upi--2020-09-10--Death toll climbs as fires burn 3.4M acres in western United States

Sept. 9 ( UPI ) -- At least 15 people have died in California , Oregon and Washington as a result of wildfires burning throughout the western United States , which have destroyed hundreds of homes and prompted waves of evacuations .
The National Interagency Fire Center said Wednesday that 96 large fires have so far burned more than 3.4 million acres .
Fires in Oregon , California and Washington have burned tens of thousands of acres .
Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown declared during a press conference Wednesday that the communities of Detroit , Blue River , Vida Phoenix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' with hundreds of homes lost and more than 300,000 acres charred .
`` I want to be upfront in saying that we expect to see a great deal of loss both in structures and in human lives , '' she said .
`` This could be the greatest loss of human lives and property due to wildfire in our state 's history . ''
Brown added that Oregonians must be `` on high alert '' for fire conditions such as dry air , dry bush and hot wind even in areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened by the wildfires .
Two people were found dead in a vehicle east of Salem , the Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast said , adding that they died while trying to flee the Santiam Fire .
Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler said at least one person died in the Almeida Fire .
In response to the blazes , Brown invoked a fire conflagration act for the entire state and directed the Office of Emergency Management to request a federal emergency declaration .
`` These free up resources for response efforts : power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she said .
Nancy Bush , director of Clackamas County 's disaster management department , said the county has issued 35 evacuation orders since Tuesday in response to four wildfires in the area .
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said 28 major wildfires are burning throughout the state have resulted in eight deaths , burned more than 2.5 million acres and destroyed 3,700 structures .
One of the newest fires in California , the Creek Fire , has burned 136,000 acres and destroyed 360 structures in Fresno County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sheriff 's Lt. Brandon Pursell said Tuesday at least 30,000 people in the county have been evacuated .
In Butte County , Sheriff Kory Honea said Wednesday three people died in the Bear Fire and a dozen are missing .
The U.S. Forest Service announced the closure of all 18 national forests in California , citing `` unprecedented '' fire conditions .
`` The number of large fires and extreme fire behavior we are seeing across the state is historic , '' said Regional Forester Randy Moore .
`` These temporary closures are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firefighters and we will keep them in place until conditions improve and we are confident that National Forest visitors can recreate safely . ''
Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee on Wednesday visited the site of the Sumner Grade Fire , where he said Eastside Fire Chief Bud Backer told him he 'd `` never seen a fire explode like this one in his 33 years of service . ''
The fire has burned hundreds of acres , destroyed multiple homes and caused thousands to evacuate .
Inslee also said 330,000 acres have burned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these fires were human-caused , in some dimension , '' he said .
`` If you can avoid being outside for anything that would even cause a spark , I hope people can avoid those conditions . ''
The Whitman 's County Sheriff 's Office said Tuesday 80 % of homes and structures , including the fire station , post office and city hall in the town of Malden , were destroyed by flames .
A 1-year-old boy died in the Cold Springs Fire , the Okanogan County Sheriff 's Office said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents were hospitalized in critical condition .

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A mixture of fog and smoke casts an orange glow around the Bay Bridge on Wednesday morning, as seen from the Embarcadero in San Francisco, Calif. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- At least 15 people have died in California, Oregon and Washington as a result of wildfires burning throughout the western United States, which have destroyed hundreds of homes and prompted waves of evacuations. The National Interagency Fire Center said Wednesday that 96 large fires have so far burned more than 3.4 million acres. Fires in Oregon, California and Washington have burned tens of thousands of acres. Advertisement
Oregon
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared during a press conference Wednesday that the communities of Detroit, Blue River, Vida Phoenix and Talent have been "substantially destroyed," with hundreds of homes lost and more than 300,000 acres charred.
"I want to be upfront in saying that we expect to see a great deal of loss both in structures and in human lives," she said. "This could be the greatest loss of human lives and property due to wildfire in our state's history."
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Brown added that Oregonians must be "on high alert" for fire conditions such as dry air, dry bush and hot wind even in areas of the state that are not immediately threatened by the wildfires.
Two people were found dead in a vehicle east of Salem, the Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast said, adding that they died while trying to flee the Santiam Fire.
Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler said at least one person died in the Almeida Fire.
In response to the blazes, Brown invoked a fire conflagration act for the entire state and directed the Office of Emergency Management to request a federal emergency declaration.
"These free up resources for response efforts: power generation, search and rescue and more," she said.
Nancy Bush, director of Clackamas County's disaster management department, said the county has issued 35 evacuation orders since Tuesday in response to four wildfires in the area.
California
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said 28 major wildfires are burning throughout the state have resulted in eight deaths, burned more than 2.5 million acres and destroyed 3,700 structures.
One of the newest fires in California, the Creek Fire, has burned 136,000 acres and destroyed 360 structures in Fresno County, Cal Fire said.
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Fresno County Sheriff's Lt. Brandon Pursell said Tuesday at least 30,000 people in the county have been evacuated.
In Butte County, Sheriff Kory Honea said Wednesday three people died in the Bear Fire and a dozen are missing.
The U.S. Forest Service announced the closure of all 18 national forests in California, citing "unprecedented" fire conditions.
"The number of large fires and extreme fire behavior we are seeing across the state is historic," said Regional Forester Randy Moore. "These temporary closures are necessary to protect the public and our firefighters and we will keep them in place until conditions improve and we are confident that National Forest visitors can recreate safely."
Washington
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday visited the site of the Sumner Grade Fire, where he said Eastside Fire Chief Bud Backer told him he'd "never seen a fire explode like this one in his 33 years of service."
The fire has burned hundreds of acres, destroyed multiple homes and caused thousands to evacuate.
Inslee also said 330,000 acres have burned statewide.
"We think almost all of these fires were human-caused, in some dimension," he said. "If you can avoid being outside for anything that would even cause a spark, I hope people can avoid those conditions."
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The Whitman's County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday 80% of homes and structures, including the fire station, post office and city hall in the town of Malden, were destroyed by flames.
A 1-year-old boy died in the Cold Springs Fire, the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office said. He added that the boy's parents were hospitalized in critical condition.


upi--2020-09-10--Paul Rudd to narrate 'Tiny World' nature docu-series

Sept. 10 ( UPI ) -- Ant Man icon Paul Rudd will be heard narrating Tiny World , a natural @ @ @ @ @ .
The first six episodes will be available on Oct. 2 , while the remaining @ @ @ @ @ in 2021 .
`` Tiny World gives viewers a unique perspective into the natural world @ @ @ @ @ resilience of some of the planet 's smallest creatures , '' a Thursday press release @ @ @ @ @ 200 species filmed , each episode combines stunning cinematography with dynamic storytelling to show the @ @ @ @ @ the tiniest animals and witness the extraordinary things they do to survive . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ produced by Tom Hugh-Jones , and filmed around the world over a decade .

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Paul Rudd has signed up to narrate "Tiny World," a nature docu-series for Apple TV+. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Ant Man icon Paul Rudd will be heard narrating Tiny World, a natural world docu-series on Apple TV+. The first six episodes will be available on Oct. 2, while the remaining six are expected to debut in 2021. Advertisement
"Tiny World gives viewers a unique perspective into the natural world, illuminating the ingenuity and resilience of some of the planet's smallest creatures," a Thursday press release said.
"With over 200 species filmed, each episode combines stunning cinematography with dynamic storytelling to show the world through the eyes of the tiniest animals and witness the extraordinary things they do to survive."
The show was written and executive produced by Tom Hugh-Jones, and filmed around the world over a decade.


upi--2020-09-10--Two $50,000 Powerball tickets sold within 10 miles of each other

Sept. 10 ( UPI ) -- Lottery officials in South Carolina said one county experienced unusual luck when two $ @ @ @ @ @ just 10 miles apart .
The South Carolina Education Lottery said the Sprint Foods store @ @ @ @ @ Kangaroo Express store in Jackson both sold tickets for Saturday 's Powerball drawing that came @ @ @ @ @ jackpot .
The lottery said the tickets each matched four white ball numbers and the @ @ @ @ @ 50,000 prizes .
Officials said the stores that sold the tickets are only 10 miles @ @ @ @ @ The odds of matching four white ball numbers and the red Powerball number are 1 @ @ @

The South Carolina Education Lottery said two stores within 10 miles of each other in Aiken County sold Powerball tickets for Saturday's drawing that each ended up winning $50,000. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Lottery officials in South Carolina said one county experienced unusual luck when two $50,000 Powerball tickets were sold just 10 miles apart. The South Carolina Education Lottery said the Sprint Foods store in Beech Island and the Kangaroo Express store in Jackson both sold tickets for Saturday's Powerball drawing that came within one number of the jackpot. Advertisement
The lottery said the tickets each matched four white ball numbers and the red Powerball, earning $50,000 prizes.
Officials said the stores that sold the tickets are only 10 miles apart in Aiken County. The odds of matching four white ball numbers and the red Powerball number are 1 in 913,129.


upi--2020-09-10--Tech drags Dow down 405 points, oil prices fall amid crude buildup

Sept. 10 ( UPI ) -- Tech stocks dragged U.S. markets down on Thursday , as oil prices also fell amid data showing a buildup in crude stockpiles .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 405.89 points , or 1.45 % , the S & P 500 dropped 1.76 % and the Nasdaq Composite ended the day down 1.72 % as tech stocks continue to drive the markets ' fortunes .
Apple stock closed down 3.26 % , Amazon stock dropped 2.86 % , Microsoft declined 2.8 % , Facebook fell 2.1 % and Google 's parent company , Alphabet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stocks rebounded to drive the market higher on Wednesday .
The S & P 500 tech sector has fallen 11.4 % from Sept. 2 -- when the overall market hit an all-time high -- and Tuesday and the S & P 500 overall has fallen 7 % in that time .
Oil prices also dropped Thursday as the Energy Information Administration reported that U.S. crude inventories increased by 2 million barrels for the week ending on Sept. 4 , its first weekly gain in seven weeks .
West Texas Intermediate crude , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 37.30 a barrel and Brent Crude , the global benchmark , dropped 1.8 % to $ 40.06 .
Thursday 's declines came after markets bounced back Wednesday following a three-day losing streak as the Dow climbed 1.6 % and the Nasdaq recorded its largest single-day gain since April .

