upi--2020-07-10--Comet whizzing by Earth for 1st time in 6,800 years visible to naked eye

Stargazers have the opportunity to spot a rare object in the sky this month as a newly discovered comet flies through the inner solar system for the first time in 6,800 years .
Comet NEOWISE has been getting brighter and brighter in the early morning sky , and in the coming days , it will make an appearance in the evening after sunset .
`` Comet C/2020 F3 ( NEOWISE ) -- discovered back in March by NASA 's NEOWISE mission -- is getting the attention of sky watchers across the Northern Hemisphere this month , '' NASA said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovered comets , Comet SWAN and Comet ATLAS , were showing promising signs of eventually becoming bright enough to see with the unaided eye , but both eventually fizzled .
The third time was the charm when Comet NEOWISE was discovered as it has lived up to astronomers ' predictions that it could become a visible feature in the night sky .
It is now brighter than Halley 's Comet appeared when it zipped through the inner solar system back in 1986 .
Comet NEOWISE can be seen with the naked eye , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and what direction to look to see it as it will not be a prominent feature in the sky .
Right now , it is only visible in the early morning about one to two hours before sunrise in the northeastern sky .
This may mean waking up at 4 a.m. local time to spot it before the comet gets lost in the daylight .
Evening stargazers will be able to see the comet starting next week off to the northwest , just below the Big Dipper .
`` From mid-July on , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ object , rising increasingly higher above the northwestern horizon , '' NASA said .
`` Its closest approach to Earth will be on July 22 , at a distance of about 64 million miles . ''
For comparison , the sun is about 93 million miles from Earth .
If cloudy conditions obscure the sky , onlookers can wait until the next night to try to look for the comet as it will be visible throughout the balance of July .
However , people may want to look for it sooner rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and dimmer later in the month as it moves farther from the sun .
Many pictures of Comet NEOWISE on social media depict it as a brilliant object filling an area of the sky , but to the unaided eye , it may just look like a fuzzy star with a faint tail .
However , a simple telescope or pair of binoculars can reveal more details , especially when it is seen before twilight in the morning or after twilight in the evening .
Many of the images of Comet NEOWISE circulating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long period of time by cameras zoomed in on the object .
For people trying to take pictures of the comet , it is recommended to use a long exposure to allow the camera to capture more light , revealing more details of the comet .
A photo with an exposure of 5 to 10 seconds should be enough to capture the glow of the comet and its long tail with detail that the human eye simply can not see .
Some smartphones are able to take long exposure photographs , either with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an app .
A tripod is also a necessity to keep the camera still for several seconds .
Comet NEOWISE will certainly be an interesting feature to look for in the sky , but it wo n't be as grand as Comet Hale-Bopp , which put on a spectacular show in 1997 .
Astronomers measure the brightness of objects in the night sky using a measurement known as magnitude .
The lower the magnitude number a celestial body is given , the brighter it appears in the sky .
To be visible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must have a magnitude of 5 or 6 .
The full moon has a magnitude of around -12 .
As of Wednesday , Comet NEOWISE had a magnitude of 1.6 , according to TheSkyLive.com , a website that provides real-time data on the brightness of objects in the night sky .
For comparison , when the well-known Halley 's Comet visited the inner solar system in 1986 , it had a magnitude of around 2 , according to Scientific American .
However , Comet Hale-Bopp was one of the rare comets to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visible to the naked eye for more than a year .
After Comet NEOWISE leaves the inner solar system , it wo n't return for another 6,800 years .

Stargazers have the opportunity to spot a rare object in the sky this month as a newly discovered comet flies through the inner solar system for the first time in 6,800 years.
Comet NEOWISE has been getting brighter and brighter in the early morning sky, and in the coming days, it will make an appearance in the evening after sunset.
Advertisement
"Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) -- discovered back in March by NASA's NEOWISE mission -- is getting the attention of sky watchers across the Northern Hemisphere this month," NASA said.
Earlier in 2020, two other newly discovered comets, Comet SWAN and Comet ATLAS, were showing promising signs of eventually becoming bright enough to see with the unaided eye, but both eventually fizzled. The third time was the charm when Comet NEOWISE was discovered as it has lived up to astronomers' predictions that it could become a visible feature in the night sky.
Advertisement
It is now brighter than Halley's Comet appeared when it zipped through the inner solar system back in 1986.
Comet NEOWISE can be seen with the naked eye, but onlookers need to know what time and what direction to look to see it as it will not be a prominent feature in the sky.
Right now, it is only visible in the early morning about one to two hours before sunrise in the northeastern sky. This may mean waking up at 4 a.m. local time to spot it before the comet gets lost in the daylight.
Comet C/2020 F3 photographed low in the morning sky on Tuesday. Photo by Bill Dunford/NASA
Evening stargazers will be able to see the comet starting next week off to the northwest, just below the Big Dipper.
"From mid-July on, it's best viewed as an evening object, rising increasingly higher above the northwestern horizon," NASA said. "Its closest approach to Earth will be on July 22, at a distance of about 64 million miles." For comparison, the sun is about 93 million miles from Earth.
Comet NEOWISE will climb higher and higher in the evening sky through the second half of July. Photo courtesy of NASA
Advertisement
If cloudy conditions obscure the sky, onlookers can wait until the next night to try to look for the comet as it will be visible throughout the balance of July.
However, people may want to look for it sooner rather than later as it will gradually become dimmer and dimmer later in the month as it moves farther from the sun.
Many pictures of Comet NEOWISE on social media depict it as a brilliant object filling an area of the sky, but to the unaided eye, it may just look like a fuzzy star with a faint tail.
However, a simple telescope or pair of binoculars can reveal more details, especially when it is seen before twilight in the morning or after twilight in the evening.
Many of the images of Comet NEOWISE circulating on the Internet were taken over a long period of time by cameras zoomed in on the object.
Comet NEOWISE over central Pennsylvania before daybreak on Thursday. Photo by Brian Lada/AccuWeather
For people trying to take pictures of the comet, it is recommended to use a long exposure to allow the camera to capture more light, revealing more details of the comet.
A photo with an exposure of 5 to 10 seconds should be enough to capture the glow of the comet and its long tail with detail that the human eye simply cannot see.
Advertisement
Some smartphones are able to take long exposure photographs, either with the built-in camera or with the help of an app. A tripod is also a necessity to keep the camera still for several seconds.
Comet NEOWISE will certainly be an interesting feature to look for in the sky, but it won't be as grand as Comet Hale-Bopp, which put on a spectacular show in 1997.
Astronomers measure the brightness of objects in the night sky using a measurement known as magnitude. The lower the magnitude number a celestial body is given, the brighter it appears in the sky.
To be visible with the naked eye, an object must have a magnitude of 5 or 6. The full moon has a magnitude of around -12.
The brightness of celestial objects as they are seen from the Earth is measured in magnitude. The lower the number, the brighter the object appears in the sky. Chart courtesy of NASA
As of Wednesday, Comet NEOWISE had a magnitude of 1.6, according to TheSkyLive.com, a website that provides real-time data on the brightness of objects in the night sky.
For comparison, when the well-known Halley's Comet visited the inner solar system in 1986, it had a magnitude of around 2, according to Scientific American.
Advertisement
However, Comet Hale-Bopp was one of the rare comets to be brighter than a magnitude 0 and was visible to the naked eye for more than a year.
After Comet NEOWISE leaves the inner solar system, it won't return for another 6,800 years.


upi--2020-07-10--Woman's jackpot-winning lottery numbers came from a dream

July 10 ( UPI ) -- An Australian woman won a $ 700,000 lottery jackpot using the same numbers she has played ever since they came to her in a dream 15 years earlier .
The Redlands , Queensland , woman told The Lott officials the ticket she purchased for the July 6 Monday & Wednesday Gold Lotto drawing bore the same numbers she has been using for years .
`` The numbers came to me in a dream about 15 years ago , I literally saw them appear one by one , and I 've been playing them in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the woman said .
She said she immediately knew she was the winner when she saw the winning numbers .
`` I knew they were my numbers because I 've been marking them on my entries for so long , probably for more than a decade , '' she said .
`` The numbers have always been good to me , I 've always won little amounts over the years but now this .
It 's amazing ! ''
The woman was the only division one winner in the drawing , earning a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 've always wanted to be in a position where I can help my family , and now I am , '' she said .
`` I 'll certainly be using this to retire a little earlier than I thought I could . ''

An Australian woman said the numbers that earned her a $700,000 lottery ticket came to her in a dream 15 years earlier. Photo courtesy of The Lott
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe July 10 (UPI) -- An Australian woman won a $700,000 lottery jackpot using the same numbers she has played ever since they came to her in a dream 15 years earlier. The Redlands, Queensland, woman told The Lott officials the ticket she purchased for the July 6 Monday & Wednesday Gold Lotto drawing bore the same numbers she has been using for years. Advertisement
"The numbers came to me in a dream about 15 years ago, I literally saw them appear one by one, and I've been playing them in that exact order ever since," the woman said.
She said she immediately knew she was the winner when she saw the winning numbers.
"I knew they were my numbers because I've been marking them on my entries for so long, probably for more than a decade," she said. "The numbers have always been good to me, I've always won little amounts over the years but now this. It's amazing!"
The woman was the only division one winner in the drawing, earning a top prize of $700,000.
"I've always wanted to be in a position where I can help my family, and now I am," she said. "I'll certainly be using this to retire a little earlier than I thought I could."


upi--2020-07-10--Large grass fire caused by bird crashing into power lines

July 10 ( UPI ) -- Police in Ontario said a large grass fire near a pair of highways was @ @ @ @ @ apparently flew into a power line .
Brampton Fire & Emergency Services said fire crews @ @ @ @ @ Caledon responded Thursday to a `` large grass fire '' near Highway 407 and Highway @ @ @ @ @ 407 was closed in both directions while firefighters worked to extinguish the flames .
Peel @ @ @ @ @ investigation determined the fire was started by a bird that collided with nearby power lines @ @ @ @ @ grew to a large size because the grass was brittle and dry from a lack @ @ @ @ @ injuries were reported from the fire .

Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe
July 10 (UPI) -- Police in Ontario said a large grass fire near a pair of highways was caused by a bird that apparently flew into a power line.
Brampton Fire & Emergency Services said fire crews from Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon responded Thursday to a "large grass fire" near Highway 407 and Highway 410 in Mississauga.
Advertisement
Highway 407 was closed in both directions while firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.
Peel Regional Police officials said an investigation determined the fire was started by a bird that collided with nearby power lines.
Firefighters said the fire grew to a large size because the grass was brittle and dry from a lack of recent rains.
No injuries were reported from the fire.


upi--2020-07-10--Watch: Bear tears out home's window screen, pokes head inside

July 10 ( UPI ) -- A California family 's video shows a bear ripping the screen out of a @ @ @ @ @ looked inside .
Christian Pondella said he was home this week when the bear approached @ @ @ @ @ and tried to get in through a window .
Pondella captured video of the bear @ @ @ @ @ window screen and poked its head through the opening .
He said family members scared @ @ @ @ @ he believes was the one that came inside the house about a week earlier but @ @ @ @ @ it and screamed .
Pondella said his family is consulting a local bear expert on @ @ @ @ @ animal away from their home .

Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe
July 10 (UPI) -- A California family's video shows a bear ripping the screen out of a window in their home and looked inside.
Christian Pondella said he was home this week when the bear approached his house in Mammoth Lakes and tried to get in through a window.
Advertisement
Pondella captured video of the bear as it tore out a window screen and poked its head through the opening.
He said family members scared away the bear, which he believes was the one that came inside the house about a week earlier but fled when his wife saw it and screamed.
Pondella said his family is consulting a local bear expert on how best to keep the animal away from their home.


upi--2020-07-10--COVID-19 symptoms persist for weeks after hospital discharge for most survivors

Even a month after hospital discharge and `` recovery , '' a majority of patients who had survived severe COVID-19 were still dealing with fatigue , shortness of breath and other symptoms , Italian research shows .
The study tracked outcomes for 143 hospitalized patients treated in April in Rome , at the height of the Italian COVID-19 pandemic .
They 'd spent an average of about two weeks under hospital care , and one-fifth had required some form of respiratory support , said a team led by Dr. Angelo Carfi , of the Policlinic Foundation University Agostino Gemelli , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five weeks after discharge , few of these survivors could say that their lives and health had returned to normal .
In fact , `` 87.4 percent reported persistence of at least one symptom , '' most typically fatigue ( 53 percent of patients ) or a troubling shortness of breath ( 43 percent ) .
Other lingering symptoms included joint pain ( about 27 percent of patients ) and chest pain ( nearly 22 percent ) , Carfi 's group reported July 9 in the Journal of the American Medical Association .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the recovering patients said they were free of symptoms at 36 days after discharge : About one-third said they had one or two symptoms and more than half ( 55 percent ) said they suffered three or more .
Based on the findings , Carfi 's team said that `` clinicians and researchers have focused on the acute phase of COVID-19 , but continued monitoring after discharge for long-lasting effects is needed . ''
That notion was seconded by one U.S. expert who 's seen his share of COVID-19 patients .
Dr. Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City , the early epicenter of the U.S. pandemic .
`` The harsh reality is that many patients continue to experience lingering symptoms for weeks and months after being diagnosed with and 'recovering ' from COVID-19 , '' Glatter said .
Why that happens remains unclear , he said , but `` one theory is that COVID-19 leads to a state of chronic inflammation , '' as can happen with viral infections such as Epstein-Barr .
`` While this small study found that fatigue and shortness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many people also experience many other lingering symptoms including low-grade fevers , and neurologic symptoms such as numbness and tingling , '' Glatter noted .
COVID-19 takes a mental health toll , as well , he said .
`` 'Long haulers ' also must deal with issues of depression and anxiety , making the disease not only physically but emotionally disabling , '' Glatter said .
`` The bottom line is that we need to pay attention to those individuals with ongoing symptoms and pursue research to address the underlying mechanism of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus .

Assessed an average of five weeks after discharge, few survivors of severe COVID-19 of these survivors could say that their lives and health had returned to normal. EPA-EFE/Enric Fontcuberta
Even a month after hospital discharge and "recovery," a majority of patients who had survived severe COVID-19 were still dealing with fatigue, shortness of breath and other symptoms, Italian research shows. The study tracked outcomes for 143 hospitalized patients treated in April in Rome, at the height of the Italian COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement
They'd spent an average of about two weeks under hospital care, and one-fifth had required some form of respiratory support, said a team led by Dr. Angelo Carfi, of the Policlinic Foundation University Agostino Gemelli, in Rome.
Assessed an average of five weeks after discharge, few of these survivors could say that their lives and health had returned to normal. In fact, "87.4 percent reported persistence of at least one symptom," most typically fatigue (53 percent of patients) or a troubling shortness of breath (43 percent).
Other lingering symptoms included joint pain (about 27 percent of patients) and chest pain (nearly 22 percent), Carfi's group reported July 9 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Only about 13 percent of all of the recovering patients said they were free of symptoms at 36 days after discharge: About one-third said they had one or two symptoms and more than half (55 percent) said they suffered three or more.
Advertisement
Based on the findings, Carfi's team said that "clinicians and researchers have focused on the acute phase of COVID-19, but continued monitoring after discharge for long-lasting effects is needed."
That notion was seconded by one U.S. expert who's seen his share of COVID-19 patients. Dr. Robert Glatter is an emergency medicine physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, the early epicenter of the U.S. pandemic.
"The harsh reality is that many patients continue to experience lingering symptoms for weeks and months after being diagnosed with and 'recovering' from COVID-19," Glatter said.
Why that happens remains unclear, he said, but "one theory is that COVID-19 leads to a state of chronic inflammation," as can happen with viral infections such as Epstein-Barr.
"While this small study found that fatigue and shortness of breath were the two most common symptoms, many people also experience many other lingering symptoms including low-grade fevers, and neurologic symptoms such as numbness and tingling," Glatter noted.
COVID-19 takes a mental health toll, as well, he said.
"'Long haulers' also must deal with issues of depression and anxiety, making the disease not only physically but emotionally disabling," Glatter said.
"The bottom line is that we need to pay attention to those individuals with ongoing symptoms and pursue research to address the underlying mechanism of such symptoms," he concluded.
Advertisement
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-07-10--Tropical Storm Fay forces Trump to postpone N.H. rally

July 10 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump has postponed his Saturday night outdoor rally near Portsmouth , N.H. , because of Tropical Storm Fay , which is expected to drop heavy rain in the area Friday night and Saturday morning .
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the rally , which was scheduled to be held at the Portsmouth International Airport , will be postponed for up to two weeks but did not have a new date .
Trump issued his own tweet about the postponement Friday afternoon .
`` With Tropical Storm Fay heading towards the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we are forced to reschedule our Portsmouth , New Hampshire Rally at the Portsmouth International Airport at Pease .
Stay safe , we will be there soon , '' the president said .
Democrats had complained about past Trump rallies because of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` I understand a lot of the anxieties that folks may have around any large gathering , '' New Hampshire Republican Gov .
Chris Sununu said .
`` We heard similar concerns over the Black Lives Matter protests that happened , up to 1,000 people marching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have n't had any ( COVID-19 ) cases so far directly linked to large gatherings .
It does n't mean we ca n't or we wo n't , but it really keeps that elevated message where it needs to be . ''
Fay , with sustained winds of about 60 mph , is expected to run up the East Coast through New Jersey north and into Canada by Saturday night , according to the National Weather Service .

