upi--2020-11-17--Two lawmakers test positive for COVID-19, third in quarantine as cases surge

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the country , at least two members of the U.S. House of Representatives announced in the past 24 hours that they have tested positive for COVID-19 while a third was confirmed to be in quarantine after coming into close contact with a case .
Democratic Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois and Republican Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan announced separately Monday that they tested positive for the deadly and infectious coronavirus while Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin said he has been in quarantine for almost a week after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with COVID-19 .
Bustos said she is experiencing mild symptoms but feels well and will be working remotely from her Illinois home until cleared by a physician .
All those she had been in contact with have been notified , she added .
Walberg in a statement said he received the positive test result on Sunday and that he was suffering from mild symptoms .
`` I remain in good spirits , '' he said , adding that he has n't attended a public event in more than a week and those he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notified .
He will continue to work remotely from home until he fully recovers , he said .
Pocan said he has been in quarantine since Tuesday , a day after he transported his mother two hours to her nursing home on Nov. 9 .
Pocan went into quarantine the day he found out a test his mother had taken days earlier had returned positive , he said .
He added he wore a mask during the entire trip with his mother and a test he took on Friday has returned negative .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ home when possible and wear a mask whenever they are in contact with others , '' Pocan said in a statement .
`` Only together can we stop the spread of this deadly pandemic . ''
The announcements came amid surging cases throughout the United States with health officials reporting more than 100,000 new cases for the 13th straight day on Monday , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
With more than 11 million infections , the United States is the sickest country to the pandemic .
Late last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican in congressional history and the oldest member in either chamber , said he had also tested positive for the virus .

Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., announced Monday that she had tested positive for COVID-19. Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the country, at least two members of the U.S. House of Representatives announced in the past 24 hours that they have tested positive for COVID-19 while a third was confirmed to be in quarantine after coming into close contact with a case. Democratic Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois and Republican Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan announced separately Monday that they tested positive for the deadly and infectious coronavirus while Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin said he has been in quarantine for almost a week after discovering his 91-year-old mother had been infected with COVID-19. Advertisement
Bustos said she is experiencing mild symptoms but feels well and will be working remotely from her Illinois home until cleared by a physician. All those she had been in contact with have been notified, she added.
Walberg in a statement said he received the positive test result on Sunday and that he was suffering from mild symptoms.
"I remain in good spirits," he said, adding that he hasn't attended a public event in more than a week and those he had been in contact with were being notified.
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He will continue to work remotely from home until he fully recovers, he said.
Pocan said he has been in quarantine since Tuesday, a day after he transported his mother two hours to her nursing home on Nov. 9.
Pocan went into quarantine the day he found out a test his mother had taken days earlier had returned positive, he said.
He added he wore a mask during the entire trip with his mother and a test he took on Friday has returned negative.
"I urge everyone to stay at home when possible and wear a mask whenever they are in contact with others," Pocan said in a statement. "Only together can we stop the spread of this deadly pandemic."
The announcements came amid surging cases throughout the United States with health officials reporting more than 100,000 new cases for the 13th straight day on Monday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
With more than 11 million infections, the United States is the sickest country to the pandemic.
Late last week, Alaskan Rep. Don Young, the longest-serving Republican in congressional history and the oldest member in either chamber, said he had also tested positive for the virus.


upi--2020-11-17--Canceled Pro Bowl to take place virtually in 'Madden NFL 21'

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- The 2021 Pro Bowl will be held virtually through EA Sports ' Madden NFL 21 video game after the real-life version of the football all-star game was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The league opened its fan voting Tuesday for the first virtual Pro Bowl , which could feature players whose teams reach the Super Bowl because they wo n't have to attend and play in the real-life game .
The NFL said Pro Bowl week will feature Madden matchups between celebrities , NFL legends , current players and streamers using the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will culminate with 2021 Pro Bowl players facing off within Madden NFL 21 in the Pro Bowl Game .
`` Even amidst unparalleled change across the sports industry , we are excited to transition many of the signature components of the Pro Bowl -- which will go virtual in Madden NFL 21 -- into a new innovative experience for our players and fans , '' NFL executive vice president of club business and events Peter O'Reilly said in a statement Tuesday .
The real-life Pro Bowl -- scheduled for Jan. 31 at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was called off last month due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic .
It is the first time the Pro Bowl has been canceled since 1949 .
The 2022 Pro Bowl will be awarded to Las Vegas to make up for the cancellation .

The real-life Pro Bowl, scheduled for Jan. 31 at the brand-new Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, was called off last month due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. File Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The 2021 Pro Bowl will be held virtually through EA Sports' Madden NFL 21 video game after the real-life version of the football all-star game was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The league opened its fan voting Tuesday for the first virtual Pro Bowl, which could feature players whose teams reach the Super Bowl because they won't have to attend and play in the real-life game. Advertisement
The NFL said Pro Bowl week will feature Madden matchups between celebrities, NFL legends, current players and streamers using the two Pro Bowl squads. Those matchups will culminate with 2021 Pro Bowl players facing off within Madden NFL 21 in the Pro Bowl Game.
"Even amidst unparalleled change across the sports industry, we are excited to transition many of the signature components of the Pro Bowl -- which will go virtual in Madden NFL 21 -- into a new innovative experience for our players and fans," NFL executive vice president of club business and events Peter O'Reilly said in a statement Tuesday.
The real-life Pro Bowl -- scheduled for Jan. 31 at the brand-new Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas -- was called off last month due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first time the Pro Bowl has been canceled since 1949.
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The 2022 Pro Bowl will be awarded to Las Vegas to make up for the cancellation.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-11-17--Deadly Iota lashes Nicaragua, Honduras after record-setting landfall

