upi--2020-03-03--Sixth COVID-19 death confirmed in Washington state, officials declare public health emergency

March 2 ( UPI ) -- Officials in Washington state declared a public health emergency Monday as a sixth person in the Seattle area died from the novel coronavirus , COVID-19 .
Public health officials in King County , which includes Seattle , made the emergency declaration after the number of confirmed cases of the virus in the region increased to 14 .
`` We will direct all available resources to help cities , healthcare facilities , businesses and families continue life as normally as possible , '' King County Executive Dow Constantine said .
`` But our best strategies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ established disease prevention guidelines . ''
Vice President Mike Pence on Monday said there are 43 domestic cases of the virus in the United States with 29 in either Washington or California .
There are an additonal 48 repatriated cases including 44 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship .
In all , 10 states across the country have confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
To date , however , Washington is the only one reporting deaths related to the disease -- with five in King County and one in Snohomish County , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was appointed to lead the Coronavirus Task Force , said that despite the recent deaths the risk to Americans related to the virus remains low .
`` This president has said we 're ready for anything , but this is an all-hands-on-deck effort .
Today 's activity really reflects the president 's effort to bring the best minds of private industry together , the best leadership from around the country at every level , '' he said .
President Donald Trump on Monday added two members to the task force -- Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Seema Verma -- ahead of a meeting with pharmaceutical industry representatives .
Trump said a vaccine is under development , though other officials suggest it could take as long as 18 months for one to be ready for use .
He also said there would likely be more travel restrictions from countries with coronavirus outbreaks , though he did not identify which the countries under consideration .
Pence said Monday that within 12 hours there will be 100 percent screening for direct flights to the United States at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- two countries dealing with growing clusters of the virus -- after Trump announced new procedures on Sunday .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , on Monday told NBC News that the COVID-19 outbreak has `` likely reached pandemic proportions . ''
`` We 're dealing with clearly an emerging infectious disease that now reached outbreak proportions and likely pandemic proportions , '' Fauci said .
He added that `` we are not at the stage of mitigation for this , '' however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask people to self-isolate or avoid normal daily activities .
During a press conference Monday , Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said they are planning for all possible situations concerning COVID-19 -- including it becoming a pandemic .
`` The United States military looks at wide varieties of scenarios , '' he said , stating a pandemic is considered a worst-case situation .
He also said military labs are working on a vaccine .
`` The military labs have all kinds of capability to do that '' in support of the Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to officials , three of the deceased in Washington were residents of LifeCare , a nursing home in the suburb of Kirkland where an outbreak of COVID-19 has been reported .
One of the deceased , however , had no known exposure to the facility , or a history of travel to China , heretofore the epicenter of the outbreak or one of the other affected countries .
The remaining cases have been isolated and are being treated , although several are in critical condition , according to reports .
Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared a public health emergency after a second case of COVID-19 emerged there .
The new case involves a person who had just returned from a cruise from San Francisco to Mexico .
That person remains in stable condition , in isolation , but officials in Sonoma did not disclose where they were being treated .
Meanwhile , health officials in Massachusetts also announced late Monday a positive presumptive case of COVID-19 , meaning samples from the patient have been sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her 20s from Norfolk County , had recently traveled to Italy with a school group and was recovering at home , the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said in a statement .
The test results came back Monday night , the department said , adding the woman is the state 's first presumptive case since it started testing on Friday .
If confirmed , she will be the state 's second COVID-19 patient .
`` We are grateful this individual is recovering , '' said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is causing , and our state 's ability to quickly test for the virus is a positive development . ''
The risk of infection still remains low , Bharel said .
A fourth case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in the Chicago area , in a woman whose husband had been diagnosed with the virus within the past few days .
According to a press release from the Illinois Department of Health , the man is being treated at Northwest Community Hospital in Suburban Arlington Heights , while his wife has been placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in `` good condition , '' officials said Monday .
And , state health officials in New Hampshire announced earlier in the day that the first confirmed case of COVID-19 there involved an adult who had recently traveled to Italy , where an outbreak has sickened roughly 1,600 people , according to figures from the World Health Organization .
According to state epidemiologist Benjamin Chan , the person who has tested positive is an adult from Grafton County in the northwestern part of the state who is not sick enough to be hospitalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolation , Chan said .
The United States still has a small fraction of the 89,527 cases of COVID-19 reported globally .
Through Monday , 3,056 people had died from the virus worldwide .
The vast majority of cases have been confirmed in China , but the disease has spread globally , with significant numbers sickened in South Korea , Iran , Italy , Japan , Germany , Singapore and France .
Six additional WHO member states -- Armenia , Czechia , Dominican Republic , Luxembourg , Iceland and Indonesia -- have also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 hours .

1/2
President Donald Trump meets with his Coronavirus Task Force and pharmaceutical executives at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, March 2, 2020. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
March 2 (UPI) -- Officials in Washington state declared a public health emergency Monday as a sixth person in the Seattle area died from the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Public health officials in King County, which includes Seattle, made the emergency declaration after the number of confirmed cases of the virus in the region increased to 14. Advertisement
"We will direct all available resources to help cities, healthcare facilities, businesses and families continue life as normally as possible," King County Executive Dow Constantine said. "But our best strategies depend on millions of residents actively following established disease prevention guidelines."
Vice President Mike Pence on Monday said there are 43 domestic cases of the virus in the United States with 29 in either Washington or California. There are an additonal 48 repatriated cases including 44 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
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In all, 10 states across the country have confirmed cases of COVID-19. To date, however, Washington is the only one reporting deaths related to the disease -- with five in King County and one in Snohomish County, which is north of Seattle.
Pence, who was appointed to lead the Coronavirus Task Force, said that despite the recent deaths the risk to Americans related to the virus remains low.
"This president has said we're ready for anything, but this is an all-hands-on-deck effort. Today's activity really reflects the president's effort to bring the best minds of private industry together, the best leadership from around the country at every level," he said.
President Donald Trump on Monday added two members to the task force -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Seema Verma -- ahead of a meeting with pharmaceutical industry representatives.
Trump said a vaccine is under development, though other officials suggest it could take as long as 18 months for one to be ready for use. He also said there would likely be more travel restrictions from countries with coronavirus outbreaks, though he did not identify which the countries under consideration.
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Pence said Monday that within 12 hours there will be 100 percent screening for direct flights to the United States at all airports in Italy and South Korea -- two countries dealing with growing clusters of the virus -- after Trump announced new procedures on Sunday.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, on Monday told NBC News that the COVID-19 outbreak has "likely reached pandemic proportions."
"We're dealing with clearly an emerging infectious disease that now reached outbreak proportions and likely pandemic proportions," Fauci said. He added that "we are not at the stage of mitigation for this," however, saying that officials are not ready to ask people to self-isolate or avoid normal daily activities.
During a press conference Monday, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said they are planning for all possible situations concerning COVID-19 -- including it becoming a pandemic.
"The United States military looks at wide varieties of scenarios," he said, stating a pandemic is considered a worst-case situation.
He also said military labs are working on a vaccine.
"The military labs have all kinds of capability to do that" in support of the Department of Health and Human Services, he said.
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According to officials, three of the deceased in Washington were residents of LifeCare, a nursing home in the suburb of Kirkland where an outbreak of COVID-19 has been reported. One of the deceased, however, had no known exposure to the facility, or a history of travel to China, heretofore the epicenter of the outbreak or one of the other affected countries.
The remaining cases have been isolated and are being treated, although several are in critical condition, according to reports.
Officials in Sonoma County, Calif., also declared a public health emergency after a second case of COVID-19 emerged there. The new case involves a person who had just returned from a cruise from San Francisco to Mexico.
That person remains in stable condition, in isolation, but officials in Sonoma did not disclose where they were being treated.
Meanwhile, health officials in Massachusetts also announced late Monday a positive presumptive case of COVID-19, meaning samples from the patient have been sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation.
The patient, identified as a woman in her 20s from Norfolk County, had recently traveled to Italy with a school group and was recovering at home, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said in a statement.
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The test results came back Monday night, the department said, adding the woman is the state's first presumptive case since it started testing on Friday. If confirmed, she will be the state's second COVID-19 patient.
"We are grateful this individual is recovering," said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel. "We understand the concern this new virus is causing, and our state's ability to quickly test for the virus is a positive development."
The risk of infection still remains low, Bharel said.
A fourth case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in the Chicago area, in a woman whose husband had been diagnosed with the virus within the past few days. According to a press release from the Illinois Department of Health, the man is being treated at Northwest Community Hospital in Suburban Arlington Heights, while his wife has been placed into quarantine at home.
Both are in "good condition," officials said Monday.
And, state health officials in New Hampshire announced earlier in the day that the first confirmed case of COVID-19 there involved an adult who had recently traveled to Italy, where an outbreak has sickened roughly 1,600 people, according to figures from the World Health Organization.
According to state epidemiologist Benjamin Chan, the person who has tested positive is an adult from Grafton County in the northwestern part of the state who is not sick enough to be hospitalized. They have been placed in home isolation, Chan said.
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The United States still has a small fraction of the 89,527 cases of COVID-19 reported globally. Through Monday, 3,056 people had died from the virus worldwide.
The vast majority of cases have been confirmed in China, but the disease has spread globally, with significant numbers sickened in South Korea, Iran, Italy, Japan, Germany, Singapore and France.
Six additional WHO member states -- Armenia, Czechia, Dominican Republic, Luxembourg, Iceland and Indonesia -- have also reported cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.