President Donald Trump, shown responding to a question from the news media as he walks to Marine One Friday, has postponed his rally in New Hampshire on Saturday. Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI | License Photo
July 10 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump has postponed his Saturday night outdoor rally near Portsmouth, N.H., because of Tropical Storm Fay, which is expected to drop heavy rain in the area Friday night and Saturday morning. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the rally, which was scheduled to be held at the Portsmouth International Airport, will be postponed for up to two weeks but did not have a new date. Advertisement
Trump issued his own tweet about the postponement Friday afternoon.
"With Tropical Storm Fay heading towards the Great State of New Hampshire this weekend, we are forced to reschedule our Portsmouth, New Hampshire Rally at the Portsmouth International Airport at Pease. Stay safe, we will be there soon," the president said.
Democrats had complained about past Trump rallies because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"I understand a lot of the anxieties that folks may have around any large gathering," New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu said. "We heard similar concerns over the Black Lives Matter protests that happened, up to 1,000 people marching down the street in Manchester. We haven't had any (COVID-19) cases so far directly linked to large gatherings. It doesn't mean we can't or we won't, but it really keeps that elevated message where it needs to be."
Advertisement
Fay, with sustained winds of about 60 mph, is expected to run up the East Coast through New Jersey north and into Canada by Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service.


upi--2020-07-10--Electric truck-maker Rivian announces $2.5B investment

July 10 ( UPI ) -- Michigan-based electric vehicle company Rivian announced Friday it raised $ 2.5 billion in an investment round .
The company said the funding is led by funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. Rivian introduced two all-electric trucks , called the R1T pickup and R1S SUV , at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2018 .
The company said the two products have a range of up to 400 miles and provide a combination of performance , off-road and utility features .
The company announced plans in September to develop an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was one of the lead contributors in a $ 700 million investment round in 2019 .
Rivian expects to manufacture 100,000 of the vans and begin delivery in 2021 .
`` We are focused on the launch of our R1T , R1S and Amazon delivery vehicles .
With all three launches occurring in 2021 , our teams are working hard to ensure our vehicles , supply chain and production systems are ready for a robust production ramp up .
We are grateful for the strong investor support that helps enable us to focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe .
Participants in the latest investment round include Soros Fund Management LLC , Coatue , Fidelity Management and Research Company , and Baron Capital Group , and existing shareholders Amazon and funds managed by BlackRock also participated .
The company was founded as Mainstream Motors in 2009 , and previously bought an abandoned car manufacturing plant in Normal , Ill. , where Mitsubishi and Chrysler Corp. had a joint operation .
The company is seen as a potential rival to Tesla , which is developing its @ @ @ @ @

Attendees get a closeup view of the Rivian R1T electric pickup truck on display at the Amazon WS booth during the 2020 International CES at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 9. Rivian announce a $2.5 billion investment on Friday. File Photo by James Atoa/UPI | License Photo
July 10 (UPI) -- Michigan-based electric vehicle company Rivian announced Friday it raised $2.5 billion in an investment round. The company said the funding is led by funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. Advertisement
Rivian introduced two all-electric trucks, called the R1T pickup and R1S SUV, at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2018. The company said the two products have a range of up to 400 miles and provide a combination of performance, off-road and utility features.
The company announced plans in September to develop an electric delivery van for Amazon, which was one of the lead contributors in a $700 million investment round in 2019. Rivian expects to manufacture 100,000 of the vans and begin delivery in 2021.
"We are focused on the launch of our R1T, R1S and Amazon delivery vehicles. With all three launches occurring in 2021, our teams are working hard to ensure our vehicles, supply chain and production systems are ready for a robust production ramp up. We are grateful for the strong investor support that helps enable us to focus on execution of our products," said Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe.
Advertisement
Participants in the latest investment round include Soros Fund Management LLC, Coatue, Fidelity Management and Research Company, and Baron Capital Group, and existing shareholders Amazon and funds managed by BlackRock also participated.
The company was founded as Mainstream Motors in 2009, and previously bought an abandoned car manufacturing plant in Normal, Ill., where Mitsubishi and Chrysler Corp. had a joint operation.
The company is seen as a potential rival to Tesla, which is developing its own electric pickup truck.


upi--2020-07-10--Watch: Hot air balloon makes emergency landing in Illinois neighborhood

July 10 ( UPI ) -- A hot air balloon caused a scene in an Illinois town when it made an emergency landing in the middle of a residential neighborhood .
Residents of Lake in the Hills , a far northwest suburb of Chicago , said it is not unusual to see hot air balloons in the sky , but they were shocked when one landed in the middle of a neighborhood .
`` We looked out our window and here comes the hot air balloon , like right between the homes here .
And then they were waving at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 'We do n't know , this is awfully close , '' a homeowner whose security camera recorded the landing told KVEO-TV .
Bob Perkins , who is chief of the ground crew that tracks the balloon , said the emergency landing was conducted after a passenger fainted during the flight .
`` She was an elderly lady , probably in her 80s .
And she had just passed out , '' Perkins said .
Firefighters said the woman regained consciousness before the landing and was examined by paramedics once the balloon touched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a hospital as a precaution .
`` I think she felt a little embarrassed , even though she had nothing to be embarrassed about , '' said Greg Pollnow , of the Huntley Fire Protection District .

Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe
July 10 (UPI) -- A hot air balloon caused a scene in an Illinois town when it made an emergency landing in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
Residents of Lake in the Hills, a far northwest suburb of Chicago, said it is not unusual to see hot air balloons in the sky, but they were shocked when one landed in the middle of a neighborhood.
Advertisement
"We looked out our window and here comes the hot air balloon, like right between the homes here. And then they were waving at us and we're waving, like, 'We don't know, this is awfully close," a homeowner whose security camera recorded the landing told KVEO-TV.
Bob Perkins, who is chief of the ground crew that tracks the balloon, said the emergency landing was conducted after a passenger fainted during the flight.
"She was an elderly lady, probably in her 80s. And she had just passed out," Perkins said.
Firefighters said the woman regained consciousness before the landing and was examined by paramedics once the balloon touched down. She declined to be transported to a hospital as a precaution.
"I think she felt a little embarrassed, even though she had nothing to be embarrassed about," said Greg Pollnow, of the Huntley Fire Protection District.


upi--2020-07-10--'The Batman' spinoff series about Gotham police ordered by HBO Max

July 10 ( UPI ) -- HBO Max has given a series commitment to a spinoff of Matt Reeves ' upcoming DC Comics film , The Batman .
The untitled television series will be set in the Gotham City police department , located inside the same world as Reeves ' The Batman .
Boardwalk Empire creator Terence Winter is penning the script .
Reeves ' 6th & Idaho production company will produce the series with Warner Bros. television .
Reeves , who is directing The Batman , is executive producing .
HBO Max said that the show will build upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gotham City and help launch a new Batman universe across multiple platforms .
`` This is an amazing opportunity , not only to expand the vision of the world I am creating in the film , but to explore it in the kind of depth and detail that only a long-form format can afford -- and getting to work with the incredibly talented Terence Winter , who has written so insightfully and powerfully about worlds of crime and corruption , is an absolute dream , '' Reeves said in a statement .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caped Crusader , is set to arrive in theaters on Oct. 1 , 2021 .
Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman , Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth .
Colin Farrell as The Penguin , Paul Dano as The Riddler and Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon also star .

"The Batman" director Matt Reeves is developing a spinoff television series for HBO Max that is set in the same universe as the film. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 10 (UPI) -- HBO Max has given a series commitment to a spinoff of Matt Reeves' upcoming DC Comics film, The Batman. The untitled television series will be set in the Gotham City police department, located inside the same world as Reeves' The Batman. Advertisement
Boardwalk Empire creator Terence Winter is penning the script. Reeves' 6th & Idaho production company will produce the series with Warner Bros. television. Reeves, who is directing The Batman, is executive producing.
HBO Max said that the show will build upon the film's examination of corruption in Gotham City and help launch a new Batman universe across multiple platforms.
"This is an amazing opportunity, not only to expand the vision of the world I am creating in the film, but to explore it in the kind of depth and detail that only a long-form format can afford -- and getting to work with the incredibly talented Terence Winter, who has written so insightfully and powerfully about worlds of crime and corruption, is an absolute dream," Reeves said in a statement.
The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader, is set to arrive in theaters on Oct. 1, 2021.
Advertisement
Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth. Colin Farrell as The Penguin, Paul Dano as The Riddler and Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon also star.


upi--2020-07-10--Climate change forcing tough choices for farmers dependent on snowmelt

July 10 ( UPI ) -- Farmers in areas dependent on melting snow for crop irrigation will face tough trade-offs between predictable crop yields and droughts caused by climate change , U.S. researchers said Friday .
In places like the Yakima River Basin in Washington state where crops such as grapes , wheat , corn , potatoes , cherries and apples need the water from annual snowmelt to thrive , higher temperatures caused by climate change will likely mean more frequent droughts .
And while farmers who adapt by planting drought-tolerant crop varieties may be able to make their yields @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain vulnerable to periodic severe crop failures , according to researchers from Washington State and Cornell universities .
The agricultural experts published their findings Friday in the scientific journal Nature Communications .
They reached their conclusions first by building a climate risk model for the Yakima Basin tying together crop growth and development , land-surface hydrology and river-system processes , and then calculated how different kinds of drought-resistant crop varieties would fare under the conditions .
What they found was that although those varieties could significantly improve farmers ' average yield and income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a highly volatile range of highs of lows due to extreme weather events triggered by the warming climate .
`` Typical and best-case annual yields are much higher , '' said study co-author Jennifer Adam of Washington State .
`` But climate change still is likely to cause severe droughts where current water management institutions in the Yakima River Basin simply can not provide enough water , and there are severe worst-case crop failures . ''
The authors conclude the most promising way to strike a balance between predictable yields and higher volatility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-think how water availability is governed in parts of the country dependent on snowmelt for irrigation .