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- Nicaraguan officials blamed at least six deaths on Iota on Tuesday , less than 24 hours after it made landfall on the country as a Category 4 storm .
Just as the coastal region began making strides in its recovery from Eta , which hit the country two weeks ago , Iota brewed up even stronger impacts and slammed the same communities with 155-mph winds at Monday night 's landfall , the strongest tropical cyclone of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season .
Making landfall at 10:40 p.m. EST Monday , Iota 's maximum sustained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Category 5 status .
By 9 p.m. Tuesday , as its center barged inland across Nicaragua , Iota had weakened to a strong tropical storm with sustained winds of 40 mph and was spreading heavy rainfall across Honduras , El Salvador and parts of Guatemala .
The storm was about 25 miles southeast of Tegucigalpa , Honduras , and was moving west at 12 mph , according to the National Hurricane Center .
The government of Honduras has discontinued the Tropical Storm Watch from Punta Castilla eastward to the Honduras/Nicaragua border , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country 's coast was of Punta Castilla to the border with Guatemala and for the Bay Islands .
Nicaraguan Vice President Rosario Murillo announced Tuesday that the storm had killed four adults and two minors , CNN reported .
The pair of November hurricanes marked the first time on record that two major hurricanes made landfall in Nicaragua in the same season , further devastating the saturated nation that was still flooded from Eta , a storm that claimed at least 130 lives .
Philip Klotzbach , a scientist at Colorado State University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November hurricane on record to make landfall in Nicaragua , surpassing Eta .
The humanitarian crisis that was set into motion after Eta 's feet of rainfall will be severely compounded by Iota 's torrential rainfall .
AccuWeather Founder and CEO Dr. Joel N. Myers warned before Iota crashed onshore that the back-to-back hurricane landfalls may cause `` one of the worst floods in some of these areas in a thousand years or more , '' since the ground was still saturated from Eta when Iota lashed the region .
The mountainous terrain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding to the dangers of significant flooding and mudslides .
Conditions deteriorated along the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua and Honduras during the day Monday as Iota approached as a Category 5 storm with lashing winds and rising storm surge .
AccuWeather forecasters are projecting catastrophic damage across northern Nicaragua and throughout much of Honduras from Iota with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 30 inches of rain .
Sustained winds were whipping at 160 mph Monday evening with higher gusts , according to the hurricane hunters who flew a mission through the eye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the center of Iota was situated about 30 miles east-southeast of Puerto Cabezas , Nicaragua , the same area where Hurricane Eta blasted onshore less than two weeks ago .
Shortly before landfall on Monday night , Iota lost a slight bit of wind intensity and became a strong Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 155 mph .
Iota 's landfall marks only the second time in history that two hurricanes have made landfall in Nicaragua in one season .
The only other time that this occurred was in 1971 when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
AccuWeather has rated Iota as a 5 on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes , which takes into account factors including wind speed , flooding rain , storm surge and economic damage and loss .
`` This is a catastrophic situation unfolding for northeastern Nicaragua , '' the National Hurricane Center said .
`` Hurricane Iota 's landfall location is approximately 15 miles south of where Category 4 hurricane Eta made landfall earlier this month . ''
Eta made landfall near Puerto Cabezas , Nicaragua , with maximum sustained winds of 140 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strikes could cause the humanitarian crisis in Nicaragua and Honduras to worsen , Myers said .
`` Some of these countries may not completely recover for five to 10 years . ''
Before Iota neared Central America , heavy tropical downpours associated with the storm caused significant disruptions in Colombia .
Homes were submerged in some communities in northern Colombia , stranding residents on their roofs while waiting for help to arrive .
At least three fatalities were reported in Colombia due to flooding and mudslides .
The substantial damage caused in Nicaragua @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the wholesale price of coffee as the two countries lead Central America in coffee production , accounting for around 8 percent of the world 's coffee output .
With Iota reaching Category 5 force on Monday , it makes 2020 the fifth consecutive year in which there has been a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic basin .
Matthew began the pattern in 2016 , and Irma and Maria continued the trend in 2017 , followed by Michael in 2018 , and Dorian and Lorenzo in 2019 .
This is the longest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 hurricane in the Atlantic basin since records began .
Iota rapidly intensified over a 24-hour period to reach Category 5 status .
In this 24-hour window , maximum winds spiked from 90 mph to 160 mph and the lowest barometric pressure in the eye of the storm plummeted a staggering 1.8 inches of mercury ( 61 millibars ) .
The drop in pressure alone is more than twice what is required for a winter storm to be called a `` bomb cyclone , '' which is usually a drop of 0.71 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) in 24 hours .
This is the fourth time that a hurricane this season rapidly intensified and one of the most extreme intensifications on record , according to meteorologist Sam Lillo .
Even after reaching Category 5 status , the highest and most extreme classification for a hurricane , NOAA 's GOES-East weather satellite continued to detect lightning in the eye of the storm an indication that the hurricane was still strengthening at the time .
Iota became the sixth major hurricane of the season , or a hurricane that has reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saffir-Simpson wind scale , and it follows Laura , Teddy , Delta , Epsilon and Eta .
However , it is not out of the question that another storm could make this exclusive list before the end of 2020 .
`` Another tropical wave will enter the southern and western Caribbean later this week and could become another named tropical system by the weekend before heading , once again , for Central America , '' AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski explained .
The next name on the Atlantic hurricane list , now well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Iota weakened to a tropical storm by Tuesday afternoon. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Government officials in Central America blamed at least eight deaths on Iota on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after it made landfall in Nicaragua as a Category 4 storm. Just as the coastal region began making strides in its recovery from Eta, which hit the country two weeks ago, Iota brewed up even stronger impacts and slammed the same communities with 155-mph winds at Monday night's landfall, the strongest tropical cyclone of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. Making landfall at 10:40 p.m. EST Monday, Iota's maximum sustained winds were just 2 mph shy of Category 5 status. Advertisement
By Tuesday night, as the center of Iota barged inland across Nicaragua and into Honduras, it had weakened to a tropical storm with sustained winds of 40 mph and was spreading heavy rainfall across Honduras, El Salvador and parts of Guatemala.
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In its 12 a.m. Wednesday advisory, the National Hurricane Center located Iota about 25 miles northeast of El Papalon, El Salvador, as it moved westward at 12 mph.
"On the forecast track, the center of Iota will move across southern Honduras and El Salvador before the system dissipates later today," it said. "Rapid weakening is forecast, and Iota should weaken to a tropical depression later this morning and degenerate into a remnant low pressure area by this afternoon."
The government of Honduras has discontinued the Tropical Storm Watch from Punta Castilla eastward to the Honduras/Nicaragua border, though one is still in effect for the country's coast was of Punta Castilla to the border with Guatemala and for the Bay Islands.
Nicaraguan Vice President Rosario Murillo announced Tuesday that the storm had killed four adults and two minors and Colombian President Ivan Duque also said two people were killed and a third was still missing, CNN reported.
The pair of November hurricanes marked the first time on record that two major hurricanes made landfall in Nicaragua in the same season, further devastating the saturated nation that was still flooded from Eta, a storm that claimed at least 130 lives.
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Philip Klotzbach, a scientist at Colorado State University, tweeted that Iota was the strongest November hurricane on record to make landfall in Nicaragua, surpassing Eta.
#Iota has made landfall in Nicaragua as a Category 4 #hurricane with max winds of 155 mph. Iota is now the strongest November hurricane on record to make landfall in Nicaragua, surpassing the previous record set by Eta (140 mph) just 13 days ago. pic.twitter.com/Qyek5o5Nm6— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) November 17, 2020
The humanitarian crisis that was set into motion after Eta's feet of rainfall will be severely compounded by Iota's torrential rainfall. AccuWeather Founder and CEO Dr. Joel N. Myers warned before Iota crashed onshore that the back-to-back hurricane landfalls may cause "one of the worst floods in some of these areas in a thousand years or more," since the ground was still saturated from Eta when Iota lashed the region. The mountainous terrain will further play into the disaster unfolding, adding to the dangers of significant flooding and mudslides.
Conditions deteriorated along the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua and Honduras during the day Monday as Iota approached as a Category 5 storm with lashing winds and rising storm surge.
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AccuWeather forecasters are projecting catastrophic damage across northern Nicaragua and throughout much of Honduras from Iota with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 30 inches of rain.
Sustained winds were whipping at 160 mph Monday evening with higher gusts, according to the hurricane hunters who flew a mission through the eye of the storm. Hours before landfall, the center of Iota was situated about 30 miles east-southeast of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, the same area where Hurricane Eta blasted onshore less than two weeks ago.
Shortly before landfall on Monday night, Iota lost a slight bit of wind intensity and became a strong Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 155 mph.
Iota's landfall marks only the second time in history that two hurricanes have made landfall in Nicaragua in one season. The only other time that this occurred was in 1971 when Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Edith crashed ashore.
AccuWeather has rated Iota as a 5 on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes, which takes into account factors including wind speed, flooding rain, storm surge and economic damage and loss.
"This is a catastrophic situation unfolding for northeastern Nicaragua," the National Hurricane Center said. "Hurricane Iota's landfall location is approximately 15 miles south of where Category 4 hurricane Eta made landfall earlier this month." Eta made landfall near Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph on Nov. 3.
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The back-to-back strikes could cause the humanitarian crisis in Nicaragua and Honduras to worsen, Myers said. "Some of these countries may not completely recover for five to 10 years."
Before Iota neared Central America, heavy tropical downpours associated with the storm caused significant disruptions in Colombia. Homes were submerged in some communities in northern Colombia, stranding residents on their roofs while waiting for help to arrive. At least three fatalities were reported in Colombia due to flooding and mudslides.
The substantial damage caused in Nicaragua and Honduras could lead to an uptick in the wholesale price of coffee as the two countries lead Central America in coffee production, accounting for around 8 percent of the world's coffee output.
With Iota reaching Category 5 force on Monday, it makes 2020 the fifth consecutive year in which there has been a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic basin. Matthew began the pattern in 2016, and Irma and Maria continued the trend in 2017, followed by Michael in 2018, and Dorian and Lorenzo in 2019. This is the longest streak of consecutive years with a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic basin since records began.
Iota rapidly intensified over a 24-hour period to reach Category 5 status. In this 24-hour window, maximum winds spiked from 90 mph to 160 mph and the lowest barometric pressure in the eye of the storm plummeted a staggering 1.8 inches of mercury (61 millibars). The drop in pressure alone is more than twice what is required for a winter storm to be called a "bomb cyclone," which is usually a drop of 0.71 of an inch of mercury (24 millibars) in 24 hours. This is the fourth time that a hurricane this season rapidly intensified and one of the most extreme intensifications on record, according to meteorologist Sam Lillo.
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Even after reaching Category 5 status, the highest and most extreme classification for a hurricane, NOAA's GOES-East weather satellite continued to detect lightning in the eye of the storm an indication that the hurricane was still strengthening at the time.
Iota became the sixth major hurricane of the season, or a hurricane that has reached Category 3 status or greater on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale, and it follows Laura, Teddy, Delta, Epsilon and Eta. However, it is not out of the question that another storm could make this exclusive list before the end of 2020.
"Another tropical wave will enter the southern and western Caribbean later this week and could become another named tropical system by the weekend before heading, once again, for Central America," AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski explained.
The next name on the Atlantic hurricane list, now well into the Greek alphabet, is Kappa.


upi--2020-11-17--Pennsylvania Supreme Court throws out Trump election complaint

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- The Pennsylvania Supreme Court handed the Trump campaign another loss in its litigious efforts to overturn election results on Tuesday by ruling officials in Philadelphia did not prevent observers from overseeing the counting of ballots .
In the hearing before U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann in Williamsport , Pa. , attorneys for President Donald Trump sought to halt Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar from certifying Biden as the winner of the state 's 20 electoral votes .
The Republicans argued designated watchers were kept too far from ballot counters at the Pennsylvania Convention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process .
The case was brought to the state 's supreme court after it was thrown out by a lower court but later approved in appeal .
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that campaign representatives were not deprived of the ability to observe the counting process , as the Trump campaign had argued , citing testimony from its own witness who said he was able to observe the entire canvassing process .
The Republican observer , attorney Jeremy Mercer , said that he could not view specific declarations on the ballot envelopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the Supreme Court said that would only matter if he were challenging specific ballots , which is not permissible under the Election Code .
`` His concerns pertained to his inability to observe the writing on the outside of the ballots .
Given that observers are directed only to observe and not to audit ballots , we conclude , based on the witness 's testimony , that the Board of Elections has complied with the observation requirements , '' Justice Debra Todd wrote in the 20-page opinion .
The court said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be `` in the room while the ballots are being pre-canvassed or canvassed , '' requirements which local election officials met despite the Trump campaign arguing it met for `` meaningful observation . ''
The Supreme Court made its decision despite the Trump campaign enlisting the president 's personal lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to argue its cases after being denied late Monday from delaying the hearing because its entire legal team had dropped out .
In a filing , two Texas attorneys who joined the case last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- were allowed by Brann to quit as representatives of the campaign .
Harrisburg , Pa. , attorney and conservative talk radio host Marc Scaringi is now the sole attorney in the case .
The departing attorneys only entered the case after the law firm that had previously represented the Trump campaign , Porter Wright Morris & Arthur , had also withdrawn .
The attorneys ' withdrawal came after the suit was amended Sunday to drop many of the initial accusations questioning about 700,000 ballots and the vote counting process in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giuliani argued that the situation at the Pennsylvania Convention Center is part of a `` widespread , nationwide voter fraud . ''
`` This is part of the reason I 'm here , your Honor , because it 's not an isolated case , '' he said , as he argued for hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots be invalidated over observers being denied meaningful observation .
He said this fraud was occurring in Democratically control big cities , stating , `` you 'd be a fool to see this as an accident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represented some of the election boards in the case , told the judge to `` dismiss this case '' as Giuliani was speaking of `` some fantasy world . ''
`` This is just disgraceful , '' he said .
Pennsylvania has until Nov. 23 to certify its votes statewide .
Tuesday 's hearing follows other setbacks for the campaign 's legal efforts .
On Monday , Republican voters who had filed lawsuits in Pennsylvania , as well as Georgia , Wisconsin and Michigan , to challenge the legality of some ballots withdrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all been backed by conservative attorney James Bopp , Jr .
In Wayne County , Mich. , election officials certified results late Tuesday after having been deadlocked earlier in the evening .
`` Trump 's legal path to overturn the election results appears 100 % dead , '' election expert Richard Hasen , a law professor at the University of California , Irvine , wrote on his blog .
Even if the Trump campaign succeeds in its case Tuesday , Hasen told USA Today that the complaint does n't involve enough ballots to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania , which will award him 20 key electoral votes .