upi--2020-03-02--EU raises risk level to high as more countries confirm first infections

March 2 ( UPI ) -- The European Union 's disease prevention agency raised its risk assessment of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak from moderate to high on Monday as more countries confirm first cases and worries over the virus ' spread ballooned along with the growing clusters in South Korea , Italy and Iran .
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the decision of the European Center for Disease Control to raise its risk level while launching a coronavirus response team to bring together the various factions working throughout Europe .
`` The virus continues to spread , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before them is complex and requires swift action and strong coordination at all levels .
Leyen said the three pillars of the response team are medical , covering prevention and procurement ; mobility , which covers transportation and travel advice ; and the economy .
Janez Lenarcic , the European commissioner for crisis management , welcomed reporters during the briefing to their emergency response center and said what has been learned from the ongoing crisis is that all countries need to be ready for COVID-19 's arrival .
`` While we should not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is likely to still get worse , so we need to be prepared and time is of the essence here , '' he said , adding that all EU member states need to work together to establish a `` coherent EU-wide response . ''
Many of the roughly 70 affected nations and territories recorded their first cases in the past few weeks , with five nations announcing their first infections over the weekend , according to the World Health Organization .
On Sunday , Scotland , the Czech Republic , the Dominican Republic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the growing list of countries with new cases .
And on Monday , Indonesia , Saudi Arabia , Senegal and Jordan confirmed its first COVID-19 patients .
As new cases pop up in new parts of the world , the WHO on Monday declined to call the global coronavirus outbreak a pandemic , given that more than 80 percent of the cases of the disease outside China are located in only four countries : Iran , Italy , Japan and South Korea .
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said South Korea has more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that most have come from `` known clusters , '' not community spread -- which suggests that disease surveillance and actions taking so far are working .
`` If this was influenza , we 'd have expected widespread community spread , '' he said .
`` Containment is possible in all countries that are affected . ''
In Iran , meanwhile , a WHO expert team arrived this morning , bringing testing kits capable of evaluating more than 100,000 samples and personal protective equipment -- respirators and face masks -- for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now has 978 confirmed cases , among them a WHO staffer , who was diagnosed yesterday and has `` mild disease . ''
`` The health system in Iran needs to be supported , '' said Mike Ryan , head of the WHO 's emergencies program .
Although the country has a strong health infrastructure , he added , `` clearly all health systems come under pressure with this disease . ''
Indonesian President Joko Widodo told reporters a 64-year-old woman and her 31-year-old daughter tested positive for COVID-19 after having come into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for the virus late last month in neighboring Malaysia .
`` When we received information [ concerning the Japanese citizen ] , a team in Indonesia immediately traced who the Japanese citizen met with , '' Widodo told reporters Monday at the State Palace .
`` We checked , and this morning I received a report from the health minister that they tested positive for the coronavirus . ''
In Saudi Arabia , the Ministry of Health confirmed its first infection in a citizen who had returned from Iran via Bahrain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The patient failed to disclose his trip to the coronavirus-riddled Iran at the Saudi port , the ministry said , adding the person is isolated at the hospital .
`` The people in contact with the infected person were counted and samples were taken from them for examination , '' the ministry said .
And Senegal said Monday it diagnosed its first case in a French national who had recently returned from a ski resort in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region from Feb. 13 to Tuesday .
He returned to Senegal where he is married @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To date , the patient 's condition does not raise any major concerns , '' the ministry said in a statement .
Senegal is the second sub-Sharan African after Nigeria confirmed its first infection last week .
And Jordan confirmed its first patient was a citizen who had recently returned two weeks ago from Italy .
On Monday , South Korea 's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced 476 new cases since 4 p.m. the day prior and four additional deaths , increasing its death toll to 22 .
South Korea 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China where the virus emerged in December .
Nearly 60 percent of its cases are connected to the secretive Shincheonji Church of Jesus and center around the southeastern city of Daegu where the sect maintains a strong presence , the CDC said .
On Sunday evening , Italy announced its number of cases had increased by some 50 percent to 1,694 , most of which were located in the nation 's northern region , and 34 deaths .
And Iran said it had 978 confirmed infections and 54 deaths , 11 more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prompted Australia 's chief medical officer , Brendan Murphy , to declare they can no longer ensure those infected with COVID-19 will not enter the country .
The island nation prohibited non-citizens who had visited China within 14 days from attempting to enter Australia and applied the same rule to those coming from Iran on Monday .
Also from Sunday , any national returning to Australia for Iran will need to self-isolate themselves for the virus ' two-week incubation period .
Murphy said measures are to slow down the virus ' spread , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from entering its borders .
`` It is no longer possible to absolutely prevent new cases coming in , given the increasing changes in epidemiology around the country , '' he said .
The island nation also increased its travel advisory to Level 2 to exercise a high degree of caution when traveling to Italy with select regions receiving a Level 3 , urging travelers to reconsider their plans .
Australian health professionals returning from those nations will also be urged to self-isolate for two weeks before going back to work .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned the outbreak could become a pandemic .
The nation has 29 confirmed cases of the virus and one death , which was confirmed on Sunday .
Chinese health officials on Monday reported 42 deaths from the day prior , increasing the death toll for mainland China from the coronavirus to 2,912 .
All of the deaths were reported in Hubei province , whose capital Wuhan is where COVID-19 is believed to have emerged in December before spreading across the globe .
The figures were released early Monday in China 's National Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new confirmed cases of the virus , all but four reported in Hubei .