Crops in places dependent on snowmelt for water irrigation, such as grapes grown in Yakima, Wash., will be subject to more droughts due to climate change, researchers said Friday. File photo courtesy of Washington State University
July 10 (UPI) -- Farmers in areas dependent on melting snow for crop irrigation will face tough trade-offs between predictable crop yields and droughts caused by climate change, U.S. researchers said Friday. In places like the Yakima River Basin in Washington state where crops such as grapes, wheat, corn, potatoes, cherries and apples need the water from annual snowmelt to thrive, higher temperatures caused by climate change will likely mean more frequent droughts. Advertisement
And while farmers who adapt by planting drought-tolerant crop varieties may be able to make their yields more predictable overall, they will still remain vulnerable to periodic severe crop failures, according to researchers from Washington State and Cornell universities.
The agricultural experts published their findings Friday in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
They reached their conclusions first by building a climate risk model for the Yakima Basin tying together crop growth and development, land-surface hydrology and river-system processes, and then calculated how different kinds of drought-resistant crop varieties would fare under the conditions.
What they found was that although those varieties could significantly improve farmers' average yield and income, growers could also be subjected to a highly volatile range of highs of lows due to extreme weather events triggered by the warming climate.
Advertisement
"Typical and best-case annual yields are much higher," said study co-author Jennifer Adam of Washington State. "But climate change still is likely to cause severe droughts where current water management institutions in the Yakima River Basin simply cannot provide enough water, and there are severe worst-case crop failures."
The authors conclude the most promising way to strike a balance between predictable yields and higher volatility is to both improve crop varieties and re-think how water availability is governed in parts of the country dependent on snowmelt for irrigation.


upi--2020-07-11--Jada Pinkett Smith confirms past Will Smith split, romance with August Alsina

July 11 ( UPI ) -- Actress Jada Pinkett Smith confirmed on her Facebook Watch show that she dated singer August Alsina during a temporary split from her husband , actor Will Smith .
`` It 's a situation that I consider private .
This is a very personal journey that became very public , '' Pinkett Smith said on Friday 's episode of her Red Table Talk series .
`` Four and a half years ago ...
I started a friendship with August and we actually became really , really good friends , '' she said , telling Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alsina took place during a difficult time in their marriage .
`` I was done with you , '' Smith said .
`` We broke up , '' Pinkett Smith said .
`` We decided that we were going to separate for a period of time .
... From there , as time went on , I got into a different kind of entanglement with August . ''
Pinkett Smith shot down reports claiming Smith gave Alsina his blessing to date his estranged wife .
`` The only person that can give permission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she said , explaining Alsina eventually broke off the relationship and she and Smith worked things out .
`` We came together young , and we were both broken in our own ways and to be able to make mistakes without the fear of losing your family is so critical , '' Smith said .
`` Yeah , it 's the idea of any relationship in trying to get to deeper understanding of love is going to be forged in fire , '' Pinkett Smith said .
The couple married in 1997 @ @ @ @ @ @

1/3
Jada Pinkett Smith (L) and Will Smith discussed their past marital problems on Friday's "Red Table Talk" show. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
July 11 (UPI) -- Actress Jada Pinkett Smith confirmed on her Facebook Watch show that she dated singer August Alsina during a temporary split from her husband, actor Will Smith. "It's a situation that I consider private. This is a very personal journey that became very public," Pinkett Smith said on Friday's episode of her Red Table Talk series. Advertisement
"Four and a half years ago... I started a friendship with August and we actually became really, really good friends," she said, telling Smith -- and viewers -- her romance with Alsina took place during a difficult time in their marriage.
"I was done with you," Smith said.
"We broke up," Pinkett Smith said. "We decided that we were going to separate for a period of time. ... From there, as time went on, I got into a different kind of entanglement with August."
Pinkett Smith shot down reports claiming Smith gave Alsina his blessing to date his estranged wife.
"The only person that can give permission in that particular circumstance is myself," she said, explaining Alsina eventually broke off the relationship and she and Smith worked things out.
Advertisement
"We came together young, and we were both broken in our own ways and to be able to make mistakes without the fear of losing your family is so critical," Smith said.
"Yeah, it's the idea of any relationship in trying to get to deeper understanding of love is going to be forged in fire," Pinkett Smith said.
The couple married in 1997 and have two children together.
Moments from Will Smith's career


upi--2020-07-11--Fox orders Season 2 of 'The Moodys' with Denis Leary

July 11 ( UPI ) -- Fox said it has ordered a second season of its dysfunctional family comedy , @ @ @ @ @ Leary .
Season 1 featured six episodes and focused on a Chicago couple as they @ @ @ @ @ adult children .
It aired last December .
`` With The Moodys , we set @ @ @ @ @ in the only way Fox can -- bold and unconventional .
What we ended up @ @ @ @ @ -- and a family -- everyone at the network fell in love with , '' @ @ @ @ @ entertainment at Fox Entertainment , said in a statement Friday .
`` Bob Fisher , @ @ @ @ @ perfectly captured the hysterics of Christmas , with sharp banter and real moments of family @ @ @ @ @ Denis Leary , Elizabeth Perkins and the rest of the incredible cast . ''

1/3
Denis Leary is returning for a second season of the Fox comedy, "The Moodys." File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 11 (UPI) -- Fox said it has ordered a second season of its dysfunctional family comedy, The Moodys, starring Denis Leary. Season 1 featured six episodes and focused on a Chicago couple as they celebrated Christmas with their three adult children. It aired last December. Advertisement
The cast includes Elizabeth Perkins, Francois Arnaud, Chelsea Frei and Jay Baruchel.
"With The Moodys, we set out to brand the holidays in the only way Fox can -- bold and unconventional. What we ended up with was a special show -- and a family -- everyone at the network fell in love with," Michael Thorn, president of entertainment at Fox Entertainment, said in a statement Friday.
"Bob Fisher, Rob Greenberg and Tad Quill perfectly captured the hysterics of Christmas, with sharp banter and real moments of family togetherness brought to life by Denis Leary, Elizabeth Perkins and the rest of the incredible cast."


upi--2020-07-11--Fay makes landfall along Jersey coast, heads for New England

July 10 -- Fay weakened from a tropical storm to a post-tropical depression Saturday , one day after making landfall near Atlantic City , N.J. Its sustained winds dropped from 60 mph to 50 mph and moving at a forward speed of 14 mph as it made landfall , according to the National Hurricane Center .
Atlantic City is near Brigantine , N.J. , where Hurricane Sandy made landfall in 2012 .
As of 5 a.m. EDT Saturday , Fay 's sustained winds dropped to 35 mph and was classified as a post-tropical depression as it continues its path northward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The center of Post-Tropical Depression Fay was located about 30 miles south of Albany , N.Y. , according to the National Hurricane Center .
As of early Saturday morning , all tropical storm warnings associated with Fay have been cancelled .
AccuWeather forecasters have rated Fay a less than one on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes .
The formation of Fay late Thursday afternoon , the sixth-named storm in the Atlantic this year , added another record to the books as it is the earliest named `` F '' storm to form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which dates back to the 1960s , and added to what has been an unusually active start to the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season .
Early on Friday morning , Fay 's outer bands were bringing rain and rough surf along the coast of South Jersey .
Video posted on social media showed the streets of Stone Harbor , about 40 miles south of Atlantic City , already flooded .
Several coastal towns in Delaware were also dealing with flooding .
Heavy rains and tropical-storm-force winds continued along the mid-Atlantic coast through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storm dumped more than five inches of rain on West Ocean City , Md.
, by Friday afternoon -- more than 2 inches above the city 's normal precipitation total for all of July .
Forecasters expect Fay to impact New York City as a tropical storm .
Fay 's center remained just west of New York City proper as it tracked northward Friday evening , just missing out on becoming the fourth tropical system to track directly over the city prior to Aug. 1 .
The three to hit the city before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1996 , Hurricane Agnes in 1972 and Tropical Storm Brenda in 1960 .
Most direct hits on The Big Apple have occurred later in the season or outside the metro area .
The most recent tropical system to hit New York City was Hurricane Irene in late August 2011 .
`` The path this storm has taken is rather unique for this time of the year , '' Kottlowski said .
Many other tropical storms have affected New York City over the years , of course , including Superstorm Sandy in 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storm by the National Hurricane Center at the time of its landfall in New Jersey , though it devastated the New York metro area .
Fay formed just before 5 p.m. on Thursday about 40 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras , N.C. '' Fay 's winds will only impact sections of the mid and upper New Jersey coast and along the southern coast of western Long Island .
Winds will spread across Long Island and impact Long Island Sound impacting southern New England coastal areas , '' AccuWeather senior meteorologist and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the storm 's potential .
Indeed , President Donald Trump 's campaign heeded forecasters ' warnings and canceled a rally that was scheduled to take place in New Hampshire on Saturday .
An AccuWeather Local StormMax wind gust of 65 mph is expected over the water or over some of the hilltops .
The system is forecast to drift on a general north to northeast track through this weekend .
This path will take the feature inland over New England and into Quebec .
Heavy rainfall with the feature will fall across eastern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the day on Saturday .
Heavy rain will continue to fall from the system as it tracks northward , with some downpours being heavy enough to lead to urban flooding problems .
Those with plans at the beach may have them interrupted by downpours and locally gusty winds through the day on Saturday .
Swimming conditions could be rather dangerous depending on what beach you are at .
Strong rip currents and rough surf could pose a risk for anyone thinking about heading into the water .
Generally , 2 inches4 inches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system along the mid-Atlantic coast , the Hudson Valley of New York state and in western New England with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 6 inches anticipated .
This means that part of New England , which has been in a worsening drought situation could be quenched by the tropical system .
Depending on the strength of the storm , winds blowing in from the Atlantic will cause above-normal tide levels .
Minor coastal flooding at times of high tide can occur as the feature moves northward .
Regardless , seas will build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will increase in strength and number until after the storm has passed well to the north this weekend .
In lieu of direct tropical impact , areas farther west will be under the influence of an approaching non-tropical system this weekend .
That feature will produce a swath of drenching showers and thunderstorms over the eastern Great Lakes , the Ohio Valley and the central Appalachians first , then the Atlantic coast later in the weekend .
While areas west of the coast may dodge the tropical system , rain will move in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the wake of the tropical feature along the Atlantic coast this week , a similar setup could allow yet another tropical system to slowly brew in roughly the same area next week .
AccuWeather is projecting a busy season ahead with 14-20 named tropical storms , seven to 11 hurricanes and four to six major hurricanes .
Five tropical storms are already in the books for the season , with two U.S. landfalls .
Fay has unseated another entry in a long list of 2005 tropical storms that held early-season records since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The earliest sixth-named storm on record was Franklin during the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season , the same season which produced Hurricane Katrina in late August .
Franklin formed on July 21 , near the central Bahamas , and traveled northeastward , well to the east of the U.S. coast .
The storm did not reach hurricane strength .
Last weekend , Edouard became the earliest fifth tropical storm in any Atlantic hurricane season since the satellite era of the 1960s .
On July 5 , Edouard beat out Emily , which formed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a Category 5 hurricane in the Caribbean Sea in 2005 , by a week .
Cristobal became the earliest `` C '' named storm in recorded history for the Atlantic on June 2 , a feat that typically does not occur until around the middle of August .
The storm went on to crash ashore along the Gulf Coast , where it unleashed flooding rains .
Dolly was the second-earliest `` D '' named storm ever in the basin , but it moved out to sea without impacting land .
Arthur and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formed in the same near-coast waters of the eastern U.S. this season .
Both Arthur and Bertha formed in May , prior to the officials start of hurricane season on June 1 .
Looking beyond Fay , the next two named storms on the Atlantic list for 2020 are Gonzalo and Hanna .
The 2005 hurricane season also holds the earliest dates for tropical storms through the letter `` K '' when Katrina formed on Aug. 24 .
Gert formed on July 24 , 2005 , followed by Harvey on Aug. 3 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the 2017 season when a different Harvey brought devastating flooding to Texas .
Since the area along the Atlantic coast will remain unsettled through the middle of July , it is not out of the question for another tropical feature to take shape in that area .
Odds are against any major tropical system in that area next week .
Forecasters say it 's more likely systems similar to what have been forming thus far this year in the Atlantic , such as tropical depression and storms , will develop .