A manager speaks with voters on Election Day, November 3, at a polling station in Gettysburg, Pa. Photo by David Tulis /UPI | License Photo
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The Pennsylvania Supreme Court handed the Trump campaign another loss in its litigious efforts to overturn election results on Tuesday by ruling officials in Philadelphia did not prevent observers from overseeing the counting of ballots. In the hearing before U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann in Williamsport, Pa., attorneys for President Donald Trump sought to halt Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar from certifying Biden as the winner of the state's 20 electoral votes. Advertisement
The Republicans argued designated watchers were kept too far from ballot counters at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia to meaningfully observe the process. The case was brought to the state's supreme court after it was thrown out by a lower court but later approved in appeal.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that campaign representatives were not deprived of the ability to observe the counting process, as the Trump campaign had argued, citing testimony from its own witness who said he was able to observe the entire canvassing process.
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The Republican observer, attorney Jeremy Mercer, said that he could not view specific declarations on the ballot envelopes nor examine individual envelopes for improper markings, but the Supreme Court said that would only matter if he were challenging specific ballots, which is not permissible under the Election Code.
"His concerns pertained to his inability to observe the writing on the outside of the ballots. Given that observers are directed only to observe and not to audit ballots, we conclude, based on the witness's testimony, that the Board of Elections has complied with the observation requirements," Justice Debra Todd wrote in the 20-page opinion.
The court said state laws require candidate's authorized representatives to be "in the room while the ballots are being pre-canvassed or canvassed," requirements which local election officials met despite the Trump campaign arguing it met for "meaningful observation."
The Supreme Court made its decision despite the Trump campaign enlisting the president's personal lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to argue its cases after being denied late Monday from delaying the hearing because its entire legal team had dropped out.
In a filing, two Texas attorneys who joined the case last week -- John Scott and Douglas Hughes -- were allowed by Brann to quit as representatives of the campaign. Harrisburg, Pa., attorney and conservative talk radio host Marc Scaringi is now the sole attorney in the case.
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The departing attorneys only entered the case after the law firm that had previously represented the Trump campaign, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, had also withdrawn.
The attorneys' withdrawal came after the suit was amended Sunday to drop many of the initial accusations questioning about 700,000 ballots and the vote counting process in the state.
During the hearing on Tuesday, Giuliani argued that the situation at the Pennsylvania Convention Center is part of a "widespread, nationwide voter fraud."
"This is part of the reason I'm here, your Honor, because it's not an isolated case," he said, as he argued for hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots be invalidated over observers being denied meaningful observation.
He said this fraud was occurring in Democratically control big cities, stating, "you'd be a fool to see this as an accident."
Attorney Mark Aronchick, who represented some of the election boards in the case, told the judge to "dismiss this case" as Giuliani was speaking of "some fantasy world."
"This is just disgraceful," he said.
Pennsylvania has until Nov. 23 to certify its votes statewide.
Tuesday's hearing follows other setbacks for the campaign's legal efforts.
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On Monday, Republican voters who had filed lawsuits in Pennsylvania, as well as Georgia, Wisconsin and Michigan, to challenge the legality of some ballots withdrew their complaints.
All four suits had all been backed by conservative attorney James Bopp, Jr.
In Wayne County, Mich., election officials certified results late Tuesday after having been deadlocked earlier in the evening.
"Trump's legal path to overturn the election results appears 100% dead," election expert Richard Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, wrote on his blog.
Even if the Trump campaign succeeds in its case Tuesday, Hasen told USA Today that the complaint doesn't involve enough ballots to overtake Biden's margin of victory in Pennsylvania, which will award him 20 key electoral votes.
U.S. Election 2020


upi--2020-11-17--MLB legend Ken Griffey Jr. joins Seattle Sounders ownership group

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- Seattle Mariners legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. has joined the Seattle Sounders ' ownership group , the Major League Soccer club announced Tuesday .
Griffey joins an ownership group that has undergone significant changes over the past two years .
Among other people who form part of the group are Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson , his wife and singer Ciara and rapper Macklemore .
The Griffey family 's ownership stake was finalized earlier this year , before the coronavirus pandemic .
`` Ken Griffey Jr. is a name that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or across the sports world , and we could n't be more proud to welcome Ken and his family into our club , '' Sounders FC majority owner Adrian Hanauer said in a statement Tuesday .
`` As a lifelong resident of this great city , bringing someone like Ken into Sounders FC holds a special significance to me , as he is truly a part of Seattle sports ' heart and soul .
We value the contributions that he will add as a partner in our club and welcome him and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's MLB career spanned 22 years , with 13 of those seasons coming with the Mariners .
The 13-time All-Star selection won 10 Gold Glove Awards and was the 1997 American League MVP .
Griffey finished his career with 2,781 hits , 1,836 RBIs and 630 home runs -- the seventh-most in major league history .
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016 .
`` This is a meaningful day for our entire family , '' Griffey said in a statement .
`` My wife Melissa and I said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something special , not only for ourselves , but for our kids to be proud of , and this is it .
`` We know how much this club means to Sounders fans , and for us , this comes back to the city where it all started for our family .
We are joining a first-class organization , and we are so proud to give back to the city we love . ''

Former Seattle Mariners star Ken Griffey Jr. finished his MLB career with 630 home runs and 2,781 hits. File Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Seattle Mariners legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. has joined the Seattle Sounders' ownership group, the Major League Soccer club announced Tuesday. Griffey joins an ownership group that has undergone significant changes over the past two years. Among other people who form part of the group are Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, his wife and singer Ciara and rapper Macklemore. Advertisement
The Griffey family's ownership stake was finalized earlier this year, before the coronavirus pandemic.
"Ken Griffey Jr. is a name that requires no introduction, whether in Seattle or across the sports world, and we couldn't be more proud to welcome Ken and his family into our club," Sounders FC majority owner Adrian Hanauer said in a statement Tuesday.
"As a lifelong resident of this great city, bringing someone like Ken into Sounders FC holds a special significance to me, as he is truly a part of Seattle sports' heart and soul. We value the contributions that he will add as a partner in our club and welcome him and his family with open arms."
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Griffey's MLB career spanned 22 years, with 13 of those seasons coming with the Mariners. The 13-time All-Star selection won 10 Gold Glove Awards and was the 1997 American League MVP.
Griffey finished his career with 2,781 hits, 1,836 RBIs and 630 home runs -- the seventh-most in major league history. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
"This is a meaningful day for our entire family," Griffey said in a statement. "My wife Melissa and I said that we wanted to be a part of something special, not only for ourselves, but for our kids to be proud of, and this is it.
"We know how much this club means to Sounders fans, and for us, this comes back to the city where it all started for our family. We are joining a first-class organization, and we are so proud to give back to the city we love."


upi--2020-11-17--Chicago Cubs president of baseball ops Theo Epstein steps down

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein , the architect of the franchise 's World Series-winning team in 2016 , has stepped down after nine seasons with the club .
The team announced Tuesday that Epstein is walking away from the organization , and general manager Jed Hoyer is being promoted to take his place as president of baseball ops .
`` Theo and I have been communicating about this possible move for a couple of years , and we have been working together toward a transition that makes sense for the Cubs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tom Ricketts said in a statement .
`` The timing is right for a number of reasons , and most importantly we are both thrilled that Jed is the person succeeding Theo .
`` We have had our most successful period in over a century under Theo 's leadership , and we are grateful for everything he has given to this organization and this city .
Jed has been a big part of that success , too , and offers a combination of continuity and a fresh perspective that will serve us well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sustained success . ''
After this past season , Epstein said he expected to remain with the Cubs for at least one more year , with his contract set to expire in 2021 .
He has said repeatedly that he believes executives have about a 10-year shelf life in a job , and next season would have marked a decade since he left the Boston Red Sox to join the Cubs .
Epstein , however , told reporters Tuesday it became apparent this past summer that it was time to move on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of reasons . ''
`` It became really clear that we 'd be facing some significant long-term decisions this winter , decisions with long-term impacts , '' Epstein said .
`` Those types of decisions are really best made by somebody who 's going to be here for a long time , not just for one more year .
... Jed clearly is that person . ''
Ricketts called Epstein a `` great partner and truly a great friend , '' saying it was a `` sad day for me personally '' because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I think the legacy that Theo leaves behind is an organization that expects to win , not an organization that is surprised to win , '' Ricketts said Tuesday .
The 46-year-old Epstein led the Red Sox to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007 before arriving in Chicago following the 2011 season .
He overhauled the Cubs ' farm system as well as the scouting and analytics departments to produce the franchise 's first World Series championship in 108 years during the 2016 campaign .

Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein led the Boston Red Sox to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007 before arriving in Chicago following the 2011 season. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, the architect of the franchise's World Series-winning team in 2016, has stepped down after nine seasons with the club. The team announced Tuesday that Epstein is walking away from the organization, and general manager Jed Hoyer is being promoted to take his place as president of baseball ops. Advertisement
"Theo and I have been communicating about this possible move for a couple of years, and we have been working together toward a transition that makes sense for the Cubs and for him," Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement. "The timing is right for a number of reasons, and most importantly we are both thrilled that Jed is the person succeeding Theo.
"We have had our most successful period in over a century under Theo's leadership, and we are grateful for everything he has given to this organization and this city. Jed has been a big part of that success, too, and offers a combination of continuity and a fresh perspective that will serve us well as we look forward to another period of sustained success."
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After this past season, Epstein said he expected to remain with the Cubs for at least one more year, with his contract set to expire in 2021. He has said repeatedly that he believes executives have about a 10-year shelf life in a job, and next season would have marked a decade since he left the Boston Red Sox to join the Cubs.
Epstein, however, told reporters Tuesday it became apparent this past summer that it was time to move on from the Cubs "for a number of reasons."
"It became really clear that we'd be facing some significant long-term decisions this winter, decisions with long-term impacts," Epstein said. "Those types of decisions are really best made by somebody who's going to be here for a long time, not just for one more year. ... Jed clearly is that person."
Ricketts called Epstein a "great partner and truly a great friend," saying it was a "sad day for me personally" because of Epstein's departure.
"Really, I think the legacy that Theo leaves behind is an organization that expects to win, not an organization that is surprised to win," Ricketts said Tuesday.
The 46-year-old Epstein led the Red Sox to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007 before arriving in Chicago following the 2011 season. He overhauled the Cubs' farm system as well as the scouting and analytics departments to produce the franchise's first World Series championship in 108 years during the 2016 campaign.


upi--2020-11-17--Trump fires Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency head Chris Krebs

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired Chris Krebs , director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency , citing his statements rejecting claims of voter fraud .
In a pair of tweets announcing the decision , Trump specifically mentioned Krebs ' statements on the security of the 2020 election , describing them as `` highly inaccurate '' while citing unfounded claims of voter fraud and misconduct , prompting Twitter to flag the posts .
Earlier in the day , Krebs shared a tweet to his official Twitter account linking to a blog post refuting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general election .
`` On allegations that election systems were manipulated , 59 election security experts all agree , 'in every case of which we are aware , these claims either have been unsubstantiated or are technically incoherent . '
'' Additionally , the CISA released a statement Thursday declaring that `` the Nov. 3 election was the most secure in American history . ''
Trump , who has yet to concede the election to President-elect Joe Biden while his campaign has filed several lawsuits contesting results in key states , tweeted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for efforts to prevent foreign interference in the election .
Following the announcement of his firing Krebs tweeted from his personal account saying he was `` honored to serve . ''
`` We did it right , '' he wrote .
`` Defend today , secure tomorrow .
# Protect2020 . ''

Chris Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, was fired Tuesday night as President Donald Trump said his statements rejecting claims of voter fraud were "highly inaccurate." Photo courtesy U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired Chris Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, citing his statements rejecting claims of voter fraud. In a pair of tweets announcing the decision, Trump specifically mentioned Krebs' statements on the security of the 2020 election, describing them as "highly inaccurate" while citing unfounded claims of voter fraud and misconduct, prompting Twitter to flag the posts. Advertisement
Earlier in the day, Krebs shared a tweet to his official Twitter account linking to a blog post refuting allegations of fraud in this month's general election.
"On allegations that election systems were manipulated, 59 election security experts all agree, 'in every case of which we are aware, these claims either have been unsubstantiated or are technically incoherent.'"
Additionally, the CISA released a statement Thursday declaring that "the Nov. 3 election was the most secure in American history."
Trump, who has yet to concede the election to President-elect Joe Biden while his campaign has filed several lawsuits contesting results in key states, tweeted that his administration takes "great credit" for efforts to prevent foreign interference in the election.
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Following the announcement of his firing Krebs tweeted from his personal account saying he was "honored to serve."
"We did it right," he wrote. "Defend today, secure tomorrow. #Protect2020."


upi--2020-11-17--Trump reverses cancellation of Wreaths Across America event

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- The annual Wreaths Across America event will take at Arlington National Cemetery , officials said Tuesday , a day after the event was canceled .
In a post on its website , Arlington National Cemetery said it was directed by the secretary of the Army to `` safely host '' the event after officials on Monday moved to cancel the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` We appreciate the families and visitors who take time to honor and remember those who are laid to rest at our nation 's most hallowed ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would provide an update on the final schedule for the event `` soon . ''
The annual December event involves wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 2,100 state and federal veterans cemeteries .
Wreaths Across America Executive Director Karen Worcester said it was unclear how the event would be carried out at Arlington National Cemetery this year in light of the pandemic .
`` We do know there will not be 30,000 to 40,000 people invited to come down there , '' said Worcester .
President Donald Trump on Tuesday tweeted that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I have reversed the ridiculous decision to cancel Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery .
It will now go on ! ''
Trump wrote .
Wreaths Across America spokesman Sean Sullivan told Washington , D.C. , news outlet WTOP that while the organization could not comment on `` what really happened today '' he did confirm that organizers sent `` phone calls , emails and pleas '' to the White House to intervene in the decision .

Arlington National Cemetery said Tuesday that it will host the annual Wreaths Across America event in December, one day after the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. File Photo by Erin Schaff/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The annual Wreaths Across America event will take at Arlington National Cemetery, officials said Tuesday, a day after the event was canceled. In a post on its website, Arlington National Cemetery said it was directed by the secretary of the Army to "safely host" the event after officials on Monday moved to cancel the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement
"We appreciate the families and visitors who take time to honor and remember those who are laid to rest at our nation's most hallowed ground," the cemetery said, adding it would provide an update on the final schedule for the event "soon."
The annual December event involves wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 2,100 state and federal veterans cemeteries.
Wreaths Across America Executive Director Karen Worcester said it was unclear how the event would be carried out at Arlington National Cemetery this year in light of the pandemic.
"We do know there will not be 30,000 to 40,000 people invited to come down there," said Worcester.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday tweeted that he ordered the event to go on.
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"I have reversed the ridiculous decision to cancel Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery. It will now go on!" Trump wrote.
Wreaths Across America spokesman Sean Sullivan told Washington, D.C., news outlet WTOP that while the organization could not comment on "what really happened today" he did confirm that organizers sent "phone calls, emails and pleas" to the White House to intervene in the decision.


upi--2020-11-17--Los Angeles Dodgers star OF Cody Bellinger undergoes shoulder surgery

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- Los Angeles Dodgers star outfielder Cody Bellinger underwent surgery to repair his dislocated right shoulder , the team announced Tuesday .
The Dodgers said in a statement that Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the procedure Tuesday morning in Los Angeles .
According to the team , Bellinger will begin rehabilitating next week in Arizona and should be ready for spring training .
Bellinger suffered the shoulder injury while celebrating his seventh-inning home run during the Dodgers ' 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series last month .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he bashed forearms with teammate Kike Hernandez in celebration of the homer .
The 25-year-old Bellinger said team doctors popped it back into place `` real quick , '' and he returned to the outfield to finish the game .
He did n't miss any time during the World Series as the Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays in six games to win the championship .
Bellinger , a two-time All-Star selection and the 2019 NL MVP , recorded a .239 batting average with 12 home runs and 30 RBIs in the pandemic-shortened @ @ @

Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger (35) dislocated his right shoulder while celebrating after a home run during the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series on Oct. 18. File Photo by Tannen Maury/EPA-EFE
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Dodgers star outfielder Cody Bellinger underwent surgery to repair his dislocated right shoulder, the team announced Tuesday. The Dodgers said in a statement that Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the procedure Tuesday morning in Los Angeles. According to the team, Bellinger will begin rehabilitating next week in Arizona and should be ready for spring training. Advertisement
Bellinger suffered the shoulder injury while celebrating his seventh-inning home run during the Dodgers' 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series last month. His shoulder popped out of place when he bashed forearms with teammate Kike Hernandez in celebration of the homer.
The 25-year-old Bellinger said team doctors popped it back into place "real quick," and he returned to the outfield to finish the game. He didn't miss any time during the World Series as the Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays in six games to win the championship.
Bellinger, a two-time All-Star selection and the 2019 NL MVP, recorded a .239 batting average with 12 home runs and 30 RBIs in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.


upi--2020-11-17--Senate votes against advancing Trump's Federal Reserve nominee Judy Shelton

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- The Senate on Tuesday voted against advancing the nomination of Judy Shelton to a seat on the Federal Reserve 's board of governors .
Senators voted 50-47 against advancing the process by limiting debate .
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell changed his vote to `` no '' after it became apparent the measure would not succeed , allowing him to preserve the right to bring up the nomination again .
Republican Sens .
Mitt Romney of Utah , Susan Collins of Maine and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee have opposed Shelton 's nomination and two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iowa and Sens .
Rick Scott of Florida were absent during Tuesday 's vote as they quarantined following exposure to COVID-19 .
Grassley later announced he was diagnosed with COVID-19 .
Shelton 's path to a seat on the Fed board is also likely to become more difficult as Sen.-elect Mark Kelly , D-Ariz. , could take the place of Sen. Martha McSally , R.-Ariz. , as soon as Nov. 30 and the Senate is not scheduled to meet next week due to the Thanksgiving holiday .
`` We remain confident that Judy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' White House spokesman Judd Deere said .
Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Fla. , said he voted in favor of advancing Shelton 's nomination because he believes the Fed `` plays too much of a role '' shaping the nation 's economy .
`` I believe Judy Shelton shares my belief that relying on the Federal Reserve to boost asset prices is no substitute for a strong American economy , '' he said .
Senate Democratic leader Chuch Schumer , D-N.Y. , criticized Shelton as `` an economic weathervane , pointing whichever direction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Shelton formerly served as the economic adviser to President Donald Trump 's 2016 presidential campaign .
During her nominee hearing in February , she faced criticism for her past writings on the gold standard and foreign exchange .