Transit workers use a thermal sensor to check a passenger's body temperature at a subway station in Daegu, South Korea on Feb. 21. South Korea has recorded over 4,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo
March 2 (UPI) -- The European Union's disease prevention agency raised its risk assessment of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak from moderate to high on Monday as more countries confirm first cases and worries over the virus' spread ballooned along with the growing clusters in South Korea, Italy and Iran. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the decision of the European Center for Disease Control to raise its risk level while launching a coronavirus response team to bring together the various factions working throughout Europe. Advertisement
"The virus continues to spread," she said, adding the situation before them is complex and requires swift action and strong coordination at all levels.
Leyen said the three pillars of the response team are medical, covering prevention and procurement; mobility, which covers transportation and travel advice; and the economy.
Advertisement Today we are launching the Corona response team. We are working on all fronts to support EU countries in preparedness, halt the spread of #COVID19 and protect the health of our citizens. President @vonderleyen  pic.twitter.com/nN4oNAmeDu— European Commission (@EU_Commission) March 2, 2020
Janez Lenarcic, the European commissioner for crisis management, welcomed reporters during the briefing to their emergency response center and said what has been learned from the ongoing crisis is that all countries need to be ready for COVID-19's arrival.
"While we should not give in to panic, the situation is likely to still get worse, so we need to be prepared and time is of the essence here," he said, adding that all EU member states need to work together to establish a "coherent EU-wide response."
Many of the roughly 70 affected nations and territories recorded their first cases in the past few weeks, with five nations announcing their first infections over the weekend, according to the World Health Organization. On Sunday, Scotland, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, and Iceland added their names to the growing list of countries with new cases.
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And on Monday, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Jordan confirmed its first COVID-19 patients.
As new cases pop up in new parts of the world, the WHO on Monday declined to call the global coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, given that more than 80 percent of the cases of the disease outside China are located in only four countries: Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said South Korea has more than half of all cases outside China, and that most have come from "known clusters," not community spread -- which suggests that disease surveillance and actions taking so far are working.
"If this was influenza, we'd have expected widespread community spread," he said. "Containment is possible in all countries that are affected."
In Iran, meanwhile, a WHO expert team arrived this morning, bringing testing kits capable of evaluating more than 100,000 samples and personal protective equipment -- respirators and face masks -- for more than 15,000 healthcare workers. Iran now has 978 confirmed cases, among them a WHO staffer, who was diagnosed yesterday and has "mild disease."
"The health system in Iran needs to be supported," said Mike Ryan, head of the WHO's emergencies program. Although the country has a strong health infrastructure, he added, "clearly all health systems come under pressure with this disease."
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Indonesian President Joko Widodo told reporters a 64-year-old woman and her 31-year-old daughter tested positive for COVID-19 after having come into contact with a Japanese citizen who tested positive for the virus late last month in neighboring Malaysia.
"When we received information [concerning the Japanese citizen], a team in Indonesia immediately traced who the Japanese citizen met with," Widodo told reporters Monday at the State Palace. "We checked, and this morning I received a report from the health minister that they tested positive for the coronavirus."
In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Health confirmed its first infection in a citizen who had returned from Iran via Bahrain, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported.
The patient failed to disclose his trip to the coronavirus-riddled Iran at the Saudi port, the ministry said, adding the person is isolated at the hospital.
"The people in contact with the infected person were counted and samples were taken from them for examination," the ministry said.
And Senegal said Monday it diagnosed its first case in a French national who had recently returned from a ski resort in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region from Feb. 13 to Tuesday. He returned to Senegal where he is married with two kids on Wednesday.
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"To date, the patient's condition does not raise any major concerns," the ministry said in a statement.
Senegal is the second sub-Sharan African after Nigeria confirmed its first infection last week.
And Jordan confirmed its first patient was a citizen who had recently returned two weeks ago from Italy.
On Monday, South Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced 476 new cases since 4 p.m. the day prior and four additional deaths, increasing its death toll to 22. South Korea's 4,212 cases are the most outside of China where the virus emerged in December.
Nearly 60 percent of its cases are connected to the secretive Shincheonji Church of Jesus and center around the southeastern city of Daegu where the sect maintains a strong presence, the CDC said.
On Sunday evening, Italy announced its number of cases had increased by some 50 percent to 1,694, most of which were located in the nation's northern region, and 34 deaths. And Iran said it had 978 confirmed infections and 54 deaths, 11 more than the day prior.
The rapid increases prompted Australia's chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, to declare they can no longer ensure those infected with COVID-19 will not enter the country.
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The island nation prohibited non-citizens who had visited China within 14 days from attempting to enter Australia and applied the same rule to those coming from Iran on Monday. Also from Sunday, any national returning to Australia for Iran will need to self-isolate themselves for the virus' two-week incubation period.
Murphy said measures are to slow down the virus' spread, but they won't stop new cases from entering its borders.
"It is no longer possible to absolutely prevent new cases coming in, given the increasing changes in epidemiology around the country," he said.
The island nation also increased its travel advisory to Level 2 to exercise a high degree of caution when traveling to Italy with select regions receiving a Level 3, urging travelers to reconsider their plans. Australian health professionals returning from those nations will also be urged to self-isolate for two weeks before going back to work.
On Friday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned the outbreak could become a pandemic.
The nation has 29 confirmed cases of the virus and one death, which was confirmed on Sunday.
Chinese health officials on Monday reported 42 deaths from the day prior, increasing the death toll for mainland China from the coronavirus to 2,912.
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All of the deaths were reported in Hubei province, whose capital Wuhan is where COVID-19 is believed to have emerged in December before spreading across the globe.
The figures were released early Monday in China's National Health Commission's daily update, reporting 202 new confirmed cases of the virus, all but four reported in Hubei.


upi--2020-03-02--Anthony Tolliver signs 10-day contract with Grizzlies, drops 12 points in debut

March 2 ( UPI ) -- Anthony Tolliver made an immediate impact after signing a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday .
Tolliver agreed to the short-term deal with the Grizzlies only a few hours before Monday night 's game against the Atlanta Hawks .
In a corresponding roster move , Memphis waived forward Jordan Bell .
In his debut mere hours after being signed , Tolliver recorded 12 points and three rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench .
He went 4-of-5 from 3-point range in the Grizzlies ' 127-88 blowout victory over the Hawks .
Tolliver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the playoff-hopeful Grizzlies after being bought out by the Sacramento Kings last week .
The 34-year-old forward gave the Kings back $ 144,901 , which is the same amount of a 10-day contract .
Tolliver originally signed with the Portland Trail Blazers this past off-season , but the team traded him to Sacramento at the NBA trade deadline last month .
He was averaging 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game this season before his Grizzlies debut Monday .
The Grizzlies signed Tolliver given the current status of the team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knee ) and Brandon Clarke ( quad ) are expected to miss at least an additional week due to their injuries .
Memphis ( 30-31 ) is currently in the No .
8 playoff spot in the Western Conference .