1/3
Pedestrians carry umbrellas while walking in Times Square as tropical storm Fay approaches New York City on Friday. The storm made landfall hours later. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 10 -- Fay weakened from a tropical storm to a post-tropical depression Saturday, one day after making landfall near Atlantic City, N.J. Its sustained winds dropped from 60 mph to 50 mph and moving at a forward speed of 14 mph as it made landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center. Atlantic City is near Brigantine, N.J., where Hurricane Sandy made landfall in 2012. Advertisement
As of 5 a.m. EDT Saturday, Fay's sustained winds dropped to 35 mph and was classified as a post-tropical depression as it continues its path northward at a speed of 17 mph. The center of Post-Tropical Depression Fay was located about 30 miles south of Albany, N.Y., according to the National Hurricane Center.
As of early Saturday morning, all tropical storm warnings associated with Fay have been cancelled.
AccuWeather forecasters have rated Fay a less than one on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes.
Advertisement
The formation of Fay late Thursday afternoon, the sixth-named storm in the Atlantic this year, added another record to the books as it is the earliest named "F" storm to form in the basin in the satellite era, which dates back to the 1960s, and added to what has been an unusually active start to the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.
Early on Friday morning, Fay's outer bands were bringing rain and rough surf along the coast of South Jersey. Video posted on social media showed the streets of Stone Harbor, about 40 miles south of Atlantic City, already flooded. Several coastal towns in Delaware were also dealing with flooding. Heavy rains and tropical-storm-force winds continued along the mid-Atlantic coast through the afternoon as Fay marched north.
The storm dumped more than five inches of rain on West Ocean City, Md., by Friday afternoon -- more than 2 inches above the city's normal precipitation total for all of July.
Forecasters expect Fay to impact New York City as a tropical storm. Fay's center remained just west of New York City proper as it tracked northward Friday evening, just missing out on becoming the fourth tropical system to track directly over the city prior to Aug. 1.
Advertisement
The three to hit the city before the start of August are Hurricane Bertha in 1996, Hurricane Agnes in 1972 and Tropical Storm Brenda in 1960. Most direct hits on The Big Apple have occurred later in the season or outside the metro area. The most recent tropical system to hit New York City was Hurricane Irene in late August 2011.
"The path this storm has taken is rather unique for this time of the year," Kottlowski said.
Many other tropical storms have affected New York City over the years, of course, including Superstorm Sandy in 2012, which was classified as a post-tropical storm by the National Hurricane Center at the time of its landfall in New Jersey, though it devastated the New York metro area.
Fay formed just before 5 p.m. on Thursday about 40 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, N.C.
"Fay's winds will only impact sections of the mid and upper New Jersey coast and along the southern coast of western Long Island. Winds will spread across Long Island and impact Long Island Sound impacting southern New England coastal areas," AccuWeather senior meteorologist and lead hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski said about the storm's potential. Indeed, President Donald Trump's campaign heeded forecasters' warnings and canceled a rally that was scheduled to take place in New Hampshire on Saturday.
Advertisement
An AccuWeather Local StormMax wind gust of 65 mph is expected over the water or over some of the hilltops.
The system is forecast to drift on a general north to northeast track through this weekend. This path will take the feature inland over New England and into Quebec.
Heavy rainfall with the feature will fall across eastern New York state and into New England during the day on Saturday. Heavy rain will continue to fall from the system as it tracks northward, with some downpours being heavy enough to lead to urban flooding problems.
Those with plans at the beach may have them interrupted by downpours and locally gusty winds through the day on Saturday. Swimming conditions could be rather dangerous depending on what beach you are at. Strong rip currents and rough surf could pose a risk for anyone thinking about heading into the water.
Generally, 2 inches4 inches of rain is expected from the tropical system along the mid-Atlantic coast, the Hudson Valley of New York state and in western New England with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 6 inches anticipated.
This means that part of New England, which has been in a worsening drought situation could be quenched by the tropical system.
Advertisement
Depending on the strength of the storm, winds blowing in from the Atlantic will cause above-normal tide levels. Minor coastal flooding at times of high tide can occur as the feature moves northward.
Regardless, seas will build to moderate levels, and rip currents will increase in strength and number until after the storm has passed well to the north this weekend.
In lieu of direct tropical impact, areas farther west will be under the influence of an approaching non-tropical system this weekend. That feature will produce a swath of drenching showers and thunderstorms over the eastern Great Lakes, the Ohio Valley and the central Appalachians first, then the Atlantic coast later in the weekend.
While areas west of the coast may dodge the tropical system, rain will move in from outside of the tropics regardless.
In the wake of the tropical feature along the Atlantic coast this week, a similar setup could allow yet another tropical system to slowly brew in roughly the same area next week.
AccuWeather is projecting a busy season ahead with 14-20 named tropical storms, seven to 11 hurricanes and four to six major hurricanes. Five tropical storms are already in the books for the season, with two U.S. landfalls.
Advertisement
Fay has unseated another entry in a long list of 2005 tropical storms that held early-season records since the satellite era of the 1960s. The earliest sixth-named storm on record was Franklin during the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, the same season which produced Hurricane Katrina in late August. Franklin formed on July 21, near the central Bahamas, and traveled northeastward, well to the east of the U.S. coast. The storm did not reach hurricane strength.
Last weekend, Edouard became the earliest fifth tropical storm in any Atlantic hurricane season since the satellite era of the 1960s. On July 5, Edouard beat out Emily, which formed on July 12 and went on to become a Category 5 hurricane in the Caribbean Sea in 2005, by a week.
Cristobal became the earliest "C" named storm in recorded history for the Atlantic on June 2, a feat that typically does not occur until around the middle of August. The storm went on to crash ashore along the Gulf Coast, where it unleashed flooding rains. Dolly was the second-earliest "D" named storm ever in the basin, but it moved out to sea without impacting land.
Advertisement
Arthur and Bertha, as well as Dolly, formed in the same near-coast waters of the eastern U.S. this season. Both Arthur and Bertha formed in May, prior to the officials start of hurricane season on June 1.
Looking beyond Fay, the next two named storms on the Atlantic list for 2020 are Gonzalo and Hanna.
The 2005 hurricane season also holds the earliest dates for tropical storms through the letter "K" when Katrina formed on Aug. 24. Gert formed on July 24, 2005, followed by Harvey on Aug. 3. The name Harvey would eventually be retired after the 2017 season when a different Harvey brought devastating flooding to Texas.
Since the area along the Atlantic coast will remain unsettled through the middle of July, it is not out of the question for another tropical feature to take shape in that area. Odds are against any major tropical system in that area next week. Forecasters say it's more likely systems similar to what have been forming thus far this year in the Atlantic, such as tropical depression and storms, will develop.


upi--2020-07-11--Lil Baby's 'My Turn' tops U.S. album chart for 4th week

July 11 ( UPI ) -- Rapper Lil Baby 's My Turn is the No .
1 album in the @ @ @ @ @ week .
Coming in at No .
2 on the Billboard 200 chart dated Saturday @ @ @ @ @ Cause Y'all Waited 2 , followed by DaBaby 's Blame It On Baby at No @ @ @ @ @ 's Hollywood 's Bleeding at No .
4 and The Weeknd 's After Hours at @ @ @ @ @ out the top tier are Harry Styles ' Fine Line at No .
6 , @ @ @ @ @ at No .
7 , Lil Uzi Vert 's Eternal Atake at No .
8 @ @ @ @ @ Demo Tapes at No .
9 and Future 's High Off Life at No .
@ @

