upi--2020-04-23--Oklahoma to gradually reopen businesses from Friday

April 23 ( UPI ) -- Oklahoma Gov .
Kevin Stitt has announced the state will begin to ease staunch measures implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus from Friday with aims to reopen its economy by June .
During a press conference Wednesday , Stitt said the state planned to enter phase one of a three-phase plan to reopen Oklahoma 's economy , which first began to shutter with Stitt signing a Declaration of Emergency in mid-March .
`` Let me be clear : We will do this safely , responsibly and based on the data within our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , personal care businesses , such as hair salons and barbershops , will be allowed to operate by appointment only , and state parks and outdoor recreation areas will be reopened to the public .
Then on May 1 , restaurants , sporting venues and places of entertainment , such as movie theaters , may reopen along with gyms and places of worship as long as they adhere to social distancing and sanitation guidelines .
Phase 2 will begin on May 15 when bars will be able to operate with diminished standing-room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 if hospital and incident rates `` remain at a manageable level '' for more than two weeks , and further details about the reopening will be available at that time , the Oklahoma Department of Commerce detailed in the plan .
`` This statewide approach is based on the data from our public health experts , is intended to mitigate risk of a resurgence and protects Oklahoma 's most vulnerable citizens from the threat of COVID-19 , '' Stitt explained on Twitter .
However , the plan was met with swift criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minority leader Emily Virgin said the Republican governor was acting from `` a place of fear '' and that he should n't make any hasty decisions .
She said Oklahoma does not meet the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 's guidelines for states to reopen and that they have failed to administer proper testing or tracing to ensure that they do meet those reopening requirements .
`` Reopening without proper data and against the scientific community puts Oklahoma workers in a dangerous position to have to choose between their safety and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
`` We urge the governor to reconsider until better data is available . ''
The state recorded its first coronavirus infection on March 6 .
Since then , the Oklahoma State Department of Health has reported nearly 2,900 infections .
The announcement came as President Donald Trump criticized political ally Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp for announcing a similar plan earlier in the week .
During a press briefing of the Coronavirus Task Force on Wednesday , Trump said he told Kemp he `` strongly '' disagrees with his plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he thinks is right .
On Monday , Kemp , along with the governors of Tennesse and South Carolina , announced plans to reopen businesses .
Kemp said that from Friday gyms , fitness centers , bowling alleys , body art studios , barbers and other such businesses could reopen their doors .
On Monday , theaters , private social clubs , restaurants and restaurant dine-services could also restart .
`` I want him to do what he thinks is right , but I disagree with him on what he 's doing , @ @ @ @

April 23 (UPI) -- Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has announced the state will begin to ease staunch measures implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus from Friday with aims to reopen its economy by June.
During a press conference Wednesday, Stitt said the state planned to enter phase one of a three-phase plan to reopen Oklahoma's economy, which first began to shutter with Stitt signing a Declaration of Emergency in mid-March.
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"Let me be clear: We will do this safely, responsibly and based on the data within our state," he said.
From Friday, personal care businesses, such as hair salons and barbershops, will be allowed to operate by appointment only, and state parks and outdoor recreation areas will be reopened to the public. Then on May 1, restaurants, sporting venues and places of entertainment, such as movie theaters, may reopen along with gyms and places of worship as long as they adhere to social distancing and sanitation guidelines.
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Phase 2 will begin on May 15 when bars will be able to operate with diminished standing-room occupancy.
Phase 3 will begin June 1 if hospital and incident rates "remain at a manageable level" for more than two weeks, and further details about the reopening will be available at that time, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce detailed in the plan.
"This statewide approach is based on the data from our public health experts, is intended to mitigate risk of a resurgence and protects Oklahoma's most vulnerable citizens from the threat of COVID-19," Stitt explained on Twitter.
However, the plan was met with swift criticism from across the aisle as Oklahoma House minority leader Emily Virgin said the Republican governor was acting from "a place of fear" and that he shouldn't make any hasty decisions.
She said Oklahoma does not meet the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines for states to reopen and that they have failed to administer proper testing or tracing to ensure that they do meet those reopening requirements.
"Reopening without proper data and against the scientific community puts Oklahoma workers in a dangerous position to have to choose between their safety and their job," she said in a statement. "We urge the governor to reconsider until better data is available."
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The state recorded its first coronavirus infection on March 6. Since then, the Oklahoma State Department of Health has reported nearly 2,900 infections.
The announcement came as President Donald Trump criticized political ally Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp for announcing a similar plan earlier in the week.
During a press briefing of the Coronavirus Task Force on Wednesday, Trump said he told Kemp he "strongly" disagrees with his plan but that "he must do what he thinks is right.
On Monday, Kemp, along with the governors of Tennesse and South Carolina, announced plans to reopen businesses.
Kemp said that from Friday gyms, fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbers and other such businesses could reopen their doors. On Monday, theaters, private social clubs, restaurants and restaurant dine-services could also restart.
"I want him to do what he thinks is right, but I disagree with him on what he's doing," Trump said.


upi--2020-04-23--Study links bacterial blood infections, higher colon cancer risk

There 's an association between blood infections caused by certain types of bacteria and an increased risk of colon cancer , a new study finds .
`` At this stage we are not sure if the bacteria are directly causing cases of colorectal cancer , or if the blood infection with these bacteria is itself caused by the cancer .
It 's an example of the question 'is this the chicken or the egg ? '
'' said study leader Dr. Ulrik Stenz Justesen of Odense University Hospital in Denmark .
In any case , the findings might help improve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his team members said .
They analyzed data from more than 2 million people in Denmark , and found that people with blood infections caused by specific `` anaerobic '' species of bacteria had up to a 42 times higher risk of getting colon cancer than those with blood infections caused by aerobic bacteria .
Anaerobic bacteria do not require oxygen and live in various environments , including the human gut , where they usually do not directly cause infections .
Prior studies have reported a link between certain anaerobic bacteria and colon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study was scheduled to be presented at the now-canceled European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases .
This and other studies to be presented will be published in an abstract book by congress organizers .
Compared to people with blood infections caused by aerobic bacteria such as E. coli or Staphylococcus aureus or people without blood infections , those anaerobic bacteria associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer were : Clostridium septicum ( tied to a 42-times increased risk within a year after a blood infection , and a 21-times higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ( tied to a 13-times increased risk within a year after a blood infection , and a six times higher risk overall ) .
Justesen said that in his clinical microbiology department there are usually two cases of blood infection caused by these anaerobic bacteria identified each week .
The infections are usually caused by a breach in the intestinal wall , which can itself be caused by cancer , he noted .
So , `` our follow up research of this study will focus on the specific bacteria from cancer patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ characteristics that could be implicated in cancer development , '' Justesen said in an ECCMID news release .
`` If this is the case it could be of great importance when it comes to screening and treatment of colorectal cancer . ''
Two U.S. experts in gastrointestinal cancers who reviewed the findings agreed that the jury is still out on whether the bacteria cause cancer .
Still , `` since the risk of developing colon cancer was reported at more than 20 % within one year of [ testing positive for ] anaerobic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colon cancer screening in all patients within one year of said infection , '' said Dr. David Bernstein .
He 's chief of hepatology at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset , N.Y. Dr. Richard Whelan is chief of colorectal surgery and colorectal cancer at Northwell Health Cancer Institute in New York City .
He stressed that only `` a small percentage of people get sick enough such that blood cultures [ for the bacteria ] would be taken , and an even smaller percentage will have positive cultures .
Thus , these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the overall population . ''
And Whelan added that colon cancer can take years to develop , so it 's unclear whether or not the tumor is the cause of the bacterial infection , or the other way around .
`` Larger similar studies should be done to confirm these results , '' he said .
The American Cancer Society has more on colon cancer .

There's an association between blood infections caused by certain types of bacteria and an increased risk of colon cancer, a new study finds.
"At this stage we are not sure if the bacteria are directly causing cases of colorectal cancer, or if the blood infection with these bacteria is itself caused by the cancer. It's an example of the question 'is this the chicken or the egg?'" said study leader Dr. Ulrik Stenz Justesen of Odense University Hospital in Denmark.
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In any case, the findings might help improve screening for colon cancer, he and his team members said.
They analyzed data from more than 2 million people in Denmark, and found that people with blood infections caused by specific "anaerobic" species of bacteria had up to a 42 times higher risk of getting colon cancer than those with blood infections caused by aerobic bacteria.
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Anaerobic bacteria do not require oxygen and live in various environments, including the human gut, where they usually do not directly cause infections.
Prior studies have reported a link between certain anaerobic bacteria and colon cancer, the researchers noted. Their study was scheduled to be presented at the now-canceled European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. This and other studies to be presented will be published in an abstract book by congress organizers.
Compared to people with blood infections caused by aerobic bacteria such as E. coli or Staphylococcus aureus or people without blood infections, those anaerobic bacteria associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer were: Clostridium septicum (tied to a 42-times increased risk within a year after a blood infection, and a 21-times higher risk overall); and Bacteroides ovatus, (tied to a 13-times increased risk within a year after a blood infection, and a six times higher risk overall).
Justesen said that in his clinical microbiology department there are usually two cases of blood infection caused by these anaerobic bacteria identified each week. The infections are usually caused by a breach in the intestinal wall, which can itself be caused by cancer, he noted.
So, "our follow up research of this study will focus on the specific bacteria from cancer patients to see if we can identify specific characteristics that could be implicated in cancer development," Justesen said in an ECCMID news release. "If this is the case it could be of great importance when it comes to screening and treatment of colorectal cancer."
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Two U.S. experts in gastrointestinal cancers who reviewed the findings agreed that the jury is still out on whether the bacteria cause cancer.
Still, "since the risk of developing colon cancer was reported at more than 20% within one year of [testing positive for] anaerobic bacteremia, it seems wise to recommend colon cancer screening in all patients within one year of said infection," said Dr. David Bernstein. He's chief of hepatology at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y.
Dr. Richard Whelan is chief of colorectal surgery and colorectal cancer at Northwell Health Cancer Institute in New York City. He stressed that only "a small percentage of people get sick enough such that blood cultures [for the bacteria] would be taken, and an even smaller percentage will have positive cultures. Thus, these findings apply to a very small part of the overall population."
And Whelan added that colon cancer can take years to develop, so it's unclear whether or not the tumor is the cause of the bacterial infection, or the other way around.
"Larger similar studies should be done to confirm these results," he said.
More information
The American Cancer Society has more on colon cancer.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-04-23--South Korean economy shrinks by 1.4 percent in first quarter