March 2 (UPI) -- Anthony Tolliver made an immediate impact after signing a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.
Tolliver agreed to the short-term deal with the Grizzlies only a few hours before Monday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks. In a corresponding roster move, Memphis waived forward Jordan Bell.
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In his debut mere hours after being signed, Tolliver recorded 12 points and three rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench. He went 4-of-5 from 3-point range in the Grizzlies' 127-88 blowout victory over the Hawks.
Tolliver will be eligible for postseason play for the playoff-hopeful Grizzlies after being bought out by the Sacramento Kings last week. The 34-year-old forward gave the Kings back $144,901, which is the same amount of a 10-day contract.
Tolliver originally signed with the Portland Trail Blazers this past off-season, but the team traded him to Sacramento at the NBA trade deadline last month. He was averaging 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game this season before his Grizzlies debut Monday.
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The Grizzlies signed Tolliver given the current status of the team's frontcourt. Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) and Brandon Clarke (quad) are expected to miss at least an additional week due to their injuries.
Memphis (30-31) is currently in the No. 8 playoff spot in the Western Conference.


upi--2020-03-02--Golf: American Dustin Johnson to sit out 2020 Olympics

March 2 ( UPI ) -- Dustin Johnson has decided to skip the upcoming 2020 Olympics in Tokyo due to his PGA Tour schedule .
Johnson 's agent , David Winkle , confirmed the golfer 's decision , which was first reported by Golfweek on Monday .
Winkle cited the condensed PGA Tour schedule as Johnson 's reason for skipping the Olympics .
He said Johnson wants to be prepared for the FedEx Cup playoffs , which begin only 11 days after the Olympics .
`` You just ca n't do it all , given the newly compressed schedule , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to ESPN .
`` Dustin and others learned a lot about themselves and what works for them last year , so I applaud him for not overextending himself and keeping his personal priorities in line . ''
Johnson , ranked No .
5 in the world , was in line to be one of four Americans eligible to compete in the 60-player tournament this summer .
The tournament is scheduled to begin July 30 .
Johnson was eligible to participate in the 2016 Olympics in Rio , where Justin Rose won the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson sat out due to concerns over the Zika virus , according to ESPN .
`` At the end of the day , it 's a matter of personal preference and priority , '' Winkle said .
`` As much as he would be honored to be an Olympian , the FedEx Cup playoffs are also very important to him .
`` Having had a few close calls in the playoffs , he really wants to win them before his time is done and feels that he would n't be giving himself the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added a lengthy international trip just prior to their beginning . ''
Johnson is a 20-time PGA Tour winner and captured the 2016 U.S. Open .

Dustin Johnson is ranked fifth in the world and was in line to be one of four Americans eligible for the 60-man tournament this summer. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
March 2 (UPI) -- Dustin Johnson has decided to skip the upcoming 2020 Olympics in Tokyo due to his PGA Tour schedule. Johnson's agent, David Winkle, confirmed the golfer's decision, which was first reported by Golfweek on Monday. Advertisement
Winkle cited the condensed PGA Tour schedule as Johnson's reason for skipping the Olympics. He said Johnson wants to be prepared for the FedEx Cup playoffs, which begin only 11 days after the Olympics.
"You just can't do it all, given the newly compressed schedule," Winkle said in an email, according to ESPN. "Dustin and others learned a lot about themselves and what works for them last year, so I applaud him for not overextending himself and keeping his personal priorities in line."
Johnson, ranked No. 5 in the world, was in line to be one of four Americans eligible to compete in the 60-player tournament this summer. The tournament is scheduled to begin July 30.
Johnson was eligible to participate in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, where Justin Rose won the gold medal. Like many others, Johnson sat out due to concerns over the Zika virus, according to ESPN.
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"At the end of the day, it's a matter of personal preference and priority," Winkle said. "As much as he would be honored to be an Olympian, the FedEx Cup playoffs are also very important to him.
"Having had a few close calls in the playoffs, he really wants to win them before his time is done and feels that he wouldn't be giving himself the best opportunity to do so if he added a lengthy international trip just prior to their beginning."
Johnson is a 20-time PGA Tour winner and captured the 2016 U.S. Open.


upi--2020-03-02--Trump administration imposes employee cap on Chinese state media

March 2 ( UPI ) -- Two weeks after the United States named five China-controlled news organizations as foreign missions , the Trump administration on Monday announced new restrictions on the number of Chinese nationals who those companies may employ .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the measure in a statement , clarifying it is not based on any content they produce but with the goal of creating reciprocity as China has for years `` imposed increasingly harsh surveillance , harassment and intimidation against American and other foreign journalists operating in China . ''
`` As we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationship , we seek to establish a long-overdue level playing field , '' he said .
`` It is our hope that this action will spur Beijing to adopt a more fair and reciprocal approach to U.S. and other foreign press in China . ''
On Feb. 18 , the State Department designated Xinhua News Agency , the China Global Television Network , China Radio International , China Daily and the People 's Daily as foreign missions , meaning they operate as an arm of the People 's Republic of China .
Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inform the Office of Foreign Missions within the State Department who they employ , where they live and seek approval to buy or lease real estate .
The organizations currently employ a collective 160 Chinese nationals but the personnel cap will force them to cull that workforce to 100 by March 16 but they must inform the Trump administration of who will be cut by Friday , State Department officials told reporters in Washington under rules of anonymity .
`` We note that even after this cap is implemented , these five PRC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ propaganda organs of the Chinese Communist Party , these five alone will continue to employ more Chinese personnel here in the U.S. than there are foreign reporters at all U.S. media outlets in China , '' a senior state department official said .
`` And , of course , unlike U.S.-based media organizations , these PRC state entities are not , in fact , independent news organizations .
As I said , they are explicit propaganda organs of the Chinese Communist Party . ''
The official said the United States issued 425 media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the roughly 100 foreign journalists working in the Asian nation .
By company , China Radio International will be allowed two employees , China Daily nine , China Global 30 and Xinhua 59 , the officials said , adding no restrictions would be placed at this time on Hai Tian , which distributes the People 's Daily .
The officials said what happens to the visas of those who are trimmed will be handled on an individual basis and it is up to the companies to decide who will continue to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caps are n't placed on individuals -- They 're only on the entities , '' a second State Department official said .
`` So , it will be up to Xinuha to determine who they want to work or not .
And , in terms of how long they 'll be there , that will be up to them .
Their status in the country is n't determined by the Department of State . ''
The restrictions do not , however , limit the number of American citizens they may hire , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Department designated the five media organizations as foreign missions , China expelled three American journalists , stating it was in retaliation to a piece their organization had written .
The first State Department official said if China chooses to retaliate against this move , `` all options would be on the table '' for them to respond .
`` I ca n't tell you what in particular we would do , but we would sit down , review the circumstances and then consider all our options , '' the official said .

March 2 (UPI) -- Two weeks after the United States named five China-controlled news organizations as foreign missions, the Trump administration on Monday announced new restrictions on the number of Chinese nationals who those companies may employ.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the measure in a statement, clarifying it is not based on any content they produce but with the goal of creating reciprocity as China has for years "imposed increasingly harsh surveillance, harassment and intimidation against American and other foreign journalists operating in China."
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"As we have done in other areas of the U.S.-China relationship, we seek to establish a long-overdue level playing field," he said. "It is our hope that this action will spur Beijing to adopt a more fair and reciprocal approach to U.S. and other foreign press in China."
On Feb. 18, the State Department designated Xinhua News Agency, the China Global Television Network, China Radio International, China Daily and the People's Daily as foreign missions, meaning they operate as an arm of the People's Republic of China. Under the designation, they are required to inform the Office of Foreign Missions within the State Department who they employ, where they live and seek approval to buy or lease real estate.
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The organizations currently employ a collective 160 Chinese nationals but the personnel cap will force them to cull that workforce to 100 by March 16 but they must inform the Trump administration of who will be cut by Friday, State Department officials told reporters in Washington under rules of anonymity.
"We note that even after this cap is implemented, these five PRC state media groups, which are explicit propaganda organs of the Chinese Communist Party, these five alone will continue to employ more Chinese personnel here in the U.S. than there are foreign reporters at all U.S. media outlets in China," a senior state department official said. "And, of course, unlike U.S.-based media organizations, these PRC state entities are not, in fact, independent news organizations. As I said, they are explicit propaganda organs of the Chinese Communist Party."
The official said the United States issued 425 media visas to Chinese nationals last year compared to the roughly 100 foreign journalists working in the Asian nation.
By company, China Radio International will be allowed two employees, China Daily nine, China Global 30 and Xinhua 59, the officials said, adding no restrictions would be placed at this time on Hai Tian, which distributes the People's Daily.
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The officials said what happens to the visas of those who are trimmed will be handled on an individual basis and it is up to the companies to decide who will continue to work in the United States.
"The caps aren't placed on individuals -- They're only on the entities," a second State Department official said. "So, it will be up to Xinuha to determine who they want to work or not. And, in terms of how long they'll be there, that will be up to them. Their status in the country isn't determined by the Department of State."
The restrictions do not, however, limit the number of American citizens they may hire, the official said.
A day after the State Department designated the five media organizations as foreign missions, China expelled three American journalists, stating it was in retaliation to a piece their organization had written.
The first State Department official said if China chooses to retaliate against this move, "all options would be on the table" for them to respond.
"I can't tell you what in particular we would do, but we would sit down, review the circumstances and then consider all our options," the official said.


