upi--2020-05-29--Developing system could be earliest 3rd tropical storm on record

An already active Atlantic hurricane season -- which has n't officially begun yet -- could take a turn for the record books with a new disturbance that looks poised to strengthen .
The season officially begins Monday .
Forecasters are now monitoring an area of low pressure designated as Invest 92L , which was developing Friday morning about 700 miles southeast of Bermuda , and they say it could strengthen further in the coming days .
Satellite images on Friday morning showed an area of showers and thunderstorms beginning to become better organized with a notable swirl of low pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kicked off with the formation of Tropical Storm Arthur on May 16 , and the system narrowly missed the Outer Banks of North Carolina .
That was followed by the rapid development of Tropical Storm Bertha less than two weeks later .
Bertha made an unusually early landfall in the United States near Charleston , S.C. , on Wednesday .
AccuWeather meteorologists have been warning that the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season could be a very active one , and so far it 's playing out that way .
There have been only five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Atlantic during May or earlier , including 2016 , 2012 , 1951 , 1908 and 1887 .
When a pocket of cold air in the atmosphere sits over warm water , the two elements can lead to the formation of a low-pressure system closer to the ocean surface .
That process appeared to be underway Friday and may fully form a tropical system in the next 24 hours to 36 hours .
This area of disturbed weather has already been designated as an invest area , meaning that the National Hurricane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or investigating the area in question .
Any information the NHC gathers provides forecasters more data with which to determine the possibility of development .
As of Friday morning , the system had struggled to develop due to wind shear , or changing wind speeds or directions at high altitude .
However , if the disturbance can become better organized , it may become less susceptible to the effects of wind shear .
Typically , tropical systems develop and strengthen most efficiently when they are over water temperatures of 80 F or higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area where ocean water temperatures were ranging between 75 and 77 on Friday morning , but very warm water was located just to the south .
However , if the disturbance is to strengthen enough to be given a name , it would need to develop quickly , as it will begin moving northward over cooler waters on Friday afternoon .
Regardless of development , the system should stay at least 300 miles east of Bermuda .
Therefore , any potential storm that develops should bring little impact to Bermuda other than generating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even though preseason tropical storm formation is not uncommon , the development of three named storms before June 1 has never happened in the Atlantic Basin .
Prior to the satellite era , there were likely a number of tropical systems that went undetected over the world 's oceans , including the Atlantic from the 1960s on back .
`` In 1951 , a tropical storm formed in January , then a hurricane followed in May and another tropical system , a depression also formed that same May , '' according to AccuWeather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if this area strengthens into a named tropical system , it would be the earliest third tropical storm on record in the Atlantic .
And it would be given the name Cristobal , which is next on the predetermined 2020 Atlantic name list .
`` The earliest number-three tropical storm on record is Colin , which formed on June 5 , 2016 , '' AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said .
Typically , the third named storm usually develops much later in the season , occurring on average in August .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third named storm , '' said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski .
The same list of names is used every six years , unless a storm is unusually strong or deadly .
The name Cristobal was most recently used in 2014 .
That year , Cristobal did not form until late August .
Another hotspot for tropical activity may emerge in the Atlantic , but forecasters say conditions could take longer to come together in this zone .
An area of low pressure could form in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The developing low-pressure area could strengthen into a more organized tropical system as early as next weekend , but AccuWeather forecasters say that sort of development is more likely to happen during the second week of June .
Historically , storms that develop in this region of the Atlantic basin are most likely to impact the U.S. directly at this time of the year .

Satellite images on Friday morning showed an area of showers and thunderstorms beginning to become better organized with a notable swirl of low pressure. Image courtesy of NOAA
An already active Atlantic hurricane season -- which hasn't officially begun yet -- could take a turn for the record books with a new disturbance that looks poised to strengthen. The season officially begins Monday. Forecasters are now monitoring an area of low pressure designated as Invest 92L, which was developing Friday morning about 700 miles southeast of Bermuda, and they say it could strengthen further in the coming days. Satellite images on Friday morning showed an area of showers and thunderstorms beginning to become better organized with a notable swirl of low pressure. An area of showers and thunderstorms were beginning to swirl into an area of low pressure over the central Atlantic, several hundreds of miles southeast of Bermuda, on Friday, May 29, 2020. Forecasters are closely monitoring the disturbance for further development by this weekend. Photo courtesy of NOAA Advertisement Advertisement
The busy start to the year kicked off with the formation of Tropical Storm Arthur on May 16, and the system narrowly missed the Outer Banks of North Carolina. That was followed by the rapid development of Tropical Storm Bertha less than two weeks later. Bertha made an unusually early landfall in the United States near Charleston, S.C., on Wednesday.
AccuWeather meteorologists have been warning that the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season could be a very active one, and so far it's playing out that way. There have been only five years where two storms have been named in the Atlantic during May or earlier, including 2016, 2012, 1951, 1908 and 1887.
When a pocket of cold air in the atmosphere sits over warm water, the two elements can lead to the formation of a low-pressure system closer to the ocean surface. That process appeared to be underway Friday and may fully form a tropical system in the next 24 hours to 36 hours.
This area of disturbed weather has already been designated as an invest area, meaning that the National Hurricane Center is interested in collecting extra information or investigating the area in question. Any information the NHC gathers provides forecasters more data with which to determine the possibility of development.
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As of Friday morning, the system had struggled to develop due to wind shear, or changing wind speeds or directions at high altitude. However, if the disturbance can become better organized, it may become less susceptible to the effects of wind shear.
Typically, tropical systems develop and strengthen most efficiently when they are over water temperatures of 80 F or higher. Invest 92L was moving over an area where ocean water temperatures were ranging between 75 and 77 on Friday morning, but very warm water was located just to the south. However, if the disturbance is to strengthen enough to be given a name, it would need to develop quickly, as it will begin moving northward over cooler waters on Friday afternoon.
Regardless of development, the system should stay at least 300 miles east of Bermuda. Therefore, any potential storm that develops should bring little impact to Bermuda other than generating slightly elevated seas and rough surf.
Even though preseason tropical storm formation is not uncommon, the development of three named storms before June 1 has never happened in the Atlantic Basin.
Prior to the satellite era, there were likely a number of tropical systems that went undetected over the world's oceans, including the Atlantic from the 1960s on back.
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"In 1951, a tropical storm formed in January, then a hurricane followed in May and another tropical system, a depression also formed that same May," according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
But officially, if this area strengthens into a named tropical system, it would be the earliest third tropical storm on record in the Atlantic. And it would be given the name Cristobal, which is next on the predetermined 2020 Atlantic name list.
"The earliest number-three tropical storm on record is Colin, which formed on June 5, 2016," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said.
Typically, the third named storm usually develops much later in the season, occurring on average in August. "Aug. 13 is the average date of the third named storm," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.
The same list of names is used every six years, unless a storm is unusually strong or deadly. The name Cristobal was most recently used in 2014. That year, Cristobal did not form until late August.
Another hotspot for tropical activity may emerge in the Atlantic, but forecasters say conditions could take longer to come together in this zone. An area of low pressure could form in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico or northwestern Caribbean Sea sometime next week. The developing low-pressure area could strengthen into a more organized tropical system as early as next weekend, but AccuWeather forecasters say that sort of development is more likely to happen during the second week of June. Historically, storms that develop in this region of the Atlantic basin are most likely to impact the U.S. directly at this time of the year.


upi--2020-05-29--Minneapolis officer charged for George Floyd's death; curfew ordered

