upi--2020-03-02--'Inside the Actors Studio' host James Lipton dies

March 2 ( UPI ) -- James Lipton , creator and host of Inside the Actors Studio , died Monday of bladder cancer at age 93 .
His wife , Kedakai Mercedes Lipton , confirmed the news to The New York Times and The Hollywood Reporter .
He has no other immediate family .
Inside the Actors Studio began airing in 1994 on Bravo .
Lipton would interview famous actors for his students at the acting school .
Guests included Robin Williams , Paul Newman , James Gandolfini , Halle Berry , Meryl Streep , Jack Lemmon , Julia Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23 seasons .
Lipton would probe actors in depth about their craft and their memorable roles .
He would conclude with a series of stock questions including `` What is your favorite curse word ? ''
Ovation relaunched Inside the Actors Studio in September with guest hosts Alec Baldwin , Jane Lynch and Ellen Burstyn .
Lipton joined the Actors Studio in 1992 , where he created a masters of fine arts program to generate tuition for the Studio .
The program began in 1994 , with the broadcast celebrity interviews generating publicity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He had a stint on the soap Guiding Light from 1953-1962 .
He played himself in the Bewitched movie , an episode of The Simpsons and more .
Most recently , he played prison warden Stefan Gentles on Arrested Development .
Prior to television and film , Lipton voiced The Lone Ranger 's nephew in the radio series .
He enlisted in the Air Force in World War II .
He also wrote book and lyrics for musicals such as Nowhere to Go But Up and Sherry !

"Inside the Actors Studio" creator and host James Lipton died Monday. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
March 2 (UPI) -- James Lipton, creator and host of Inside the Actors Studio, died Monday of bladder cancer at age 93. His wife, Kedakai Mercedes Lipton, confirmed the news to The New York Times and The Hollywood Reporter. He has no other immediate family. Inside the Actors Studio began airing in 1994 on Bravo. Lipton would interview famous actors for his students at the acting school. Guests included Robin Williams, Paul Newman, James Gandolfini, Halle Berry, Meryl Streep, Jack Lemmon, Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johansson and many more for 23 seasons. Advertisement
Lipton would probe actors in depth about their craft and their memorable roles. He would conclude with a series of stock questions including "What is your favorite curse word?"
Ovation relaunched Inside the Actors Studio in September with guest hosts Alec Baldwin, Jane Lynch and Ellen Burstyn.
Lipton joined the Actors Studio in 1992, where he created a masters of fine arts program to generate tuition for the Studio. The program began in 1994, with the broadcast celebrity interviews generating publicity for it.
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Lipton also performed himself. He had a stint on the soap Guiding Light from 1953-1962. He played himself in the Bewitched movie, an episode of The Simpsons and more. Most recently, he played prison warden Stefan Gentles on Arrested Development.
Prior to television and film, Lipton voiced The Lone Ranger's nephew in the radio series. He enlisted in the Air Force in World War II. He also wrote book and lyrics for musicals such as Nowhere to Go But Up and Sherry!
Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-03-02--AT&T TV launches nationwide today

AT&T TV launches nationwide today

March 2 ( UPI ) -- AT & T started to roll out its new Internet-connected TV service nationwide Monday , expanding its 13-market pilot .
AT & T TV includes a box consumers can plug in directly to the TV to connect wirelessly to the broadband service , eliminating need for U-verse fiber hookups or satellite TV dishes .
It also includes live TV packages , access to streaming apps , like Netflix , a voice remote with Google Assistant and a cloud DVR with 500 hours of storage , a statement said .
`` Our customers told us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we built AT & T TV around that , '' AT & T Consumer CEO Thaddeus Arroyo said in a statement .
`` AT & T is live TV made easy and when you add AT & T TV to our amazing 1 gigabit AT & T Internet you ca n't go wrong . ''
The AT & T TV packages cost $ 49.99 a month for 12 months with a 24-month agreement if the consumer buys a standalone service .
In areas where U-Verse is available , AT & T will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AT & T Internet for about $ 80 per month with a 24-month agreement , under a special deal ending June 27 .
The company noted that prices will be higher in the second year and with other fees .

March 2 (UPI) -- AT&T started to roll out its new Internet-connected TV service nationwide Monday, expanding its 13-market pilot.
AT&T TV includes a box consumers can plug in directly to the TV to connect wirelessly to the broadband service, eliminating need for U-verse fiber hookups or satellite TV dishes.
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It also includes live TV packages, access to streaming apps, like Netflix, a voice remote with Google Assistant and a cloud DVR with 500 hours of storage, a statement said.
"Our customers told us what they want from their TV service and we built AT&T TV around that," AT&T Consumer CEO Thaddeus Arroyo said in a statement. "AT&T is live TV made easy and when you add AT&T TV to our amazing 1 gigabit AT&T Internet you can't go wrong."
The AT&T TV packages cost $49.99 a month for 12 months with a 24-month agreement if the consumer buys a standalone service. In areas where U-Verse is available, AT&T will bundle the TV service with 1 gigabit AT&T Internet for about $80 per month with a 24-month agreement, under a special deal ending June 27.
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The company noted that prices will be higher in the second year and with other fees.


upi--2020-03-03--Watch: Duke's Cassius Stanley soars for one-handed alley-oop

March 3 ( UPI ) -- Duke star Cassius Stanley took flight for a powerful one-handed alley-oop during a Blue Devils ' win against North Carolina State .
The freshman guard completed the dunk with about 10 minutes remaining in the 88-69 triumph Monday at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham , N.C. '' For Cassius to come out and just go after it .
...
He was n't hesitant , '' Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters .
`` With young guys , you worry if they 're going to be hesitant -- they were not . ''
Duke led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebound and dribbled out to a fast break .
Moore dribbled across half court before spotting Stanley as he ran a backdoor cut toward the rim .
Moore then lobbed a pass over the defense and toward his teammate .
Stanley sprinted toward the basket before taking flight over the paint .
He caught the ball with his right hand before bringing his arm forward and smashing the ball through the rim .
Stanley had a game-high 18 points and six rebounds in the win .
Vernon Carey Jr. had 17 points and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , C.J .
Bryce and Jericole Hellems scored 14 points apiece for the Wolfpack .
The Blue Devils ( 24-6 ) were on a two-game losing streak and had lost three of their last four games before Monday 's win .
They face North Carolina in their final game of the regular season at 6 p.m. EST Saturday in Durham .
The Wolfpack ( 18-12 ) battles Wake Forest at 7 p.m. EST Friday at PNC Arena in Raleigh , N.C .

March 3 (UPI) -- Duke star Cassius Stanley took flight for a powerful one-handed alley-oop during a Blue Devils' win against North Carolina State.
The freshman guard completed the dunk with about 10 minutes remaining in the 88-69 triumph Monday at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C.
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"For Cassius to come out and just go after it. ... He wasn't hesitant," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters. "With young guys, you worry if they're going to be hesitant -- they were not."
Duke led 61-52 when Wendell Moore Jr. got a rebound and dribbled out to a fast break. Moore dribbled across half court before spotting Stanley as he ran a backdoor cut toward the rim. Moore then lobbed a pass over the defense and toward his teammate.
Stanley sprinted toward the basket before taking flight over the paint. He caught the ball with his right hand before bringing his arm forward and smashing the ball through the rim.
Stanley had a game-high 18 points and six rebounds in the win. Vernon Carey Jr. had 17 points and seven rebounds for Duke. Devon Daniels, C.J. Bryce and Jericole Hellems scored 14 points apiece for the Wolfpack.
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The Blue Devils (24-6) were on a two-game losing streak and had lost three of their last four games before Monday's win. They face North Carolina in their final game of the regular season at 6 p.m. EST Saturday in Durham. The Wolfpack (18-12) battles Wake Forest at 7 p.m. EST Friday at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C.


upi--2020-03-03--WWE Raw: Drew McIntyre takes out Brock Lesnar

Lesnar and his advocate Paul Heyman kicked off Raw on Monday with Heyman calling McIntyre a phony who unfairly eliminated The Beast during the Royal Rumble .
Heyman stated that Lesnar will squash McIntyre at WrestleMania 36 just as the No .
1 contender arrived to meet the champ face-to-face .
McIntyre stared down Lesnar who at first backed away slightly before charging head-on into his future opponent .
McIntyre was ready , however , and took Lesnar down with a well-timed Claymore .
Lesnar , as he was walking back up the entrance ramp , received a second Claymore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WWE Championship in celebration .
McIntyre finished things with a third Claymore , taking Lesnar down .
WrestleMania 36 takes place on April 5 .
Also on Raw , Hall of Famer and NXT announcer Beth Phoenix made a special appearance to give a medical update on her husband , fellow Hall of Famer Edge after Randy Orton brutally attacked him weeks ago .
The attack happened after Edge returned at the Royal Rumble despite having to retire due to injury in 2011 .
Phoenix , before she could make her announcement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he owed her an explanation .
The Viper noted how much he loved Edge and how the legendary performer had saved him before from his own destructive behavior .
Orton said that he wanted to repay the favor so he took out Edge in order to stop him from pursuing a WWE career .
That competing in the ring was too dangerous and could led to Edge not being able to spend time with his wife and two daughters .
Orton then referred to Edge as a junkie who was addicted to cheers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off .
Orton kept getting more personal , saying that he loves Edge and his daughters more than Phoenix ever could .
Phoenix slapped Orton and later kicked him but Orton responded with an RKO which knocked her out .
Raw Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins and his disciple Murphy defended their titles against Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins of The Street Profits in a rematch from Super ShowDown .
Rollins had placed his other disciples Akam and Rezar of AOP at the entrance ramp .
Kevin Owens , as the referee was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , entered the ring from the back and delivered a Stunner to Rollins .
This allowed Ford to hit The Monday Night Messiah with a Ford Frog Splash from the top rope to win the match , making The Street Profits the new Raw Tag Team Champions .
Other moments from Raw included 24/7 Champion Riddick Moss successfully defending his title against Ricochet ; Aleister Black defeating O.C .
members Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson before losing to AJ Styles ; Liv Morgan defeated Ruby Riott with Sarah Logan as the special guest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a giant spider inside his mysterious cage to No Way Jose ; Rey Mysterio and Humberto Carrillo defeated United States Champion Andrade and Angel Garza ; and Shayna Baszler defeated Women 's Tag Team Champion Kairi Sane .
Baszler , Sane 's partner Asuka , Natalya , Riott , Morgan and Logan will be competing in an Elimination Chamber match at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view on Sunday .
The winner will get to challenge Raw Women 's Champion Becky Lynch for her title at WrestleMania 36 .