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 405 points Thursday as tech stocks faltered, while oil prices declined amid reports that U.S. crude inventories increased. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Tech stocks dragged U.S. markets down on Thursday, as oil prices also fell amid data showing a buildup in crude stockpiles. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 405.89 points, or 1.45%, the S&P 500 dropped 1.76% and the Nasdaq Composite ended the day down 1.72% as tech stocks continue to drive the markets' fortunes. Advertisement
Apple stock closed down 3.26%, Amazon stock dropped 2.86%, Microsoft declined 2.8%, Facebook fell 2.1% and Google's parent company, Alphabet, slid 1.37% after all five stocks rebounded to drive the market higher on Wednesday.
The S&P 500 tech sector has fallen 11.4% from Sept. 2 -- when the overall market hit an all-time high -- and Tuesday and the S&P 500 overall has fallen 7% in that time.
Oil prices also dropped Thursday as the Energy Information Administration reported that U.S. crude inventories increased by 2 million barrels for the week ending on Sept. 4, its first weekly gain in seven weeks.
West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, fell 2% to $37.30 a barrel and Brent Crude, the global benchmark, dropped 1.8% to $40.06.
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Thursday's declines came after markets bounced back Wednesday following a three-day losing streak as the Dow climbed 1.6% and the Nasdaq recorded its largest single-day gain since April.


upi--2020-09-10--Tropical Storm Rene maintains strength in Central Atlantic

Sept. 8 ( UPI ) -- Tropical Storm Rene maintained strength as it moved through the Central Atlantic on Wednesday .
The National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. AST update that Rene was about 865 miles west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands and had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph .
It was moving west-northwest at 12 mph .
`` On the forecast track , the center of Rene will move away from the Cabo Verde Islands later tonight , '' the NHC said .
The strongest winds , on the order of 40 mph to 55 mph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are expected along and just to the north of Rene 's track , which will put the central and northern islands at the greatest risk for impact , Accuweather forecasters said .
`` The heaviest rain will fall along and just to the north of the [ Rene 's ] track where 2-4 inches are expected , with rainfall of 6 inches across the Cabo Verde Islands , '' AccuWeather senior meteorologist Adam Douty said .
Rene is a short distance behind Tropical Storm Paulette , which also formed early Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ list for 2020 in the Atlantic is Sally .
As was the case with Paulette , there is a significant chance more early formation records will fall and join Cristobal , Edouard , Fay , Gonzalo , Hanna , Isaias , Josephine , Kyle , Laura , Marco , Nana and Omar as top of the list for early formation for their respective letters .
Before Rene , Rita , which formed on Sept. 18 , 2005 , was the record holder for the earliest `` R '' named storm on record .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hyperactive peak hurricane season .
Meteorologists are calling for up to 24 tropical storms and up to 11 hurricanes in total this season .
These numbers mean that the Greek alphabet will have to be utilized for tropical storm names , which was only done in one other season : 2005 .

Rene weakened Saturday to a tropical depression in the Central Atlantic and was easy of Hurricane Paulette. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Rene weakened Saturday to a tropical depression in the Central Atlantic, currently posing no threat to land. In its 5 p.m. AST Sunday update, the National Hurricane Center said Rene was about 1,145 miles northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands. It had maximum sustained winds of 30 mph and was moving northwest at 9 mph. Advertisement
The NHC said a slower northwestward motion is expected later Sunday, and a slow westward motion is forecast by Sunday night. On Monday and Tuesday, the system is forecast to move west-southwestward.
The NHC said the storm will degenerate into a trough of low pressure in four or five days.
Rene is a short distance behind Tropical Storm Paulette, which also formed early Monday.
As was the case with Paulette, there is a significant chance more early formation records will fall and join Cristobal, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine, Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana and Omar as top of the list for early formation for their respective letters. On Saturday, Sally formed in the Gulf Coast.
Before Rene, Rita, which formed on Sept. 18, 2005, was the record holder for the earliest "R" named storm on record.
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Early this summer, AccuWeather meteorologists predicted a hyperactive peak hurricane season. Meteorologists are calling for up to 24 tropical storms and up to 11 hurricanes in total this season.
These numbers mean that the Greek alphabet will have to be utilized for tropical storm names, which was only done in one other season: 2005.


upi--2020-09-10--Watch: Fisherman catches 2,645 fish in 24 hours for Guinness record

Sept. 10 ( UPI ) -- A professional fisherman in Illinois unofficially broke his own Guinness World Record when he @ @ @ @ @ single 24-hour period .
Jeff Kolodzinski , a fisherman known as the Marathon Man , @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday at the Sankoty resort in Peoria and ended his attempt at 9 a.m. Thursday @ @ @ @ @ .
Kolodzinski unofficially broke his own Guinness World Record of 2,172 fish caught in 24 @ @ @ @ @ in 2019 .
The fisherman said evidence from the attempt will be submitted to Guinness @ @ @ @ @ record attempt raised money for the Fishing For Life Foundation .
Kolodzinski said he is @ @ @ @ @ for the charity .

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Sept. 10 (UPI) -- A professional fisherman in Illinois unofficially broke his own Guinness World Record when he caught 2,645 fish in a single 24-hour period.
Jeff Kolodzinski, a fisherman known as the Marathon Man, began fishing at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Sankoty resort in Peoria and ended his attempt at 9 a.m. Thursday, after catching 2,645 fish.
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Kolodzinski unofficially broke his own Guinness World Record of 2,172 fish caught in 24 hours, which he set in 2019.
The fisherman said evidence from the attempt will be submitted to Guinness for official recognition.
The record attempt raised money for the Fishing For Life Foundation. Kolodzinski said he is hoping to raise $20,000 for the charity.


upi--2020-09-10--Jessica Chastain to play Tammy Wynette in TV limited series

Sept. 10 ( UPI ) -- Zero Dark Thirty and Interstellar actress Jessica Chastain has signed on to play country music star Tammy Wynette in a Spectrum Originals/Paramount Network limited series called George & Tammy .
It is the adaptation of the book , The Three of Us : Growing Up with Tammy and George , by the couple 's daughter , Georgette Jones .
George & Tammy will first have a nine-month exclusive run for Spectrum subscribers on ViacomCBS ' forthcoming streaming service and Paramount Network .
Abe Sylvia -- whose credits include Dead to Me -- serves as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the project include Chastain , Josh Brolin and Andrew Lazar .
`` I first read Abe 's feature script a few years ago and could n't get it out of my head -- the examination of human frailty and redemption was so unexpected , given the glitz and glamour of the subject matter , '' Katherine Pope , head of Spectrum Originals , said in a press release on Thursday .
`` We all thought we knew who Tammy Wynette was , but there is so much more to her that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depth of intelligence , empathy and strength to peel back all the layers of this country superstar .
It 's an honor to work with this dream team -- all the producers and our partners at 101 Studios and Paramount Network -- we ca n't wait to bring this incredible series to our viewers . ''
The casting for Wynette 's husband and musical collaborator , George Jones , has not been announced yet .
Wynette died in 1998 at age 55 .
Jones died in 2013 at age 81 .
The couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1975 .

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Jessica Chastain is set to play Tammy Wynette in a new TV limited series. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Zero Dark Thirty and Interstellar actress Jessica Chastain has signed on to play country music star Tammy Wynette in a Spectrum Originals/Paramount Network limited series called George & Tammy. It is the adaptation of the book, The Three of Us: Growing Up with Tammy and George, by the couple's daughter, Georgette Jones. Advertisement
George & Tammy will first have a nine-month exclusive run for Spectrum subscribers on ViacomCBS' forthcoming streaming service and Paramount Network.
Abe Sylvia -- whose credits include Dead to Me -- serves as creator and executive producer. Other producers on the project include Chastain, Josh Brolin and Andrew Lazar.
"I first read Abe's feature script a few years ago and couldn't get it out of my head -- the examination of human frailty and redemption was so unexpected, given the glitz and glamour of the subject matter," Katherine Pope, head of Spectrum Originals, said in a press release on Thursday.
"We all thought we knew who Tammy Wynette was, but there is so much more to her that we never saw. Jessica brings her incredible depth of intelligence, empathy and strength to peel back all the layers of this country superstar. It's an honor to work with this dream team -- all the producers and our partners at 101 Studios and Paramount Network -- we can't wait to bring this incredible series to our viewers."
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The casting for Wynette's husband and musical collaborator, George Jones, has not been announced yet.
Wynette died in 1998 at age 55. Jones died in 2013 at age 81. The couple were married in 1969 and divorced in 1975.