May 29 ( UPI ) -- A former Minneapolis police officer seen kneeling on the neck of George Floyd before he died during an arrest this week has been charged with murder , Minnesota prosecutors said Friday .
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced that Derek Chauvin had been charged with third-degree murder in connection with Floyd 's Monday death .
Floyd was pronounced dead after his arrest on suspicion of using a counterfeit bill at a grocery store .
Video of the African-American man gasping for breath as the white police officer kneeled on the back of his neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ igniting a four-day wave of protests and rioting in the Twin Cities and elsewhere in the country .
Chauvin was taken into custody earlier Friday by the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension .
Freeman said prosecutors were still reviewing the evidence and indicated there could be further charges brought against Chauvin .
He and three other officers involved in Floyd 's death were fired from the Minneapolis Police Department shortly after the video was released .
Freeman said investigations of the others were ongoing .
`` We felt it appropriate to focus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding that his office has never before brought murder charges within only a four-day time span .
Among the evidence against Chauvin , he said , was the citizen 's video , the officers ' body cameras , witness statements , a preliminary medical examiner 's report and expert testimony .
Minneapolis Council Member Andrea Jenkins told MSNBC that Floyd and Chauvin worked together as security guards at the same Minneapolis restaurant for 17 years .
`` Officer Chauvin , he knew George for a very long time , '' Jenkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz signed an executive order instituting an 8 p.m. curfew in Minneapolis and St. Paul as the cities geared up for a fourth night of protests .
`` it 's time to rebuild our community and that starts with safety in our streets , '' Walz said .
`` Thousands of Minnesotans have expressed their grief and frustration in a peaceful manner .
But the unlawful and dangerous actions of others , under the cover of darkness , has caused irreversible pain and damage to our community .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , businesses , lawful demonstrators and first responders .
Now , we come together to restore the peace . ''
Roseville , Minn. , Mayor Dan Roe also imposed an 8 p.m. curfew and issued an emergency declaration , Protests broke out for a fourth evening Friday across the country , with demonstrations turning violent in some instances .
California Highway Patrol spokeswoman Alicia Moreno told CNN that protesters threw projectiles at officers and vandalized vehicles in San Jose .
Demonstrators also clashed with police in Brooklyn near the Barclays Center .
Demonstrators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was placed on lockdown .
In Atlanta , protesters erected a Black Lives Matter flag on the CNN sign , which was also spray painted .
Some demonstrators also burned an American flag and broke glass at the CNN Center .
Protests were also reported in Houston , Dallas , Louisville , Ky. , and Wisconsin .
In Minneapolis , where Floyd was killed , protesters changed `` I ca n't breathe '' -- among Floyd 's last words -- and took a knee for 9 minutes , the amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Floyd 's neck .
Late Thursday , demonstrators set fire to a police precinct building in the neighborhood where Floyd died .
The building had been evacuated by order of Mayor Jacob Frey , who said he was unwilling to endanger lives to protect the building .
`` I understand the importance of a precinct , '' he said .
`` [ But ] the symbolism of a building can not outweigh the importance of life , of our officers , or the public .
We could not risk serious injury to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third precinct entirely . ''
At 4:30 a.m. Friday , protesters and looters still were out on the streets in the neighborhood as several nearby commercial buildings burned unchecked .
Firefighters arrived shortly afterward , accompanied by state police in riot gear , who began to arrest people in the area , including a CNN reporter and crew members .
CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez and three crew members were taken into custody live on the air .
The news organization immediately criticized the arrests and called for their release .
Minnesota Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning he `` took full responsibility '' for incident while issuing a `` very public apology '' to CNN .
`` There is no reason something like this should happen , '' he said .
The unrest also spread to neighboring St. Paul , where protesters looted a Target store and set fire to several businesses along a busy commercial corridor .
Earlier in the night , National Guard troops were deployed in the two cities at Walz 's order .
The governor said he issued the order at the request of local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for National Guard resources after `` extensive damage to private property '' occurred during the protests .
At a press conference early Friday , Frey responded to President Donald Trump , who tweeted about the Minnesota protests .
In the post , he called Frey `` a very weak radical left mayor '' and said , `` when the looting starts , the shooting starts . ''
Twitter flagged Trump 's tweet as violating its rules and `` glorifying violence . ''
`` Weakness is refusing to take responsibility for your own actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weakness is pointing your finger at somebody else , during a time of crisis .
Donald Trump knows nothing about the strength of Minneapolis .
We are strong as hell .
Is this a difficult time period ?
Yes .
But you better be damn sure that we 're going to get through this . ''
Racially charged unrest over Floyd 's death and similar police brutality cases spread across the United States late Thursday .
Protests occurred from coast to coast .
In Louisville , Ky. , seven people were shot during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local resident Breonna Taylor during a March police raid .
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said in an early morning video message the shootings came from within the crowd .
Five of those wounded were not seriously hurt , while two were sent into surgery and one was in critical condition .
`` No officers fired their weapons , '' he said , thanking them for directing aid to the injured demonstrators `` despite the risk to themselves . ''
The shots were fired around 11:30 p.m. as protesters gathered near the Louis D. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempting to overturn a police prison transport vehicle before in the moments before the gunfire , video showed .
In New York City , more than 70 people were arrested Thursday night as protesters broke COVID-19 lockdown rules to protest Floyd 's death .
Five were charged with felonies for assaulting police officers -- three of whom were injured in the melee -- NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan said , adding police will be ready for more protests Friday and over the weekend .
`` There will be a very large police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We expect that these will be peaceful , that people will express their outrage on the incident that happened in Minnesota , and rightly so .
`` But we 'll be out there to make sure we keep the peace .
And if there are any agitators within the group , if we need to make that arrest , we 'll single that individual out , we 'll take him and allow the other peaceful protesters to go on . ''
In Columbus , Ohio , protests over Floyd 's death turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objects at police .
Officers responded by firing tear gas .
Protesters later broke windows at the Ohio Statehouse and entered the building .
Police tactical squads quickly responded .
Widespread vandalism and property damage was reported in the city .
As the weekend approached with the likelihood of more protests , the Mall of America in suburban Minneapolis announced it has delayed a planned partial reopening .
`` Out of an abundance of caution , given the significant unrest in the community , Mall of America has decided to postpone its planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Mall officials said in a website post , adding that curbside pick-up had also been suspended .
`` Our top priority is the safety of our tenants , their employees , and our team members ; and restricting access to the building will allow us to do that , '' they told NBC News .
`` By delaying our reopening date , it will give mall retailers additional time to prepare . ''

1/6
Protesters cheer as fireworks are lit and multiple fires burn Thursday night near an abandoned police precinct in Minneapolis as part of reaction to the death of George Floyd. Photo by Craig Lassig/EPA-EFE
May 29 (UPI) -- A former Minneapolis police officer seen kneeling on the neck of George Floyd before he died during an arrest this week has been charged with murder, Minnesota prosecutors said Friday. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced that Derek Chauvin had been charged with third-degree murder in connection with Floyd's Monday death. Advertisement
Floyd was pronounced dead after his arrest on suspicion of using a counterfeit bill at a grocery store. Video of the African-American man gasping for breath as the white police officer kneeled on the back of his neck for several minutes quickly circulated online, igniting a four-day wave of protests and rioting in the Twin Cities and elsewhere in the country.
Chauvin was taken into custody earlier Friday by the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
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Freeman said prosecutors were still reviewing the evidence and indicated there could be further charges brought against Chauvin.
He and three other officers involved in Floyd's death were fired from the Minneapolis Police Department shortly after the video was released. Freeman said investigations of the others were ongoing.
"We felt it appropriate to focus on the most dangerous perpetrator," he said, adding that his office has never before brought murder charges within only a four-day time span.
Among the evidence against Chauvin, he said, was the citizen's video, the officers' body cameras, witness statements, a preliminary medical examiner's report and expert testimony.
Minneapolis Council Member Andrea Jenkins told MSNBC that Floyd and Chauvin worked together as security guards at the same Minneapolis restaurant for 17 years.
"Officer Chauvin, he knew George for a very long time," Jenkins said.
The charges came hours before Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order instituting an 8 p.m. curfew in Minneapolis and St. Paul as the cities geared up for a fourth night of protests.
"it's time to rebuild our community and that starts with safety in our streets," Walz said.
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"Thousands of Minnesotans have expressed their grief and frustration in a peaceful manner. But the unlawful and dangerous actions of others, under the cover of darkness, has caused irreversible pain and damage to our community. This behavior has compromised the safety of bystanders, businesses, lawful demonstrators and first responders. Now, we come together to restore the peace."
Roseville, Minn., Mayor Dan Roe also imposed an 8 p.m. curfew and issued an emergency declaration,
Protests broke out for a fourth evening Friday across the country, with demonstrations turning violent in some instances.
California Highway Patrol spokeswoman Alicia Moreno told CNN that protesters threw projectiles at officers and vandalized vehicles in San Jose. Demonstrators also clashed with police in Brooklyn near the Barclays Center.
Demonstrators have also gathered outside the White House, which was placed on lockdown.
In Atlanta, protesters erected a Black Lives Matter flag on the CNN sign, which was also spray painted. Some demonstrators also burned an American flag and broke glass at the CNN Center.
Protests were also reported in Houston, Dallas, Louisville, Ky., and Wisconsin.
In Minneapolis, where Floyd was killed, protesters changed "I can't breathe" -- among Floyd's last words -- and took a knee for 9 minutes, the amount of time the criminal complaint says Chauvin kneeled on Floyd's neck.
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Late Thursday, demonstrators set fire to a police precinct building in the neighborhood where Floyd died. The building had been evacuated by order of Mayor Jacob Frey, who said he was unwilling to endanger lives to protect the building.
"I understand the importance of a precinct," he said. "[But] the symbolism of a building cannot outweigh the importance of life, of our officers, or the public. We could not risk serious injury to anyone and we will continue to patrol the third precinct entirely."
At 4:30 a.m. Friday, protesters and looters still were out on the streets in the neighborhood as several nearby commercial buildings burned unchecked.
Firefighters arrived shortly afterward, accompanied by state police in riot gear, who began to arrest people in the area, including a CNN reporter and crew members.
CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez and three crew members were taken into custody live on the air. The news organization immediately criticized the arrests and called for their release.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said later in the morning he "took full responsibility" for incident while issuing a "very public apology" to CNN.
"There is no reason something like this should happen," he said.
Advertisement
The unrest also spread to neighboring St. Paul, where protesters looted a Target store and set fire to several businesses along a busy commercial corridor.
Earlier in the night, National Guard troops were deployed in the two cities at Walz's order.
The governor said he issued the order at the request of local leaders who called on the state government for National Guard resources after "extensive damage to private property" occurred during the protests.
At a press conference early Friday, Frey responded to President Donald Trump, who tweeted about the Minnesota protests. In the post, he called Frey "a very weak radical left mayor" and said, "when the looting starts, the shooting starts."
Twitter flagged Trump's tweet as violating its rules and "glorifying violence."
"Weakness is refusing to take responsibility for your own actions," Frey told reporters.
"Weakness is pointing your finger at somebody else, during a time of crisis. Donald Trump knows nothing about the strength of Minneapolis. We are strong as hell. Is this a difficult time period? Yes. But you better be damn sure that we're going to get through this."
Racially charged unrest over Floyd's death and similar police brutality cases spread across the United States late Thursday. Protests occurred from coast to coast.
Advertisement
In Louisville, Ky., seven people were shot during a protest over the shooting death of local resident Breonna Taylor during a March police raid.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said in an early morning video message the shootings came from within the crowd. Five of those wounded were not seriously hurt, while two were sent into surgery and one was in critical condition.
"No officers fired their weapons," he said, thanking them for directing aid to the injured demonstrators "despite the risk to themselves."
The shots were fired around 11:30 p.m. as protesters gathered near the Louis D. Brandeis Hall of Justice. They were attempting to overturn a police prison transport vehicle before in the moments before the gunfire, video showed.
In New York City, more than 70 people were arrested Thursday night as protesters broke COVID-19 lockdown rules to protest Floyd's death.
Five were charged with felonies for assaulting police officers -- three of whom were injured in the melee -- NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan said, adding police will be ready for more protests Friday and over the weekend.
Advertisement
"There will be a very large police presence there," he said. "We expect that these will be peaceful, that people will express their outrage on the incident that happened in Minnesota, and rightly so.
"But we'll be out there to make sure we keep the peace. And if there are any agitators within the group, if we need to make that arrest, we'll single that individual out, we'll take him and allow the other peaceful protesters to go on."
In Columbus, Ohio, protests over Floyd's death turned violent when some demonstrators began to throw objects at police. Officers responded by firing tear gas.
Protesters later broke windows at the Ohio Statehouse and entered the building. Police tactical squads quickly responded.
Widespread vandalism and property damage was reported in the city.
As the weekend approached with the likelihood of more protests, the Mall of America in suburban Minneapolis announced it has delayed a planned partial reopening.
"Out of an abundance of caution, given the significant unrest in the community, Mall of America has decided to postpone its planned June 1 reopening of retail stores," Mall officials said in a website post, adding that curbside pick-up had also been suspended.
Advertisement
"Our top priority is the safety of our tenants, their employees, and our team members; and restricting access to the building will allow us to do that," they told NBC News. "By delaying our reopening date, it will give mall retailers additional time to prepare."