SEOUL , April 23 ( UPI ) -- South Korea 's economy contracted by 1.4 percent in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the previous quarter as it was battered by a drop in consumer spending , manufacturing and exports due to the COVID-19 pandemic , the Bank of Korea announced on Thursday , The contraction was the sharpest since the global financial crisis of 2008 when the economy shrank by 3.3 percent in the final quarter of that year .
South Korea was the first country after China to see widespread transmission of the coronavirus , with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretive religious sect in the southeastern city of Daegu during the latter half of February and early March .
With early and widespread testing and tracing , South Korea managed to dramatically flatten the curve of new infections without having to resort to the large-scale lockdowns seen in Europe and the United States .
Daily reported cases of COVID-19 have dropped to single digits in recent days .
However , activity in Asia 's fourth-largest economy was still hit hard as citizens stayed home and thousands of businesses and shops closed under social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consumption plunged by 6.4 percent quarter-on-quarter , with expenditures on both goods and services drying up .
Exports shrank by 2.0 percent despite a rise in shipments of semiconductors , a mainstay of South Korea 's economy , as sectors such as motor vehicles , machinery and chemical products all fell , the BOK said in a statement .
A rise in semiconductors also did n't prevent manufacturing from falling by 1.8 percent , due to decreases in transportation equipment and basic metals .
Services decreased by 2.0 percent , driven by declines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade , accommodation and food services , transportation and cultural services , the BOK said .
Finance minister Hong Nam-ki said on Thursday that a recovery in investments and exports since the end of last year has helped cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic but warned that a global recession could deliver a bigger blow starting in the second quarter .
`` The recovery in investment and exports , which has been going on since the end of last year , has somewhat dampened the slowdown in first-quarter growth , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with other ministers .
`` But from the second quarter onwards , the global economic downturn increases the risk of a shock to the real economy and employment market . ''
The International Monetary Fund forecasts South Korea 's economy to contract by 1.2 percent in 2020 .
Earlier this week , ratings agency Standard and Poor 's kept South Korea 's credit rating at 'AA ' despite the COVID-19 pandemic .
The agency is projecting that the South Korean economy will shrink by 1.5 percent this year but will rebound to 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea has been one of the worst-hit countries in Asia by COVID-19 , we envisage its economic fundamentals to be little changed by these temporary events , '' S & P said in a statement .
`` As the outbreak recedes , we believe strength will return to economic activity . ''
The rebound will be `` supported by the release of pent-up consumption built during the pandemic and the government 's stimulus measures , '' the agency added .
Health officials announced over the weekend that South Korea would begin to ease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new infections continues to fall .
Places of worship and venues such as nightclubs have been allowed to re-open under disinfection guidelines while professional sports such as the Korean baseball league can resume without an audience .
The government will further loosen restrictions after its current policy of extended distancing expires on May 5 in an effort to start moving toward greater economic and social activity .
`` Assuming we maintain our current level of stable management , we will transition from May 6 to a stage of 'daily quarantine ' in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with our daily lives , '' said Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Sunday .

South Korea saw its economy contract by 1.4 percent in the first quarter of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic took a heavy toll on sectors such as domestic spending, exports and manufacturing. Photo by EPA-EFE/Jeon Heon-Kyun
SEOUL, April 23 (UPI) -- South Korea's economy contracted by 1.4 percent in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the previous quarter as it was battered by a drop in consumer spending, manufacturing and exports due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bank of Korea announced Thursday, The contraction was the sharpest since the global financial crisis of 2008 when the economy shrank by 3.3 percent in the final quarter of that year. Advertisement
South Korea was the first country after China to see widespread transmission of the coronavirus, with a sharp rise in cases tied to a secretive religious sect in the southeastern city of Daegu during the latter half of February and early March.
With early and widespread testing and tracing, South Korea managed to dramatically flatten the curve of new infections without having to resort to the large-scale lockdowns seen in Europe and the United States. Daily reported cases of COVID-19 have dropped to single digits in recent days.
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However, activity in Asia's fourth-largest economy was still hit hard as people stayed home and thousands of businesses and shops closed under social distancing measures and work-from-home guidelines.
Private consumption plunged by 6.4 percent quarter-on-quarter, with expenditures on both goods and services drying up.
Exports shrank by 2 percent despite a rise in shipments of semiconductors, a mainstay of South Korea's economy, as sectors such as motor vehicles, machinery and chemical products all fell, the BOK said in a statement.
A rise in semiconductors also didn't prevent manufacturing from falling by 1.8 percent, due to decreases in transportation equipment and basic metals.
Services decreased by 2 percent, driven by declines in areas such as wholesale and retail trade, accommodation and food services, transportation and cultural services, the BOK said.
Finance minister Hong Nam-ki said Thursday that a recovery in investments and exports since the end of last year has helped cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic but warned that a global recession could deliver a bigger blow starting in the second quarter.
"The recovery in investment and exports, which has been going on since the end of last year, has somewhat dampened the slowdown in first-quarter growth," Hong said at a crisis management meeting with other ministers. "But from the second quarter onward, the global economic downturn increases the risk of a shock to the real economy and employment market."
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The International Monetary Fund forecasts South Korea's economy to contract by 1.2 percent in 2020.
Earlier this week, ratings agency Standard and Poor's kept South Korea's credit rating at "AA" despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency is projecting that the South Korean economy will shrink by 1.5 percent this year but will rebound to 5 percent growth in 2021.
"Though Korea has been one of the worst-hit countries in Asia by COVID-19, we envisage its economic fundamentals to be little changed by these temporary events," S&P said in a statement. "As the outbreak recedes, we believe strength will return to economic activity."
The rebound will be "supported by the release of pent-up consumption built during the pandemic and the government's stimulus measures," the agency added.
Health officials announced over the weekend that South Korea would begin to ease social distancing measures as the number of new infections continues to fall. Places of worship and venues such as nightclubs have been allowed to reopen under disinfection guidelines while professional sports such as the Korean baseball league can resume without an audience.
The government will further loosen restrictions after its current policy of extended distancing expires on May 5 in an effort to start moving toward greater economic and social activity.
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"Assuming we maintain our current level of stable management, we will transition from May 6 to a stage of 'daily quarantine' in which we practice social distancing while carrying on with our daily lives," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Sunday.


upi--2020-04-23--2 dead as tornadoes sweep through Oklahoma, Texas

April 22 ( UPI ) -- At least two people are dead and a third is in critical condition after a series of tornadoes tore across Oklahoma and Texas Wednesday night , officials said .
The Marshall County Emergency Management Agency confirmed that at least two people were killed in Oklahoma and at least one person was in critical condition after tornadoes touched down Wednesday in Madill , near the border with Texas .
`` We have some strong storms in the area .
Take shelter , '' the emergency agency said in a Facebook post , adding that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shop in the county .
The National Weather Service Norman had issued several tornado warnings throughout southeastern Oklahoma on Wednesday evening , stating a storm supercell had produced multiple tornadoes .
`` Please stay alert and heed all warnings !
!
! ''
the service said in a tweet .
In Texas , Gov .
Greg Abbott confirmed that Polk County , about 80 miles northeast of Houston , had sustained major damage due to severe weather .
`` The state has already deployed response teams and medical resources to help Texans in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities , '' he said in a statement .
`` Our hearts are with our fellow Texans tonight and the state will continue to do everything it can to support those affected by this severe weather . ''
Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy issued a Declaration of Disaster in response to the storm .
At least 10 people were injured due to a tornado that tore through Onalaska , the Polk County Office of Emergency Management said .
The storms occurred a week after 34 people were killed in the Deep South following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 46 tornadoes touching down in eight states .

