upi--2020-07-17--Heat wave to roast Northeast as temps forecast to approach 100

The hottest weather of the summer is poised to swelter many areas of the mid-Atlantic , central Appalachians and southwestern and central New England late this weekend to the first part of next week .
In addition to heat advisories being in effect across the Midwest , excessive heat watches were issued for Philadelphia and the surrounding area .
A portion of the same weather system , a large area of high pressure , that has been building and broiling the south-central United States much of this week will poke northeastward in the coming days .
Actual temperatures are forecast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from portions of Ohio , Pennsylvania , New York state , Vermont , Connecticut , Rhode Island , New Hampshire , Massachusetts , West Virginia , New Jersey , Maryland , Delaware , and Virginia .
A few locations over the mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley can reach or exceed 100 degrees for a couple of hours in the afternoon on Sunday and Monday .
It will be so hot across the contiguous United States that the average high temperature will be more than 90 F on Saturday , according to Ryan Maue , @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The hottest weather of the summer is poised to swelter many areas of the mid-Atlantic, central Appalachians and southwestern and central New England late this weekend to the first part of next week.
In addition to heat advisories being in effect across the Midwest, excessive heat watches were issued for Philadelphia and the surrounding area.
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A portion of the same weather system, a large area of high pressure, that has been building and broiling the south-central United States much of this week will poke northeastward in the coming days.
Actual temperatures are forecast to rise well into the 90s F from portions of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York state, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, West Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia.
A few locations over the mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley can reach or exceed 100 degrees for a couple of hours in the afternoon on Sunday and Monday.
It will be so hot across the contiguous United States that the average high temperature will be more than 90 F on Saturday, according to Ryan Maue, meteorologist and data scientist at Bamwx.com.


upi--2020-07-17--Houston Texans' Kenny Stills, other protesters have felony charges dropped

July 17 ( UPI ) -- Felony charges against Houston Texans wide receiver Kenny Stills and other protesters who gathered at Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron 's home earlier this week to protest Breonna Taylor 's death have been dropped .
Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell said in a statement Friday that Louisville , Ky. , police had probable cause for the felony charges but that `` in the interest of justice and the promotion of the free exchange of ideas , we will dismiss that charge '' for each of the protesters .
Stills was among 87 people arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held outside Cameron 's house .
He was released Wednesday afternoon .
Stills and the other 86 protesters were charged with intimidating a participant in the legal process , a felony , along with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and criminal trespass .
Louisville police said some of the protesters threatened to burn down the home if they did n't get justice , prompting the felony charge .
Protests have surfaced around the country as protesters demand for charges to be brought against three officers involved in Taylor 's death earlier this year .
Taylor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her Louisville home March 13 .
Stills , 28 , is known for his activism as an NFL player .
He has been one of the few players in the league who has continued to kneel on the sideline during the national anthem over the past four seasons in protest of police brutality and racial inequality .
The former Miami Dolphins wideout was a three-time winner of the franchise 's Nat Moore Community Service Award before joining the Texans .
He also has worked alongside police to help underserved communities during his @ @

Houston Texans wide receiver Kenny Stills was among 87 people arrested Tuesday during the protest. He was released Wednesday afternoon. File Photo by A.J. Sisco/UPI | License Photo
July 17 (UPI) -- Felony charges against Houston Texans wide receiver Kenny Stills and other protesters who gathered at Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's home earlier this week to protest Breonna Taylor's death have been dropped. Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell said in a statement Friday that Louisville, Ky., police had probable cause for the felony charges but that "in the interest of justice and the promotion of the free exchange of ideas, we will dismiss that charge" for each of the protesters. Advertisement
Stills was among 87 people arrested Tuesday during the protest, which was held outside Cameron's house. He was released Wednesday afternoon.
Stills and the other 86 protesters were charged with intimidating a participant in the legal process, a felony, along with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. Louisville police said some of the protesters threatened to burn down the home if they didn't get justice, prompting the felony charge.
Protests have surfaced around the country as protesters demand for charges to be brought against three officers involved in Taylor's death earlier this year. Taylor, 26, was shot by police in her Louisville home March 13.
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Stills, 28, is known for his activism as an NFL player. He has been one of the few players in the league who has continued to kneel on the sideline during the national anthem over the past four seasons in protest of police brutality and racial inequality.
The former Miami Dolphins wideout was a three-time winner of the franchise's Nat Moore Community Service Award before joining the Texans. He also has worked alongside police to help underserved communities during his career.


upi--2020-07-17--Mother sentenced to 35 years for death of 'AJ' Freund

July 17 ( UPI ) -- An Illinois judge sentenced a woman who confessed to killing her 5-year-old son to 35 years in prison on Friday .
In addition to the prison time , JoAnn Cunningham , 37 , must serve three years of mandatory supervised release for the death of Andrew `` AJ '' Freund .
Judge Robert Wilbrant said Cunningham must serve her entire sentence .
She pleaded guilty in December to a single count of first-degree murder , saying she struck the child sometime between April 15 , 2019 , and April 17 , 2019 , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` strong probability of death or great bodily harm . ''
Cunningham faced up to 60 years in prison .
She and her husband , Andrew Freund Sr. both initially pleaded not guilty to a combined 41 charges .
The McHenry County Coroner 's Office said AJ died of injuries to his skull and brain sustained from blunt-force trauma .
His body was found wrapped in plastic and buried in a shallow grave in Woodstock , Ill. AJ 's father reported him missing to police April 18 , 2019 , telling the 911 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son the night before when he put him to bed .
Court documents said the child 's parents forced him to remain `` in a cold shower for an extended period of time '' before he was struck to death on April 15 .
The McHenry County State 's Attorney Office said it was disappointed with the sentence .
`` We know that whatever the punishment , it will not ease the loss and pain we feel .
AJ was an innocent , precious little boy whose life was taken from him after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was much pain and suffering .
We had expected Joann would pay for that by spending her natural life in prison , '' the office said .

July 17 (UPI) -- An Illinois judge sentenced a woman who confessed to killing her 5-year-old son to 35 years in prison on Friday.
In addition to the prison time, JoAnn Cunningham, 37, must serve three years of mandatory supervised release for the death of Andrew "AJ" Freund. Judge Robert Wilbrant said Cunningham must serve her entire sentence.
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She pleaded guilty in December to a single count of first-degree murder, saying she struck the child sometime between April 15, 2019, and April 17, 2019, with the awareness that it would create a "strong probability of death or great bodily harm."
Cunningham faced up to 60 years in prison.
She and her husband, Andrew Freund Sr. both initially pleaded not guilty to a combined 41 charges.
The McHenry County Coroner's Office said AJ died of injuries to his skull and brain sustained from blunt-force trauma. His body was found wrapped in plastic and buried in a shallow grave in Woodstock, Ill.
AJ's father reported him missing to police April 18, 2019, telling the 911 dispatch operator he had last seen his son the night before when he put him to bed. Court documents said the child's parents forced him to remain "in a cold shower for an extended period of time" before he was struck to death on April 15.
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The McHenry County State's Attorney Office said it was disappointed with the sentence.
"We know that whatever the punishment, it will not ease the loss and pain we feel. AJ was an innocent, precious little boy whose life was taken from him after he endured, what we now know, was much pain and suffering. We had expected Joann would pay for that by spending her natural life in prison," the office said.
Freund Sr.'s trial is expected to begin July 30.


upi--2020-07-17--3 men plead not guilty to Ahmaud Arbery death; judge denies bond

July 17 ( UPI ) -- The three men charged in the death of Ahmaud Arbery pleaded not guilty and a judge denied bond to one of the defendants Friday in court .
William `` Roddie '' Bryan , 50 ; Greg McMichael , 64 ; and his son , Travis McMichael 34 , each face charges of malice murder , felony murder , aggravated assault , false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment for the Feb. 23 death of Arbery .
Video footage from Bryan 's vehicle showed Arbery 's death as he was jogging through a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his home .
It shows Arbery , 25 , being boxed in by two pickup trucks driven by the defendants .
Travis McMichael then appears to get out of his vehicle and shoot Arbery three times with a shotgun .
The elder McMichael told police they pursued Arbery after suspecting he 'd committed a series of break-ins in the neighborhood , though there had n't been a string of break-ins reported in the area in weeks , according to CNN .
Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley ruled Friday that Bryan should n't be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All three men appeared in the Glynn County court via video conference .
Arbery 's death was one of several that sparked Black Lives Matter protests across the globe over the past several weeks .
Advocates said the White defendants in the case targeted Arbery because he was Black .