upi--2020-05-29--Former Chicago Bears star S Roosevelt Taylor dies at 82

May 29 ( UPI ) -- Former Chicago Bears star defensive back Roosevelt `` Rosey '' Taylor died at the age of 82 , the team announced Friday .
The team did n't provide a cause of death .
`` Today we lost a Bears great with the passing of Roosevelt Taylor , '' the Bears said in a statement .
`` Our thoughts are with Rosey 's family and loved ones . ''
Taylor , a native of New Orleans and an alum of Grambling State University , spent the first nine seasons of his NFL career with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a game .
During that span , he appeared in 118 contests ( 108 starts ) and recorded 23 interceptions and four defensive touchdowns .
Known for his ballhawk abilities , Taylor was named first-team All-Pro and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl after leading the league with a career-best nine interceptions in 1963 .
He also helped the franchise beat the New York Giants at Wrigley Field to win the league championship that same year .
Taylor was named second-team All-Pro in 1964 and 1965 , and was voted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After starting the first six games of the 1969 season , Taylor -- along with a fifth-round draft pick in the 1971 draft -- was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for offensive lineman Howard Mudd .
He started 30 out of 34 games in two-plus seasons with the 49ers and retired after spending one year with the Washington Redskins in 1972 .
Taylor 's son , Brian , appeared in eight NFL games with Chicago and the Buffalo Bills , rushing twice for seven yards as a member of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife , Claudia , also were parents to two daughters .

May 29 (UPI) -- Former Chicago Bears star defensive back Roosevelt "Rosey" Taylor died at the age of 82, the team announced Friday.
The team didn't provide a cause of death.
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"Today we lost a Bears great with the passing of Roosevelt Taylor," the Bears said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with Rosey's family and loved ones."
Taylor, a native of New Orleans and an alum of Grambling State University, spent the first nine seasons of his NFL career with the Bears (1961-69) and never missed a game. During that span, he appeared in 118 contests (108 starts) and recorded 23 interceptions and four defensive touchdowns.
Known for his ballhawk abilities, Taylor was named first-team All-Pro and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl after leading the league with a career-best nine interceptions in 1963. He also helped the franchise beat the New York Giants at Wrigley Field to win the league championship that same year.
Taylor was named second-team All-Pro in 1964 and 1965, and was voted to his second Pro Bowl in 1968.
Advertisement Today we lost a Bears great with the passing of Roosevelt Taylor. Our thoughts are with Rosey's family and loved ones.— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 29, 2020
After starting the first six games of the 1969 season, Taylor -- along with a fifth-round draft pick in the 1971 draft -- was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for offensive lineman Howard Mudd. He started 30 out of 34 games in two-plus seasons with the 49ers and retired after spending one year with the Washington Redskins in 1972.
Taylor's son, Brian, appeared in eight NFL games with Chicago and the Buffalo Bills, rushing twice for seven yards as a member of the 1989 Bears team. Taylor and his wife, Claudia, also were parents to two daughters.


upi--2020-05-29--Florida judge denies new trial for James Dailey

May 29 ( UPI ) -- A Florida judge on Friday denied a new trial for a death row inmate convicted of killing a 14-year-old girl in 1985 .
Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Pat Siracusa issued the order in response to a March hearing in which James Dailey 's lawyers sought to introduce new evidence exonerating their client .
The Tampa Bay Times reported that the defense team obtained a signed statement from Dailey 's co-defendant , Jack Pearcy , who said he alone killed Shelly Boggio in 1985 .
During the hearing , though , Pearcy refused to testify .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new evidence , he wo n't grant a new trial .
`` Unfortunately , the trial court ruled today that it could not consider the overwhelming evidence of Mr. Dailey 's innocence , including Jack Pearcy 's repeated confessions that he committed the murder alone , because of its view concerning a number of technical legal requirements , '' Dailey 's lawyer , Josh Dubin , told the Times .
`` We respectfully disagree with the court 's ruling and will continue to fight for justice for James Dailey .
He did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 73 , was sentenced to the death penalty for Boggio 's death , while Pearcy received life in prison .
In one statement , Pearcy told investigators that Dailey stabbed Boggio and held her underwater until she drowned .
Her body was found floating in waters off Indian Rocks Beach in Pinellas County .
Dailey was convicted in 1987 based mostly on testimony from three jailhouse informants .
There was no physical evidence linking him to the slaying .
The Florida Supreme Court in November rejected Dailey 's appeal for a stay of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Nov. 7 , 2019 , but was granted a temporary stay in October by U.S. District Judge William Jung to allow his new attorneys more time to prepare their case .

James Dailey was convicted of stabbing and drowning a 14-year-old girl in 1985. File Photo courtesy of the Florida Department of Corrections
May 29 (UPI) -- A Florida judge on Friday denied a new trial for a death row inmate convicted of killing a 14-year-old girl in 1985. Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Pat Siracusa issued the order in response to a March hearing in which James Dailey's lawyers sought to introduce new evidence exonerating their client. Advertisement
The Tampa Bay Times reported that the defense team obtained a signed statement from Dailey's co-defendant, Jack Pearcy, who said he alone killed Shelly Boggio in 1985. During the hearing, though, Pearcy refused to testify.
Siracusa said that because there's no new evidence, he won't grant a new trial.
"Unfortunately, the trial court ruled today that it could not consider the overwhelming evidence of Mr. Dailey's innocence, including Jack Pearcy's repeated confessions that he committed the murder alone, because of its view concerning a number of technical legal requirements," Dailey's lawyer, Josh Dubin, told the Times.
"We respectfully disagree with the court's ruling and will continue to fight for justice for James Dailey. He did not murder Shelly Boggio."
Dailey, 73, was sentenced to the death penalty for Boggio's death, while Pearcy received life in prison. In one statement, Pearcy told investigators that Dailey stabbed Boggio and held her underwater until she drowned.
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Her body was found floating in waters off Indian Rocks Beach in Pinellas County.
Dailey was convicted in 1987 based mostly on testimony from three jailhouse informants. There was no physical evidence linking him to the slaying.
The Florida Supreme Court in November rejected Dailey's appeal for a stay of execution.
Dailey was scheduled for execution on Nov. 7, 2019, but was granted a temporary stay in October by U.S. District Judge William Jung to allow his new attorneys more time to prepare their case.


upi--2020-05-29--All-Star pitcher David Price giving Dodgers minor leaguers $1K amid pandemic

May 29 ( UPI ) -- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher David Price is donating funds to each minor league player in the organization to help the individuals stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic .
League sources told ESPN and the Orange County Register on Friday that Price will give each minor leaguer who is not on the Dodgers ' 40-man roster $ 1,000 for the month of June .
The donation will impact more than 200 people facing financial difficulties during the COVID-19 outbreak .
The Dodgers previously committed to continuing their payments -- totaling $ 400 each week -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Oakland Athletics recently opted to cut those payments , and other clubs could soon do the same .
Minor League Baseball is unlikely to take place in 2020 , as more than 1,000 players could be released over the next few days .
On Thursday , hundreds of minor league players were dropped amid coronavirus-related financial issues for the league , with some teams cutting as many as 64 players .
Price , the No .
1 overall pick out of Vanderbilt in 2007 , was traded to the Dodgers in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in February .
If MLB holds its season this year , the 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner and five-time All-Star selection will enter the fifth season of his seven-year , $ 217 million contract .

