upi--2020-03-20--Blood from COVID-19 survivors might protect others

As more people recover from COVID-19 , that means more people should have antibodies against the virus .
And it 's possible that blood donations from those survivors could help protect or treat other people , according to some infectious disease experts .
The general notion is far from new .
In the first half of the 20th century , doctors used `` convalescent serum '' in an effort to treat people during outbreaks of viral infections like measles , mumps and influenza -- including during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic .
The principle is fairly simple : When a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system produces antibodies that latch onto the enemy , marking it for destruction .
After recovery , those antibodies remain circulating in a person 's blood , for anywhere from months to years .
In theory , transferring some of those antibodies to other people with the same virus could help their bodies fight it off .
Or , given to healthy people -- like the health care workers on the front lines -- the antibodies might offer some temporary protection from infection .
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic -- with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- antibodies from recovering patients could provide a `` stopgap '' measure , according to Drs .
Arturo Casadevall and Liise-anne Pirofski .
Casadevall , of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore , and Pirofski , of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City , lay out their case in the March 16 online edition of the Journal of Clinical Investigation .
For one , the authors pointed out , convalescent serum is not a thing of the past .
It has been tried in limited numbers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2003 SARS ( severe acute respiratory syndrome ) epidemic , the 2009 `` swine flu '' epidemic , and the 2012 outbreak of MERS ( Middle East respiratory syndrome ) .
Reports on those attempts indicate the antibody treatment generally reduced the severity of patients ' illnesses and improved survival .
`` In addition to public health containment and mitigation protocols , this may be our only near-term option for treating and preventing COVID-19 , '' Casadevall said in a statement from Johns Hopkins .
`` And it is something we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few weeks and months . ''
The authors could not be reached for an interview .
But other specialists in infectious disease and public health agreed the tactic is worth considering .
`` It 's a good idea .
It 's something that 's been used before , and we know how to do it , '' said Dr. Gregory Poland , who heads the Vaccine Research Group at the Mayo Clinic , in Rochester , Minn. Doctors ' experience with the general approach is not limited to viral pandemics , Poland pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immune globulin -- purified antibody preparations taken from donated human blood -- to treat certain medical conditions .
In addition , modern blood-banking techniques , which screen for infectious agents , should ensure any such tactic against COVID-19 would be as safe as a standard blood transfusion , Poland said .
That 's not to say doctors can just start doing it .
`` You still have to go through the FDA , '' Poland said , referring to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .
It 's not clear what such an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional clinical trial approach , where researchers randomly assign people to a treatment or a placebo ( inactive substance ) , is too laborious and time-consuming to put the brakes on a pandemic .
But standard protocols will be needed , including logistic matters like coordination among local doctors , blood banks and hospitals , according to Casadevall .
`` We 'll have to put protocols in place to make sure that the use of this sera is safe , '' Casadevall said .
But , he added , `` we 're not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is something that physicians , blood banks , and hospitals already know how to do and can do today . ''
In fact , the commentary noted , there are reports that doctors in China have used convalescent serum in at least 245 COVID-19 patients .
The details are sketchy , but available information suggests the approach has been safe and reduced the amount of virus in patients ' blood .
Dr. Bruce Y. Lee is a professor of health policy management at City University of New York .
He said the convalescent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` We 're in a situation where the toolbox is pretty empty , '' Lee said .
Both he and Poland pointed to some key unknowns , including : How long do antibodies against this novel virus last ?
What amount of antibody would be necessary to help treat the infection or offer some protection ?
What is clear is that any protection would be temporary .
`` This would not replace a vaccine , '' Lee stressed .
Vaccines , he noted , work by training the immune system to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which involves more than antibodies .
And what about people who 've recovered from COVID-19 ?
Are they immune to it , at least for a while ?
There have been reports from China and Japan of patients being declared infection-free then testing positive again .
However , Poland said those cases probably reflect an issue with the testing .
`` I do n't think they represent re-infections , '' he said .
`` That would be highly unusual . ''
The World Health Organization has updates on COVID-19 .

Iranian medical personnel wearing protective gear take care of an Iranian patient infected with coronavirus (Covid-19) at a quarantine section of the Rassolakram hospital in western Tehran on March 11, 2020. Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/UPI | License Photo
As more people recover from COVID-19, that means more people should have antibodies against the virus. And it's possible that blood donations from those survivors could help protect or treat other people, according to some infectious disease experts. The general notion is far from new. In the first half of the 20th century, doctors used "convalescent serum" in an effort to treat people during outbreaks of viral infections like measles, mumps and influenza -- including during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. Advertisement
The principle is fairly simple: When a pathogen invades the body, the immune system produces antibodies that latch onto the enemy, marking it for destruction. After recovery, those antibodies remain circulating in a person's blood, for anywhere from months to years.
In theory, transferring some of those antibodies to other people with the same virus could help their bodies fight it off. Or, given to healthy people -- like the health care workers on the front lines -- the antibodies might offer some temporary protection from infection.
Advertisement
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic -- with no vaccine or antiviral drug coming soon -- antibodies from recovering patients could provide a "stopgap" measure, according to Drs. Arturo Casadevall and Liise-anne Pirofski.
Casadevall, of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore, and Pirofski, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, lay out their case in the March 16 online edition of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
For one, the authors pointed out, convalescent serum is not a thing of the past. It has been tried in limited numbers of patients during more-recent viral crises, including the 2003 SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic, the 2009 "swine flu" epidemic, and the 2012 outbreak of MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome).
Reports on those attempts indicate the antibody treatment generally reduced the severity of patients' illnesses and improved survival.
"In addition to public health containment and mitigation protocols, this may be our only near-term option for treating and preventing COVID-19," Casadevall said in a statement from Johns Hopkins. "And it is something we can start putting into place in the next few weeks and months."
Advertisement
The authors could not be reached for an interview. But other specialists in infectious disease and public health agreed the tactic is worth considering.
"It's a good idea. It's something that's been used before, and we know how to do it," said Dr. Gregory Poland, who heads the Vaccine Research Group at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn.
Doctors' experience with the general approach is not limited to viral pandemics, Poland pointed out. They routinely use injections of immune globulin -- purified antibody preparations taken from donated human blood -- to treat certain medical conditions.
In addition, modern blood-banking techniques, which screen for infectious agents, should ensure any such tactic against COVID-19 would be as safe as a standard blood transfusion, Poland said.
That's not to say doctors can just start doing it. "You still have to go through the FDA," Poland said, referring to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
It's not clear what such an approval process would look like. The traditional clinical trial approach, where researchers randomly assign people to a treatment or a placebo (inactive substance), is too laborious and time-consuming to put the brakes on a pandemic.
But standard protocols will be needed, including logistic matters like coordination among local doctors, blood banks and hospitals, according to Casadevall.
Advertisement
"We'll have to put protocols in place to make sure that the use of this sera is safe," Casadevall said. But, he added, "we're not talking about research and development -- this is something that physicians, blood banks, and hospitals already know how to do and can do today."
In fact, the commentary noted, there are reports that doctors in China have used convalescent serum in at least 245 COVID-19 patients. The details are sketchy, but available information suggests the approach has been safe and reduced the amount of virus in patients' blood.
Dr. Bruce Y. Lee is a professor of health policy management at City University of New York. He said the convalescent serum idea is "certainly worth exploring."
"We're in a situation where the toolbox is pretty empty," Lee said.
Both he and Poland pointed to some key unknowns, including: How long do antibodies against this novel virus last? What amount of antibody would be necessary to help treat the infection or offer some protection?
What is clear is that any protection would be temporary. "This would not replace a vaccine," Lee stressed. Vaccines, he noted, work by training the immune system to launch its own response to an invader, which involves more than antibodies.
Advertisement
And what about people who've recovered from COVID-19? Are they immune to it, at least for a while? There have been reports from China and Japan of patients being declared infection-free then testing positive again.
However, Poland said those cases probably reflect an issue with the testing. "I don't think they represent re-infections," he said. "That would be highly unusual."
More information
The World Health Organization has updates on COVID-19.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-03-20--COVID-19 may take toll on mental health, experts say