William Bryan, Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael each pleaded not guilty to several charges related to the death of Arbery Ahmaud. File Photo courtesy the Family of Ahmaud Arbery | License Photo
July 17 (UPI) -- The three men charged in the death of Ahmaud Arbery pleaded not guilty and a judge denied bond to one of the defendants Friday in court. William "Roddie" Bryan, 50; Greg McMichael, 64; and his son, Travis McMichael 34, each face charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment for the Feb. 23 death of Arbery. Advertisement
Video footage from Bryan's vehicle showed Arbery's death as he was jogging through a Brunswick neighborhood less than 2 miles from his home. It shows Arbery, 25, being boxed in by two pickup trucks driven by the defendants. Travis McMichael then appears to get out of his vehicle and shoot Arbery three times with a shotgun.
The elder McMichael told police they pursued Arbery after suspecting he'd committed a series of break-ins in the neighborhood, though there hadn't been a string of break-ins reported in the area in weeks, according to CNN.
Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley ruled Friday that Bryan shouldn't be released on bond pending his trial.
All three men appeared in the Glynn County court via video conference.
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Arbery's death was one of several that sparked Black Lives Matter protests across the globe over the past several weeks. Advocates said the White defendants in the case targeted Arbery because he was Black.
Protesters march for social justice


upi--2020-07-17--Yasiel Puig tests positive for coronavirus, won't sign with Atlanta Braves

July 17 ( UPI ) -- Former All-Star outfielder Yasiel Puig will no longer sign with the Atlanta Braves after testing positive for the coronavirus .
The veteran outfielder agreed to a one-year deal with the Braves earlier this week .
However , the deal was contingent on Puig passing his physical and testing negative for the virus .
Puig , 29 , announced his diagnosis Friday on social media , saying he is asymptomatic and feels fine .
`` Although I tested positive , I am asymptomatic , and I feel absolutely fine , '' Puig said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until I receive two negative test results , which I hope will arrive shortly .
`` I am sad that this has happened , but I believe that everything is in God 's timing and that my return to MLB will happen in His perfect plan and timing for me .
When I return to the field , I will do so knowing that I will have one less hurdle to overcome .
`` I would have never believed looking in the mirror that I had COVID-19 .
I urge everyone to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to anyone , even the healthiest athlete .
Wear a mask , social distance , and follow your local protocols .
Please take care of yourselves .
I will see you all very soon when I return to play ball . ''
Puig , an All-Star selection in 2014 , had a .267 batting average with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs in 149 games with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians last season .
He recorded a .297 average with the Indians after being acquired from the Reds on July 30 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a December 2018 trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers , has a career .277 batting average with 132 home runs and 415 RBIs .
His best season came in 2017 , when he had a .263 average with a career-high 28 homers and 74 RBIs in Los Angeles .

Former Cleveland Indians outfielder Yasiel Puig agreed to a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves earlier this week. The agreement was contingent on Puig testing negative for the coronavirus. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 17 (UPI) -- Former All-Star outfielder Yasiel Puig will no longer sign with the Atlanta Braves after testing positive for the coronavirus. The veteran outfielder agreed to a one-year deal with the Braves earlier this week. However, the deal was contingent on Puig passing his physical and testing negative for the virus. Advertisement
Puig, 29, announced his diagnosis Friday on social media, saying he is asymptomatic and feels fine.
"Although I tested positive, I am asymptomatic, and I feel absolutely fine," Puig said in a statement. "I will be quarantined until I receive two negative test results, which I hope will arrive shortly.
"I am sad that this has happened, but I believe that everything is in God's timing and that my return to MLB will happen in His perfect plan and timing for me. When I return to the field, I will do so knowing that I will have one less hurdle to overcome.
"I would have never believed looking in the mirror that I had COVID-19. I urge everyone to take this pandemic seriously. This can happen to anyone, even the healthiest athlete. Wear a mask, social distance, and follow your local protocols. Please take care of yourselves. I will see you all very soon when I return to play ball."
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Puig, an All-Star selection in 2014, had a .267 batting average with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs in 149 games with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians last season. He recorded a .297 average with the Indians after being acquired from the Reds on July 30.
Puig, who joined the Reds in a December 2018 trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has a career .277 batting average with 132 home runs and 415 RBIs. His best season came in 2017, when he had a .263 average with a career-high 28 homers and 74 RBIs in Los Angeles.


upi--2020-07-17--Joe Biden calls for additional $34B funding to reopen schools

July 17 ( UPI ) -- Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Friday called for Congress to pass an additional $ 34 billion in funding to help schools reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The request for funding is part of a five-part plan he laid out to help students eventually return to classrooms .
He warned that schools in areas where there are COVID-19 spikes should n't reopen too soon .
Biden 's plan comes as the Trump administration pushes for campuses to fully reopen in the weeks ahead amid a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do this wrong , we will put lives at risk and set our economy and our country back , '' the former vice president said in his statement .
He encouraged the Senate to approve the $ 3 trillion HEROES Act , which the House passed in May .
It gives $ 58 billion to local school districts .
Biden also called on Congress to pass an additional emergency package to give funds to schools to adapt their campuses to safely bring students back .
He said school officials estimate the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another $ 30 billion for personal protective equipment , sanitation , health services , and improved ventilation systems , classrooms , class sizes and transportation .
He said another $ 4 billion is needed for upgraded technology and broadband Internet .
1 -- Getting the virus under control through expanded contract tracing , testing and use of PPE .
2 -- A set of national safety guidelines to help with local decision-making .
4 -- Ensuring high-quality learning during the pandemic , whether through remote , in-person or hybrid learning .
5 -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low-income and/or students of color .

Former Vice President Joe Biden urged the Senate to pass the $3 trillion HEROES Act, which provides billions in funding to schools. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 17 (UPI) -- Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Friday called for Congress to pass an additional $34 billion in funding to help schools reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. The request for funding is part of a five-part plan he laid out to help students eventually return to classrooms. He warned that schools in areas where there are COVID-19 spikes shouldn't reopen too soon. Advertisement
Biden's plan comes as the Trump administration pushes for campuses to fully reopen in the weeks ahead amid a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in many parts of the country.
"If we do this wrong, we will put lives at risk and set our economy and our country back," the former vice president said in his statement.
He encouraged the Senate to approve the $3 trillion HEROES Act, which the House passed in May. It gives $58 billion to local school districts.
Biden also called on Congress to pass an additional emergency package to give funds to schools to adapt their campuses to safely bring students back. He said school officials estimate the country's public education and childcare system needs another $30 billion for personal protective equipment, sanitation, health services, and improved ventilation systems, classrooms, class sizes and transportation. He said another $4 billion is needed for upgraded technology and broadband Internet.
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Biden outlined a five-point plan for opening schools, which includes:
1 -- Getting the virus under control through expanded contract tracing, testing and use of PPE.
2 -- A set of national safety guidelines to help with local decision-making.
3 -- The additional $34 billion in funds.
4 -- Ensuring high-quality learning during the pandemic, whether through remote, in-person or hybrid learning.
5 -- Closing the educational gap in communities with low-income and/or students of color.


upi--2020-07-17--Third federal execution this week carried out with death of Dustin Honken

July 17 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. government on Friday carried out its third execution this week with the lethal injection of Dustin Lee Honken .
His attorney , Shawn Nolan , said his client 's last words were a poem by a Jesuit priest .
`` He recognized and repented for the crimes he had committed , and spent his time in prison atoning for them , '' Nolan said .
`` There was no reason for the government to kill him , in haste or at all .
In any case , they failed .
The Dustin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone .
The man they killed today was a human being , who could have spent the rest of his days helping others and further redeeming himself . ''
Honken was given the death penalty in 2005 for the 1993 deaths of Greg Nicholson , his girlfriend Lori Ann Duncan and her daughters , Kandace Duncan and Amber Duncan , in Iowa .
Months later , he also killed Terry DeGeus .
His accomplice , former girlfriend Angela Johnson , also received the death penalty for her involvement , but her sentence was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his lawyers sought a stay of execution pending their challenge of the federal government 's execution protocol .
When U.S. Attorney General William Barr ordered the resumption of federal executions in July 2019 , he ordered that all lethal injections be carried out with a single drug -- pentobarbital .
Lawyers argued that the lethal injection protocol is `` arbitrary and capricious '' and violates the Eighth Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment .
While individual states have carried out executions for the past four decades , federal executions have been on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the U.S. government put to death Gulf War veteran Louis Jones Jr. for the rape and murder of a fellow soldier , Pvt .
Tracie McBride in 1995 .
The U.S. government carried out its first executions since then this week -- Daniel Lewis Lee was put to death early Tuesday and Wesley Purkey early Thursday , both on the morning after their scheduled execution dates .
Lawyers and advocates for the men said the U.S. government was n't legally allowed to carry out the executions because their death warrants expired at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under federal law , this should have precluded any execution without sufficient notice of a new date and time for the execution , '' Purkey 's lawyer , Rebecca Woodman , said Thursday .
`` Reporters in Terre Haute tweeted that the government was , nevertheless , moving forward with its plans to execute Mr .
Purkey . ''
Sister Helen Prejean with the Ministry Against the Death Penalty said this week 's executions are evidence that the federal government `` has gone rogue . ''
She called for Congress to conduct an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeply flawed execution process the [ Department of Justice ] is overseeing is not about justice , nor about the victims ' families .
It is a flexing of political muscle by an administration which is an habitual offender when it comes to the abuse of power , '' she said .
Honken was the first Iowan to be executed since 1963 .
The state outlawed the death penalty in 1965 .

