upi--2020-09-18--49ers star TE George Kittle ruled out vs. Jets with knee sprain

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- The San Francisco 49ers have ruled out Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle for Sunday 's game against the New York Jets because of a knee injury , the team announced Friday .
Earlier this week , 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated that a decision would be made closer to the matchup because of Kittle 's tendency for playing through injuries .
But with Kittle missing practice all week and a cross-country flight to visit the Jets , the team opted to declare Kittle out with a sprained left knee .
Kittle will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rehab the knee injury and will rejoin the team next week as they prepare for their Week 3 matchup against the New York Giants .
`` I think if it was just the normal person , we would have ruled him out earlier in the week , but we never do that with George because of what he 's shown us here over these three years with him , '' Shanahan told reporters Friday .
`` We would have held out two more days to wait and see if it was a home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel today we had to decide whether it was worth it to bring him .
`` If he 's not going to play , it 's much better to leave him here for a couple days and let him get his rehab and everything .
So , we had to make that decision a little bit earlier today .
That will help him and he 'll meet us in West Virginia and hopefully these two days staying here will help him and hopefully he 'll be ready to go next week . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ week 's loss to the Arizona Cardinals .
Right before halftime , 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw a high pass to Kittle , who was hit immediately by Cardinals defensive back Budda Baker .
Kittle limped off the field and entered the locker room but returned and played the entire second half .
Garoppolo did n't target him in the third and fourth quarters .
Kittle finished with four receptions for 44 yards on five targets .
In Kittle 's absence , the 49ers will turn to backups Jordan Reed , Ross Dwelley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0-1 ) kick off against the Jets ( 0-1 ) at 1 p.m. EST Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford , N.J .

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle suffered the knee injury in last week's loss to the Arizona Cardinals. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 18 (UPI) -- The San Francisco 49ers have ruled out Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle for Sunday's game against the New York Jets because of a knee injury, the team announced Friday. Earlier this week, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated that a decision would be made closer to the matchup because of Kittle's tendency for playing through injuries. But with Kittle missing practice all week and a cross-country flight to visit the Jets, the team opted to declare Kittle out with a sprained left knee. Advertisement
Kittle will remain in San Francisco this weekend to rehab the knee injury and will rejoin the team next week as they prepare for their Week 3 matchup against the New York Giants.
"I think if it was just the normal person, we would have ruled him out earlier in the week, but we never do that with George because of what he's shown us here over these three years with him," Shanahan told reporters Friday. "We would have held out two more days to wait and see if it was a home game, but with us having to travel today we had to decide whether it was worth it to bring him.
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"If he's not going to play, it's much better to leave him here for a couple days and let him get his rehab and everything. So, we had to make that decision a little bit earlier today. That will help him and he'll meet us in West Virginia and hopefully these two days staying here will help him and hopefully he'll be ready to go next week."
Kittle suffered the knee injury in last week's loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Right before halftime, 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw a high pass to Kittle, who was hit immediately by Cardinals defensive back Budda Baker.
Kittle limped off the field and entered the locker room but returned and played the entire second half. Garoppolo didn't target him in the third and fourth quarters. Kittle finished with four receptions for 44 yards on five targets.
In Kittle's absence, the 49ers will turn to backups Jordan Reed, Ross Dwelley and Charlie Woerner.
The 49ers (0-1) kick off against the Jets (0-1) at 1 p.m. EST Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-09-18--Judge orders Michigan to accept mail-in ballots for 2 weeks after Election Day

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- A Michigan judge on Friday ordered elections officials to accept mail-in ballots for two weeks after the 2020 election as long as they 're postmarked before Election Day .
The ruling substantially increases the amount of time ballots can be accepted in the state .
Under existing law , officials count only mail-in ballots received by 8 p.m. on Election Day .
The preliminary injunction applies only to the Nov. 3 , 2020 , election .
The ruling in the Court of Claims was the result of a lawsuit brought by the Michigan Alliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stephens agreed with the Michigan Alliance that the coronavirus pandemic and the challenges facing the U.S .
Postal Service warrant a change in the state 's voting procedures , '' the organization said .
Last month , some voting rights groups became concerned after the USPS began removing some mail collection boxes from streets and sorting machines from some branches .
The USPS sent letters to dozens of states warning them that some mail-in ballots might not be counted in time for the November election because state deadlines are `` incongruous '' with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the charges , Postmaster General Louis DeJoy ordered that operational changes he 's overseeing will be halted `` to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail . ''
In addition to extending the deadline for receiving mail-in ballots , Stephens also said a third party can submit a mail-in or absentee ballot for a voter -- a practice described by critics as ballot harvesting .
Trump has repeatedly denounced voting by mail , claiming that it would invite voter fraud .
A study by Stanford University 's Democracy and Polarization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that mail-in voting does n't favor one political party over another , nor does it invite more frequent incidents of fraud .
Trump himself regularly votes by mail in Florida .
A Gallup poll released in April indicated that 70 % of Americans favor allowing all registered voters to vote by mail .

Sept. 18 (UPI) -- A Michigan judge on Friday ordered elections officials to accept mail-in ballots for two weeks after the 2020 election as long as they're postmarked before Election Day.
The ruling substantially increases the amount of time ballots can be accepted in the state. Under existing law, officials count only mail-in ballots received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
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The preliminary injunction applies only to the Nov. 3, 2020, election.
The ruling in the Court of Claims was the result of a lawsuit brought by the Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans.
"Judge Cynthia Stephens agreed with the Michigan Alliance that the coronavirus pandemic and the challenges facing the U.S. Postal Service warrant a change in the state's voting procedures," the organization said.
Last month, some voting rights groups became concerned after the USPS began removing some mail collection boxes from streets and sorting machines from some branches. The USPS sent letters to dozens of states warning them that some mail-in ballots might not be counted in time for the November election because state deadlines are "incongruous" with delivery standards.
After an uproar over the charges, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy ordered that operational changes he's overseeing will be halted "to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail."
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In addition to extending the deadline for receiving mail-in ballots, Stephens also said a third party can submit a mail-in or absentee ballot for a voter -- a practice described by critics as ballot harvesting.
Trump has repeatedly denounced voting by mail, claiming that it would invite voter fraud. A study by Stanford University's Democracy and Polarization Lab in April, though, found that mail-in voting doesn't favor one political party over another, nor does it invite more frequent incidents of fraud.
Trump himself regularly votes by mail in Florida.
A Gallup poll released in April indicated that 70% of Americans favor allowing all registered voters to vote by mail.


upi--2020-09-18--Tropical Storm Beta forms in the Gulf of Mexico, shattering records