upi--2020-09-11--Britain signs trade deal with Japan in 1st post-Brexit pact

Sept. 11 ( UPI ) -- The British government signed its first international trade deal independent of the European Union on Friday , agreeing with Japan on tariff-free trade for virtually all exports .
The pact will boost exports to Japan by nearly $ 20 billion , international trade secretary Liz Truss said after meeting with Japanese foreign minister Motegi Toshimitsu in a virtual conference .
`` This is a historic moment for the U.K. and Japan as our first major post-Brexit trade deal , '' she said in a statement , adding that it goes `` far beyond '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had while part of the EU .
`` We have taken back control of our trade policy & will continue to thrive as a trading nation outside the EU , '' British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted .
The two sides aim to implement the deal by Jan. 1 , when the Brexit transition period ends .
Officials said British businesses will benefit from the deal , which establishes tariff-free trade on 99 % of exports to Japan , brings a $ 2 billion boost to the British economy and increases workers ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an improvement in areas including protection of personal data , Japanese market access for British financial services and `` strong tariff reductions '' for British pork and beef exports .
It 's also an `` important step '' in efforts to join the 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership , she said .
Britain and the EU are still deadlocked in reaching their own trade agreement , which would define their economic relationship in the post-Brexit era .
In 2018 , British trade with Japan was worth $ 37 billion while its trade value with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whilst this agreement is undoubtedly cause for celebration , securing a free trade agreement with the EU remains critical to the future of businesses in the U.K. , '' said Adam Marshall , director general of the British Chambers of Commerce .
`` We urge ministers to redouble their efforts to reach a comprehensive partnership with our largest trading partner at a crucial time in the negotiations . ''

Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi speaks remotely with British Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. Photo by EPA-EFE/Pool
Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The British government signed its first international trade deal independent of the European Union on Friday, agreeing with Japan on tariff-free trade for virtually all exports. The pact will boost exports to Japan by nearly $20 billion, international trade secretary Liz Truss said after meeting with Japanese foreign minister Motegi Toshimitsu in a virtual conference. Advertisement
"This is a historic moment for the U.K. and Japan as our first major post-Brexit trade deal," she said in a statement, adding that it goes "far beyond" access to the Japanese market that Britain had while part of the EU.
"We have taken back control of our trade policy & will continue to thrive as a trading nation outside the EU," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted.
The two sides aim to implement the deal by Jan. 1, when the Brexit transition period ends.
Officials said British businesses will benefit from the deal, which establishes tariff-free trade on 99% of exports to Japan, brings a $2 billion boost to the British economy and increases workers' wages.
Truss said the deal is an improvement in areas including protection of personal data, Japanese market access for British financial services and "strong tariff reductions" for British pork and beef exports. It's also an "important step" in efforts to join the 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, she said.
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Britain and the EU are still deadlocked in reaching their own trade agreement, which would define their economic relationship in the post-Brexit era.
In 2018, British trade with Japan was worth $37 billion while its trade value with the EU was $845 billion.
"Whilst this agreement is undoubtedly cause for celebration, securing a free trade agreement with the EU remains critical to the future of businesses in the U.K.," said Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce. "We urge ministers to redouble their efforts to reach a comprehensive partnership with our largest trading partner at a crucial time in the negotiations."


upi--2020-09-11--NBA playoffs: Davis dominant, Harden cold as Lakers beat Rockets

Sept. 11 ( UPI ) -- Six-foot-10-inch Anthony Davis toyed with smaller defenders for a game-high 29 points in a Los Angeles Lakers win over the Houston Rockets in Game 4 of a Western Conference semifinals series in Orlando , Fla .
The Lakers are now just one win away from a spot in the Western Conference finals after the 110-100 triumph Thursday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex inside Walt Disney World Resort .
Rockets guard James Harden made just 2 of 11 shots in the loss .
LeBron James had 16 points , 15 rebounds and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lakers also used their height advantage to out-rebound the Rockets 52 to 26 .
`` We are trying to limit what we can from him , '' James said of Harden .
`` We ca n't take away everything , because that 's how great he is offensively , but we try to follow the game plan . ''
Los Angeles led Houston 26-22 through the first 12 minutes .
The Lakers then outscored the Rockets 31-19 in the second quarter for a 57-41 lead at halftime .
Davis poured in 13 third-quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 86-70 advantage at the start of the fourth quarter .
The Rockets trailed by 23 points midway through the fourth quarter before they used a 15-2 run to cut the lead to seven points with 2:09 remaining .
They could n't close the gap in the final seconds due to strong Lakers defense .
Russell Westbrook scored 25 points in the loss .
Harden had 21 points and 10 assists .
Eric Gordon made 4 of 8 attempts from 3-point range and scored 19 points for Houston .
Alex Caruso scored 16 points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had 11 points , 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Lakers .
Lakers guards Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope chipped in 10 points apiece .
`` There is nothing we can do about [ the loss ] now , '' Harden said .
`` We just have to get ready for Game 5 and bring the same energy [ from the fourth quarter ] into Game 5 . ''
The Lakers and Rockets suit up for Game 5 at 8 p.m. EDT Saturday in Orlando .
The winner will face the Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western Conference finals .
`` It was a heck of a win for our group , '' Lakers coach Frank Vogel said .
`` We are up 3-1 , but we have to stay the course and stay the more desperate team . ''

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (R) used his dynamic offensive skill set and physical defense in a playoff win over the Houston Rockets Thursday in Orlando, Fla. Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE
Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Six-foot-10-inch Anthony Davis toyed with smaller defenders for a game-high 29 points in a Los Angeles Lakers win over the Houston Rockets in Game 4 of a Western Conference semifinals series in Orlando, Fla. The Lakers are now just one win away from a spot in the Western Conference finals after the 110-100 triumph Thursday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex inside Walt Disney World Resort. Advertisement
Rockets guard James Harden made just 2 of 11 shots in the loss. LeBron James had 16 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists for the Lakers. The Lakers also used their height advantage to out-rebound the Rockets 52 to 26.
"We are trying to limit what we can from him," James said of Harden. "We can't take away everything, because that's how great he is offensively, but we try to follow the game plan."
Los Angeles led Houston 26-22 through the first 12 minutes. The Lakers then outscored the Rockets 31-19 in the second quarter for a 57-41 lead at halftime. Davis poured in 13 third-quarter points to help the Lakers hold an 86-70 advantage at the start of the fourth quarter.
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The Rockets trailed by 23 points midway through the fourth quarter before they used a 15-2 run to cut the lead to seven points with 2:09 remaining. They couldn't close the gap in the final seconds due to strong Lakers defense.
Russell Westbrook scored 25 points in the loss. Harden had 21 points and 10 assists. Eric Gordon made 4 of 8 attempts from 3-point range and scored 19 points for Houston.
Alex Caruso scored 16 points off the Lakers bench. Rajon Rondo had 11 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Lakers. Lakers guards Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope chipped in 10 points apiece.
"There is nothing we can do about [the loss] now," Harden said. "We just have to get ready for Game 5 and bring the same energy [from the fourth quarter] into Game 5."
The Lakers and Rockets suit up for Game 5 at 8 p.m. EDT Saturday in Orlando. The winner will face the Los Angeles Clippers or Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals.
"It was a heck of a win for our group," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. "We are up 3-1, but we have to stay the course and stay the more desperate team."
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upi--2020-09-11--Neve Campbell to reprise Sidney Prescott in new 'Scream' film

Sept. 11 ( UPI ) -- Scream star Neve Campbell will return for a fifth movie in the franchise .
The 46-year-old actress confirmed Thursday that she will reprise Sidney Prescott in Scream 5 , a relaunch of the horror film series .
Campbell shared the news on Instagram alongside a clip featuring the iconic Scream mask and the words , `` Hello , Sidney ... remember me ? ''
`` Hello again , Sidney ... # ImBack @ ScreamMovies , '' she captioned the post .
Campbell played Sidney in the first four Scream movies , directed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened in theaters in 1996 , while the most recent , Scream 4 , was released in 2011 .
Campbell joins fellow returning stars David Arquette and Courteney Cox , who will reprise Deputy Dwight `` Dewey '' Riley and Gale Weathers , respectively .
Scream 5 hails from Spyglass and Paramount Pictures and will be directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett of the filmmaking group Radio Silence .
`` After spending time speaking with Radio Silence , they have shown such love , respect and admiration for Wes Craven and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ franchise , '' Campbell said in a statement .
`` I am beyond excited to step back into the role of Sidney Prescott and return to Woodsboro , '' she added , referencing the franchise 's fictional setting of Woodsboro , Calif .
The Scream official Twitter account confirmed Thursday that Mason Gooding , Dylan Minnette , Jasmin Savoy , Kyle Gallner , Mikey Madison and Marley Shelton will also join the cast .
Scream 5 is slated for release in January 2022 .

Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Scream star Neve Campbell will return for a fifth movie in the franchise.
The 46-year-old actress confirmed Thursday that she will reprise Sidney Prescott in Scream 5, a relaunch of the horror film series.
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Campbell shared the news on Instagram alongside a clip featuring the iconic Scream mask and the words, "Hello, Sidney... remember me?"
"Hello again, Sidney... #ImBack @ScreamMovies," she captioned the post.
Campbell played Sidney in the first four Scream movies, directed by the late Wes Craven. The original film opened in theaters in 1996, while the most recent, Scream 4, was released in 2011.
Campbell joins fellow returning stars David Arquette and Courteney Cox, who will reprise Deputy Dwight "Dewey" Riley and Gale Weathers, respectively.
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Scream 5 hails from Spyglass and Paramount Pictures and will be directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett of the filmmaking group Radio Silence.
"After spending time speaking with Radio Silence, they have shown such love, respect and admiration for Wes Craven and all that he's created in the Scream franchise," Campbell said in a statement.
"I am beyond excited to step back into the role of Sidney Prescott and return to Woodsboro," she added, referencing the franchise's fictional setting of Woodsboro, Calif.
The Scream official Twitter account confirmed Thursday that Mason Gooding, Dylan Minnette, Jasmin Savoy, Kyle Gallner, Mikey Madison and Marley Shelton will also join the cast.
Scream 5 is slated for release in January 2022.


upi--2020-09-11--Afghanistan gov't, Taliban set to begin long-sought peace talks

Sept. 11 ( UPI ) -- The Afghan government and the Taliban will begin long-anticipated peace talks in Qatar on Saturday after meeting the final precondition for a process that aims to entirely withdraw U.S. forces .
Six Taliban prisoners -- who 'd been held for killing French , Australia and U.S. citizens -- were transferred to Qatar and placed under house arrest .
The move completed the final requirement for the peace talks to start .
The releases were part of a peace deal negotiated by U.S. diplomats and the militant group that did not involve the Afghan government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contention .
U.S. President Donald Trump said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Qatar for the intra-Afghan talks .
He said the United States will cut U.S. troops in Afghanistan to 4,000 in a `` very short period of time . ''
The overall peace deal aims to completely withdraw U.S. military forces from Afghanistan , where they have been on a constant basis since late 2001 .
U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad , who has led the peace effort , hailed the new talks .
`` This is a historic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has no military solution and kills too many Afghans , '' Khalilzad tweeted .
`` The road to get here has been long and will remain difficult .
`` No important achievement is ever easy .
It is now the responsibility of Afghan leaders to capitalize on this moment and end this brutal and mindless war . ''
Some experts worry about what will happen to the role of women in Afghanistan during negotiations .
When the Taliban ruled , women were barred from education , most forms of work and leaving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Afghanistan in recent years , however , have become political leaders , educators , students and business owners .
The fear is that progress might disappear once the Taliban regains political representation in government .
The group has previously tried to answer those concerns , saying Afghan women will have rights `` under Islam . ''
Pakistani envoy Mohammad Sadiq said Islamabad welcomes the new talks .
`` We hope these negotiations would lead to sustainable peace in Afghanistan , which would bring prosperity to the country , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would continue . ''

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) meets with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 23. File Photo by Sediq Sediqqi/Afghan government
Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The Afghan government and the Taliban will begin long-anticipated peace talks in Qatar on Saturday after meeting the final precondition for a process that aims to entirely withdraw U.S. forces. Six Taliban prisoners -- who'd been held for killing French, Australia and U.S. citizens -- were transferred to Qatar and placed under house arrest. The move completed the final requirement for the peace talks to start. Advertisement
The releases were part of a peace deal negotiated by U.S. diplomats and the militant group that did not involve the Afghan government, which had been a point of contention.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Qatar for the intra-Afghan talks. He said the United States will cut U.S. troops in Afghanistan to 4,000 in a "very short period of time."
The overall peace deal aims to completely withdraw U.S. military forces from Afghanistan, where they have been on a constant basis since late 2001.
U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad, who has led the peace effort, hailed the new talks.
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"This is a historic opportunity to end a forty-year war that has no military solution and kills too many Afghans," Khalilzad tweeted. "The road to get here has been long and will remain difficult.
"No important achievement is ever easy. It is now the responsibility of Afghan leaders to capitalize on this moment and end this brutal and mindless war."
Some experts worry about what will happen to the role of women in Afghanistan during negotiations. When the Taliban ruled, women were barred from education, most forms of work and leaving the house without a male guardian.
Women in Afghanistan in recent years, however, have become political leaders, educators, students and business owners. The fear is that progress might disappear once the Taliban regains political representation in government. The group has previously tried to answer those concerns, saying Afghan women will have rights "under Islam."
Pakistani envoy Mohammad Sadiq said Islamabad welcomes the new talks.
"We hope these negotiations would lead to sustainable peace in Afghanistan, which would bring prosperity to the country," he said. "Our strong support to the process would continue."


upi--2020-09-11--COVID-19 tests getting more reliable, experts say

You 're feeling pretty darned sick -- headache , fever , fatigue , a cough -- but your COVID-19 test came back negative .
What do you do now ?
Well , chances are good that you do n't have COVID-19 if that 's what the test says , according to experts .
Labs that are testing for COVID-19 rely on what 's called a PCR test , a slow and complex molecular scan that looks for the genetic material of coronavirus in samples that boasts very high accuracy .
A negative result on this test shows there 's probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Dr. Bobbi Pritt , chair of clinical microbiology with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester , Minn. '' I know I have several work members and family members who had an influenza-like illness earlier in the year , and it probably was just the common flu or it could have been the common cold , '' Pritt said .
Sick folks who test negative for COVID-19 should make sure their doctors also run tests for other infectious diseases , said Dr. Amesh Adalja , a senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` In general , the tests available are sensitive enough to diagnose those with symptoms accurately , but there are also other infections with similar symptoms that might merit testing for as well , '' Adalja said .
PCR tests have improved dramatically during the pandemic , and have also gotten easier to perform .
For example , labs can now get fairly accurate results from gentle nasal swabs or saliva samples , and no longer have to use a long swab to hook a sample from deep within your nasal cavity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nasal swab specimens and even saliva and perform testing on those specimens , and if they are collected correctly the results can be just as good as those that are collected using that gold standard nasopharyngeal swab , '' Pritt said .
Labs also are getting results back to doctors more quickly , although they are still struggling to maintain supplies of the chemical reagents they need to perform PCR tests , said Dr. Emily Volk , senior vice president of clinical services at University of Texas Health in San Antonio .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laboratories and hospitals have been able to bring up the testing , '' Volk said .
`` The more reagents we have available at the local level , the more we 're going to be able to provide turnarounds within 24 hours or less on even the most accurate PCR testing . ''
However , there is a chance that you might have gotten a false negative , experts added .
The exact accuracy of PCR tests has been tough to pin down .
According to Dr. Robert Schmerling reporting in Harvard Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false negatives is as low as 2 % and as high as 37 % .
The reported rate of false positives -- that is , a test that says you have the virus when you actually do not -- is 5 % or lower . ''
The timing of when the sample is collected , the type of sample collected and the quality of the sample can all influence the accuracy of the COVID-19 results , said Matthew Binnicker , director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be present at the highest levels approximately five days , on average , after being exposed , or around the time a person develops symptoms , '' Binnicker said .
`` If a high-quality nasopharyngeal swab is collected within 24 hours of symptom onset , is tested by an approved PCR method and the result is negative , the likelihood of the person having COVID-19 is low , '' he explained .
`` However , if a less preferred sample -- for example , throat swab -- is collected after three to five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a negative result would be less reliable to rule out COVID-19 , '' Binnicker continued .
If you 're still sick a week after your negative COVID-19 test and you continue to have no idea what 's wrong with you , experts say you should reach out to your doctor for a follow-up coronavirus test .
`` If a COVID-19 test is negative , then specific testing for influenza will also need to be performed , '' Binnicker said .
`` If the results are negative for these viruses and the patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 test can be appropriate .
As patients enter into the second week of illness , a lower respiratory sample -- like sputum -- is preferred over an upper respiratory swab to increase the likelihood of detecting SARS-CoV-2 during the later stages of disease . ''
Keep in mind that if you 're sick right now , you probably wo n't be given an antigen test , the other form of viral testing for COVID-19 infection .
Antigen tests are cheap and fast , looking for specific structural proteins of the coronavirus that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made headlines last month by buying out the entire 2020 supply of the just-approved $ 5 BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card produced by Abbott Laboratories , which the company says will return relatively accurate results within 15 minutes .
Because antigen tests are quick but generally less accurate than PCR tests , they probably will be reserved for screening folks who do n't have any symptoms of possible COVID-19 infection , Pritt said .
`` If we are screening large numbers of individuals and we plan on doing that on a regular basis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekly basis , then using an antigen test is probably going to be the best strategy forward because it 's going to be relatively inexpensive and easy to do , and it 's going to be done on a relatively lower risk population , '' Pritt said .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about testing for COVID-19 .