March 3 (UPI) -- Men's Royal Rumble winner Drew McIntyre confronted his WrestleMania 36 opponent, WWE Champion Brock Lesnar on Raw.
Lesnar and his advocate Paul Heyman kicked off Raw on Monday with Heyman calling McIntyre a phony who unfairly eliminated The Beast during the Royal Rumble.
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Heyman stated that Lesnar will squash McIntyre at WrestleMania 36 just as the No. 1 contender arrived to meet the champ face-to-face.
McIntyre stared down Lesnar who at first backed away slightly before charging head-on into his future opponent. McIntyre was ready, however, and took Lesnar down with a well-timed Claymore.
Lesnar, as he was walking back up the entrance ramp, received a second Claymore from McIntyre who then held up the WWE Championship in celebration. McIntyre finished things with a third Claymore, taking Lesnar down. WrestleMania 36 takes place on April 5.
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Also on Raw, Hall of Famer and NXT announcer Beth Phoenix made a special appearance to give a medical update on her husband, fellow Hall of Famer Edge after Randy Orton brutally attacked him weeks ago. The attack happened after Edge returned at the Royal Rumble despite having to retire due to injury in 2011.
Phoenix, before she could make her announcement, was joined by Orton who said that he owed her an explanation. The Viper noted how much he loved Edge and how the legendary performer had saved him before from his own destructive behavior.
Orton said that he wanted to repay the favor so he took out Edge in order to stop him from pursuing a WWE career. That competing in the ring was too dangerous and could led to Edge not being able to spend time with his wife and two daughters.
Orton then referred to Edge as a junkie who was addicted to cheers from the audience so he cut him off. Orton kept getting more personal, saying that he loves Edge and his daughters more than Phoenix ever could.
Phoenix slapped Orton and later kicked him but Orton responded with an RKO which knocked her out.
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Raw Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins and his disciple Murphy defended their titles against Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins of The Street Profits in a rematch from Super ShowDown.
Rollins had placed his other disciples Akam and Rezar of AOP at the entrance ramp. Kevin Owens, as the referee was dealing with all of the outside interference, entered the ring from the back and delivered a Stunner to Rollins.
This allowed Ford to hit The Monday Night Messiah with a Ford Frog Splash from the top rope to win the match, making The Street Profits the new Raw Tag Team Champions.
Other moments from Raw included 24/7 Champion Riddick Moss successfully defending his title against Ricochet; Aleister Black defeating O.C. members Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson before losing to AJ Styles; Liv Morgan defeated Ruby Riott with Sarah Logan as the special guest referee; Erick Rowan revealed that there was a giant spider inside his mysterious cage to No Way Jose; Rey Mysterio and Humberto Carrillo defeated United States Champion Andrade and Angel Garza; and Shayna Baszler defeated Women's Tag Team Champion Kairi Sane.
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Baszler, Sane's partner Asuka, Natalya, Riott, Morgan and Logan will be competing in an Elimination Chamber match at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view on Sunday. The winner will get to challenge Raw Women's Champion Becky Lynch for her title at WrestleMania 36.


upi--2020-03-03--Super Tuesday: California, Texas, a dozen other states vote for Democratic nominee

March 3 ( UPI ) -- Fourteen states and one U.S. territory will vote Tuesday in races nationwide that will help solidify the nominee in the Democratic presidential campaign -- a race led by former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders .
Known as `` Super Tuesday , '' the pivotal date comes shortly after three candidates dropped out -- Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Monday , former South Bend , Ind.
, Mayor Pete Buttigieg on Sunday and billionaire Tom Steyer on Saturday .
At a rally Monday in Texas , one of the states voting Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beto O'Rourke all endorsed Biden .
States casting ballots Tuesday are Alabama , Arkansas , California Colorado , Maine , Massachusetts , Minnesota , North Carolina , Oklahoma , Tennessee , Texas , Utah , Vermont and Virginia .
American Samoa , a U.S. territory and the birthplace of candidate Tulsi Gabbard , will also vote for a Democratic nominee .
A total of 1,357 delegates are up for grabs Tuesday -- nearly 70 percent of the 1,991 needed to secure the Democratic nomination at the party 's national convention in Milwaukee in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most delegates to award -- a total of 756 -- California and Texas are the top prizes Tuesday .
Who 's still in the race ?
Sanders , after contests in four states , so far leads all candidates with 60 pledged delegates .
Biden , fresh off a dominating win last weekend in South Carolina , has 53 pledged delegates and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has eight .
Buttigieg won 26 delegates and Klobuchar won 7 prior to ending their campaigns , and it remains to be seen to which candidate their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few days have made one thing very clear : We are building the campaign that will beat Donald Trump , '' Biden tweeted Monday night .
`` Whether you supported Pete , Amy , Beto , or any other candidate in this race -- know that there is a home for you in our campaign .
I will do everything I can to earn your vote . ''
`` We need a new vision for America -- a vision that tells the corporate elite and the 1 % that this country belongs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handful of billionaires , '' Sanders said .
A wildcard in the race is former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg , a late entry to the campaign who could become a serious contender with a good Super Tuesday performance .
He did n't appear on the ballot in any of the early voting states -- Iowa , New Hampshire , Nevada or South Carolina -- instead deciding to focus on the Super Tuesday states .
Bloomberg has spent millions on advertising so far in his campaign and has participated in the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropped the donor requirement .
The former New York City mayor has his legion of supporters , and a solid performance Tuesday could vault him into `` serious contender '' territory -- whereas a weak showing would effectively kill his campaign .
`` Super Tuesday will mark the 100th day of our campaign , '' Bloomberg tweeted .
`` In those 100 days , we 've been mobilizing the country and building a movement to defeat Trump .
To defeat him , we have to win Tuesday . ''
A recent survey by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of Super Tuesday voters said they fear the elections are n't secure -- with many believing one of the campaigns would seek to influence the election and others concerned a foreign power , like Russia , might try to interfere .
Jordan Mauriello , Critical Start vice president of managed security , warned that cyberattacks -- like denial of service attacks that seek to slow voting computers and other infrastructure through increased traffic -- are simple for attackers to pull off and can be difficult to discern from common technical difficulties or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honesty from the people who run the infrastructure , there is no way to tell the difference between a technical issue , a bug , an outage , something that is intentionally being disrupted , '' he told UPI .
The survey found almost half of voters said paper ballots would make them more confident in the accuracy of elections -- and Mauriello acknowledged electronic voting machines , which print bar codes as a mark of accuracy , can be manipulated .
`` There 's no way for a human to really validate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so if somebody were to compromise that system and manipulate what it actually writes on the bar code , people would never know the difference . ''
Mauriello said the best way voters can ensure the accuracy of their ballot is to manually validate it .
`` People [ can ] take the output of the ballot marking device and feed it right back in , and it only takes a couple of minutes to validate it , '' he said .
`` Take the extra time to do so , because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and incorrect vote . ''
Election security is n't the only concern for Super Tuesday .
Dozens of confirmed coronavirus cases have turned up in the United States , and at least six people have died .
In California , which has both the largest number of pledged delegates and the highest concentration of COVID-19 patients among Super Tuesday states , Secretary of State Alex Padilla said there have been `` no indications of any disruptions '' by the virus to the state 's primary .
Padilla noted that 75 percent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which can be mailed or dropped off at certain locations .
John Gardner , assistant registrar of voters in Solano County , said the county has added curbside locations to allow voters to deliver ballots without leaving their vehicles .