Sept. 17 ( UPI ) -- After churning out Tropical Storm Wilfred and Subtropical Storm Alpha , the hyperactive Atlantic continues to generate more named storms with the formation of Tropical Storm Beta .
Forming Friday afternoon , Beta had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph , and forecasters warn there is potential for the system to intensify into a hurricane while over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico .
The Atlantic once again became hyperactive on Friday with four tropical cyclones churning at once .
Just on Monday , there were five tropical cyclones spinning simultaneously for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1971 .
That number dropped to four Tuesday after Rene dissipated , leaving Paulette , Sally , Teddy and Vicky for a time .
As of 4 p.m. CDT Friday , Major Hurricane Teddy , Tropical Storm Wilfred , Subtropical Storm Alpha and now Tropical Storm Beta were all on the prowl .
This new storm has claimed the second letter in the Greek alphabet .
Once the last name on the season 's designated list is exhausted , Greek letters are used to identify tropical storms .
A strong disturbance that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last name on the season 's designated list , Wilfred , when it strengthened into a tropical storm on Friday at 11 a.m. EDT , according to the National Hurricane Center .
It became the earliest-21st named storm on record in the Atlantic basin , beating out Vince , which formed on Oct. 8 , 2005 , according to Philip Klotzbach , a meteorologist at Colorado State University .
A few hours later , Subtropical Storm Alpha formed right along the coast of Portugal during Friday afternoon .
That storm will bring heavy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along the coast of Portugal and northern Spain through Friday night .
Alpha set a new record for the earliest 22nd-named storm to develop in the basin , forming nearly one month earlier than the previous record holder for that title , the notorious Wilma from 2005 .
Wilma did not become a named storm until Oct. 17 that year , but went on to strengthen into the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic at Category 5 strength , packing winds of 185 mph and a central barometric pressure of 26.05 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Beta wrote a new page in the record books for the 23rd-named tropical storm in the Atlantic , replacing Alpha from 2005 , which formed on Oct. 22 and was the first-ever storm to be named a Greek letter .
A disturbance over the Gulf of Mexico that meteorologists had been monitoring for over a week developed into Tropical Depression 22 on Thursday , with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph .
By Friday at 4 p.m. CDT , the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Beta and was located about 335 miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 280 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande as it crawled northward at just 9 mph .
Weak steering breezes could result in the budding tropical system over the Gulf of Mexico to remain nearly stationary or meander over the open water over the next few days .
A general northward drift is likely to be followed by a westward drift later this weekend and into early next week .
The storm could wander toward the Texas coast before turning toward Louisiana .
A slow-moving storm such as this can disrupt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gulf of Mexico for several days , AccuWeather meteorologists warned .
`` We are getting to the time of the year where it is difficult , due to prevailing steering winds , for tropical systems to move onshore in Texas , '' according to AccuWeather 's top hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski .
`` However , we are not fully into that part of the season just yet , and we will have to monitor the behavior of those steering winds and how much an area of high pressure builds across the central and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the northward path and perhaps steer the system toward the Texas coast , '' Kottlowski cautioned .
The slow movement of the system has raised alarms among AccuWeather forecasters .
In 2017 , Harvey unloaded up to 61 inches of rain as it spent days over eastern Texas .
Even though this system may never get as strong as Harvey did , it will have the resources to produce torrential rainfall .
Most of that rain may fall harmlessly over the Gulf of Mexico , unless the system takes a westward drift toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanders close to the upper Gulf coast .
The slow movement of the system is likely to continue , no matter which direction it wanders .
If the system wanders to right along the coast , then rainfall could be measured in feet in stead of inches .
`` How strong the system gets may hold the key as a stronger tropical storm tends to poke higher up into the atmosphere and might get steered westward toward Texas , while a weaker system may hover in the lowest part of the atmosphere , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then hovers over the Gulf for days , '' Kottlowski said .
Some moisture could be sheared off to the northeast of the budding storm , which could produce heavy rainfall in the Southeast states .
`` Any torrential rain could add to the flooding problems from Sally , which are still ramping up as runoff from urban and small streams works into the larger river systems in the Southeast , '' AccuWeather Meteorologist Courtney Travis said .
`` Texas could take a reasonable amount of rain , while areas farther to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trouble , '' she added .
Another possibility is that the storm may make several landfalls but never venture far inland , and rather it would spend most of its lifespan over the western Gulf of Mexico and diminish after initially ramping up .
In this scenario , the center could bump or brush multiple points of land along a meandering path .
`` Gusty winds and rain could reach the south coast of Texas as early as Sunday , '' Kottlowski said .
If the system makes landfall as a named storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the ninth system to do so this season .
Should the center wander onshore , it could continue to move very slowly or perhaps stall a second time , potentially leading to flooding rainfall on a broad scale .
As the system develops and begins to move northward initially , exact details on the system 's track will become more clear in the coming days , even if it will just prowl around the Gulf for a time .
Regardless of the meandering nature of the storm , there will be substantial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downpours could frequent coastal areas of the western and central Gulf Coast .
The storm is likely to get large enough and strong enough to create rough seas , pounding surf and dangerous rip currents over the Gulf of Mexico , especially over the central and western Gulf .
There is a more than 50-50 chance this system can reach hurricane strength later in the weekend or early next week , forecasters said .
All interests along the western and central Gulf coast should monitor the evolution and progress of this system .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are several other areas that forecasters are monitoring for tropical development in the Atlantic .
Greek letters are likely to be used as AccuWeather meteorologists upped their 2020 season predictions for the number of total storms to 28 , which would tie the record number of named storms in the basin set in the notorious 2005 season .

Tropical Storm Beta is seen over southeastern Texas early Tuesday. The storm is expected to move slowly to the northeast Tuesday and Wednesday, ultimately weakening to a depression. Image courtesy NOAA/NHC
Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Beta made landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast late Monday, becoming the ninth named storm to hit the United States this year. The National Hurricane Center said in its 4 a.m. CDT update Tuesday, the center of the storm was 35 miles northwest of Port O'Connor, Texas, and 45 miles northwest of Matagorda, Texas. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving northwest at 3 mph. Advertisement
"On the forecast track, the center of Beta will move inland over southeastern Texas through Wednesday and then over Louisiana and Mississippi Wednesday night through Friday," the NHC said.
The center said the storm is expected to stall over land on Tuesday as it moves to the northeast toward the Louisiana coast. It's forecast to weaken to a depression late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
Communities that were devastated by Hurricane Laura, and to some extent more recently by Hurricane Sally, could face strong winds and downpours that could hinder ongoing recovery efforts.
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 29 counties in Texas on Monday as Beta churned toward the coast.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency on Monday, opening up state resources to aid in local government response. He warned that the storm's slow movement puts the southwestern part of the state at risk for flooding through at least the middle of the week.
Widespread rainfall totals of 4-8 inches are expected across southeastern Texas and into southern Louisiana.
Heavy rainfall and the risk for flash flooding are likely even if the storm wobbles back over the water and lingers just offshore of the Texas coast as currently forecast.
"This rainfall can lead to significant, life-threatening flooding, which may last for several days," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller said.
Even though Beta is not nearly as strong as Hurricane Harvey, which exploded into a Category 4 storm in 2017, it is expected to crawl across the region, and forecasters warn that it will have enough fuel to produce torrential rainfall along its path. In 2017, Harvey unloaded up to 61 inches of rain as it spent days spinning over eastern Texas.
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In 2001, Tropical Storm Allison unleashed disastrous flooding across southeastern Texas, due to its slow movement.
Should the storm stall near the Texas coast, rainfall amounts could be higher and may even exceed 24 inches. Conversely, should Beta move along at a quicker pace or more drier air get pulled into the storm, total rainfall amounts could be cut in half for some locations, though flooding would still remain a threat.
Waterspouts and isolated tornadoes can occur in Beta's outer bands to the northeast of the center of the storm.
Depending on the exact track of Beta, drenching downpours could reach the Southeast later in the week, including areas recently impacted by Hurricane Sally.
Weak steering winds have resulted in Beta meandering over the Gulf of Mexico since last week.
The tropical storm claimed the second letter in the Greek alphabet on Friday, following Wilfred and Alpha. Once the last name on the Atlantic hurricane season's designated list is exhausted, Greek letters are used to identify tropical storms.
Prior to Beta, eight storms had made landfall in the U.S. during the hyperactive 2020 hurricane season. In comparison, 3 to 4 storms typically strike the country during an entire hurricane season.


upi--2020-09-18--Hurricane Teddy: Advisories issued for Bermuda

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- Less than one week after feeling the full force of Hurricane Paulette , residents of Bermuda were preparing for a strike from powerful Hurricane Teddy , which unlike Paulette , may take a path that could eventually bring impacts to Atlantic Canada and perhaps the northeastern United States .
Paulette brought a wind gust of 117 mph to Bermuda and an island-wide power outage when it passed directly overhead Sunday night into early Monday .
More than 20,000 customers were without power following Paulette 's approach .
Teddy first developed in the central Atlantic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a Category 4 major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale .
Laura is the only other Atlantic storm to achieve major hurricane status so far this season .
As of 5 p.m. AST on Friday , the storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and was located 795 miles southeast of Bermuda and 520 miles northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands while moving northwest at a speed of 14 mph .
The government of Bermuda issued a tropical storm watch for the island nation Friday afternoon .
AccuWeather senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near Bermuda early Monday as a Category 2 hurricane .
The impacts , however , will depend on how close the center of the storm passes to the islands .
The closer the center of the storm , the greater the impacts will be .
AccuWeather 's current Eye Path takes Teddy just east of the islands .
On this track , Teddy would bring another round of damaging winds and flooding rainfall to Bermuda .
However , even a glancing blow by Teddy can still have significant impact on the islands due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After passing Bermuda , Teddy is expected to continue to meander on a generally northern track , which would cause the hurricane to approach Atlantic Canada or northern New England around Tuesday afternoon .
`` If Teddy takes a northerly track , areas from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland would be the most likely to see impacts .
Teddy may still be a hurricane at this time with impacts including potentially damaging wind gusts , heavy rainfall and pounding surf , '' Miller explained .
Another scenario would have Teddy track farther to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storm 's trek into the North Atlantic .
These appear to be the two most likely scenarios .
`` There remains the chance that Teddy is pulled more to the northwest and could impact northern New England before curving across Atlantic Canada and into the North Atlantic , '' Miller said .
This could bring strong winds , heavy rain and coastal flooding to much of the New England coastline .
A hurricane has never hit Maine from any direction other than from the southwest , according to AccuWeather Senior Weather Editor Jesse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit Maine on record with only three of those since 1950 , '' Ferrell said .
`` Bob in 1991 was the most recent and only the Unnamed 1869 hurricane , Bob and Gerda from 1969 were Category 2 when they hit with the remaining storms being Category 1 strength . ''
According to Colorado State University Meteorologist Phil Klotzbach , the average date for the second major hurricane formation in the Atlantic is Oct. 3 .
Regardless of the final track and impacts from Teddy , even if the hurricane remains out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surf and dangerous rip currents are possible along the New England and mid-Atlantic coasts this weekend and early next week .
Small craft should avoid venturing too far offshore as monstrous waves could develop from and propagate toward the coast from the large hurricane .

