks in his first season with the Lakers before the NBA suspended the 2019-20 campaign in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic .
According to league rules , the Lakers must provide an update on Davis ' status Wednesday .
In a recent memo , the NBA informed teams that they have to submit a participation status for every player by 5 p.m. EDT the day before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designate their players as available , probable , questionable , doubtful or out .
`` Day-to-day '' is not an accepted status .

Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis (3) was averaging 26.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.4 blocks in his first season with the Lakers before the NBA suspended the 2019-20 campaign in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 28 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Lakers could be without superstar forward Anthony Davis in their restart opener against the L.A. Clippers on Thursday. Davis, who was accidentally poked in his right eye by Michael Carter-Williams during Saturday's scrimmage against the Orlando Magic, didn't practice with the Lakers on Tuesday. Advertisement
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel labeled the All-Star big man as "day-to-day" because of the eye injury and said "there is some concern" that Davis could possibly miss the team's first game back.
"He's day-to-day, and while he's still dealing with discomfort there is some concern that he could potentially not play Thursday," Vogel told reporters Tuesday. "But we're hopeful that he does, and we'll see how that plays out. He's going to continue to be evaluated each day."
Davis was having a dominant performance in the Lakers' second scrimmage since reporting to the NBA's bubble in Orlando, Fla., putting up nine points and 10 rebounds in limited action before departing the game. Carter-Williams' hand inadvertently struck Davis' face while he was swiping for the ball.
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Davis, a seven-time All-Star selection, was averaging 26.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.4 blocks in his first season with the Lakers before the NBA suspended the 2019-20 campaign in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to league rules, the Lakers must provide an update on Davis' status Wednesday. In a recent memo, the NBA informed teams that they have to submit a participation status for every player by 5 p.m. EDT the day before a game.
Teams must choose to designate their players as available, probable, questionable, doubtful or out. "Day-to-day" is not an accepted status.


upi--2020-07-28--Bonhomme Richard fire released toxic chemicals into San Diego air, tests say

July 28 ( UPI ) -- Testing results released this week by the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District reveal that a Navy ship fire earlier this month blanketed communities nearby with smoke containing toxic chemicals .
The San Diego Union Tribune reported Monday that as fires burned aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard earlier in July , residents were exposed to a dozen potentially dangerous chemicals , including benzene , chloromethane and acetonitrile .
Residents of nearby communities complained of headaches and nausea during the fires , but according to a data review from the state of California 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents are not likely to experience long-term health effects .
The fire mostly produced fine particulate matter , a common pollutant created by a wide variety of human activities -- from bonfires to vehicle emissions .
But the test results contradict earlier statements from the Navy that `` there 's nothing toxic in there . ''
Community members have organized a group called Navy Ship Fire Community Advocates and are working with several law firms in the San Diego area to explore the potential of legal action against the government .
The San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a notice of violation -- likely to result in a negotiated financial penalty -- for contaminating the air a day after the fire started July 12 .

Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department boats combat a fire onboard USS Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego July 12, after a fire broke out while the ship was moored pierside at Naval Base San Diego. The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District says the fire released several toxic chemicals into the air in surrounding communities. Photo by Christina Ross/U.S. Navy | License Photo
July 28 (UPI) -- Testing results released this week by the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District reveal that a Navy ship fire earlier this month blanketed communities nearby with smoke containing toxic chemicals. The San Diego Union Tribune reported Monday that as fires burned aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard earlier in July, residents were exposed to a dozen potentially dangerous chemicals, including benzene, chloromethane and acetonitrile. Advertisement
Residents of nearby communities complained of headaches and nausea during the fires, but according to a data review from the state of California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, residents are not likely to experience long-term health effects.
The fire mostly produced fine particulate matter, a common pollutant created by a wide variety of human activities -- from bonfires to vehicle emissions.
But the test results contradict earlier statements from the Navy that "there's nothing toxic in there."
Community members have organized a group called Navy Ship Fire Community Advocates and are working with several law firms in the San Diego area to explore the potential of legal action against the government.
The San Diego air district issued the Navy with a notice of violation -- likely to result in a negotiated financial penalty -- for contaminating the air a day after the fire started July 12.
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upi--2020-07-28--Trump administration to stop accepting new DACA applications