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Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks to supporters as his wife, Jill Biden (L), looks on during a Super Tuesday event at the Baldwin Hills Recreation Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
March 3 (UPI) -- After fourth- and fifth-place finishes to start the primary season a few weeks ago before his win in South Carolina last weekend, former Vice President Joe Biden continued his comeback Tuesday night, overtaking Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the overall delegate count for the Democratic presidential nomination. Biden notched wins on Super Tuesday in Texas, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Alabama, Arkansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Virginia. Advertisement
Sanders won in four states -- California, Colorado, Utah and his home state of Vermont. The race in Maine had not been called early Wednesday, but it appears the two candidates each won eight delegates there.
"We were told when you get to Super Tuesday, it may be over," an energized Biden told supporters late Tuesday. "Well, it may be over for the other guy."
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"I want to thank our incredible supporters and volunteers across the country. Your faith in our campaign -- especially when the pundits and the media counted us out -- means the world to me," he added later in a tweet. "Let's go win this, together."
Former New York City Mike Bloomberg secured a win in the territory of American Somoa, which has six delegates, but finished a distant third or fourth everywhere else. Sen. Elizabeth Warren didn't win in any of the Super Tuesday voting states, including her home state of Massachusetts.
Biden responded to a tweet from President Donald Trump that criticized Warren and Bloomberg.
"You lost tonight," he told the president. "Democrats around the country are fired up. We are decent, brave and resilient people. We are better than you. Come November, we are going to beat you."
Biden may have been aided by three candidates who dropped out of the race just before the Super Tuesday vote -- Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Monday, former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg on Sunday and billionaire Tom Steyer on Saturday. At a rally Monday in Texas, Buttigieg, Klobuchar and former candidate Beto O'Rourke all endorsed Biden.
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Following the results Tuesday, Bloomberg will reassess his campaign on Wednesday, The Hill reported.
Who voted
States that cast ballots Tuesday were Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia, plus American Samoa, a U.S. territory and the birthplace of candidate and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.
A total of 1,344 delegates were up for grabs Tuesday -- nearly 70 percent of the 1,991 needed to secure the Democratic nomination on the first ballot at the party's national convention in Milwaukee in July.
With the largest populations and most delegates to award -- a total of 756 -- California and Texas were the top prizes Tuesday. North Carolina pledged 110 delegates.
Residents of Los Angeles County used new voting machines, the first wholesale redesign of the county's voting system in more than 50 years.
The Los Angeles Times reported that 15 other counties experienced problems connecting their voting systems to the statewide voter database. Some counties were unable to update registration records to show that voters had already voted. To make sure voters weren't able to vote twice, some elections officials asked them to cast provisional ballots, which are counted the day after the primary.
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Los Angeles was unaffected by the problems.
"There is no evidence of malicious activity, and all counties have restored connectivity at this time," Sam Mahood, a spokesman for Secretary of State Alex Padilla, said. "This should not prevent any voters from casting a ballot, as counties have contingency procedures in place to check in voters.
Voters faced long lines in Houston, up to 3 hours, after technical problems with some Democratic voting machines. Machines for the Republican primary had no reported problems.
"I don't think it's right that someone should have to wait that long to participate in our democratic process," one voter, Karen Griffin, said.
Tornadoes in Tennessee overnight complicated the election process Tuesday. A polling location in Wilson County used paper ballots after it lost electricity due to the storm.
Lauren Breeze, a member of the county's election commission, said two shelter sites in the county weren't offering shuttles to polling sites. Polling locations at two high schools in the county were closed due to damage.


upi--2020-03-03--Coronavirus outbreak slows in China amid global spread

March 3 ( UPI ) -- The number of COVID-19 infections continued to drop in China on Tuesday as the outbreak deepened around the globe .
Chinese health officials confirmed 125 cases of the deadly coronavirus over Monday , the lowest number of recorded cases in a 24-hour period for the Asian country since late January .
It also recorded 31 deaths , increasing its death toll to 2,943 .
As the Chinese data was announced , countries in Europe , the Middle East and Africa were confirming first cases , pushing the number of nations and territories infected with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andorra , Indonesia , Jordan , Latvia , Portugal , Saudi Arabia , Senegal and Tunisia announced their first patients infected with the virus in the previous 24 hours , while the worst-affected nations of South Korea , Italy and Iran continued to see their numbers of deaths and confirmed cases grow .
Outside China , South Korea has the most COVID-19 patients with 5,186 as of Tuesday evening , an increase of 374 from that morning , prompting President Moon Jae-in to declare `` war '' against the virus .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peak , and the whole country is at war against the infectious disease , '' Moon said during a Tuesday press conference , referring to the area hardest hit by the virus .
`` We believe that inspecting large numbers of people at the fastest speed in the world and making the results transparent and quick is the best thing we can do at this stage to prevent the spread of local infections . ''
Italy reported a surge Monday evening of nearly 350 more cases from the day prior , for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also recorded 18 more deaths for a tally of 52 , according to the Ministry of Health .
And in Iran , there have been at least 54 deaths as of Monday , an increase of 11 from the day prior , and 978 confirmed cases , nearly 400 more than Sunday , according to data from the World Health Organization .
The WHO said in a statement Monday that a team has arrived in Tehran to support its response to the epidemic by identifying at-risk populations and providing guidance .
Cases with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnosed in at least 10 countries , including Canada , it said .
The plane that brought the team to Iran also shipped medical supplies and protective equipment for more than 15,000 healthcare providers and laboratory kits to test nearly 100,000 people .
`` We are in unchartered territory with COVID-19 , '' WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said via Twitter .
`` We have never before seen a respiratory pathogen that is capable of community transmission , but which can also be contained with the right measures . ''

1/2
An Iranian woman wearing a face mask walks in Tehran, Iran, on Monday as the country faces a deepening COVID-19 epidemic. Photo by Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA-EFE
March 3 (UPI) -- Iran said Tuesday it is temporarily releasing tens of thousands of prisoners in an attempt to stymie the spread of the deadly coronavirus among the country's inmates as it struggles to contain one of the world's worst COVID-19 epidemics. Iran's judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili told reporters the Middle Eastern country will be releasing more than 54,000 inmates from its crowded prison system on furlough after they test negative for the virus and post bail. Advertisement
Among the prisoners could be British citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was arrested in April 2016 by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard while attempting to board a Britain-bound flight with her then-22-month-old daughter at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport.
Tulip Siddiq, Labor MP for Britain's Hampstead and Kilburn region, said via Twitter that Iranian Ambassador to Britain, Hamid Baeidinejad, told her Zaghari-Ratcliffe may be released from Evin Pail in Tehran Tuesday or Wednesday.
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"If this furlough happens, the British government have an obligation to make it permanent, and not let her be used as a bargaining chip in the weeks to come," Siddiq said. "I remain concerned that Nazanin has told her family that she has still not been tested for coronavirus."
Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a 41-year-old charity worker, was sentenced to a five-year prison term for spying, according to Amnesty International, which said Tuesday her family is worried she may have contracted the virus that has killed more than 3,000 people worldwide.
"Though it remains unconfirmed, the slightest possibility of prisoners being exposed to the coronavirus in Evin jail raises grave concerns and is a chilling prospect for Nazanin and other prisoners, including jailed human rights defenders," Amnesty International Britain Director Kate Allen wrote in a statement.
Baeidinejad rejected claims that Zaghari-Ratcliffe may have contracted the virus, responding via Twitter that Esmail said she was "in good health" and has not been "affected" by COVID-19.
"[Esmail] added that one of the prisoners with security charge will be granted a furlough today or tomorrow to join family," he said, without elaborating who that might be.
A second Labor member of Parliament, Emily Thornberry, also called on Iran via Twitter to release Zaghari-Ratcliffe, urging it to "show the humanity, compassion and generosity that unites our peoples, and let Nazanin come home."
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On Tuesday, Siddiq told her fellow ministers amid reports that at least one inmate at the jail has died from COVID-19 that Iranian officials have refused "point-blank" to test Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
At least 77 people have died amid the coronavirus outbreak in Iran as of Tuesday, according to Iran's Ministry of Health, state-run Press TV reported, making the Middle Eastern country responsible for the most deaths due to the virus second only to China where the disease emerged in December.
The country has recorded 2,336 confirmed cases of the virus and has ties to infections in several countries, some as far away as Canada.
The country's religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called on Iranians Tuesday to heed the directives of health officials in the battle against the virus.
"These orders should not at all be violated as God has obliged us to take responsibility for our own health and for that of others," he said. "Therefore, anything that contributes to the society's health and helps prevent the spread of the disease is a virtue and ... whatever facilitates its spread is a sin."
The World Health Organization said in a statement Monday that a team has arrived in Tehran to support its response to the epidemic by identifying at-risk populations and providing guidance.
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The plane that brought the team to Iran also shipped medical supplies and protective equipment for more than 15,000 healthcare providers and laboratory kits to test nearly 100,000 people.
"We are in unchartered territory with COVID-19," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said via Twitter. "We have never before seen a respiratory pathogen that is capable of community transmission, but which can also be contained with the right measures."
As Iran releases prisoners in its battle against the virus, epidemics deepened around the globe aside from China where on Tuesday health officials confirmed 125 cases of the deadly coronavirus over the day prior, the lowest number of recorded cases in a 24-hour period for the Asian country since Jan. 20. It also recorded 31 deaths, increasing its death toll to 2,943.
As the Chinese data was announced, countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa were confirming first cases, pushing the number of nations and territories infected with the coronavirus to more than 70.
Andorra, Indonesia, Jordan, Latvia, Morocco, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Tunisia announced their first patients infected with the virus in the previous 24 hours, while the worst-affected nations of South Korea, Italy and Iran continued to see their numbers of deaths and confirmed cases grow.
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Outside China, South Korea has the most COVID-19 patients with 5,186 as of Tuesday evening, an increase of 374 from that morning, prompting President Moon Jae-in to declare "war" against the virus.
"The crisis in Daegu-North Gyeongsang has reached its peak, and the whole country is at war against the infectious disease," Moon said during a Tuesday press conference, referring to the area hardest hit by the virus. "We believe that inspecting large numbers of people at the fastest speed in the world and making the results transparent and quick is the best thing we can do at this stage to prevent the spread of local infections."
Italy reported a surge Monday evening of nearly 350 more cases from the day prior, for a total of 2,036 infected patients. It also recorded 18 more deaths for a tally of 52, according to the Ministry of Health.
According to the WHO, as of Tuesday, the outbreak has grown to 90,893 cases worldwide and 3,110 deaths.