March 20 ( UPI ) -- The new coronavirus outbreak continues to spread across the United States , as does the anxiety among Americans , because people are n't sure what 's happening or what to do , experts say .
With confirmed cases of COVID-19 now topping 16,600 , according to Johns Hopkins University , many communities across the country have issued `` social distancing '' guidelines and some states -- California , Florida and New York among them -- have instituted enforced shutdowns of non-essential businesses or `` shelter-in-place '' orders to stem the spread .
With each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public grows .
This was noted earlier this month in guidance issued by the World Health Organization , which said the COVID-19 outbreak -- ahead of calling it a pandemic -- was `` generating stress in the population . ''
`` There is a lot of frustration in general due to people not knowing what will happen , '' Prairie Conlon , who offers counseling services over the phone and online , told UPI .
`` I believe it is the fear of the unknown that is amplifying anxiety .
One question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you think this will be over ? '
Without a definitive answer , it can really shake people . ''
Of course , COVID-19 is not the first global crisis to elevate stress and anxiety levels , and there is research showing the effects these events have on the public .
A review of the findings of 24 studies of the psychosocial effects of the Ebola virus outbreak in west Africa from 2014-2016 found that high numbers of survivors , and those not directly affected or infected , still experienced significant `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include depression , anxiety , anger , grief , guilt , flashbacks , sadness , worthlessness , substance addiction , suicidal tendencies and self‐stigmatization , researchers wrote .
In addition , researchers said that even after the outbreak was over , family and community responses to those who survived ranged from `` acceptance to rejection , isolation , stigmatization and discrimination -- all of which can have an obvious impact on mental health .
`` So for something like this current outbreak , we could be seeing mental health effects for months or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted Dr. Dana Rose Garfin , an assistant adjunct professor of psychology in the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing at the University of California-Irvine .
Garfin 's research work focuses on trauma , stress , disasters and health psychology .
`` We see time and time again after these types of events people with mental health problems tend to fare worse , '' she added .
According to Garfin , media coverage of crises like the COVID-19 often does n't help .
Daily press briefings from politicians , government agencies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels than reduce them , studies have found .
A landmark study published in 2016 in the journal Comprehensive Psychiatry , for example , found that survivors of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing were more predisposed to `` adverse reactions '' to media coverage of the September 11 terrorist attacks six years later .
Problems included worsened anxiety and depression and even post-traumatic stress disorder .
What to do The WHO recommends people `` protect yourself and be supportive to others '' as one method of mitigating the mental health effects of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what little the public can do to contain the outbreak , this means focusing on `` things you can control . ''
`` Make a list for just a few things to accomplish each day , such as de-cluttering a closet , or finding an exercise program on YouTube you can do in your living room , '' she said .
`` Just the act of accomplishing something can help bring your world back into balance . ''
Conlon and Garfin also both echo the advice of the WHO , which urged the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or listening to news that causes you to feel anxious or distressed '' and `` seek information mainly to take practical steps to prepare your plans and protect yourself and loved ones . ''
The agency also suggests scheduling times of the day to check news , in addition to choosing credible sources `` to help you distinguish facts from rumors . ''
`` Turn off the news if you find it triggers you , '' Conlon added .
That said , Garfin emphasized that it is still important to keep up-to-date with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prevention and WHO recommendations as the outbreak unfolds .
Just do so in moderation .
In addition , both Garfin , who is not a clinician , and Conlon , said there are plenty of `` self-care '' measures people can take even in a climate of `` social distancing , '' as recommended by the CDC and others to stop the spread of COVID-19 .
Simple gestures like talking to friends and family on the phone or online and offering words of support can help , as can relaxation techniques like meditation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even faster than the virus itself , '' Conlon said .
`` Feelings of helplessness as we watch this event unfold can have detrimental effects on those who are already struggling with mental illness .
Further , I think we are going to see more instances of mental illness develop . ''
Still , on the positive side , Garfin offered some reassurance , describing the outbreak as `` temporary . ''
She added , `` This will pass . ''

A man sits and overlooks the Tidal Basin as cherry blossoms bloom in Washington, D.C., on Friday. The National Park Service has encouraged people to stay away from the annual blossoms to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
March 20 (UPI) -- The new coronavirus outbreak continues to spread across the United States, as does the anxiety among Americans, because people aren't sure what's happening or what to do, experts say. With confirmed cases of COVID-19 now topping 16,600, according to Johns Hopkins University, many communities across the country have issued "social distancing" guidelines and some states -- California, Florida and New York among them -- have instituted enforced shutdowns of non-essential businesses or "shelter-in-place" orders to stem the spread. Advertisement
With each new restriction and announcement, concern among the public grows. This was noted earlier this month in guidance issued by the World Health Organization, which said the COVID-19 outbreak -- ahead of calling it a pandemic -- was "generating stress in the population."
"There is a lot of frustration in general due to people not knowing what will happen," Prairie Conlon, who offers counseling services over the phone and online, told UPI. "I believe it is the fear of the unknown that is amplifying anxiety. One question I am continually hearing is, 'When do you think this will be over?' Without a definitive answer, it can really shake people."
Advertisement
Mental health suffers in outbreaks
Of course, COVID-19 is not the first global crisis to elevate stress and anxiety levels, and there is research showing the effects these events have on the public.
A review of the findings of 24 studies of the psychosocial effects of the Ebola virus outbreak in west Africa from 2014-2016 found that high numbers of survivors, and those not directly affected or infected, still experienced significant "psychological distress." This distress may include depression, anxiety, anger, grief, guilt, flashbacks, sadness, worthlessness, substance addiction, suicidal tendencies and self‐stigmatization, researchers wrote.
In addition, researchers said that even after the outbreak was over, family and community responses to those who survived ranged from "acceptance to rejection, isolation, stigmatization and discrimination -- all of which can have an obvious impact on mental health.
"So for something like this current outbreak, we could be seeing mental health effects for months or even years after it resolves," noted Dr. Dana Rose Garfin, an assistant adjunct professor of psychology in the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing at the University of California-Irvine. Garfin's research work focuses on trauma, stress, disasters and health psychology.
"We see time and time again after these types of events people with mental health problems tend to fare worse," she added.
Advertisement
According to Garfin, media coverage of crises like the COVID-19 often doesn't help. Daily press briefings from politicians, government agencies and others can do more to raise anxiety levels than reduce them, studies have found.
A landmark study published in 2016 in the journal Comprehensive Psychiatry, for example, found that survivors of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing were more predisposed to "adverse reactions" to media coverage of the September 11 terrorist attacks six years later. Problems included worsened anxiety and depression and even post-traumatic stress disorder.
What to do
The WHO recommends people "protect yourself and be supportive to others" as one method of mitigating the mental health effects of the COVID-19 crisis.
For Conlon, with what little the public can do to contain the outbreak, this means focusing on "things you can control."
"Make a list for just a few things to accomplish each day, such as de-cluttering a closet, or finding an exercise program on YouTube you can do in your living room," she said. "Just the act of accomplishing something can help bring your world back into balance."
Conlon and Garfin also both echo the advice of the WHO, which urged the public to "avoid watching, reading or listening to news that causes you to feel anxious or distressed" and "seek information mainly to take practical steps to prepare your plans and protect yourself and loved ones." The agency also suggests scheduling times of the day to check news, in addition to choosing credible sources "to help you distinguish facts from rumors."
Advertisement
"Turn off the news if you find it triggers you," Conlon added.
That said, Garfin emphasized that it is still important to keep up-to-date with current U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and WHO recommendations as the outbreak unfolds. Just do so in moderation.
In addition, both Garfin, who is not a clinician, and Conlon, said there are plenty of "self-care" measures people can take even in a climate of "social distancing," as recommended by the CDC and others to stop the spread of COVID-19. Simple gestures like talking to friends and family on the phone or online and offering words of support can help, as can relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga.
"Fear is spreading even faster than the virus itself," Conlon said. "Feelings of helplessness as we watch this event unfold can have detrimental effects on those who are already struggling with mental illness. Further, I think we are going to see more instances of mental illness develop."
Still, on the positive side, Garfin offered some reassurance, describing the outbreak as "temporary."
She added, "This will pass."
Scenes from a pandemic: World copes with COVID-19


upi--2020-03-20--Dow ends worst week since 2008 financial crisis

March 20 ( UPI ) -- Stocks attempted to rally early Friday , but tumbled further throughout the day , ending the worst week in over a decade for the Dow Jones Industrial Average .
The Dow closed at 19,248 , down 4.5 percent for the day .
The S & P 500 slid 4.4 percent and the Nasdaq Composite fell 3.8 percent , despite a 2 percent jump earlier in the day .
The Dow was down more than 17 percent for the week , its biggest weekly decrease since October 2008 , when it dropped 18.2 percent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent and the Nasdaq 12.6 percent this week .
Stocks attempted to rally with gains early Friday , but sources told CNBC that news that clearing firm Ronin Capital failed to meet its capital requirements dragged trading down toward the end of the day .
Oil prices , which have plummeted in recent weeks , showed some gains Friday but fell back into the negative .
Brent crude was trading at $ 29.44 per barrel .
Friday 's losses followed reports that multiple U.S. senators moved to sell off some of their stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus outbreak .
Among those reported to have dumped shares are Sens .
Richard Burr , R-N.C. , Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif. , James Inhofe , R-Okla. , and Kelly Loeffler , D-Ga .

1/2
A worker sweeps the floor of the New York Stock Exchange after the closing bell on Wall Street in New York City on Friday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
March 20 (UPI) -- Stocks attempted to rally early Friday, but tumbled further throughout the day, ending the worst week in over a decade for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The Dow closed at 19,248, down 4.5 percent for the day. The S&P 500 slid 4.4 percent and the Nasdaq Composite fell 3.8 percent, despite a 2 percent jump earlier in the day. Advertisement
The Dow was down more than 17 percent for the week, its biggest weekly decrease since October 2008, when it dropped 18.2 percent. The S&P 500 lost 13 percent and the Nasdaq 12.6 percent this week.
Stocks attempted to rally with gains early Friday, but sources told CNBC that news that clearing firm Ronin Capital failed to meet its capital requirements dragged trading down toward the end of the day.
Oil prices, which have plummeted in recent weeks, showed some gains Friday but fell back into the negative. Brent crude was trading at $29.44 per barrel.
Friday's losses followed reports that multiple U.S. senators moved to sell off some of their stock weeks ago at the start of the coronavirus outbreak. Among those reported to have dumped shares are Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., James Inhofe, R-Okla., and Kelly Loeffler, D-Ga.