Dustin Honken was executed for five murders in 1993. File Photo by Paul Buck/EPA
July 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. government on Friday carried out its third execution this week with the lethal injection of Dustin Lee Honken. Honken, 52, was pronounced dead at 4:36 p.m. EDT. Advertisement
His attorney, Shawn Nolan, said his client's last words were a poem by a Jesuit priest.
"He recognized and repented for the crimes he had committed, and spent his time in prison atoning for them," Nolan said.
"There was no reason for the government to kill him, in haste or at all. In any case, they failed. The Dustin Honken they wanted to kill is long gone. The man they killed today was a human being, who could have spent the rest of his days helping others and further redeeming himself."
Honken was given the death penalty in 2005 for the 1993 deaths of Greg Nicholson, his girlfriend Lori Ann Duncan and her daughters, Kandace Duncan and Amber Duncan, in Iowa. Months later, he also killed Terry DeGeus. His accomplice, former girlfriend Angela Johnson, also received the death penalty for her involvement, but her sentence was reduced to life imprisonment.
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Honken and his lawyers sought a stay of execution pending their challenge of the federal government's execution protocol. When U.S. Attorney General William Barr ordered the resumption of federal executions in July 2019, he ordered that all lethal injections be carried out with a single drug -- pentobarbital.
Lawyers argued that the lethal injection protocol is "arbitrary and capricious" and violates the Eighth Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment.
While individual states have carried out executions for the past four decades, federal executions have been on a hiatus since 2003. That year, the U.S. government put to death Gulf War veteran Louis Jones Jr. for the rape and murder of a fellow soldier, Pvt. Tracie McBride in 1995.
The U.S. government carried out its first executions since then this week -- Daniel Lewis Lee was put to death early Tuesday and Wesley Purkey early Thursday, both on the morning after their scheduled execution dates. Lawyers and advocates for the men said the U.S. government wasn't legally allowed to carry out the executions because their death warrants expired at 11:59 p.m. the night before.
"Under federal law, this should have precluded any execution without sufficient notice of a new date and time for the execution," Purkey's lawyer, Rebecca Woodman, said Thursday. "Reporters in Terre Haute tweeted that the government was, nevertheless, moving forward with its plans to execute Mr. Purkey."
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Sister Helen Prejean with the Ministry Against the Death Penalty said this week's executions are evidence that the federal government "has gone rogue." She called for Congress to conduct an investigation into the proceedings.
"The deeply flawed execution process the [Department of Justice] is overseeing is not about justice, nor about the victims' families. It is a flexing of political muscle by an administration which is an habitual offender when it comes to the abuse of power," she said.
Honken was the first Iowan to be executed since 1963. The state outlawed the death penalty in 1965.


upi--2020-07-17--Woman proves fortune teller wrong with $70,000 lottery jackpot

July 17 ( UPI ) -- An Australian woman said she has finally proven a tarot card reader wrong by @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 70,000 .
The Woy Woy , New South Wales , woman told @ @ @ @ @ 's Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot drawing marked the end of her belief in the words @ @ @ @ @ predicted her future would be anything but lucky .
`` A tarot card reader read @ @ @ @ @ told me I would never win anything in my life , '' the woman said @ @ @ @ @ have been trying my best to prove her wrong !
Now I can say I @ @ @ @ @ won the $ 69,940 first prize in the drawing , as well as a smaller @ @ @ @ @ bringing her total jackpot to $ 71,338.80 .
`` This is the best news I @ @ @ @ @ 's so exciting , '' she said .
The winner said she plans to use @ @ @ @ @ family and travel with her partner .

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July 17 (UPI) -- An Australian woman said she has finally proven a tarot card reader wrong by scoring a lottery jackpot worth more than $70,000.
The Woy Woy, New South Wales, woman told The Lott officials that Friday's Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot drawing marked the end of her belief in the words of a fortune teller who predicted her future would be anything but lucky.
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"A tarot card reader read my cards years ago and told me I would never win anything in my life," the woman said. "Since then I have been trying my best to prove her wrong! Now I can say I have!"
The woman won the $69,940 first prize in the drawing, as well as a smaller prize of $1,398.80, bringing her total jackpot to $71,338.80.
"This is the best news I have ever received. It's so exciting," she said.
The winner said she plans to use her winnings to help her family and travel with her partner.


upi--2020-07-17--Look: New Jersey police rescue stranded deer in ocean surf

July 17 ( UPI ) -- Police in New Jersey conducted an unusual rescue when a deer spotted swimming in @ @ @ @ @ in the surf .
The Long Branch Police Department said witnesses reported spotting the deer @ @ @ @ @ near Rooney 's Oceanfront Restaurant and police responded alongside lifeguards , beach rescue members and @ @ @ @ @ The department shared photos of rescuers paddling small boats to guide the deer safely to @ @ @ @ @ Park .
`` We are happy to report that the deer survived his swim unharmed @ @ @ @ @ said .
The department said the incident should serve as a reminder to humans and @ @ @ @ @ swim when a lifeguard is present . ''

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July 17 (UPI) -- Police in New Jersey conducted an unusual rescue when a deer spotted swimming in the ocean ended up stranded in the surf.
The Long Branch Police Department said witnesses reported spotting the deer in the water Thursday morning near Rooney's Oceanfront Restaurant and police responded alongside lifeguards, beach rescue members and an animal control officer.
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The department shared photos of rescuers paddling small boats to guide the deer safely to shore at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park.
"We are happy to report that the deer survived his swim unharmed," the Facebook post said.
The department said the incident should serve as a reminder to humans and animals alike "to only swim when a lifeguard is present."


upi--2020-07-17--U.S. Army requests design proposals to replace M-2 Bradley tank

July 17 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Army announced a request for proposals on Friday for preliminary designs of the tank meant to replace the long-serving M-2 Bradley tank .
Digital designs from up to five contractors will be chosen to compete in a preliminary design review of the vehicle , currently referred to as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle .
The request is the first phase of a five-phase process to choose a new design .
`` We are looking forward to receiving feedback and learning from industry what 's in the realm of the possible as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for our soldiers , '' Maj. Gen. Brian Cummings , program executive officer for Ground Combat Systems , said in a statement .
The competition has been delayed several times but now is said to be on track to award the five preliminary contracts in June 2021 .
The M-2 Bradley , in use since 1981 , is `` widely considered to have reached the technological limits of its capacity to accommodate new electronics , armor , and defense systems , '' a Congressional Research Service report said earlier this week .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Ground Combat Vehicle Program `` were cancelled for programmatic and cost-associated reasons , '' the report said .
In 2018 , the Army established its Army Futures Command , intended to establish unity of command and effort while consolidating the Army 's modernization process in one office and playing a major role in the OMFV 's development , the report says .
In 2020 , the program was cancelled , then restarted in April with new OMFV program guidance to industry featuring the five-phased approach , according to the report .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research , Development , Test , and Evaluation [ RDT & E ] funding for the OMFV program in its Fiscal Year 2021 budget request .

The U.S. Army reopened competition for vehicle designs to replace the M-2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, pictured, with a request for proposals issued on Friday. Photo courtesy of U.S. Army
July 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army announced a request for proposals on Friday for preliminary designs of the tank meant to replace the long-serving M-2 Bradley tank. Digital designs from up to five contractors will be chosen to compete in a preliminary design review of the vehicle, currently referred to as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle. The request is the first phase of a five-phase process to choose a new design. Advertisement
"We are looking forward to receiving feedback and learning from industry what's in the realm of the possible as we continue to develop this truly transformational vehicle for our soldiers," Maj. Gen. Brian Cummings, program executive officer for Ground Combat Systems, said in a statement.
The competition has been delayed several times but now is said to be on track to award the five preliminary contracts in June 2021.
The M-2 Bradley, in use since 1981, is "widely considered to have reached the technological limits of its capacity to accommodate new electronics, armor, and defense systems," a Congressional Research Service report said earlier this week.
The Army's Future Combat System Program and the Ground Combat Vehicle Program "were cancelled for programmatic and cost-associated reasons," the report said.
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In 2018, the Army established its Army Futures Command, intended to establish unity of command and effort while consolidating the Army's modernization process in one office and playing a major role in the OMFV's development, the report says.
In 2020, the program was cancelled, then restarted in April with new OMFV program guidance to industry featuring the five-phased approach, according to the report.
The Army has requested $327.73 million in Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation [RDT&E] funding for the OMFV program in its Fiscal Year 2021 budget request.


upi--2020-07-17--Improved method for propagating sound waves may lead to better devices

July 17 ( UPI ) -- Engineers have developed a way to more efficiently propagate sound waves along the boundaries of topological materials .
The breakthrough , described Friday in the journal Science Advances , could pave the way for cheaper , lighter and more energy efficient technologies , including ultrasound imaging , sonar and electronic systems sonic devices .
The new technique could prove especially beneficial to devices that utilize acoustic wave technology , including temperature sensors , pressure sensors , humidity sensors and biosensors .
Acoustic wave technology also powers many large touch screens , like those found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Topological materials and metamaterials are materials that feature properties unaffected by continuous deformation -- patterns , shapes and structures that can be stretched but not broken .
In a topological insulator , for example , an electric current flows along the object 's boundaries , uninterrupted by the object 's imperfections .
Studies have shown metamaterials can be designed to propagate sound and light , just like electrons .
But while tests have shown sound waves can follow topological order , they do n't always move in the same direction .
Sounds waves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the edges of topological materials , but some waves get bounced in the reverse direction by imperfections .
For the newest experiment , scientists relied on time-reversal symmetry breaking , instead of geometrical asymmetries , to produce topological order with sound waves .
The new technique allowed scientists to propagate sound waves that were entirely unidirectional , unaffected by disorder and imperfections .
`` The result is a breakthrough for topological physics , as we have been able to show topological order emerging from time variations , which is different , and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work on topological acoustics based on geometrical asymmetries , '' lead study author Andrea Alù , said in a news release .
`` Previous approaches inherently required the presence of a backward channel through which sound could be reflected , which inherently limited their topological protection , '' said Alù , founding director of Photonics Initiative at the Advanced Science Research Center at The Graduate Center , CUNY .
`` With time modulations we can suppress backward propagation and provide strong topological protection , '' Alù said .