Senate Republicans on Tuesday failed to advance the nomination of Judy Shelton, President Donald Trump's nomination to fill a vacancy on the Federal Reserve's board of governors. File Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The Senate on Tuesday voted against advancing the nomination of Judy Shelton to a seat on the Federal Reserve's board of governors. Senators voted 50-47 against advancing the process by limiting debate. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell changed his vote to "no" after it became apparent the measure would not succeed, allowing him to preserve the right to bring up the nomination again. Advertisement
Republican Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee have opposed Shelton's nomination and two others, Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Sens. Rick Scott of Florida were absent during Tuesday's vote as they quarantined following exposure to COVID-19.
Grassley later announced he was diagnosed with COVID-19.
Shelton's path to a seat on the Fed board is also likely to become more difficult as Sen.-elect Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., could take the place of Sen. Martha McSally, R.-Ariz., as soon as Nov. 30 and the Senate is not scheduled to meet next week due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
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"We remain confident that Judy Shelton will be confirmed upon reconsideration," White House spokesman Judd Deere said.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said he voted in favor of advancing Shelton's nomination because he believes the Fed "plays too much of a role" shaping the nation's economy.
"I believe Judy Shelton shares my belief that relying on the Federal Reserve to boost asset prices is no substitute for a strong American economy," he said.
Senate Democratic leader Chuch Schumer, D-N.Y., criticized Shelton as "an economic weathervane, pointing whichever direction she believes the partisan winds are blowing."
Shelton formerly served as the economic adviser to President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
During her nominee hearing in February, she faced criticism for her past writings on the gold standard and foreign exchange.


upi--2020-11-17--Sen. Chuck Grassley tests positive for coronavirus

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has tested positive for COVID-19 , he announced Tuesday on Twitter .
The Republican learned of his diagnosis while he was already in quarantine after being exposed to the virus .
`` I 've tested positive for coronavirus .
I 'll b following my doctors ' orders/CDC guidelines & continue to quarantine .
I 'm feeling good + will keep up on my work for the ppl of Iowa from home .
I appreciate everyone 's well wishes + prayers & look fwd to resuming my normal schedule soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sixth U.S. senator to test positive for the novel coronavirus .
Sen. Rand Paul , R-Ky. , had the virus in March ; Sen. Bill Cassidy , R-La.
, in August ; and Sens .
Mike Lee , R-Utah , Thom Tillis , R-N.C. , and Ron Johnson , R-Wis. , in October .
Twenty-one members of the U.S. House of Representatives also have tested positive .
At 87 , Grassley is at high risk for experiencing severe complications from COVID-19 .
People who are 85 or older account for 32.3 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of all age groups , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Because he was in quarantine , Grassley was unable to participate in voting for President Donald Trump 's nominee to the Federal Reserve -- Judy Shelton .

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, announced earlier Tuesday that he was quarantining after being exposed to COVID-19. He tested positive later that day. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has tested positive for COVID-19, he announced Tuesday on Twitter. The Republican learned of his diagnosis while he was already in quarantine after being exposed to the virus. Advertisement
"I've tested positive for coronavirus. I'll b following my doctors' orders/CDC guidelines & continue to quarantine. I'm feeling good + will keep up on my work for the ppl of Iowa from home. I appreciate everyone's well wishes + prayers &look fwd to resuming my normal schedule soon," Grassley tweeted.
Grassley is the sixth U.S. senator to test positive for the novel coronavirus. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., had the virus in March; Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., in August; and Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., in October. Twenty-one members of the U.S. House of Representatives also have tested positive.
At 87, Grassley is at high risk for experiencing severe complications from COVID-19. People who are 85 or older account for 32.3% of all U.S. COVID-19 deaths, the most of all age groups, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Because he was in quarantine, Grassley was unable to participate in voting for President Donald Trump's nominee to the Federal Reserve -- Judy Shelton.


upi--2020-11-17--Space Force plans National Space Intelligence Center in Ohio

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- The Space Force is planning to form a National Space Intelligence Center in Ohio , a spokeswoman confirmed .
According to Space Force spokeswoman Col. Catie Hague , two parts of the National and Space Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base -- namely , the Space Analysis Squadron and Counter-Space Analysis Squadron -- will form the basis of the new center .
The Space Force is taking custody of the two squadrons as the Air Force decides which units should join the new service .
NASIC is intended to help find and describe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cyber threats facing the Air Force and Space Force -- including signal jamming and electronic interference as well as intelligence-gathering on U.S. assets in the cosmos .
According to service planning guidance , NSIC and the Space Force 's intelligence enterprise `` will provide a framework for growth to meet anticipated demand for increased space intelligence at foundational , tactical , operational , and strategic levels . ''
But it is n't clear when the center will come to fruition , Hague said .
In February , then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would seek to avoid duplicating work already being performed by NASIC as Space Force is formed .
`` As we look forward to how we organize Space Force , obviously , we 're not looking for reduplication , and I do n't want to break something that 's working , '' Esper said .

Several Army Reserve paratroopers land on the drop zone at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, during day operations in 2016. Photo by David Johnson/U.S. Army
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The Space Force is planning to form a National Space Intelligence Center in Ohio, a spokeswoman confirmed. According to Space Force spokeswoman Col. Catie Hague, two parts of the National and Space Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base -- namely, the Space Analysis Squadron and Counter-Space Analysis Squadron -- will form the basis of the new center. Advertisement
The Space Force is taking custody of the two squadrons as the Air Force decides which units should join the new service.
NASIC is intended to help find and describe new air, space, missile and cyber threats facing the Air Force and Space Force -- including signal jamming and electronic interference as well as intelligence-gathering on U.S. assets in the cosmos.
According to service planning guidance, NSIC and the Space Force's intelligence enterprise "will provide a framework for growth to meet anticipated demand for increased space intelligence at foundational, tactical, operational, and strategic levels."
But it isn't clear when the center will come to fruition, Hague said.
In February, then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told the House Armed Services Committee the Pentagon would seek to avoid duplicating work already being performed by NASIC as Space Force is formed.
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"As we look forward to how we organize Space Force, obviously, we're not looking for reduplication, and I don't want to break something that's working," Esper said.


upi--2020-11-17--Wichita State men's basketball coach Gregg Marshall resigns after abuse probe

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- Wichita State men 's basketball coach Gregg Marshall has stepped down after an internal investigation into allegations of physical and verbal abuse , the university announced Tuesday .
Sources told ESPN and Stadium that Wichita State and Marshall reached an agreement on a $ 7.75 million contract settlement , which will be paid out over the next six years .
His contract was set to expire in 2022 .
`` This was a difficult decision , but one I feel was necessary for my family , the university and , most importantly , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement Tuesday .
`` I remain grateful for my years spent at Wichita State .
`` I wish to thank the coaches , student-athletes , the university , the community , and all of Shocker Nation for their unending dedication , support and loyalty .
I am incredibly proud of this men 's basketball program and all it has achieved over the past 14 years and am confident of its continued success . ''
Wichita State said assistant coach Isaac Brown will serve as the team 's interim head coach .
Before announcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the team and coaching staff and instructed them to move forward under Brown .
According to ESPN , multiple players on the current team rallied behind Marshall amid the allegations .
`` Our student-athletes are our primary concern , '' Wichita State athletic director Darron Boatright said in a statement .
`` While the university acknowledges the success of the basketball program under coach Marshall , this decision is in the best interest of the university , its student-athletes and the WSU community .
`` WSU will continue its pursuit of excellence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff and loyal supporters of the basketball program . ''
In October , Wichita State confirmed it had hired a St. Louis-based law firm to conduct an internal probe into Marshall 's behavior at the school following multiple allegations by former players .
Former Shockers players previously told Stadium and The Athletic that Marshall frequently berated team members .
The players also accused Marshall of physical abuse and racist behavior .
Marshall , 57 , joined Wichita State in 2007 and is the winningest coach in program history with a 331-121 record across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shockers reached the NCAA tournament seven times , including a trip to the Final Four in 2013 .