upi--2020-03-20--Troops entering Middle East to be quarantined for 14 days

March 20 ( UPI ) -- U.S. Central Command announced Friday that U.S. and coalition troops deploying to the Middle East will be put under a 14-day pre-deployment quarantine to avoid placing unnecessary strain on medical facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic .
`` This quarantine will be required for both U.S. and coalition service members regardless of where they are coming from .
We are working with all coalition members to ensure quarantines are established in accordance with U.S. Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) guidelines , '' Central Command said in a statement .
Transportation Command will also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantined while heading into the region .
The CENTCOM announcement came after NATO Resolute Support announced it is pausing troop rotations into and out of Afghanistan due to concerns about the novel coronavirus , creating hiccups in the alliance 's plan to reduce the number of troops from 13,000 to 8,600 by mid-July .
The British Defense Ministry also said Thursday that it plans to reduce the number of its troops in Iraq amid the pandemic .
`` In recent months the tempo of training has significantly declined , which means that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current training unit to the UK , '' UK defense secretary Ben Wallace said .
`` There remains a significant footprint of UK Armed Forces within the coalition and elsewhere .
We are committed to building Iraq 's security capacity through our membership of the Global Coalition that has proved so effective and will continue to support the Iraqi Government in achieving stability . ''

This photo, taken Tuesday, shows an isolation room in Erbil, Iraq. U.S. Central Command has announced that troops entering the Middle East will be quarantined for 14 days on entry amid concern about spread of the novel coronavirus. Photo by Drake Chandler/U.S. Army
March 20 (UPI) -- U.S. Central Command announced Friday that U.S. and coalition troops deploying to the Middle East will be put under a 14-day pre-deployment quarantine to avoid placing unnecessary strain on medical facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic. "This quarantine will be required for both U.S. and coalition service members regardless of where they are coming from. We are working with all coalition members to ensure quarantines are established in accordance with U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines," Central Command said in a statement. Advertisement
Transportation Command will also work with CENTCOM to ensure troops are quarantined while heading into the region.
The CENTCOM announcement came after NATO Resolute Support announced it is pausing troop rotations into and out of Afghanistan due to concerns about the novel coronavirus, creating hiccups in the alliance's plan to reduce the number of troops from 13,000 to 8,600 by mid-July.
The British Defense Ministry also said Thursday that it plans to reduce the number of its troops in Iraq amid the pandemic.
"In recent months the tempo of training has significantly declined, which means that I am in a position to bring back the current training unit to the UK," UK defense secretary Ben Wallace said. "There remains a significant footprint of UK Armed Forces within the coalition and elsewhere. We are committed to building Iraq's security capacity through our membership of the Global Coalition that has proved so effective and will continue to support the Iraqi Government in achieving stability."


upi--2020-03-20--Walmart to hire 150,000 employees, give cash bonuses

March 20 ( UPI ) -- Walmart said Friday it plans to hire an additional 150,000 workers over the next two months to meet the demands placed on its retail stores by the coronavirus pandemic .
In addition to increasing its workforce , the company said it 's providing more than $ 365 million in cash bonuses to hourly employees .
Walmart said the new full-time and part-time workers will be hired for its stores , clubs , distribution centers and fulfillment centers .
The positions initially will be temporary , but could convert to permanent over time .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups representing restaurant and hospital workers , whose industries have been hit with job losses amid the pandemic .
Walmart said it 's working to expedite its hiring , cutting the process from two weeks to 24 hours .
`` We know millions of Americans who are usually employed at this time are temporarily out of work , and at the same time we 're currently seeing strong demand in our stores , '' CEO and President Doug McMillon said .
`` We 're looking for people who see Walmart as a chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vital service to their community . ''
Meanwhile , employees will receive a cash bonus for `` their hard work and dedication to serving customers in a time of an unprecedented national health crisis , '' the company said .
Full-time hourly employees will receive $ 300 and part-time associates will receive $ 150 .
All associates employed as of March will qualify for the payment , which will be made April 2 .
Additionally , the company plans to accelerate its next scheduled quarterly bonus for store , club and supply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April .
`` Walmart associates have gone above and beyond the call of duty in serving our customers during these unprecedented times , '' McMillon said .
`` We want to reward our associates for their hard work and recognize them for the work that is in front of us . ''
This week , Amazon also announced plans to hire 100,000 new full- and part-time workers at fulfillment centers to keep up with demand amid the outbreak .
The company said it decided to hire additional workers to help Americans who `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stressful time . ''
Amazon also said it will hike pay for some workers in the United States and Britain through April .

March 20 (UPI) -- Walmart said Friday it plans to hire an additional 150,000 workers over the next two months to meet the demands placed on its retail stores by the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to increasing its workforce, the company said it's providing more than $365 million in cash bonuses to hourly employees.
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Walmart said the new full-time and part-time workers will be hired for its stores, clubs, distribution centers and fulfillment centers. The positions initially will be temporary, but could convert to permanent over time.
The company said it's reached out to groups representing restaurant and hospital workers, whose industries have been hit with job losses amid the pandemic.
Walmart said it's working to expedite its hiring, cutting the process from two weeks to 24 hours.
"We know millions of Americans who are usually employed at this time are temporarily out of work, and at the same time we're currently seeing strong demand in our stores," CEO and President Doug McMillon said. "We're looking for people who see Walmart as a chance to earn some extra money and perform a vital service to their community."
Meanwhile, employees will receive a cash bonus for "their hard work and dedication to serving customers in a time of an unprecedented national health crisis," the company said. Full-time hourly employees will receive $300 and part-time associates will receive $150.
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All associates employed as of March will qualify for the payment, which will be made April 2.
Additionally, the company plans to accelerate its next scheduled quarterly bonus for store, club and supply chain workers a month early -- late April.
"Walmart associates have gone above and beyond the call of duty in serving our customers during these unprecedented times," McMillon said. "We want to reward our associates for their hard work and recognize them for the work that is in front of us."
This week, Amazon also announced plans to hire 100,000 new full- and part-time workers at fulfillment centers to keep up with demand amid the outbreak.
The company said it decided to hire additional workers to help Americans who "rely on Amazon's service in this stressful time." Amazon also said it will hike pay for some workers in the United States and Britain through April.


upi--2020-03-20--Woman credits 'karma' from toddler rescue for $1M lottery jackpot win

March 20 ( UPI ) -- An Oregon woman who rescued a toddler from being struck by an oncoming car said the `` karma '' from the incident helped her win a $ 1 million lottery jackpot .
Ann Charkowicz of Coos Bay told Oregon Lottery officials she and her husband of 36 years , Brian , spotted a toddler wandering into a busy street recently and grabbed the child out of traffic and escorted them home .
Charkowicz said she was left with a `` good feeling '' after the rescue that led her to buy an Oregon Lottery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she works in Coos Bay .
`` I figured I did something good , something good might happen to me , '' she recalled thinking .
The ticket turned out to be a $ 1 million winner .
`` The first thing I said to Brian was , 'How much do we need for me to retire ? '
'' she said .
`` I had a feeling I was going to win , and it came true .
It was karma . ''
Charkowicz and her husband said they are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy stabilizes .
`` It is crazy right now , '' Brian Charkowicz said .
`` We are being extremely careful with this money . ''

An Oregon woman said rescuing a toddler from traffic gave her the "karma" to win a $1 million lottery jackpot. Photo courtesy of the Oregon Lottery
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe March 20 (UPI) -- An Oregon woman who rescued a toddler from being struck by an oncoming car said the "karma" from the incident helped her win a $1 million lottery jackpot. Ann Charkowicz of Coos Bay told Oregon Lottery officials she and her husband of 36 years, Brian, spotted a toddler wandering into a busy street recently and grabbed the child out of traffic and escorted them home. Advertisement
Charkowicz said she was left with a "good feeling" after the rescue that led her to buy an Oregon Lottery Raffle ticket from the Safeway store where she works in Coos Bay.
"I figured I did something good, something good might happen to me," she recalled thinking.
The ticket turned out to be a $1 million winner.
"The first thing I said to Brian was, 'How much do we need for me to retire?'" she said. "I had a feeling I was going to win, and it came true. It was karma."
Charkowicz and her husband said they are going to keep the money in savings until the economy stabilizes.
"It is crazy right now," Brian Charkowicz said. "We are being extremely careful with this money."