Acoustic wave technology powers many large touch screens, like those found on ATM machines and airport kiosks. Pictured, a woman takes out money at a Bank of America ATM in Washington, DC. Photo by Billie Jean Shaw/UPI
July 17 (UPI) -- Engineers have developed a way to more efficiently propagate sound waves along the boundaries of topological materials. The breakthrough, described Friday in the journal Science Advances, could pave the way for cheaper, lighter and more energy efficient technologies, including ultrasound imaging, sonar and electronic systems sonic devices. Advertisement
The new technique could prove especially beneficial to devices that utilize acoustic wave technology, including temperature sensors, pressure sensors, humidity sensors and biosensors.
Acoustic wave technology also powers many large touch screens, like those found on ATM machines and airport kiosks.
Topological materials and metamaterials are materials that feature properties unaffected by continuous deformation -- patterns, shapes and structures that can be stretched but not broken.
In a topological insulator, for example, an electric current flows along the object's boundaries, uninterrupted by the object's imperfections. Studies have shown metamaterials can be designed to propagate sound and light, just like electrons.
But while tests have shown sound waves can follow topological order, they don't always move in the same direction. Sounds waves can turn corners and travel smoothly along the edges of topological materials, but some waves get bounced in the reverse direction by imperfections.
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For the newest experiment, scientists relied on time-reversal symmetry breaking, instead of geometrical asymmetries, to produce topological order with sound waves.
The new technique allowed scientists to propagate sound waves that were entirely unidirectional, unaffected by disorder and imperfections.
"The result is a breakthrough for topological physics, as we have been able to show topological order emerging from time variations, which is different, and more advantageous, than the large body of work on topological acoustics based on geometrical asymmetries," lead study author Andrea Alù, said in a news release.
"Previous approaches inherently required the presence of a backward channel through which sound could be reflected, which inherently limited their topological protection," said Alù, founding director of Photonics Initiative at the Advanced Science Research Center at The Graduate Center, CUNY.
"With time modulations we can suppress backward propagation and provide strong topological protection," Alù said.


upi--2020-07-17--Judge orders Trump administration to accept new DACA applications

July 17 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge in Maryland ordered the Trump administration to accept new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program on Friday .
Since President Donald Trump began his efforts to terminate the program in 2017 , the U.S. government has n't accepted new applications .
The administration has allowed existing DACA recipients -- undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children -- to continue to receive the protections .
Last month , though , the Supreme Court ruled that Trump 's attempts to terminate DACA was arbitrary and capricious , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday said the Trump administration must enforce DACA according to its status before the efforts to terminate it .
CASA , the organization that sued to enforce DACA fully , welcomed the ruling .
`` This DACA decision reaffirms what we already knew and what SCOTUS already said : the Trump admin 's ... heartless attempt to terminate the DACA program was illegal and they must immediately begin accepting new DACA applications , '' the organization said on Twitter .
President Barack Obama started the DACA program with an executive order in 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from deportation for children brought to the United States by undocumented parents .
It also allows them to work and go to school in the United States without risk of being sent to their country of birth .
Trump sought to end the program in favor of allowing Congress to pass its own immigration reform , which failed .

The new order comes one month after the Supreme Court said the Trump administration's efforts to terminate DACA were arbitrary and capricious. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 17 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Maryland ordered the Trump administration to accept new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program on Friday. Since President Donald Trump began his efforts to terminate the program in 2017, the U.S. government hasn't accepted new applications. The administration has allowed existing DACA recipients -- undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children -- to continue to receive the protections. Advertisement
Last month, though, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump's attempts to terminate DACA was arbitrary and capricious, and unconstitutional.
District Judge Paul Grimm on Friday said the Trump administration must enforce DACA according to its status before the efforts to terminate it.
CASA, the organization that sued to enforce DACA fully, welcomed the ruling.
"This DACA decision reaffirms what we already knew and what SCOTUS already said: the Trump admin's ... heartless attempt to terminate the DACA program was illegal and they must immediately begin accepting new DACA applications," the organization said on Twitter.
President Barack Obama started the DACA program with an executive order in 2012 in an effort to provide temporary relief from deportation for children brought to the United States by undocumented parents. It also allows them to work and go to school in the United States without risk of being sent to their country of birth.
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Trump sought to end the program in favor of allowing Congress to pass its own immigration reform, which failed.


upi--2020-07-17--Class ring lost at Indiana beach found by young girl 46 years later

July 17 ( UPI ) -- A 9-year-old girl playing in the sand at an Indiana beach unearthed a class ring was lost at the same location 46 years earlier .
Haddie Hollingsworth , 9 , said she was building a sandcastle with her cousin this month at a Beaver Lake beach when she scooped up a handful of sand that contained the ring .
The girl said she initially thought the ring might have been one of the plastic toys that her grandmother , Kathy Russell , likes to hide in the sand for kids to find , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tom Ashcroft , who quickly determined it was no toy .
Ashcroft said the Jasper High School ring bore the initials `` S.A.W . ''
and the year 1974 -- the same year that Hollingsworth 's other grandma , Ann Czerwinski , attended the school .
The family called Czerwinski , who opened one of her old yearbooks and determined the ring most likely belonged to a schoolmate named Sam Wagner .
Ashcraft said he was recounting the story to his boss when the other man directed him to another employee , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The family contacted Wagner , who now lives with his wife , Susan , in Ireland Township .
Susan Wagner recalled hanging out with Sam , her then-boyfriend , at the same beach in 1974 .
She said she was wearing the ring when it fell off her finger and became lost in the sand .
The couple were unable to locate it , so she bought him a replacement .
Ashcroft said his family is making plans to meet up with the Wagners in the near future to return the ring .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the sand than a similar ring belonging to a woman named Amy Goetz .
Goetz said her 2001 class ring from Collins High School in Suwanee , Ga. , was lost during a 2002 trip to Jacksonville Beach , Fla. She thought the ring was gone for good until it was found 18 years later by John Porcella , who frequently combs the beach with his metal detector .
Goetz said she was surprised to discover the ring still fits on her finger .

A 9-year-old girl playing in the sand at an Indiana beach found a class ring that had been lost by a beach-goer 46 years earlier. Photo by violey/Pixabay.com
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe July 17 (UPI) -- A 9-year-old girl playing in the sand at an Indiana beach unearthed a class ring was lost at the same location 46 years earlier. Haddie Hollingsworth, 9, said she was building a sandcastle with her cousin this month at a Beaver Lake beach when she scooped up a handful of sand that contained the ring. Advertisement
The girl said she initially thought the ring might have been one of the plastic toys that her grandmother, Kathy Russell, likes to hide in the sand for kids to find, but she showed it to her grandpa, Tom Ashcroft, who quickly determined it was no toy.
Ashcroft said the Jasper High School ring bore the initials "S.A.W." and the year 1974 -- the same year that Hollingsworth's other grandma, Ann Czerwinski, attended the school.
The family called Czerwinski, who opened one of her old yearbooks and determined the ring most likely belonged to a schoolmate named Sam Wagner.
Ashcraft said he was recounting the story to his boss when the other man directed him to another employee, who is related to Wagner by marriage.
The family contacted Wagner, who now lives with his wife, Susan, in Ireland Township.
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Susan Wagner recalled hanging out with Sam, her then-boyfriend, at the same beach in 1974. She said she was wearing the ring when it fell off her finger and became lost in the sand. The couple were unable to locate it, so she bought him a replacement.
Ashcroft said his family is making plans to meet up with the Wagners in the near future to return the ring.
Wagner's ring spent even more time in the sand than a similar ring belonging to a woman named Amy Goetz.
Goetz said her 2001 class ring from Collins High School in Suwanee, Ga., was lost during a 2002 trip to Jacksonville Beach, Fla. She thought the ring was gone for good until it was found 18 years later by John Porcella, who frequently combs the beach with his metal detector. Goetz said she was surprised to discover the ring still fits on her finger.


upi--2020-07-17--Pentagon issues two contracts under DPA Title III to sustain workforces

July 17 ( UPI ) -- Two Defense Department contracts totaling $ 36.9 million , to sustain the U.S. industrial base under Defense Production Act Title III , were announced Friday .
Arkansas-based Amfuel secured a $ 14.9 million contract to expand production of fuel bladders and auxiliary systems for U.S. military aircraft , and Rolls-Royce will build ship propellers in its Pascagoula , Miss.
, ship propulsion facility under a $ 22 million agreement .
The contracts in each case are meant to `` retain critical workforce capabilities throughout the disruption caused by COVID-19 , and to restore some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the Pentagon said in a statement .
It added that the Defense Department remains closely partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Health and Human Services , providing `` almost $ 2.9 billion in life-saving medical services , supplies and equipment to service members and federal agencies in the nation 's whole-of-government approach to the coronavirus pandemic . ''
The DPA Title III program is one of three active authorities in the Defense Production Act , first signed into law in 1950 and last renewed in 2018 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flexibility , through economic incentives , to ensure availability of essential domestic industrial resources to support national defense and homeland security requirements .
Funding for the contracts comes from the CARES Act , a $ 2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill signed into law in March to help alleviate economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Defense Department has been involved in dealing with the virus since April , with a $ 133 million project to make 39 million N95 masks , regarded as a critical resource , for hospital personnel in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 5.2 billion in contracts in April for various aspects of COVID-19 response , including a $ 5 billion omnibus contract to nine contractors for supplies and construction of alternate care centers in Bronx , N.Y. , and East Orange , N.J .