July 28 ( UPI ) -- The Trump administration wo n't accept new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program , the Department of Homeland Security said in a memo released Tuesday .
The announcement comes more than a month after the Supreme Court ruled against the administration 's attempts to end the program , which gives protections to undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children .
In addition to blocking new applications , the department said it would only renew applications on a case-by-case basis and renewals will be for one year instead of two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the policy and considers future action , the fact remains that Congress should act on this matter , '' acting Secretary Chad Wolf said .
`` There are important policy reasons that may warrant the full rescission of the DACA policy . ''
A senior administration official said the new measures will be put in place as the administration reviews ways to end DACA .
`` The administration is now undertaking a comprehensive review of the DACA program and the justifications that have been offered for winding DACA down , including its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has on what I call 'immigration behavior , ' including smuggling and illegal crossings , '' the official told reporters in a briefing call .
The Supreme Court voted 5-4 against the Trump administration 's bid to end DACA on June 18 , calling its attempts arbitrary and capricious , and illegal under the federal Administrative Procedure Act .
Chief Justice John Roberts , writing for the majority , said eliminating DACA was n't unconstitutional , but that the Trump administration needed to provide a better reason for doing so .
White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to its latest effort to end DACA .
The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services said the new effort will leave thousands of DACA recipients at risk of deportation .
The Texas-based organization accused the Trump administration of `` terrorizing the immigrant community . ''
`` Ending DACA was always a part of Trump 's plan to grow his deportation force , '' said Erika Andiola , chief advocacy officer at RAICES .
`` His administration will talk about pushing Congress to pass legislation for DACA recipients to have permanent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bargaining chip to secure increased funding and resources for his deportation forces .
`` We must not fall for Trump 's political tricks and lies , and we will not allow DACA to be used as leverage to increase the surveillance , arrest , detention and deportation of un-DACAmented immigrants . ''
President Barack Obama started the DACA program with an executive order in 2012 in an effort to provide temporary relief from deportation for children brought to the United States by undocumented parents .
It also allows them to work and go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of being sent to their country of birth .
Trump sought to end the program in favor of allowing Congress to pass its own immigration reform , which failed .

Immigration advocates rally outside the Supreme Court in favor of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Despite a Supreme Court ruling last month, the Trump administration said it plans to stop accepting new DACA applications. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 28 (UPI) -- The Trump administration won't accept new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the Department of Homeland Security said in a memo released Tuesday. The announcement comes more than a month after the Supreme Court ruled against the administration's attempts to end the program, which gives protections to undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. Advertisement
In addition to blocking new applications, the department said it would only renew applications on a case-by-case basis and renewals will be for one year instead of two.
"As the Department continues looking at the policy and considers future action, the fact remains that Congress should act on this matter," acting Secretary Chad Wolf said. "There are important policy reasons that may warrant the full rescission of the DACA policy."
A senior administration official said the new measures will be put in place as the administration reviews ways to end DACA.
"The administration is now undertaking a comprehensive review of the DACA program and the justifications that have been offered for winding DACA down, including its illegality and the negative effects the program has on what I call 'immigration behavior,' including smuggling and illegal crossings," the official told reporters in a briefing call.
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The Supreme Court voted 5-4 against the Trump administration's bid to end DACA on June 18, calling its attempts arbitrary and capricious, and illegal under the federal Administrative Procedure Act.
Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, said eliminating DACA wasn't unconstitutional, but that the Trump administration needed to provide a better reason for doing so.
White House officials said the administration expects new challenges to its latest effort to end DACA.
The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services said the new effort will leave thousands of DACA recipients at risk of deportation. The Texas-based organization accused the Trump administration of "terrorizing the immigrant community."
"Ending DACA was always a part of Trump's plan to grow his deportation force," said Erika Andiola, chief advocacy officer at RAICES. "His administration will talk about pushing Congress to pass legislation for DACA recipients to have permanent protection, while using DACA as a bargaining chip to secure increased funding and resources for his deportation forces.
"We must not fall for Trump's political tricks and lies, and we will not allow DACA to be used as leverage to increase the surveillance, arrest, detention and deportation of un-DACAmented immigrants."
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President Barack Obama started the DACA program with an executive order in 2012 in an effort to provide temporary relief from deportation for children brought to the United States by undocumented parents. It also allows them to work and go to school in the United States without risk of being sent to their country of birth.
Trump sought to end the program in favor of allowing Congress to pass its own immigration reform, which failed.


upi--2020-07-28--Caldwell fire burns 67,789 acres in California; Gold Fire, Hog Fire nearly 70% contained