upi--2020-03-20--Statins might protect hearts from breast cancer chemo

Cholesterol-lowering statins are commonly used to help prevent heart disease .
Now a new study hints that they could shield women 's hearts from the harms of certain breast cancer drugs .
The study focused on women in Canada who 'd been treated with either chemotherapy drugs called anthracyclines or the medication Herceptin .
Though the treatments can be lifesaving , they can also damage the heart muscle enough to eventually cause heart failure .
But researchers found that when women were on statins during treatment , they were up to two-thirds less likely to develop heart failure in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prove that statins can ward off the side effect , the researchers stressed .
Women on the medications might have had better health care in general or been more `` health aware , '' for example , said lead researcher David Bobrowski , a medical student at the University of Toronto .
`` We ca n't recommend that women go on statins only for this reason , '' he said .
Only clinical trials , he said , can test whether statins help protect women 's hearts during breast cancer treatment .
Bobrowski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an online meeting of the American College of Cardiology ( ACC ) , March 28-30 .
About one-quarter of women with breast cancer receive either anthracyclines or Herceptin , according to the ACC .
Doctors have long known that the treatments can be toxic to heart muscle cells and , in some patients , cause heart failure .
Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the weakened heart muscle can no longer pump blood efficiently enough to meet the body 's needs -- causing problems like fatigue and breathlessness .
Ideally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such heart damage without compromising patients ' cancer treatment .
Some studies have investigated whether certain blood pressure medications can help , he noted , but have found only modest benefits .
For the current study , researchers analyzed records from nearly 4,000 women age 66 and older who had been treated for early-stage breast cancer with either anthracyclines or Herceptin .
Just over 1,500 had been prescribed a statin within a year of starting their cancer therapy .
Overall , those statin users were 58 percent less likely to develop heart failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent less likely to develop it after Herceptin treatment .
( The follow-up was over five years for half of the women , and five years or less for the other half . )
The lower risks were seen even after researchers accounted for other factors , such as the women 's age , income , health conditions like diabetes and use of high blood pressure medication .
There are reasons to believe statins could shield the heart from cancer drugs , according to cardiologist Dr. Martha Gulati , editor-in-chief of CardioSmart , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lab research suggests statins can reduce inflammation and cell death in the heart muscle , for example .
Like Bobrowski , Gulati stressed that the current findings do not prove cause and effect .
However , she said , the notion that statins could afford cancer patients some protection is worth pursuing .
`` Statins are fairly well-tolerated , they 're easy to take , and they 're inexpensive , '' Gulati said .
`` It would be a simple way to lower heart failure risk . ''
A trial , called STOP-CA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is testing whether statin treatment can help prevent heart failure in cancer patients undergoing anthracycline treatment .
( The drugs are used for many types of cancer . )
Bobrowski said he is not aware of any similar trial of Herceptin patients .
Until clinical trials are done , Gulati said she would not recommend statins solely for the purpose of preventing heart damage from cancer treatment .
Even if these findings reflect a benefit of statins , she noted , it 's not clear how long the drugs would need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dose .
For now , Gulati encouraged breast cancer patients to keep their hearts in mind , during and in the years after cancer treatment .
That , she said , includes talking with your doctor about your personal risk factors for heart disease , and taking lifestyle measures or any recommended medications to support your heart health .
For more on breast cancer and heart disease , visit Breastcancer.org .

Pixabay Researchers found that when women were on statins during breast cancer treatment, they were up to two-thirds less likely to develop heart failure in the years afterward. Photo by klbz
Cholesterol-lowering statins are commonly used to help prevent heart disease. Now a new study hints that they could shield women's hearts from the harms of certain breast cancer drugs. The study focused on women in Canada who'd been treated with either chemotherapy drugs called anthracyclines or the medication Herceptin. Though the treatments can be lifesaving, they can also damage the heart muscle enough to eventually cause heart failure. Advertisement
But researchers found that when women were on statins during treatment, they were up to two-thirds less likely to develop heart failure in the years afterward.
The findings do not prove that statins can ward off the side effect, the researchers stressed.
Women on the medications might have had better health care in general or been more "health aware," for example, said lead researcher David Bobrowski, a medical student at the University of Toronto.
"We can't recommend that women go on statins only for this reason," he said.
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Only clinical trials, he said, can test whether statins help protect women's hearts during breast cancer treatment.
Bobrowski is scheduled to present his findings at an online meeting of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), March 28-30.
About one-quarter of women with breast cancer receive either anthracyclines or Herceptin, according to the ACC.
Doctors have long known that the treatments can be toxic to heart muscle cells and, in some patients, cause heart failure. Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the weakened heart muscle can no longer pump blood efficiently enough to meet the body's needs -- causing problems like fatigue and breathlessness.
Ideally, Bobrowski said, researchers want to limit such heart damage without compromising patients' cancer treatment. Some studies have investigated whether certain blood pressure medications can help, he noted, but have found only modest benefits.
For the current study, researchers analyzed records from nearly 4,000 women age 66 and older who had been treated for early-stage breast cancer with either anthracyclines or Herceptin. Just over 1,500 had been prescribed a statin within a year of starting their cancer therapy.
Overall, those statin users were 58 percent less likely to develop heart failure after an anthracycline regimen, and 66 percent less likely to develop it after Herceptin treatment. (The follow-up was over five years for half of the women, and five years or less for the other half.)
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The lower risks were seen even after researchers accounted for other factors, such as the women's age, income, health conditions like diabetes and use of high blood pressure medication.
There are reasons to believe statins could shield the heart from cancer drugs, according to cardiologist Dr. Martha Gulati, editor-in-chief of CardioSmart, the ACC's patient education website.
Lab research suggests statins can reduce inflammation and cell death in the heart muscle, for example.
Like Bobrowski, Gulati stressed that the current findings do not prove cause and effect. However, she said, the notion that statins could afford cancer patients some protection is worth pursuing.
"Statins are fairly well-tolerated, they're easy to take, and they're inexpensive," Gulati said. "It would be a simple way to lower heart failure risk."
A trial, called STOP-CA, is already underway, Gulati said. It is testing whether statin treatment can help prevent heart failure in cancer patients undergoing anthracycline treatment. (The drugs are used for many types of cancer.)
Bobrowski said he is not aware of any similar trial of Herceptin patients.
Until clinical trials are done, Gulati said she would not recommend statins solely for the purpose of preventing heart damage from cancer treatment. Even if these findings reflect a benefit of statins, she noted, it's not clear how long the drugs would need to be taken, or at what dose.
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For now, Gulati encouraged breast cancer patients to keep their hearts in mind, during and in the years after cancer treatment. That, she said, includes talking with your doctor about your personal risk factors for heart disease, and taking lifestyle measures or any recommended medications to support your heart health.
More information
For more on breast cancer and heart disease, visit Breastcancer.org.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-03-20--'Sea calf' born to cow washed out to sea by Hurricane Dorian

March 20 ( UPI ) -- A cow that was washed four miles out to sea by Hurricane Dorian gave @ @ @ @ @ with mismatched eyes in North Carolina .
Ranch Solutions , the company hired to rescue @ @ @ @ @ out to sea from Cedar Island by Hurricane Dorian in September 2019 , said one @ @ @ @ @ that managed to swim ashore four miles away at Cape Lookout National Seashore gave birth @ @ @ @ @ few months later .
The company it was difficult to get photos of the `` @ @ @ @ @ time because it would flee with its mother at the sight of humans .
The @ @ @ @ @ mismatched eyes - one brown and one blue .

A cow that was rescued after being carried four miles from shore by Hurricane Dorian gave birth to a "sea calf" with mismatched eyes just a few months later. Photo courtesy of Ranch Solutions LLC
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe March 20 (UPI) -- A cow that was washed four miles out to sea by Hurricane Dorian gave birth to an all-white calf with mismatched eyes in North Carolina. Ranch Solutions, the company hired to rescue wild cattle that were swept out to sea from Cedar Island by Hurricane Dorian in September 2019, said one of the three rescued cows that managed to swim ashore four miles away at Cape Lookout National Seashore gave birth to a calf just a few months later. Advertisement
The company it was difficult to get photos of the "sea calf" for some time because it would flee with its mother at the sight of humans.
The calf has white hair and mismatched eyes - one brown and one blue.


upi--2020-03-20--Study shows changes in Great Barrier Reef fish during heat wave

March 20 ( UPI ) -- A study of fish during a 2016 heat wave at the Great Barrier Reef offers insight for predicting which species could be most at risk under similar conditions .
The study , published Friday in the journal Science Advances , examined the molecular response of five species during a heat wave in which one-third of corals on Australia 's Great Barrier Reef were killed .
Produced by an international team of scientists and led by Celia Schunter of Hong Kong University , it is the first to track how fish populations respond to marine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperatures in the water , similar to atmospheric heat waves .
The high temperatures can push the thermal limits of many organisms , and differ from incremental increases in temperature over years or decades .
`` We chose to work with five different species which are commonly found on the reef to be able to understand differences in reactions among fish species with different life histories to get a broader overview of the reaction and impact , '' Schunter said .
Changes were studied , before , during and after the heat wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coral reef fish .
`` Our study shows that reef fishes are directly affected by heat waves , but their responses vary greatly among species , '' said co-author Jodie Rummer of Australia 's James Cook University , who noted that some fish struggled to adapt while others were more tolerant of the rise in temperature .
The study offers an approach for predicting which fish species are most at risk under repeated extremes in temperature .
`` This has ramifications for policymakers and for the fishing industry , because not all species @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-author Timothy Ravasi of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University .
`` We need to screen a large number of species to predict which will be sensitive and which will be more tolerant to warming waters and heat waves . ''

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station captured a view of three reefs forming Australia's Great Barrier Reef. A study revealed on Friday of fish species caught in a 2016 heatwave at the Reef indicates that the species adapted at different rates. Photo courtesy of NASA/UPI | License Photo
March 20 (UPI) -- A study of fish during a 2016 heat wave at the Great Barrier Reef offers insight for predicting which species could be most at risk under similar conditions. The study, published Friday in the journal Science Advances, examined the molecular response of five species during a heat wave in which one-third of corals on Australia's Great Barrier Reef were killed. Advertisement
Produced by an international team of scientists and led by Celia Schunter of Hong Kong University, it is the first to track how fish populations respond to marine heat waves, which are extreme elevated temperatures in the water, similar to atmospheric heat waves. The high temperatures can push the thermal limits of many organisms, and differ from incremental increases in temperature over years or decades.
"We chose to work with five different species which are commonly found on the reef to be able to understand differences in reactions among fish species with different life histories to get a broader overview of the reaction and impact," Schunter said.
Changes were studied, before, during and after the heat wave, in thousands of genes of the coral reef fish.
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"Our study shows that reef fishes are directly affected by heat waves, but their responses vary greatly among species," said co-author Jodie Rummer of Australia's James Cook University, who noted that some fish struggled to adapt while others were more tolerant of the rise in temperature.
The study offers an approach for predicting which fish species are most at risk under repeated extremes in temperature.
"This has ramifications for policymakers and for the fishing industry, because not all species will be equally affected," said co-author Timothy Ravasi of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University. "We need to screen a large number of species to predict which will be sensitive and which will be more tolerant to warming waters and heat waves."