July 11 (UPI) -- Rapper Lil Baby's My Turn is the No. 1 album in the United States for a fourth-consecutive week.
Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart dated Saturday is Lil Durk's Just Cause Y'all Waited 2, followed by DaBaby's Blame It On Baby at No. 3, Post Malone's Hollywood's Bleeding at No. 4 and The Weeknd's After Hours at No. 5.


upi--2020-07-11--Dan Aykroyd still believes in ghosts in 'Hotel Paranormal'

LOS ANGELES , July 11 ( UPI ) -- Ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd is back in the paranormal realm with the new Travel Channel series Hotel Paranormal .
Aykroyd narrates true stories of people who have reported encounters with spirits at hotels .
Aykroyd created the 1984 movie Ghostbusters , but spirits ran in his family for generations before .
His great grandfather , Sam Aykroyd , was a member of the Lily Dale Assembly , which still practices psychic mediumship .
`` My great-grandfather was a part of this open , tolerant society based upon the belief that the consciousness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Aykroyd told UPI in a recent phone interview .
`` I grew up with this belief , stronger than my Catholic belief . ''
Dan Aykroyd grew up reading magazines like The Journal of the Society for Psychical Research and Fate Magazine , documenting paranormal phenomena .
These were magazines left behind by his great-grandfather .
`` It was all this stuff that my dad got from his father who got it from his father , '' Aykroyd said .
From that family interest , Aykroyd created Ghostbusters , a franchise that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in ghosts , and thinks he once experienced a paranormal phenomenon .
`` I think something got in the bed with me one night , '' Aykroyd said .
`` I did n't look to see .
I just snuggled up next to it , whatever it was .
I had a good night 's sleep . ''
Hotel Paranormal takes the people who report paranormal encounters in hotels seriously , too .
That is why Aykroyd agreed to narrate the show .
`` We know these people went through trauma here , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them a voice and a place to talk about it .
Why would they make up these torturous stories ? ''
The premiere episode of Hotel Paranormal chronicles the case of repo man Frank Ramirez .
In Room 38 of a Texas hotel not named in the show , Ramirez recorded a cell phone video of the telephone receiver jumping off the cradle .
On his drive home , Ramirez says he saw a spirit in the back seat .
He ultimately sought a priest to perform an exorcism .
Aykroyd said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ psychologists say he 's a sadist , '' Aykroyd said .
`` He wants to torture himself , so he makes up these memories .
This is often what skeptics will throw at it . ''
Aykroyd believes the cell phone evidence , as well as evidence presented in subsequent episodes .
`` [ A female spirit ] appeared to have a veil and she hovered five floors up outside the guy 's hotel room , '' Aykroyd said .
`` He had the picture of that . ''
As a believer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotels .
Prior to Hotel Paranormal , he was aware of rumors that Chateau Marmont , Hotel Del Coronado and Copley Plaza were haunted .
His favorite episodes of Hotel Paranormal include ones in which new management takes over , only to discover the hotel is more than just a fixer upper .
`` Not only is there a bad sewage problem or an electrical problem but the gates to hell have opened up , '' Aykroyd said .
Aykroyd returns to the world of Ghostbusters in the upcoming sequel Ghostbusters : Afterlife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
It now will open March 5 .
The plot revolves around children ( McKenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard ) discovering the old ghostbuster equipment and uniforms .
Jason Reitman , son of Ghosbusters director Ivan Reitman , co-wrote and directed .
Original cast members Aykroyd , Ernie Hudson , Bill Murray , Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts reprise their roles from the original film .
Aykroyd , who still receives creator and executive producer credit , hopes Afterlife sets up more sequels with the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do follow-ups , '' Aykroyd said .
Aykroyd says he is happy to wait until March to present Ghostbusters : Afterlife in theaters , however .
Some films , like Greyhound and The King of Staten Island , went straight to streaming or video-on-demand .
Christopher Nolan still hopes to release Tenet in theaters , but the latest delay pushes it to Aug. 12 .
Aykroyd believes Ghostbusters : Afterlife is meant for the big screen , but will give theaters time to test their reopening protocol .
`` The way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , big sound , big effects , big scares , big laughs , '' Aykroyd said .
`` Of course , we have to save it for that . ''
Hotel Paranormal premieres Saturday at 10 p.m. EDT on the Travel Channel .

1/3
Dan Aykroyd has been interested in the paranormal since he was a child. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Kohm/Travel Channel
LOS ANGELES, July 11 (UPI) -- Ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd is back in the paranormal realm with the new Travel Channel series Hotel Paranormal. Aykroyd narrates true stories of people who have reported encounters with spirits at hotels. Aykroyd created the 1984 movie Ghostbusters, but spirits ran in his family for generations before. His great grandfather, Sam Aykroyd, was a member of the Lily Dale Assembly, which still practices psychic mediumship. Advertisement
"My great-grandfather was a part of this open, tolerant society based upon the belief that the consciousness of a person survives after death," Aykroyd told UPI in a recent phone interview. "I grew up with this belief, stronger than my Catholic belief."
Dan Aykroyd grew up reading magazines like The Journal of the Society for Psychical Research and Fate Magazine, documenting paranormal phenomena. These were magazines left behind by his great-grandfather.
"It was all this stuff that my dad got from his father who got it from his father," Aykroyd said.
Advertisement
From that family interest, Aykroyd created Ghostbusters, a franchise that remains popular today. He still believes in ghosts, and thinks he once experienced a paranormal phenomenon.
"I think something got in the bed with me one night," Aykroyd said. "I didn't look to see. I just snuggled up next to it, whatever it was. I had a good night's sleep."
Hotel Paranormal takes the people who report paranormal encounters in hotels seriously, too. That is why Aykroyd agreed to narrate the show.
"We know these people went through trauma here," Aykroyd said. "We give them a voice and a place to talk about it. Why would they make up these torturous stories?"
The premiere episode of Hotel Paranormal chronicles the case of repo man Frank Ramirez. In Room 38 of a Texas hotel not named in the show, Ramirez recorded a cell phone video of the telephone receiver jumping off the cradle.
On his drive home, Ramirez says he saw a spirit in the back seat. He ultimately sought a priest to perform an exorcism. Aykroyd said he believes Ramirez's story.
"Some psychologists say he's a sadist," Aykroyd said. "He wants to torture himself, so he makes up these memories. This is often what skeptics will throw at it."
Advertisement
Aykroyd believes the cell phone evidence, as well as evidence presented in subsequent episodes.
"[A female spirit] appeared to have a veil and she hovered five floors up outside the guy's hotel room," Aykroyd said. "He had the picture of that."
As a believer, Aykroyd enjoys learning new stories about haunted hotels. Prior to Hotel Paranormal, he was aware of rumors that Chateau Marmont, Hotel Del Coronado and Copley Plaza were haunted.
His favorite episodes of Hotel Paranormal include ones in which new management takes over, only to discover the hotel is more than just a fixer upper.
"Not only is there a bad sewage problem or an electrical problem but the gates to hell have opened up," Aykroyd said.
Aykroyd returns to the world of Ghostbusters in the upcoming sequel Ghostbusters: Afterlife. The film was postponed from opening this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It now will open March 5.
The plot revolves around children (McKenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard) discovering the old ghostbuster equipment and uniforms. Jason Reitman, son of Ghosbusters director Ivan Reitman, co-wrote and directed.
Original cast members Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts reprise their roles from the original film. Aykroyd, who still receives creator and executive producer credit, hopes Afterlife sets up more sequels with the new cast.
Advertisement
"We'll be able to do follow-ups," Aykroyd said.
Aykroyd says he is happy to wait until March to present Ghostbusters: Afterlife in theaters, however. Some films, like Greyhound and The King of Staten Island, went straight to streaming or video-on-demand.
Christopher Nolan still hopes to release Tenet in theaters, but the latest delay pushes it to Aug. 12. Aykroyd believes Ghostbusters: Afterlife is meant for the big screen, but will give theaters time to test their reopening protocol.
"The way to see it is in a big theater, big sound, big effects, big scares, big laughs," Aykroyd said. "Of course, we have to save it for that."
Hotel Paranormal premieres Saturday at 10 p.m. EDT on the Travel Channel.


upi--2020-07-11--On This Day, July 11: Skylab falls to earth

July 11 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1804 , U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr killed longtime political foe Alexander Hamilton , the first treasury secretary , in a duel at Weehawken , N.J .
In 1847 , songwriter Stephen Foster 's first major hit , `` Oh !
Susanna , '' was performed for the first time , in a Pittsburgh saloon .
It soon became a standard for minstrel shows .
In 1859 , Charles Dickens ' A Tale of Two Cities was published .
In 1914 , legendary hitter Babe Ruth makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Great Bambino would go on to become one of the greatest baseball players of all time and was included in the inaugural class of the Baseball Hall of Fame .
In 1952 , U.S. Army Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate , with Richard Nixon as his running mate .
They were elected that November .
In 1955 , the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado was dedicated , with 300 cadets in its first class .
In 1960 , Harper Lee 's To Kill a Mockingbird @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the United States ' first space station , fell to Earth after six years in orbit , scattering tons of debris across the Australian desert .
In 1995 , the United States resumed diplomatic relations with Vietnam .
In 1995 , Bosnian Serbs claim the town of Srebrenica , Bosnia-Herzegovina , starting a genocide that would result in the deaths of more than 7,000 Muslim men and boys .
In 2006 , more than 200 people were killed and another 700 injured in coordinated rush-hour terrorist attacks on the transit system in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian cruise ship with a malfunctioning engine capsized in the Volga River during a thunderstorm and quickly sank , killing 122 people .
There were 79 survivors .
In 2015 , Drug lord Joaquin `` El Chapo '' Guzman escaped from a maximum-security Mexican prison on through a 5,000-foot tunnel .
It was his second escape from prison , and he would { link : later be caught : `` https : //www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2016/ 01/08/Joaquin-El-Chapo-Guzman-nabbed-in-Mexico-six-months-after-prison-break/8441452277841/ '' target= '' _blank '' } in January 2016 .