upi--2020-03-03--South Korea declares 'war' on COVID-19 as cases near 5,200

SEOUL , March 3 ( UPI ) -- South Korea 's confirmed cases of COVID-19 soared to 5,186 on Tuesday as President Moon Jae-in declared `` war '' on the disease , which has spread rapidly over the past two weeks and is straining the country 's medical infrastructure and economy .
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a total of 974 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday while the death toll rose to 29 .
The overwhelming majority of cases remain concentrated around the southeastern city of Daegu and its surrounding areas , with the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Almost 90 percent of patients are concentrated in Daegu , a city of 2.5 million , and its neighboring North Gyeongsang province .
Over 56 percent of the cases are connected to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus , a controversial new religious movement in South Korea that many consider a cult .
The number of reported cases began skyrocketing after a 61-year-old woman who is a member of the Shincheonji church in Daegu was confirmed as the country 's 31st COVID-19 patient two weeks ago .
She had attended services at the church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health authorities said .
Officials are testing the more than 210,000 members of the church nationwide .
Moon addressed the outbreak at a meeting with cabinet members and health officials on Tuesday , ordering government agencies to go on full alert with a `` 24-hour emergency room system '' to address the crisis .
`` The crisis in Daegu-North Gyeongsang has reached its peak , and the whole country is at war against the infectious disease , '' he said .
`` We believe that inspecting large numbers of people at the fastest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results transparent and quick is the best thing we can do at this stage to prevent the spread of local infections . ''
South Korea has tested more than 121,000 people so far , the KCDC said on Tuesday , far more than most countries .
Moon also addressed the economic fallout from the coronavirus at Tuesday 's meeting , calling it `` severe . ''
`` Economic sentiment is frozen and investment , consumption and industrial activity are shrinking significantly , '' he said .
Moon announced plans to spend $ 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including a supplemental budget that he said will be submitted to the country 's National Assembly on Wednesday .
The budget will be used to support small businesses and stimulate domestic consumption as well as to expand medical facilities and equipment .
The hardest-hit area of Daegu has seen a shortfall of hospital beds , while masks used to help prevent the spread of the disease have been out of stock in many pharmacies around the country despite the government 's efforts to stabilize the supply .
Moon apologized on Tuesday for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and better distribution from suppliers .
In Daegu , some 1,800 patients are quarantined at home awaiting available hospital beds , Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said at a daily press briefing on Tuesday .
He said that the government will have an additional 2,000 sickbeds in isolation facilities to treat and monitor patients with milder symptoms ready by early next week .
Authorities have completed testing on roughly 6,000 members of the Shincheonji church in Daegu , Kim said , adding that the results have not yet been fully tallied but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains very high .
Kim said that the disease has been spreading through the community outside of the church as well , and officials are extending their focus toward testing ordinary residents .
`` We are seeing transmission of virus through the community , '' Kim said .
`` In order to mitigate the harm we need to expand the tests to the rest of the citizens of Daegu . ''
COVID-19 cases also continue to be reported in most cities and provinces around the country , with the number of patients in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while in Busan , the country 's second-largest city , the total climbed to 90 .
The number of foreign countries enforcing restrictions on travelers from South Korea continues to grow .
As of Tuesday , 36 countries and regions are barring entry by travelers who have visited South Korea in the past two weeks and 51 countries and regions are implementing quarantine measures , according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs .
The United States has not yet imposed entry restrictions , but passengers boarding direct flights from South Korea will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' for health issues , U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Monday .
The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 3 travel advisory for South Korea , advising citizens to `` reconsider travel '' to the country .
It has placed a `` Level 4 : Do Not Travel '' warning , its highest , on Daegu .

South Korea declared "war" on the coronavirus on Tuesday, as total cases in the country soared to over 4,800. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI
SEOUL, March 3 (UPI) -- South Korea's confirmed cases of COVID-19 soared to 5,186 on Tuesday as President Moon Jae-in declared "war" on the disease, which has spread rapidly over the past two weeks and is straining the country's medical infrastructure and economy. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a total of 974 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday while the death toll rose to 29. Advertisement
The overwhelming majority of cases remain concentrated around the southeastern city of Daegu and its surrounding areas, with the outbreak tied to a secretive religious sect. Almost 90 percent of patients are concentrated in Daegu, a city of 2.5 million, and its neighboring North Gyeongsang province.
Over 56 percent of the cases are connected to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a controversial new religious movement in South Korea that many consider a cult.
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The number of reported cases began skyrocketing after a 61-year-old woman who is a member of the Shincheonji church in Daegu was confirmed as the country's 31st COVID-19 patient two weeks ago. She had attended services at the church both before and after exhibiting symptoms, health authorities said.
Officials are testing the more than 210,000 members of the church nationwide.
Moon addressed the outbreak at a meeting with cabinet members and health officials on Tuesday, ordering government agencies to go on full alert with a "24-hour emergency room system" to address the crisis.
"The crisis in Daegu-North Gyeongsang has reached its peak, and the whole country is at war against the infectious disease," he said. "We believe that inspecting large numbers of people at the fastest speed in the world and making the results transparent and quick is the best thing we can do at this stage to prevent the spread of local infections."
South Korea has tested more than 121,000 people so far, the KCDC said on Tuesday, far more than most countries.
Moon also addressed the economic fallout from the coronavirus at Tuesday's meeting, calling it "severe."
"Economic sentiment is frozen and investment, consumption and industrial activity are shrinking significantly," he said.
Advertisement
Moon announced plans to spend $25 billion to deal with the crisis, including a supplemental budget that he said will be submitted to the country's National Assembly on Wednesday. The budget will be used to support small businesses and stimulate domestic consumption as well as to expand medical facilities and equipment.
The hardest-hit area of Daegu has seen a shortfall of hospital beds, while masks used to help prevent the spread of the disease have been out of stock in many pharmacies around the country despite the government's efforts to stabilize the supply.
Moon apologized on Tuesday for the mask shortage and called for increased production and better distribution from suppliers.
In Daegu, some 1,800 patients are quarantined at home awaiting available hospital beds, Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said at a daily press briefing on Tuesday. He said that the government will have an additional 2,000 sickbeds in isolation facilities to treat and monitor patients with milder symptoms ready by early next week.
Authorities have completed testing on roughly 6,000 members of the Shincheonji church in Daegu, Kim said, adding that the results have not yet been fully tallied but the ratio of those testing positive for COVID-19 remains very high.
Advertisement
Kim said that the disease has been spreading through the community outside of the church as well, and officials are extending their focus toward testing ordinary residents.
"We are seeing transmission of virus through the community," Kim said. "In order to mitigate the harm we need to expand the tests to the rest of the citizens of Daegu."
COVID-19 cases also continue to be reported in most cities and provinces around the country, with the number of patients in Seoul rising to 98 by Tuesday morning, while in Busan, the country's second-largest city, the total climbed to 90.
The number of foreign countries enforcing restrictions on travelers from South Korea continues to grow. As of Tuesday, 36 countries and regions are barring entry by travelers who have visited South Korea in the past two weeks and 51 countries and regions are implementing quarantine measures, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The United States has not yet imposed entry restrictions, but passengers boarding direct flights from South Korea will be subject to "100 percent screening" for health issues, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Monday.
The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 3 travel advisory for South Korea, advising citizens to "reconsider travel" to the country. It has placed a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" warning, its highest, on Daegu.


upi--2020-03-03--4 of 5 transgender youths want preferred names, pronouns in health records

Feb. 27 ( UPI ) -- What 's in a name ?
When young transgender people seek healthcare services , how physicians refer to them can affect their comfort level -- which influences whether they receive proper care .
Nearly 80 percent of transgender youths want electronic medical records , or EMRs , to reflect their preferred names and pronouns , according to a survey published in JAMA Pediatrics this month .
`` Most transgender youths in this study use a name that is different from their legal name and want their affirmed name and pronouns clearly documented in electronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fellow in adolescent and young adult medicine at the UPMC Children 's Hospital of Pittsburgh , told UPI .
`` Few are given the opportunity to discuss this critical part of their identity outside of specialized gender centers . ''
A study published in February , also by Kidd and her colleagues , showed more than half of transgender youth feel uncomfortable sharing their gender identity with healthcare providers over fears they will be stigmatized .
For many , this anxiety means hesitance to pursue necessary medical treatments .
A spokesman for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the organization 's policy stipulates that `` physicians must create a setting that is safe and inclusive to meet the health needs of the LGBTQ population . ''
To support the policy , the AMA offers member physicians educational resources and advocacy information to assist in ensuring their practices meet the standards .
In November , the AMA also implemented a new EMR policy that calls for `` voluntary inclusion of a patient 's biological sex , current gender identity , sexual orientation , preferred gender pronoun ( s ) , preferred name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' in all records , including EMRs .
However , advocates for the LGBTQ+ community said much work remains to address this and other issues that effectively serve as barriers to care .
`` We 're in the middle of a coronavirus pandemic -- we can not afford to have a segment of the population afraid to get treated because they feel the medical staff will be rude or discriminatory , '' Tori Bertran , director of youth services at SunServe , a Fort Lauderdale , Fla.-based organization that provides support and professional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community , told UPI .
Beltran said SunServe provides guidance for transgender youth on how to advocate for themselves when visiting healthcare professionals by being `` firm , polite and brave . ''
The group also offers education on rights and protections at the national , state and local levels .
`` More importantly , we refer out to LGBTQ+ competent doctors who have a record of working with our community and who we know will treat our folks with respect , '' she added .
`` For example , we know of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one day a month and only schedules transgender men on that day . ''
In the survey of 204 transgender youths , 69 percent of respondents used a name different from their legal name .
However , just 4 percent of respondents had completed the legal name change process at the time of the survey .
In all , 79 percent of respondents said they would prefer to have both their name and pronouns documented in EMRs , while 92 percent of non-binary youth -- those who do n't identify as either male @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their name documented .
Among those who did not desire EMR-wide documentation of preferred names or pronouns , 86 percent said that because they already `` passed '' they did not feel name or pronoun documentation was necessary .
Notably , just one participant raised concerns about confidentiality , while 8 percent of those surveyed were always or often asked if they wanted to have their name and pronouns documented in their EMRs .
`` It is incumbent on healthcare professionals and health systems to create a climate that allows transgender patients to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electronic health records to affirm patient names and pronouns is a big part of creating that inclusive environment , '' Kidd said .