July 28 ( UPI ) -- The Caldwell Fire in Northern California burned more than 60,000 acres Tuesday while a pair of wildfires in Lassen County neared 70 % containment .
Modoc National Forest said the Caldwell Fire burned 67,789 acres with 0 % containment as of Tuesday morning .
The blaze is part of a group of fires known as the July Complex including the AllenFire , which has burned 966 acres at 80 % containment and the Dalton Fire at 1,367 acres and 90 % containment .
`` As predicted , yesterday 's weather included thunderstorms and erratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire behavior and growth on the Caldwell Fire , '' the agency said .
The cluster of fires burning in Modoc and Siskiyou counties were started by lightning strikes Wednesday .
The Caldwell Fire is the largest fire of the season and is second only to the 77,758-acre Kincade fire in the past two seasons .
Mandatory evacuations for the Tionesta borough remained in effect , while evacuations and orders were lifted for the Tulelake area residents with property bordering the forest or Lava Beds , all Copic Panhandle and Peninsula areas south @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cal Fire reported that the Gold Fire has burned 21,870 acres and was 65 % contained while the Hog Fire has burned 9,535 acres and was 69 % contained .
Three people have been injured in the Gold Fire , which has also destroyed 13 structures and damaged five others , while the Hog Fire has destroyed two structures .
Nearly 4,000 fire personnel have been deployed in response to the two fires and firefighters have worked to strengthen control lines as they work to contain the blazes .

The Caldwell Fire, one of several wildfires in California started by lightning strikes, burned 67,789 acres at 0% containment, fire officials said Tuesday. Photo by U.S. Forest Service-Modoc National Forest/ Facebook
July 28 (UPI) -- The Caldwell Fire in Northern California burned more than 60,000 acres Tuesday while a pair of wildfires in Lassen County neared 70% containment. Modoc National Forest said the Caldwell Fire burned 67,789 acres with 0% containment as of Tuesday morning. The blaze is part of a group of fires known as the July Complex including the AllenFire, which has burned 966 acres at 80% containment and the Dalton Fire at 1,367 acres and 90% containment. Advertisement
"As predicted, yesterday's weather included thunderstorms and erratic outflow winds. These conditions created extreme fire behavior and growth on the Caldwell Fire," the agency said.
The cluster of fires burning in Modoc and Siskiyou counties were started by lightning strikes Wednesday.
The Caldwell Fire is the largest fire of the season and is second only to the 77,758-acre Kincade fire in the past two seasons.
Mandatory evacuations for the Tionesta borough remained in effect, while evacuations and orders were lifted for the Tulelake area residents with property bordering the forest or Lava Beds, all Copic Panhandle and Peninsula areas south of Highway 139.
Also Tuesday, Cal Fire reported that the Gold Fire has burned 21,870 acres and was 65% contained while the Hog Fire has burned 9,535 acres and was 69% contained.
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Three people have been injured in the Gold Fire, which has also destroyed 13 structures and damaged five others, while the Hog Fire has destroyed two structures.
Nearly 4,000 fire personnel have been deployed in response to the two fires and firefighters have worked to strengthen control lines as they work to contain the blazes.


upi--2020-07-28--Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow agrees to $36.1M rookie contract

July 28 ( UPI ) -- Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow is close to finalizing his first NFL contract after agreeing to terms Tuesday .
League sources told ESPN and NFL Media that Burrow and the Bengals reached an agreement on his four-year rookie deal , which includes a fully guaranteed $ 36.1 million .
It also contains a $ 23.9 million signing bonus .
The contract -- yet to be announced by the Bengals -- is pending a physical that will occur later this week .
Burrow and second-round pick Tee Higgins were the only Bengals rookies who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported to the team facility Tuesday .
Higgins signed his rookie contract Tuesday .
The Bengals selected Burrow with the No .
1 overall pick in April 's NFL Draft after the team finished with the league 's worst record last season .
Burrow won the Heisman Trophy and guided LSU to a national title in 2019 .
Despite not having a signed contract , Burrow has spent the off-season preparing to be the Bengals ' starting quarterback in Week 1 .
According to ESPN , he participated in the team 's virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ childhood home in Ohio .
Recently , he worked out with new teammates Sam Hubbard , Drew Sample and Freedom Akinmoladun in Cincinnati ahead of training camp .
During his final year at LSU , Burrow set the FBS record for most passing touchdowns in a single season .
He ended the year with a 76.3 completion percentage , 5,671 passing yards , 60 touchdowns and only six interceptions .

Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft. File Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
July 28 (UPI) -- Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow is close to finalizing his first NFL contract after agreeing to terms Tuesday. League sources told ESPN and NFL Media that Burrow and the Bengals reached an agreement on his four-year rookie deal, which includes a fully guaranteed $36.1 million. It also contains a $23.9 million signing bonus. Advertisement
The contract -- yet to be announced by the Bengals -- is pending a physical that will occur later this week.
Burrow and second-round pick Tee Higgins were the only Bengals rookies who didn't have deals signed as veterans reported to the team facility Tuesday. Higgins signed his rookie contract Tuesday.
The Bengals selected Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft after the team finished with the league's worst record last season. Burrow won the Heisman Trophy and guided LSU to a national title in 2019.
Despite not having a signed contract, Burrow has spent the off-season preparing to be the Bengals' starting quarterback in Week 1. According to ESPN, he participated in the team's virtual workouts and held passing drills near his childhood home in Ohio.
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Recently, he worked out with new teammates Sam Hubbard, Drew Sample and Freedom Akinmoladun in Cincinnati ahead of training camp.
During his final year at LSU, Burrow set the FBS record for most passing touchdowns in a single season. He ended the year with a 76.3 completion percentage, 5,671 passing yards, 60 touchdowns and only six interceptions.


upi--2020-07-28--AMC Theaters, Universal Pictures deal could shorten theatrical window to 3 weeks

July 28 ( UPI ) -- AMC Theaters and Universal Pictures reached a deal allowing the studio 's films to become available on demand 17 days after they premiere in theaters , the companies announced Tuesday .
The announcement represents a reconciliation between the theater chain and the studio after discord earlier this year over the on-demand release of Trolls World Tour .
After Universal released the film on video-on-demand shortly after its theatrical debut and announced plans to do the same for The King of Staten Island , AMC CEO Adam Aron announced the theater chain would not play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree to a three-month theatrical window before films can appear on home video , thus granting theaters some exclusivity .
The agreement allows AMC theaters three weekends of exclusive access to exhibit films before Universal can move them to VOD .
The arrangement only applies to premium VOD , which could require a price tag of $ 19.99 or more .
The pandemic has forced studios to change their approach to releasing movies with the temporary shuttering of theaters .
They can no longer release films on thousands of screens simultaneously because some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those that are open will have reduced capacity , so instead of selling hundreds of tickets per screening , they would sell less than 100 to maintain social distancing .
`` AMC enthusiastically embraces this new industry model both because we are participating in the entirety of the economics of the new structure , and because premium video on demand creates the added potential for increased movie studio profitability , which should in turn lead to the green-lighting of more theatrical movies , '' Aron said .
Warner Brothers announced plans to release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ select cities in the United States .
Bill & Ted Face the Music will play theaters and be available on VOD as of Sept. 1 .
Many films pushed their releases to 2021 , such as Halloween Kills and A Quiet Place Part II .

AMC Theaters and Universal Pictures ended their feud and agreed to a deal to allow titles to premiere on video-on-demand as soon as 17 days after theaters. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 28 (UPI) -- AMC Theaters and Universal Pictures reached a deal allowing the studio's films to become available on demand 17 days after they premiere in theaters, the companies announced Tuesday. The announcement represents a reconciliation between the theater chain and the studio after discord earlier this year over the on-demand release of Trolls World Tour. Advertisement
After Universal released the film on video-on-demand shortly after its theatrical debut and announced plans to do the same for The King of Staten Island, AMC CEO Adam Aron announced the theater chain would not play subsequent Universal films. Traditionally, studios agree to a three-month theatrical window before films can appear on home video, thus granting theaters some exclusivity.
The agreement allows AMC theaters three weekends of exclusive access to exhibit films before Universal can move them to VOD. The arrangement only applies to premium VOD, which could require a price tag of $19.99 or more.
The pandemic has forced studios to change their approach to releasing movies with the temporary shuttering of theaters. They can no longer release films on thousands of screens simultaneously because some states have not reopened movie theaters.
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Those that are open will have reduced capacity, so instead of selling hundreds of tickets per screening, they would sell less than 100 to maintain social distancing.
"AMC enthusiastically embraces this new industry model both because we are participating in the entirety of the economics of the new structure, and because premium video on demand creates the added potential for increased movie studio profitability, which should in turn lead to the green-lighting of more theatrical movies," Aron said.
Warner Brothers announced plans to release Tenet internationally one week before it plays select cities in the United States. Bill & Ted Face the Music will play theaters and be available on VOD as of Sept. 1.
Many films pushed their releases to 2021, such as Halloween Kills and A Quiet Place Part II.