upi--2020-03-02--Sleepy seniors at greater risk for health conditions

If you 're over 65 and sleeping well at night , yet find yourself nodding off during the day , you may have a higher risk of developing new medical conditions like diabetes and cancer .
New research found that people who were excessively tired during the day had about twice the risk of being diagnosed with high blood pressure , type 2 diabetes or cancer .
`` Healthy people , without major medical conditions , are minimally sleepy through the day , '' said the study 's lead author , Dr. Maurice Ohayon .
He 's a professor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Getting older does n't mean you have to be tired and sleepy .
[ Excessive daytime sleepiness ] is mostly linked to a medical condition that deserves to be addressed by your physician , '' he explained .
The study looked at `` hypersomnolence '' in people over 65 .
Hypersomnolence is excessive daytime sleepiness in people who have had seven or more hours of sleep at night .
People with hypersomnolence will have recurrent periods of sleep during the day .
They do n't feel refreshed after sleeping as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have difficulty being fully awake after they are abruptly awakened , Ohayon said .
For someone to be diagnosed with hypersomnolence , these symptoms have to occur at least three times a week over a three-month period , he noted .
In past research , this type of excessive daytime sleepiness has been linked to a decline in thinking and memory skills , and even to Alzheimer 's disease .
The current study included people from eight U.S. states .
Information was collected at two time points three years apart .
During the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age was 73 , Ohayon said .
The final analysis included just over 3,700 participants older than 65 .
Just under 60 percent of the study volunteers were women .
Thirty-seven percent of participants were overweight and 26 percent were obese at the start of the study .
About 9 % of the study volunteers had obstructive sleep apnea , a condition that disrupts sleep often throughout the night .
Sleep apnea is associated with daytime sleepiness .
Just under 23 percent of the study volunteers reported hypersomnolence at the start of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number increased to nearly 24 percent .
The researchers adjusted the data to control for the effects of gender , weight and sleep apnea .
The investigators found the risk of developing type 2 diabetes was 2.3 times higher in people who were excessively tired throughout the day .
The risk of cancer was two times higher , and the risk of high blood pressure was a little more than two times higher in the sleepier seniors , the study found .
`` If hypersomnolence prevents you from doing what you like during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem , '' and something you should talk to your doctor about , Ohayon said .
He said if you 're taking medications and struggling to stay awake , it 's possible that you 're experiencing a side effect from the drug .
According to Dr. Natakki Wheatley , a family medicine physician from Detroit Medical Center 's Sinai-Grace Hospital , `` Daytime sleepiness is not necessarily a part of normal aging .
It 's something to mention to your doctor , especially if you 've noticed it developed in a short period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to daytime fatigue include type 2 diabetes , obstructive sleep apnea , depression , high blood pressure , heart failure , low thyroid hormone levels , and certain vitamin deficiencies .
`` Some of these underlying conditions can be easily screened and treated , '' she said .
The bottom line ?
Both experts said if you find yourself struggling to stay awake or if you 're nodding off after a full night of sleep , talk with your doctor to see if you have a medical condition that needs treatment .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting in Toronto , Canada , between April 25 and May 1 .
Findings presented at meetings are typically viewed as preliminary until they 're published in a peer-reviewed journal .
Learn more about staying healthy as you age from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health .

If you're over 65 and sleeping well at night, yet find yourself nodding off during the day, you may have a higher risk of developing new medical conditions like diabetes and cancer.
New research found that people who were excessively tired during the day had about twice the risk of being diagnosed with high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or cancer.
Advertisement
"Healthy people, without major medical conditions, are minimally sleepy through the day," said the study's lead author, Dr. Maurice Ohayon. He's a professor of psychiatry and behavioral health at Stanford University.
"Getting older doesn't mean you have to be tired and sleepy. [Excessive daytime sleepiness] is mostly linked to a medical condition that deserves to be addressed by your physician," he explained.
The study looked at "hypersomnolence" in people over 65. Hypersomnolence is excessive daytime sleepiness in people who have had seven or more hours of sleep at night. People with hypersomnolence will have recurrent periods of sleep during the day. They don't feel refreshed after sleeping as much as nine hours or more. They have difficulty being fully awake after they are abruptly awakened, Ohayon said.
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For someone to be diagnosed with hypersomnolence, these symptoms have to occur at least three times a week over a three-month period, he noted.
In past research, this type of excessive daytime sleepiness has been linked to a decline in thinking and memory skills, and even to Alzheimer's disease.
The current study included people from eight U.S. states. Information was collected at two time points three years apart.
During the first interview, study volunteers' average age was 73, Ohayon said. The final analysis included just over 3,700 participants older than 65. Just under 60 percent of the study volunteers were women.
Thirty-seven percent of participants were overweight and 26 percent were obese at the start of the study. About 9% of the study volunteers had obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that disrupts sleep often throughout the night. Sleep apnea is associated with daytime sleepiness.
Just under 23 percent of the study volunteers reported hypersomnolence at the start of the study. Three years later, that number increased to nearly 24 percent.
The researchers adjusted the data to control for the effects of gender, weight and sleep apnea.
The investigators found the risk of developing type 2 diabetes was 2.3 times higher in people who were excessively tired throughout the day. The risk of cancer was two times higher, and the risk of high blood pressure was a little more than two times higher in the sleepier seniors, the study found.
Advertisement
"If hypersomnolence prevents you from doing what you like during the daytime, then it is a problem," and something you should talk to your doctor about, Ohayon said.
He said if you're taking medications and struggling to stay awake, it's possible that you're experiencing a side effect from the drug.
According to Dr. Natakki Wheatley, a family medicine physician from Detroit Medical Center's Sinai-Grace Hospital, "Daytime sleepiness is not necessarily a part of normal aging. It's something to mention to your doctor, especially if you've noticed it developed in a short period of time."
Some conditions linked to daytime fatigue include type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, depression, high blood pressure, heart failure, low thyroid hormone levels, and certain vitamin deficiencies.
"Some of these underlying conditions can be easily screened and treated," she said.
The bottom line? Both experts said if you find yourself struggling to stay awake or if you're nodding off after a full night of sleep, talk with your doctor to see if you have a medical condition that needs treatment.
The study's findings are scheduled for presentation at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting in Toronto, Canada, between April 25 and May 1. Findings presented at meetings are typically viewed as preliminary until they're published in a peer-reviewed journal.
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More information
Learn more about staying healthy as you age from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-03-02--Illinois rewards men's basketball coach Brad Underwood with extension