Former Boston Red Sox pitcher David Price joined the Los Angeles Dodgers after a five-player trade in February. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
May 29 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher David Price is donating funds to each minor league player in the organization to help the individuals stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic. League sources told ESPN and the Orange County Register on Friday that Price will give each minor leaguer who is not on the Dodgers' 40-man roster $1,000 for the month of June. The donation will impact more than 200 people facing financial difficulties during the COVID-19 outbreak. Advertisement
The Dodgers previously committed to continuing their payments -- totaling $400 each week -- to minor league players through June. The Oakland Athletics recently opted to cut those payments, and other clubs could soon do the same.
Minor League Baseball is unlikely to take place in 2020, as more than 1,000 players could be released over the next few days. On Thursday, hundreds of minor league players were dropped amid coronavirus-related financial issues for the league, with some teams cutting as many as 64 players.
Price, the No. 1 overall pick out of Vanderbilt in 2007, was traded to the Dodgers in a five-player deal with the Boston Red Sox in February. If MLB holds its season this year, the 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner and five-time All-Star selection will enter the fifth season of his seven-year, $217 million contract.


upi--2020-05-29--Australian zookeeper airlifted after attack by two lions

May 29 ( UPI ) -- A zookeeper in Australia sustained `` critical '' injuries Friday when two lions attacked @ @ @ @ @ their enclosure , local police said .
New South Wales police said emergency services treated @ @ @ @ @ and neck injuries at the scene before airlifting her to St. George Hospital in Kogarah @ @ @ @ @ .
She was `` in critical but stable condition , '' a statement from police @ @ @ @ @ just before 10:30 a.m. at Shoalhaven Zoo as the zookeeper was cleaning the lion enclosure @ @ @ @ @ District was investigating the circumstances that led to the attack .

May 29 (UPI) -- A zookeeper in Australia sustained "critical" injuries Friday when two lions attacked her while she was cleaning their enclosure, local police said.
New South Wales police said emergency services treated the 35-year-old woman for head and neck injuries at the scene before airlifting her to St. George Hospital in Kogarah, a suburb of Sydney.
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She was "in critical but stable condition," a statement from police said.
The attack happened just before 10:30 a.m. at Shoalhaven Zoo as the zookeeper was cleaning the lion enclosure.
The South Coast Police District was investigating the circumstances that led to the attack.


upi--2020-05-29--Undergoing surgery with COVID-19 can lead to serious lung complications, study says

May 29 ( UPI ) -- More than half of those who undergo surgery with COVID-19 develop lung complications like pneumonia and serious breathing problems , according to a study published Friday by the journal The Lancet .
In addition , nearly 40 percent of those patients died within 30 days , the authors found .
`` Although the risks associated with COVID-19 need to be carefully balanced against the risks of delaying surgery for every individual patient , our study suggests that the thresholds for surgery should be raised , compared to normal practice , '' co-author Dr. Aneel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medical teams should consider postponing noncritical procedures and promoting other treatment options , which may delay the need for surgery or sometimes avoid it altogether , '' said Bhangu , a surgeon at the University of Birmingham in England .
Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 , the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 , in the hospital has been linked with pulmonary complications , due to the increased inflammation and immune responses to surgery and mechanical ventilation , Bhangu and his colleagues said .
A number of guidelines exist for managing surgical patients during the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much research on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pulmonary complications and death .
For the research , Bhangu and his team analyzed outcomes data for 1,128 patients from 235 hospitals in 24 countries , in the United States and primarily Europe .
Most of the patients , 74 percent , underwent emergency surgery , while the remainder had elective procedures , the researchers reported .
All of those included in the study had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 within seven days leading up to their operation , or 30 days following surgery , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complications occurred in 51.2 percent , the researchers observed .
Of these , 38 percent died within 30 days of their operation .
Overall , 24 percent of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who underwent surgery died within 30 days , according to the findings .
Being male or older than 70 , having underlying conditions -- including heart disease , high blood pressure and diabetes -- and undergoing cancer , emergency or major surgery were linked to potentially fatal pulmonary complications , the researchers said .
`` When hospitals resume routine surgery , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in environments that remain exposed to SARS-CoV-2 , '' co-author Dr. Ana Minaya-Bravo , a surgeon and researcher at Henares University Hospital in Spain , said in a statement .
`` Hospital-acquired infection will remain a challenge , but strategies are urgently required to minimize it , as well as to minimize the risk of pulmonary complications for infected patients whose surgery can not be delayed , '' she said .

More than half of those who undergo surgery with COVID-19 develop pulmonary complications, a new study has found. Photo by skeeze/Pixabay
May 29 (UPI) -- More than half of those who undergo surgery with COVID-19 develop lung complications like pneumonia and serious breathing problems, according to a study published Friday by the journal The Lancet. In addition, nearly 40 percent of those patients died within 30 days, the authors found. Advertisement
"Although the risks associated with COVID-19 need to be carefully balanced against the risks of delaying surgery for every individual patient, our study suggests that the thresholds for surgery should be raised, compared to normal practice," co-author Dr. Aneel Bhangu said in a statement.
"Medical teams should consider postponing noncritical procedures and promoting other treatment options, which may delay the need for surgery or sometimes avoid it altogether," said Bhangu, a surgeon at the University of Birmingham in England.
Exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, in the hospital has been linked with pulmonary complications, due to the increased inflammation and immune responses to surgery and mechanical ventilation, Bhangu and his colleagues said.
A number of guidelines exist for managing surgical patients during the pandemic, but they said there has not been much research on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pulmonary complications and death.
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For the research, Bhangu and his team analyzed outcomes data for 1,128 patients from 235 hospitals in 24 countries, in the United States and primarily Europe. Most of the patients, 74 percent, underwent emergency surgery, while the remainder had elective procedures, the researchers reported.
All of those included in the study had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 within seven days leading up to their operation, or 30 days following surgery, they said.
In all, pulmonary complications occurred in 51.2 percent, the researchers observed. Of these, 38 percent died within 30 days of their operation.
Overall, 24 percent of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who underwent surgery died within 30 days, according to the findings.
Being male or older than 70, having underlying conditions -- including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes -- and undergoing cancer, emergency or major surgery were linked to potentially fatal pulmonary complications, the researchers said.
"When hospitals resume routine surgery, it's likely it will take place in environments that remain exposed to SARS-CoV-2," co-author Dr. Ana Minaya-Bravo, a surgeon and researcher at Henares University Hospital in Spain, said in a statement.
"Hospital-acquired infection will remain a challenge, but strategies are urgently required to minimize it, as well as to minimize the risk of pulmonary complications for infected patients whose surgery cannot be delayed," she said.


upi--2020-05-29--Trees in forests all over the world are getting younger, shorter

May 29 ( UPI ) -- Trees in forests around the world are getting younger and shorter as a result of human-caused climate change and other environmental stressors .
New research , published Friday in the journal Science , suggests rising global temperatures and atmospheric CO2 concentrations over the last century , combined with an uptick in environmental stress and extreme weather events , have significantly altered the makeup of the planet 's forests .
The changes have left old growth forests especially vulnerable .
For the study , researchers recorded satellite measurements of global forests and completed a survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the last several decades .
Their efforts showed increases in tree mortality have left many forests dominated by younger , shorter stands .
`` This trend is likely to continue with climate warming , '' lead study author Nate McDowell , an earth scientist with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory , said in a press release .
`` A future planet with fewer large , old forests will be very different than what we have grown accustomed to , '' McDowell said .
`` Older forests often host much higher biodiversity than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than young forests . ''
According to the new study , clear-cutting , wildfire , insects and disease have all destabilized forests across the globe , increasing tree mortality rates and reducing the overall biomass of global forests .
The barrage of environmental stressors has proved especially harmful to old growth while creating opportunities for younger saplings .
`` Mortality is rising in most areas , while recruitment and growth are variable over time , leading to a net decline in the stature of forests , '' said McDowell .
`` Unfortunately , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as wildfire and insect outbreaks are on the rise and are expected to continue increasing in frequency and severity over the next century , '' McDowell added .
`` So , reductions in average forest age and height are already happening and they 're likely to continue to happen . ''
When forests undergo dramatic changes in their composition , whole ecosystems can become destabilized , threatening the plants and animals that reside there .
A threat to forest health is a threat to biodiversity , and research suggests biodiversity and carbon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ecological services provided by forests -- are essential to climate change mitigation .
Old growth forests , those most threatened by climate change and other harmful human activities , host more biodiversity and store more carbon than younger forests .

Environmental stressors and extreme weather, including wildfire, have decimated old growth forests around the world, leaving forests with shorter, younger tree stands. Photo by Rogerio Florentino/EPA-EFE
May 29 (UPI) -- Trees in forests around the world are getting younger and shorter as a result of human-caused climate change and other environmental stressors. New research, published Friday in the journal Science, suggests rising global temperatures and atmospheric CO2 concentrations over the last century, combined with an uptick in environmental stress and extreme weather events, have significantly altered the makeup of the planet's forests. Advertisement
The changes have left old growth forests especially vulnerable.
For the study, researchers recorded satellite measurements of global forests and completed a survey of the scientific literature on forest health over the last several decades. Their efforts showed increases in tree mortality have left many forests dominated by younger, shorter stands.
"This trend is likely to continue with climate warming," lead study author Nate McDowell, an earth scientist with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, said in a press release.
"A future planet with fewer large, old forests will be very different than what we have grown accustomed to," McDowell said. "Older forests often host much higher biodiversity than young forests and they store more carbon than young forests."
According to the new study, clear-cutting, wildfire, insects and disease have all destabilized forests across the globe, increasing tree mortality rates and reducing the overall biomass of global forests.
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The barrage of environmental stressors has proved especially harmful to old growth while creating opportunities for younger saplings.
"Mortality is rising in most areas, while recruitment and growth are variable over time, leading to a net decline in the stature of forests," said McDowell.
"Unfortunately, mortality drivers like rising temperature and disturbances such as wildfire and insect outbreaks are on the rise and are expected to continue increasing in frequency and severity over the next century," McDowell added. "So, reductions in average forest age and height are already happening and they're likely to continue to happen."
When forests undergo dramatic changes in their composition, whole ecosystems can become destabilized, threatening the plants and animals that reside there.
A threat to forest health is a threat to biodiversity, and research suggests biodiversity and carbon storage -- two of the most vital ecological services provided by forests -- are essential to climate change mitigation.
Old growth forests, those most threatened by climate change and other harmful human activities, host more biodiversity and store more carbon than younger forests.