Rolls-Royce ship propulsion facilities in Mississippi, and fuel tank bladder builder Amfuel will share $36.9 million in Defense Department contracts, announced on Friday, under the Defense Production Act Title II program. Photo courtesy of Rolls-Royce
July 17 (UPI) -- Two Defense Department contracts totaling $36.9 million, to sustain the U.S. industrial base under Defense Production Act Title III, were announced Friday. Arkansas-based Amfuel secured a $14.9 million contract to expand production of fuel bladders and auxiliary systems for U.S. military aircraft, and Rolls-Royce will build ship propellers in its Pascagoula, Miss., ship propulsion facility under a $22 million agreement. Advertisement
The contracts in each case are meant to "retain critical workforce capabilities throughout the disruption caused by COVID-19, and to restore some jobs lost because of the pandemic," the Pentagon said in a statement. It added that the Defense Department remains closely partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Health and Human Services, providing "almost $2.9 billion in life-saving medical services, supplies and equipment to service members and federal agencies in the nation's whole-of-government approach to the coronavirus pandemic."
The DPA Title III program is one of three active authorities in the Defense Production Act, first signed into law in 1950 and last renewed in 2018. The program provides the president broad authority and flexibility, through economic incentives, to ensure availability of essential domestic industrial resources to support national defense and homeland security requirements.
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Funding for the contracts comes from the CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill signed into law in March to help alleviate economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Defense Department has been involved in dealing with the virus since April, with a $133 million project to make 39 million N95 masks, regarded as a critical resource, for hospital personnel in 90 days. The Pentagon also awarded $5.2 billion in contracts in April for various aspects of COVID-19 response, including a $5 billion omnibus contract to nine contractors for supplies and construction of alternate care centers in Bronx, N.Y., and East Orange, N.J.


upi--2020-07-17--Watch: Missing dog made 60-mile journey to family's former home

July 17 ( UPI ) -- A dog that went missing from her family 's Kansas home turned up about @ @ @ @ @ front door of her family 's former home -- 60 miles away in Missouri .
@ @ @ @ @ returned to their home in Lawson , Mo.
, recently and were surprised to find @ @ @ @ @ .
Michael , who moved into the home two years ago , said he was @ @ @ @ @ had the canine 's microchip checked and discovered Cleo , the 4-year-old golden retriever , @ @ @ @ @ former residents .
Michael discovered Cleo 's owner , Drew Feeback , had posted on @ @ @ @ @ that the canine was missing from the family 's home in Olathe , Kan. -- @ @ @ @ @ Both families said they are at a loss to explain Cleo 's long journey , @ @ @ @ @ to cross a river to make it back to her former home .

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July 17 (UPI) -- A dog that went missing from her family's Kansas home turned up about a week later at the front door of her family's former home -- 60 miles away in Missouri.
Colton Michael said family members returned to their home in Lawson, Mo., recently and were surprised to find a dog on their porch.
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Michael, who moved into the home two years ago, said he was even more surprised when he had the canine's microchip checked and discovered Cleo, the 4-year-old golden retriever, belonged to the house's former residents.
Michael discovered Cleo's owner, Drew Feeback, had posted on Facebook about a week earlier that the canine was missing from the family's home in Olathe, Kan. -- about 60 miles away.
Both families said they are at a loss to explain Cleo's long journey, as she would have had to cross a river to make it back to her former home.


upi--2020-07-17--Oversight gap leaves Pentagon unsure if Afghan drone project has helped, IG says

July 17 ( UPI ) -- An oversight failure left the Pentagon unable to judge if a $ 174 million Afghan surveillance drone project is effective , an inspector general 's report says .
Released on Friday by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan , the report notes that at least $ 174 million was spent between 2015 and 2019 to supply Afghanistan 's security forces with ScanEagle remotely piloted aircraft .
It adds , though , that the Defense Department is unable to determine if the project is effective , if the Afghan forces can sustain it or what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investment .
`` SIGAR found that Naval Air Systems Command [ NAVAIR ] -- responsible for overseeing the ScanEagle contracts , and [ drone manufacturer and Boeing subsidiary ] Insitu -- is unable to determine the extent to which Insitu met the terms of the contracts because NAVAIR did not meet U.S. government requirements for conducting contract oversight , '' the report says .
It adds that NAVAIR did not designate a Contracting Officer 's Representative for all of the ScanEagle contracts , it did not provide an in-country sponsor in Afghanistan responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contract records , all in violation of Defense Department guidelines .
The 47-page report concludes that whatever benefit the drones offer the Afghan forces is not quantifiable , and that their use has offered few gains in fighting Taliban forces in the country .
The catapult-launched Scan Eagle drone has a 10-foot wingspan , a 60-mile range and can transmit images taken by surveillance cameras .
The drones met requirements for long-term , undetected missions across the country , and be tailored to specific needs for reconnaissance , according to the report .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army `` will require continued U.S. government and technical support to sustain the ScanEagle program . ''
The Defense Department has spent nearly $ 47.5 billion on equipment and programs for the Afghan military since 2005 , according to the report .
The report also said that the Afghan military was unable to account for 27 of the 87 soldiers certified to operate the ScanEagle system , and of the 60 Afghan troops assigned to operate the drones , 17 , on average , were typically absent due to `` sickness , annual @ @ @ @ @ @

The effectiveness of the catapult-launched ScanEagle surveillance drone program given to the Afghanistan military cannot be measured because of oversight flaws, an Inspector General's report says. Photo courtesy of Insitu
July 17 (UPI) -- An oversight failure left the Pentagon unable to judge if a $174 million Afghan surveillance drone project is effective, an inspector general's report says. Released on Friday by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan, the report notes that at least $174 million was spent between 2015 and 2019 to supply Afghanistan's security forces with ScanEagle remotely piloted aircraft. Advertisement
It adds, though, that the Defense Department is unable to determine if the project is effective, if the Afghan forces can sustain it or what the immediate and long-term impacts of the investment.
"SIGAR found that Naval Air Systems Command [NAVAIR] -- responsible for overseeing the ScanEagle contracts, and [drone manufacturer and Boeing subsidiary] Insitu -- is unable to determine the extent to which Insitu met the terms of the contracts because NAVAIR did not meet U.S. government requirements for conducting contract oversight," the report says.
It adds that NAVAIR did not designate a Contracting Officer's Representative for all of the ScanEagle contracts, it did not provide an in-country sponsor in Afghanistan responsible for validating contract requirements and kept inadequate contract records, all in violation of Defense Department guidelines.
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The 47-page report concludes that whatever benefit the drones offer the Afghan forces is not quantifiable, and that their use has offered few gains in fighting Taliban forces in the country.
The catapult-launched Scan Eagle drone has a 10-foot wingspan, a 60-mile range and can transmit images taken by surveillance cameras. The drones met requirements for long-term, undetected missions across the country, and be tailored to specific needs for reconnaissance, according to the report.
The report notes that the Afghan National Army "will require continued U.S. government and technical support to sustain the ScanEagle program."
The Defense Department has spent nearly $47.5 billion on equipment and programs for the Afghan military since 2005, according to the report.
The report also said that the Afghan military was unable to account for 27 of the 87 soldiers certified to operate the ScanEagle system, and of the 60 Afghan troops assigned to operate the drones, 17, on average, were typically absent due to "sickness, annual leave or unknown reasons."


upi--2020-07-17--Watch: Woman seeking owner of photo strip found in used book

July 17 ( UPI ) -- An Oklahoma woman said she has made it her mission to solve the mystery @ @ @ @ @ found in a used book for sale at a store .
Emma Smreker said she @ @ @ @ @ at Half Priced Books in Oklahoma City when she discovered the tome contained a photo @ @ @ @ @ girl and an adult man .
`` It 's so darling.. the silly little faces @ @ @ @ @ , '' Smreker told KOCO-TV .
`` I ca n't imagine that someone would just @ @ @ @ @ a book without realizing that they 're losing that photo . ''
Smreker , who @ @ @ @ @ she finds in used books on her Instagram page , said she spread the image @ @ @ @ @ and Reddit in the hopes of identifying the people in the photo , but she @ @ @ @ @ luck .

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July 17 (UPI) -- An Oklahoma woman said she has made it her mission to solve the mystery of a photo strip she found in a used book for sale at a store.
Emma Smreker said she was shopping for used books at Half Priced Books in Oklahoma City when she discovered the tome contained a photo booth strip depicting a young girl and an adult man.
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"It's so darling.. the silly little faces they're making and everything," Smreker told KOCO-TV. "I can't imagine that someone would just willingly give that away in a book without realizing that they're losing that photo."
Smreker, who posts photos of the things she finds in used books on her Instagram page, said she spread the image around to Twitter, Facebook and Reddit in the hopes of identifying the people in the photo, but she hasn't yet had any luck.


upi--2020-07-17--Corporate America calls for mandatory face coverings in businesses

July 17 ( UPI ) -- A Washington , D.C. , -based association of major CEOs on Friday called for the mandatory use of face coverings in businesses to help stop the spread of coronavirus .
The Business Roundtable stopped short of urging a federal order , but encouraged every U.S. company to require the use of face masks or coverings by employees and customers .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing face coverings to help protect people from getting COVID-19 .
`` One of the most effective things we can all do to protect public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face coverings in public settings , especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain , '' the Business Roundtable said in a statement .
`` Business Roundtable applauds the many companies that are protecting their employees and customers by mandating the use of face coverings indoors consistent with CDC guidelines .
We encourage every company to adopt this practice and hope that all Americans will adopt the use of face coverings to protect their families , friends , neighbors , and our economy . ''
The non-profit organization previously signed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporting a national mask standard .
Business Roundtable counts among its members Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos , Apple CEO Tim Cook , Gap CEO Sonia Syngal , General Motors CEO Mary Barra and Walmart CEO Doug McMillon .
Walmart announced earlier this week that starting Monday all shoppers in the United States must wear a face covering to minimize spread of the virus .