While false negatives are possible, experts say that COVID-19 testing is becoming more reliable as methods improve and officials determine the best uses for each type of test. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
You're feeling pretty darned sick -- headache, fever, fatigue, a cough -- but your COVID-19 test came back negative. What do you do now? Advertisement
Well, chances are good that you don't have COVID-19 if that's what the test says, according to experts.
Labs that are testing for COVID-19 rely on what's called a PCR test, a slow and complex molecular scan that looks for the genetic material of coronavirus in samples that boasts very high accuracy.
A negative result on this test shows there's probably something other than COVID-19 wrong with you, said Dr. Bobbi Pritt, chair of clinical microbiology with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
"I know I have several work members and family members who had an influenza-like illness earlier in the year, and it probably was just the common flu or it could have been the common cold," Pritt said.
Advertisement
Sick folks who test negative for COVID-19 should make sure their doctors also run tests for other infectious diseases, said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, in Baltimore.
Tests becoming more accurate
"In general, the tests available are sensitive enough to diagnose those with symptoms accurately, but there are also other infections with similar symptoms that might merit testing for as well," Adalja said.
PCR tests have improved dramatically during the pandemic, and have also gotten easier to perform.
For example, labs can now get fairly accurate results from gentle nasal swabs or saliva samples, and no longer have to use a long swab to hook a sample from deep within your nasal cavity, Pritt said.
"We can accept nasal swab specimens and even saliva and perform testing on those specimens, and if they are collected correctly the results can be just as good as those that are collected using that gold standard nasopharyngeal swab," Pritt said.
Labs also are getting results back to doctors more quickly, although they are still struggling to maintain supplies of the chemical reagents they need to perform PCR tests, said Dr. Emily Volk, senior vice president of clinical services at University of Texas Health in San Antonio.
Advertisement
"Turnaround times are improving as more local laboratories and hospitals have been able to bring up the testing," Volk said. "The more reagents we have available at the local level, the more we're going to be able to provide turnarounds within 24 hours or less on even the most accurate PCR testing."
However, there is a chance that you might have gotten a false negative, experts added. The exact accuracy of PCR tests has been tough to pin down. According to Dr. Robert Schmerling reporting in Harvard Health Publishing, "the reported rate of false negatives is as low as 2% and as high as 37%. The reported rate of false positives -- that is, a test that says you have the virus when you actually do not -- is 5% or lower."
The timing of when the sample is collected, the type of sample collected and the quality of the sample can all influence the accuracy of the COVID-19 results, said Matthew Binnicker, director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Test again if needed
"The virus is thought to be present at the highest levels approximately five days, on average, after being exposed, or around the time a person develops symptoms," Binnicker said. "If a high-quality nasopharyngeal swab is collected within 24 hours of symptom onset, is tested by an approved PCR method and the result is negative, the likelihood of the person having COVID-19 is low," he explained.
Advertisement
"However, if a less preferred sample -- for example, throat swab -- is collected after three to five days of symptoms and tested by PCR, a negative result would be less reliable to rule out COVID-19," Binnicker continued.
If you're still sick a week after your negative COVID-19 test and you continue to have no idea what's wrong with you, experts say you should reach out to your doctor for a follow-up coronavirus test.
"If a COVID-19 test is negative, then specific testing for influenza will also need to be performed," Binnicker said. "If the results are negative for these viruses and the patient continues to be ill, a repeat COVID-19 test can be appropriate. As patients enter into the second week of illness, a lower respiratory sample -- like sputum -- is preferred over an upper respiratory swab to increase the likelihood of detecting SARS-CoV-2 during the later stages of disease."
Keep in mind that if you're sick right now, you probably won't be given an antigen test, the other form of viral testing for COVID-19 infection.
Antigen tests are cheap and fast, looking for specific structural proteins of the coronavirus that form during infection. The Trump administration made headlines last month by buying out the entire 2020 supply of the just-approved $5 BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card produced by Abbott Laboratories, which the company says will return relatively accurate results within 15 minutes.
Advertisement
Because antigen tests are quick but generally less accurate than PCR tests, they probably will be reserved for screening folks who don't have any symptoms of possible COVID-19 infection, Pritt said.
"If we are screening large numbers of individuals and we plan on doing that on a regular basis, let's say college students on a weekly basis, then using an antigen test is probably going to be the best strategy forward because it's going to be relatively inexpensive and easy to do, and it's going to be done on a relatively lower risk population," Pritt said.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about testing for COVID-19.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-09-11--Watch: Sheryl Crow performs 'In the End' on 'Late Night with Seth Meyers'

Sept. 11 ( UPI ) -- Sheryl Crow performed her new single from home on Late Night with Seth Meyers .
The 58-year-old singer-songwriter gave a remote performance of `` In the End '' during Thursday 's episode of the NBC late-night show .
In `` In the End , '' Crow criticizes President Donald Trump and Christians `` who would wield their own power and greed and desire . ''
`` There 's a fly on the wall in the house on the hill / Where the king of the world watches TV / And the people await for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of angry believers / His words are a drug while his loyal band of thugs / Cover up all his many transgressions , '' Crow sings .
Crow released a music video for `` In the End '' last week featuring depictions of Trump , his cabinet members and the White House .
In the description , Crow called for compassionate leadership across the aisle .
`` What is happening in Congress is not relegated to one party , '' she said .
`` The point is , if we can not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desire to serve America , we must vote for those who are . ''
Crow also called for change in a new music video for her 2012 song `` Woman in the White House '' released in August .
Crow released her 11th studio album , Threads , in August 2019 .
On Thursday , she announced a pair of virtual concerts , `` Songs from the Big Green Barn , '' for Sept. 18 and 19 .

Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Sheryl Crow performed her new single from home on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
The 58-year-old singer-songwriter gave a remote performance of "In the End" during Thursday's episode of the NBC late-night show.
Advertisement
In "In the End," Crow criticizes President Donald Trump and Christians "who would wield their own power and greed and desire."
"There's a fly on the wall in the house on the hill / Where the king of the world watches TV / And the people await for his latest mandate / To a nation of angry believers / His words are a drug while his loyal band of thugs / Cover up all his many transgressions," Crow sings.
Crow released a music video for "In the End" last week featuring depictions of Trump, his cabinet members and the White House. In the description, Crow called for compassionate leadership across the aisle.
Advertisement
"What is happening in Congress is not relegated to one party," she said. "The point is, if we cannot have leaders who are public servants out of desire to serve America, we must vote for those who are."
Crow also called for change in a new music video for her 2012 song "Woman in the White House" released in August.
Crow released her 11th studio album, Threads, in August 2019. On Thursday, she announced a pair of virtual concerts, "Songs from the Big Green Barn," for Sept. 18 and 19.


upi--2020-09-11--Watch: John Legend says DJ Khaled predicted Grammy win, performs 'Wild' on 'Kimmel'

Sept. 11 ( UPI ) -- John Legend guest hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live and spoke with DJ Khaled about their Grammy-winning song `` Higher , '' which also features the late Nipsey Hussle .
Legend said on Thursday that Khaled correctly predicted that the trio would earn a Grammy for the track .
`` Higher '' took home Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in January .
`` I 'm just honored to work with Nipsey Hussle .
I told him you know , my gut 's telling me we 're gon na win a Grammy with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I played him your hook and it was just like an energy that was just so amazing in the studio , '' he continued about playing Legend 's part of `` Higher '' for Hussle .
Hussle died at the age of 33 in March 2019 following a shooting at the rapper 's clothing store in Los Angeles .
`` Higher '' appeared on Khaled 's 2019 album Father of Asahd .
Khaled will be releasing a new album titled Khaled Khaled later this year .
Legend also gave a rooftop performance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his seventh studio album titled Bigger Love .
The singer was joined by a band and backup singers who performed on a lawn underneath him .
Legend and his wife Chrissy Teigen announced that they are expecting their third child together in the music video for `` Wild , '' which was released in August .
The couple are already parents to 4-year-old Luna and 2-year-old Miles .

Sept. 11 (UPI) -- John Legend guest hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live and spoke with DJ Khaled about their Grammy-winning song "Higher," which also features the late Nipsey Hussle.
Legend said on Thursday that Khaled correctly predicted that the trio would earn a Grammy for the track. "Higher" took home Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in January.
Advertisement
"I'm just honored to work with Nipsey Hussle. I told him you know, my gut's telling me we're gonna win a Grammy with this," Khaled said.
"I played him your hook and it was just like an energy that was just so amazing in the studio," he continued about playing Legend's part of "Higher" for Hussle.
Hussle died at the age of 33 in March 2019 following a shooting at the rapper's clothing store in Los Angeles.
"Higher" appeared on Khaled's 2019 album Father of Asahd. Khaled will be releasing a new album titled Khaled Khaled later this year.
Legend also gave a rooftop performance of his song "Wild" which appeared on his seventh studio album titled Bigger Love.
Advertisement
The singer was joined by a band and backup singers who performed on a lawn underneath him.
Legend and his wife Chrissy Teigen announced that they are expecting their third child together in the music video for "Wild," which was released in August. The couple are already parents to 4-year-old Luna and 2-year-old Miles.
Moments from John Legend's career


upi--2020-09-11--More than 90 percent of the world's protected areas are disconnected

Sept. 11 ( UPI ) -- Even as humans carve out and protect significant swaths of terrestrial habitat , the rest of Earth has become increasingly degraded , leaving the planet 's protected areas disconnected .
According to a new study , more than 90 percent of Earth 's protected areas are disconnected -- surrounded by human pressures -- according to a study published Friday in the journal Nature Communications .
`` Connected landscapes ensure species can move through a landscape , '' lead study author Michelle Ward told UPI in an email .
`` Species travel for many reasons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , moving away from close relatives to ensure genetic diversity , escaping natural disasters such as fires , or tracking their preferred climates , '' said Ward , an environmental scientist and doctoral candidate at the University of Queensland in Australia .
To quantify the problem of landscape disconnection , researchers relied on a map called the Human Footprint , which identifies the presence of multiple human pressures , including roads , railways , farmland , urban development , commercial development and more .
The map scores a landscape 's total pressure on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On the Human Footprint , a score of zero suggests the land is relatively wild .
A score of 4 or below suggests the land experience only minor human pressures .
These landscapes contain most of their natural habitat and host healthy ecological processes .
`` This threshold is what we call 'intact ' and has been found to be robust from a species conservation perspective because once surpassed , species extinction risk increases dramatically , and several ecosystem processes are altered , '' Ward said .
According to the Human Footprint , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intact , while the remaining 60 percent is relatively degraded .
When researchers looked at the distribution of intact land , they found it rarely forms a bridge between protected areas .
`` If two protected areas have 'intact ' land in between them , we define those two protected areas as connected , '' Ward said .
`` While this kind of structural connectivity alone does not guarantee connectivity for all species , high levels of landscape connectedness is seen as critical for species in regards to migration , escaping natural disasters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Their analysis , showed just 9.7 percent of the world 's protected areas are connected .
To protect Earth 's biodiversity and important ecological processes , authors of the latest study argue more must be done to connect the planet 's protected areas .
That means safeguarding still-intact landscapes and restoring landscapes that can connect isolated pockets of wild habitat .
Members of the United Nations have pledged to restore 865 million acres of degraded land by 2030 , but researchers suggest such efforts must be executed strategically .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be framed within a broader connectivity agenda and specifically planned to maximize the quality of the landscape matrix between protected areas , as well as degraded land inside protected areas essential to biodiversity outcomes , '' Ward said .