upi--2020-03-20--IRS pushes back tax filing deadline to July 15 due to coronavirus outbreak

March 20 ( UPI ) -- All Americans will have an extra three months to file their federal tax returns this year due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus outbreak , the Treasury Department announced Friday .
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said the deadline to file has been moved from April 15 to July 15 , to give taxpayers more time to submit their financial documents .
Mnuchin said President Donald Trump ordered the change .
`` All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have tax refunds to file now to get your money . ''
The change , however , applies only to federal tax returns .
States that collect income tax set their own deadlines .
The Internal Revenue Service said nearly 68 million Americans have already filed their federal returns .
The tax relief is one of several measures the Trump administration has imposed or proposed to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States .
Also Friday , Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said anyone with federal student loans can choose to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anxious times , particularly for students and families whose educations , careers , and lives have been disrupted , '' she said in a statement .
`` Right now , everyone should be focused on staying safe and healthy , not worrying about their student loan balance growing . ''
She said borrowers can have their payments suspended for at least 60 days .
Those who are behind on their payments by more than 31 days as of March 13 will automatically have their payments suspended .
All federal student loans will automatically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent for at least 60 days .
Trump previously said the accrual of interest on federal student loans would be temporarily suspended amid the pandemic .
Earlier this week , the Trump administration rolled out a series of proposals to deal with the effects of the health crisis , including a $ 1 trillion plan that would send stimulus payments to most Americans , if approved by Congress .
The payments would be a measure to stabilize a volatile economy .
The plan calls for sending initial payments of $ 1,000 within three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if there 's still a national emergency .
Households with children would also receive $ 500 per child , Mnuchin said .

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks to reporters Tuesday, alongside President Donald Trump, at a White House briefing on the federal response to the coronavirus outbreak. Photo Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
March 20 (UPI) -- All Americans will have an extra three months to file their federal tax returns this year due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus outbreak, the Treasury Department announced Friday. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said the deadline to file has been moved from April 15 to July 15, to give taxpayers more time to submit their financial documents. Mnuchin said President Donald Trump ordered the change. Advertisement
"All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties," he said.
"I encourage all taxpayers who may have tax refunds to file now to get your money."
The change, however, applies only to federal tax returns. States that collect income tax set their own deadlines.
The Internal Revenue Service said nearly 68 million Americans have already filed their federal returns.
The tax relief is one of several measures the Trump administration has imposed or proposed to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States.
Also Friday, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said anyone with federal student loans can choose to have their payments suspended.
"These are anxious times, particularly for students and families whose educations, careers, and lives have been disrupted," she said in a statement. "Right now, everyone should be focused on staying safe and healthy, not worrying about their student loan balance growing."
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She said borrowers can have their payments suspended for at least 60 days. Those who are behind on their payments by more than 31 days as of March 13 will automatically have their payments suspended.
All federal student loans will automatically have their interest rates set at 0 percent for at least 60 days.
Trump previously said the accrual of interest on federal student loans would be temporarily suspended amid the pandemic.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration rolled out a series of proposals to deal with the effects of the health crisis, including a $1 trillion plan that would send stimulus payments to most Americans, if approved by Congress. The payments would be a measure to stabilize a volatile economy.
The plan calls for sending initial payments of $1,000 within three weeks and another payment six weeks later, if there's still a national emergency. Households with children would also receive $500 per child, Mnuchin said.


upi--2020-03-20--Authorities investigate worker's death in a Kentucky grain bin

EVANSVILLE , Ind.
, March 20 ( UPI ) -- Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a farmworker in a Kentucky grain bin this week .
Adolfo Garcia , 44 , died in a grain bin accident at United Livestock Commodities Inc. on Tuesday .
He is at least the seventh person to die in a grain bin accident in the United States this year .
Garcia had entered the bin `` in an attempt to dislodge a portion of grain that was stuck , '' according to the Graves County Sheriff 's Office , which responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and co-worker reported that as that portion of grain dislodged , a large amount of grain collapsed on the victim . ''
The bin , which was large enough to hold about 80,000 bushels , was partially filled with corn .
Several local fire departments and rescue groups -- along with neighboring farmers in tractors and semi-trucks -- worked for nearly four hours to free Garcia from the bin .
He was pronounced dead at the scene .
An autopsy was conducted Tuesday , but the results have not been released , Graves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is survived by a wife and five children .
His community has set up a benefit account at a local bank to help his family , according to the sheriff 's office .
His family planned a private service , according to his obituary .
Dozens of farmers and farmworkers die in grain bins every year .
Accidents happen most often on farms with few employees that are not required to follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety regulations .
It is unclear if OSHA will investigate the accident .

Adolfo Garcia, 44, died in a grain bin accident in Kentucky on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Pixabay
EVANSVILLE, Ind., March 20 (UPI) -- Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a farmworker in a Kentucky grain bin this week. Adolfo Garcia, 44, died in a grain bin accident at United Livestock Commodities Inc. on Tuesday. He is at least the seventh person to die in a grain bin accident in the United States this year. Advertisement
Garcia had entered the bin "in an attempt to dislodge a portion of grain that was stuck," according to the Graves County Sheriff's Office, which responded to the call. "A witness and co-worker reported that as that portion of grain dislodged, a large amount of grain collapsed on the victim."
The bin, which was large enough to hold about 80,000 bushels, was partially filled with corn.
Several local fire departments and rescue groups -- along with neighboring farmers in tractors and semi-trucks -- worked for nearly four hours to free Garcia from the bin. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy was conducted Tuesday, but the results have not been released, Graves County Coroner Brad Jones said.
Garcia is survived by a wife and five children. His community has set up a benefit account at a local bank to help his family, according to the sheriff's office.
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His family planned a private service, according to his obituary.
Dozens of farmers and farmworkers die in grain bins every year. Accidents happen most often on farms with few employees that are not required to follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety regulations.
It is unclear if OSHA will investigate the accident.


upi--2020-03-20--NASA suspends work on moon rocket amid pandemic

ORLANDO , March 20 ( UPI ) -- NASA has suspended work on the Space Launch System moon rocket because of the COVID-19 pandemic , creating a potential delay in the agency 's Artemis program for a moon landing in 2024 .
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced the suspension Thursday evening , as part of a near-total shutdown of the agency 's Stennis Space Center in southern Mississippi .
That 's where the rocket 's core stage is being prepared for a test firing .
Bridenstine said a worker at Stennis had tested positive for COVID-19 .
`` We realize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but ... we understand that our top priority is the health and safety of the NASA workforce , '' Bridenstine said in the announcement .
NASA and its contractors , chiefly Boeing and Lockheed Martin , build the SLS rocket and the Orion capsule at Michoud Assembly Facility , 40 miles southwest of Stennis in New Orleans .
That facility also was shut , according to Bridenstine 's announcement .
The action means that the facilities are closed except for very limited staff needed to secure property .
Both Stennis and Michoud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases in the surrounding community and employees who were isolated because of exposure to the disease , Bridenstine said .
`` There is no precedent for this , really , in NASA history , '' said John Logsdon , a former member of the NASA Advisory Council , a group of citizens appointed by the NASA administrator to provide guidance on major program and policy issues .
`` The only precedent that would be remotely comparable is the Apollo 1 fire in terms of a big interruption to the development of a program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 tragedy in 1967 claimed the lives of three astronauts .
That was something NASA could investigate and fix , while the pandemic is a much bigger global problem , Logsdon said .
Logsdon , who founded the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University in Washington , D.C. , also was on the Columbia Accident Investigation Board , which probed the cause of the Space Shuttle Columbia 's in-flight destruction in 2003 .
He said the Columbia and Challenger disasters were serious tragedies , but only interrupted an ongoing NASA program .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moon was designed to light a fire under what the White House saw as a slow-moving agency , and it was working until this , '' Logsdon said .
`` We will remain engaged with NASA , health officials , our employees , suppliers and other stakeholders , and make all the progress we can until onsite work can resume , '' the company said .
In January , NASA and Boeing sent 300 people to Stennis to prepare the 212-foot-long , 188,000-pound core stage for test firing at the facility 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Boeing announced the rocket 's initial checkouts went smoothly , but no date had been confirmed for the final test .
The full test-firing would entail igniting the four Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-25 engines for a full eight minutes , which is how long they would burn in an actual launch .
The rocket would be locked down while producing 8.8 million pounds of thrust .
Vice President Mike Pence charged NASA with returning to the moon by 2024 during a speech in March 2019 .
The rocket at Stennis had been slated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2020 to travel around the moon .