upi--2020-05-29--Stocks recover after President Donald Trump's announcement on Hong Kong

May 29 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump 's planned news conference on China shook up stocks early Friday , but the major indexes mostly recovered by the end the day after his announcement revealed no changes to trade with Beijing .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped more than 360 points in early Friday trading , but made up most of the losses to end the day down 17.53 points , less than 0.1 percent .
The S & P 500 gained 0.5 percent and the Nasdaq Composite was up 1.3 percent at the end of trading .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of May with strong gains after a turbulent two months in the markets .
The Dow finished up 4.2 percent , the S & P 4.5 percent and the Nasdaq 6.7 percent .
The Trump administration has suggested it would punish China for reining in Hong Kong 's autonomy against its `` One Country , Two Systems '' approach it has operated under since 1997 when British rule ended .
But instead of making any announcements on a China trade deal Friday , Trump said he 's taking steps to revoke Hong Kong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States .
Large pro-democracy demonstrations , which turned violent at times , last year after China tried to impose a change in extradition policy between Hong Kong and the mainland , made Beijing nervous and accused the United States and others of encouraging the controversy .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday he notified Congress that Hong Kong is essentially no longer autonomous from mainland China after the communist country proposed a far-reaching new security law targeting pro-democracy protesters and foreign influences in the city .

A sign for Wall Street hangs outside at the New York Stock Exchange on April 20. Stocks were down Friday morning ahead of President Donald Trump's news conference on China. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
May 29 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump's planned news conference on China shook up stocks early Friday, but the major indexes mostly recovered by the end the day after his announcement revealed no changes to trade with Beijing. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped more than 360 points in early Friday trading, but made up most of the losses to end the day down 17.53 points, less than 0.1 percent. Advertisement
The S&P 500 gained 0.5 percent and the Nasdaq Composite was up 1.3 percent at the end of trading.
The three major indexes finished the month of May with strong gains after a turbulent two months in the markets. The Dow finished up 4.2 percent, the S&P 4.5 percent and the Nasdaq 6.7 percent.
The Trump administration has suggested it would punish China for reining in Hong Kong's autonomy against its "One Country, Two Systems" approach it has operated under since 1997 when British rule ended. But instead of making any announcements on a China trade deal Friday, Trump said he's taking steps to revoke Hong Kong's favored trade status with the United States.
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Large pro-democracy demonstrations, which turned violent at times, last year after China tried to impose a change in extradition policy between Hong Kong and the mainland, made Beijing nervous and accused the United States and others of encouraging the controversy.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday he notified Congress that Hong Kong is essentially no longer autonomous from mainland China after the communist country proposed a far-reaching new security law targeting pro-democracy protesters and foreign influences in the city.


upi--2020-05-29--Leaving work early leads North Carolina woman to lottery jackpot

May 29 ( UPI ) -- A North Carolina woman said getting off work early was lucrative when she won @ @ @ @ @ .
Bernice Jessup of White Oak told North Carolina Education Lottery officials she decided to @ @ @ @ @ Mart when she was released early from her utility worker job at Smithfield Packing .
@ @ @ @ @ tickets for the Cash 5 drawing .
The player said she was at home with @ @ @ @ @ of the drawing when she checked her numbers and discovered she had won the $ @ @ @ @ @ started running around the house hollering , 'We 're rich !
We 're rich !
@ @ @ @ @ `` We were both jumping up and down , screaming and yelling .
I asked @ @ @ @ @ or five times . ''
Jessup said she plans to use her winnings to start @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This is gon na be a game changer , '' she said .
@ @ @ @ @ ''

A North Carolina woman credited her $100,000 Cash 5 lottery jackpot to getting out of work early. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe May 29 (UPI) -- A North Carolina woman said getting off work early was lucrative when she won a $100,000 lottery jackpot. Bernice Jessup of White Oak told North Carolina Education Lottery officials she decided to stop at the Dublin Mini Mart when she was released early from her utility worker job at Smithfield Packing. Advertisement
Jessup bought three Quick Pick tickets for the Cash 5 drawing.
The player said she was at home with her sister on the night of the drawing when she checked her numbers and discovered she had won the $100,000 jackpot.
"She started running around the house hollering, 'We're rich! We're rich!'" Jessup recalled. "We were both jumping up and down, screaming and yelling. I asked her to pinch me four or five times."
Jessup said she plans to use her winnings to start her own janitorial services business.
"This is gonna be a game changer," she said. "Major game changer."


upi--2020-05-29--New prostate cancer pill may work better than injections, researchers say

For men with advanced prostate cancer , a new hormone therapy pill works better than standard injections -- and carries a much lower risk of heart attack or stroke , a clinical trial has found .
The drug , called relugolix , is not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .
If it gets the green light , however , it would be `` game-changing , '' said Dr. Neal Shore , lead researcher on the trial .
Hormone therapy has long been a standard treatment for advanced prostate cancer -- including cases where the tumor has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after treatment with surgery or radiation .
The goal is to suppress androgen hormones , including testosterone , because they fuel the growth of prostate tumors .
Right now , that 's usually done with injection drugs called LHRH agonists .
The problem is that the drugs initially cause a surge in testosterone , before drastically cutting levels of the hormone .
That surge can cause cancer-related symptoms , such as bone pain and urinary problems , to flare .
`` It 's like having a race and telling people to first take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running , '' said Shore , medical director of the Carolina Urologic Research Center in Myrtle Beach , S.C .
In contrast , relugolix -- taken as a daily pill -- rapidly lowers testosterone levels , the trial found .
Even more importantly , Shore said , it had a lower risk of cardiovascular `` events '' -- defined as a heart attack , stroke or death from any cause .
Over 48 weeks , that risk was 54 percent lower among men given relugolix , versus a standard LHRH agonist called leuprolide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Dr. William Cance , chief medical and scientific officer for the American Cancer Society .
`` This drug pretty much checks all the boxes , '' said Cance , who was not involved in the study .
More research is needed on the medication 's long-term performance , he noted .
But if it 's approved , Cance said , it would likely be favored over LHRH agonists .
The findings are being published in the New England Journal of Medicine ( NEJM ) , and simultaneously reported Friday at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Clinical Oncology .
The trial , funded by drug maker Myovant Sciences , involved 930 men with advanced prostate cancer .
They were randomly assigned to either take relugolix or receive leuprolide injections every three months .
Within days , men on relugolix saw their testosterone levels drop to low levels .
Those given leuprolide showed the expected testosterone rise before dropping to the desired level around day 29 .
And once the drug was stopped , testosterone levels returned to normal much more readily in men taking relugolix .
`` So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and turn it down , '' Cance said .
That 's important , he noted , for men who go on shorter courses of hormone therapy -- related to radiation treatment , for example .
The most critical difference , though , was in safety .
Just over 6 percent of men on leuprolide suffered a heart attack or stroke , or died -- compared with just under 3 percent of those on relugolix , the findings showed .
Shore said many men with prostate cancer ultimately die of cardiovascular disease .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself , around 27 percent to 34 percent of patients die from heart-related causes , studies show .
It 's not clear why LHRH agonists have higher cardiovascular risks , Cance said .
But researchers have speculated that the drugs may cause pre-existing plaques in the arteries to rupture .
That can block the blood vessel and trigger a heart attack or stroke .
Relugolix does carry the usual side effects of testosterone suppression , however .
Hot flashes , fatigue , constipation and diarrhea were most common .
Meanwhile , an oral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help certain prostate cancer patients live longer .
That 's according to a separate study also published in the NEJM and presented at the meeting .
The trial included 1,400 men whose prostate cancer was progressing despite standard hormonal therapy , but had not yet spread to distant sites in the body .
They were randomly assigned to add either the drug -- called enzalutamide ( Xtandi ) -- or a placebo pill to their hormonal therapy .
Overall , men on enzalutamide survived longer .
Their median survival was 67 months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half died sooner .
Median survival in the placebo group was 56 months .
The drug is already approved for these patients , based on data showing it cut their risk of dying from prostate cancer .
The new findings show that their overall survival is better , too .
The American Cancer Society has more on hormone therapy for prostate cancer .