The powerful Hurricane Teddy is forecast to hit Atlantic Canada later this week. Image courtesy of NOAA
Sept. 22 (UPI) -- After passing Bermuda a day prior, powerful Hurricane Teddy was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone as it was heading for Atlantic Canada on Tuesday. The storm is still expected to produce potentially life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the way, forecasters said. Advertisement
As of 11 p.m. AST Tuesday, the storm was about 125 miles south of the Nova Scotian capital of Halifax, packing maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. It was traveling north at 18 mph.
Large swells generated by the system were affecting Bermuda, the Lesser Antilles, the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, the eastern coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada, the advisory said.
"These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions," it said.
Teddy first developed in the central Atlantic on Saturday, Sept. 12. On Friday night, Teddy strengthened into a Category 4 major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Laura is the only other Atlantic storm to achieve major hurricane status so far this season.
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According to Colorado State University Meteorologist Phil Klotzbach, the average date for the second major hurricane formation in the Atlantic is Oct. 3.
"Teddy will interact with an upper-level storm system moving across eastern Canada early in the week, and become an extratropical storm before making landfall in Nova Scotia Wednesday morning. However, this is really just a technicality, as the impacts will still match those of a hurricane," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty explained.
The Canadian Hurricane Centre has issued a tropical storm warning for the southern coast of Nova Scotia and a tropical storm watch for the province's northern coast. The watch also extends westward into Prince Edward Island. Tropical storm watches were also issued for portions of the southwestern coast of Newfoundland.
One of those impressive aspects of Teddy will be its expansive wind field. Wind gusts of 40-60 mph will stretch all the way from the eastern shores of Labrador and Newfoundland to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The strongest wind gusts, near where the center moves across Nova Scotia, are expected to reach 80-90 mph with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 100 mph.
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"Teddy is already a large hurricane. When it undergoes extratropical transition, the wind field will expand even further," Douty explained. "Even the New England coast will be quite gusty for a time, despite the storm being around 300 miles east of Boston at its closest approach."
Power outages and tree damage could be widespread across Atlantic Canada. While powerful winter storms that can reach hurricane strength are not particularly uncommon across this region, a storm of this strength striking this time of year, when all the leaves are still on the trees, can lead to more damage.
Winds of this magnitude are also capable of some structural damage, especially to any weaker buildings. Loose objects like yard furniture, toys, planters and trash cans can easily become projectiles in the wind.
Dorian tracked across Atlantic Canada in early September of 2019 and brought widespread wind damage to Atlantic Canada. Teddy has the potential to bring similar results should it remain on its current forecast track.
Residents should begin to make appropriate preparations as this appears to be the most likely scenario.
On this track, 2-4 inches of rain would be widespread across Nova Scotia, with 1-2 inches stretching from eastern New Brunswick to the southeast coast of Labrador. Locally heavier rainfall could fall where the center of the storm tracks, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 6 inches.
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Heavy rain will also accompany the howling winds across Atlantic Canada. However, heavy rain will be in and out relatively quickly due to the fast-forward motion of the storm.
This can lead to some localized flooding, especially on streets and poor-drainage areas. Most leaves across the region are only just starting to change, but with such strong winds, it's also possible that enough leaves are blown down to clog some storm drains and cause more street flooding in urban areas.
Taking these impacts into consideration, Teddy is forecast to be a 1 on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes in Atlantic Canada.
In comparison to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which has been used by meteorologists for decades and classifies storms by wind speed only, the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale is based on a broad range of important factors. The scale covers not only wind speed but flooding rain, storm surge as well as economic damage and loss. This communicates a more comprehensive representation of the potential impact of a storm to lives and livelihoods.
Meanwhile, Teddy has been kicking up some significant waves as the storm mowed its way across the Atlantic Ocean. Wave heights near Teddy's center of circulation have been in excess of 20 feet and, up and down the shores of the East Coast, wave heights have been in the 5-foot to 7-foot range.
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Even with Teddy several hundred miles off the coast, some coastal flooding and beach erosion was already being seen and will continue for the first part of the week along many portions of the East Coast, especially at times of high tide.
"During the weekend, an area of high pressure over the interior Northeast helped to increase northeasterly winds, which enraged seas along the immediate Atlantic coast, well away from Teddy," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
According to the NCDOT, portions of Route 12 along the Outer Banks in North Carolina are closed until at least Tuesday afternoon due to overwash. Residents of the Outer Banks have been urged not to travel unless absolutely necessary. Flooding along the Outer Banks could get worse over the next couple of days as surf continues to build and more and more of the protective dunes get worn down or washed away.
Because of the exceptionally rough seas churned up by Teddy, coastal impacts will also be quite expansive. Nova Scotia and the southern coast of Newfoundland will bear the brunt of massive surf and dangerous storm surge.
Wave heights are forecast to reach an incredible 50-75 feet Tuesday on the open sea off the coasts of New England and Nova Scotia. This will have a major impact on shipping, as any sea-going vessels that dare to enter this region will face extreme danger.
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While the most fearsome seas will remain offshore, coastal areas will still have to be prepared for storm surge and significant wave action.
"The southern coast of Nova Scotia is no stranger to angry seas, and most of the towns sit in coves protected by rocky cliffs and barrier islands," explained AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist and Lead Canada Forecaster Brett Anderson.
"However, with 30 foot seas even right to the coast and a large storm surge, any locations that are exposed and not sitting well above normal sea level could quickly become very dangerous to anyone caught there once Teddy arrives."
The entire Eastern Seaboard of the United States will also see rough surf and large swells propagating out from Teddy into midweek. Persistent, gusty onshore flow along much of the East Coast will also add to the angry seas and rising water levels.
"As the area of high pressure weakens, and Teddy moves toward Nova Scotia on Tuesday and Wednesday, wave action along the immediate coast south of the Carolinas will ease, but there can still be occasional large swells that catch bathers and boaters by surprise through the latter part of this week," Sosnowski said.
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Teddy joins Beta currently spinning in the Atlantic, as well as Paulette, which regenerated into a tropical storm south of the Azores on Monday night.
With months still left in the Atlantic hurricane season, more Greek letters are likely to be used. Last week, AccuWeather meteorologists upped their 2020 season predictions for the number of total storms to 28, which would tie the record number of named storms in the basin set in the notorious 2005 season.


upi--2020-09-18--New tropical storm in central Atlantic grabs the name Wilfred

Hot on the heels of the latest tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico , yet another disturbance AccuWeather meteorologists have been monitoring since it cruised across Africa has become Tropical Storm Wilfred .
Satellite photos from Thursday night indicated a substantial uptick in thunderstorm activity on the eastern side of the system with a trademark high cloud shield overtop of the system .
The system continued to show signs of organization overnight , and the National Hurricane Center confirmed at 11 a.m. EDT Friday that the system had near-tropical-storm-force winds on its eastern flank within the thunderstorms but did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just hours later , prior to 8 a.m. EDT , the NHC confirmed that a low-level circulation had formed , and the system was named Tropical Storm Wilfred , the last designated name on the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season list .
It became the earliest 21st-named storm ever to form in the basin , shattering the old record held by Vince of Oct. 8 , 2005 .
As of 5 p.m. EDT Friday , Wilfred was located about 735 miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands , moving along at a brisk , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustained winds of 40 mph .
Disruptive wind shear has dropped off and should remain fairly low with a reasonable amount of moisture available in the atmosphere into this weekend .
As a result , further strengthening is likely .
A general west to northwest drift is forecast through this weekend .
An increase in disruptive wind shear is forecast to begin later this weekend .
As these strong winds aloft begin to tear away at the storm , weakening of the system is likely .
Wilfred is currently forecast to turn to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , but interests on the islands should continue to monitor its progress .
There are multiple features AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring in the Atlantic for possible development in the coming days .
Additional tropical disturbances will continue to move westward off the coast of Africa , and any one of these can slowly develop over the next couple of weeks as they travel across the Atlantic .
One such system developed into a subtropical storm on Friday afternoon near the coast of Portugal .
There is also the chance that Paulette , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atlantic , re-acquires tropical characteristics near the Azores in the coming days .
Then there is Teddy , a major hurricane traveling northwestward over the central Atlantic .
Teddy is on a path that will take it near Bermuda early next week then perhaps to Atlantic Canada or even northern New England later next week .
Factoring in the system over the central Atlantic grabbing the last regular name on the list , the alphabetical names for 2020 has been exhausted .
The Greek alphabet will now be used for additional storms this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no time on Friday with the naming of Subtropical Storm Alpha near the coast of Portugal .
The Atlantic has been on a record pace with Cristobal and every storm from Edouard through Wilfred all setting early-formation marks for their designated letters .
AccuWeather is projecting 28 named systems ( at least tropical storm strength ) this season , which would tie the historic 2005 Atlantic hurricane season .