With about 60% of Earth's land degraded on some level, researchers say the remaining 40% is not connected enough and threatens the survival of scores of species. Photo by FabricioMacedoPhotos /Pixabay
Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Even as humans carve out and protect significant swaths of terrestrial habitat, the rest of Earth has become increasingly degraded, leaving the planet's protected areas disconnected. According to a new study, more than 90% of Earth's protected areas are disconnected -- surrounded by human pressures -- according to a study published Friday in the journal Nature Communications. Advertisement
"Connected landscapes ensure species can move through a landscape," lead study author Michelle Ward told UPI in an email.
"Species travel for many reasons including seasonal migrations, finding a mate, moving away from close relatives to ensure genetic diversity, escaping natural disasters such as fires, or tracking their preferred climates," said Ward, an environmental scientist and doctoral candidate at the University of Queensland in Australia.
To quantify the problem of landscape disconnection, researchers relied on a map called the Human Footprint, which identifies the presence of multiple human pressures, including roads, railways, farmland, urban development, commercial development and more. The map scores a landscape's total pressure on a scale from 0 to 50.
On the Human Footprint, a score of zero suggests the land is relatively wild. A score of 4 or below suggests the land experience only minor human pressures. These landscapes contain most of their natural habitat and host healthy ecological processes.
Advertisement
"This threshold is what we call 'intact' and has been found to be robust from a species conservation perspective because once surpassed, species extinction risk increases dramatically, and several ecosystem processes are altered," Ward said.
According to the Human Footprint, 40% of Earth's land remains intact, while the remaining 60 percent is relatively degraded.
When researchers looked at the distribution of intact land, they found it rarely forms a bridge between protected areas.
"If two protected areas have 'intact' land in between them, we define those two protected areas as connected," Ward said. "While this kind of structural connectivity alone does not guarantee connectivity for all species, high levels of landscape connectedness is seen as critical for species in regards to migration, escaping natural disasters, and adaptation under human-induced climate change."
Their analysis, showed just 9.7% of the world's protected areas are connected.
To protect Earth's biodiversity and important ecological processes, authors of the latest study argue more must be done to connect the planet's protected areas. That means safeguarding still-intact landscapes and restoring landscapes that can connect isolated pockets of wild habitat.
Members of the United Nations have pledged to restore 865 million acres of degraded land by 2030, but researchers suggest such efforts must be executed strategically.
Advertisement
"We argue that these types of restoration goals should be framed within a broader connectivity agenda and specifically planned to maximize the quality of the landscape matrix between protected areas, as well as degraded land inside protected areas essential to biodiversity outcomes," Ward said.


upi--2020-09-11--In photos: Moments from Major League Baseball for the week of Sept. 6, 2020

St. Louis Cardinals ' Yadier Molina watches the baseball go foul off the bat of Detroit Tigers Jonathan Schoop in @ @ @ @ @ Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday .
The Tigers won 6-3 .
Photo by Bill @

The Cardinals' Kolten Wong (L) puts the tag on the Reds' Shogo Akiyama at second base for the out. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI


upi--2020-09-11--In photos: Preview: Sotheby's 'The History and Impact of Hip Hop' auction

The crown worn by The Notorious B.I.G .
during his K.O.N.Y .
( King of New York ) photo session @ @ @ @ @ is on display .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

The crown worn by The Notorious B.I.G. during his K.O.N.Y. (King of New York) photo session with photographer Barron Claiborne in1997 is on display. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI


upi--2020-09-11--U.S. Open tennis: Azarenka shocks Serena, reaches final vs. Osaka

Sept. 11 ( UPI ) -- Serena Williams roared in the first set of her U.S. Open semifinal clash with Victoria Azarenka before her unseeded foe climbed back into the match for an upset of the 23-time Grand Slam champion in Queens , N.Y. Azarenka 's 1-6 , 6-3 , 6-3 win Thursday at Arthur Ashe Stadium ended Williams ' quest for a record-tying 24th major singles title and a spot in the 2020 U.S. Open singles final .
`` I dug myself in a big hole -- she dug me in a big hole in the first set , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to climb my way out of there , one by one .
I 'm very happy that I was able to turn it around . ''
The Belarusian will face 2018 champion Naomi Osaka in the women 's final Saturday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center .
Azarenka -- a former world No .
1 -- is a two-time Grand Slam winner .
Osaka also will vie for her third major title Saturday in Queens .
Azarenka is 5-19 in career matches against Williams .
Thursday 's triumph marked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grand Slam .
Williams said an achilles injury , which she sustained during the match , contributed to the setback .
Williams jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set before Azarenka won her first game .
Williams then closed out the set with back-to-back game wins .
The third-seeded American also won the first game of the second set before Azarenka bounced back to win the fourth , fifth and sixth game .
Williams won the next game , but Azarenka closed out the set to tie the match .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ set and put Williams on the ropes with a 3-0 lead .
Williams and Azarenka exchanged points for the next five games before Azarenka ripped an ace for match point to end the one-hour , 55-minute affair .
`` I started really strong , '' Williams said .
`` Then she kept fighting .
She changed and played better and better .
Maybe I took too much off the gas pedal .
She played really well . ''
Williams had eight aces , three double faults , 35 winners and 28 unforced errors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ double faults , 24 winners and 17 errors .
Osaka advanced Thursday with a three-set win over American Jennifer Brady .
The No .
4 seed beat the No .
28 seed 7-6 , 3-6 , 6-3 in two hours and eight minutes .
Williams said she plans to compete in the French Open , set for Sept. 11 through Oct. 1 in Paris , where she will resume her quest to tie Margaret Court 's record of 24 Grand Slam triumphs .

Serena Williams (pictured) sustained an Achilles injury during her three-set loss to Victoria Azarenka in the 2020 U.S. Open semifinals Thursday in Queens, N.Y. Photo by Jason Szenes/EPA-EFE
Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Serena Williams roared in the first set of her U.S. Open semifinal clash with Victoria Azarenka before her unseeded foe climbed back into the match for an upset of the 23-time Grand Slam champion in Queens, N.Y. Azarenka's 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 win Thursday at Arthur Ashe Stadium ended Williams' quest for a record-tying 24th major singles title and a spot in the 2020 U.S. Open singles final. Advertisement
"I dug myself in a big hole -- she dug me in a big hole in the first set," Azarenka told reporters. "I had to climb my way out of there, one by one. I'm very happy that I was able to turn it around."
The Belarusian will face 2018 champion Naomi Osaka in the women's final Saturday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Azarenka -- a former world No. 1 -- is a two-time Grand Slam winner. Osaka also will vie for her third major title Saturday in Queens.
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Azarenka is 5-19 in career matches against Williams. Thursday's triumph marked her first win over Williams in a Grand Slam. Williams said an achilles injury, which she sustained during the match, contributed to the setback.
Williams jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set before Azarenka won her first game. Williams then closed out the set with back-to-back game wins.
The third-seeded American also won the first game of the second set before Azarenka bounced back to win the fourth, fifth and sixth game. Williams won the next game, but Azarenka closed out the set to tie the match.
Azarenka carried that momentum into the third set and put Williams on the ropes with a 3-0 lead. Williams and Azarenka exchanged points for the next five games before Azarenka ripped an ace for match point to end the one-hour, 55-minute affair.
"I started really strong," Williams said. "Then she kept fighting. She changed and played better and better. Maybe I took too much off the gas pedal. She played really well."
Williams had eight aces, three double faults, 35 winners and 28 unforced errors. Azarenka had two aces, five double faults, 24 winners and 17 errors.
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Osaka advanced Thursday with a three-set win over American Jennifer Brady. The No. 4 seed beat the No. 28 seed 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 in two hours and eight minutes.
Williams said she plans to compete in the French Open, set for Sept. 11 through Oct. 1 in Paris, where she will resume her quest to tie Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam triumphs.
Serena Williams' tennis career: a look back


upi--2020-09-11--19 years after 9/11, Americans underplay dangers of domestic terrorism