March 2 ( UPI ) -- Illinois men 's basketball coach Brad Underwood agreed to a three-year contract extension through 2026 , the school announced Monday .
Underwood 's new contract moves his base salary to $ 3.4 million , according to the school .
He will also receive annual increases that will grow his salary to $ 4 million for the 2025-26 season .
`` I am extremely pleased with the upward trajectory of our Fighting Illini men 's basketball program and believe we are headed toward a championship future , '' Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's leadership , our student-athletes have showed steady progress on the court and in the classroom .
`` He has instilled a culture based on competitiveness , toughness , preparation , and accountability that is yielding exciting results .
His ability to project a vision for the program 's future , to recruit elite players to Champaign-Urbana , and to develop them into a winning team has exceeded even my admittedly high expectations at this relatively early stage in his tenure . ''
The extension comes with Illinois challenging for the Big Ten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the school .
The Fighting Illini hold a 20-9 overall record and are tied for second in conference play with Michigan State and Wisconsin at 12-6 this season .
Underwood originally signed a six-year contract with Illinois in 2017 after leaving Oklahoma State .
He guided the Cowboys to a 20-13 record and an NCAA tournament appearance in his lone season at the school .
Underwood led Stephen F. Austin to an 89-14 record and three NCAA tournaments from 2013-16 .
The extension is pending approval by the university 's board of trustees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also announced extensions through 2022 for his assistant coaches .

Illinois men's basketball coach Brad Underwood is in his third season with the Fighting Illini. Photo courtesy of Illinois Athletics/Official Website
March 2 (UPI) -- Illinois men's basketball coach Brad Underwood agreed to a three-year contract extension through 2026, the school announced Monday. Underwood's new contract moves his base salary to $3.4 million, according to the school. He will also receive annual increases that will grow his salary to $4 million for the 2025-26 season. Advertisement
"I am extremely pleased with the upward trajectory of our Fighting Illini men's basketball program and believe we are headed toward a championship future," Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said in a statement. "Under Coach Underwood's leadership, our student-athletes have showed steady progress on the court and in the classroom.
"He has instilled a culture based on competitiveness, toughness, preparation, and accountability that is yielding exciting results. His ability to project a vision for the program's future, to recruit elite players to Champaign-Urbana, and to develop them into a winning team has exceeded even my admittedly high expectations at this relatively early stage in his tenure."
The extension comes with Illinois challenging for the Big Ten championship in Underwood's third season at the school. The Fighting Illini hold a 20-9 overall record and are tied for second in conference play with Michigan State and Wisconsin at 12-6 this season.
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Underwood originally signed a six-year contract with Illinois in 2017 after leaving Oklahoma State. He guided the Cowboys to a 20-13 record and an NCAA tournament appearance in his lone season at the school.
Underwood led Stephen F. Austin to an 89-14 record and three NCAA tournaments from 2013-16.
The extension is pending approval by the university's board of trustees at its March 12 meeting. Illinois also announced extensions through 2022 for his assistant coaches.


upi--2020-03-02--Watch: Tampa Bay Rays' Garrett Whitley struck in face by foul ball in dugout

March 2 ( UPI ) -- Tampa Bay Rays minor league outfielder Garrett Whitley was hit in the face by a foul ball while sitting in the dugout during Monday 's spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles .
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Whitley did n't lose consciousnesses and was taken to a local hospital for additional tests .
According to The Athletic , the team said Whitley has a `` right facial injury '' and was eventually released from the hospital .
`` That was pretty scary , '' Cash said , according to the Tampa Bay Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exams , he was coherent , his eyes were moving fine .
He 's going to have a pretty good welt .
...
The only blood that I saw was a little bit out of his nose , and then almost like the seam of the baseball split him just a little but [ under the eye ] , not like a gash . ''
Orioles infielder Renato Nunez fouled a pitch off and sent the ball rocketing toward the Rays ' dugout .
The baseball ricocheted off the steps inside the dugout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's face .
Rays trainers immediately attended to Whitley before walking him into the training room for further evaluation .
The Rays open the regular season against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26 .

March 2 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay Rays minor league outfielder Garrett Whitley was hit in the face by a foul ball while sitting in the dugout during Monday's spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Whitley didn't lose consciousnesses and was taken to a local hospital for additional tests. According to The Athletic, the team said Whitley has a "right facial injury" and was eventually released from the hospital.
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"That was pretty scary," Cash said, according to the Tampa Bay Times. "From the initial test and exams, he was coherent, his eyes were moving fine. He's going to have a pretty good welt. ... The only blood that I saw was a little bit out of his nose, and then almost like the seam of the baseball split him just a little but [under the eye], not like a gash."
Orioles infielder Renato Nunez fouled a pitch off and sent the ball rocketing toward the Rays' dugout. The baseball ricocheted off the steps inside the dugout and struck the right side of Whitley's face.
Advertisement Update from #Rays: Prospect Garrett Whitley was the player struck by the foul ball in the dugout. He has a right facial injury and will undergo further testing.— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) March 2, 2020
Rays trainers immediately attended to Whitley before walking him into the training room for further evaluation.
The Rays open the regular season against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26.


upi--2020-03-02--Angels star Mike Trout, wife expecting baby boy

March 2 ( UPI ) -- Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout announced Monday that his wife is pregnant with a baby boy .
The baby is due in August .
Trout posted a video featuring several clips with his wife , Jessica , and family on social media .
`` Baby Trout due August 2020 , '' Trout wrote .
`` I do n't even know where to begin .
From seeing your heartbeat for the first time to seeing you dance around in mommy 's belly .
`` We are truly blessed and this is only the beginning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best mommy already and I ca n't wait to be your dad !
We are so humbled by this gift God has given us .
We love you already , buddy ! ''
Trout 's video featured his wife on the night before Thanksgiving , when she surprised her husband with the news after receiving positive results on pregnancy tests .
The video also showed the couple breaking the news to other family members .
The Trouts married in 2017 .
They started dating while attending high school in Millville , N.J. Trout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March 2019 , inking a 12-year , $ 430 million contract with the Angels .
The Angels lost to the Chicago Cubs in a spring training game Monday at Sloan Park in Mesa , Ariz .
They battle the Cleveland Indians at 3:05 p.m. EST Tuesday in Goodyear , Ariz. Trout , 28 , won his third American League MVP award last season after hitting .291 with 45 home runs and 104 RBIs in 134 games .
The eight-time All-Star has a .305 career batting average with 285 home runs in 1,199 @ @ @ @ @

Los Angeles Angels star MIke Trout won his third American League MVP award last season. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
March 2 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout announced Monday that his wife is pregnant with a baby boy. The baby is due in August. Trout posted a video featuring several clips with his wife, Jessica, and family on social media. Advertisement
"Baby Trout due August 2020," Trout wrote. "I don't even know where to begin. From seeing your heartbeat for the first time to seeing you dance around in mommy's belly.
"We are truly blessed and this is only the beginning! Little man, you have the best mommy already and I can't wait to be your dad! We are so humbled by this gift God has given us. We love you already, buddy!"
Trout's video featured his wife on the night before Thanksgiving, when she surprised her husband with the news after receiving positive results on pregnancy tests. The video also showed the couple breaking the news to other family members.
The Trouts married in 2017. They started dating while attending high school in Millville, N.J. Trout signed the largest contract in sports history in March 2019, inking a 12-year, $430 million contract with the Angels.
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The Angels lost to the Chicago Cubs in a spring training game Monday at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. They battle the Cleveland Indians at 3:05 p.m. EST Tuesday in Goodyear, Ariz. Trout, 28, won his third American League MVP award last season after hitting .291 with 45 home runs and 104 RBIs in 134 games. The eight-time All-Star has a .305 career batting average with 285 home runs in 1,199 games for the Angels.