Wichita State men's basketball coach Gregg Marshall agreed to a $7.75 million contract settlement with the school. It will be paid out over the next six years. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Wichita State men's basketball coach Gregg Marshall has stepped down after an internal investigation into allegations of physical and verbal abuse, the university announced Tuesday. Sources told ESPN and Stadium that Wichita State and Marshall reached an agreement on a $7.75 million contract settlement, which will be paid out over the next six years. His contract was set to expire in 2022. Advertisement
"This was a difficult decision, but one I feel was necessary for my family, the university and, most importantly, the student-athletes," Marshall said in a statement Tuesday. "I remain grateful for my years spent at Wichita State.
"I wish to thank the coaches, student-athletes, the university, the community, and all of Shocker Nation for their unending dedication, support and loyalty. I am incredibly proud of this men's basketball program and all it has achieved over the past 14 years and am confident of its continued success."
Wichita State said assistant coach Isaac Brown will serve as the team's interim head coach.
Before announcing his resignation, Marshall held a meeting with the team and coaching staff and instructed them to move forward under Brown. According to ESPN, multiple players on the current team rallied behind Marshall amid the allegations.
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"Our student-athletes are our primary concern," Wichita State athletic director Darron Boatright said in a statement. "While the university acknowledges the success of the basketball program under coach Marshall, this decision is in the best interest of the university, its student-athletes and the WSU community.
"WSU will continue its pursuit of excellence with the help of its student-athletes, staff and loyal supporters of the basketball program."
In October, Wichita State confirmed it had hired a St. Louis-based law firm to conduct an internal probe into Marshall's behavior at the school following multiple allegations by former players.
Former Shockers players previously told Stadium and The Athletic that Marshall frequently berated team members. The players also accused Marshall of physical abuse and racist behavior.
Marshall, 57, joined Wichita State in 2007 and is the winningest coach in program history with a 331-121 record across 13 seasons. Under Marshall, the Shockers reached the NCAA tournament seven times, including a trip to the Final Four in 2013.


upi--2020-11-17--Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, Twitter's Jack Dorsey defend handling of election content

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- Partisan divides over the role of social media platforms in U.S. elections were on display Tuesday as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey were called to answer questions from the Senate judiciary committee .
The tech leaders appeared remotely before the committee and were asked how their platforms handled the spread of information -- and potential misinformation -- during the 2020 election .
While both companies took steps to curb the spread of misinformation in the weeks and months before Election Day , Republican panel members grilled the pair about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and conservatives in general .
Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas , accused Twitter of `` taking a disputed policy position '' by flagging tweets alleging fraud in the 2020 election , saying this makes Twitter a publisher and therefore not eligible for protection under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act , which shields social platforms from responsibility for user content and says they are under no obligation to moderate .
During and beyond the presidential campaign , Twitter has repeatedly flagged Trump 's tweets that contain inaccurate or misleading information .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempted to claim victory in key battleground states and has repeatedly made unfounded accusations of voter fraud and misconduct .
Dorsey said the warnings placed on such posts lead to `` a broader conversation with tweets from publishers and people all around the country . ''
Sen. Mike Lee , R-Utah , lodged similar accusations against Facebook , accusing the company of editorializing by placing content labels on posts .
`` This kind of editorializing insulates people from the truth and it insinuates that anyone concerned about voter fraud must be crazy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be out of the mainstream in Palo Alto , but they 're not out of the mainstream in the rest of America . ''
Lee also said Facebook 's use of third-party fact-checkers allows the company to avoid accountability for its content moderation decisions to which Zuckerberg replied that users have expressed that they do not want to see misinformation but simultaneously do not want the company to act as `` the arbiter of truth '' related to content posted online .
`` Within those bounds , we 've tried to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third parties who have been accredited by the Poynter Institute for Journalism ... and we give those fact-checkers the latitude to determine whether ads or other content on our service is accurate . ''
Judiciary committee Chairman Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , criticized Twitter and Facebook for limiting the exposure of two New York Post articles that made unproven and unverified claims about Hunter Biden , the son of President-elect Joe Biden .
Facebook flagged the article for third-party fact-checking and Twitter initially blocked links to the New York Post articles altogether , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Graham said , are `` literally engaged in telling us what 's reliable and what 's not based on cable news commentary or tweets from politicians or average citizens . ''
Zuckerberg and Dorsey , however , defended the way they navigated the tricky election campaign -- particularly after Russian hackers made repeated efforts online and via social media to interfere and influence the vote four years ago in Trump 's favor .
Dorsey said he recognizes that Twitter had made a mistake in the way it handled the New York Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies need to be more transparent about why they label or remove posts .
`` It is more or less opaque to the public and that 's where I think we have a gap , '' he said .
`` We have transparency around our policies .
We do not have transparency around how we operate content moderation ... the rationale behind it . ''
Zuckerberg said he was pleased with Facebook 's efforts .
`` From what we 've seen so far , our systems worked well , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican majority for even holding the hearing .
`` This hearing is not a serious one .
It is a political sideshow -- a public tar and feathering , '' the committee 's top Democrat , Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut , said in his opening remarks .
Tuesday was the second time Zuckerberg and Dorsey appeared in the Senate to testify in the last three weeks .
Late last month , they testified with Google CEO Sundar Pichai at a hearing about Section 230 .
Blumenthal chided Republicans for failing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Tuesday 's hearing .
`` Google has been given a pass from today 's hearing , '' he said .
`` It 's been rewarded by this committee for its timidity , doing even less than [ Facebook and Twitter ] have to live up to its responsibilities . ''

1/6
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies remotely on Tuesday during a Senate judiciary committee hearing examining how his social platform and Twitter moderated content during the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign, on on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Photo by Bill Clark/UPI/Pool | License Photo
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Partisan divides over the role of social media platforms in U.S. elections were on display Tuesday as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey were called to answer questions from the Senate judiciary committee. The tech leaders appeared remotely before the committee and were asked how their platforms handled the spread of information -- and potential misinformation -- during the 2020 election. Advertisement
While both companies took steps to curb the spread of misinformation in the weeks and months before Election Day, Republican panel members grilled the pair about what they characterized as bias against President Donald Trump and conservatives in general.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, accused Twitter of "taking a disputed policy position" by flagging tweets alleging fraud in the 2020 election, saying this makes Twitter a publisher and therefore not eligible for protection under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields social platforms from responsibility for user content and says they are under no obligation to moderate.
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During and beyond the presidential campaign, Twitter has repeatedly flagged Trump's tweets that contain inaccurate or misleading information. In many of those tweets, he attempted to claim victory in key battleground states and has repeatedly made unfounded accusations of voter fraud and misconduct.
Dorsey said the warnings placed on such posts lead to "a broader conversation with tweets from publishers and people all around the country."
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, lodged similar accusations against Facebook, accusing the company of editorializing by placing content labels on posts.
"This kind of editorializing insulates people from the truth and it insinuates that anyone concerned about voter fraud must be crazy," Lee said. "These concerns may be out of the mainstream in Palo Alto, but they're not out of the mainstream in the rest of America."
Lee also said Facebook's use of third-party fact-checkers allows the company to avoid accountability for its content moderation decisions to which Zuckerberg replied that users have expressed that they do not want to see misinformation but simultaneously do not want the company to act as "the arbiter of truth" related to content posted online.
"Within those bounds, we've tried to create a fact-checking program that works with independent third parties who have been accredited by the Poynter Institute for Journalism ... and we give those fact-checkers the latitude to determine whether ads or other content on our service is accurate."
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Judiciary committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized Twitter and Facebook for limiting the exposure of two New York Post articles that made unproven and unverified claims about Hunter Biden, the son of President-elect Joe Biden.
Facebook flagged the article for third-party fact-checking and Twitter initially blocked links to the New York Post articles altogether, but later reversed course.
The companies, Graham said, are "literally engaged in telling us what's reliable and what's not based on cable news commentary or tweets from politicians or average citizens."
Zuckerberg and Dorsey, however, defended the way they navigated the tricky election campaign -- particularly after Russian hackers made repeated efforts online and via social media to interfere and influence the vote four years ago in Trump's favor.
Dorsey said he recognizes that Twitter had made a mistake in the way it handled the New York Post stories, and agreed that social media companies need to be more transparent about why they label or remove posts.
"It is more or less opaque to the public and that's where I think we have a gap," he said. "We have transparency around our policies. We do not have transparency around how we operate content moderation ... the rationale behind it."
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Zuckerberg said he was pleased with Facebook's efforts.
"From what we've seen so far, our systems worked well," he said.
Democratic panel members, meanwhile, criticized the Republican majority for even holding the hearing.
"This hearing is not a serious one. It is a political sideshow -- a public tar and feathering," the committee's top Democrat, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, said in his opening remarks.
Tuesday was the second time Zuckerberg and Dorsey appeared in the Senate to testify in the last three weeks. Late last month, they testified with Google CEO Sundar Pichai at a hearing about Section 230.
Blumenthal chided Republicans for failing to call Pichai and Google to take part in Tuesday's hearing.
"Google has been given a pass from today's hearing," he said. "It's been rewarded by this committee for its timidity, doing even less than [Facebook and Twitter] have to live up to its responsibilities."


upi--2020-11-17--Rocket attack targets Baghdad's Green Zone, kills child

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- Seven rockets targeted Baghdad 's so-called Green Zone on Tuesday , killing a child and injuring at least seven people , Iraqi military forces said .
The attack happened late Tuesday , with four rockets landing inside the Green Zone and three landing just outside it .
The Green Zone is the colloquial name given to a heavily fortified international zone in the capital where several embassies are located .
Security officials told NBC News that one of the rockets hit the National Security Service , about 2,000 feet away from the U.S. Embassy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Green Zone , one struck near Baghdad Medical City hospital , one near a public park and the third exploded mid-air .
They said the C-RAM air defense system installed by the United States this year intercepted some rockets .
Of those injured , five were civilians and two were Iraqi security forces .
Iraqi military officials said they tracked down the location where the rockets were fired to the capital 's eastern Al-Ameen neighborhood .
The attack came on the same day the United States ' acting defense secretary , Christopher Miller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troops from Afghanistan and Iraq by Jan. 15 .

Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Seven rockets targeted Baghdad's so-called Green Zone on Tuesday, killing a child and injuring at least seven people, Iraqi military forces said.
The attack happened late Tuesday, with four rockets landing inside the Green Zone and three landing just outside it. The Green Zone is the colloquial name given to a heavily fortified international zone in the capital where several embassies are located.
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Security officials told NBC News that one of the rockets hit the National Security Service, about 2,000 feet away from the U.S. Embassy. Of those that landed outside the Green Zone, one struck near Baghdad Medical City hospital, one near a public park and the third exploded mid-air.
They said the C-RAM air defense system installed by the United States this year intercepted some rockets.
Of those injured, five were civilians and two were Iraqi security forces.
Iraqi military officials said they tracked down the location where the rockets were fired to the capital's eastern Al-Ameen neighborhood.
The attack came on the same day the United States' acting defense secretary, Christopher Miller, said the Pentagon was withdrawing 2,500 troops from Afghanistan and Iraq by Jan. 15.


upi--2020-11-17--Ft. Sill basic training graduates first to don new Army dress uniforms

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- A group of soldiers who graduated from basic training Fort Sill , Okla. , @ @ @ @ @ nationwide to wear the Army 's new dress uniform this week .
Fort Sill posted @ @ @ @ @ soldiers from 434th Field Artillery Brigade Class 64-20 , Alpha Battery , 1st Battalion 79th @ @ @ @ @ the new World War II-style dress uniform during their graduation ceremony .
Other basic training @ @ @ @ @ issuing new uniforms by December , and soldiers should be able to purchase their Army @ @ @ @ @ recruiters and soldiers at Fort Knox in Kentucky got the uniforms in July .
The @ @ @ @ @ mandatory until October 2027 .

Nov. 17 (UPI) -- A group of soldiers who graduated from basic training Fort Sill, Okla., became the first graduating class nationwide to wear the Army's new dress uniform this week.
Fort Sill posted pictures and videos Monday showing soldiers from 434th Field Artillery Brigade Class 64-20, Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion 79th Field Artillery Regiment, wearing the new World War II-style dress uniform during their graduation ceremony.
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Other basic training locations are expected to begin issuing new uniforms by December, and soldiers should be able to purchase their Army greens by March -- but recruiters and soldiers at Fort Knox in Kentucky got the uniforms in July.
The new uniforms won't become mandatory until October 2027.


upi--2020-11-17--Chinese COVID-19 vaccine said to show promise in early clinical trials

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- A vaccine against COVID-19 developed in China safely produces antibodies against the virus in 92 % of the people who receive it , according to a study published Tuesday by The Lancet Infectious Diseases .
Still , antibody levels among participants receiving the shot , called CoronaVac , were lower than those seen in patients who have recovered following infection , the researchers said .
The trial was not designed to assess the effectiveness of the vaccine , however , and those studies are ongoing , they said .
`` Our findings show that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antibody response within four weeks of immunization by giving two doses of the vaccine at a 14-day interval , '' study co-author Fengcai Zhu said in a statement .
`` We believe that this makes the vaccine suitable for emergency use during the pandemic , '' said Zhu , a researcher with the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Nanjing , China .
The findings are the latest to fuel hopes that a viable vaccine against COVID-19 will become available in the short-term .
In recent days , both Pfizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results with their respective vaccines .
More than 120 potential vaccines are being evaluated , and 48 are in clinical trials .
CoronaVac is a chemically inactivated whole virus vaccine based on a strain of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 , originally was isolated from a patient in China .
In this phase 1/2 , two-part clinical trial -- the first stage of the evaluation process -- researchers administered CoronaVac to more than 700 healthy volunteers ages 18 to 59 in China between April 16 and May 5 .
No participant had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveled to areas with high incidence of the disease and did not have signs of fever at the time the vaccine was administered , the researchers said .
In both parts of the trial , participants were split into two groups to receive one of two vaccination schedules -- either two injections 14 days apart or two injections 28 days apart .
Within each of the two groups , participants were randomly assigned to receive either a low dose of the vaccine -- 3 micrograms -- or a high dose -- 6 mcg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the immune system to fight off viruses -- could be induced within 28 days of the first immunization by giving two doses of the vaccine at the lower dose 14 days apart , the data showed .
In the phase 1 portion of the study , the vaccine produced an immune response in 46 % of participants , a figure that more than doubled to just over 92 % during the second phase .
The vaccine used in the second phase of the study was produced using a different manufacturing process that may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immune response , researchers said .
Participants in all dosing schedules and levels reported similar side effects , with pain at the injection site the most common .
Most of the reported side effects were mild and participants recovered within 48 hours .
CoronaVac can be stored in a standard refrigerator at 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit , which is `` typical for many existing vaccines including flu , '' and can remain in storage for up to three years , according to study co-author Dr .
Gang Zeng , of China-based Sinovac @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A COVID-19 vaccine in China produces an immune response in early clinical trials, according to research published Tuesday. Photo by huntlh/ Pixabay
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- A vaccine against COVID-19 developed in China safely produces antibodies against the virus in 92% of the people who receive it, according to a study published Tuesday by The Lancet Infectious Diseases. Still, antibody levels among participants receiving the shot, called CoronaVac, were lower than those seen in patients who have recovered following infection, the researchers said. Advertisement
The trial was not designed to assess the effectiveness of the vaccine, however, and those studies are ongoing, they said.
"Our findings show that CoronaVac is capable of inducing a quick antibody response within four weeks of immunization by giving two doses of the vaccine at a 14-day interval," study co-author Fengcai Zhu said in a statement.
"We believe that this makes the vaccine suitable for emergency use during the pandemic," said Zhu, a researcher with the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Nanjing, China.
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The findings are the latest to fuel hopes that a viable vaccine against COVID-19 will become available in the short-term.
In recent days, both Pfizer and Moderna have released positive, preliminary results with their respective vaccines. More than 120 potential vaccines are being evaluated, and 48 are in clinical trials.
CoronaVac is a chemically inactivated whole virus vaccine based on a strain of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, originally was isolated from a patient in China.
In this phase 1/2, two-part clinical trial -- the first stage of the evaluation process -- researchers administered CoronaVac to more than 700 healthy volunteers ages 18 to 59 in China between April 16 and May 5.
No participant had a history of COVID-19 infection, had not traveled to areas with high incidence of the disease and did not have signs of fever at the time the vaccine was administered, the researchers said.
In both parts of the trial, participants were split into two groups to receive one of two vaccination schedules -- either two injections 14 days apart or two injections 28 days apart.
Within each of the two groups, participants were randomly assigned to receive either a low dose of the vaccine -- 3 micrograms -- or a high dose -- 6 mcg.
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Antibody responses -- proteins produced by the immune system to fight off viruses -- could be induced within 28 days of the first immunization by giving two doses of the vaccine at the lower dose 14 days apart, the data showed.
In the phase 1 portion of the study, the vaccine produced an immune response in 46% of participants, a figure that more than doubled to just over 92% during the second phase.
The vaccine used in the second phase of the study was produced using a different manufacturing process that may have enabled it to produce a stronger immune response, researchers said.
Participants in all dosing schedules and levels reported similar side effects, with pain at the injection site the most common.
Most of the reported side effects were mild and participants recovered within 48 hours.
CoronaVac can be stored in a standard refrigerator at 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit, which is "typical for many existing vaccines including flu," and can remain in storage for up to three years, according to study co-author Dr. Gang Zeng, of China-based Sinovac Biotech, which makes the vaccine.


upi--2020-11-17--Outgoing Navy secretary wants new fleet near Indian, Pacific Oceans

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite said Tuesday in a speech that he has asked the Navy to establish a new fleet focused on the border between the Indian and Pacific Oceans .
It 's not clear how far along the planning process is for the fleet , and Braithwaite -- who was appointed by President Donald Trump in March and sworn in in May -- has acknowledged that he is likely to be replaced after President-Elect Joe Biden takes office in January .
Braithwaite , speaking to a virtual audience attending a Naval Submarine League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the fleet would be located .
`` We want to put that numbered fleet in the crossroads between the Indian and the Pacific oceans , '' Braithwaite said in the speech .
`` If we 're really gon na have an Indo-Pacom footprint , we ca n't just rely on the Seventh Fleet in Japan .
We have to look to our other allies and partners like Singapore , like India , and actually put a numbered fleet where it would be extremely relevant if -- God forbid -- we were ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dust up , '' he said .
Braithwaite said the move would be a direct response to Chinese expansionism in the region .
`` Most recently I was in a trip to the Far East : every single one of our allies and partners are concerned about how aggressive the Chinese have been .
I would argue with anybody that not since the War of 1812 has the United States and our sovereignty been under the kind of pressures that we see today , '' Braithwaite said .
Biden 's likely pick for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also expressed concern about China 's growing military might .
`` We have to have enough of an edge , that first and foremost we can deter China from attacking or endangering our vital interests and our allies .
That means resolve , '' Flournoy told Defense News .