A study in February showed more than half of transgender youth are uncomfortable sharing their gender identity with healthcare providers over fears they will be stigmatized. Photo by vjohns1580 /Pixabay
Feb. 27 (UPI) -- What's in a name? When young transgender people seek healthcare services, how physicians refer to them can affect their comfort level -- which influences whether they receive proper care. Nearly 80 percent of transgender youths want electronic medical records, or EMRs, to reflect their preferred names and pronouns, according to a survey published in JAMA Pediatrics this month. Advertisement
"Most transgender youths in this study use a name that is different from their legal name and want their affirmed name and pronouns clearly documented in electronic health records," Kacie Kidd, a fellow in adolescent and young adult medicine at the UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, told UPI. "Few are given the opportunity to discuss this critical part of their identity outside of specialized gender centers."
A study published in February, also by Kidd and her colleagues, showed more than half of transgender youth feel uncomfortable sharing their gender identity with healthcare providers over fears they will be stigmatized. For many, this anxiety means hesitance to pursue necessary medical treatments.
Advertisement
A spokesman for the American Medical Association told UPI that the organization's policy stipulates that "physicians must create a setting that is safe and inclusive to meet the health needs of the LGBTQ population."
To support the policy, the AMA offers member physicians educational resources and advocacy information to assist in ensuring their practices meet the standards. In November, the AMA also implemented a new EMR policy that calls for "voluntary inclusion of a patient's biological sex, current gender identity, sexual orientation, preferred gender pronoun(s), preferred name and clinically relevant, sex specific anatomy" in all records, including EMRs.
However, advocates for the LGBTQ+ community said much work remains to address this and other issues that effectively serve as barriers to care.
"We're in the middle of a coronavirus pandemic -- we cannot afford to have a segment of the population afraid to get treated because they feel the medical staff will be rude or discriminatory," Tori Bertran, director of youth services at SunServe, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based organization that provides support and professional mental health services to the area LGTBQ+ community, told UPI.
Beltran said SunServe provides guidance for transgender youth on how to advocate for themselves when visiting healthcare professionals by being "firm, polite and brave." The group also offers education on rights and protections at the national, state and local levels.
Advertisement
"More importantly, we refer out to LGBTQ+ competent doctors who have a record of working with our community and who we know will treat our folks with respect," she added. "For example, we know of a local OB/GYN who closes her office one day a month and only schedules transgender men on that day."
In the survey of 204 transgender youths, 69 percent of respondents used a name different from their legal name. However, just 4 percent of respondents had completed the legal name change process at the time of the survey.
In all, 79 percent of respondents said they would prefer to have both their name and pronouns documented in EMRs, while 92 percent of non-binary youth -- those who don't identify as either male or female -- indicated they would like their name documented.
Among those who did not desire EMR-wide documentation of preferred names or pronouns, 86 percent said that because they already "passed" they did not feel name or pronoun documentation was necessary. Notably, just one participant raised concerns about confidentiality, while 8 percent of those surveyed were always or often asked if they wanted to have their name and pronouns documented in their EMRs.
"It is incumbent on healthcare professionals and health systems to create a climate that allows transgender patients to feel comfortable, and using features within electronic health records to affirm patient names and pronouns is a big part of creating that inclusive environment," Kidd said.


upi--2020-03-03--On This Day, March 3: Trial of the Twenty-One begins

March 3 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1845 , Florida was admitted to the United States as the 27th state .
In 1875 , `` Carmen '' by Georges Bizet premiered in Paris .
In 1879 , attorney Belva Ann Lockwood became the first woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court .
In 1923 , Time magazine published its first issue .
In 1931 , an act of Congress designated `` The Star-Spangled Banner '' the national anthem of the United States .
In 1938 , the last of three of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trial of the Twenty-One , began , with the defendants being charged in a plot to murder Josef Stalin as well as some of the highest officials of the Soviet regime .
In 1982 , the Argentine government threatened to break off diplomatic relations with Britain if the Falkland Islands were not handed back by the following year 's 150th anniversary of the British presence on the islands .
In 1985 , coal miners in Britain ended a yearlong strike , the longest and costliest labor dispute in British history .
In 1986 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organized Crime , ending a 32-month investigation , called for drug testing of most working Americans , including all federal employees .
In 1991 , home video captured a Los Angeles police beating of motorist Rodney King that triggered a national debate on police brutality .
Acquittal of the LAPD officers in 1992 led to deadly riots during which King asked at a news conference , `` Can we all get along ? ''
King died at the age of 47 in 2012 .
In 2006 , former U.S. Rep. Randy Cunningham , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in prison for taking $ 2.4 million in bribes from military contractors .
Cunningham was released from prison in 2013 .
In 2015 , the State Department confirmed that Hillary Clinton exclusively used a personal email server to conduct official business while serving as U.S. secretary of state .
In 2019 , SpaceX 's unmanned Crew Dragon docked with the International Space Station , the company 's first ISS docking .

1/3
Josef Stalin, dictator of Russian (L) is pictured with Minister of War Kliment Voroshilov on the presidium of the conference of men and women Stakhanovite workers in the Grand Hall of the Kremlin Palace in Moscow in December 1935. On March 3, 1938, the last of three of Stalin's public show trials began, with the defendants being charged in a plot to murder Stalin. UPI File Photo
March 3 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1845, Florida was admitted to the United States as the 27th state. Advertisement
In 1875, "Carmen" by Georges Bizet premiered in Paris.
In 1879, attorney Belva Ann Lockwood became the first woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 1923, Time magazine published its first issue.
In 1931, an act of Congress designated "The Star-Spangled Banner" the national anthem of the United States.
Pink performs the national anthem before the Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., on February 4. Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI
In 1938, the last of three of Stalin's public show trials, the Trial of the Twenty-One, began, with the defendants being charged in a plot to murder Josef Stalin as well as some of the highest officials of the Soviet regime.
In 1974, a Turkish jetliner crashed near Paris, killing 345 people.
In 1982, the Argentine government threatened to break off diplomatic relations with Britain if the Falkland Islands were not handed back by the following year's 150th anniversary of the British presence on the islands.
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In 1985, coal miners in Britain ended a yearlong strike, the longest and costliest labor dispute in British history.
In 1986, the U.S. President's Commission on Organized Crime, ending a 32-month investigation, called for drug testing of most working Americans, including all federal employees.
In 1991, home video captured a Los Angeles police beating of motorist Rodney King that triggered a national debate on police brutality. Acquittal of the LAPD officers in 1992 led to deadly riots during which King asked at a news conference, "Can we all get along?" King died at the age of 47 in 2012.
In 2006, former U.S. Rep. Randy Cunningham, R-Calif., was sentenced to eight years in prison for taking $2.4 million in bribes from military contractors. Cunningham was released from prison in 2013.
File Photo by Earl S. Cryer/UPI
In 2015, the State Department confirmed that Hillary Clinton exclusively used a personal email server to conduct official business while serving as U.S. secretary of state.
Advertisement
In 2019, SpaceX's unmanned Crew Dragon docked with the International Space Station, the company's first ISS docking.


upi--2020-03-03--Famous birthday for March 3: Julie Bowen, George Miller

March 3 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Pisces .
-- Industrialist @ @ @ @ @ the railway sleeping car , in 1831 -- Charles Ponzi , convicted of fraud for @ @ @ @ @ his name , in 1882

1/3
Julie Bowen arrives for the 69th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017. The actor turns 50 on March 3. File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo
March 3 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Pisces. They include: Advertisement
-- English poet Edmund Waller in 1606
-- Industrialist George Pullman, inventor of the railway sleeping car, in 1831
-- Telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell in 1847
-- Charles Ponzi, convicted of fraud for a pyramid scheme that bears his name, in 1882
-- Movie star Jean Harlow in 1911
-- Actor James "Scotty" Doohan in 1920
-- Musician Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson in 1923
-- Lee Radziwill, sister of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, in 1933
-- Filmmaker George Miller in 1945 (age 75)
File Photo by David Silpa/UPI
-- Author Ron Chernow in 1949 (age 71)
-- Actor Miranda Richardson in 1958 (age 62)
-- Radio show host Ira Glass in 1959 (age 61)
-- Football star Herschel Walker, 1982 Heisman Trophy winner, in 1962 (age 58)
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-- Olympic gold medal heptathlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee in 1962 (age 58)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- Actor Julie Bowen in 1970 (age 50)
-- Actor David Faustino in 1974 (age 46)
-- Celebrity baker Buddy Valastro in 1977 (age 43)
-- Actor Jessica Biel in 1982 (age 38)
-- Singer Camila Cabello in 1997 (age 23)
-- Actor Thomas Barbusca in 2003 (age 17)


upi--2020-03-03--Taylor Tomlinson: Stand-up is 'the ultimate goal for everything'