The Business Roundtable encouraged all businesses to adopt a face covering mandate. File Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI | License Photo
July 17 (UPI) -- A Washington, D.C.,-based association of major CEOs on Friday called for the mandatory use of face coverings in businesses to help stop the spread of coronavirus. The Business Roundtable stopped short of urging a federal order, but encouraged every U.S. company to require the use of face masks or coverings by employees and customers. Advertisement
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing face coverings to help protect people from getting COVID-19.
"One of the most effective things we can all do to protect public health and the economy is to wear face coverings in public settings, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain," the Business Roundtable said in a statement.
"Business Roundtable applauds the many companies that are protecting their employees and customers by mandating the use of face coverings indoors consistent with CDC guidelines. We encourage every company to adopt this practice and hope that all Americans will adopt the use of face coverings to protect their families, friends, neighbors, and our economy."
The non-profit organization previously signed a letter with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce supporting a national mask standard.
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Business Roundtable counts among its members Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Gap CEO Sonia Syngal, General Motors CEO Mary Barra and Walmart CEO Doug McMillon.
Walmart announced earlier this week that starting Monday all shoppers in the United States must wear a face covering to minimize spread of the virus.


upi--2020-07-17--Fallout from COVID-19 pandemic making weather forecasts less accurate

July 17 ( UPI ) -- The weather forecaster is the latest victim of the COVID-19 pandemic , and a decrease in the amount of information used to predict weather could affect forecasts during hurricane and monsoon season .
According to new research , weather forecasts have gotten less accurate over the course of the pandemic , as a result of the decrease in commercial airline flights .
During their time in the skies , commercial airplanes regularly log a variety of meteorological data , including air temperature , relative humidity , air pressure and wind direction -- data that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to a new study , published this week in the journal Geophysical Research Letters , the amount of weather observation data recorded by commercial airplanes has declined by 50 to 75 percent between March and May .
With less spring meteorological data to work with , forecasting models have produced less accurate predictions , researchers said .
Long-term term forecasts suffered the most from a lack of meteorological data , according to the latest analysis .
Though most people simply rely on the weather forecast to dress properly and plan the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weather forecasts are also essential to a variety of industries , including agriculture and the energy sector .
Power companies rely on accurate weather forecasts to manage the electrical grid , for example .
`` If this uncertainty goes over a threshold , it will introduce unstable voltage for the electrical grid , '' Ying Chen , a senior research associate at the Lancaster Environment Center , said in a news release .
`` That could lead to a blackout , and I think this is the last thing we want to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffered the most across the United States , southeast China and Australia , as well as more remote regions like the Sahara Desert , Greenland and Antarctica .
Though Western Europe experienced an 80 to 90 percent drop in flight traffic during the height of the pandemic , weather forecasts in the region remained relatively accurate .
Chen suspects the region 's densely-packed network of ground-based weather stations helped forecasters continue to populate models with sufficient amounts of meteorological data .
`` It 's a good lesson which tells us we should introduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regions with sparse data observations , '' Chen said .
`` This will help us to buffer the impacts of this kind of global emergency in the future . ''
Though long-term forecasts for surface meteorology have struggled , Chen found precipitation forecasts have remained relatively accurate , as they rely mostly on satellite images .
With many models continuing to run on less meteorological data , however , Chen suspects precipitation forecasts could become less accurate during hurricane and monsoon season .

With fewer planes in the skies as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, new research suggests weather forecast models have gotten less accurate. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 17 (UPI) -- The weather forecaster is the latest victim of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a decrease in the amount of information used to predict weather could affect forecasts during hurricane and monsoon season. According to new research, weather forecasts have gotten less accurate over the course of the pandemic, as a result of the decrease in commercial airline flights. Advertisement
During their time in the skies, commercial airplanes regularly log a variety of meteorological data, including air temperature, relative humidity, air pressure and wind direction -- data that is used to populate weather prediction models.
According to a new study, published this week in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, the amount of weather observation data recorded by commercial airplanes has declined by 50 to 75 percent between March and May.
With less spring meteorological data to work with, forecasting models have produced less accurate predictions, researchers said. Long-term term forecasts suffered the most from a lack of meteorological data, according to the latest analysis.
Though most people simply rely on the weather forecast to dress properly and plan the family trip to the beach, accurate weather forecasts are also essential to a variety of industries, including agriculture and the energy sector.
Advertisement
Power companies rely on accurate weather forecasts to manage the electrical grid, for example.
"If this uncertainty goes over a threshold, it will introduce unstable voltage for the electrical grid," Ying Chen, a senior research associate at the Lancaster Environment Center, said in a news release. "That could lead to a blackout, and I think this is the last thing we want to see in this pandemic."
Forecast accuracy suffered the most across the United States, southeast China and Australia, as well as more remote regions like the Sahara Desert, Greenland and Antarctica.
Though Western Europe experienced an 80 to 90 percent drop in flight traffic during the height of the pandemic, weather forecasts in the region remained relatively accurate. Chen suspects the region's densely-packed network of ground-based weather stations helped forecasters continue to populate models with sufficient amounts of meteorological data.
"It's a good lesson which tells us we should introduce more observation sites, especially in the regions with sparse data observations," Chen said. "This will help us to buffer the impacts of this kind of global emergency in the future."
Though long-term forecasts for surface meteorology have struggled, Chen found precipitation forecasts have remained relatively accurate, as they rely mostly on satellite images.
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With many models continuing to run on less meteorological data, however, Chen suspects precipitation forecasts could become less accurate during hurricane and monsoon season.


upi--2020-07-17--Earthwork construction could release cancer-causing fibers into the air

July 17 ( UPI ) -- Earthwork construction may pose a significant health risk , according to new research .
During construction , small , needlelike fibers from the mineral erionite can become released from disturbed bedrock .
When inhaled , these mineral fibers can cause disease similar to asbestos , scientists warned in a new paper , published Friday in the New Zealand Journal of Medicine .
Earthworks are any construction projects that involve the movement or processing of quantities of soil or unformed rock .
Often , earthworks are created for fortification purposes -- to support a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Though earthworks can offer important benefits , their formation may pose a health hazard .
New Zealand has a greater incidence of abestos-induced malignant mesothelioma than many similar high-income countries .
Several studies have looked at the distribution of asbestos , heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral , among the rocks and soil of New Zealand .
But according to the authors of the latest study , previous research efforts have failed to investigate the prevalence of erionite , a mineral that yields fibers similar to asbestos .
Preliminary findings from several U.S. studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Researchers found New Zealand has reason to take the U.S. studies seriously .
According to the new study , erionite is present in both the Waitemata Group sedimentary rocks and the Waitakere Group volcanic rocks that are ubiquitous in the Auckland region .
`` Most of the excavations being done for large construction projects involve the type of rock where erionite can be present , often with waste rock and soil loaded onto trucks and dumped , '' study co-author Martin Brook , associate professor at the University of Auckland , said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residential subdivisions may also be an issue . ''
`` But currently there are no international or New Zealand occupational exposure limits or standard low-cost field sampling and analytical methods for erionite , '' Brook said .
Because people are often diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma decades after exposure , studying erionite 's health effects remains quite difficult .
`` This lag between dose and response makes it very difficult to know when , where or how much erionite people might have been exposed to prior to getting ill , '' Brook said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know where this mineral is and how much is present in soils and air before we can quantify the risk it presents to both occupational and public health .
We should do this research as a priority . ''

The mineral called erionite forms fibers that can cause an asbestos-like disease when inhaled. Photo by New Zealand Journal of Medecine
July 17 (UPI) -- Earthwork construction may pose a significant health risk, according to new research. During construction, small, needlelike fibers from the mineral erionite can become released from disturbed bedrock. When inhaled, these mineral fibers can cause disease similar to asbestos, scientists warned in a new paper, published Friday in the New Zealand Journal of Medicine. Advertisement
Earthworks are any construction projects that involve the movement or processing of quantities of soil or unformed rock. Often, earthworks are created for fortification purposes -- to support a new road or prevent flooding, for example.
Though earthworks can offer important benefits, their formation may pose a health hazard.
New Zealand has a greater incidence of abestos-induced malignant mesothelioma than many similar high-income countries. Several studies have looked at the distribution of asbestos, heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral, among the rocks and soil of New Zealand.
But according to the authors of the latest study, previous research efforts have failed to investigate the prevalence of erionite, a mineral that yields fibers similar to asbestos. Preliminary findings from several U.S. studies suggest erionite fibers have carcinogenic properties.
Researchers found New Zealand has reason to take the U.S. studies seriously. According to the new study, erionite is present in both the Waitemata Group sedimentary rocks and the Waitakere Group volcanic rocks that are ubiquitous in the Auckland region.
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"Most of the excavations being done for large construction projects involve the type of rock where erionite can be present, often with waste rock and soil loaded onto trucks and dumped," study co-author Martin Brook, associate professor at the University of Auckland, said in a news release. "Earthworks for residential subdivisions may also be an issue."
"But currently there are no international or New Zealand occupational exposure limits or standard low-cost field sampling and analytical methods for erionite," Brook said.
Because people are often diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma decades after exposure, studying erionite's health effects remains quite difficult.
"This lag between dose and response makes it very difficult to know when, where or how much erionite people might have been exposed to prior to getting ill," Brook said. "In the Auckland region we need to know where this mineral is and how much is present in soils and air before we can quantify the risk it presents to both occupational and public health. We should do this research as a priority."


upi--2020-07-17--California man gets 5 years for selling forged Basquiat, Haring artworks

July 17 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge in Miami has sentenced a man to five years in prison for attempting to sell forgeries of artworks by famous contemporary artists .
Philip Righter , 43 , of California , pleaded guilty Thursday to wire fraud , aggravated identity theft and tax fraud -- all three felonies -- for a case filed in Los Angeles .
He confessed he bought art forgeries at online marketplaces and auction websites , and attempted to make them look legitimate by creating letters certifying their authenticity .
He also designed custom embossers bearing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- the artists whose forged paintings he tried to sell .
Righter then attempted to sell the forgeries to galleries and auction houses , often telling elaborate lies about the artworks ' provenance .
The U.S Attorney 's Office for the Southern District of Florida said the FBI seized a number of the forged artworks when he shipped them to a potential buyer in South Florida .
He was asking a gallery owner there to wire $ 1.06 million to his bank account .
The FBI 's Art Crime Team ultimately filed two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida in which he pleaded guilty in March , and the one in Los Angeles .
Judge Marcia Cooke in Florida sentenced him to five years imprisonment in each case , which will run concurrently .