April 22 (UPI) -- At least two people are dead and a third is in critical condition after a series of tornadoes tore across Oklahoma and Texas Wednesday night, officials said.
The Marshall County Emergency Management Agency confirmed that at least two people were killed in Oklahoma and at least one person was in critical condition after tornadoes touched down Wednesday in Madill, near the border with Texas.
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"We have some strong storms in the area. Take shelter," the emergency agency said in a Facebook post, adding that a tornado had touched ground near a manufacturing shop in the county.
The National Weather Service Norman had issued several tornado warnings throughout southeastern Oklahoma on Wednesday evening, stating a storm supercell had produced multiple tornadoes.
"Please stay alert and heed all warnings!!!" the service said in a tweet.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed that Polk County, about 80 miles northeast of Houston, had sustained major damage due to severe weather.
"The state has already deployed response teams and medical resources to help Texans in need and to provide assistance to these communities," he said in a statement. "Our hearts are with our fellow Texans tonight and the state will continue to do everything it can to support those affected by this severe weather."
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Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy issued a Declaration of Disaster in response to the storm.
At least 10 people were injured due to a tornado that tore through Onalaska, the Polk County Office of Emergency Management said.
The storms occurred a week after 34 people were killed in the Deep South following two days of thunderstorms, producing at least 46 tornadoes touching down in eight states.


upi--2020-04-22--Notre Dame women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw retires

April 22 ( UPI ) -- Notre Dame women 's basketball coach Muffet McGraw , a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women 's Basketball Hall of Fame , announced Wednesday that she is retiring from coaching after 33 years at the school .
`` It has been my great honor to represent the University of Notre Dame these past 33 years , but the time has come for me to step down as your head basketball coach , '' McGraw said in a statement .
`` I want to thank Monk Malloy and Father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coach the game I love at a university I love .
`` ...
I am grateful to have worked with the best assistant coaches in the business , and I have been blessed to coach so many phenomenal women .
To the best fans in the country , it was my honor and privilege to play for you . ''
Niele Ivey will replace McGraw , 64 , as the head coach of the Fighting Irish .
Ivey spent 17 seasons at Notre Dame as both a player and an assistant coach before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Memphis Grizzlies this past season .
McGraw posted an 848-252 record and won two national championships ( 2001 , 2018 ) at Notre Dame .
Under McGraw , the Fighting Irish won 67 NCAA tournament games and made 24 consecutive trips to the tournament .
While McGraw is stepping away from basketball , she said she will remain active within the university and local communities .
`` This is a retirement from coaching , '' McGraw said .
`` I am excited about the opportunity to continue to promote women 's equality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women across the country .
And to use my platform in any way I can .
`` I 'd like to get more involved in community work .
I find I 've turned into a real activist , and I 'm really enjoying that .
I hope a lot of things are in store , and definitely a different page than I 've been on . ''
McGraw became the 13th female coach to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017 .
She was also inducted into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2011 .
McGraw is one of only five NCAA Division I men 's and women 's basketball coaches with at least 930 wins , nine Final Fours and multiple championships .
The other individuals are Pat Summitt , Tara VanDerveer , Geno Auriemma and Duke men 's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski .

Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw posted an 848-252 record and won two national championships at the school. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
April 22 (UPI) -- Notre Dame women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, announced Wednesday that she is retiring from coaching after 33 years at the school. "It has been my great honor to represent the University of Notre Dame these past 33 years, but the time has come for me to step down as your head basketball coach," McGraw said in a statement. "I want to thank Monk Malloy and Father Jenkins for giving me the opportunity to coach the game I love at a university I love. Advertisement
"... I am grateful to have worked with the best assistant coaches in the business, and I have been blessed to coach so many phenomenal women. To the best fans in the country, it was my honor and privilege to play for you."
Niele Ivey will replace McGraw, 64, as the head coach of the Fighting Irish. Ivey spent 17 seasons at Notre Dame as both a player and an assistant coach before serving as an assistant for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies this past season.
McGraw posted an 848-252 record and won two national championships (2001, 2018) at Notre Dame. Under McGraw, the Fighting Irish won 67 NCAA tournament games and made 24 consecutive trips to the tournament.
While McGraw is stepping away from basketball, she said she will remain active within the university and local communities.
"This is a retirement from coaching," McGraw said. "I am excited about the opportunity to continue to promote women's equality and to speak on behalf of all women across the country. And to use my platform in any way I can.
"I'd like to get more involved in community work. I find I've turned into a real activist, and I'm really enjoying that. I hope a lot of things are in store, and definitely a different page than I've been on."
McGraw became the 13th female coach to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. She was also inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.
McGraw is one of only five NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball coaches with at least 930 wins, nine Final Fours and multiple championships. The other individuals are Pat Summitt, Tara VanDerveer, Geno Auriemma and Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski.


upi--2020-04-23--Bengals pick Burrow, Dolphins get Tagovailoa in virtual 2020 NFL Draft

April 23 ( UPI ) -- Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa were the first quarterbacks selected in Thursday 's 2020 NFL Draft .
Burrow -- the No .
1 overall pick -- will play for the Cincinnati Bengals .
The Miami Dolphins picked Tagovailoa at No .
5 .
`` To jump to the No .
1 overall pick is crazy , '' Burrow said .
`` It 's a dream come true . ''
Ohio State teammates Chase Young and Jeff Okudah went with the No .
2 and No .
3 overall picks , respectively .
Young will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Okudah is headed to the Detroit Lions .
Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas was the No .
4 overall pick .
Thomas is headed to the New York Giants .
Former Oregon star Justin Herbert was drafted immediately after Tagovailoa .
Herbert will suit up for the Los Angeles Chargers .
The Carolina Panthers took Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown with the No .
7 overall pick .
The Arizona Cardinals picked Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons at No .
8 overall .
Florida cornerback C.J .
Henderson went to the Jacksonville Jaguars with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cleveland Browns rounded out the top-10 picks with Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills .
The top college prospects sat with their families while at home during the unprecedented virtual draft .
The annual public player selection process initially had been planned for Las Vegas , but was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic .
`` We were steadfast in who were going to take , '' Bengals coach Zac Taylor said of Burrow .
`` We believed in the guy .
There was nothing that could make us trade the pick away .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ throws for 5,671 yards , 60 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2019-2020 for the national champion Tigers .
The 2019 Heisman Trophy winner had been widely expected to be the first player drafted .
The Bengals earned the top pick after posting league-worst 2-14 record last season .
Cincinnati still has veteran quarterback Andy Dalton on its roster , but the Bengals are expected to groom Burrow into a long-term starter .
Burrow joins a Bengals team that had one of the worst offenses in the NFL last season .
The 2019-2020 Bengals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turnover differential of negative-14 .
The Dolphins have the most picks in the first round , with selections 5 , 18 and 26 .
The San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars each have two first-round picks .
The New York Jets now are on the clock .

1/3
Joe Burrow will join veteran quarterback Andy Dalton on the Cincinnati Bengals' roster after being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
April 23 (UPI) -- Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa were the first quarterbacks selected in Thursday's 2020 NFL Draft. Burrow -- the No. 1 overall pick -- will play for the Cincinnati Bengals. The Miami Dolphins picked Tagovailoa at No. 5. "To jump to the No. 1 overall pick is crazy," Burrow said. "It's a dream come true." Advertisement
The Southeastern Conference broke its own record for players drafted in the first round, with 15 players picked. Burrow was one of five LSU players taken in the round. Four quarterbacks and six wide receivers were selected, and four trades were completed.
Ohio State teammates Chase Young and Jeff Okudah went with the No. 2 and No. 3 overall picks, respectively. Young will play for the Washington Redskins, while Okudah is headed to the Detroit Lions.
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"It's time to go to work and get back on my horse. It's go time now," Young said.
Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas was the No. 4 overall pick. Thomas is headed to the New York Giants. Former Oregon star Justin Herbert was drafted immediately after Tagovailoa. Herbert will suit up for the Los Angeles Chargers.
"This has been my entire family's dream," Tagovailoa said of being drafted. "I'm blessed to say that I carry all of them here with me."
The Carolina Panthers took Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown with the No. 7 overall pick. The Arizona Cardinals picked Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons at No. 8 overall.
Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson went to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 9 pick. The Cleveland Browns rounded out the top-10 picks with Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills.
The top college prospects sat with their families while at home during the unprecedented virtual draft. The annual public player selection process initially had been planned for Las Vegas, but was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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The Raiders made their first-ever draft selection as the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 12 when they chose Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers made the first trade of the draft. Tampa Bay selected Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs with the No. 13 pick. The 49ers took South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw with the next pick.
The New England Patriots also made a trade in the first round. The Chargers acquired the Patriots' No. 23 overall pick in the swap and selected Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray. The 49ers were involved in another trade later in the round. San Francisco picked up the No. 25 overall pick from the Minnesota Vikings and drafted Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
The Miami Dolphins traded their No. 26 pick to the Green Bay Packers. The Packers selected Utah State quarterback Jordan Love with the pick.
The second and third rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft start at 7 p.m. EDT Friday and air on ESPN, NFL Network and ABC.
2020 NFL Round 1 Draft results
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1. Cincinnati Bengals: LSU quarterback Joe Burrow
2. Washington Redskins: Ohio State defensive end Chase Young
3. Detroit Lions: Ohio State defensive back Jeffrey Okudah
4. New York Giants: Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas
5. Miami Dolphins: Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa
6. Los Angeles Chargers: Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert
7. Carolina Panthers: Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown
8. Arizona Cardinals: Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons
9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson
10. Cleveland Browns: Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills
11. New York Jets: Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton
12. Las Vegas Raiders: Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (traded from San Francisco 49ers): Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs
14. San Francisco 49ers (from Tampa Bay Buccaneers): South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw
15. Denver Broncos: Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy
16. Atlanta Falcons: Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell
17. Dallas Cowboys: Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb
18. Miami Dolphins: USC offensive tackle Austin Jackson
19. Las Vegas Raiders: Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette
20. Jacksonville Jaguars: LSU edge K'Lavon Chaisson
21. Philadelphia Eagles: TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor
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22. Minnesota Vikings: LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson
23. Los Angeles Chargers (trade from New England Patriots): Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray
24. New Orleans Saints: Michigan center Cesar Ruiz
25. San Francisco 49ers (trade from Minnesota Vikings): Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk
26. Green Bay Packers (trade from Miami Dolphins): Utah State quarterback Jordan Love
27. Seattle Seahawks: Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks
28. Baltimore Ravens: LSU linebacker Patrick Queen
29. Tennessee Titans: Georgia offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson
30. Miami Dolphins (trade from Green Bay Packers): Auburn cornerback Noah Igbinoghene
31. Minnesota Vikings (from San Francisco 49ers): TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney
32. Kansas City Chiefs: LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire


upi--2020-04-23--Pittsburgh Steelers LB Bud Dupree signs franchise tag

April 23 ( UPI ) -- Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Bud Dupree signed his franchise tender , the team announced Thursday .
Dupree will earn a guaranteed salary of about $ 15.8 million in 2020 under the tag .
He is set to have the second-largest salary-cap hit for the Steelers this season , trailing only quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ( $ 23.75 million ) .
The former first-round pick can negotiate a long-term contract with the Steelers until the July 15 deadline .
If no agreement is reached before that deadline passes , Dupree would have to play the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steelers selected Dupree with the No .
22 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Kentucky .
The edge rusher became a regular starter in the last three years of his rookie contract , putting together a career year in 2019 after the Steelers picked up his fifth-year option .
Alongside T.J. Watt , Dupree recorded a career-best 11.5 sacks along with 16 tackles for losses and 17 quarterback hits last season .
He also racked up four forced fumbles .
Since entering the league , Dupree has notched 200 total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and nine passes defensed in 70 career games with the Steelers .

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Bud Dupree (48) recorded a career-best 11.5 sacks last season. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
April 23 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Bud Dupree signed his franchise tender, the team announced Thursday. Dupree will earn a guaranteed salary of about $15.8 million in 2020 under the tag. He is set to have the second-largest salary-cap hit for the Steelers this season, trailing only quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ($23.75 million). Advertisement
The former first-round pick can negotiate a long-term contract with the Steelers until the July 15 deadline. If no agreement is reached before that deadline passes, Dupree would have to play the 2020 campaign under the one-year tag.
The Steelers selected Dupree with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Kentucky. The edge rusher became a regular starter in the last three years of his rookie contract, putting together a career year in 2019 after the Steelers picked up his fifth-year option.
Alongside T.J. Watt, Dupree recorded a career-best 11.5 sacks along with 16 tackles for losses and 17 quarterback hits last season. He also racked up four forced fumbles.
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Since entering the league, Dupree has notched 200 total tackles, 31.5 sacks, one interception and nine passes defensed in 70 career games with the Steelers.


upi--2020-04-23--U.S. copes with COVID-19 pandemic

U.S. copes with COVID-19 pandemic

The novel coronavirus , COVID-19 , pandemic is spreading across the United States .
People are discouraged ( even banned @ @ @ @ @ large gatherings , public spaces are closed , store shelves are empty , with long @ @ @ @ @ and travel is limited .
Here are some scenes from across America .

Bass Pro Shops marketing manager David Smith (R) carries a box of donated face masks into Mercy Health in Chesterfield, Mo., on May 13. The company is donating 1 million FDA-approved ASTM Level 1 Procedure Face Masks to healthcare workers and first responders working on the front lines of the pandemic. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI


upi--2020-04-23--U.S. to open consulate in Greenland, provide $12M for civilian projects

April 23 ( UPI ) -- The United States will open a new consulate in Greenland and provide the Arctic island territory with $ 12 million in economic support , officials announced Thursday .
U.S .
Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands announced that the United States will reopen a consulate in the capital city of Nuuk , which will `` serve as our primary platform for increasing our daily interaction with the people of Greenland , '' which is a territory of Denmark .
`` With the establishment of a full-time diplomatic presence , we hope to further deepen and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` We want to collaborate with the entire Kingdom of Denmark to encourage the entrepreneurship and innovation needed to stimulate sustainable economic growth in the Arctic . ''
The government of Greenland also announced that it had chosen to accept $ 12.1 million for civilian projects in sectors including the mineral industry , tourism and education .
`` It takes time to develop closer relationships with other countries .
But this good news confirms that our work on building a constructive relationship with the United States is fruitful , '' Greenlandic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is positive that the increased cooperation between Greenland and the U.S. is reflected in tangible results in the form of funding for projects in Greenland . ''
Sands also said the United States would work with European and North American allies to ensure the Arctic region remains `` stable and free of conflict , '' citing reports of Russian and Chinese expansion in the region .
`` The United States and the Trump administration are setting out to wake the West up from our collective complacency before other less trustworthy governments shape the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repressive image , '' she said .
Last year , President Donald Trump postponed a trip to Denmark after Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen dismissed his interest in purchasing Greenland .

Greenlandic Premier Kim Kielsen and U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands stand between other officials as the United States announced it will open a consulate in Nuuk and provide $12.1 million in funds for civilian projects to the Danish island territory. Photo courtesy Government of Greenland
April 23 (UPI) -- The United States will open a new consulate in Greenland and provide the Arctic island territory with $12 million in economic support, officials announced Thursday. U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands announced that the United States will reopen a consulate in the capital city of Nuuk, which will "serve as our primary platform for increasing our daily interaction with the people of Greenland," which is a territory of Denmark. Advertisement
"With the establishment of a full-time diplomatic presence, we hope to further deepen and strengthen the U.S.-Greenlandic-Danish relationship," Sands said. "We want to collaborate with the entire Kingdom of Denmark to encourage the entrepreneurship and innovation needed to stimulate sustainable economic growth in the Arctic."
The government of Greenland also announced that it had chosen to accept $12.1 million for civilian projects in sectors including the mineral industry, tourism and education.
"It takes time to develop closer relationships with other countries. But this good news confirms that our work on building a constructive relationship with the United States is fruitful," Greenlandic Premier Kim Kielsen said. "It is positive that the increased cooperation between Greenland and the U.S. is reflected in tangible results in the form of funding for projects in Greenland."
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Sands also said the United States would work with European and North American allies to ensure the Arctic region remains "stable and free of conflict," citing reports of Russian and Chinese expansion in the region.
"The United States and the Trump administration are setting out to wake the West up from our collective complacency before other less trustworthy governments shape the values of the region after their own repressive image," she said.
Last year, President Donald Trump postponed a trip to Denmark after Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen dismissed his interest in purchasing Greenland.


upi--2020-04-23--Lockheed nabs  $147.6M for MK41 components

April 23 ( UPI ) -- Lockheed Martin was awarded a $ 147.6 million contract modification for components for the @ @ @ @ @ Launching System for the United States and three allies , the Pentagon announced Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ awarded in February for the procurement of electronic components for the MK 41 system , @ @ @ @ @ surface combatant ships , as well as ships belonging to allies .
This contract is @ @ @ @ @ as well as the governments of South Korea , Finland and Germany through the Pentagon @ @ @ @ @ .
The MK 41 launching system stores , selects , prepares and launches standard missiles @ @ @ @ @ Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rockets and Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles .
The bulk of the work @ @ @ @ @ performed in Baltimore , Md.
, and Fort Walton Beach , Fla. , with an @ @ @ @ @ 2025 .

Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) launch from the ship's forward and aft MK-41 vertical launch systems (VLS) aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook in this March 2003 photo. Photo by Alan J. Baribeau/U.S. Navy | License Photo
April 23 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin was awarded a $147.6 million contract modification for components for the Navy's MK 41 Vertical Launching System for the United States and three allies, the Pentagon announced Thursday. The deal modifies a contract awarded in February for the procurement of electronic components for the MK 41 system, which is installed aboard Navy surface combatant ships, as well as ships belonging to allies. Advertisement
This contract is funded by the U.S. Navy as well as the governments of South Korea, Finland and Germany through the Pentagon's foreign military sales program.
The MK 41 launching system stores, selects, prepares and launches standard missiles as well as Tomahawk, Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rockets and Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles.
The bulk of the work on the deal will be performed in Baltimore, Md., and Fort Walton Beach, Fla., with an expected completion date of March 2025.


upi--2020-04-23--Air Force awards $258.7M to Dataminr for push alerts system

April 23 ( UPI ) -- The Air Force has awarded Dataminr with a five-year , $ 258.7 million contract @ @ @ @ @ push alerts , the Pentagon announced Thursday .
The contract funds a commercially available license @ @ @ @ @ a variety of publicly available information sources , evaluate content to detect emerging events as @ @ @ @ @ alerts to users based on user-defined areas and topics of interest . ''
The contract @ @ @ @ @ Dataminr develops be capable of distributing alerts in near real-time via email , web-based application @ @ @ @ @ The solution must be available commercially in the marketplace and able to scale to a @ @ @ @ @ and keep pace with developments and standards within the commercial industry sector , '' the @ @ @ @ @ is a New York City-based artificial intelligence firm that `` detects the earliest signals of @ @ @ @ @ from within publicly available data . ''
The company creates products for businesses and the @ @ @ @ @ for newsrooms .