The drug, called relugolix, would be "game-changing," if approved by the Food and Drug Administration, researchers say. Photo by DarkoStojanovic /Pixabay
For men with advanced prostate cancer, a new hormone therapy pill works better than standard injections -- and carries a much lower risk of heart attack or stroke, a clinical trial has found. The drug, called relugolix, is not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If it gets the green light, however, it would be "game-changing," said Dr. Neal Shore, lead researcher on the trial. Advertisement
Hormone therapy has long been a standard treatment for advanced prostate cancer -- including cases where the tumor has spread beyond the prostate gland or recurred after treatment with surgery or radiation.
The goal is to suppress androgen hormones, including testosterone, because they fuel the growth of prostate tumors.
Right now, that's usually done with injection drugs called LHRH agonists. The problem is that the drugs initially cause a surge in testosterone, before drastically cutting levels of the hormone. That surge can cause cancer-related symptoms, such as bone pain and urinary problems, to flare.
Advertisement
"It's like having a race and telling people to first take 10 steps back, and then start running," said Shore, medical director of the Carolina Urologic Research Center in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
In contrast, relugolix -- taken as a daily pill -- rapidly lowers testosterone levels, the trial found.
Even more importantly, Shore said, it had a lower risk of cardiovascular "events" -- defined as a heart attack, stroke or death from any cause.
Over 48 weeks, that risk was 54 percent lower among men given relugolix, versus a standard LHRH agonist called leuprolide.
"That is very significant," said Dr. William Cance, chief medical and scientific officer for the American Cancer Society.
"This drug pretty much checks all the boxes," said Cance, who was not involved in the study.
More research is needed on the medication's long-term performance, he noted. But if it's approved, Cance said, it would likely be favored over LHRH agonists.
The findings are being published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), and simultaneously reported Friday at the virtual annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
The trial, funded by drug maker Myovant Sciences, involved 930 men with advanced prostate cancer. They were randomly assigned to either take relugolix or receive leuprolide injections every three months.
Advertisement
Within days, men on relugolix saw their testosterone levels drop to low levels. Those given leuprolide showed the expected testosterone rise before dropping to the desired level around day 29.
And once the drug was stopped, testosterone levels returned to normal much more readily in men taking relugolix.
"So you can more easily turn it up and turn it down," Cance said. That's important, he noted, for men who go on shorter courses of hormone therapy -- related to radiation treatment, for example.
The most critical difference, though, was in safety. Just over 6 percent of men on leuprolide suffered a heart attack or stroke, or died -- compared with just under 3 percent of those on relugolix, the findings showed.
Shore said many men with prostate cancer ultimately die of cardiovascular disease. With improved treatments preventing deaths from the cancer itself, around 27 percent to 34 percent of patients die from heart-related causes, studies show.
It's not clear why LHRH agonists have higher cardiovascular risks, Cance said.
But researchers have speculated that the drugs may cause pre-existing plaques in the arteries to rupture. That can block the blood vessel and trigger a heart attack or stroke.
Relugolix does carry the usual side effects of testosterone suppression, however. Hot flashes, fatigue, constipation and diarrhea were most common.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, an oral hormone medication already on the market seems to help certain prostate cancer patients live longer. That's according to a separate study also published in the NEJM and presented at the meeting.
The trial included 1,400 men whose prostate cancer was progressing despite standard hormonal therapy, but had not yet spread to distant sites in the body. They were randomly assigned to add either the drug -- called enzalutamide (Xtandi) -- or a placebo pill to their hormonal therapy.
Overall, men on enzalutamide survived longer. Their median survival was 67 months, meaning half lived longer, and half died sooner. Median survival in the placebo group was 56 months.
The drug is already approved for these patients, based on data showing it cut their risk of dying from prostate cancer. The new findings show that their overall survival is better, too.
More information
The American Cancer Society has more on hormone therapy for prostate cancer.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-29--Man drinks liter of lemon juice in under 17 seconds for world record

May 29 ( UPI ) -- An Idaho man turned a sour taste into a sweet achievement when he drank @ @ @ @ @ through a straw in under 17 seconds for a Guinness World Record .
David Rush @ @ @ @ @ than 100 Guinness records to promote STEM education , emptied the glass containing a whole @ @ @ @ @ juice in 16.53 seconds .
Rush 's time bested the previous record of 17.12 seconds @ @ @ @ @ .
Rush said he kept from throwing up after finishing the juice , but his @ @ @ @ @ next day .

Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe
May 29 (UPI) -- An Idaho man turned a sour taste into a sweet achievement when he drank a liter of lemon juice through a straw in under 17 seconds for a Guinness World Record.
David Rush, who has broken more than 100 Guinness records to promote STEM education, emptied the glass containing a whole liter of 100 percent lemon juice in 16.53 seconds.
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Rush's time bested the previous record of 17.12 seconds, set by Andre Ortolf.
Rush said he kept from throwing up after finishing the juice, but his stomach discomfort lasted until the next day.


upi--2020-05-29--Very early stage breast cancer ups risk for invasive tumors, study shows

Women with cancerous cells in their milk ducts -- also known as DCIS -- are at a high risk for developing fatal breast cancer , British researchers report .
DCIS is short for ductal carcinoma in situ , an early form of breast cancer .
With stepped-up breast screening , it has become an increasingly common diagnosis .
Though it 's not immediately life-threatening , DCIS more than doubles a woman 's risk of developing an invasive breast cancer and dying from it , according to a large study of tens of thousands of women in the United Kingdom .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ years or more -- longer than previously thought .
But surveillance of women after a DCIS diagnosis typically focuses on the first few years , according to lead author Gurdeep Mannu , a lecturer in general surgery at the University of Oxford .
`` In the U.K. , for example , most women are recalled for yearly surveillance mammograms for five years , after which further follow-up is [ every three years ] via the national screening program up to age 70 , '' he said .
While women with DCIS generally have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mannu said continued screening over the long term is important .
In the United States , DCIS is considered a precursor for breast cancer that should n't be ignored , according to Dr. Alice Police , regional director of breast surgery at Northwell Health Cancer Institute in Sleepy Hollow , N.Y. Women should know that DCIS is a `` dangerous condition , '' Police said .
About 60,000 cases of DCIS are diagnosed in the United States each year , according to the American Cancer Society .
That 's roughly 1 out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But because DCIS does n't always cause an invasive breast cancer , Police said there has been a tendency to downplay its risk and minimize treatment , especially in older women .
`` We all suspect that there are some women who probably do n't need treatment , '' Police said .
`` The problem is : No one knows who needs treatment and who does n't . ''
Because doctors ca n't predict if an individual woman 's DCIS will lead to invasive breast cancer , Police said DCIS should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breast-conserving surgery known as lumpectomy , depending on extent of cancerous tissue .
`` My advice to women is to treat their DCIS .
If a person is older but has a five-year life expectancy , then they should be treated like any healthy woman , '' she said .
For the new study , Mannu and his team collected data on more than 35,000 British women who were diagnosed with DCIS between 1988 and 2014 through a national health screening .
Researchers compared rates of invasive breast cancer and breast cancer deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same age in the same calendar year .
By the end of the study , more than 2,000 women with DCIS had invasive breast cancer -- more than twice the rate that had been expected among women without DCIS .
Invasive means cancerous cells had spread beyond the milk ducts .
Among those with invasive breast cancer , more than 300 women died , the study found .
That was 70 percent more than expected from national rates , researchers said .
For invasive breast cancer and death from breast cancer , these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the study found .
Women who had DCIS and had a mastectomy had a lower long-term risk of invasive breast cancer than women treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiation , the study found .
The findings were published May 27 in the journal BMJ .
To learn more about DCIS , visit the American Cancer Society .

An early form of breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ more than doubles a woman's risk of developing an invasive breast cancer and dying from it, researchers say. Photo by Rhoda Baer/Wikimedia Commons
Women with cancerous cells in their milk ducts -- also known as DCIS -- are at a high risk for developing fatal breast cancer, British researchers report. DCIS is short for ductal carcinoma in situ, an early form of breast cancer. With stepped-up breast screening, it has become an increasingly common diagnosis. Though it's not immediately life-threatening, DCIS more than doubles a woman's risk of developing an invasive breast cancer and dying from it, according to a large study of tens of thousands of women in the United Kingdom. And the increased risk can persist 20 years or more -- longer than previously thought. Advertisement
But surveillance of women after a DCIS diagnosis typically focuses on the first few years, according to lead author Gurdeep Mannu, a lecturer in general surgery at the University of Oxford.
"In the U.K., for example, most women are recalled for yearly surveillance mammograms for five years, after which further follow-up is [every three years] via the national screening program up to age 70," he said.
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While women with DCIS generally have a "very good prognosis," Mannu said continued screening over the long term is important. In the United States, DCIS is considered a precursor for breast cancer that shouldn't be ignored, according to Dr. Alice Police, regional director of breast surgery at Northwell Health Cancer Institute in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.
Women should know that DCIS is a "dangerous condition," Police said.
About 60,000 cases of DCIS are diagnosed in the United States each year, according to the American Cancer Society. That's roughly 1 out of every 5 new cases of breast cancer.
But because DCIS doesn't always cause an invasive breast cancer, Police said there has been a tendency to downplay its risk and minimize treatment, especially in older women.
"We all suspect that there are some women who probably don't need treatment," Police said. "The problem is: No one knows who needs treatment and who doesn't."
Because doctors can't predict if an individual woman's DCIS will lead to invasive breast cancer, Police said DCIS should be treated with either a mastectomy or the breast-conserving surgery known as lumpectomy, depending on extent of cancerous tissue.
"My advice to women is to treat their DCIS. If a person is older but has a five-year life expectancy, then they should be treated like any healthy woman," she said.
Advertisement
For the new study, Mannu and his team collected data on more than 35,000 British women who were diagnosed with DCIS between 1988 and 2014 through a national health screening. Researchers compared rates of invasive breast cancer and breast cancer deaths to national reports for women of the same age in the same calendar year.
By the end of the study, more than 2,000 women with DCIS had invasive breast cancer -- more than twice the rate that had been expected among women without DCIS. Invasive means cancerous cells had spread beyond the milk ducts.
Among those with invasive breast cancer, more than 300 women died, the study found. That was 70 percent more than expected from national rates, researchers said.
For invasive breast cancer and death from breast cancer, these increases continued over at least 20 years, the study found.
Women who had DCIS and had a mastectomy had a lower long-term risk of invasive breast cancer than women treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiation, the study found.
The findings were published May 27 in the journal BMJ.
More information
To learn more about DCIS, visit the American Cancer Society.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-29--Kenneth Braithwaite sworn in as Secretary of the Navy