Tropical Storm Wilfred is is currently forecast to dissipate well to the east of the Lesser Antilles. Hurricane Teddy is to the west of Wilfred. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Wilfred has weakened back to a tropical depression on Sunday, two days after becoming a tropical storm west of the Cabo Verde Islands. On Friday, the National Hurricane Center confirmed that a low-level circulation had formed, and the system was named Tropical Storm Wilfred, the last designated name on the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season list. It became the earliest 21st-named storm ever to form in the basin, shattering the old record held by Vince of Oct. 8, 2005. Advertisement
As of 5 p.m. AST Sunday, Wilfred was located about 1,445 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands, moving along at a brisk 20 mph pace. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.
A general west to northwest drift is forecast into early week.
This path will put Wilfred in an area of disruptive wind shear. As these strong winds aloft begin to tear away at the storm, weakening of the system is likely.
Wilfred is currently forecast to dissipate well to the east of the Lesser Antilles.
Factoring in the system over the central Atlantic grabbing the last regular name on the list, the alphabetical names for 2020 has been exhausted. The Greek alphabet is now being utilized for additional storms this season.
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Elsewhere in the Atlantic, AccuWeather meteorologists continue to keep an eye on Tropical Storm Beta, which developed over the western Gulf of Mexico on Friday afternoon, and will bring days of flooding rainfall and gusty winds from Texas to Louisiana. Hurricane Teddy, meanwhile, is expected to approach Atlantic Canada this week.
There is also the chance that Paulette, currently a non-tropical storm over the North Atlantic, re-acquires tropical characteristics near the Azores in the coming days.
AccuWeather is projecting 28 named systems (at least tropical storm strength) this season, which would tie the historic 2005 Atlantic hurricane season.


upi--2020-09-18--Australian couple buy $450,000 lottery ticket by accident

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- An Australian couple who won a lottery jackpot of nearly $ 500,000 said they actually bought their ticket by accident while trying to enter a different drawing .
The Hastings Point , New South Wales , couple told The Lott officials they were on a road trip across Australia when they stopped into the newsXpress Central Highlands in Emerald , Queensland .
The couple said they bought their ticket for the Sept. 12 Saturday Gold Lotto drawing by accident when trying to buy a ticket for a different drawing .
`` Can you believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ticket into another draw ?
This was actually the wrong ticket , '' the man said .
`` It was a complete mistake , a very good mistake . ''
The `` very good mistake '' turned out to be a $ 453,135.59 winner .
The couple said their winnings will help them upgrade their traveling plans .
`` We 've been living in our caravan in Queensland for the past few months , so this means we can update it and get a new one , '' the man said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family and use some for more traveling .
The rest we will save for the future . ''

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Sept. 18 (UPI) -- An Australian couple who won a lottery jackpot of nearly $500,000 said they actually bought their ticket by accident while trying to enter a different drawing.
The Hastings Point, New South Wales, couple told The Lott officials they were on a road trip across Australia when they stopped into the newsXpress Central Highlands in Emerald, Queensland.
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The couple said they bought their ticket for the Sept. 12 Saturday Gold Lotto drawing by accident when trying to buy a ticket for a different drawing.
"Can you believe I was actually meant to buy a ticket into another draw? This was actually the wrong ticket," the man said. "It was a complete mistake, a very good mistake."
The "very good mistake" turned out to be a $453,135.59 winner.
The couple said their winnings will help them upgrade their traveling plans.
"We've been living in our caravan in Queensland for the past few months, so this means we can update it and get a new one," the man said.
"We will also share it with our family and use some for more traveling. The rest we will save for the future."


upi--2020-09-18--Police free man from handcuffs after girlfriend lost the key

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- Police in Britain responded to an early morning call from a man who became @ @ @ @ @ handcuffs in an apparent case of romance gone awry .
The Greater Manchester Police 's @ @ @ @ @ to a home at 4:30 a.m. Friday to help a couple having difficulty with a @ @ @ @ @ Male phoned requesting help as his girlfriend had locked him in some handcuffs and they @ @ @ @ @ key , '' the department 's tweet said .
`` Wanted police as he feared @ @ @ @ @ them and they were expensive . ''
Police said the man was `` released '' @ @ @ @ @ the department did not say whether the expensive restraints were damaged in the rescue .

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Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Police in Britain responded to an early morning call from a man who became trapped in a pair of handcuffs in an apparent case of romance gone awry.
The Greater Manchester Police's Rochdale station said officers responded to a home at 4:30 a.m. Friday to help a couple having difficulty with a pair of handcuffs.
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"Male phoned requesting help as his girlfriend had locked him in some handcuffs and they couldn't now find the key," the department's tweet said. "Wanted police as he feared the fire brigade would cut them and they were expensive."
Police said the man was "released" from the cuffs, but the department did not say whether the expensive restraints were damaged in the rescue.


upi--2020-09-18--Military leaders mark end of U.S. Marines engagment in Uganda

Sept. 17 ( UPI ) -- American and Ugandan military leaders held a virtual ceremony this week marking the end of a U.S. Marine engagement with Uganda as part of that nation 's six-year participation in the African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership .
Major Gen. Stephen M. Neary , commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa spoke by video teleconference with Brig .
Gen. Peter Omola , the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Center Commandant and his soldiers .
While the overall APRRP effort is not ending , the event marked the end of a current U.S. Marine Corps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is currently working to program new funds for the next stage of work there , officials told UPI .
The APRRP , implemented by the Department of Defense , is run by the U.S. State Department 's Office of Global Programs and Initiatives .
The program , established in 2015 , has six partner countries -- Ethiopia , Ghana , Rwanda , Senegal , Tanzania and Uganda .
Neary thanked Omola for Uganda 's contributions to regional security and its partnership with the U.S. Marines .
`` What we have been doing together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationships we 've built over the years have been critical , '' Maj. Gen. Neary said .
`` The [ Uganda Peoples ' Defense Forces ] have done more than their fair share to keep peace in the region and for that I personally thank you and your families for your commitment and sacrifice for peace .
We have reached a new chapter during this transition , but we will be looking for opportunities with common objectives in the future . ''
In February , U.S. Africa Command announced that it was shifting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Islamic State affiliates and other militant groups .
In Thursday 's announcement the Department of Defense said both the United States and Uganda share a commitment to supporting peacekeeping operations in the region .

U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, Crisis Response-Africa 20.1, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, and members of the Uganda People's Defense Force celebrate in Camp Singo, Uganda, in February. Photo by Grace Jenkins/U.S. Marines
Sept. 17 (UPI) -- American and Ugandan military leaders held a virtual ceremony this week marking the end of a U.S. Marine engagement with Uganda as part of that nation's six-year participation in the African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership. Major Gen. Stephen M. Neary, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa spoke by video teleconference with Brig. Gen. Peter Omola, the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Center Commandant and his soldiers. Advertisement
While the overall APRRP effort is not ending, the event marked the end of a current U.S. Marine Corps engagement in Uganda. The State Department is currently working to program new funds for the next stage of work there, officials told UPI.
The APRRP, implemented by the Department of Defense, is run by the U.S. State Department's Office of Global Programs and Initiatives. The program, established in 2015, has six partner countries -- Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda.
Neary thanked Omola for Uganda's contributions to regional security and its partnership with the U.S. Marines.
"What we have been doing together doesn't happen by accident and the relationships we've built over the years have been critical," Maj. Gen. Neary said.
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"The [Uganda Peoples' Defense Forces] have done more than their fair share to keep peace in the region and for that I personally thank you and your families for your commitment and sacrifice for peace. We have reached a new chapter during this transition, but we will be looking for opportunities with common objectives in the future."
In February, U.S. Africa Command announced that it was shifting its strategy to focus on containing al-Qaida and Islamic State affiliates and other militant groups.
In Thursday's announcement the Department of Defense said both the United States and Uganda share a commitment to supporting peacekeeping operations in the region.


upi--2020-09-18--Ancient footprints in Saudi Arabia help researchers track human migrations out of Africa

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- Paleontologists have discovered a diverse assemblage of 120,000-year-old human and animal footprints in an ancient lake deposit in Saudi Arabia 's Nefud Desert , offering new insights into the trajectories of human migrations out of Africa , according to a study published Friday in the journal Science Advances .
A mounting body of evidence , compiled and published over the last two decades , has upended early theories that humans migrated out of Africa in one or two giant waves .
`` As more and more fossils are discovered , it seems that humans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much earlier than previously thought , '' study co-author Mathew John Stewart told UPI in an email .
`` Precisely when , how often and under what conditions remain open questions , '' said Stewart , a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Germany .
For answers to these questions , researchers have mostly looked to Africa and Eurasia , ignoring the Arabian Peninsula .
Though it neighbors both Africa and Asia , evidence of human occupation in the region is scant .
`` The area today is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little rainfall and large , expansive sand dunes , '' Stewart said .
`` The conditions are not very amenable to the preservation of material and sediments .
Significant erosion of sediments and the subsequent destruction of material , such as fossil remains , is unfortunately common . ''
Paleoclimate data suggests that Arabia was n't always as dry as it was today , and a scattering of fossil discoveries has confirmed that humans were able to make forays into the Arabian interior when shifts in climate turned the peninsula 's deserts into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nefud Desert , fossilized in an ancient lake deposit known as 'Alathar ' -- Arabic for `` the trace '' -- suggests humans made one of those forays roughly 120,000 years ago .
`` The age of the footprints are consistent with Homo sapiens fossils in the Levant , and suggests that there were multiple routes that humans took upon expanding beyond Africa , '' study co-author Richard Clark-Wilson told UPI in an email .
`` There is earlier evidence for our species moving into the Mediterranean environment of the Levant and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earliest evidence of our species moving into a semi-arid grassland as Arabia would have been , '' said Clark-Wilson , a postgraduate research student at Royal Holloway in Britain .
In addition to human footprints , researchers uncovered footprints left by elephants , horses and hippos , suggesting Homo sapiens were n't the only species drawn to the open grasslands and water resources of northern Arabia .
Research suggests it 's possible humans were following animals when they first moved into the region .
`` Whats exciting about the animal footprints is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around lakes in northern Arabia , '' Stewart said .
`` Unlike most other records , footprints provide very high-resolution information , on the order of hours or days .
Also , the animal footprints provide information on what the environment and ecology was like when these people were moving through the landscape . ''
While the discovery of ancient footprints in Arabia suggests human movements out of Africa extended eastward into northern Arabia , Stewart said plenty of questions remain unanswered .
`` Precisely what happened to these people during the more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occupy the Arabian interior ?
Where did they go ? ''