March 3 ( UPI ) -- Comedian Taylor Tomlinson started out doing clean comedy in church venues , but she said her first hour-long special , Quarter Life Crisis , is `` not an hour you would do at a church . ''
Tomlinson , 26 , known to TV audiences as a contestant on Season 9 of Last Comic Standing and Netflix viewers for her 15-minute set on The Comedy Lineup , will release her first hour-long special Tuesday on Netflix , about a decade after her career in stand-up comedy began .
She said the material in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the clean comedy she performed when she was a teenager , but those origins have had lasting effects on how she approaches jokes about sex and other not-so-church-friendly subjects .
`` I hope if I 'm going to do a dirty joke , it 's at least clever and not cheap .
I was certainly clean for a very long time , '' Tomlinson told UPI in a recent interview .
Quarter Life Crisis deals with some topics that would be considered clean comedy , such as anxieties about aging and misconceptions about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a time in your life when you did n't have a lot of responsibilities , because no one expected anything from you '' ) , but also includes jokes about the comedian 's fraught dating life and high sex drive ( `` if I love you , diarrhea does n't deter me '' ) .
`` It 's not an hour you would do at a church , for sure , '' Tomlinson said .
Tomlinson 's first exposure to the world of stand-up comedy came when she and her father took a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church .
The class led to the younger Tomlinson booking a series of church comedy engagements that launched her career .
She said her father also did well in the class , but stand-up comedy was n't for him .
`` My dad 's really funny .
But he went back to making money at an actual upstanding career .
He was never going to ... become a stand-up comedian .
He just thought it would be a cool thing for us to do , '' she recalled .
Tomlinson said her parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her career , but they no longer attend her live shows .
`` Obviously , they 'd prefer that I was squeaky clean and doing jokes in churches , but that 's not my path .
So we 've come to a place where I 'm like , 'You do n't need to watch it , ' so we 'll see if my parents actually do , but they have been sufficiently warned , '' she said .
Tomlinson said she still warns family members when she 's going to make jokes about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the performance will be televised .
She said that system has not always succeeded in avoiding conflicts .
`` There was one time that my dad was offended by a joke , after the fact , after it was already on TV .
I had run it by him beforehand , so I was like , ' I 'm sorry , I 'm not sure what to do about it , ' '' she said .
`` There are some jokes about him in the new special that I told him about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like , 'Just so you know , these are the jokes , ' and he 's like , 'Thank you for running it by me .
I appreciate it . '
'' Tomlinson has become one of stand-up comedy 's youngest headliners , touring the country at the top of the bill .
Despite her success in stand-up , she has done very little outside the genre , save for playing a version of herself as co-host of the fictional talk show , What Just Happened ?
?
!
with Fred Savage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ list of acting roles is being `` laser-focused on stand-up . ''
`` That 's the ultimate goal for everything .
If I did act in something , my first thought would be , 'OK , great , people will watch this and come see me on tour . '
Everything 's there to serve stand-up , and make that bigger and better , '' she said .
Tomlinson said she is n't against appearing in film and TV projects , but the success of her stand-up career has given her some room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' about the projects she takes on .
`` Something has to be really cool or funny ... for me to think about wanting to do it .
I think my agents would probably prefer that I audition for more things , '' she said .
`` I do n't feel that need to audition for everything whether I like it or not .
Because I have stand-up , and I 'm really happy doing that , and it took so much of my time and energy to be great at this thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Tomlinson said she has non-stand-up projects she would like to develop , and she learned a lot about the process when she developed a sitcom for ABC in 2017 that never made it to the pilot phase .
`` I think I learned a lot on that , and I liked what we did for what it was -- it was a multicam sitcom .
It was n't what I wanted to make .
It was just what networks wanted from me at the time .
When we had other opportunities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same show somewhere else , I just did n't feel like it was something I wanted to spend my time doing , '' she said .
Tomlinson said she would want a project to be something worth taking `` time away from touring and stand-up . ''
`` I have a more personal project that we 're working on developing that is very different from that , '' she said , but she is n't in a hurry to segue from stand-up to other projects .
`` I 'm in town , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm on the road so much .
If it 's a choice between trying to act and going out getting better at stand-up , that 's always going to win , '' she said .
Tomlinson said she always is writing new material for her act , and did so while she prepared Quarter Life Crisis .
`` I was definitely still writing and tweaking and adding and subtracting bits after we got the hour , and those few months in between the green light and filming it in Portland .
Before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writing new stuff that I knew was n't going to go in the hour , so I knew there was going to be new stuff once the special came out , '' she said .
Tomlinson said she wanted to ensure `` people who watched the special and then came to see me were n't just seeing the same material that they had just watched on Netflix .
So I started writing beforehand to get ahead of that . ''

1/2
Comedian Taylor Tomlinson, whose hour-long special, "Quarter Life Crisis," is streaming on Netflix Tuesday, said she tries to make sure her dirtier jokes are "at least clever and not cheap." Photo courtesy of Netflix
March 3 (UPI) -- Comedian Taylor Tomlinson started out doing clean comedy in church venues, but she said her first hour-long special, Quarter Life Crisis, is "not an hour you would do at a church." Tomlinson, 26, known to TV audiences as a contestant on Season 9 of Last Comic Standing and Netflix viewers for her 15-minute set on The Comedy Lineup, will release her first hour-long special Tuesday on Netflix, about a decade after her career in stand-up comedy began. Advertisement
She said the material in her sets has come a long way from the clean comedy she performed when she was a teenager, but those origins have had lasting effects on how she approaches jokes about sex and other not-so-church-friendly subjects.
"I hope if I'm going to do a dirty joke, it's at least clever and not cheap. I was certainly clean for a very long time," Tomlinson told UPI in a recent interview.
Advertisement
Quarter Life Crisis deals with some topics that would be considered clean comedy, such as anxieties about aging and misconceptions about youth ("What you miss is a time in your life when you didn't have a lot of responsibilities, because no one expected anything from you"), but also includes jokes about the comedian's fraught dating life and high sex drive ("if I love you, diarrhea doesn't deter me").
"It's not an hour you would do at a church, for sure," Tomlinson said.
Leaving the church basement
Tomlinson's first exposure to the world of stand-up comedy came when she and her father took a comedy class in the basement of a church. The class led to the younger Tomlinson booking a series of church comedy engagements that launched her career. She said her father also did well in the class, but stand-up comedy wasn't for him.
"My dad's really funny. But he went back to making money at an actual upstanding career. He was never going to ... become a stand-up comedian. He just thought it would be a cool thing for us to do," she recalled.
Tomlinson said her parents, who remain devoutly religious, support her career, but they no longer attend her live shows.
Advertisement
"Obviously, they'd prefer that I was squeaky clean and doing jokes in churches, but that's not my path. So we've come to a place where I'm like, 'You don't need to watch it,' so we'll see if my parents actually do, but they have been sufficiently warned," she said.
Tomlinson said she still warns family members when she's going to make jokes about their lives or her upbringing, especially if the performance will be televised. She said that system has not always succeeded in avoiding conflicts.
"There was one time that my dad was offended by a joke, after the fact, after it was already on TV. I had run it by him beforehand, so I was like, 'I'm sorry, I'm not sure what to do about it,'" she said.
"There are some jokes about him in the new special that I told him about before we filmed it. I was like, 'Just so you know, these are the jokes,' and he's like, 'Thank you for running it by me. I appreciate it.'"
Branching out
Tomlinson has become one of stand-up comedy's youngest headliners, touring the country at the top of the bill. Despite her success in stand-up, she has done very little outside the genre, save for playing a version of herself as co-host of the fictional talk show, What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage.
Advertisement
She said the reason for her short list of acting roles is being "laser-focused on stand-up."
"That's the ultimate goal for everything. If I did act in something, my first thought would be, 'OK, great, people will watch this and come see me on tour.' Everything's there to serve stand-up, and make that bigger and better," she said.
Tomlinson said she isn't against appearing in film and TV projects, but the success of her stand-up career has given her some room to be "a little bit pickier" about the projects she takes on.
"Something has to be really cool or funny ... for me to think about wanting to do it. I think my agents would probably prefer that I audition for more things," she said.
"I don't feel that need to audition for everything whether I like it or not. Because I have stand-up, and I'm really happy doing that, and it took so much of my time and energy to be great at this thing that I want to be great at."
Tomlinson said she has non-stand-up projects she would like to develop, and she learned a lot about the process when she developed a sitcom for ABC in 2017 that never made it to the pilot phase.
Advertisement
"I think I learned a lot on that, and I liked what we did for what it was -- it was a multicam sitcom. It wasn't what I wanted to make. It was just what networks wanted from me at the time. When we had other opportunities to do something similar, or do the same show somewhere else, I just didn't feel like it was something I wanted to spend my time doing," she said.
Tomlinson said she would want a project to be something worth taking "time away from touring and stand-up."
"I have a more personal project that we're working on developing that is very different from that," she said, but she isn't in a hurry to segue from stand-up to other projects.
"I'm in town, in LA, very little, because I'm on the road so much. If it's a choice between trying to act and going out getting better at stand-up, that's always going to win," she said.
Keeping it fresh
Tomlinson said she always is writing new material for her act, and did so while she prepared Quarter Life Crisis.
"I was definitely still writing and tweaking and adding and subtracting bits after we got the hour, and those few months in between the green light and filming it in Portland. Before we were filming, I was still writing new stuff that I knew wasn't going to go in the hour, so I knew there was going to be new stuff once the special came out," she said.
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Tomlinson said she wanted to ensure "people who watched the special and then came to see me weren't just seeing the same material that they had just watched on Netflix. So I started writing beforehand to get ahead of that."
Taylor Tomlinson: Quarter Life Crisis starts streaming Tuesday on Netflix.
I Hate My Twenties. My one-hour special Quarter-Life Crisis is out on @NetflixIsAJoke March 3rd and believe it or not I have even MORE jokes about your twenties being a garbage fire. pic.twitter.com/o1veTUMHFS— Taylor Tomlinson (@taylortomlinson) February 24, 2020


upi--2020-03-03--Food, beverage industries worry U.S. will run out of sugar this year