| License Photo Outgoing Navy Secretary Kenneth J. Braithwaite, pictured testifying before the Senate in May, said he has asked the Navy to add a new numbered fleet between the Pacific and Indian oceans. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite said Tuesday in a speech that he has asked the Navy to establish a new fleet focused on the border between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It's not clear how far along the planning process is for the fleet, and Braithwaite -- who was appointed by President Donald Trump in March and sworn in in May -- has acknowledged that he is likely to be replaced after President-Elect Joe Biden takes office in January. Advertisement
Braithwaite, speaking to a virtual audience attending a Naval Submarine League conference, also didn't say precisely where the fleet would be located.
"We want to put that numbered fleet in the crossroads between the Indian and the Pacific oceans," Braithwaite said in the speech.
"If we're really gonna have an Indo-Pacom footprint, we can't just rely on the Seventh Fleet in Japan. We have to look to our other allies and partners like Singapore, like India, and actually put a numbered fleet where it would be extremely relevant if -- God forbid -- we were ever to get in any kind of a dust up," he said.
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Braithwaite said the move would be a direct response to Chinese expansionism in the region.
"Most recently I was in a trip to the Far East: every single one of our allies and partners are concerned about how aggressive the Chinese have been. I would argue with anybody that not since the War of 1812 has the United States and our sovereignty been under the kind of pressures that we see today," Braithwaite said.
Biden's likely pick for defense secretary, Michele Flournoy, has also expressed concern about China's growing military might.
"We have to have enough of an edge, that first and foremost we can deter China from attacking or endangering our vital interests and our allies. That means resolve," Flournoy told Defense News.


upi--2020-11-17--Georgia recount: Voting machines audit finds no hack

Georgia's recount process discovered more than 2,400 votes that weren't counted in Floyd County due to an optical scanner error. Photo by Tami Chappell/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Tuesday an audit of the state's voting machines found no evidence of tampering. Raffensperger said in a statement announcing the completion of the audit that there was "no sign of foul play." Advertisement
He ordered Pro V&V, a U.S. Election Assistance Commission-certified testing laboratory, to conduct the audit on a random sample of Dominion Voting Systems machines statewide, which used forensic techniques and verification processes to confirm no tampering, cyberattacks or election hacking.
"Pro V&V found no evidence of the machines being tampered," the secretary of state's office said.
"We are glad but not surprised that the audit of the state's voting machines was an unqualified success," Raffensperger said in a statement. "Election security has been a top priority since day one of may administration. We have partnered with the Department of Homeland Security, the Georgia Cyber Center, Georgia Tech security experts, and wide range of other election security experts around the state and country so Georgia voters can be confident that their vote is safe and secure."
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President-Elect Joe Biden led incumbent President Donald Trump by more than 14,000 votes in Georgia after the Nov. 3 election, leading to projections that he will win Georgia's 16 electoral votes. However, Biden's lead was within a 0.5% margin of Trump, triggering a recount under state law upon request.
A statewide risk-limiting audit prompting a full hand recount of nearly 5 million votes in Georgia's 159 counties began Friday with a deadline to finish by midnight Wednesday.
Under state law, after the hand recount is complete, the secretary of state's office will certify the statewide election results by Friday.
Trump and some Republican allies made baseless allegations about Dominion Voting Systems, leading to the audit.
Georgia is holding two U.S. Senate runoff elections Jan. 5, after none of the candidates reached the 50% threshold on Nov. 3 to win the election outright. The outcomes will be key to U.S. Senate control.
Since the Nov. 3 election, Raffensperger, who identifies as a Republican, has faced pressure from the two Republican incumbent senators going into the runoff, Sens. Kelly Loeffler an David Perdue, to resign.
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Raffensperger said that he and his wife, Tricia, also received death threats in recent days.
The Georgia secretary of state said Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also asked if he could toss all mail ballots in certain counties that have higher signature mismatches, appearing to suggest he toss legal ballots.
Graham denied that he made such a suggestion, calling it "ridiculous."
On Tuesday, Raffensperger warned against activist groups helping to finance or organize efforts to move individuals to Georgia solely for the purpose of voting in the Georgia runoffs. He said they could be prosecuted for conspiracy to commit voter fraud under Georgia's Racketeering Conspiracy laws.
"Make no mistake about it, I will seek to prosecute those who try to undermine our elections to the fullest extent of the law," Raffensperger said in a statement.
A recount Monday in Floyd County, located in northwest Georgia, found more than 2,600 ballots that hadn't been tallied in the original count, allowing Trump to gain nearly 800 votes with 1,643 of the new votes for Trump and 865 for Biden.
Failure to upload votes from a memory card into a ballot scanning machine caused the problem, said Gabriel Sterling, the state's voting system manager.
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"It's not an equipment issue," Sterling said. "It's a person not executing their job properly."
Sterling added that the county's election director should resign.
Floyd County Republican Party Chairman Luke Martin said the issue occurred during in-person early voting after an optical scanner stopped working. County election officials were supposed to rescan the ballots, but about half of them weren't recorded.
"It's very concerning," Martin said. "But this doesn't appear to be a widespread issue. I'm glad the audit revealed it, and it's important that all votes are counted."
The issue in Floyd County narrows Biden's lead to 13,378 votes, but Raffensperger said that other counties' figures have closely matched the original numbers.
U.S. Election 2020


upi--2020-11-17--Watch: 25-foot-tall dinosaur balloon sculpture breaks Guinness record

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- A team of artists used about 150,000 biodegradable balloons to construct a 25-foot-high sculpture @ @ @ @ @ a Guinness World Record in Turkey .
Guinness said Guido Verhoef , Bahar Belisan and @ @ @ @ @ the Balloon Crew club to build the massive dinosaur sculpture in Istanbul .
The finished @ @ @ @ @ 150,000 biodegradable balloons , measured 25 feet , 9 inches high , 29 feet , @ @ @ @ @ feet , 5 inches long .
The sculpture was constructed at an Istanbul mall as @ @ @ @ @ Kingdom exhibit .
The sculpture was awarded the Guinness World Record for the largest balloon @ @ @ @ @

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Nov. 17 (UPI) -- A team of artists used about 150,000 biodegradable balloons to construct a 25-foot-high sculpture of a dinosaur that captured a Guinness World Record in Turkey.
Guinness said Guido Verhoef, Bahar Belisan and Willy Monroe teamed up with the Balloon Crew club to build the massive dinosaur sculpture in Istanbul.
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The finished sculpture, made from about 150,000 biodegradable balloons, measured 25 feet, 9 inches high, 29 feet, 9 inches wide and 64 feet, 5 inches long.
The sculpture was constructed at an Istanbul mall as part of a Balloon Animal Kingdom exhibit. The sculpture was awarded the Guinness World Record for the largest balloon sculpture of a dinosaur.


upi--2020-11-17--Dow falls 167 points following disappointing retail report

Nov. 17 ( UPI ) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S & P 500 fell for the first time in three days Tuesday after they both reached record highs Monday .
The blue-chip index dropped 167.09 points , or 0.56 % after drawing nearer to 30,000 points on Monday .
The S & P 500 fell 0.45 % and the Nasdaq Composite slid 0.2 % as markets cooled off following a rally in response to optimism surrounding a COVID-19 vaccine .
Markets responded to a Commerce Department report that U.S. retail sales fell short of expert predictions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Waning momentum in consumer activity highlights the lingering fragility of individuals and households as local restrictions and safety protocols continue to impact incomes , revenues and opportunities , '' Lindsey Piegza , chief economist for Stifel , told MarketWatch .
Pharmacy chains Walgreens Boots Alliance and CVS Health Corp also took a hit Tuesday , dropping 9.63 % and 8.59 % respectively as Amazon announced it would launch its own pharmacy service that would provide free delivery of medication for Prime members .
Amazon shares rose 0.15 % following the news .
Tesla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced the company would join the S & P 500 index on Dec. 21 .
Tuesday 's losses came after the Dow climbed to 29,950 points Monday after Moderna and Pfizer both announced positive data surrounding the effectiveness of their COVID-19 vaccine candidates .
`` We just reached new highs , so it 's natural for the market to take a breather and the slightly disappointing read on the retail sales front is facilitating that , '' Chirs Larkin , managing director of trading and investment product at E-Trade , told CNBC .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's a bit of uncertainty in this sector in the short term . ''

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 167 points on Tuesday, one day after reaching a record high, amid disappointing retail figures. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 fell for the first time in three days Tuesday after they both reached record highs Monday. The blue-chip index dropped 167.09 points, or 0.56% after drawing nearer to 30,000 points on Monday. The S&P 500 fell 0.45% and the Nasdaq Composite slid 0.2% as markets cooled off following a rally in response to optimism surrounding a COVID-19 vaccine. Advertisement
Markets responded to a Commerce Department report that U.S. retail sales fell short of expert predictions, growing 0.3% in October.
Home Depot shares fell 2.54% and Walmart dropped 2.17%.
"Waning momentum in consumer activity highlights the lingering fragility of individuals and households as local restrictions and safety protocols continue to impact incomes, revenues and opportunities," Lindsey Piegza, chief economist for Stifel, told MarketWatch.
Pharmacy chains Walgreens Boots Alliance and CVS Health Corp also took a hit Tuesday, dropping 9.63% and 8.59% respectively as Amazon announced it would launch its own pharmacy service that would provide free delivery of medication for Prime members. Amazon shares rose 0.15% following the news.
Tesla stock climbed 8.21% after it was announced the company would join the S&P 500 index on Dec. 21.
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Tuesday's losses came after the Dow climbed to 29,950 points Monday after Moderna and Pfizer both announced positive data surrounding the effectiveness of their COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
"We just reached new highs, so it's natural for the market to take a breather and the slightly disappointing read on the retail sales front is facilitating that," Chirs Larkin, managing director of trading and investment product at E-Trade, told CNBC. "Without stimulus checks coming in, there's a bit of uncertainty in this sector in the short term."