The core stage of NASA's Space Launch System moon rocket rolls out to a barge in January for transport from Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Photo courtesy of Boeing
ORLANDO, March 20 (UPI) -- NASA has suspended work on the Space Launch System moon rocket because of the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a potential delay in the agency's Artemis program for a moon landing in 2024. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced the suspension Thursday evening, as part of a near-total shutdown of the agency's Stennis Space Center in southern Mississippi. That's where the rocket's core stage is being prepared for a test firing. Advertisement
Bridenstine said a worker at Stennis had tested positive for COVID-19.
"We realize there will be impacts to NASA missions, but ... we understand that our top priority is the health and safety of the NASA workforce," Bridenstine said in the announcement.
NASA and its contractors, chiefly Boeing and Lockheed Martin, build the SLS rocket and the Orion capsule at Michoud Assembly Facility, 40 miles southwest of Stennis in New Orleans. That facility also was shut, according to Bridenstine's announcement.
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The action means that the facilities are closed except for very limited staff needed to secure property. Both Stennis and Michoud had seen a rising number of COVID-19 cases in the surrounding community and employees who were isolated because of exposure to the disease, Bridenstine said.
"There is no precedent for this, really, in NASA history," said John Logsdon, a former member of the NASA Advisory Council, a group of citizens appointed by the NASA administrator to provide guidance on major program and policy issues.
"The only precedent that would be remotely comparable is the Apollo 1 fire in terms of a big interruption to the development of a program," Logsdon said.
The Apollo 1 tragedy in 1967 claimed the lives of three astronauts. That was something NASA could investigate and fix, while the pandemic is a much bigger global problem, Logsdon said.
Logsdon, who founded the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., also was on the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, which probed the cause of the Space Shuttle Columbia's in-flight destruction in 2003. He said the Columbia and Challenger disasters were serious tragedies, but only interrupted an ongoing NASA program.
"The 2024 deadline to return to the moon was designed to light a fire under what the White House saw as a slow-moving agency, and it was working until this," Logsdon said.
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Boeing released a statement supporting the decision.
"We will remain engaged with NASA, health officials, our employees, suppliers and other stakeholders, and make all the progress we can until onsite work can resume," the company said.
In January, NASA and Boeing sent 300 people to Stennis to prepare the 212-foot-long, 188,000-pound core stage for test firing at the facility's B-2 test stand.
On March 3, Boeing announced the rocket's initial checkouts went smoothly, but no date had been confirmed for the final test.
The full test-firing would entail igniting the four Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-25 engines for a full eight minutes, which is how long they would burn in an actual launch. The rocket would be locked down while producing 8.8 million pounds of thrust.
Vice President Mike Pence charged NASA with returning to the moon by 2024 during a speech in March 2019. The rocket at Stennis had been slated for an uncrewed launch at the end of 2020 to travel around the moon.


upi--2020-03-20--Watch: Miranda Lambert releases 'Bluebird' music video

March 20 ( UPI ) -- Country music star Miranda Lambert released the music video for her song `` Bluebird @ @ @ @ @ 3 1/2-minute clip shows her dressed in a blue gown with feather accents and long @ @ @ @ @ sings as she sits on a swing in a birdcage that rotates in a nightclub @ @ @ @ @ watch her from their tables .
Lyrics include : `` If the house just keeps @ @ @ @ @ got a wildcard up my sleeve .
And love keeps giving me lemons , I @ @ @ @ @ drink .
And if the whole , wide world stops singing and all the stars @ @ @ @ @ keep a light on in my soul and a bluebird in my heart . ''
@ @ @ @ @ off of her latest album Wildcard .

1/2
Miranda Lambert released the music video for her song "Bluebird" on Friday. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
March 20 (UPI) -- Country music star Miranda Lambert released the music video for her song "Bluebird" on Friday. The 3 1/2-minute clip shows her dressed in a blue gown with feather accents and long, glittery gloves. Advertisement
She sings as she sits on a swing in a birdcage that rotates in a nightclub with a handful people who watch her from their tables.
Lyrics include: "If the house just keeps on winning, I've got a wildcard up my sleeve. And love keeps giving me lemons, I just mix them in my drink. And if the whole, wide world stops singing and all the stars go dark, I'll keep a light on in my soul and a bluebird in my heart."
The song is a track off of her latest album Wildcard.
Miranda Lambert's career: Country music, red carpets and awards
Miranda Lambert attends the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on May 17, 2005. Photo by Roger Williams/UPI | License Photo


upi--2020-03-20--In Photos: Moments from Miranda Lambert's career

Lambert won Top Female Vocalist , Album of the Year and Video of the Year at the Academy of Country @ @ @ @ @ on April 18 , 2010 .
Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI

Lambert arrives for the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on May 15, 2007. Lambert was named Best New Female Vocalist. Photo by Roger Williams/UPI


upi--2020-03-20--Rare fossilized excrement found in La Brea Tar Pits

March 20 ( UPI ) -- Researchers reported in a paper published Friday their discovery of the first coprolites , or fossil feces , found in an asphaltic environment .
Hundreds of fossilized rodent pellets were found at Los Angeles ' Rancho La Brea , better known as the La Brea Tar Pits , by researchers of the Tar Pits , the University of Oklahoma and the University of California Irvine , according to the new paper , published in the journal Scientific Reports .
While bones of larger extinct animals are often found in the tar pits , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , new excavation and chemical techniques allow insights from discovery of smaller fossils .
The exceptionally well-preserved rodent pellets were radiocarbon-dated and indicate they are at least 50,000 years old .
They were found during an excavation for a parking garage for the nearby Los Angeles County Museum of Art .
`` It 's incredible that after more than a century of excavation and study , we are still unearthing new types of fossils from La Brea 's treasure trove of deposits , '' said Emily Lindsey , the Tar Pits ' assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to big discoveries about the climate and ecosystems of Ice Age Los Angeles . ''
The coprolites indicate what rodents ate , offering a picture of vegetation and climate conditions of the past .
The preservation of the unprecedented find is attributed to `` an asphalt seep overtaking an existing rodent nest , '' noted Karin Rice , preparator at La Brea Tar Pits .
Researchers used multiple lines of evidence , including radiocarbon dating , body size reconstructions , stable isotope analysis , scanning electron microscopy and sediment analyses to obtain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment during what is known as Marine Isotope Stage 3 , or the Last Glacial Period , roughly encompassing 115,000 B.C .
to 11,700 B.C .

Fossilized rodent fecal matter, surprisingly found in California's La Brea Tar Pits, could offer insight on climate and environment 50,000 years ago, researchers say. Photo courtesy of University of Oklahoma
March 20 (UPI) -- Researchers reported in a paper published Friday their discovery of the first coprolites, or fossil feces, found in an asphaltic environment. Hundreds of fossilized rodent pellets were found at Los Angeles' Rancho La Brea, better known as the La Brea Tar Pits, by researchers of the Tar Pits, the University of Oklahoma and the University of California Irvine, according to the new paper, published in the journal Scientific Reports. Advertisement
While bones of larger extinct animals are often found in the tar pits, in which animals were trapped by natural asphalt, new excavation and chemical techniques allow insights from discovery of smaller fossils.
The exceptionally well-preserved rodent pellets were radiocarbon-dated and indicate they are at least 50,000 years old. They were found during an excavation for a parking garage for the nearby Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
"It's incredible that after more than a century of excavation and study, we are still unearthing new types of fossils from La Brea's treasure trove of deposits," said Emily Lindsey, the Tar Pits' assistant curator. "These tiny finds may lead to big discoveries about the climate and ecosystems of Ice Age Los Angeles."
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The coprolites indicate what rodents ate, offering a picture of vegetation and climate conditions of the past.
The preservation of the unprecedented find is attributed to "an asphalt seep overtaking an existing rodent nest," noted Karin Rice, preparator at La Brea Tar Pits.
Researchers used multiple lines of evidence, including radiocarbon dating, body size reconstructions, stable isotope analysis, scanning electron microscopy and sediment analyses to obtain a better understanding of California's coastal environment during what is known as Marine Isotope Stage 3, or the Last Glacial Period, roughly encompassing 115,000 B.C. to 11,700 B.C.


upi--2020-03-20--Snake gives birth to two-headed baby in reptile catcher's car

March 20 ( UPI ) -- An Australian snake catcher called out to relocate a female tiger snake from a @ @ @ @ @ serpent gave birth in his car -- and one of the babies had two heads @ @ @ @ @ Stewy the Snake Catcher , said he was called out this week to relocate a @ @ @ @ @ resident 's yard in Ardeer , Victoria .
Gatt said he captured the snake in @ @ @ @ @ into his car , but when he opened the bag a little while later he @ @ @ @ @ birth to several babies , including one with two heads .
The catcher took the @ @ @ @ @ in Point Cook .
`` As cool as it was these animals are not generally @ @ @ @ @ on humane grounds , '' the clinic said in a Facebook post .
The rest @ @ @ @ @ to be healthy and were released back into the wild alongside their mother .

A tiger snake captured by an Australian snake catcher gave birth after being loaded into his car and one of the babies was found to have two heads. Photo by Direct Vet Services/Facebook
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe March 20 (UPI) -- An Australian snake catcher called out to relocate a female tiger snake from a resident's yard said the serpent gave birth in his car -- and one of the babies had two heads. Steward Gatt, aka Stewy the Snake Catcher, said he was called out this week to relocate a female tiger snake from a resident's yard in Ardeer, Victoria. Advertisement
Gatt said he captured the snake in a bag and loaded it into his car, but when he opened the bag a little while later he discovered the reptile had given birth to several babies, including one with two heads.
The catcher took the snakes to Direct Vet Services in Point Cook.
"As cool as it was these animals are not generally viable so it was euthanized on humane grounds," the clinic said in a Facebook post.
The rest of the babies were found to be healthy and were released back into the wild alongside their mother.


upi--2020-03-20--Andrew Yang's nonprofit to spend $1 million to help jobless families

March 20 ( UPI ) -- Andrew Yang , through his new nonprofit , will spend $ 1million to assist working families impacted by the coronavirus pandemic , the former Democratic presidential candidate said Friday .
Humanity Forward , an organization the wealthy tech entrepreneur formed after dropping out of the presidential race , is teaming with the Collective Education Fund and Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners , to locate families in need as businesses around the country close up shop because of the virus .
The move is an offshoot of his universal basic income theory which Yang campaigned on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 500 families in the Bronx $ 1,000 per month starting this month .
The nonprofit will also raise money for the project through its Humanity Forward Coronavirus Relief Fund .
`` It seemed much more important to put money into people 's hands because people are struggling and wondering how they are going to be able to pay their bills , '' Yang said .
`` So rather than doing basic income trial , we deiced to get money into people 's hands immediately and it seemed like the most effective way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Daily News op-ed Friday , Yang said current bailout talk has centered around businesses and industries and not workers .
`` I 'm glad to see the federal and state governments taking steps to ensure that there is some assistance , '' Yang said .
`` However , too much of the focus has been on helping businesses , with no-interest loans or interest rates being lowered to help corporations ' bottom lines .
`` Instead , we 've got to focus on doing the one thing that we know will help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , '' he said .