EVANSVILLE , Ind.
, March 3 ( UPI ) -- America 's sugar stocks are low this year , and the food and beverage industries are starting to worry they will run out if the government does not act quickly to increase imports .
`` There 's definitely palpable concern on the part of our members , '' said Zachary Decker , the government relations manager at the American Bakers Association .
`` Some other industries can switch and use something else , like high fructose corn syrup .
But with baking and candy-making , you really need real sugar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last fall when adverse weather devastated several sugar producing regions .
The majority of America 's sugar comes from sugar beets grown in the Midwest and sugar cane grown in the Southeast .
`` What we had last fall was a disastrous series of weather events around the time of the sugar beet harvest , '' said Jack Roney , the director of economic and policy analysis at the American Sugar Alliance .
`` As much as one-third of beets were left unharvested .
And , meanwhile , there was an unusual cold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] , and the sugar cane crop was reduced .
So , it was an unusual coincidence of bad weather in both places , '' Roney said .
U.S. sugar production this year is expected to be down about 10 percent , dropping to 8.2 million tons from 9 million tons , according to the U. S. Department of Agriculture .
A supply deficit already is showing .
Two large U.S. sugar suppliers -- including the nation 's largest supplier , United Sugar Corp. -- already have declared a `` force majeure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough sugar to fulfill all their contracts this year because of unforeseeable circumstances .
United Sugar Corp. declined to comment for this story .
The shortfall also is affecting prices .
Refined sugar generally hovers around 30 cents per pound , according to a spokesman for the Sweetener Users Association .
The price now is closer to 50 cents per pound .
To correct the shortfall , the American industry will need more imported sugar from the world market this year .
But that is not a simple thing to do .
USDA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be imported to the United States as a way to keep prices high for producers .
It does this by maintaining a high tariff on imported sugar .
Then , each year , the agency calculates the amount that the various sugar users will need , subtracts the amount produced by American farmers , and then allows tariff-free imports on the difference .
Under the North American Free Trade Agreement -- and now the United States Mexico Canada agreement -- Mexico gets first dibs at fulfilling America 's needs .
If Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can open up the tariff-free quota to other countries , the sugar alliance 's Roney said .
Mexico is beginning its harvest , and early signs are that its crop also will be reduced because of a drought during the growing season , Roney said .
`` The only tension here is that [ sugar users ] are eager to open up imports as soon as possible , '' Roney said .
`` Producers are of the opinion that we should increase imports , but let 's not do it too soon and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of the things we worry about as producers is if we act too soon and get sugar from elsewhere in the world , and then if Mexico is able to fulfill the need , we 'll end up with an oversupply , '' he said .
But America 's sugar users worry that domestic supplies might become exhausted in the meantime .
Several U.S. senators sent a letter last week to the USDA , asking the agency to act immediately to increase the tariff-free quota on sugar from other countries to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` You ca n't wait until we run out , '' said Lee Sanders , the senior vice president of government relations and public affairs for the American Bakers Association .
`` If bakers run out of sugar , they will need to stop production . ''

Members of the Sweetener Users Association are raising concerns that the United States will run out of sugar later this year. Photo courtesy of Pixabay
EVANSVILLE, Ind., March 3 (UPI) -- America's sugar stocks are low this year, and the food and beverage industries are starting to worry they will run out if the government does not act quickly to increase imports. "There's definitely palpable concern on the part of our members," said Zachary Decker, the government relations manager at the American Bakers Association. Advertisement
"Some other industries can switch and use something else, like high fructose corn syrup. But with baking and candy-making, you really need real sugar," Decker said.
Problems began last fall when adverse weather devastated several sugar producing regions.
The majority of America's sugar comes from sugar beets grown in the Midwest and sugar cane grown in the Southeast.
"What we had last fall was a disastrous series of weather events around the time of the sugar beet harvest," said Jack Roney, the director of economic and policy analysis at the American Sugar Alliance.
Advertisement
"As much as one-third of beets were left unharvested. And, meanwhile, there was an unusual cold snap hit [the southeastern United States], and the sugar cane crop was reduced. So, it was an unusual coincidence of bad weather in both places," Roney said.
U.S. sugar production this year is expected to be down about 10 percent, dropping to 8.2 million tons from 9 million tons, according to the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
A supply deficit already is showing. Two large U.S. sugar suppliers -- including the nation's largest supplier, United Sugar Corp. -- already have declared a "force majeure," which means they don't have enough sugar to fulfill all their contracts this year because of unforeseeable circumstances.
United Sugar Corp. declined to comment for this story.
The shortfall also is affecting prices. Refined sugar generally hovers around 30 cents per pound, according to a spokesman for the Sweetener Users Association. The price now is closer to 50 cents per pound.
To correct the shortfall, the American industry will need more imported sugar from the world market this year. But that is not a simple thing to do.
USDA tightly controls the volume of sugar that can be imported to the United States as a way to keep prices high for producers.
Advertisement
It does this by maintaining a high tariff on imported sugar. Then, each year, the agency calculates the amount that the various sugar users will need, subtracts the amount produced by American farmers, and then allows tariff-free imports on the difference.
Under the North American Free Trade Agreement -- and now the United States Mexico Canada agreement -- Mexico gets first dibs at fulfilling America's needs. If Mexico doesn't have enough, the USDA can open up the tariff-free quota to other countries, the sugar alliance's Roney said.
Mexico is beginning its harvest, and early signs are that its crop also will be reduced because of a drought during the growing season, Roney said.
"The only tension here is that [sugar users] are eager to open up imports as soon as possible," Roney said. "Producers are of the opinion that we should increase imports, but let's not do it too soon and let's not overdo it.
"One of the things we worry about as producers is if we act too soon and get sugar from elsewhere in the world, and then if Mexico is able to fulfill the need, we'll end up with an oversupply," he said.
But America's sugar users worry that domestic supplies might become exhausted in the meantime.
Advertisement
Several U.S. senators sent a letter last week to the USDA, asking the agency to act immediately to increase the tariff-free quota on sugar from other countries to ensure American sugar users maintain a steady supply.
"You can't wait until we run out," said Lee Sanders, the senior vice president of government relations and public affairs for the American Bakers Association. "If bakers run out of sugar, they will need to stop production."


upi--2020-03-03--Rheumatoid arthritis, low folate may raise heart disease risk

Low folate levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease death in patients with rheumatoid arthritis , or RA , a new study suggests .
People with RA have a 60 percent increased risk of dying from heart disease , but the reasons have been unclear .
`` Our study is the first to show an association between serum folate and increased cardiovascular mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis , '' lead author Kalyani Sonawane said in a University of Texas news release .
She is an assistant professor at UTHealth 's School of Public Health .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divided into three groups based on their blood levels of folate , a B vitamin also known as folic acid .
One group had levels below 4.3 nanograms per milliliter , the second group had levels between 4.3 and 8.2 nanograms per milliliter , and the third group had levels greater than 8.2 nanograms per milliliter .
Over 17 years , 258 of the participants died of heart disease .
A folate level below 4.3 nanograms per milliliter was associated with 50 percent higher risk of death from heart disease , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that serum folate level might be a useful indicator to assess [ the ] cardiovascular mortality risk of a rheumatoid arthritis patient in clinical practice , '' said study senior author Dr. Maria Suarez-Almazor , a professor in the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center .
But the study did not prove that low folate levels cause heart risks to rise .
`` If future clinical studies validate a causal link , taking folate supplements could be an affordable way to reduce this risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis , '' Suarez-Almazor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential in the creation of new cells and lowers levels of homocysteine , an amino acid found in blood .
High homocysteine levels have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease .
Many people with RA have elevated homocysteine levels .
This may be due to medications prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis , such as methotrexate , which decrease folate levels , the researchers explained .
`` It 's particularly important for patients taking disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs to understand this increased risk , '' Sonawane noted .
Folic acid is found in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , citrus fruits and leafy greens .
Supplements can also be taken to boost folate levels .
The study was published Feb. 26 in the journal JAMA Network Open .
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more on rheumatoid arthritis .