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The Air Force has awarded a contract to the AI firm Dataminr to create a push alerts solution. Photo by Jacob Sippel/U.S. Navy
April 23 (UPI) -- The Air Force has awarded Dataminr with a five-year, $258.7 million contract to develop a system of push alerts, the Pentagon announced Thursday. The contract funds a commercially available license subscription that can "leverage a variety of publicly available information sources, evaluate content to detect emerging events as they are developing and push alerts to users based on user-defined areas and topics of interest." Advertisement
The contract also requires that the solution Dataminr develops be capable of distributing alerts in near real-time via email, web-based application and mobile platforms.
"The solution must be available commercially in the marketplace and able to scale to a Department of Defense enterprise capability and keep pace with developments and standards within the commercial industry sector," the contract announcement said.
Dataminr is a New York City-based artificial intelligence firm that "detects the earliest signals of high-impact events and emerging risks from within publicly available data."
The company creates products for businesses and the public sector as well as for newsrooms.


upi--2020-04-23--House overwhelmingly passes $484B coronavirus stimulus bill

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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks after the House of Representatives passed its fourth coronavirus relief bill, HR 266, the Pay Check Protection and Health Care Enhancement Act on Thursday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
April 23 (UPI) -- The House on Thursday voted in favor of a $484 billion coronavirus aid bill, sending it to President Donald Trump's desk for a signature. The measure had strong bipartisan support, with a 388-5 vote. Advertisement
"Today's historic, bipartisan vote on our latest FamiliesFirst package is essential to protecting families across America and ensuring more small businesses have access to the resources they need. With my signature, this legislation goes to the president's desk," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a tweet after the passage.
The legislation is the fourth stimulus package to pass Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 47,000 and sickened another 864,000 in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The measure includes another $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program. The PPP, initially set up to provide $350 billion in loans to small businesses to survive the coronavirus crisis, ran out of money last week. In this round, $60 billion of the funding is specifically set aside for underbanked businesses.
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The deal also includes $60 billion in economic disaster assistance loans and grants, $75 billion for hospitals and $25 billion for coronavirus testing. Out of the testing funds, $11 billion is set aside for states while the federal government will also get some of the funding.
U.S. copes with COVID-19 pandemic
Bass Pro Shops marketing manager David Smith (R) carries a box of donated face masks into Mercy Health in Chesterfield, Mo., on May 13. The company is donating 1 million FDA-approved ASTM Level 1 Procedure Face Masks to healthcare workers and first responders working on the front lines of the pandemic. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
The relief comes on top of the $2.3 trillion Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act passed last month to help Americans and the U.S. economy recover from the coronavirus crisis.
Trump is expected to sign the bill into law.
"I urged the House to pass the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act with additional funding for PPP, hospitals and testing," Trump tweeted earlier this week. "After I sign this bill, we will begin discussions on the next legislative initiative with fiscal relief."
Earlier Thursday, the House also voted to create a new committee to oversee the federal government's use and dispersal of the trillions of dollars approved for coronavirus relief. The panel will be a select investigative subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee and will have subpoena powers.


upi--2020-04-23--Report: Default iPhone email app vulnerable to '0-click' attacks

April 23 ( UPI ) -- Apple 's default email app for iPhones and iPads contains a flaw that makes it vulnerable to hackers , according to a report by a San Francisco cybersecurity firm .
The report by ZecOps released Wednesday states that the Mail app -- which comes standard on products that run Apple 's iOS operating system -- is vulnerable to `` 0-click '' attacks .
Such email-based cyberattacks are unique in that they do n't require the victim to download a file or click an infected link .
`` The attack 's scope consists of sending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's mailbox enabling it to trigger the vulnerability in the context of iOS MobileMail application on iOS 12 or maild on iOS13 , '' the report states .
ZecOps said the vulnerability allows hackers to remotely execute code on victims ' devices and allows them to infect a device by sending emails that consume a significant amount of memory .
The firm added it believes attacks using the exploit has been used against six targets including individuals from a Fortune 500 company in North America , a Japanese mobile carrier and a journalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may notice a slowdown of the Mail application or sudden crashes but would not otherwise experience any anomalous behavior .
Failed attacks would result in an email with the message : `` This message has no content . ''
However , a failed attack may go unnoticed if the attacker is able to carry out a successful attack and delete the email .
The exploit was discovered in all tested versions of iOS from the current version of iOS13 to iOS6 , which was issued when the iPhone 5 was released , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disable the Mail app until a patch is available and said that other email applications available on iOS devices such as Outlook and Gmail do not share the vulnerability .

San Francisco-based cybersecurity firm ZecOps reported that Apple's default iOS email app has a security flaw making it vulnerable to attacks that don't require victims to click a link or download a file. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
April 23 (UPI) -- Apple's default email app for iPhones and iPads contains a flaw that makes it vulnerable to hackers, according to a report by a San Francisco cybersecurity firm. The report by ZecOps released Wednesday states that the Mail app -- which comes standard on products that run Apple's iOS operating system -- is vulnerable to "0-click" attacks. Such email-based cyberattacks are unique in that they don't require the victim to download a file or click an infected link. Advertisement
"The attack's scope consists of sending a specially crafted email to a victim's mailbox enabling it to trigger the vulnerability in the context of iOS MobileMail application on iOS 12 or maild on iOS13," the report states.
ZecOps said the vulnerability allows hackers to remotely execute code on victims' devices and allows them to infect a device by sending emails that consume a significant amount of memory.
The firm added it believes attacks using the exploit has been used against six targets including individuals from a Fortune 500 company in North America, a Japanese mobile carrier and a journalist in Europe.
Victims of the exploit may notice a slowdown of the Mail application or sudden crashes but would not otherwise experience any anomalous behavior.
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Failed attacks would result in an email with the message: "This message has no content." However, a failed attack may go unnoticed if the attacker is able to carry out a successful attack and delete the email.
The exploit was discovered in all tested versions of iOS from the current version of iOS13 to iOS6, which was issued when the iPhone 5 was released, the report stated.
ZecOps recommends that users disable the Mail app until a patch is available and said that other email applications available on iOS devices such as Outlook and Gmail do not share the vulnerability.


upi--2020-04-23--Commandant explains end to Confederate flag displays by Marine Corps

April 23 ( UPI ) -- Marine Corps commandant David Berger has published a statement explaining his February directive that Confederate paraphernalia be removed from Marine Corps bases .
In a statement dated April 20 , but posted to Twitter Thursday , Berger wrote that he understood that many people believe the flag to be a symbol of `` heritage or regional pride . ''
`` But I am also mindful of the feelings of pain and rejection of those who inherited the cultural memory and present effects of the scourge of slavery in our country , '' Berger wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge the specific meaning anyone ascribes to that symbol or declare someone 's personally held view to be incorrect . ''
`` Rather , I am focused solely on building a uniquely capable warfighting team whose members come from all walks of life and must learn to operate side-by-side .
This symbol has shown it has the power to inflame feelings of division .
I can not have that inside our Corps , '' Berger wrote .
In February , Berger directed top Marine leaders to remove Confederate-related paraphernalia from the branch 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week 's statement saying there `` has been some discussion lately concerning reports that I intend to curtail displays of the confederate battle flag , '' but it is unclear what specifically prompted him to issue the explanation when he did .
A few weeks prior to Berger 's February statement , Military Times published the results of a reader survey saying more than one-third of all active-duty troops and more than half of minority service members had witnessed examples of white nationalism or racism -- including racist symbols on bumper stickers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marines were separated from the branch for their ties to white supremacist or extremist organizations after they were charged with trespassing for hanging a white nationalist banner during a Confederate Memorial Day rally in North Carolina the year before .
Also in 2018 , a Marine with ties-to neo-Nazi groups was court-martialed and convicted of disobeying orders and making false statements .
He was demoted and sentenced to one month of confinement .

Steve Stepanek of St. Louis waves a Confederate flag at the Confederate Statue in Forest Park at a June 2017 rally in St. Louis. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
April 23 (UPI) -- Marine Corps commandant David Berger has published a statement explaining his February directive that Confederate paraphernalia be removed from Marine Corps bases. In a statement dated April 20, but posted to Twitter Thursday, Berger wrote that he understood that many people believe the flag to be a symbol of "heritage or regional pride." Advertisement
"But I am also mindful of the feelings of pain and rejection of those who inherited the cultural memory and present effects of the scourge of slavery in our country," Berger wrote. "My intent is not to judge the specific meaning anyone ascribes to that symbol or declare someone's personally held view to be incorrect."
"Rather, I am focused solely on building a uniquely capable warfighting team whose members come from all walks of life and must learn to operate side-by-side. This symbol has shown it has the power to inflame feelings of division. I cannot have that inside our Corps," Berger wrote.
In February, Berger directed top Marine leaders to remove Confederate-related paraphernalia from the branch's bases around the world.
Berger opened this week's statement saying there "has been some discussion lately concerning reports that I intend to curtail displays of the confederate battle flag," but it is unclear what specifically prompted him to issue the explanation when he did.
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A few weeks prior to Berger's February statement, Military Times published the results of a reader survey saying more than one-third of all active-duty troops and more than half of minority service members had witnessed examples of white nationalism or racism -- including racist symbols on bumper stickers or tattoos.
In 2018, two Marines were separated from the branch for their ties to white supremacist or extremist organizations after they were charged with trespassing for hanging a white nationalist banner during a Confederate Memorial Day rally in North Carolina the year before.
Also in 2018, a Marine with ties-to neo-Nazi groups was court-martialed and convicted of disobeying orders and making false statements. He was demoted and sentenced to one month of confinement.


upi--2020-04-23--COVID-19 count revisions in China suggest it's more contagious than thought