A man who attempted to sell forged paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat, similar to the one pictured, was sentenced to five years in prison. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 17 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Miami has sentenced a man to five years in prison for attempting to sell forgeries of artworks by famous contemporary artists. Philip Righter, 43, of California, pleaded guilty Thursday to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and tax fraud -- all three felonies -- for a case filed in Los Angeles. Advertisement
He confessed he bought art forgeries at online marketplaces and auction websites, and attempted to make them look legitimate by creating letters certifying their authenticity. He also designed custom embossers bearing the names of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring -- the artists whose forged paintings he tried to sell.
Righter then attempted to sell the forgeries to galleries and auction houses, often telling elaborate lies about the artworks' provenance.
The U.S Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida said the FBI seized a number of the forged artworks when he shipped them to a potential buyer in South Florida. He was asking a gallery owner there to wire $1.06 million to his bank account.
The FBI's Art Crime Team ultimately filed two federal cases against Righter -- one in Florida in which he pleaded guilty in March, and the one in Los Angeles.
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Judge Marcia Cooke in Florida sentenced him to five years imprisonment in each case, which will run concurrently.


upi--2020-07-17--Watch: House used for 'Golden Girls' exterior shots listed for $3 million

July 17 ( UPI ) -- A Southern California house made famous by outdoor shots in the first season of classic sitcom The Golden Girls is listed for sale for the first time , with an asking price of a tad below $ 3 million .
The Los Angeles house , listed for $ 2,999,000 by real estate firm Douglas Elliman , served as the exterior of the house shared by the titular women for the first season of the 1985-1992 sitcom , before a replica was constructed on a studio lot for subsequent seasons .
The owner of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it is the first time the four-bedroom home has been listed for sale since his parents , David Noble Barry III and Margaret Carr Barry , had it built in 1955 .
He said his parents received a small fee for allowing shots of the house to be used in the show .
Barry said only the exterior of the house was used for filming , but the floor plan the series ' designers made on a sound stage was based on the actual floor plan of the home .
The Golden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Betty White , Bea Arthur , Estelle Getty and Rue McClanahan .

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July 17 (UPI) -- A Southern California house made famous by outdoor shots in the first season of classic sitcom The Golden Girls is listed for sale for the first time, with an asking price of a tad below $3 million.
The Los Angeles house, listed for $2,999,000 by real estate firm Douglas Elliman, served as the exterior of the house shared by the titular women for the first season of the 1985-1992 sitcom, before a replica was constructed on a studio lot for subsequent seasons.
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The owner of the house, James Barry, 65, said it is the first time the four-bedroom home has been listed for sale since his parents, David Noble Barry III and Margaret Carr Barry, had it built in 1955. He said his parents received a small fee for allowing shots of the house to be used in the show.
Barry said only the exterior of the house was used for filming, but the floor plan the series' designers made on a sound stage was based on the actual floor plan of the home.
The Golden Girls ran for 180 episodes and starred Betty White, Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty and Rue McClanahan.


upi--2020-07-18--Violent winds tear through Northern Plains

July 18 ( UPI ) -- As severe thunderstorms rolled through the Northern Plains on Friday , high-speed winds became the most far-reaching effect of the storms .
Violent winds tore through the town of Churchs Ferry , N.D. , around 4:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon .
The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center measured winds from 58 mph to 101 mph in the city .
For reference of how powerful winds of that speed are , an EF1 tornado has wind speeds from 86 to 110 mph .
The NWS Storm Prediction Center reported over 60 severe wind reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speed at 58 mph in both Grand Forks and Adams , N.D. Video from social media shows not just a storm rolling in near Grand Forks , but also the force of 60 mph wind roaring across the plains .
About an hour 's drive away , sirens blared in Devils Lake , N.D. , on Friday afternoon as a tornado-warned storm blew through the area .
The town sat just a few miles from Churchs Ferry , N.D. , where winds reached 101 mph .
As of Friday evening , there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranging from 1-inch , golfball-sized hail to 2-inch , hen egg-sized hail fell over Minot , N.D. , after 2 p.m. , and hail larger than 2 inches in diameter was found in Springfield , S.D .
By Friday afternoon , the storms had begun to move into Minnesota .
`` A bowing arc of storms with heavy rain , locally damaging winds , and hail moved into northwest Minnesota and also stretched westward from near Fargo to Bismarck in North Dakota , '' AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dave Houk said .
Damage from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a football field in Argyle , Minn. , according to the Storm Prediction Center .
Trees were uprooted and strewn across roads , and a grain bin had been dented in amid the storms in Argyle .
There were no reports of injuries .
`` The storms continued to roll east-southeastward overnight , threatening towns with damaging wind gusts , frequent lightning and even a few tornado warnings across Minnesota , Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan , '' AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said .
The leading edge of the line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some 200 miles from northeast to southwest , threatening nearly every location in its path with severe weather as the passed through .
The thunderstorms are expected to continue into Saturday , when they 'll track across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan .
New storms are forecast flare up across similar areas of the Midwest Saturday into Saturday night .

July 18 (UPI) -- As severe thunderstorms rolled through the Northern Plains on Friday, high-speed winds became the most far-reaching effect of the storms.
Violent winds tore through the town of Churchs Ferry, N.D., around 4:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center measured winds from 58 mph to 101 mph in the city. For reference of how powerful winds of that speed are, an EF1 tornado has wind speeds from 86 to 110 mph.
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The NWS Storm Prediction Center reported over 60 severe wind reports on Friday with the lowest recorded wind speed at 58 mph in both Grand Forks and Adams, N.D.
Video from social media shows not just a storm rolling in near Grand Forks, but also the force of 60 mph wind roaring across the plains.
About an hour's drive away, sirens blared in Devils Lake, N.D., on Friday afternoon as a tornado-warned storm blew through the area. The town sat just a few miles from Churchs Ferry, N.D., where winds reached 101 mph. As of Friday evening, there were no reports of confirmed tornadoes.
Hail ranging from 1-inch, golfball-sized hail to 2-inch, hen egg-sized hail fell over Minot, N.D., after 2 p.m., and hail larger than 2 inches in diameter was found in Springfield, S.D. By Friday afternoon, the storms had begun to move into Minnesota.
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"A bowing arc of storms with heavy rain, locally damaging winds, and hail moved into northwest Minnesota and also stretched westward from near Fargo to Bismarck in North Dakota," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dave Houk said.
Damage from the winds reportedly rolled and destroyed bleachers at a football field in Argyle, Minn., according to the Storm Prediction Center. Trees were uprooted and strewn across roads, and a grain bin had been dented in amid the storms in Argyle. There were no reports of injuries.
"The storms continued to roll east-southeastward overnight, threatening towns with damaging wind gusts, frequent lightning and even a few tornado warnings across Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan," AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said.
The leading edge of the line of storms, Buckingham added, stretched some 200 miles from northeast to southwest, threatening nearly every location in its path with severe weather as the passed through.
The thunderstorms are expected to continue into Saturday, when they'll track across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. New storms are forecast flare up across similar areas of the Midwest Saturday into Saturday night.


upi--2020-07-18--Netflix to release Richard Linklater's 'Apollo 10 1/2'

July 18 ( UPI ) -- Netflix said it will release writer-director Richard Linklater 's new film , Apollo 10 1/2 : A Space Age Adventure .
No debut date has been determined .
The hybrid movie mixes live-action and animation , and has a cast that includes Jack Black , Zachary Levi , Glen Powell , Josh Wiggins , Milo Coy , Lee Eddy , Bill Wise , Natalie L'Amoreaux , Jessica Brynn Cohen , Sam Chipman and Danielle Guilbot .
Apollo 10 1/2 : A Space Age Adventure tells the story of the first moon landing in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both an astronaut and an excited kid watching the event on television .
`` It struck me years ago that this was my film to make , from both a chronological and proximity level -- I was there , going into 3rd grade .
Our unique animation style allows both the conjuring of a world long gone , and the flowing , playful expression of memory and imagination .
It 's been a fun , creative journey to incorporate things like 3D graphics into a live-action shoot to help bring this story to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press release .
Linklater 's films include Boyhood , School of Rock , A Scanner Darkly , Before Sunset and Dazed and Confused .