upi--2020-03-03--19 states sue Trump over plan to divert more defense funding to build border wall

March 3 ( UPI ) -- A group of 18 states sued the Trump administration Tuesday over its latest plans to divert billions of dollars in military funds to the construction of a border wall .
The lawsuit , filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California , came in response to a request last month by the Pentagon to divert $ 3.8 billion from weapons procurement to wall construction .
`` President [ Donald ] Trump is risking the safety of every American by diverting taxpayer dollars from our military to fund the same xenophobic campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four years , '' said New York Attorney General Letitia James .
`` The courts have already once rejected the president 's unlawful attempt to shift funds to his hateful pet project , so as long as this administration continues down the path of illegally subsidizing an ill-advised border wall we will not hesitate to take action , '' she added .
Joining New York in the lawsuit were attorneys general representing California , Colorado , Connecticut , Hawaii , Illinois , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , Michigan , Minnesota , Nevada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon , Rhode Island , Vermont , Virginia and Wisconsin .
In a reprogramming request filed Feb. 13 , the Pentagon south to shift $ 2.02 billion in fiscal 2020 defense appropriations and $ 1.6 billion in fiscal 2020 overseas contingency operations in order to fund construction of the wall .
On the chopping block are aircraft purchases , including some F-35 joint strike fighters , C-130J cargo aircraft , MQ-9 Reaper drones and P-8 maritime surveillance planes , as well as ground vehicles and naval equipment .
Aircraft procurement for the Navy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 558 million if the request is honored , and by $ 861 million for the Air Force .
President Donald Trump 's 2016 presidential campaign was fueled in part by promises to expand the border wall , which began construction in 2006 , and continuing construction has been a key priority as he faces re-election in November .
In September 2019 , the Pentagon approved reallocation of $ 3.6 billion in funding for 127 military construction projects to fund 11 border wall construction projects .

The Trump administration requested the diversion of funds in February. File Photo by Ariana Drehsler/UPI | License Photo
March 3 (UPI) -- A group of 18 states sued the Trump administration Tuesday over its latest plans to divert billions of dollars in military funds to the construction of a border wall. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California, came in response to a request last month by the Pentagon to divert $3.8 billion from weapons procurement to wall construction. Advertisement
"President [Donald] Trump is risking the safety of every American by diverting taxpayer dollars from our military to fund the same xenophobic campaign promises he's made for the last four years," said New York Attorney General Letitia James.
"The courts have already once rejected the president's unlawful attempt to shift funds to his hateful pet project, so as long as this administration continues down the path of illegally subsidizing an ill-advised border wall we will not hesitate to take action," she added.
Joining New York in the lawsuit were attorneys general representing California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin.
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In a reprogramming request filed Feb. 13, the Pentagon south to shift $2.02 billion in fiscal 2020 defense appropriations and $1.6 billion in fiscal 2020 overseas contingency operations in order to fund construction of the wall.
On the chopping block are aircraft purchases, including some F-35 joint strike fighters, C-130J cargo aircraft, MQ-9 Reaper drones and P-8 maritime surveillance planes, as well as ground vehicles and naval equipment.
Aircraft procurement for the Navy and Marine Corps would go down by $558 million if the request is honored, and by $861 million for the Air Force.
President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign was fueled in part by promises to expand the border wall, which began construction in 2006, and continuing construction has been a key priority as he faces re-election in November.
In September 2019, the Pentagon approved reallocation of $3.6 billion in funding for 127 military construction projects to fund 11 border wall construction projects.
Christen McCurdy contributed to this report.


upi--2020-03-03--FDA ramps up COVID-19 testing; 108 U.S. cases, 9 deaths

March 3 ( UPI ) -- U.S. health officials told Congress on Tuesday they will ramp up testing for COVID-19 -- with the capacity to perform as many as 1 million tests a day -- as 108 cases and nine deaths were confirmed in 15 states .
During a briefing from the White House coronavirus task force , Vice President Mike Pence said new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes clear that any American can be tested without question , no longer restricting tests to people exhibiting symptoms .
He added that testing kits will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million people to be tested next week and that the task force will move all inspection resources at the state level to dealing with infectious disease .
There are indications there could be hundreds more COVID-19 cases in the United States , health officials said , particularly in heavily populated areas like Florida , Atlanta and New York City -- all of which reported new cases Tuesday .
The nine deaths have all been in Washington state .
In Washington , officials confirmed Tuesday that two more residents of the Life Care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the disease .
There have been no details released on the ninth death .
In Georgia , Gov .
Brian Kemp late Monday confirmed the state 's first two cases of COVID-19 , in a husband and wife who had recently returned from Italy .
The announcement comes days after he formed a new coronavirus task force to assess the state 's readiness to respond to cases of the disease .
And a third presumptive positive case of COVID-19 has been found in Florida , Gov .
Ron DeSantis said Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the sister of a Hillsborough County woman who tested positive Sunday following a trip to Italy .
The newly diagnosed person was on the trip as well .
New York City , which reported its first case Monday , in a woman who had traveled to Iran , added its second case less than 24 hours later in a man who works in the city but lives in Westchester County .
The Transit Workers Union , which represents employees operating the city 's subway system , said its members have been tasked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinfecting the interiors of all trains and buses every 72 hours .
Two schools in New York -- one in the city and the other in the northern suburbs in Westchester County -- were also reportedly closed Tuesday over COVID-19 fears , although no details have been provided .
At a hearing of the Senate 's Committee on Health , Education , Labor and Pensions , officials from the Food and Drug Administration , CDC , Department of Health and Human Services and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases faced questions from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's response to the coronavirus outbreak .
`` It is a new virus , and it is capable of person-to-person spread , '' said Anne Schuchat principal deputy director at the CDC .
`` If sustained person-to-person spread in the community takes hold outside China , this will increase the likelihood that the [ World Health Organization ] will deem it a global pandemic . ''
Among the criticisms was the apparent failure to distribute adequate -- and accurate -- testing equipment to public health labs and healthcare facilities quickly enough in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have partnered with private industry to scale up production , '' FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn said of the COVID-19 tests at the hearing .
`` We 're now looking at about 500 tests per kit . ''
Although the CDC `` moved rapidly to develop a test , '' Hahn said , there were problems with the initial test kits distributed to state labs nationally .
That problem has been addressed but , collectively , just over 500 Americans have been tested -- a small number compared to countries like South Korea , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since their first case of the disease was confirmed there two weeks ago .
For this reason , experts have suggested that many more Americans may have been sickened with COVID-19 , without even knowing it .
An analysis performed by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center at the University of Washington in Seattle , theorizes that several of the cases there , which have been centered in a long-term care facility in the suburb of Kirkland , have genetic links with cases identified in Wuhan , China -- the epicenter of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers said their findings show the virus has potentially been circulating in western Washington state for several weeks , and that as many as 1,500 area residents may have been infected .
They also argued that earlier availability of an accurate test in the region could have prevented the outbreak there , which has claimed nine lives .
`` It 's an interesting hypothesis , but just a hypothesis at this point , '' Nancy Messonnier , director of the CDC 's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases told reporters during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time , similarly early findings , published Tuesday in the agency 's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report , note that COVID-19 may not spread as rapidly or easily as the flu .
The results indicate that those who have the virus , but do n't have symptoms , may infect less than 0.5 percent of their `` close contacts , '' while those who have symptoms may infect up to 10.5 percent of those they come in contact with .
Messonnier cautioned , however , that these findings are based on results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump on Tuesday donated his quarterly salary to the Health and Human Services Department to `` support efforts being undertaken to confront , contain and combat '' the virus , White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham wrote on Twitter .