Researchers found ancient human and animal footprints in a lake deposit in the western Nefud Desert, Saudi Arabia. Photo by Palaeodeserts Project
Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Paleontologists have discovered a diverse assemblage of 120,000-year-old human and animal footprints in an ancient lake deposit in Saudi Arabia's Nefud Desert, offering new insights into the trajectories of human migrations out of Africa, according to a study published Friday in the journal Science Advances. A mounting body of evidence, compiled and published over the last two decades, has upended early theories that humans migrated out of Africa in one or two giant waves. Advertisement
"As more and more fossils are discovered, it seems that humans repeatedly dispersed out of Africa and did so much earlier than previously thought," study co-author Mathew John Stewart told UPI in an email.
"Precisely when, how often and under what conditions remain open questions," said Stewart, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Germany.
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For answers to these questions, researchers have mostly looked to Africa and Eurasia, ignoring the Arabian Peninsula. Though it neighbors both Africa and Asia, evidence of human occupation in the region is scant.
"The area today is a hyper-arid desert, characterized by very little rainfall and large, expansive sand dunes," Stewart said. "The conditions are not very amenable to the preservation of material and sediments. Significant erosion of sediments and the subsequent destruction of material, such as fossil remains, is unfortunately common."
Paleoclimate data suggests that Arabia wasn't always as dry as it was today, and a scattering of fossil discoveries has confirmed that humans were able to make forays into the Arabian interior when shifts in climate turned the peninsula's deserts into grassland.
The ancient footprints found in the Nefud Desert, fossilized in an ancient lake deposit known as 'Alathar' -- Arabic for "the trace" -- suggests humans made one of those forays roughly 120,000 years ago.
"The age of the footprints are consistent with Homo sapiens fossils in the Levant, and suggests that there were multiple routes that humans took upon expanding beyond Africa," study co-author Richard Clark-Wilson told UPI in an email.
"There is earlier evidence for our species moving into the Mediterranean environment of the Levant and southern Greece, but this is the earliest evidence of our species moving into a semi-arid grassland as Arabia would have been," said Clark-Wilson, a postgraduate research student at Royal Holloway in Britain.
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In addition to human footprints, researchers uncovered footprints left by elephants, horses and hippos, suggesting Homo sapiens weren't the only species drawn to the open grasslands and water resources of northern Arabia. Research suggests it's possible humans were following animals when they first moved into the region.
"Whats exciting about the animal footprints is that it closely ties human and animal movements around lakes in northern Arabia," Stewart said. "Unlike most other records, footprints provide very high-resolution information, on the order of hours or days. Also, the animal footprints provide information on what the environment and ecology was like when these people were moving through the landscape."
While the discovery of ancient footprints in Arabia suggests human movements out of Africa extended eastward into northern Arabia, Stewart said plenty of questions remain unanswered.
"Precisely what happened to these people during the more arid periods? How long did they occupy the Arabian interior? Where did they go?"


upi--2020-09-18--Watch: North Carolina city replacing street sign that misspelled 'Autumn'

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- A North Carolina city said it is replacing a recently erected street sign after @ @ @ @ @ complained that the sign incorrectly identified their street as `` Autum Oaks Drive . ''
@ @ @ @ @ to complain that the sign , which recently was replaced after being struck by a @ @ @ @ @ word `` Autum '' and incorrectly identified the `` lane '' as a `` drive @ @ @ @ @ Raleigh said the local transportation department has made a new sign and is delivering it @ @ @ @ @ association for installation .
The city said the sign is maintained by the HOA .
@ @ @ @ @ Transportation dealt with a similar situation in September 2018 , when drivers complained that a @ @ @ @ @ the name of the town Lavallette .
The department said the contractor responsible for the @ @ @ @ @ .

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Sept. 18 (UPI) -- A North Carolina city said it is replacing a recently erected street sign after residents of Autumn Oaks Lane complained that the sign incorrectly identified their street as "Autum Oaks Drive."
A Raleigh resident contacted WNCN-TV to complain that the sign, which recently was replaced after being struck by a vehicle, featured the misspelled word "Autum" and incorrectly identified the "lane" as a "drive."
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The city of Raleigh said the local transportation department has made a new sign and is delivering it to the local homeowner's association for installation.
The city said the sign is maintained by the HOA.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation dealt with a similar situation in September 2018, when drivers complained that a sign on Route 37 misspelled the name of the town Lavallette. The department said the contractor responsible for the sign replaced it for free.


upi--2020-09-18--Firefighter dies in California wildfire started by gender-reveal party

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- A wildfire in Southern California sparked by an explosive at a gender-reveal party is responsible for the death of a firefighter , U.S. agriculture officials said Friday .
The San Bernardino National Forest said the firefighter died Thursday while battling the El Dorado Fire .
`` The name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin .
Our deepest sympathies are with the family , friends and fellow firefighters during this time , '' a statement from the U.S. Forest Service said .
Officials were investigating the fire and the death .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and San Bernardino counties , has burned more than 21,000 acres and was 66 % contained as of Friday morning .
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said it was sparked Sept. 5 by a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used in a gender-reveal party .
The agency said those responsible for sparking the fire could be held criminally or financially responsible .
In addition to the single death , there have been 12 fire personnel and civilian injuries , and 10 structures have been destroyed .
The El Dorado Fire is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Oregon and Washington .
There have been dozens of deaths , including 26 in California .
More than 3.4 million acres have burned in the Golden State , with the largest of the blazes , the August Complex , having consumed some 824,000 acres , the largest in the state 's history .
The group of fires was 30 % contained as of Friday morning .
One person has died in the blaze and more than two dozen structures have been destroyed .
In Oregon , favorable weather conditions , including cooler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assist firefighters and ease air quality .
Forecasters , though , are concerned that any heavy rainfall might cause flash flooding with debris leftover from the wildfires .
At least eight people have died and several others are missing in Oregon , where several fires have consumed about half a million acres of land .
Some evacuation orders were lifted in the affected areas .

Some three dozen people have died in dozens of wildfires throughout California, Oregon and Washington. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 18 (UPI) -- A wildfire in Southern California sparked by an explosive at a gender-reveal party is responsible for the death of a firefighter, U.S. agriculture officials said Friday. The San Bernardino National Forest said the firefighter died Thursday while battling the El Dorado Fire. Advertisement
"The name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Our deepest sympathies are with the family, friends and fellow firefighters during this time," a statement from the U.S. Forest Service said.
Officials were investigating the fire and the death.
The El Dorado Fire, situated in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, has burned more than 21,000 acres and was 66% contained as of Friday morning. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said it was sparked Sept. 5 by a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used in a gender-reveal party.
The agency said those responsible for sparking the fire could be held criminally or financially responsible.
In addition to the single death, there have been 12 fire personnel and civilian injuries, and 10 structures have been destroyed.
The El Dorado Fire is one of dozens of wildfires blazing throughout California, Oregon and Washington. There have been dozens of deaths, including 26 in California.
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More than 3.4 million acres have burned in the Golden State, with the largest of the blazes, the August Complex, having consumed some 824,000 acres, the largest in the state's history. The group of fires was 30% contained as of Friday morning.
One person has died in the blaze and more than two dozen structures have been destroyed.
In Oregon, favorable weather conditions, including cooler temperatures and rain, were expected to assist firefighters and ease air quality. Forecasters, though, are concerned that any heavy rainfall might cause flash flooding with debris leftover from the wildfires.
At least eight people have died and several others are missing in Oregon, where several fires have consumed about half a million acres of land. Some evacuation orders were lifted in the affected areas.


upi--2020-09-18--Many high-risk patients don't know they need follow-up colonoscopy

Many Americans at high risk for colon cancer do n't know how often they need to have a screening colonoscopy , researchers say .
The report follows the recent death of actor Chadwick Boseman , who died Aug. 28 at age 43 after a private , four-year battle with colon cancer .
Boseman was best known for playing the superhero Black Panther .
Colon cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States .
Because people with advanced polyps have triple the risk of developing cancer , it 's generally recommended that they have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors leave it to patients to know when they 're due for screening .
To gauge the knowledge of these high-risk patients , Florida Atlantic University researchers analyzed interviews from 84 people , aged 40 to 91 , with advanced colorectal polyps .
Of that group , nearly 29 % were n't aware of the need for or timing of a repeat colonoscopy .
Of these , about 17 % were unaware of the recommended three-year interval between tests , and 12 % did n't know that a follow-up surveillance colonoscopy was needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Journal of Gastroenterology and Digestive Systems .
`` Our data demonstrate a lack of knowledge of patients with biopsy-proven advanced colorectal polyps about their need for repeat colonoscopy , as well as the proper surveillance interval , '' said study co-author Dr. Lawrence Fiedler .
He 's a gastroenterologist and an affiliate associate professor in the College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University , in Boca Raton .
`` For patients with biopsy-proven advanced colorectal polyps , the interval for colonoscopy is about three years .
Our data raise a challenge for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than self-reports , '' Fiedler said in a university news release .
`` Clinicians should have the ability and willingness to share their objective findings with all clinical colleagues involved in the care of the patient , '' he added .
Fiedler said these efforts should include younger patients , such as Boseman .
Other types of screening for colon cancer include fecal immune testing , multi-targeted stool DNA testing and flexible sigmoidoscopy .
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more on colorectal cancer screening .