1/6
On July 11, 1979, Skylab, the United States' first space station, fell to Earth after six years in orbit, scattering tons of debris across the Australian desert. File Photo courtesy of NASA | License Photo
July 11 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1804, U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr killed longtime political foe Alexander Hamilton, the first treasury secretary, in a duel at Weehawken, N.J. Advertisement
In 1847, songwriter Stephen Foster's first major hit, "Oh! Susanna," was performed for the first time, in a Pittsburgh saloon. It soon became a standard for minstrel shows.
In 1859, Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities was published.
In 1914, legendary hitter Babe Ruth makes his debut in Major League Baseball. The Great Bambino would go on to become one of the greatest baseball players of all time and was included in the inaugural class of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 1952, U.S. Army Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate, with Richard Nixon as his running mate. They were elected that November.
UPI File Photo
In 1955, the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado was dedicated, with 300 cadets in its first class.
In 1960, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird was published.
Advertisement
In 1979, Skylab, the United States' first space station, fell to Earth after six years in orbit, scattering tons of debris across the Australian desert.
In 1995, the United States resumed diplomatic relations with Vietnam.
UPI File Photo
In 1995, Bosnian Serbs claim the town of Srebrenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina, starting a genocide that would result in the deaths of more than 7,000 Muslim men and boys.
In 2006, more than 200 people were killed and another 700 injured in coordinated rush-hour terrorist attacks on the transit system in Mumbai.
In 2011, an overloaded Russian cruise ship with a malfunctioning engine capsized in the Volga River during a thunderstorm and quickly sank, killing 122 people. There were 79 survivors.
In 2015, Drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman escaped from a maximum-security Mexican prison on through a 5,000-foot tunnel. It was his second escape from prison, and he would {link:later be caught: "https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2016/ 01/08/Joaquin-El-Chapo-Guzman-nabbed-in-Mexico-six-months-after-prison-break/8441452277841/" target="_blank"} in January 2016.
In 2019, Japan's asteroid-circling probe executed a {link:second touchdown: "https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2019/07/11/Japans-Hayabusa-2-c ompletes-second-asteroid-touchdown-collects-another-sample/4761562848303/" target="_blank"} on Ryugu.
Advertisement


upi--2020-07-11--Famous birthdays for July 11: Justin Chambers, Alessia Cara

July 11 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Cancer .
-- John @ @ @ @ @ of the United States , in 1767

1/3
Justin Chambers arrives for the 42nd annual People's Choice Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on January 6, 2016. The actor turns 50 on July 11. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
July 11 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Cancer. They include: Advertisement
-- Scottish King Robert the Bruce in 1274
-- John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the United States, in 1767
-- Author E.B. White in 1899
-- Actor Yul Brynner in 1920
-- Critic Harold Bloom in 1930
-- Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani in 1934 (age 86)
File Photo by Rune Hellestad/UPI
-- Soul singer Bonnie Pointer in 1950
-- Former heavyweight boxing champion Leon Spinks in 1953 (age 67)
-- Actor Mindy Sterling in 1953 (age 67)
-- Actor Sela Ward in 1956 (age 64)
-- Musician Richie Sambora in 1959 (age 61)
-- Singer Suzanne Vega in 1959 (age 61)
-- Actor Lisa Rinna in 1963 (age 57)
File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI
-- Actor Cassi Davis in 1964 (age 56)
-- Author Nilanjana "Jhumpa" Lahiri in 1967 (age 53)
-- TV host John Henson in 1967 (age 53)
Advertisement
-- TV naturalist Jeff Corwin in 1967 (age 53)
-- Actor Justin Chambers in 1970 (age 50)
-- Rapper Lil' Kim, born Kimberly Jones, in 1975 (age 45)
-- Singer Alessia Cara in 1996 (age 24)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI


upi--2020-07-11--Changes in IVF may have caused drop in cerebral palsy

Rates of cerebral palsy among babies in Nordic countries born through in vitro fertilization have fallen by more than half over the past two decades , due to fewer twin births from IVF , according to a new study .
A study in Denmark 15 years ago found a significantly increased risk of cerebral palsy in infants born through IVF .
The absolute risk was small , but cerebral palsy was the greatest developmental birth defect risk associated with the infertility procedure .
`` Multiple embryo transfer is still standard care in many countries , '' said study author Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark .
`` Our findings emphasize that single embryo transfer and singleton births should be encouraged worldwide . ''
The new study analyzed data on nearly 112,000 babies born through IVF over 24 years in Denmark , Finland and Sweden .
They were compared with nearly 5 million babies who were conceived naturally .
The overall rate of cerebral palsy during the study period fell from 12.5 cases per 1,000 live births in 1990-1993 to 3.4 per 1,000 in 2011-2014 .
The rate dropped only slightly in the children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per 1,000 .
Among single babies born through IVF , the rate fell from 8.5 per 1,000 to 2.8 per 1,000 .
However , the rate among IVF twins remained stable at 10.9 per 1,000 , according to the study .
The results were presented at the online annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology .
The findings provide strong evidence that reducing the number of twins born after IVF treatment has lowered the risk of cerebral palsy in IVF babies to a level comparable with those naturally conceived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that over the past two decades there has been considerable reduction in twin birth rates after IVF treatment .
This is especially so in the Nordic countries , Lærke Spangmose said in a meeting news release .
There , IVF twin rates have declined from almost 25 percent in the 1990s to less than 5 percent today , which is n't much higher than the 2 percent twin rate in naturally conceived pregnancies .
The March of Dimes has more on cerebral palsy .

Rates of cerebral palsy among babies in Nordic countries born through in vitro fertilization have fallen by more than half over the past two decades, due to fewer twin births from IVF, according to a new study.
A study in Denmark 15 years ago found a significantly increased risk of cerebral palsy in infants born through IVF. The absolute risk was small, but cerebral palsy was the greatest developmental birth defect risk associated with the infertility procedure.
Advertisement
"Multiple embryo transfer is still standard care in many countries," said study author Dr. Anne Lærke Spangmose, of Rigshospitalet at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark. "Our findings emphasize that single embryo transfer and singleton births should be encouraged worldwide."
The new study analyzed data on nearly 112,000 babies born through IVF over 24 years in Denmark, Finland and Sweden. They were compared with nearly 5 million babies who were conceived naturally.
The overall rate of cerebral palsy during the study period fell from 12.5 cases per 1,000 live births in 1990-1993 to 3.4 per 1,000 in 2011-2014.
The rate dropped only slightly in the children conceived naturally -- from 4.3 to 2.1 per 1,000. Among single babies born through IVF, the rate fell from 8.5 per 1,000 to 2.8 per 1,000.
Advertisement
However, the rate among IVF twins remained stable at 10.9 per 1,000, according to the study. The results were presented at the online annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.
The findings provide strong evidence that reducing the number of twins born after IVF treatment has lowered the risk of cerebral palsy in IVF babies to a level comparable with those naturally conceived, said Lærke Spangmose.
She noted that over the past two decades there has been considerable reduction in twin birth rates after IVF treatment.
This is especially so in the Nordic countries, Lærke Spangmose said in a meeting news release. There, IVF twin rates have declined from almost 25 percent in the 1990s to less than 5 percent today, which isn't much higher than the 2 percent twin rate in naturally conceived pregnancies.
More information
The March of Dimes has more on cerebral palsy.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-07-10--'Aerosol boxes' meant to protect COVID health teams may be dangerous

Aerosol boxes meant to protect healthcare workers when they intubate COVID-19 patients may actually increase their exposure to airborne virus particles , an Australian study warns .
Intubation is done when patients are placed on a ventilator .
Aerosol boxes have been touted as a quick , simple way to protect workers , but their effectiveness and safety were never clinically tested .
No international guideline on personal protective equipment has endorsed their use .
Even though experts have raised concern that the devices may put health care workers at risk , they are in use worldwide .
In this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five aerosol containment methods -- aerosol box sealed box with and without suction vertical drape and horizontal drape -- compared with no intervention .
Volunteers held a bottle of harmless fluid just under their mouth , and coughed every 30 seconds .
Detection devices were used to count different-sized airborne particles and assess particle spread for five minutes .
Compared with using no containment device , exposure to airborne particles of all sizes was higher when an aerosol box was used , the study found .
If COVID-19 particles act the same way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the results suggest the aerosol box increases exposure to virus particles -- in some cases by a factor of five times or more , according to findings published July 9 in the journal Anaesthesia .
The investigation was conducted by a team at Intensive Care and Anaesthesia Specialists at Eastern Health in Melbourne .
Peter Chan and Joanna Simpson , who led the effort , said the research team was surprised by the findings .
`` Spikes of airborne particles were clearly seen , coinciding with patient coughing .
We believe that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access holes in the aerosol box , '' the researchers reported .
The race to provide protective equipment has resulted in a variety of devices , but evidence of their safety and effectiveness has been lacking , the study authors said .
`` This study demonstrates that devices such as the aerosol box we tested -- which is typical of designs used worldwide -- confer minimal to no benefit in containing aerosols during an aerosol-generating procedure and may increase rather than decrease airborne particle exposure , '' the authors concluded .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aerosol box were sold as a product and regulated , it would probably need to be recalled immediately due to the potential infection risk for health care workers .
`` Unfortunately , because these devices have been donated and are not regulated in any way , health care workers might be continuing to increase their exposure to COVID-19 while thinking they are protecting themselves , '' he added .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on COVID-19 .