Low folate levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease death in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, a new study suggests.
People with RA have a 60 percent increased risk of dying from heart disease, but the reasons have been unclear.
Advertisement
"Our study is the first to show an association between serum folate and increased cardiovascular mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis," lead author Kalyani Sonawane said in a University of Texas news release. She is an assistant professor at UTHealth's School of Public Health.
This study included 683 RA patients who were divided into three groups based on their blood levels of folate, a B vitamin also known as folic acid.
One group had levels below 4.3 nanograms per milliliter, the second group had levels between 4.3 and 8.2 nanograms per milliliter, and the third group had levels greater than 8.2 nanograms per milliliter.
Over 17 years, 258 of the participants died of heart disease. A folate level below 4.3 nanograms per milliliter was associated with 50 percent higher risk of death from heart disease, according to the study.
"Our findings suggest that serum folate level might be a useful indicator to assess [the] cardiovascular mortality risk of a rheumatoid arthritis patient in clinical practice," said study senior author Dr. Maria Suarez-Almazor, a professor in the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. But the study did not prove that low folate levels cause heart risks to rise.
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"If future clinical studies validate a causal link, taking folate supplements could be an affordable way to reduce this risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis," Suarez-Almazor said in the release.
Folate is essential in the creation of new cells and lowers levels of homocysteine, an amino acid found in blood. High homocysteine levels have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
Many people with RA have elevated homocysteine levels. This may be due to medications prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis, such as methotrexate, which decrease folate levels, the researchers explained.
"It's particularly important for patients taking disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs to understand this increased risk," Sonawane noted.
Folic acid is found in many foods such as eggs, broccoli, citrus fruits and leafy greens. Supplements can also be taken to boost folate levels. The study was published Feb. 26 in the journal JAMA Network Open.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more on rheumatoid arthritis.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-03-03--UPS worker with weapons cache arrested for threatening mass shooting

March 3 ( UPI ) -- Police in California said they have arrested a UPS employee in possession of a cache of weapons who threatened to commit a mass shooting at the company 's Silicon Valley facility .
Thomas Andrews , 32 , was taken into police custody late Sunday after leading officers on a highway chase through Sunnyvale , located in Santa Clara County , Sunnyvale police said Monday in a press release .
Police began a search for Andrews after receiving a report that accused him of sending threatening text messages to his employer .
`` The text @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass shooting at the UPS facility in Sunnyvale , '' the department said in the release .
Authorities said a search of Andrews ' residence uncovered more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition , numerous high-capacity magazines , five tactical-style rifles , three handguns , a shotgun and body armor with several tactical backpacks loaded with the ammunition placed at the front door of the apartment .
Andrews was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on charges of making criminal threats , evading police and driving while under the influence as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunnyvale police .

1/2
More than 20,000 rounds of ammunition, numerous high-capacity magazines, five tactical-style rifles, three handguns, a shotgun and body armor were discovered following a police search of Thomas Andrews' Sunnyvale apartment. Photo courtesy of Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety/ Facebook
March 3 (UPI) -- Police in California said they have arrested a UPS employee in possession of a cache of weapons who threatened to commit a mass shooting at the company's Silicon Valley facility. Thomas Andrews, 32, was taken into police custody late Sunday after leading officers on a highway chase through Sunnyvale, located in Santa Clara County, Sunnyvale police said Monday in a press release. Advertisement
Police began a search for Andrews after receiving a report that accused him of sending threatening text messages to his employer.
"The text messages indicated suspect Andrews was planning a mass shooting at the UPS facility in Sunnyvale," the department said in the release.
Authorities said a search of Andrews' residence uncovered more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition, numerous high-capacity magazines, five tactical-style rifles, three handguns, a shotgun and body armor with several tactical backpacks loaded with the ammunition placed at the front door of the apartment.
Andrews was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on charges of making criminal threats, evading police and driving while under the influence as well as several weapons violation charges, according to Sunnyvale police.


upi--2020-03-03--Few medications available to ease marijuana dependence

Of the medications that have been studied to treat problem marijuana use , none have proved effective , a new analysis shows .
The review , of 26 trials , found that no tested drugs -- including antidepressants , anxiety medication and synthetic cannabinoids -- showed clear benefits for people with cannabis use disorder , or CUD .
CUD may be diagnosed when a marijuana habit becomes a consuming part of life , where people let work or personal responsibilities slide , ignore problems that their drug use is causing , or find themselves needing more and more marijuana to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 million Americans had CUD , according to the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse , or NIDA .
Research suggests it affects around 30 percent of marijuana users at some point .
And while people often see marijuana as a nonaddictive drug , regular users can develop withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop , including nervousness and irritability , insomnia , depressed mood , and physical symptoms like abdominal pain , tremors and headache .
`` There is a misperception that marijuana is benign , '' said Dr. Frances Levin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disorders at the New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University , in New York City .
What doctors see tells a different story .
People with milder CUD symptoms are less likely to seek treatment , noted Levin , who was not involved in the study .
So , those who do seek help typically have a more serious dependence on the drug that is disrupting their lives .
`` We need to look at [ CUD ] as we would any other substance use disorder , '' Levin said .
That includes studying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrawal and reduce their marijuana use .
The new review , published online March 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine , found that a few drug classes have failed to help patients abstain from marijuana , or cut down on consumption .
Those include antidepressants , the anti-anxiety drug buspirone , and prescription-grade cannabinoids .
Some other medications have been studied , such as mood stabilizers , antiseizure medications and the dietary supplement N-acetylcysteine .
And the evidence on them was deemed `` insufficient . ''
However , Levin said , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and not of the size that can be definitive .
They also varied in the duration of treatment , the use of behavioral therapy , and the groups of patients they studied : In some , people had a co-existing psychiatric condition , like depression ; some focused on teenagers , while others on long-time marijuana users .
So it 's difficult to draw conclusions , according to Levin .
`` I do n't think things are as pessimistic as this [ review ] might suggest , '' she said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human laboratory and treatment studies that are worth pursuing . ''
Karli Kondo , a researcher with the VA Portland Health Care System , led the review .
She agreed it 's too soon to reach a verdict .
The bottom line , Kondo said , is that larger studies are needed .
She pointed to the example of cannabinoids , saying there was some `` promising data '' that they might ease withdrawal symptoms .
Beyond that , she added , studies of different combinations of medication and behavioral therapy are needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai St. Luke 's Hospitals , in New York City .
He said that , in general , behavioral therapies for marijuana use disorder are `` quite effective . ''
One is cognitive behavioral therapy , which helps people reshape the negative thought patterns that drive their behavior , and develop healthier ways of coping .
Some people use marijuana to `` essentially self-medicate '' for disorders like anxiety or depression , Brennan noted .
That 's , in part , the rationale behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he explained .
But , Kondo said , behavioral therapy alone may not be the `` right fit '' for everyone .
It 's also time-consuming , she noted , and may be costly or simply unavailable in a patient 's local area .
Brennan agreed on the need for more research , partly because Americans increasingly see marijuana as `` safe '' and use of the drug is rising .
Between 2002 and 2014 , the number of daily marijuana users in the United States almost doubled , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marijuana in circulation today can be about 10 times as potent as what was available decades ago , Brennan added .
And while other drugs -- like opioids -- certainly cause more severe problems , that does n't mean marijuana is harmless , Brennan said .
The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse has more on marijuana use .

Of the medications that have been studied to treat problem marijuana use, none have proved effective, a new analysis shows.
The review, of 26 trials, found that no tested drugs -- including antidepressants, anxiety medication and synthetic cannabinoids -- showed clear benefits for people with cannabis use disorder, or CUD.
Advertisement
CUD may be diagnosed when a marijuana habit becomes a consuming part of life, where people let work or personal responsibilities slide, ignore problems that their drug use is causing, or find themselves needing more and more marijuana to get high.
In 2015, about 4 million Americans had CUD, according to the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA. Research suggests it affects around 30 percent of marijuana users at some point.
And while people often see marijuana as a nonaddictive drug, regular users can develop withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop, including nervousness and irritability, insomnia, depressed mood, and physical symptoms like abdominal pain, tremors and headache.
Advertisement
"There is a misperception that marijuana is benign," said Dr. Frances Levin, chief of the division on substance use disorders at the New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University, in New York City.
What doctors see tells a different story.
People with milder CUD symptoms are less likely to seek treatment, noted Levin, who was not involved in the study. So, those who do seek help typically have a more serious dependence on the drug that is disrupting their lives.
"We need to look at [CUD] as we would any other substance use disorder," Levin said.
That includes studying whether medication can help people deal with withdrawal and reduce their marijuana use.
The new review, published online March 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that a few drug classes have failed to help patients abstain from marijuana, or cut down on consumption. Those include antidepressants, the anti-anxiety drug buspirone, and prescription-grade cannabinoids.
Some other medications have been studied, such as mood stabilizers, antiseizure medications and the dietary supplement N-acetylcysteine. And the evidence on them was deemed "insufficient."
However, Levin said, the individual studies in the review were small, and not of the size that can be definitive. They also varied in the duration of treatment, the use of behavioral therapy, and the groups of patients they studied: In some, people had a co-existing psychiatric condition, like depression; some focused on teenagers, while others on long-time marijuana users.
Advertisement
So it's difficult to draw conclusions, according to Levin.
"I don't think things are as pessimistic as this [review] might suggest," she said. "There are some promising signals based on human laboratory and treatment studies that are worth pursuing."
Karli Kondo, a researcher with the VA Portland Health Care System, led the review. She agreed it's too soon to reach a verdict.
The bottom line, Kondo said, is that larger studies are needed. She pointed to the example of cannabinoids, saying there was some "promising data" that they might ease withdrawal symptoms.
Beyond that, she added, studies of different combinations of medication and behavioral therapy are needed.
Dr. Timothy Brennan is director of the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai St. Luke's Hospitals, in New York City.
He said that, in general, behavioral therapies for marijuana use disorder are "quite effective." One is cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people reshape the negative thought patterns that drive their behavior, and develop healthier ways of coping.
Some people use marijuana to "essentially self-medicate" for disorders like anxiety or depression, Brennan noted. That's, in part, the rationale behind testing antidepressants and anxiety medication for CUD, he explained.
But, Kondo said, behavioral therapy alone may not be the "right fit" for everyone. It's also time-consuming, she noted, and may be costly or simply unavailable in a patient's local area.
Advertisement
Brennan agreed on the need for more research, partly because Americans increasingly see marijuana as "safe" and use of the drug is rising. Between 2002 and 2014, the number of daily marijuana users in the United States almost doubled, according to the NIDA.
One concern is that the marijuana in circulation today can be about 10 times as potent as what was available decades ago, Brennan added.
And while other drugs -- like opioids -- certainly cause more severe problems, that doesn't mean marijuana is harmless, Brennan said.
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse has more on marijuana use.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.