People with advanced polyps are recommended to have a colonoscopy every three years. File Photo by Jacob Sippel/U.S. Navy
Many Americans at high risk for colon cancer don't know how often they need to have a screening colonoscopy, researchers say. The report follows the recent death of actor Chadwick Boseman, who died Aug. 28 at age 43 after a private, four-year battle with colon cancer. Boseman was best known for playing the superhero Black Panther. Advertisement
Colon cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Because people with advanced polyps have triple the risk of developing cancer, it's generally recommended that they have a colonoscopy every three years.
But many doctors leave it to patients to know when they're due for screening.
To gauge the knowledge of these high-risk patients, Florida Atlantic University researchers analyzed interviews from 84 people, aged 40 to 91, with advanced colorectal polyps.
Of that group, nearly 29% weren't aware of the need for or timing of a repeat colonoscopy. Of these, about 17% were unaware of the recommended three-year interval between tests, and 12% didn't know that a follow-up surveillance colonoscopy was needed.
The study was recently published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Digestive Systems.
"Our data demonstrate a lack of knowledge of patients with biopsy-proven advanced colorectal polyps about their need for repeat colonoscopy, as well as the proper surveillance interval," said study co-author Dr. Lawrence Fiedler. He's a gastroenterologist and an affiliate associate professor in the College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University, in Boca Raton.
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"For patients with biopsy-proven advanced colorectal polyps, the interval for colonoscopy is about three years. Our data raise a challenge for us to rely on more objective data than self-reports," Fiedler said in a university news release.
"Clinicians should have the ability and willingness to share their objective findings with all clinical colleagues involved in the care of the patient," he added.
Fiedler said these efforts should include younger patients, such as Boseman.
Other types of screening for colon cancer include fecal immune testing, multi-targeted stool DNA testing and flexible sigmoidoscopy.
More information
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more on colorectal cancer screening.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-09-18--General Atomics nets $7.4B MQ-9 Reaper contract with U.S. Air Force

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- A $ 7.4 billion contract between the U.S. Air Force and General Atomics , announced this week , will field MQ-9 Reaper drones faster , the Air Force said .
The five-year Agile Reaper Enterprise Solution contract for the unmanned surveillance , intelligence , reconnaissance and strike-capability aircraft was awarded on Thursday .
It calls for delivery of up to 36 aircraft per year from the San Diego-based company .
With a $ 7.4 billion ceiling , it is expected to reduce the time to deliver operational MQ-9s to operational units by 35 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of its most in-demand weapons , an Air Force Life Cycle Management Center statement said on Thursday .
The ARES contract has a pre-negotiated $ 3.3 billion price-quantity-curve , allowing the Air Force and foreign military sales partners to order between from four to 36 aircraft in a single year .
Foreign Military Sales partners will be allowed to purchase the Dash 21 variant , which is the NATO-exportable version of the MQ-9A .
`` ARES is a big deal because it answers the 'mail ' as far as how do we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international partners and enable increased responsiveness to U.S. budget dynamics , '' said Alicia Morales , aircraft production manager with the Medium Altitude Unmanned Aerial System Program Office .
`` So , the team came together and figured out the best and most innovative approach to deal with unplanned requirements , so no matter what comes , we are prepared and able to handle it , '' said Morales , who mapped out much of ARES .
The MQ-9 , whose predecessors have been in use since 2001 , is the first unmanned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surveillance .
The Air Force has deployed the UAVs around the world , which were in use in August during a joint Army-Navy training exercise over the Black Sea .

An MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle prepares to depart an airfield in Afghanistan. Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force
Sept. 18 (UPI) -- A $7.4 billion contract between the U.S. Air Force and General Atomics, announced this week, will field MQ-9 Reaper drones faster, the Air Force said. The five-year Agile Reaper Enterprise Solution contract for the unmanned surveillance, intelligence, reconnaissance and strike-capability aircraft was awarded on Thursday. Advertisement
It calls for delivery of up to 36 aircraft per year from the San Diego-based company. With a $7.4 billion ceiling, it is expected to reduce the time to deliver operational MQ-9s to operational units by 35%.
The Air Force regards it as one of its most in-demand weapons, an Air Force Life Cycle Management Center statement said on Thursday.
The ARES contract has a pre-negotiated $3.3 billion price-quantity-curve, allowing the Air Force and foreign military sales partners to order between from four to 36 aircraft in a single year.
Foreign Military Sales partners will be allowed to purchase the Dash 21 variant, which is the NATO-exportable version of the MQ-9A.
"ARES is a big deal because it answers the 'mail' as far as how do we deal with hard-to-predict demand signals from our international partners and enable increased responsiveness to U.S. budget dynamics," said Alicia Morales, aircraft production manager with the Medium Altitude Unmanned Aerial System Program Office.
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"So, the team came together and figured out the best and most innovative approach to deal with unplanned requirements, so no matter what comes, we are prepared and able to handle it," said Morales, who mapped out much of ARES .
The MQ-9, whose predecessors have been in use since 2001, is the first unmanned aerial vehicle designed for long-endurance, high-altitude surveillance.
The Air Force has deployed the UAVs around the world, which were in use in August during a joint Army-Navy training exercise over the Black Sea.


upi--2020-09-18--'Go ahead and build' another Chinese aircraft carrier, Adm. Christopher Grady says

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- China 's construction of its third aircraft carrier validates the U.S. Navy 's plans to builds more carriers of its own , Adm. Christopher Grady said .
Grady , commander of U.S. Fleet Forces , responded to photographic evidence published this week that the building of China 's newest aircraft carrier is proceeding in a shipyard near Shanghai .
`` Good on 'em .
It makes the argument that carriers are important , '' Adm. Grady said on Thursday during a symposium of the American Society of Naval Engineers .
`` We have them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building them . ''
`` To me that makes all the sense .
They 're a maritime power and they understand the great value that comes from carrier aviation and how that can shape the international environment .
It 's taken us over 100 years to get that right .
`` We 've got a huge lead and one that will continue to expand into the future .
Go ahead and build that big ship , but to build the ecosystem that is naval aviation that brings that ship to life -- that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard work and time , '' Grady said .
Grady 's comments came after satellite photos were released by the non-governmental Center for Strategic and International Studies showing sections of an aircraft carrier under assembly .
One of China 's currently operating carriers , the Liaoning , is a converted Soviet-era warship , and the other , the Shandong , commissioned in 2019 , is similarly outmoded .
The carrier under construction would be China 's first with modern technology , and is likely to be larger than the previous carriers , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more aircraft with heavier weapons .
The Integrated Naval Force Structure Assessment , a product of the U.S. Navy and the Defense Department , is expected to be released within weeks , and will outline the future of the U.S. carrier fleet .
`` As part of that future force structure , carriers will remain central to what we do , '' Grady said at the symposium .

The construction of a third Chinese aircraft carrier, to accompany the Shangdong, pictured, and the Liaoning, validates the U.S. Navy's commitment to carrier-based warfare, Adm. Christopher Grady said on Thursday. Photo courtesy of Chinese Defense Ministry
Sept. 18 (UPI) -- China's construction of its third aircraft carrier validates the U.S. Navy's plans to builds more carriers of its own, Adm. Christopher Grady said. Grady, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces, responded to photographic evidence published this week that the building of China's newest aircraft carrier is proceeding in a shipyard near Shanghai. Advertisement
"Good on 'em. It makes the argument that carriers are important," Adm. Grady said on Thursday during a symposium of the American Society of Naval Engineers. "We have them. They want them and they're building them."
"To me that makes all the sense. They're a maritime power and they understand the great value that comes from carrier aviation and how that can shape the international environment. It's taken us over 100 years to get that right.
"We've got a huge lead and one that will continue to expand into the future. Go ahead and build that big ship, but to build the ecosystem that is naval aviation that brings that ship to life -- that's going to take a lot of hard work and time," Grady said.
Grady's comments came after satellite photos were released by the non-governmental Center for Strategic and International Studies showing sections of an aircraft carrier under assembly.
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One of China's currently operating carriers, the Liaoning, is a converted Soviet-era warship, and the other, the Shandong, commissioned in 2019, is similarly outmoded.
The carrier under construction would be China's first with modern technology, and is likely to be larger than the previous carriers, with a catapult launch system and accommodations for more aircraft with heavier weapons.
The Integrated Naval Force Structure Assessment, a product of the U.S. Navy and the Defense Department, is expected to be released within weeks, and will outline the future of the U.S. carrier fleet.
"As part of that future force structure, carriers will remain central to what we do," Grady said at the symposium.


upi--2020-09-18--COVID-19: CDC walks back recommendations, now urges tests for asymptomatic