April 23 ( UPI ) -- Studies published this week are providing a clearer picture of the scope of the COVID-19 outbreak in China , suggesting that the virus is more contagious than thought -- but that social distancing works to limit its spread .
Without social distancing measures , each confirmed case of COVID-19 would result in roughly three `` secondary '' cases , researchers in Wenzhou , China , say in a study published Thursday in JAMA Network Open .
A separate analysis published Wednesday in The Lancet estimates that initial reports of case counts in Wuhan -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have been off by as much as a factor of four .
However , the authors of the paper note that this is a result of an evolving `` case definition '' disease , and not necessarily indicative of a coordinated cover-up , as some officials in the United States have suggested .
`` Changing case definitions can have large effects on case incidence and reporting , '' Dr. Kevin S. Harrod , a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham whose research include infectious and chronic lung diseases , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how contagious a virus is ) , you have to know how many were infected , and the case definition would impact that . ''
Since the start of the outbreak in China , health officials in the country have issued seven case definitions for the virus , according to the authors of The Lancet paper .
Until early February , for example , COVID-19 was only being diagnosed in the country when patients had a history of travel to Wuhan , where the disease was first identified .
Similarly , respiratory symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February .
And , bloodwork showing evidence of infection was added to the widely used case definition in early March .
Based on their analysis , the authors suggest that if the case definition currently in use had been there at the start of the outbreak , more than 230,000 people in Wuhan would have been diagnosed with COVID-19 .
At the time of their analysis , Chinese officials reported roughly 55,000 confirmed cases , and fewer than 70,000 cases have been documented in the city to date , according to figures from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good to see the 'corrections ' that this paper makes , '' Dr. Robert F. Garry , a professor of life sciences at Tulane University and an infectious disease expert , told UPI .
`` In China , the U.S. and everywhere really we are missing a lot of cases that either are not tested or are too mild or asymptomatic . ''
The development of symptoms was another key finding by the researchers in Wenzhou -- the Chinese city with one of the highest COVID-19 caseloads outside Wuhan , at more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to symptom onset among patients in Wenzhou ranged from zero to 23 days , longer than the 14-day `` incubation period '' commonly associated with the virus .
Although two-thirds of the confirmed cases analyzed by the authors had a fever , and roughly half had a cough , 12 percent also had severe weakness or fatigue , more than the 10 percent who reported having a sore throat .
However , both Garry and Harrod agree that those who do n't develop outward symptoms of COVID-19 are also driving transmission , meaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of how contagious the virus is until there is a more accurate assessment of how many people have actually been infected .
Based on the JAMA findings , the new coronavirus is `` a bit more contagious than your typical influenza virus , but a bit more can be a difference when the spread is exponential , '' Garry said .

Chinese people continue to wear protective face masks outside in Beijing on Thursday even though the government has declared the threat of the Covid-19 outbreak basically finished. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
April 23 (UPI) -- Studies published this week are providing a clearer picture of the scope of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, suggesting that the virus is more contagious than thought -- but that social distancing works to limit its spread. Without social distancing measures, each confirmed case of COVID-19 would result in roughly three "secondary" cases, researchers in Wenzhou, China, say in a study published Thursday in JAMA Network Open. Advertisement
A separate analysis published Wednesday in The Lancet estimates that initial reports of case counts in Wuhan -- epicenter of the outbreak in China -- may have been off by as much as a factor of four. However, the authors of the paper note that this is a result of an evolving "case definition" disease, and not necessarily indicative of a coordinated cover-up, as some officials in the United States have suggested.
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"Changing case definitions can have large effects on case incidence and reporting," Dr. Kevin S. Harrod, a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham whose research include infectious and chronic lung diseases, told UPI.
"To ultimately understand (how contagious a virus is), you have to know how many were infected, and the case definition would impact that."
Since the start of the outbreak in China, health officials in the country have issued seven case definitions for the virus, according to the authors of The Lancet paper. Until early February, for example, COVID-19 was only being diagnosed in the country when patients had a history of travel to Wuhan, where the disease was first identified.
Similarly, respiratory symptoms also weren't considered for diagnosis until February. And, bloodwork showing evidence of infection was added to the widely used case definition in early March.
Based on their analysis, the authors suggest that if the case definition currently in use had been there at the start of the outbreak, more than 230,000 people in Wuhan would have been diagnosed with COVID-19. At the time of their analysis, Chinese officials reported roughly 55,000 confirmed cases, and fewer than 70,000 cases have been documented in the city to date, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.
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"It's good to see the 'corrections' that this paper makes," Dr. Robert F. Garry, a professor of life sciences at Tulane University and an infectious disease expert, told UPI. "In China, the U.S. and everywhere really we are missing a lot of cases that either are not tested or are too mild or asymptomatic."
The development of symptoms was another key finding by the researchers in Wenzhou -- the Chinese city with one of the highest COVID-19 caseloads outside Wuhan, at more than 1,000 cases. They noted that time to symptom onset among patients in Wenzhou ranged from zero to 23 days, longer than the 14-day "incubation period" commonly associated with the virus.
Although two-thirds of the confirmed cases analyzed by the authors had a fever, and roughly half had a cough, 12 percent also had severe weakness or fatigue, more than the 10 percent who reported having a sore throat.
However, both Garry and Harrod agree that those who don't develop outward symptoms of COVID-19 are also driving transmission, meaning there won't be an accurate sense of how contagious the virus is until there is a more accurate assessment of how many people have actually been infected.
Based on the JAMA findings, the new coronavirus is "a bit more contagious than your typical influenza virus, but a bit more can be a difference when the spread is exponential," Garry said.


upi--2020-04-23--Once dinosaurs were gone, some birds evolved big brains

April 23 ( UPI ) -- After analyzing the brain volumes of dinosaurs , as well as those of both extinct birds and modern birds , scientists were able to reconstruct the evolution of the avian brain .
The new evolutionary models -- detailed this week in the journal Current Biology -- showed birds and non-avian dinosaurs boasted similar relative brain sizes prior to the mass extinction event that ended the Cretaceous Period .
Once the dinosaurs were gone , researchers found , some groups quickly evolved larger brains .
Increases in avian brain sizes coincided with an explosive radiation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the niches left empty by extinct species .
`` One of the big surprises was that selection for small body size turns out to be a major factor in the evolution of large-brained birds , '' lead study author Daniel Ksepka , curator of science at the Bruce Museum in Connecticut , said in a news release .
`` Many successful bird families evolved proportionally large brains by shrinking down to smaller body sizes while their brain sizes stayed close to those of their larger-bodied ancestors . ''
For the study , paleontologists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the skull cavities of hundreds of birds and dinosaurs , allowing them to estimate the brain sizes of ancient species .
After combining the data with existing brain size measurements for modern bird species , scientists analyzed how brain size scales with body size in different dinosaur and bird lineages .
`` There is no clear line between the brains of advanced dinosaurs and primitive birds , '' said study co-author Amy Balanoff of Johns Hopkins University .
`` Birds like emus and pigeons have the same brains sizes you would expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body size , and in fact some species like moa have smaller-than-expected brains . ''
While several groups of birds expanded their brain size in the wake of the extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs , two of the smartest modern birds -- parrots and corvids , the group that includes crows and ravens -- only recently evolved larger brains .
One recent study showed corvids were able to adapt to life in cities by evolving larger brains and boosting their cognitive abilities .
`` Crows are the hominins of the bird @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Stony Brook University .
`` Like our own ancestors , they evolved proportionally massive brains by increasing both their body size and brain size at the same time , with the brain size increase happening even more rapidly . ''

Some birds, like ravens, evolved their big brains only recently. Photo by JJ Harrison /Wikimedia Commons
April 23 (UPI) -- After analyzing the brain volumes of dinosaurs, as well as those of both extinct birds and modern birds, scientists were able to reconstruct the evolution of the avian brain. The new evolutionary models -- detailed this week in the journal Current Biology -- showed birds and non-avian dinosaurs boasted similar relative brain sizes prior to the mass extinction event that ended the Cretaceous Period. Once the dinosaurs were gone, researchers found, some groups quickly evolved larger brains. Advertisement
Increases in avian brain sizes coincided with an explosive radiation of birds species as new lineages filled the niches left empty by extinct species.
"One of the big surprises was that selection for small body size turns out to be a major factor in the evolution of large-brained birds," lead study author Daniel Ksepka, curator of science at the Bruce Museum in Connecticut, said in a news release. "Many successful bird families evolved proportionally large brains by shrinking down to smaller body sizes while their brain sizes stayed close to those of their larger-bodied ancestors."
For the study, paleontologists used CT scans to create 3D models of the skull cavities of hundreds of birds and dinosaurs, allowing them to estimate the brain sizes of ancient species. After combining the data with existing brain size measurements for modern bird species, scientists analyzed how brain size scales with body size in different dinosaur and bird lineages.
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"There is no clear line between the brains of advanced dinosaurs and primitive birds," said study co-author Amy Balanoff of Johns Hopkins University. "Birds like emus and pigeons have the same brains sizes you would expect for a theropod dinosaur of the same body size, and in fact some species like moa have smaller-than-expected brains."
While several groups of birds expanded their brain size in the wake of the extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs, two of the smartest modern birds -- parrots and corvids, the group that includes crows and ravens -- only recently evolved larger brains.
One recent study showed corvids were able to adapt to life in cities by evolving larger brains and boosting their cognitive abilities.
"Crows are the hominins of the bird kingdom," said co-author Jeroen Smaers of Stony Brook University. "Like our own ancestors, they evolved proportionally massive brains by increasing both their body size and brain size at the same time, with the brain size increase happening even more rapidly."


upi--2020-04-23--Homeless shelters are 'tinderboxes' for coronavirus, studies show