May 29 ( UPI ) -- Kenneth J. Braithwaite , appointed by President Donald Trump in 2017 as U.S. ambassador to Norway , was sworn in Friday as Secretary of the U.S. Navy .
A retired rear admiral , Braithwaite is a graduate of the U.S .
Naval Academy , the University of Pennsylvania , the Naval War College and the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base , Ala. His business career includes positions with Atlantic Richfield and St. Thomas Health System in Nashville .
The Senate confirmed Braithwaite last week after his May 7 testimony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which he offered a negative assessment of current Navy management .
`` It saddens me to say [ that ] the Department of the Navy is in troubled waters due to many factors , primarily the failings of leadership .
Whether ship collisions , judicial missteps or the crisis on USS [ Theodore ] Roosevelt , they are all indicative of a breakdown in the trust of those leading the service , '' Braithwaite said at his confirmation hearing .
`` I wo n't say it 's broken , '' he continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tarnished .
I think the events over the last several years have helped see that to occur .
And if I 'm confirmed , I will make sure that I get at that , again , predicated on good order and discipline . ''
Braithwaite emerged as a possible choice to replace former Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer , who was ousted in February over Spencer 's handling of the case of war crimes allegedly committed by former Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher .
Undersecretary of the Navy Thomas Modly then served as acting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism of his removal of Cmdr .
Brett Crozier , commanding officer of USS Theodore Roosevelt , as the aircraft carrier dealt with an onboard COVID-19 crisis while deployed .
Braithwaite was sworn in by Defense Secretary Mark Esper in a private ceremony , employing safe distancing protocols , on Friday .
`` The object of success for our service is simple : American seapower , '' Beaithwaite said in part in a message to Navy personnel after his swearing-in ceremony .
`` America always has been and always will be a maritime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom rely on seapower delivered by a strong and capable Navy and Marine Corps .
Each of you provides that power through your actions each day , actions that demonstrate our resolve to place service above self . ''

Kenneth J. Braithwaite (L), here with his wife, Melissa, was sworn in Friday as the 77th Secretary of the U.S. Navy. Photo courtesy of Mark Esper/Defense Department Twitter
May 29 (UPI) -- Kenneth J. Braithwaite, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2017 as U.S. ambassador to Norway, was sworn in Friday as Secretary of the U.S. Navy. A retired rear admiral, Braithwaite is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, the University of Pennsylvania, the Naval War College and the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. His business career includes positions with Atlantic Richfield and St. Thomas Health System in Nashville. Advertisement
The Senate confirmed Braithwaite last week after his May 7 testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, in which he offered a negative assessment of current Navy management.
"It saddens me to say [that] the Department of the Navy is in troubled waters due to many factors, primarily the failings of leadership. Whether ship collisions, judicial missteps or the crisis on USS [Theodore] Roosevelt, they are all indicative of a breakdown in the trust of those leading the service," Braithwaite said at his confirmation hearing.
"I won't say it's broken," he continued. "I think it's been tarnished. I think the events over the last several years have helped see that to occur. And if I'm confirmed, I will make sure that I get at that, again, predicated on good order and discipline."
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Braithwaite emerged as a possible choice to replace former Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer, who was ousted in February over Spencer's handling of the case of war crimes allegedly committed by former Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher. Undersecretary of the Navy Thomas Modly then served as acting secretary until he resigned in April following criticism of his removal of Cmdr. Brett Crozier, commanding officer of USS Theodore Roosevelt, as the aircraft carrier dealt with an onboard COVID-19 crisis while deployed.
Braithwaite was sworn in by Defense Secretary Mark Esper in a private ceremony, employing safe distancing protocols, on Friday.
"The object of success for our service is simple: American seapower," Beaithwaite said in part in a message to Navy personnel after his swearing-in ceremony. "America always has been and always will be a maritime nation. America and our principles of freedom rely on seapower delivered by a strong and capable Navy and Marine Corps. Each of you provides that power through your actions each day, actions that demonstrate our resolve to place service above self."


upi--2020-05-29--Four U.S. combatant commands, NORAD conduct homeland defense exercise

May 29 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Northern Command on Friday announced an Atlantic Ocean exercise involving four other combatant commands and led by the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group .
The unprecedented , large-scale exercise involves homeland defense operations and the involvement of the U.S. Northern Command , the North American Aerospace Defense Command , the U.S. Transportation Command , the U.S. Strategic Command and the U.S. Space Command .
With Canadian fighter planes also participating , the North American Aerospace Defense Command , or NORAD , is also involved .
The exercise , which started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four U.S. combatant commands have worked together in a military exercise .
Homeland defense operations , exercising joint integration , conducting multi-national operations and strengthening interoperability in command and control are the goals of the four-day exercise , NORTHCOM said in a statement .
`` Leading complex multi-combatant command operations across multiple domains demonstrates our readiness to defend our homeland regardless of COVID-19 , '' said General Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy , NORAD and NORTHCOM commander .
`` The high-end training we are conducting enables integration between strategic-level organizations who all play a significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our nation -- defending our homeland . ''
The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and its strike wing , with additional F-15 and Canadian fighter planes , will conduct intercept exercises , officials said .
A B1-B bomber of the U.S. Air Force will be employed as an infiltrating enemy .
The Transportation Command will also provide refueling tankers , and Space Command will provide satellite communications and GPS .
The exercise is part of the USS Harry S. Truman 's third overseas cruise in four years .
It deployed in September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Va .

The USS Harry S. Truman, pictured, is at the center of a four-day military exercise involving four U.S. combatant commands for the first time. Photo courtesy of U.S. Northern Command
May 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Northern Command on Friday announced an Atlantic Ocean exercise involving four other combatant commands and led by the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group. The unprecedented, large-scale exercise involves homeland defense operations and the involvement of the U.S. Northern Command, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the U.S. Transportation Command, the U.S. Strategic Command and the U.S. Space Command. Advertisement
With Canadian fighter planes also participating, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, is also involved.
The exercise, which started Friday, is the first time that four U.S. combatant commands have worked together in a military exercise.
Homeland defense operations, exercising joint integration, conducting multi-national operations and strengthening interoperability in command and control are the goals of the four-day exercise, NORTHCOM said in a statement.
"Leading complex multi-combatant command operations across multiple domains demonstrates our readiness to defend our homeland regardless of COVID-19," said General Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, NORAD and NORTHCOM commander. "The high-end training we are conducting enables integration between strategic-level organizations who all play a significant role in the most important mission for our nation -- defending our homeland."
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The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and its strike wing, with additional F-15 and Canadian fighter planes, will conduct intercept exercises, officials said. A B1-B bomber of the U.S. Air Force will be employed as an infiltrating enemy. The Transportation Command will also provide refueling tankers, and Space Command will provide satellite communications and GPS.
The exercise is part of the USS Harry S. Truman's third overseas cruise in four years. It deployed in September from its home port of Norfolk, Va.


upi--2020-05-29--Watch: Cat rescued from narrow gap between brick walls in California

May 29 ( UPI ) -- Animal services officers in California shared video of the rescue of a cat that somehow ended up trapped in the narrow gap between two brick walls .
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services said Officer Matthew Perez responded to an address in Cathedral City on Tuesday morning when a resident reported hearing a cat meowing from behind a wall .
Perez located the cat in the gap between two walls , but discovered the frightened feline would `` ball up and make itself bigger '' when he attempted to extract it from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supervisor and requested to sedate the cat to keep it calm during the rescue .
Officer Cole Woods was dispatched with a sedative and assisted Perez with the rescue .
The cat , estimated to be about 6 years old , was taken to the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms .
Animal services officials said they are now attempting to identify the feline 's owner .
`` I am so happy our officers safely saved this cat and we gave her the veterinary care she needed , '' Animal Services Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mystery is just how did this cat get stuck ?
Regardless , we 're going to do everything we can to get her back to her rightful owner . ''

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May 29 (UPI) -- Animal services officers in California shared video of the rescue of a cat that somehow ended up trapped in the narrow gap between two brick walls.
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services said Officer Matthew Perez responded to an address in Cathedral City on Tuesday morning when a resident reported hearing a cat meowing from behind a wall.
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Perez located the cat in the gap between two walls, but discovered the frightened feline would "ball up and make itself bigger" when he attempted to extract it from the tight space.
The officer called a supervisor and requested to sedate the cat to keep it calm during the rescue. Officer Cole Woods was dispatched with a sedative and assisted Perez with the rescue.
The cat, estimated to be about 6 years old, was taken to the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms.
Animal services officials said they are now attempting to identify the feline's owner.
"I am so happy our officers safely saved this cat and we gave her the veterinary care she needed," Animal Services Director Julie Bank said. "The great mystery is just how did this cat get stuck? Regardless, we're going to do everything we can to get her back to her rightful owner."


upi--2020-05-29--Watch: Soldier's letter home from Vietnam delivered 52 years later

May 29 ( UPI ) -- An Indiana woman said she was surprised when a letter her brother sent while serving in the Vietnam War finally made its way to her after 52 years .
Janice Tucker said an envelope postmarked May 10 , 2020 , arrived at her home in North Vernon last week and she was shocked to discover it contained a letter her brother , William Lone , had sent to her while he was serving in Vietnam in 1968 .
`` So , I called my brother .
He lives in South Carolina .
I read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ' I remember writing that letter to you , ' '' Tucker told WHAS-TV .
Lone said he remembered putting the letter in an envelope , affixing a 5-cent stamp and handing it off to another soldier to mail to his sister at the family 's then-home in Floyds Knobs , Ind .
Tucker said the letter was not in the original envelope when it arrived at her home , indicating someone had found it and tracked her down at her current address .
`` The fact that this letter came to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indy is a real mystery to me , '' Tucker said .
`` This is not the original envelope .
Someone found this and found out who I was . ''
She said the envelope did n't contain many clues about the letter 's long journey .
`` Thank you to whoever found this letter , thank you to whoever sent it to me , but most of all , thanks to my brother for being a big brother that I did n't really love and appreciate until I got older .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honor him more , '' she said .
Tucker said she is hoping to find out who mailed the letter to her home so she can thank them and find out what happened to the letter in between being mailed in 1968 and arriving at her home last week .
A Canadian man had a piece of mail take a shorter , but no less mysterious route to his home this month .
Elliot Berinstein said a Canada Post delivery worker left the package from Well.ca on his Toronto doorstep May 6 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had ordered from the website in 2012 .
The Canada Post said officials are investigating the package 's 8-year journey .