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday walked back a previous revision it made to its COVID-19 testing recommendations .
The body now says that anyone exposed to someone with the virus should be tested , even if they have no symptoms .
This includes people who have spent at least 15 seconds within 6 feet of someone confirmed to have the virus .
`` Due to the significance of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission , this guidance further reinforces the need to test asymptomatic persons , including close contacts of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDC said on its website .
Last month , the CDC updated its guidelines to say people who 've spent time with someone with an active case of COVID-19 do n't need to be tested .
The agency came under fire for the directive , with some accusing the government of trying to slow the U.S. coronavirus count by reducing testing .
The CDC also said that anyone who 's been close to someone with COVID-19 should self-isolate at home for at least 14 days -- even if they 're asymptomatic and/or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States added more than 40,000 new COVID-19 cases and nearly 1,000 deaths Thursday , according to updated data from Johns Hopkins University .
Data compiled by the university 's Center for Systems Science and Engineering showed about 44,400 new cases , the most in a week .
There were also 870 deaths , bringing the toll over the past three days to about 3,000 .
To date , there have been 6.68 million cases and 197,700 deaths in the United States since the start of the pandemic .
In Nevada , officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and breweries in Las Vegas to reopen Monday .
Nevada 's COVID-19 Mitigation and Management Task Force approved a request late Thursday by Clark County to allow them to open at midnight Sunday .
The decision came after the county 's positivity rate fell to 8.6 % last week .
Under the plan , drinking businesses must follow state standards and enforcement measures , including mandatory face coverings and a 50 % capacity limit .
In Texas , Gov .
Greg Abbott further relaxed restrictions for businesses Thursday , saying the state `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns of COVID-19 while also taking careful , measured steps to restore the livelihoods that Texans depend on . ''
Abbott expanded occupancy levels for restaurants , retail stores , office buildings , manufacturing facilities , gyms and exercise facilities , and classes , museums , and libraries , allowing them to increase capacity to 75 % starting Monday .
Abbott also re-authorized elective surgeries and announced less-restrictive guidelines on visits to nursing homes and long-term care facilities .
Texas bars , however , must remain closed .
Hospitalizations in Texas have fallen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July to a little more than 3,000 Thursday .
`` Without vaccines available , containing COVID is a challenge , but Texans have already shown that they are up to that challenge , '' Abbott told reporters in Austin .
`` As we go about the process to continue to contain COVID , we will also continue to work to open up Texas . ''

Workers paint numbers Thursday in areas where concertgoers will listen to music this weekend in St. Louis, Mo. Live concerts will return to the city at The Lot, which has dozens of 9x9 patches of astroturf where attendees can distance and adhere to safety guidelines at the events. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday walked back a previous revision it made to its COVID-19 testing recommendations. The body now says that anyone exposed to someone with the virus should be tested, even if they have no symptoms. This includes people who have spent at least 15 minutes within 6 feet of someone confirmed to have the virus. Advertisement
"Due to the significance of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, this guidance further reinforces the need to test asymptomatic persons, including close contacts of a person with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection," the CDC said on its website.
Last month, the CDC updated its guidelines to say people who've spent time with someone with an active case of COVID-19 don't need to be tested. The agency came under fire for the directive, with some accusing the government of trying to slow the U.S. coronavirus count by reducing testing.
The CDC also said that anyone who's been close to someone with COVID-19 should self-isolate at home for at least 14 days -- even if they're asymptomatic and/or tested negative for the virus.
The United States added more than 40,000 new COVID-19 cases and nearly 1,000 deaths Thursday, according to updated data from Johns Hopkins University.
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Data compiled by the university's Center for Systems Science and Engineering showed about 44,400 new cases, the most in a week. There were also 870 deaths, bringing the toll over the past three days to about 3,000.
To date, there have been 6.68 million cases and 197,700 deaths in the United States since the start of the pandemic.
In Nevada, officials have decided to allow bars, taprooms and breweries in Las Vegas to reopen Monday.
Nevada's COVID-19 Mitigation and Management Task Force approved a request late Thursday by Clark County to allow them to open at midnight Sunday.
The decision came after the county's positivity rate fell to 8.6% last week.
Under the plan, drinking businesses must follow state standards and enforcement measures, including mandatory face coverings and a 50% capacity limit.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott further relaxed restrictions for businesses Thursday, saying the state "can address both the health and safety concerns of COVID-19 while also taking careful, measured steps to restore the livelihoods that Texans depend on."
Abbott expanded occupancy levels for restaurants, retail stores, office buildings, manufacturing facilities, gyms and exercise facilities, and classes, museums, and libraries, allowing them to increase capacity to 75% starting Monday.
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Abbott also re-authorized elective surgeries and announced less-restrictive guidelines on visits to nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Texas bars, however, must remain closed.
Hospitalizations in Texas have fallen from a peak of nearly 11,000 in July to a little more than 3,000 Thursday.
"Without vaccines available, containing COVID is a challenge, but Texans have already shown that they are up to that challenge," Abbott told reporters in Austin. "As we go about the process to continue to contain COVID, we will also continue to work to open up Texas."


upi--2020-09-18--Quebec town called Asbestos searches for a new name

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- Officials in a Quebec town called Asbestos said a planned vote on a new name for the municipality might be delayed after negative public reaction to the local council 's options : Phenix , Apalone , Trois-Lacs and Jeffery .
Mayor Hugues Grimard said Friday , four days after the name options were unveiled , that the local council is looking into other potential names after some of the town 's 7,000 residents reacted negatively to the suggestions .
The names that were originally slated to be voted on Oct. 14-18 were Phenix , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bird Phoenix ; Apalone , a species of turtle ; Trois-Lacs , which means `` Three Lakes '' in English ; and Jeffrey , the name of the man who operated the town 's first asbestos mine .
Town officials have long been discussing changing the name of Asbestos , which was named for the material originally mined in the town but has since come to be associated with deadly cancers .
The official initiative to change the name began in November 2019 , but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open to all residents ages 14 and up , might be delayed while the local council comes up with new potential names .
`` We 're all here today to tell the population that we 're listening , we 're not in an ivory tower , '' Grimard told local radio station CJAN-FM .
`` The changing of a town 's name is a major one , we recognize that -- we 're writing history . ''

Officials in a Quebec town called Asbestos said the process of choosing a new name for the municipality is facing a delay after negative public reaction to suggested names Phenix, Apalone, Trois-Lacs and Jeffery. File Photo by Andre Pichette/EPA
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Officials in a Quebec town called Asbestos said a planned vote on a new name for the municipality might be delayed after negative public reaction to the local council's options: Phenix, Apalone, Trois-Lacs and Jeffery. Mayor Hugues Grimard said Friday, four days after the name options were unveiled, that the local council is looking into other potential names after some of the town's 7,000 residents reacted negatively to the suggestions. Advertisement
The names that were originally slated to be voted on Oct. 14-18 were Phenix, the French version of the mythical fire bird Phoenix; Apalone, a species of turtle; Trois-Lacs, which means "Three Lakes" in English; and Jeffrey, the name of the man who operated the town's first asbestos mine.
Town officials have long been discussing changing the name of Asbestos, which was named for the material originally mined in the town but has since come to be associated with deadly cancers. The official initiative to change the name began in November 2019, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Officials said the vote, which will be open to all residents ages 14 and up, might be delayed while the local council comes up with new potential names.
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"We're all here today to tell the population that we're listening, we're not in an ivory tower," Grimard told local radio station CJAN-FM. "The changing of a town's name is a major one, we recognize that -- we're writing history."


upi--2020-09-18--In photos: Jersaleum prepares for Rosh Hashana

The lockdown will be in effect through October 11 , which will also encompass Yom Kippur , the Jewish Day @ @ @ @ @ 27 , and Sukkot in early October .
Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI

A Palestinian woman walks outside Damascus Gate during a coronavirus lockdown on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, on Saturday. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI


upi--2020-09-18--Giannis Antetokounmpo wins 2019-2020 NBA MVP

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo on Friday won his second consecutive NBA MVP award after a stellar 2019-2020 season , the league announced Friday .
Antetokounmpo , 25 , averaged 29.5 points , 13.6 rebounds , 5.6 assists , one steal and one block per game this season for the top seed in the Eastern Conference .
He also was named the 2019-2020 NBA Defensive Player of the Year .
According to ESPN , Antetokounmpo received 85 of 101 first-place votes and 962 points from 100 sportswriters and broadcasters , as well as from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting .
LeBron James got the other 16 first-place votes and finished second with 753 points .
Houston Rockets guard James Harden was third , followed by Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard .
Antetokounmpo joins James , Michael Jordan , Stephen Curry , Steve Nash , Tim Duncan , Magic Johnson , Larry Bird , Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell as the only NBA players in history to win back-to-back MVPs .
He also joins Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Year in the same season .
Antetokounmpo and James on Wednesday were named unanimous first-team All-NBA selections .
Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis , Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Houston Rockets guard James Harden also received first-team All-NBA honors .
The Bucks finished the regular season with an NBA-best 56-17 record , but lost to the Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs in Orlando , Fla. Antetokounmpo injured his right ankle during the series and did not play in the Bucks ' Game 5 loss , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bucks star has just one year remaining on his contract .
He is scheduled to make $ 27.5 million in 2020-2021 .