Even at the beginning of April , large percentages of residents at U.S. homeless shelters were testing positive for the new coronavirus , studies show .
One study looked at the results of coronavirus testing conducted at homeless shelters in four American cities -- Atlanta , Boston , San Francisco and Seattle .
Testing included almost 1,200 residents and 300 staffers and was done in late March and early April , according to a team led by Emily Mosites , from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The findings : In Boston , 36 percent of homeless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the new coronavirus ; in San Francisco those numbers were 66 percent and 16 percent , respectively ; and in Seattle infections were 17 percent for both residents and staff .
Only in Atlanta was a relatively low percentage of infections observed -- 4 percent of residents and 2 percent of staff , although by now those numbers may have changed .
The CDC team acknowledged that their numbers may already be out of date .
`` Testing represented [ only ] a single point in time , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents were either unavailable for testing or declined .
In fact , in the San Francisco shelters , only 143 of about 255 residents were tested , the researchers said .
Experts who 've dealt with COVID-19 patients say there 's good reason why coronavirus spreads quickly through homeless shelters .
`` Many shelters are crowded , and social distancing can be difficult , if not impossible , '' said Dr. Teresa Murray Amato .
She 's chair of emergency medicine at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills in New York City .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unmet physical and psychological needs , '' Amato said .
`` As we have learned from the COVID-19 outbreak , underlying medical conditions are often associated with worse outcomes with the virus . ''
A second study focused on three homeless shelters in the Seattle area .
Researchers found that 10.5 percent of 181 residents and staffers tested for coronavirus on March 30-April 1 came up positive .
One shelter served 40 men and 10 women who slept close together in one of two rooms ( separated by gender ) during the night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two rooms , while a third housed 100 men in two rooms .
Efforts were taken to try and reduce the spread of the new coronavirus , said a team led by Dr. Farrell Tobolowsky , of the CDC 's Epidemic Intelligence Service .
Residents were transferred between shelters to ease crowding , and sleeping mats were assigned to specific people and kept at least 6 feet apart in the sleeping area .
Residents were discouraged from excessive movements in and out of the shelter .
Sinks and soap were made available at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disposable face masks were made available to residents and staff .
By April 7-8 , follow-up coronavirus testing found that an additional 15 percent of residents and just over 13 percent of staff had become infected .
Overall , seven of the homeless residents who tested positive for the new coronavirus developed COVID-19 so severe they required hospitalization ; none of the cases has yet proven fatal , Tobolowsky 's group said .
Most of those with confirmed COVID-19 were older ( average age 61 ) , so the researchers believe that `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected residents and those with underlying health conditions or of advanced age to individual housing units should be prioritized . ''
Dr. Robert Glatter is an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City .
Reading over the findings , he agreed that `` homeless shelters represent a tinderbox for spread of COVID-19 .
`` It 's imperative to test not only residents , but staff members , too , to prevent and break the chain of transmission in such facilities .
This especially applies to anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with COVID-19 , or those at special risk , is essential , he added .
Finally , Glatter said , it 's crucial to remember that not every homeless person heads to their local shelter .
`` The homeless population not living in shelters also represents a potential reservoir of infection that we should not neglect , '' Glatter said .
`` Being proactive to test this population would be in everyone 's best interest . ''
Both studies were published April 22 in the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prevention has more on the new coronavirus .

Homeless individuals set up in a temporary shelter created by boxes being painted in the parking lot of the Cashman Center during the Coronavirus closure in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Photo by James Atoa/UPI | License Photo
Even at the beginning of April, large percentages of residents at U.S. homeless shelters were testing positive for the new coronavirus, studies show. One study looked at the results of coronavirus testing conducted at homeless shelters in four American cities -- Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco and Seattle. Testing included almost 1,200 residents and 300 staffers and was done in late March and early April, according to a team led by Emily Mosites, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advertisement
The findings: In Boston, 36 percent of homeless shelter residents and 30 percent of staff tested positive for the new coronavirus; in San Francisco those numbers were 66 percent and 16 percent, respectively; and in Seattle infections were 17 percent for both residents and staff.
Only in Atlanta was a relatively low percentage of infections observed -- 4 percent of residents and 2 percent of staff, although by now those numbers may have changed.
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The CDC team acknowledged that their numbers may already be out of date.
"Testing represented [only] a single point in time," the researchers noted, and many homeless shelter residents were either unavailable for testing or declined. In fact, in the San Francisco shelters, only 143 of about 255 residents were tested, the researchers said.
Experts who've dealt with COVID-19 patients say there's good reason why coronavirus spreads quickly through homeless shelters.
"Many shelters are crowded, and social distancing can be difficult, if not impossible," said Dr. Teresa Murray Amato. She's chair of emergency medicine at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills in New York City.
"In addition, homeless clients often have unmet physical and psychological needs," Amato said. "As we have learned from the COVID-19 outbreak, underlying medical conditions are often associated with worse outcomes with the virus."
A second study focused on three homeless shelters in the Seattle area. Researchers found that 10.5 percent of 181 residents and staffers tested for coronavirus on March 30-April 1 came up positive.
One shelter served 40 men and 10 women who slept close together in one of two rooms (separated by gender) during the night. Another shelter housed 110 men in two rooms, while a third housed 100 men in two rooms.
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Efforts were taken to try and reduce the spread of the new coronavirus, said a team led by Dr. Farrell Tobolowsky, of the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service. Residents were transferred between shelters to ease crowding, and sleeping mats were assigned to specific people and kept at least 6 feet apart in the sleeping area. Residents were discouraged from excessive movements in and out of the shelter. Sinks and soap were made available at all sites for proper hand-washing, and disposable face masks were made available to residents and staff.
By April 7-8, follow-up coronavirus testing found that an additional 15 percent of residents and just over 13 percent of staff had become infected.
Overall, seven of the homeless residents who tested positive for the new coronavirus developed COVID-19 so severe they required hospitalization; none of the cases has yet proven fatal, Tobolowsky's group said.
Most of those with confirmed COVID-19 were older (average age 61), so the researchers believe that "at shelters experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks, transferring infected residents and those with underlying health conditions or of advanced age to individual housing units should be prioritized."
Dr. Robert Glatter is an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Reading over the findings, he agreed that "homeless shelters represent a tinderbox for spread of COVID-19.
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"It's imperative to test not only residents, but staff members, too, to prevent and break the chain of transmission in such facilities. This especially applies to anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19," Glatter said. Isolating residents with COVID-19, or those at special risk, is essential, he added.
Finally, Glatter said, it's crucial to remember that not every homeless person heads to their local shelter.
"The homeless population not living in shelters also represents a potential reservoir of infection that we should not neglect," Glatter said. "Being proactive to test this population would be in everyone's best interest."
Both studies were published April 22 in the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-04-23--Markets close flat Thursday amid confusion around coronavirus treatment report

April 23 ( UPI ) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up nearly 40 points on Thursday while the S & P 500 and the Nasdaq saw slight losses in a volatile day of trading .
The Dow ended the day up 0.17 percent , while the S & P 500 dropped 0.054 percent and Nasdaq Composite fell 0.0073 percent .
Markets began the day strong with optimism surrounding an expected House vote to approve a new coronavirus stimulus package to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program , as well as fund expanded testing and hospitals , with the Dow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , international benchmark Brent crude increased to more than $ 21 per barrel .
U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate climbed to more than $ 17 , after falling earlier this week to below zero for the first time in history .
The Dow lost about 1,200 points on Monday and Tuesday amid the sinking oil prices .
Thursday 's gains were largely erased , however , as Gilead Sciences stock fell 4.34 percent after documents published by the World Health Organization stated that its COVID-19 drug remdesivir did n't improve patients ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their bloodstream .
The markets eventually rebounded to avoid significant losses after Gilead issued a statement saying the results were posted prematurely and had been removed `` as the study investigators did not provide permission for the publication of the results '' and that the company believed the post inappropriately characterized the study .
`` The study was terminated early due to low enrollment and , as a result , it was underpowered to enable statistically meaningful conclusions , '' Gilead said .
`` As such , the study results are inconclusive , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential benefit for remdesivir , particularly among patients treated early in disease . ''

A woman walks past Federal Hall, near the New York Stock Exchange, on Monday in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
April 23 (UPI) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up nearly 40 points on Thursday while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq saw slight losses in a volatile day of trading. The Dow ended the day up 0.17 percent, while the S&P 500 dropped 0.054 percent and Nasdaq Composite fell 0.0073 percent. Advertisement
Markets began the day strong with optimism surrounding an expected House vote to approve a new coronavirus stimulus package to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program, as well as fund expanded testing and hospitals, with the Dow rising as much as 400 points.
Thursday, international benchmark Brent crude increased to more than $21 per barrel. U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate climbed to more than $17, after falling earlier this week to below zero for the first time in history.
The Dow lost about 1,200 points on Monday and Tuesday amid the sinking oil prices.
Thursday's gains were largely erased, however, as Gilead Sciences stock fell 4.34 percent after documents published by the World Health Organization stated that its COVID-19 drug remdesivir didn't improve patients' conditions or reduce the coronavirus pathogen in their bloodstream.
The markets eventually rebounded to avoid significant losses after Gilead issued a statement saying the results were posted prematurely and had been removed "as the study investigators did not provide permission for the publication of the results" and that the company believed the post inappropriately characterized the study.
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"The study was terminated early due to low enrollment and, as a result, it was underpowered to enable statistically meaningful conclusions," Gilead said. "As such, the study results are inconclusive, though trends in the data suggest a potential benefit for remdesivir, particularly among patients treated early in disease."


upi--2020-04-23--Fresh storms kick up more tornadoes in South

April 23 ( UPI ) -- Severe weather impacted areas of the South on Thursday morning , one day after the area was hit by a series of tornadoes and flash flooding that killed nine people .
Authorities issued tornado watches for areas of Alabama , Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle , as well as tornado warnings in coastal Georgia .
The National Weather Service said one twister touched down in Mitchell County around midday and another near Pearson .
The NWS predicted two rounds of storms will bring strong winds , hail and tornadoes through the area Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Hahira , Ga .
The outbreak of storms swept through more western portions of the South on Wednesday night , causing a series of about 28 tornadoes in Oklahoma , Texas and Louisiana .
Two people died in Oklahoma , three in Texas and two in Louisiana .
Flooding in DeSoto Parish killed one man when he was swept away as he attempted to bring in his trash can .
`` There was some pretty extreme flooding here in Mansfield , '' Sheriff Jayson Richardson said .
`` Water like I 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if ever .
Basically the water rose really fast and we had to rescue some people out of homes .
I think we had about 20 or so homes that people were flooded in . ''
At least 94,000 people were without power across the South Thursday afternoon , with Georgia ( 28,000 ) and Mississippi ( 26,000 ) bearing the brunt of the outages , according to PowerOutage.us .