Sept. 11 ( UPI ) -- On a Tuesday morning in September 2001 , the American experience with terrorism was fundamentally altered .
Two thousand , nine hundred and ninety-six people were killed as the direct result of attacks in New York , Washington , D.C. and Pennsylvania .
Thousands more , including many first responders , later died of health complications from working at or being near Ground Zero .
Nineteen years later , Americans ' ideas of what terrorism is remain tied to that morning .
The Sept. 11 attacks were perpetrated by al-Qaida terrorists .
They resulted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America 's second most devastating terrorist attack -- the Oklahoma City bombing that occurred 15 years earlier .
That intense loss of life has meant that the Sept. 11 attacks have come to symbolize terrorism for many Americans .
But focusing solely on Islamist extremism groups like al-Qaida when investigating , researching and developing counterterrorism policies does not necessarily align with what the numbers tell us .
Homegrown far-right extremism also poses a persistent and lethal threat to the lives and well-being of Americans .
This risk is often underestimated because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks .
Historically , the United States has been home to adherents of many types of extremist ideologies .
Our 15 years of research shows the two current most prominent threats are motivated by Islamist extremism and far-right extremism .
To help assess these threats , the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice have in the past funded our work with the Extremist Crime Database , collecting data on crimes committed by ideologically motivated extremists in the United States .
Our analyses of that data are published in peer-viewed journals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Consortium for the Study of Terrorism & Responses to Terrorism .
The ECDB includes data on ideologically motivated homicides committed by both Islamist extremists and far-right extremists going back more than 25 years .
Between 1990 and 2019 , the ECDB identified 47 events in the United States motivated by Islamist extremism that killed 154 people .
When you include Sept. 11 as a singular event , those numbers jump dramatically to 48 homicide events and 3,150 people killed .
The database also identified 217 homicide events motivated by far-right extremism , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Oklahoma City bombing , it rises to 218 homicide events and 513 killed .
The locations of violent extremist activity also differ by ideology .
Our data show that between 1990 and 2019 , most Islamist extremist attacks occurred in the American South ( 51 % ) , and most far-right extremist attacks occurred in the West ( 36.7 % ) .
Both forms of violence were least likely to occur in the Midwest , with no incidents committed by Islamist extremists and 25 events committed by far-right extremists ( 11.5 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent Islamist extremist plots against 333 targets that were either foiled or failed between 2001 and 2019 .
Many of the same Islamist extremists are responsible for plotting against multiple targets simultaneously .
On average , 18 various sites in the United States are targeted every year , with civilians and military personnel ranking as the most likely to be targeted , and New York City and Washington , D.C. ranking as the cities most likely to be targeted .
The FBI was responsible for thwarting two-thirds of the Islamist extremist plots identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We are still in the process of compiling similar data on far-right plots .
Although data collection is only about 75 % percent complete for failed and foiled extreme far-right plots , we have identified over 800 violent far-right extremist targets between the same time period , making clear that the absolute numbers are much higher .
There are also differences in demographics , motives and methods for different types of extremists .
For instance , guns continue to be the weapon of choice in approximately 74.5 % of Islamist extremist homicides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremist homicides .
We attribute these differences to far-right extremists using forms of violence that include beating or stabbing victims to death .
We have also found that suicide missions are not unique to Islamist extremists .
From 1990 to 2019 , we identified 10 suicide missions in which at least one person was killed connected to Islamist extremism , including the 9/11 attacks as one event .
In contrast , there were 16 suicide missions committed by far-right extremists .
Our analyses found that compared to Islamist extremists , far-right extremists were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have served in the military and are more involved in the extremist movement .
Far-right extremists were also significantly more likely to be less educated , single , young and to have participated in training by a group associated with their extremist ideology .
Terrorists associated with Islamist extremism and far-right extremist ideologies do not only attack civilians .
They also pose a deadly threat to law enforcement and military personnel .
During the Sept. 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks , 72 law enforcement officers and 55 military personnel were killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 , 1995 , 13 law enforcement officers and four military personnel were killed when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was bombed by an anti-government far-right extremist in Oklahoma City .
Apart from these two events , Islamist extremists are responsible for the murders of 21 military personnel in four incidents , and eight law enforcement officers were killed in six incidents between 1990 and 2019 .
Far-right extremists have murdered 59 law enforcement officers in 48 incidents , but have never directly targeted military personnel .
Far-right extremists , who typically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likelihood of escalating routine law enforcement contacts into fatal encounters .
These homicides pose unique challenges to local law enforcement officers who are disproportionately targeted by the far right .
The events of Sept. 11 will continue to skew both our real and perceived risks of violent extremism in the United States .
To focus solely on Islamist extremism is to ignore the number of murders perpetrated by the extreme far right and their place in a constantly changing threat environment .
At the same time , to focus solely on far-right extremism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islamist extremist attacks .
Some experts have even warned that there is potential for collaboration between these extremist movements .
Our own survey research suggests this is a concern of law enforcement .
Focusing on national counterterrorism efforts against both Islamist extremism and far-right extremism acknowledges that there are differences between these two violent movements .
Focusing solely on one , while ignoring the other , will increase the risk of domestic terrorism and future acts of violence .
Both ideologies continue to pose real threats to all Americans .
Evidence shows far-right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement and racial , ethnic , religious and other minorities .
Islamist violent extremism is a specific danger to military members , law enforcement , certain minorities and society at large .
It remains imperative to support policies , programs and research aimed at countering all forms of violent extremism .
This article is based on one that originally ran on Feb. 21 , 2017 .
Jeff Gruenewald is an associate professor and director of the Terrorism Research Center at the University of Arkansas ; Joshua D. Freilich is a professor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York ; Steven Chermak is a professor of criminal justice at Michigan State University ; and William Parkin is an assistant professor of criminal justice at Seattle University .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

The Twin Towers Tribute In Light art installation shines in Lower Manhattan near One World Trade Center on the eve of the 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center at Ground Zero in New York City on Thursday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 11 (UPI) -- On a Tuesday morning in September 2001, the American experience with terrorism was fundamentally altered. Two thousand, nine hundred and ninety-six people were killed as the direct result of attacks in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. Thousands more, including many first responders, later died of health complications from working at or being near Ground Zero. Nineteen years later, Americans' ideas of what terrorism is remain tied to that morning. Advertisement
The Sept. 11 attacks were perpetrated by al-Qaida terrorists. They resulted in nearly 18 times more deaths than America's second most devastating terrorist attack -- the Oklahoma City bombing that occurred 15 years earlier. That intense loss of life has meant that the Sept. 11 attacks have come to symbolize terrorism for many Americans.
But focusing solely on Islamist extremism groups like al-Qaida when investigating, researching and developing counterterrorism policies does not necessarily align with what the numbers tell us. Homegrown far-right extremism also poses a persistent and lethal threat to the lives and well-being of Americans. This risk is often underestimated because of the devastating impact of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
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By the numbers
Historically, the United States has been home to adherents of many types of extremist ideologies. Our 15 years of research shows the two current most prominent threats are motivated by Islamist extremism and far-right extremism.
To help assess these threats, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice have in the past funded our work with the Extremist Crime Database, collecting data on crimes committed by ideologically motivated extremists in the United States. Our analyses of that data are published in peer-viewed journals and on the website for the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism & Responses to Terrorism.
The ECDB includes data on ideologically motivated homicides committed by both Islamist extremists and far-right extremists going back more than 25 years.
Between 1990 and 2019, the ECDB identified 47 events in the United States motivated by Islamist extremism that killed 154 people. When you include Sept. 11 as a singular event, those numbers jump dramatically to 48 homicide events and 3,150 people killed.
The database also identified 217 homicide events motivated by far-right extremism, with 345 killed. And when you include the Oklahoma City bombing, it rises to 218 homicide events and 513 killed.
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The locations of violent extremist activity also differ by ideology. Our data show that between 1990 and 2019, most Islamist extremist attacks occurred in the American South (51%), and most far-right extremist attacks occurred in the West (36.7%). Both forms of violence were least likely to occur in the Midwest, with no incidents committed by Islamist extremists and 25 events committed by far-right extremists (11.5%).
Our research has also identified violent Islamist extremist plots against 333 targets that were either foiled or failed between 2001 and 2019. Many of the same Islamist extremists are responsible for plotting against multiple targets simultaneously. On average, 18 various sites in the United States are targeted every year, with civilians and military personnel ranking as the most likely to be targeted, and New York City and Washington, D.C. ranking as the cities most likely to be targeted. The FBI was responsible for thwarting two-thirds of the Islamist extremist plots identified by the ECDB during this time frame.
We are still in the process of compiling similar data on far-right plots. Although data collection is only about 75% percent complete for failed and foiled extreme far-right plots, we have identified over 800 violent far-right extremist targets between the same time period, making clear that the absolute numbers are much higher.
Advertisement
Motives and methods
There are also differences in demographics, motives and methods for different types of extremists. For instance, guns continue to be the weapon of choice in approximately 74.5% of Islamist extremist homicides and in only 54.6% of far-right extremist homicides. We attribute these differences to far-right extremists using forms of violence that include beating or stabbing victims to death.
We have also found that suicide missions are not unique to Islamist extremists.
From 1990 to 2019, we identified 10 suicide missions in which at least one person was killed connected to Islamist extremism, including the 9/11 attacks as one event. In contrast, there were 16 suicide missions committed by far-right extremists.
Our analyses found that compared to Islamist extremists, far-right extremists were significantly more likely to be economically deprived, have served in the military and are more involved in the extremist movement. Far-right extremists were also significantly more likely to be less educated, single, young and to have participated in training by a group associated with their extremist ideology.
Threat to law enforcement
Terrorists associated with Islamist extremism and far-right extremist ideologies do not only attack civilians. They also pose a deadly threat to law enforcement and military personnel. During the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 72 law enforcement officers and 55 military personnel were killed by members of al-Qaida. On April 19, 1995, 13 law enforcement officers and four military personnel were killed when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was bombed by an anti-government far-right extremist in Oklahoma City.
Advertisement
Apart from these two events, Islamist extremists are responsible for the murders of 21 military personnel in four incidents, and eight law enforcement officers were killed in six incidents between 1990 and 2019. Far-right extremists have murdered 59 law enforcement officers in 48 incidents, but have never directly targeted military personnel.
Far-right extremists, who typically harbor anti-government sentiments, have a higher likelihood of escalating routine law enforcement contacts into fatal encounters. These homicides pose unique challenges to local law enforcement officers who are disproportionately targeted by the far right.
Moving forward
The events of Sept. 11 will continue to skew both our real and perceived risks of violent extremism in the United States. To focus solely on Islamist extremism is to ignore the number of murders perpetrated by the extreme far right and their place in a constantly changing threat environment. At the same time, to focus solely on far-right extremism is to ignore the extraordinary lethality of Islamist extremist attacks.
Some experts have even warned that there is potential for collaboration between these extremist movements. Our own survey research suggests this is a concern of law enforcement.
Focusing on national counterterrorism efforts against both Islamist extremism and far-right extremism acknowledges that there are differences between these two violent movements. Focusing solely on one, while ignoring the other, will increase the risk of domestic terrorism and future acts of violence.
Advertisement
Both ideologies continue to pose real threats to all Americans. Evidence shows far-right violent extremism poses a particular threat to law enforcement and racial, ethnic, religious and other minorities. Islamist violent extremism is a specific danger to military members, law enforcement, certain minorities and society at large. It remains imperative to support policies, programs and research aimed at countering all forms of violent extremism.
This article is based on one that originally ran on Feb. 21, 2017.
Jeff Gruenewald is an associate professor and director of the Terrorism Research Center at the University of Arkansas; Joshua D. Freilich is a professor of criminal justice at City University of New York; Steven Chermak is a professor of criminal justice at Michigan State University; and William Parkin is an assistant professor of criminal justice at Seattle University.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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U.S. marks 19th anniversary of Sept. 11 attacks