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (pictured) on Friday joined Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to win NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE
Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo on Friday won his second consecutive NBA MVP award after a stellar 2019-2020 season, the league announced Friday. Antetokounmpo, 25, averaged 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, one steal and one block per game this season for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. He also was named the 2019-2020 NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Advertisement
According to ESPN, Antetokounmpo received 85 of 101 first-place votes and 962 points from 100 sportswriters and broadcasters, as well as from Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award fan voting.
LeBron James got the other 16 first-place votes and finished second with 753 points. Houston Rockets guard James Harden was third, followed by Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard.
Antetokounmpo joins James, Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell as the only NBA players in history to win back-to-back MVPs.
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He also joins Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to win NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.
Antetokounmpo and James on Wednesday were named unanimous first-team All-NBA selections. Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Houston Rockets guard James Harden also received first-team All-NBA honors.
The Bucks finished the regular season with an NBA-best 56-17 record, but lost to the Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs in Orlando, Fla.
Antetokounmpo injured his right ankle during the series and did not play in the Bucks' Game 5 loss, which eliminated Milwaukee from the playoffs.
The Bucks star has just one year remaining on his contract. He is scheduled to make $27.5 million in 2020-2021.


upi--2020-09-18--Amal Clooney resigns as British media envoy over plan to break EU treaty

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney on Friday resigned her role as Britain 's envoy on media freedom in response to the country 's plan to break part of its Brexit agreement with the European Union .
Clooney said the bill would , `` by the government 's own admission , 'break international law ' if enacted . ''
`` Although the government has suggested that the violation of international law would be 'specific and limited ' , it is lamentable for the U.K. to be speaking of its intention to violate an international treaty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year ago , '' she wrote in a letter to British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is supporting an internal market bill that , if passed by Parliament , would allow the government to override aspects of the Withdrawal Agreement concerning how goods move between the four nations of the United Kingdom .
Britain signed the agreement with the European Union in January and passing the internal market bill would break the treaty .
The international law and human rights attorney , who is married to Oscar-winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disappointed to leave the position because she 's `` proud of the U.K. 's reputation as a champion of the international legal order . ''
`` However , very sadly , it has now become untenable for me , as special envoy , to urge other states to respect and enforce international obligations while the U.K. declares that it does not intend to do so itself , '' she wrote .
Clooney is n't the only official to protest the legislation .
Leaders of Northern Ireland , Scotland and Wales said they 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spend in their countries without their own government 's involvement .
The law officer for Scotland , Richard Keen , resigned earlier this week over the legislation , saying he `` found it increasingly difficult to reconcile '' his role as a lawyer with the bill 's plan to `` break international law . ''

Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney said she could no longer serve as Britain's special envoy for media since London plans to break international law by overriding aspects of its Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney on Friday resigned her role as Britain's envoy on media freedom in response to the country's plan to break part of its Brexit agreement with the European Union. Clooney said the bill would, "by the government's own admission, 'break international law' if enacted." Advertisement
"Although the government has suggested that the violation of international law would be 'specific and limited', it is lamentable for the U.K. to be speaking of its intention to violate an international treaty signed by the prime minister less than a year ago," she wrote in a letter to British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is supporting an internal market bill that, if passed by Parliament, would allow the government to override aspects of the Withdrawal Agreement concerning how goods move between the four nations of the United Kingdom. Britain signed the agreement with the European Union in January and passing the internal market bill would break the treaty.
The international law and human rights attorney, who is married to Oscar-winning actor George Clooney, said she was disappointed to leave the position because she's "proud of the U.K.'s reputation as a champion of the international legal order."
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"However, very sadly, it has now become untenable for me, as special envoy, to urge other states to respect and enforce international obligations while the U.K. declares that it does not intend to do so itself," she wrote.
Clooney isn't the only official to protest the legislation. Leaders of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales said they're concerned the bill would allow the government to spend in their countries without their own government's involvement.
The law officer for Scotland, Richard Keen, resigned earlier this week over the legislation, saying he "found it increasingly difficult to reconcile" his role as a lawyer with the bill's plan to "break international law."


upi--2020-09-18--NATO concludes defense chiefs' conference with praise for military plans

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- A virtual conference of NATO defense chiefs Friday noted the military bloc 's progress in new concepts and stressed a deterrence approach toward Russia .
The NATO Military Committee Conference of 2020 ended with praise for the `` Deterrence and Defense of the Euro-Atlantic Area , '' which reinforces the Readiness Action Plan begun in 2014 , and the `` Warfighting Capstone Concept , '' an overarching plan guiding warfare development for the next 20 years .
The plans emphasize the need for the alliance to maintain flexibility with its response plans and ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday said .
The conference also noted continuance of NATO 's dual-track approach to Russia , through deterrence and defense while maintaining willingness for dialogue .
`` The objective is to strengthen our alliance further at a time when our security , our values and the rules-based international system are being challenged and undermined , '' NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the conference .
`` To tackle these challenges , We need a strong NATO and a united transatlantic community .
Only an alliance that is militarily strong can be a politically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach praised the unity of NATO members during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Later in the day , NATO acknowledged the receipt of 200 ventilators from the United States , to be added to a stockpile of medical supplies established by NATO to respond to a potential second wave of COVID-19 .
The U.S. Agency for International Development delivered the ventilators to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency 's Southern Operational Center in Taranto , Italy .

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke of future objectives during a virtual conference of defense chiefs on Friday. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 18 (UPI) -- A virtual conference of NATO defense chiefs Friday noted the military bloc's progress in new concepts and stressed a deterrence approach toward Russia. The NATO Military Committee Conference of 2020 ended with praise for the "Deterrence and Defense of the Euro-Atlantic Area," which reinforces the Readiness Action Plan begun in 2014, and the "Warfighting Capstone Concept," an overarching plan guiding warfare development for the next 20 years. Advertisement
The plans emphasize the need for the alliance to maintain flexibility with its response plans and ways of working, a NATO statement on Friday said.
The conference also noted continuance of NATO's dual-track approach to Russia, through deterrence and defense while maintaining willingness for dialogue.
"The objective is to strengthen our alliance further at a time when our security, our values and the rules-based international system are being challenged and undermined," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the conference.
"To tackle these challenges, We need a strong NATO and a united transatlantic community. Only an alliance that is militarily strong can be a politically strong alliance," Stoltenberg said.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach praised the unity of NATO members during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Later in the day, NATO acknowledged the receipt of 200 ventilators from the United States, to be added to a stockpile of medical supplies established by NATO to respond to a potential second wave of COVID-19.
The U.S. Agency for International Development delivered the ventilators to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency's Southern Operational Center in Taranto, Italy.


upi--2020-09-18--Netherland's FM says he will pursue human rights case against Syria

Sept. 18 ( UPI ) -- Netherlands Foreign Minister Stef Blok told Parliament on Friday he is moving forward with a human rights violation case against Syria in the International Court of Justice after Russia blocked such efforts in the United Nations Security Council .
Blok said he made the move to hold the government of Syrian leader Bashar Assad responsible for the use of chemical weapons against his own people during its long-running civil war along with other alleged human rights crimes .
He said the possible court case would be held at The Hague by the ICJ .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hold Syria responsible under international law for gross human rights violations and torture in particular , '' Blok wrote in his letter to Dutch legislators .
He said Syria ratified the U.N. Convention against Torture in 2004 , which it has repeatedly violated during its civil war .
`` The Assad regime has not hesitated to crack down hard on its own population , using torture and chemical weapons , and bombing hospitals , '' Blok said .
`` The victims of these serious crimes must obtain justice , and we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to account . ''
Balkees Jarrah , the associate international justice director for Human Rights Watch , praised the move by the Netherlands .
`` By using the Torture Convention to demand justice for the widespread brutality documented in Syria 's prisons , the Netherlands is standing for victims in an action that could ultimately trigger a case at the world 's highest court , '' Jarrah said .

The foreign minister of the Netherlands said he is preparing a case Friday against the Syrian government led by President Bashar Assad, shown in an interview July 20, 2016, for human rights violations. Photo by the Syrian Arab News Agency/EPA
Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok told Parliament on Friday he is moving forward with a human rights violation case against Syria in the International Court of Justice after Russia blocked such efforts in the United Nations Security Council. Blok said he made the move to hold the government of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad responsible for the use of chemical weapons against his own people during its long-running civil war along with other alleged human rights crimes. Advertisement
He said the possible court case would be held at The Hague by the ICJ.
"Today the Netherlands announced its decision to hold Syria responsible under international law for gross human rights violations and torture in particular," Blok wrote in his letter to Dutch legislators.
He said Syria ratified the U.N. Convention against Torture in 2004, which it has repeatedly violated during its civil war.
"The Assad regime has not hesitated to crack down hard on its own population, using torture and chemical weapons, and bombing hospitals," Blok said. "The victims of these serious crimes must obtain justice, and we are pursuing that end by calling the perpetrators to account."
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Balkees Jarrah, the associate international justice director for Human Rights Watch, praised the move by the Netherlands.
"By using the Torture Convention to demand justice for the widespread brutality documented in Syria's prisons, the Netherlands is standing for victims in an action that could ultimately trigger a case at the world's highest court," Jarrah said.