Strong storms snapped utility poles in Moultrie, Ga., on Thursday. Photo courtesy of the City of Moultrie
April 23 (UPI) -- Severe weather impacted areas of the South on Thursday morning, one day after the area was hit by a series of tornadoes and flash flooding that killed nine people. Authorities issued tornado watches for areas of Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle, as well as tornado warnings in coastal Georgia. The National Weather Service said one twister touched down in Mitchell County around midday and another near Pearson. Advertisement
The NWS predicted two rounds of storms will bring strong winds, hail and tornadoes through the area Thursday. Damage was reported in Adel, Moultrie and Hahira, Ga.
The outbreak of storms swept through more western portions of the South on Wednesday night, causing a series of about 28 tornadoes in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. Two people died in Oklahoma, three in Texas and two in Louisiana.
Flooding in DeSoto Parish killed one man when he was swept away as he attempted to bring in his trash can.
"There was some pretty extreme flooding here in Mansfield," Sheriff Jayson Richardson said. "Water like I've not seen in many, many years, if ever. Basically the water rose really fast and we had to rescue some people out of homes. I think we had about 20 or so homes that people were flooded in."
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At least 94,000 people were without power across the South Thursday afternoon, with Georgia (28,000) and Mississippi (26,000) bearing the brunt of the outages, according to PowerOutage.us.


upi--2020-04-23--Connecticut suburb police deploy 'pandemic drone' to enforce social distancing

April 23 (UPI) -- A Connecticut suburb's police said this week they are testing a "pandemic drone," with a speaker allowing them to sound a verbal warning to anyone not following social distancing.
The drone technology can monitor whether people are at least 6 feet apart, the distance that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for social distancing. The CDC says the coronavirus is mainly spread through mouth or nose droplets when people are within about 6 feet of each other for a prolonged period. It's also spread by touching a surface with the virus on it, then touching mouth, nose or eyes.
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Drone operators see a green circle around people when they're 6 feet apart, but if they get within 6 feet, the circle turns red. NBC Connecticut reported footage from the technology developed by Dragonfly, showing people violating social distancing guidelines at a local grocery store.
"Just another tool that gives us an opportunity to serve our community better," Westport Police Chief Foti Koskinas told NBC. "These are public places. People need to understand that they need to follow the rules, but we can't be everywhere ... Instead of sending an officer out the drone can deliver an audio message through the speaker."
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The drone has "sensor and computer vision systems," Dragonfly said in a statement, which can also detect "fever," "heart and respiratory rates," and "people sneezing and coughing in crowds."
The Westport Police Department said in a Facebook post that it is testing the new technology a part of a "Flatten the Curve Pilot Program."
"The goal is to provide better health monitoring support for potential at-risk groups, including seniors, as well as for gathering crowds at beaches, train stations, parks and recreation areas, and shopping centers," the post said. "It will not be used in individual private yards, nor does it employ facial recognition technology."
The town of Westport in Fairfield County has 197 COVID-19 cases, according to the NBC report.
Statewide, Connecticut has 22,469 cases and 1,544 deaths, according to the state's website. Fairfield County alone has 9,883 cases and 584 deaths.
U.S. copes with COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-04-23--Genomes suggest parallel societies persisted through end of Neolithic

April 23 ( UPI ) -- Central Europe was marked by significant population shifts during the end of the Neolithic period , but the timing and details of new migrations and population mixing in the region are n't well understood .
To gain fresh insights into this dynamic period , researchers sequenced 96 ancient genomes recovered from burial sites in Switzerland .
Though ancient burial sites are less abundant in Switzerland than in other parts of Europe , the country is home to a rich archaeological record -- artifacts that offer context to the genomic data scientists were able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Neolithic , indigenous settlements were scattered through Central Europe .
Local populations settled along lake shores , inside alpine valleys and high atop mountain passes .
By the end of the period , artifacts linked to the Corded Ware Complex cultural groups begin showing up in the archaeological record .
The artifacts coincide with the estimated arrival of people migrating westward from the Pontic-Caspian steppe .
The new genomic analysis -- detailed this week in the journal Nature Communications -- suggests the people of the steppe first arrived around 2800 BC .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrival of the earliest steppe migrants , the genomic analysis showed mixing between the indigenous settlers and the steppe migrants was very slow .
Researchers found evidence that two parallel and highly genetically structured societies persisted for centuries .
`` We see in our data that there was genetic mixing , it only took quite some time until everybody carried the new component , '' lead study author Anja Furtwängler , a paleogeneticist at the University of Tübingen 's Institute for Archeological Sciences in Germany , told UPI in an email .
Furtwängler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people remained without the genetic signatures of steppe ancestry for more than 1,000 years after the first migrants arrived .
The genomes recovered from the ancient Neolithic burials revealed the earliest known lactose-tolerant Europeans , dating to 2100 BC .
Both the burial and genomic data also showed that the social structure of the Neolithic settlements were predominantly patrilocal , with males staying where they were from , while females came from distant Neolithic , non-steppe populations .
`` We could not pinpoint the origin of these women without steppe ancestry , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conduct stable isotope analysis to address such questions , but the isotopic landscape of Switzerland is so varied that there is no exact match .
We can therefore also not exclude that they came from farther away .
But a very likely scenario could be isolated alpine valleys . ''
Furtwängler and her colleagues hope to continue similar genomic analysis to better understand the movements of early populations during other important periods of human history in the region .
`` One could make similar attempts to obtain a large dataset with dense temporal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Neolithic times when agriculture appeared in the region , '' Furtwängler said .

A view of the Dolmann of Oberpipp in Switzerland at the beginning of excavation. Photo by Urs Dardel/Archaeological Service of the Canton of Bern
April 23 (UPI) -- Central Europe was marked by significant population shifts during the end of the Neolithic period, but the timing and details of new migrations and population mixing in the region aren't well understood. To gain fresh insights into this dynamic period, researchers sequenced 96 ancient genomes recovered from burial sites in Switzerland. Advertisement
Though ancient burial sites are less abundant in Switzerland than in other parts of Europe, the country is home to a rich archaeological record -- artifacts that offer context to the genomic data scientists were able to recover and study.
By the mid-to-late Neolithic, indigenous settlements were scattered through Central Europe. Local populations settled along lake shores, inside alpine valleys and high atop mountain passes.
By the end of the period, artifacts linked to the Corded Ware Complex cultural groups begin showing up in the archaeological record. The artifacts coincide with the estimated arrival of people migrating westward from the Pontic-Caspian steppe.
The new genomic analysis -- detailed this week in the journal Nature Communications -- suggests the people of the steppe first arrived around 2800 BC.
In addition to pinpointing the timing of the arrival of the earliest steppe migrants, the genomic analysis showed mixing between the indigenous settlers and the steppe migrants was very slow. Researchers found evidence that two parallel and highly genetically structured societies persisted for centuries.
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"We see in our data that there was genetic mixing, it only took quite some time until everybody carried the new component," lead study author Anja Furtwängler, a paleogeneticist at the University of Tübingen's Institute for Archeological Sciences in Germany, told UPI in an email.
Furtwängler and her colleagues found evidence that some people remained without the genetic signatures of steppe ancestry for more than 1,000 years after the first migrants arrived. The genomes recovered from the ancient Neolithic burials revealed the earliest known lactose-tolerant Europeans, dating to 2100 BC.
Both the burial and genomic data also showed that the social structure of the Neolithic settlements were predominantly patrilocal, with males staying where they were from, while females came from distant Neolithic, non-steppe populations.
"We could not pinpoint the origin of these women without steppe ancestry," said Furtwängler. "Usually one can conduct stable isotope analysis to address such questions, but the isotopic landscape of Switzerland is so varied that there is no exact match. We can therefore also not exclude that they came from farther away. But a very likely scenario could be isolated alpine valleys."
Furtwängler and her colleagues hope to continue similar genomic analysis to better understand the movements of early populations during other important periods of human history in the region.
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"One could make similar attempts to obtain a large dataset with dense temporal sampling for the transition at the beginning of the Neolithic times when agriculture appeared in the region," Furtwängler said.