Businessman Andrew Yang, shown at a Des Moines, Iowa, forum in January, said his non-profit will spend $1 million to help families affected by the spread of the coronavirus. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
March 20 (UPI) -- Andrew Yang, through his new non-profit, will spend $1million to assist working families impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, the former Democratic presidential candidate said Friday. Humanity Forward, an organization the wealthy tech entrepreneur formed after dropping out of the presidential race, is teaming with the Collective Education Fund and Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners, to locate families in need as businesses around the country close up shop because of the virus. Advertisement
The move is an offshoot of his universal basic income theory which Yang campaigned on. He plans to start giving about 500 families in the Bronx $1,000 per month starting this month. The non-profit will also raise money for the project through its Humanity Forward Coronavirus Relief Fund.
"It seemed much more important to put money into people's hands because people are struggling and wondering how they are going to be able to pay their bills," Yang said. "So rather than doing basic income trial, we deiced to get money into people's hands immediately and it seemed like the most effective way to do it."
In a New York Daily News op-ed Friday, Yang said current bailout talk has centered around businesses and industries and not workers.
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"I'm glad to see the federal and state governments taking steps to ensure that there is some assistance," Yang said. "However, too much of the focus has been on helping businesses, with no-interest loans or interest rates being lowered to help corporations' bottom lines.
"Instead, we've got to focus on doing the one thing that we know will help people hit the hardest economically by this crisis," he said.


upi--2020-03-21--Country music icon Kenny Rogers dead at 81

March 21 ( UPI ) -- Country music icon and occasional actor Kenny Rogers has died , his representative said .
He was 81 .
Best known for the classic songs `` The Gambler , '' `` Lady '' and `` Islands in the Stream '' -- a duet with Dolly Parton -- Rogers was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame , and the winner of three Grammy Awards and six CMA Awards .
He also acted in several Gambler and MacShayne TV movies , as well as the feature film Six Pack and episodes of How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Angel and Dr. Quinn , Medicine Women .
`` The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25 p.m. at the age of 81 , '' Rogers ' spokesman said in a statement to Rolling Stone early Saturday .
`` Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family . ''
The exact cause of his death was not specified .
Variety reported his family is planning a small private service with a public memorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Houston native started a farewell tour in 2015 and played Nashville for the last time in 2017 .
Rogers is survived by his wife , Wanda , and five children .
`` Kenny was one of those artists who transcended beyond one format and geographic borders , '' Sarah Trahern , chief executive officer of the Country Music Association , said in a statement .
`` He was a global superstar who helped introduce country music to audiences all around the world .
I had the pleasure of working with him over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ graciousness and kind heart .
He has left us with his music , some of which will go down as the most memorable performances in country music history .
Our condolences go out to his family and friends at this sad time . ''

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Kenny Rogers died Friday night at age 81. File Photo by Terry Wyatt/UPI | License Photo
March 21 (UPI) -- Country music icon and occasional actor Kenny Rogers has died, his representative said. He was 81. Best known for the classic songs "The Gambler," "Lady" and "Islands in the Stream" -- a duet with Dolly Parton -- Rogers was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the winner of three Grammy Awards and six CMA Awards. Advertisement
He also acted in several Gambler and MacShayne TV movies, as well as the feature film Six Pack and episodes of How I Met Your Mother, Touched By an Angel and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Women.
"The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25 p.m. at the age of 81," Rogers' spokesman said in a statement to Rolling Stone early Saturday. "Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family."
The exact cause of his death was not specified.
Variety reported his family is planning a small private service with a public memorial planned for a later date.
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The Houston native started a farewell tour in 2015 and played Nashville for the last time in 2017.
Rogers is survived by his wife, Wanda, and five children.
"Kenny was one of those artists who transcended beyond one format and geographic borders," Sarah Trahern, chief executive officer of the Country Music Association, said in a statement. "He was a global superstar who helped introduce country music to audiences all around the world. I had the pleasure of working with him over the years and I'll always remember his graciousness and kind heart. He has left us with his music, some of which will go down as the most memorable performances in country music history. Our condolences go out to his family and friends at this sad time."
"You never know how much you love somebody until they're gone. I've had so many wonderful years and wonderful times with my friend Kenny, but above all the music and the success I loved him as a wonderful man and a true friend," Parton tweeted Saturday. "So you be safe with God and just know that I will always love you, dolly."
You never know how much you love somebody until they're gone. I've had so many wonderful years and wonderful times with my friend Kenny, but above all the music and the success I loved him as a wonderful man and a true friend. pic.twitter.com/hIQLIvt8pr— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) March 21, 2020 Advertisement
Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-03-21--On This Day, March 21: Piccard, Jones are 1st to circle globe by balloon

March 21 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1413 , Henry V was crowned king of England .
In 1617 , Pocahontas died in England at about age 22 .
Three years earlier , she converted to Christianity , took the name Rebecca and married Englishman John Rolfe .
In 1790 , Thomas Jefferson of Virginia became the first U.S. secretary of state .
In 1857 , 100,000 people were killed in an earthquake in Tokyo .
In 1945 , 7,000 Allied planes dropped more than 12,000 tons of explosives on Germany during a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 1952 , Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed organized the first rock ' n ' roll concert -- the Moondog Coronation Ball .
In 1962 , Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev pledged that Russia would cooperate with the United States in the peaceful exploration of space .
In 1963 , the U.S. prison on San Francisco Bay 's Alcatraz Island was closed .
In 1965 , more than 300 civil rights demonstrators , led by Martin Luther King Jr. and protected by Army and federalized National Guard troops , began a four-day march from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand federal protection of voting rights .
This was the main Selma-Montgomery march .
Two previous attempts had stopped in Selma -- one blocked by state troopers on March 7 ( `` Bloody Sunday '' ) ; the other halted voluntarily on March 9 .
In 1984 , a nuclear-powered Soviet submarine collided with the U.S. aircraft carrier , the USS Kitty Hawk , in the Sea of Japan but no significant damage was reported .
In 1989 , Dick Clark retired from hosting the TV show American Bandstand after 33 years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jones landed near Cairo after becoming the first people to circle the globe by balloon .
In 2005 , a 17-year-old boy at the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota killed nine people , injured several others and then killed himself .
In 2011 , surgeons at a Boston hospital said they had performed the first full-face transplant in the United States on a Texas man burned in a 2008 electrical accident .
In 2019 , New Zealand banned military-style semi-automatic weapons less than a week after a gunman killed 50 people at @ @ @ @ @

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On March 21, 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones landed near Cairo after becoming the first people to circle the globe by balloon. UPI File Photo | License Photo
March 21 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1413, Henry V was crowned king of England. Advertisement
In 1617, Pocahontas died in England at about age 22. Three years earlier, she converted to Christianity, took the name Rebecca and married Englishman John Rolfe.
In 1790, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia became the first U.S. secretary of state.
In 1857, 100,000 people were killed in an earthquake in Tokyo.
In 1945, 7,000 Allied planes dropped more than 12,000 tons of explosives on Germany during a single World War II daytime bombing raid.
In 1952, Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed organized the first rock 'n' roll concert -- the Moondog Coronation Ball.
In 1962, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev pledged that Russia would cooperate with the United States in the peaceful exploration of space.
File Photo courtesy of RIA Novosti/Wikimedia
In 1963, the U.S. prison on San Francisco Bay's Alcatraz Island was closed.
In 1965, more than 300 civil rights demonstrators, led by Martin Luther King Jr. and protected by Army and federalized National Guard troops, began a four-day march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., to demand federal protection of voting rights. This was the main Selma-Montgomery march. Two previous attempts had stopped in Selma -- one blocked by state troopers on March 7 ("Bloody Sunday"); the other halted voluntarily on March 9.
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UPI File Photo
In 1984, a nuclear-powered Soviet submarine collided with the U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS Kitty Hawk, in the Sea of Japan but no significant damage was reported.
In 1989, Dick Clark retired from hosting the TV show American Bandstand after 33 years.
In 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones landed near Cairo after becoming the first people to circle the globe by balloon.
In 2005, a 17-year-old boy at the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota killed nine people, injured several others and then killed himself.
In 2011, surgeons at a Boston hospital said they had performed the first full-face transplant in the United States on a Texas man burned in a 2008 electrical accident.
In 2019, New Zealand banned military-style semi-automatic weapons less than a week after a gunman killed 50 people at two mosques in Christchurch.
File Photo courtesy SNPA/EPA-EFE