upi--2020-09-11--COVID-19 cases, deaths up again across U.S.; Dr. Anthony Fauci says 'hunker down'

Sept. 11 ( UPI ) -- There were more than 35,000 new COVID-19 cases in the United States on Thursday and deaths were up again , according to updated data from Johns Hopkins University .
The university 's Center for Systems Science and Engineering on Friday showed 35,300 new cases , the highest one-day count in nearly a week , and about 900 new deaths .
Although the death toll was a decrease from Wednesday , it was still higher than the average of about 700 per day over the past week .
Since the start of the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 191,800 deaths in the United States , according to Johns Hopkins .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious diseases expert , warned Thursday the pandemic will likely worsen this fall and winter as people spend more time indoors , where the virus spreads more easily .
`` We need to hunker down and get through this fall and winter because it 's not going to be easy , '' Fauci said during a panel discussion sponsored by the Harvard Medical School .
Fauci , director of the National Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he expects parts of the United States will soon see new surges in cases , after Labor Day holiday gatherings nationwide -- a pattern that has been repeated several times .
`` It 's really quite frankly depressing to see that because you know what 's ahead , '' he said .
Fauci said he expects a COVID-19 vaccine will likely be available by the end of this year or early next .
USA Today reported that many of the most active new outbreaks are occurring in college towns , where students have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ semester .
The report said James Madison University in Harrisonburg , Va. , Washington State University in Pullman , Wash. , and Central Texas College in Coryell County , Texas , have been among the most active .
Shortly after reopening last month , James Madison saw more than 700 cases in one week .
Monday , it switched to remote classes .
Harrisonburg has averaged 1,500 cases per 100,000 residents during the past week , the report said .
In California , the largest U.S. public university system said Thursday classrooms will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020-21 academic year .
California State University Chancellor Timothy White said in a letter that a `` virtual instructional approach '' will continue with the next academic term that begins in January .
The CSU system , which includes nearly 500,000 students .
will also continue to limit on-campus housing .
`` While the current mitigation factors do make a difference , in the absence of a vaccine and of sufficient , cost-effective , timely testing and contact-tracing infrastructure , we are not able to return to a normal , principally in-person schedule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The chancellor said the moves were partly driven by `` widespread socialization '' across California that often `` did not comport with public health directives '' over the Labor Day holiday .

Mannequins are seen outfitted with face masks on Tuesday in a display at a Diane Von Furstenberg store in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 11 (UPI) -- There were more than 35,000 new COVID-19 cases in the United States on Thursday and deaths were up again, according to updated data from Johns Hopkins University. The university's Center for Systems Science and Engineering on Friday showed 35,300 new cases, the highest one-day count in nearly a week, and about 900 new deaths. Advertisement
Although the death toll was a decrease from Wednesday, it was still higher than the average of about 700 per day over the past week.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been about 6.4 million cases and 191,800 deaths in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, on Friday disputed an assertion by President Donald Trump that the pandemic is easing.
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The country has reported an average of about 35,200 new cases per day this week, down about 12% compared with a week ago, the Johns Hopkins database shows.
Trump, speaking at a White Housing briefing Thursday, said the country is "rounding the final turn" on the outbreak, adding, "a lot of good things are happening."
"I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with that," Fauci told NBC. "When you have a baseline of infections that are 40,000 per day and you have threats of increased test positivity in certain regions of the country, such as the Dakotas and Montana and places like that ... You don't want to start off already with a baseline that's so high."
Thursday, Fauci warned the pandemic will likely worsen this fall and winter as people spend more time indoors, where the virus spreads more easily.
"We need to hunker down and get through this fall and winter because it's not going to be easy," he said during a panel discussion sponsored by the Harvard Medical School.
Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, said he expects parts of the United States will soon see new surges in cases, after Labor Day holiday gatherings nationwide -- a pattern that has been repeated several times.
Advertisement
"It's really quite frankly depressing to see that because you know what's ahead," he said.
Fauci said he expects a COVID-19 vaccine will likely be available by the end of this year or early next.
USA Today reported that many of the most active new outbreaks are occurring in college towns, where students have recently arrived on campus for the fall semester.
The report said James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., and Central Texas College in Coryell County, Texas, have been among the most active.
Shortly after reopening last month, James Madison saw more than 700 cases in one week. Monday, it switched to remote classes. Harrisonburg has averaged 1,500 cases per 100,000 residents during the past week, the report said.
In California, the largest U.S. public university system said Thursday classrooms will remain closed for the rest of the 2020-21 academic year.
California State University Chancellor Timothy White said in a letter that a "virtual instructional approach" will continue with the next academic term that begins in January. The CSU system, which includes nearly 500,000 students, will also continue to limit on-campus housing.
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"While the current mitigation factors do make a difference, in the absence of a vaccine and of sufficient, cost-effective, timely testing and contact-tracing infrastructure, we are not able to return to a normal, principally in-person schedule in January 2021," White wrote.
The chancellor said the moves were partly driven by "widespread socialization" across California that often "did not comport with public health directives" over the Labor Day holiday.


upi--2020-09-11--Watch: Miley Cyrus on Stevie Nicks: 'She said you can borrow from me anytime'

Sept. 11 ( UPI ) -- Miley Cyrus appeared on The Tonight Show and discussed how Stevie Nicks gave her permission to sample `` Edge of Seventeen '' in her latest song `` Midnight Sky . ''
Cyrus , on Thursday , told host Jimmy Fallon that she contacted Nicks about the sample and then later heard back from the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer .
`` I sent her the song and I said , ' I have an alternate melody , if you do n't want me to kind of like pay tribute to you and your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , ' '' the singer recalled .
`` And she said , 'You can borrow from me anytime , ' '' Cyrus continued .
Cyrus praised Nicks and Dolly Parton for how much they have impacted her and how they have acted as a mentor to her .
`` They are so open and welcoming to the newer members , the younger artists coming up and they offer their mentorship .
It 's just been really incredibly important in my career , having someone like her to look up to .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stevie Nicks but having that direct relationship has been just , you know , kind of life changing , '' she said .
Cyrus performed a cover of `` Maneater '' by Hall & Oates .
The 27-year-old took the stage wearing a sparking red dress .
`` So 'Maneater , ' I think it 's very important to be transparent .
I 'm freshly single so anyone watching that 's my future ex-husband just know I told you , '' Cyrus said about why she chose to cover the song .

Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Miley Cyrus appeared on The Tonight Show and discussed how Stevie Nicks gave her permission to sample "Edge of Seventeen" in her latest song "Midnight Sky."
Cyrus, on Thursday, told host Jimmy Fallon that she contacted Nicks about the sample and then later heard back from the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer.
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"I sent her the song and I said, 'I have an alternate melody, if you don't want me to kind of like pay tribute to you and your greatness and how much you've inspired me,'" the singer recalled.
"And she said, 'You can borrow from me anytime,'" Cyrus continued.
Cyrus praised Nicks and Dolly Parton for how much they have impacted her and how they have acted as a mentor to her.
"They are so open and welcoming to the newer members, the younger artists coming up and they offer their mentorship. It's just been really incredibly important in my career, having someone like her to look up to. You know, like everyone looks up to Stevie Nicks but having that direct relationship has been just, you know, kind of life changing," she said.
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Cyrus performed a cover of "Maneater" by Hall & Oates. The 27-year-old took the stage wearing a sparking red dress.
"So 'Maneater,' I think it's very important to be transparent. I'm freshly single so anyone watching that's my future ex-husband just know I told you," Cyrus said about why she chose to cover the song.
Miley Cyrus turns 30: a look back