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May 29 (UPI) -- An Indiana woman said she was surprised when a letter her brother sent while serving in the Vietnam War finally made its way to her after 52 years.
Janice Tucker said an envelope postmarked May 10, 2020, arrived at her home in North Vernon last week and she was shocked to discover it contained a letter her brother, William Lone, had sent to her while he was serving in Vietnam in 1968.
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"So, I called my brother. He lives in South Carolina. I read the letter to him and he said, 'I remember writing that letter to you,'" Tucker told WHAS-TV.
Lone said he remembered putting the letter in an envelope, affixing a 5-cent stamp and handing it off to another soldier to mail to his sister at the family's then-home in Floyds Knobs, Ind.
Tucker said the letter was not in the original envelope when it arrived at her home, indicating someone had found it and tracked her down at her current address.
"The fact that this letter came to me 52 years later by way of Indy is a real mystery to me," Tucker said. "This is not the original envelope. Someone found this and found out who I was."
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She said the envelope didn't contain many clues about the letter's long journey.
"Thank you to whoever found this letter, thank you to whoever sent it to me, but most of all, thanks to my brother for being a big brother that I didn't really love and appreciate until I got older. And this letter just makes me want to honor him more," she said.
Tucker said she is hoping to find out who mailed the letter to her home so she can thank them and find out what happened to the letter in between being mailed in 1968 and arriving at her home last week.
A Canadian man had a piece of mail take a shorter, but no less mysterious route to his home this month. Elliot Berinstein said a Canada Post delivery worker left the package from Well.ca on his Toronto doorstep May 6.
The package contained a hair product he had ordered from the website in 2012. The Canada Post said officials are investigating the package's 8-year journey.


upi--2020-05-29--VA to reopen hospitals for compensation and pension exams

May 29 ( UPI ) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs , with a backlog of 114,000 cases , announced that it will resume in-person disability examinations at some VA medical centers .
Although examinations were slowed by actions related to the COVID-19 pandemic , the VA had a backlog of 65,000 cases in November 2019 .
The agency said Thursday that 20 VA medical centers in 19 states would open in the coming weeks for `` Compensation & Pension '' examinations , a standard procedure for assigning financial and medical benefits to veterans .
A starting date was n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exams allows VA to continue delivering the benefits our Veterans have earned , '' VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a statement .
`` We 're keeping the safety of veterans and our medical providers as our highest priority and have put a robust set of measures in place to ensure medical providers can safely conduct these examinations . ''
The examinations were halted in April because of concerns regarding the spread of the virus .
Earlier this week , the House Veterans ' Affairs Committee questioned why information regarding the return of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 chosen sites began providing non-emergency patient services earlier in May as part of a first phase of re-opening hospitals in light of the pandemic .
The hospitals include those in White River Junction , Vt. ; Syracuse , N.Y. ; Erie , Pa. ; Huntington , W.Va. ; Danville , Va. ; Charleston , S.C. ; West Palm Beach , Fla. ; Johnson City , Tenn. ; Cleveland , Ohio ; Tomah , Wis. ; Shorewood Hills , Wis. ; Kansas City , Mo .
; Little Rock , Ark .
; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mont .
; Seattle , Wash. ; Boise , Idaho ; Las Vegas , Nev. ; Tucson , Ariz. ; and Fargo , N.D .

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Compensation and pension examinations will resume at select Veteran Administration hospitals to reduce a backlog of 114,000 cases, the VA announced on Thursday. Photo by Billy Hathorn
May 29 (UPI) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs, with a backlog of 114,000 cases, announced that it will resume in-person disability examinations at some VA medical centers. Although examinations were slowed by actions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the VA had a backlog of 65,000 cases in November 2019. The agency said Thursday that 20 VA medical centers in 19 states would open in the coming weeks for "Compensation & Pension" examinations, a standard procedure for assigning financial and medical benefits to veterans. A starting date wasn't announced. Advertisement
"Resuming C&P exams allows VA to continue delivering the benefits our Veterans have earned," VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a statement. "We're keeping the safety of veterans and our medical providers as our highest priority and have put a robust set of measures in place to ensure medical providers can safely conduct these examinations."
The examinations were halted in April because of concerns regarding the spread of the virus. Earlier this week, the House Veterans' Affairs Committee questioned why information regarding the return of the examinations was not available.
The 20 chosen sites began providing non-emergency patient services earlier in May as part of a first phase of re-opening hospitals in light of the pandemic. The hospitals include those in White River Junction, Vt.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Erie, Pa.; Huntington, W.Va.; Danville, Va.; Charleston, S.C.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Johnson City, Tenn.; Cleveland, Ohio; Tomah, Wis.; Shorewood Hills, Wis.; Kansas City, Mo.; Little Rock, Ark.; San Antonio, Texas; Fort Harrison, Mont.; Seattle, Wash.; Boise, Idaho; Las Vegas, Nev.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Fargo, N.D.


upi--2020-05-29--Trump cuts ties to World Health Organization

May 29 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump on Friday announced he 's cutting ties with the World Health Organization during a pandemic that 's killed more than 362,000 people worldwide .
`` We will be terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs , '' he said during a statement in the Rose Garden of the White House .
Trump blamed the dissolution of the relationship on the `` malfeasance '' of China , which he blamed for a `` coverup '' of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials have said the novel virus originated in a market in the city of Wuhan late last year .
The United States was the largest financial contributor to WHO , which is a specialized agency of the United Nations , in 2018-19 .
The United States dedicated $ 893 million for the two-year budget cycle , about $ 300 million more than donated by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation .
The next largest government contributor was Britain , at $ 435 million .
China dedicated about $ 80 million in the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control over the World Health Organization despite only paying $ 40 million per year compared to what the United States has been paying , which is approximately $ 450 million a year , '' Trump said .
The president 's announcement comes less than two weeks after he threatened to cut off funding to WHO unless it committed to `` major substantive improvements '' within 30 days .
On April 14 , he put a halt on U.S. funding to WHO , accusing the agency of `` mismanaging and covering up the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that WHO `` failed to make the requested greatly needed reform . ''
China has balked at the United States ' allegations that it covered up the origins of the virus , often pointing to praise from the WHO as proof of its openness and strong response .
In addition to his WHO announcement , Trump said he 's taking steps to revoke Hong Kong 's favored trade status with the United States after China approved a controversial national security law .
The legislation criminalizes acts of secession , sedition , subversion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threaten national security in Hong Kong .
Critics say it will deteriorate the rights and freedoms of the semi-autonomous territory .
`` My announcement today will affect the full range of agreements that we have with Hong Kong , from our extradition treaty , to our export controls and technologies , '' Trump said .
`` We will take action to revoke Hong Kong 's preferential treatment as a separate customs and travel territory from the rest of China . ''

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U.S. President Donald Trump arrives in the Rose Garden on Friday to announce the termination of the United States' relationship with the World Health Organization. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo
May 29 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Friday announced he's cutting ties with the World Health Organization during a pandemic that's killed more than 362,000 people worldwide. "We will be terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs," he said during a statement in the Rose Garden of the White House. Advertisement
Trump blamed the dissolution of the relationship on the "malfeasance" of China, which he blamed for a "coverup" of the origins of the coronavirus. Public health officials have said the novel virus originated in a market in the city of Wuhan late last year.
The United States was the largest financial contributor to WHO, which is a specialized agency of the United Nations, in 2018-19. The United States dedicated $893 million for the two-year budget cycle, about $300 million more than donated by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The next largest government contributor was Britain, at $435 million.
China dedicated about $80 million in the same time period.
"China has total control over the World Health Organization despite only paying $40 million per year compared to what the United States has been paying, which is approximately $450 million a year," Trump said.
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The president's announcement comes less than two weeks after he threatened to cut off funding to WHO unless it committed to "major substantive improvements" within 30 days. On April 14, he put a halt on U.S. funding to WHO, accusing the agency of "mismanaging and covering up the spread" of COVID-19.
Trump said Friday that WHO "failed to make the requested greatly needed reform."
China has balked at the United States' allegations that it covered up the origins of the virus, often pointing to praise from the WHO as proof of its openness and strong response.
In addition to his WHO announcement, Trump said he's taking steps to revoke Hong Kong's favored trade status with the United States after China approved a controversial national security law.
The legislation criminalizes acts of secession, sedition, subversion, terrorism and conspiring with foreign actors to threaten national security in Hong Kong. Critics say it will deteriorate the rights and freedoms of the semi-autonomous territory.
"My announcement today will affect the full range of agreements that we have with Hong Kong, from our extradition treaty, to our export controls and technologies," Trump said.
"We will take action to revoke Hong Kong's preferential treatment as a separate customs and travel territory from the rest of China."