upi--2020-03-21--Ten family-friendly shows to binge watch

March 21 ( UPI ) -- Now that families are self-isolating for potentially the next few months , it can be challenging to find activities everyone can do together .
Kids will have remote school for a few hours and adults might still have remote work , but opportunities will exist for families to spend quality time together -- in a limited space .
One activity is binge watching a show .
Here are 10 that have something for everyone .
Dip your family 's collective toe into binge watching with a mild three seasons of Atypical on Netflix .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a teenager on the autism spectrum looking for love .
It 's not only an empowering representation of a character on the spectrum , but also a bittersweet portrayal of his family and friends evolving in how they relate to him .
Jennifer Jason Leigh , Michael Rappaport and Bridgette Lundy-Paine also star .
Now it 's time to jump in the deep end with a serious binge .
Gilmore Girls had seven seasons , and those are hour-long episodes .
Considering how fast Lorelai ( Lauren Graham ) and Rory Gilmore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packed two shows ' worth of dialogue into one .
The original seven seasons are on Netflix , chronicling the family bond and separate love lives of mother and daughter .
If you manage to finish , Netflix also has the revival series Gilmore Girls : A Year in the Life .
You might not want to binge this show before bedtime .
The Netflix adaptation of Sabrina , the Teenage Witch ( Kiernan Shipka ) is genuinely scary .
It might still be too scary for really little kids , even during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they like Riverdale , Sabrina has the same vibe because it 's from the same creator , Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa .
Three seasons are available on Netflix .
Netflix 's supernatural hit shut down production temporarily , so even when this blows over , it will be a while before there are new Stranger Things .
So there 's plenty of time to catch up on the first three seasons , or rewatch them .
For the kids , there 's Eleven ( Millie Bobby Brown ) and the boys .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Winona Ryder .
Spend six seasons with the Braverman family from NBC 's acclaimed hit drama .
All the Bravermans have their own stories and go through real-world hardships as serious as a cancer scare or as universal as selling the childhood home .
The generations span Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia ; Peter Krause , Monica Potter and Lauren Graham , and Max Burkholder and Mae Whitman .
If your family is caught up on This Is Us , then Parenthood is a good substitute for now -- and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson family ( Anthony Anderson , Tracee Ellis Ross , Yara Shahidi , Marcus Scribner , Miles Brown and Marsai Martin ) navigate the black experience while living in a mostly white neighborhood .
If you get through all six seasons on Hulu , you can dig into the spinoffs .
In grown-ish , Zoey Johnson ( Shahidi ) goes to college and mixed-ish flashes back to when Rainbow ( Ross ) was a kid in the '80s .
If you 're looking for adventure , you can go on one with The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of TV movies in which he was the librarian in charge of mythical artifacts .
In the series , he has help from Rebecca Romijn , John Larroquette and more .
If you ca n't leave the house , at least have some fun watching the librarians do their Indiana Jones thing and maybe learn a little about the legends , too .
Four seasons are on Hulu .
Kim 's Convenience still is running in Canada , but in the United States , Netflix has the first three seasons .
You can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Korean-Canadians running a convenience store in Toronto .
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Jean Yoon star as the parents , and Andrea Bang and Simu Liu play their kids .
Between the customers , the outside world and one another , there 's no shortage of hilarity in store .
Fresh Off the Boat is ending in its sixth season on ABC this year .
You can catch up on the whole saga on Hulu .
The Taiwanese American Huang family moves from Washington , D.C. to Orlando .
Eddie ( Hudson Yang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life the show is based .
His parents , Jessica ( Constance Wu ) and Louis ( Randall Park ) , open an all-American barbecue restaurant , and Jessica eventually becomes an author .
The heartwarming and hilarious sitcom deals with the Huangs struggle to be American and retain their heritage .
Danny Tanner 's ( Bob Saget ) daughters D.J .
( Candace Cameron Bure ) and Stephanie ( Jodie Sweetin ) are all grown up with kids of their own .
They move into their old house with Kimmy Gibbler ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with plenty of cameos from their original TV dads .
If you get through all five seasons on Netflix , Hulu has all eight seasons of the original Full House and other TGIF classics .

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Tracee Ellis Ross (L) and Anthony Anderson star in six seasons of "Black-ish." Photo courtesy of ABC
March 21 (UPI) -- Now that families are self-isolating for potentially the next few months, it can be challenging to find activities everyone can do together. Kids will have remote school for a few hours and adults might still have remote work, but opportunities will exist for families to spend quality time together -- in a limited space. One activity is binge watching a show. Here are 10 that have something for everyone. Advertisement
Atypical - Netflix
Dip your family's collective toe into binge watching with a mild three seasons of Atypical on Netflix. The show stars Keir Gilchrist as Sam, a teenager on the autism spectrum looking for love. It's not only an empowering representation of a character on the spectrum, but also a bittersweet portrayal of his family and friends evolving in how they relate to him. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Michael Rappaport and Bridgette Lundy-Paine also star.
Advertisement
Gilmore Girls - Netflix
Now it's time to jump in the deep end with a serious binge. Gilmore Girls had seven seasons, and those are hour-long episodes. Considering how fast Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) spoke, they packed two shows' worth of dialogue into one. The original seven seasons are on Netflix, chronicling the family bond and separate love lives of mother and daughter. If you manage to finish, Netflix also has the revival series Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina - Netflix
You might not want to binge this show before bedtime. The Netflix adaptation of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (Kiernan Shipka) is genuinely scary. It might still be too scary for really little kids, even during the day. If you have teenagers, and they like Riverdale, Sabrina has the same vibe because it's from the same creator, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Three seasons are available on Netflix.
Stranger Things - Netflix
Netflix's supernatural hit shut down production temporarily, so even when this blows over, it will be a while before there are new Stranger Things. So there's plenty of time to catch up on the first three seasons, or rewatch them. For the kids, there's Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and the boys. For the parents, there's David Harbour and Winona Ryder.
Advertisement
Parenthood - Hulu
Spend six seasons with the Braverman family from NBC's acclaimed hit drama. All the Bravermans have their own stories and go through real-world hardships as serious as a cancer scare or as universal as selling the childhood home. The generations span Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia; Peter Krause, Monica Potter and Lauren Graham, and Max Burkholder and Mae Whitman. If your family is caught up on This Is Us, then Parenthood is a good substitute for now -- and all six seasons are on Hulu.
Black-ish - Hulu, ABC
The Johnson family (Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Yara Shahidi, Marcus Scribner, Miles Brown and Marsai Martin) navigate the black experience while living in a mostly white neighborhood. If you get through all six seasons on Hulu, you can dig into the spinoffs. In grown-ish, Zoey Johnson (Shahidi) goes to college and mixed-ish flashes back to when Rainbow (Ross) was a kid in the '80s.
The Librarians - Hulu, TNT
If you're looking for adventure, you can go on one with The Librarians. Noah Wyle made a series of TV movies in which he was the librarian in charge of mythical artifacts. In the series, he has help from Rebecca Romijn, John Larroquette and more. If you can't leave the house, at least have some fun watching the librarians do their Indiana Jones thing and maybe learn a little about the legends, too. Four seasons are on Hulu.
Advertisement
Kim's Convenience - Netflix
Kim's Convenience still is running in Canada, but in the United States, Netflix has the first three seasons. You can experience the workplace comedy of a family of Korean-Canadians running a convenience store in Toronto. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Jean Yoon star as the parents, and Andrea Bang and Simu Liu play their kids. Between the customers, the outside world and one another, there's no shortage of hilarity in store.
Fresh Off the Boat - Hulu, ABC
Fresh Off the Boat is ending in its sixth season on ABC this year. You can catch up on the whole saga on Hulu. The Taiwanese American Huang family moves from Washington, D.C. to Orlando. Eddie (Hudson Yang) is the future chef on whose life the show is based. His parents, Jessica (Constance Wu) and Louis (Randall Park), open an all-American barbecue restaurant, and Jessica eventually becomes an author. The heartwarming and hilarious sitcom deals with the Huangs struggle to be American and retain their heritage.
Fuller House - Netflix
Danny Tanner's (Bob Saget) daughters D.J. (Candace Cameron Bure) and Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) are all grown up with kids of their own. They move into their old house with Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) and start all over, with plenty of cameos from their original TV dads. If you get through all five seasons on Netflix, Hulu has all eight seasons of the original Full House and other TGIF classics.


upi--2020-03-21--Famous birthdays for March 21: Rosie O'Donnell, Matthew Broderick

March 21 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Aries .

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Rosie O'Donnell speaks to protesters in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., on August 6, 2018. She turns 58 on March 21. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
March 21 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Aries. They include: Advertisement
-- Composer Johann Sebastian Bach in 1685
-- Mexican revolutionary and president Benito Juarez in 1806
-- Theatrical impresario Florenz Ziegfeld in 1867
-- British theatrical director Peter Brook in 1925 (age 95)
-- Actor Al Freeman Jr. in 1934
-- Actor Timothy Dalton in 1946 (age 74)
-- Musician Eddie Money in 1949
-- Actor Gary Oldman in 1958 (age 62)
-- Actor Matthew Broderick in 1962 (age 58)
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
-- Actor Rosie O'Donnell in 1962 (age 58)
-- Singer Michale Graves, born Michael Emanuel, in 1975 (age 45)
-- Actor Sonequa Martin-Green in 1985 (age 35)
-- Actor Scott Eastwood in 1986 (age 34)
-- Rapper Diggy Simmons, born Daniel Dwayne Simmons, in 1995 (age 25)
File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI
-- Actor Forrest Wheeler in 2004 (age 16)