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Netflix said it will release Richard Linklater's "Apollo 10 1/2." File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 18 (UPI) -- Netflix said it will release writer-director Richard Linklater's new film, Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Adventure. No debut date has been determined. Advertisement
The hybrid movie mixes live-action and animation, and has a cast that includes Jack Black, Zachary Levi, Glen Powell, Josh Wiggins, Milo Coy, Lee Eddy, Bill Wise, Natalie L'Amoreaux, Jessica Brynn Cohen, Sam Chipman and Danielle Guilbot.
Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Adventure tells the story of the first moon landing in the summer of 1969 from the perspectives of both an astronaut and an excited kid watching the event on television.
"It struck me years ago that this was my film to make, from both a chronological and proximity level -- I was there, going into 3rd grade. Our unique animation style allows both the conjuring of a world long gone, and the flowing, playful expression of memory and imagination. It's been a fun, creative journey to incorporate things like 3D graphics into a live-action shoot to help bring this story to life," Linklater said in a press release.
Linklater's films include Boyhood, School of Rock, A Scanner Darkly, Before Sunset and Dazed and Confused.


Notable deaths of 2020

Kelly Preston arrives at a photocall for the film `` Gotti '' during the Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes @ @ @ @ @ , 2018 .
The actress , known for her roles in `` Jerry Maguire , @ @ @ @ @ Love , '' as well as her marriage to John Travolta , died after a @ @ @ @ @ on July 13 at the age of 57 .
Photo by David Silpa/UPI

Dawn Wells
Dawn Wells poses with the original, fully restored S.S. Minnow from "Gilligan's Island" to meet and greet fans and visitors at the Vancouver International Boat Show in Vancouver on January 23, 2014. Best known for her role as Mary Ann from "Gilligan's Island," Wells died of COVID-19 on December 30 at the age of 82. Photo by Heinz Ruckemann/UPI


upi--2020-07-18--Pop Smoke's 'Shoot For the Stars,' 'Hamilton' top the U.S. album chart

July 18 ( UPI ) -- Late rapper Pop Smoke 's Shoot For the Stars Aim For the Moon is @ @ @ @ @ in the United States .
Coming in at No .
2 on the Billboard 200 @ @ @ @ @ Hamilton cast album , followed by Lil Baby 's My Turn at No .
3 @ @ @ @ @ On Baby at No .
4 and Post Malone 's Hollywood 's Bleeding at No @ @ @ @ @ the top tier are The Weeknd 's After Hours at No .
6 , Harry @ @ @ @ @ No , 7 , Polo G 's The Goat at No .
8 , Lil @ @ @ @ @ at No .
9 and Lil Durk 's Just Cause Y'all Waited 2 at No @ @ @ @ @ was shot and killed during a February home invasion .
He was 20 .
A @ @ @ @ @ on Disney+ earlier this month , reigniting interest in the hip-hop , historical musical .

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The 2015 cast album for Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway musical "Hamilton" is No. 2 on this week's Billboard 200 album chart. File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo
July 18 (UPI) -- Late rapper Pop Smoke's Shoot For the Stars Aim For the Moon is the No. 1 album in the United States. Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 roster dated Saturday is the Hamilton cast album, followed by Lil Baby's My Turn at No. 3, DaBaby's Blame It On Baby at No. 4 and Post Malone's Hollywood's Bleeding at No. 5. Advertisement
Rounding out the top tier are The Weeknd's After Hours at No. 6, Harry Styles' Fine Line at No, 7, Polo G's The Goat at No. 8, Lil Uzi Vert's Eternal Atake at No. 9 and Lil Durk's Just Cause Y'all Waited 2 at No. 10.
Pop Smoke was shot and killed during a February home invasion. He was 20.
A filmed version of Hamilton debuted on Disney+ earlier this month, reigniting interest in the hip-hop, historical musical.


upi--2020-07-18--Civil rights icon John Lewis dies at 80

Civil rights icon John Lewis dies at 80

July 18 ( UPI ) -- Rep. John Lewis , a civil rights leader who worked to desegregate the Deep South and served in the House of Representatives for more than three decades , has died .
He was 80 .
His death comes several months after he revealed doctors were treating him for Stage 4 pancreatic cancer .
`` Today , America mourns the loss of one of the greatest heroes of American history : Congressman John Lewis , the Conscience of the Congress , '' she wrote .
`` In the Congress , John Lewis was revered and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and both sides of the Capitol .
All of us were humbled to call Congressman Lewis a colleague , and are heartbroken by his passing .
May his memory be an inspiration that moves us all to , in the face of injustice , make 'good trouble , necessary trouble . '
'' Born Feb. 21 , 1940 , near Troy , Ala. , Lewis grew up the son of sharecroppers with several siblings .
He attended segregated schools , but learned of civil rights activism by listening to radio broadcasts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He joined the movement , organizing lunch counter sit-ins in Nashville and participating in Freedom Rides as a student at Fisk University .
Lewis was severely beaten and arrested for his activism .
Former President Barack Obama said Lewis made civil rights `` his life 's work . ''
`` He loved this country so much that he risked his life and his blood so that it might live up to its promise , '' he said .
`` And through the decades , he not only gave all of himself to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspired generations that followed to try to live up to his example . ''
Lewis served as the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee from 1963 to '66 and was known as one of the so-called Big Six leaders of the Civil Rights Movement .
In 1963 , he was a keynote speaker at the March on Washington , the same event at which King gave his `` I Have a Dream '' speech .
He organized voter registration drives , community action programs and participated in the historic Selma to Montgomery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alabama state troopers in what came to be known as `` Bloody Sunday . ''
In 1977 , President Jimmy Carter put him in charge of ACTION , a federal volunteer agency .
Lewis began his political career in 1981 when he was elected to the Atlanta City Council .
Five years later , he was elected to his first term in the House of Representatives , representing Georgia 's 5th Congressional District , which includes parts of Fulton , DeKalb and Clayton counties .
Lewis faced a runoff in his first Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who led the first primary election with 47 percent of the vote .
In the runoff , Lewis pulled off an upset , defeating Bond 52 percent to 48 percent .
He won the general election with an overwhelming 75 percent of votes .
He 's won re-election in the district 16 times , only once dropping below 70 percent of the vote in the general election .
In Congress , Lewis served on the House Ways and Means Committee and was chairman of the panel 's subcommittee on oversight .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Democratic Party in the House .
He co-authored the National Book Award-winning graphic novel memoir trilogy MARCH with Andrew Aydin and illustrator Nate Powell .
The series also was a New York Times bestseller and has been used in school circula to teach the Civil Rights Movement .
Lewis also has been the recipient of a number of awards , including the Medal of Freedom , presented by former President Barack Obama , the Lincoln Medal , the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Lifetime Achievement award and the Martin Luther @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others .
Lewis is survived by his son , John-Miles Lewis .
His wife of 44 years , Lillian , died in 2012 .

Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus wait to enter as a group to attend the memorial services for Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on October 24. Lewis died Friday, several months after being diagnosed with cancer. File Photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais/UPI | License Photo
July 18 (UPI) -- Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights leader who worked to desegregate the Deep South and served in the House of Representatives for more than three decades, has died. He was 80. His death comes several months after he revealed doctors were treating him for Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Advertisement
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi confirmed his death in a statement Friday.
"Today, America mourns the loss of one of the greatest heroes of American history: Congressman John Lewis, the Conscience of the Congress," she wrote.
"In the Congress, John Lewis was revered and beloved on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol. All of us were humbled to call Congressman Lewis a colleague, and are heartbroken by his passing. May his memory be an inspiration that moves us all to, in the face of injustice, make 'good trouble, necessary trouble.'"
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President Donald Trump ordered flags be flown at half staff in Lewis' honor.
Born Feb. 21, 1940, near Troy, Ala., Lewis grew up the son of sharecroppers with several siblings. He attended segregated schools, but learned of civil rights activism by listening to radio broadcasts of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
He joined the movement, organizing lunch counter sit-ins in Nashville and participating in Freedom Rides as a student at Fisk University. Lewis was severely beaten and arrested for his activism.
Former President Barack Obama said Lewis made civil rights "his life's work."
"He loved this country so much that he risked his life and his blood so that it might live up to its promise," he said.
"And through the decades, he not only gave all of himself to the cause of freedom and justice, but inspired generations that followed to try to live up to his example."
Lewis served as the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee from 1963 to '66 and was known as one of the so-called Big Six leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. In 1963, he was a keynote speaker at the March on Washington, the same event at which King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.
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He organized voter registration drives, community action programs and participated in the historic Selma to Montgomery march in which demonstrators were attacked by Alabama state troopers in what came to be known as "Bloody Sunday."
In 1977, President Jimmy Carter put him in charge of ACTION, a federal volunteer agency.
Lewis began his political career in 1981 when he was elected to the Atlanta City Council. Five years later, he was elected to his first term in the House of Representatives, representing Georgia's 5th Congressional District, which includes parts of Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties.
Lewis faced a runoff in his first Democratic primary against Georgia state Rep. Julian Bond, who led the first primary election with 47 percent of the vote. In the runoff, Lewis pulled off an upset, defeating Bond 52 percent to 48 percent. He won the general election with an overwhelming 75 percent of votes.
He's won re-election in the district 16 times, only once dropping below 70 percent of the vote in the general election.
In Congress, Lewis served on the House Ways and Means Committee and was chairman of the panel's subcommittee on oversight. He also was the senior chief deputy whip for the Democratic Party in the House.
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He co-authored the National Book Award-winning graphic novel memoir trilogy MARCH with Andrew Aydin and illustrator Nate Powell. The series also was a New York Times bestseller and has been used in school circula to teach the Civil Rights Movement.
Lewis also has been the recipient of a number of awards, including the Medal of Freedom, presented by former President Barack Obama, the Lincoln Medal, the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Lifetime Achievement award and the Martin Luther King Jr. Non-Violent Peace Prize, among others.
Lewis is survived by his son, John-Miles Lewis. His wife of 44 years, Lillian, died in 2012.
Longtime Rep. John Lewis turns 80: a look back