Aerosol boxes meant to protect healthcare workers when they intubate COVID-19 patients may actually increase their exposure to airborne virus particles, an Australian study warns.
Intubation is done when patients are placed on a ventilator.
Advertisement
Aerosol boxes have been touted as a quick, simple way to protect workers, but their effectiveness and safety were never clinically tested. No international guideline on personal protective equipment has endorsed their use.
Even though experts have raised concern that the devices may put health care workers at risk, they are in use worldwide.
In this study, researchers tested the effectiveness of five aerosol containment methods -- aerosol box sealed box with and without suction vertical drape and horizontal drape -- compared with no intervention.
Volunteers held a bottle of harmless fluid just under their mouth, and coughed every 30 seconds. Detection devices were used to count different-sized airborne particles and assess particle spread for five minutes.
Compared with using no containment device, exposure to airborne particles of all sizes was higher when an aerosol box was used, the study found.
If COVID-19 particles act the same way as the fluid used in this simulation, the results suggest the aerosol box increases exposure to virus particles -- in some cases by a factor of five times or more, according to findings published July 9 in the journal Anaesthesia.
Advertisement
The investigation was conducted by a team at Intensive Care and Anaesthesia Specialists at Eastern Health in Melbourne. Peter Chan and Joanna Simpson, who led the effort, said the research team was surprised by the findings.
"Spikes of airborne particles were clearly seen, coinciding with patient coughing. We believe that these represent particles escaping from the arm access holes in the aerosol box," the researchers reported.
The race to provide protective equipment has resulted in a variety of devices, but evidence of their safety and effectiveness has been lacking, the study authors said.
"This study demonstrates that devices such as the aerosol box we tested -- which is typical of designs used worldwide -- confer minimal to no benefit in containing aerosols during an aerosol-generating procedure and may increase rather than decrease airborne particle exposure," the authors concluded.
In a journal news release, Chan said if the aerosol box were sold as a product and regulated, it would probably need to be recalled immediately due to the potential infection risk for health care workers.
"Unfortunately, because these devices have been donated and are not regulated in any way, health care workers might be continuing to increase their exposure to COVID-19 while thinking they are protecting themselves," he added.
Advertisement
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on COVID-19.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-07-10--NHL, players' union approve return-to-play plan, four-year CBA extension

July 10 ( UPI ) -- The NHL and the players ' union ratified plans to resume the 2019-20 season in August and approved a four-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement , the sides announced Friday .
The NHL Players Association on Wednesday started a full-membership vote on both the return-to-play plan and the CBA , and the voting concluded Friday .
`` Today , the NHL and the NHLPA announced a significant agreement that addresses the uncertainty everyone is dealing with , the framework for the completion of the 2019-20 season , and the foundation for the continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement Friday .
`` I thank NHLPA executive director Don Fehr and special assistant to the executive director Mathieu Schneider , the more than 700 NHL players -- particularly those who worked on our Return to Play Committee -- and the NHL 's Board of Governors for coming together under extraordinary circumstances for the good of our game .
`` While we have all worked very hard to try to address the risks of COVID-19 , we know that health and safety are and will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that all of our fans are excited about our return to the ice next month , and that has been our goal since we paused our season on March 12 . ''
Training camps for NHL clubs will open Monday .
The 24-team tournament will begin Aug. 1 in two hub cities -- Edmonton for the Western Conference and Toronto for the Eastern Conference .
The qualification round will consist of five-game series between the Nos .
5-12 seeds .
The top four seeds in each conference earned a bye and will compete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine seeding .
After the seeds are determined in each conference , the Stanley Cup playoffs will continue in its traditional format .
The Stanley Cup Final is expected to begin Sept. 22 and end no later than Oct. 4 .
The NHL Draft is tentatively set for Oct. 9-10 .
After the four-year extension , the collective bargaining agreement will now run through the 2025-26 season .
The current CBA -- ratified in January 2013 -- was set to expire in September 2022 .
Among the most significant elements of the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow NHL players to return to the Olympics in 2022 and 2026 , pending an agreement with the IIHF and IOC .
The NHL did n't allow players to compete in the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang for the first time since 1994 , angering many players who hoped to represent their countries .

The Stanley Cup Final is expected to begin Sept. 22 and end no later than Oct. 4. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 10 (UPI) -- The NHL and the players' union ratified plans to resume the 2019-20 season in August and approved a four-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement, the sides announced Friday. The NHL Players Association on Wednesday started a full-membership vote on both the return-to-play plan and the CBA, and the voting concluded Friday. Advertisement
"Today, the NHL and the NHLPA announced a significant agreement that addresses the uncertainty everyone is dealing with, the framework for the completion of the 2019-20 season, and the foundation for the continued long-term growth of our league," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement Friday.
"I thank NHLPA executive director Don Fehr and special assistant to the executive director Mathieu Schneider, the more than 700 NHL players -- particularly those who worked on our Return to Play Committee -- and the NHL's Board of Governors for coming together under extraordinary circumstances for the good of our game.
"While we have all worked very hard to try to address the risks of COVID-19, we know that health and safety are and will continue to be our priorities. We know that all of our fans are excited about our return to the ice next month, and that has been our goal since we paused our season on March 12."
Advertisement
Training camps for NHL clubs will open Monday. The 24-team tournament will begin Aug. 1 in two hub cities -- Edmonton for the Western Conference and Toronto for the Eastern Conference.
The qualification round will consist of five-game series between the Nos. 5-12 seeds. The top four seeds in each conference earned a bye and will compete in round-robin games against each other to determine seeding.
After the seeds are determined in each conference, the Stanley Cup playoffs will continue in its traditional format.
The Stanley Cup Final is expected to begin Sept. 22 and end no later than Oct. 4. The NHL Draft is tentatively set for Oct. 9-10.
THE BRACKET IS SET Who's your pick to win the #StanleyCup? pic.twitter.com/UsXpgYL44n— NHL (@NHL) July 11, 2020
After the four-year extension, the collective bargaining agreement will now run through the 2025-26 season. The current CBA -- ratified in January 2013 -- was set to expire in September 2022.
Among the most significant elements of the new collective bargaining agreement is language that would allow NHL players to return to the Olympics in 2022 and 2026, pending an agreement with the IIHF and IOC.
Advertisement
The NHL didn't allow players to compete in the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang for the first time since 1994, angering many players who hoped to represent their countries.


upi--2020-07-11--Russians in Far East region protest arrest of regional governor

July 11 ( UPI ) -- Tens of thousands of people protested in the Far East region of Russia Saturday @ @ @ @ @ of President Vladimir Putin and demanding the release of a regional governor arrested recently on @ @ @ @ @ in Khabarovsk , a city bordering China , and numerous other towns were the largest @ @ @ @ @ years .
Some demonstrations were comparable in size to those last summer in Moscow , @ @ @ @ @ Putin 's regime have taken place .
On Thursday Sergei I. Furgai , the governor @ @ @ @ @ sprawling region that spans the Chinese frontier to the Arctic along the Pacific region , @ @ @ @ @ in Khabarovsk city on suspicion of involvement in multiple murders in the early 2000s .
@ @ @ @ @ after defeating a Kremlin-endorsed candidate , and critics said the arrest , which comes less @ @ @ @ @ referendum that gave Putin the ability to serve beyond his term limits , is an @ @ @ @ @ Putin .

Russian policemen escort arrest governor of Khabarovsk territory Sergei Furgal to Basmanny district court in Moscow, Russia Friday. Sergei Furgal was arrested Thursday on charges connected to several contract killings of businessmen, his business partners in 2004-2005. On Saturday tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated across Khabarovsk in opposition to the arrest, which critics say was politically motivated. Photo by Maxim Shipenkov/EPA-EFE
July 11 (UPI) -- Tens of thousands of people protested in the Far East region of Russia Saturday, calling for the resignation of President Vladimir Putin and demanding the release of a regional governor arrested recently on murder charges. The protests in Khabarovsk, a city bordering China, and numerous other towns were the largest in the area in many years. Advertisement
Some demonstrations were comparable in size to those last summer in Moscow, where most street protests opposing Putin's regime have taken place.
On Thursday Sergei I. Furgai, the governor of Khabarovsk Krai, a sprawling region that spans the Chinese frontier to the Arctic along the Pacific region, was arrested near his home in Khabarovsk city on suspicion of involvement in multiple murders in the early 2000s.
Furgal took office in 2018 after defeating a Kremlin-endorsed candidate, and critics said the arrest, which comes less than two weeks after a referendum that gave Putin the ability to serve beyond his term limits, is an attempt to suppress opposition to Putin.