A woman walks near the New York Stock Exchange wearing a face mask on Wall Street in New York City on Tuesday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
March 3 (UPI) -- U.S. health officials told Congress on Tuesday they will ramp up testing for COVID-19 -- with the capacity to perform as many as 1 million tests a day -- as 108 cases and nine deaths were confirmed in 15 states. During a briefing from the White House coronavirus task force, Vice President Mike Pence said new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes clear that any American can be tested without question, no longer restricting tests to people exhibiting symptoms. Advertisement
He added that testing kits will be shipped out imminently with a plan for 1 million people to be tested next week and that the task force will move all inspection resources at the state level to dealing with infectious disease.
There are indications there could be hundreds more COVID-19 cases in the United States, health officials said, particularly in heavily populated areas like Florida, Atlanta and New York City -- all of which reported new cases Tuesday. The nine deaths have all been in Washington state.
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In Washington, officials confirmed Tuesday that two more residents of the Life Care Center long-term care facility in Kirkland died from the disease. There have been no details released on the ninth death.
In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp late Monday confirmed the state's first two cases of COVID-19, in a husband and wife who had recently returned from Italy. The announcement comes days after he formed a new coronavirus task force to assess the state's readiness to respond to cases of the disease.
And a third presumptive positive case of COVID-19 has been found in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday. The patient is a woman, and is the sister of a Hillsborough County woman who tested positive Sunday following a trip to Italy. The newly diagnosed person was on the trip as well.
New York City, which reported its first case Monday, in a woman who had traveled to Iran, added its second case less than 24 hours later in a man who works in the city but lives in Westchester County. The Transit Workers Union, which represents employees operating the city's subway system, said its members have been tasked with enhanced cleaning measures, which include disinfecting the interiors of all trains and buses every 72 hours.
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Two schools in New York -- one in the city and the other in the northern suburbs in Westchester County -- were also reportedly closed Tuesday over COVID-19 fears, although no details have been provided.
At a hearing of the Senate's Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, officials from the Food and Drug Administration, CDC, Department of Health and Human Services and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases faced questions from lawmakers of both parties on the government's response to the coronavirus outbreak.
"It is a new virus, and it is capable of person-to-person spread," said Anne Schuchat principal deputy director at the CDC. "If sustained person-to-person spread in the community takes hold outside China, this will increase the likelihood that the [World Health Organization] will deem it a global pandemic."
Among the criticisms was the apparent failure to distribute adequate -- and accurate -- testing equipment to public health labs and healthcare facilities quickly enough in the face of the outbreak.
"We have partnered with private industry to scale up production," FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn said of the COVID-19 tests at the hearing. "We're now looking at about 500 tests per kit."
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Although the CDC "moved rapidly to develop a test," Hahn said, there were problems with the initial test kits distributed to state labs nationally.
That problem has been addressed but, collectively, just over 500 Americans have been tested -- a small number compared to countries like South Korea, which has tested more than 125,000 people since their first case of the disease was confirmed there two weeks ago.
For this reason, experts have suggested that many more Americans may have been sickened with COVID-19, without even knowing it.
An analysis performed by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center at the University of Washington in Seattle, theorizes that several of the cases there, which have been centered in a long-term care facility in the suburb of Kirkland, have genetic links with cases identified in Wuhan, China -- the epicenter of the outbreak -- in early January.
The researchers said their findings show the virus has potentially been circulating in western Washington state for several weeks, and that as many as 1,500 area residents may have been infected. They also argued that earlier availability of an accurate test in the region could have prevented the outbreak there, which has claimed nine lives.
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"It's an interesting hypothesis, but just a hypothesis at this point," Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases told reporters during a separate press briefing Tuesday.
At the same time, similarly early findings, published Tuesday in the agency's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, note that COVID-19 may not spread as rapidly or easily as the flu. The results indicate that those who have the virus, but don't have symptoms, may infect less than 0.5 percent of their "close contacts," while those who have symptoms may infect up to 10.5 percent of those they come in contact with. Messonnier cautioned, however, that these findings are based on results from a small sample of patients.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday donated his quarterly salary to the Health and Human Services Department to "support efforts being undertaken to confront, contain and combat" the virus, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham wrote on Twitter.


upi--2020-03-03--Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers nearing $215M contract extension

March 3 ( UPI ) -- The Milwaukee Brewers are close to an agreement with star outfielder Christian Yelich on a team-record contract extension .
League sources told ESPN and The Athletic on Tuesday that Milwaukee and Yelich are deep into discussions on an extension that will span nine years and be worth about $ 215 million .
According to ESPN , both sides believe the deal , which will run through the 2028 campaign and includes a mutual option for the 2029 season , will be completed soon .
Yelich will earn $ 12.5 million in 2020 and $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the terms of his existing contract .
The new seven-year extension worth about $ 190 million would kick in after those two seasons .
Once the agreement is finalized , Yelich 's new deal will be the largest contract by total value in Brewers history , according to MLB Media .
The current team record is Ryan Braun 's $ 105 million extension signed in 2011 .
Yelich , the 2018 National League MVP , captured his second consecutive NL batting title last season .
The 28-year-old outfielder finished second behind Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting after batting .329 with 44 home runs and 97 RBIs in 130 games .
The Brewers are expected to shift Yelich from right field back to left field this season to create a spot for Avisail Garcia , according to ESPN .
Yelich won a Gold Glove in left field with the Miami Marlins in 2014 .
Since making his MLB debut in 2013 , Yelich has recorded a .301 batting average with 139 homers , 500 RBIs , 124 stolen bases and 1,067 base hits in 920 career games between the @ @ @ @

Milwaukee Brewers star outfielder Christian Yelich captured his second straight National League batting title last season. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
March 3 (UPI) -- The Milwaukee Brewers are close to an agreement with star outfielder Christian Yelich on a team-record contract extension. League sources told ESPN and The Athletic on Tuesday that Milwaukee and Yelich are deep into discussions on an extension that will span nine years and be worth about $215 million. According to ESPN, both sides believe the deal, which will run through the 2028 campaign and includes a mutual option for the 2029 season, will be completed soon. Advertisement
Yelich will earn $12.5 million in 2020 and $14 million in the 2021 season under the terms of his existing contract. The new seven-year extension worth about $190 million would kick in after those two seasons.
Once the agreement is finalized, Yelich's new deal will be the largest contract by total value in Brewers history, according to MLB Media. The current team record is Ryan Braun's $105 million extension signed in 2011.
Yelich, the 2018 National League MVP, captured his second consecutive NL batting title last season. The 28-year-old outfielder finished second behind Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Cody Bellinger in 2019 MVP voting after batting .329 with 44 home runs and 97 RBIs in 130 games.
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The Brewers are expected to shift Yelich from right field back to left field this season to create a spot for Avisail Garcia, according to ESPN. Yelich won a Gold Glove in left field with the Miami Marlins in 2014.
Since making his MLB debut in 2013, Yelich has recorded a .301 batting average with 139 homers, 500 RBIs, 124 stolen bases and 1,067 base hits in 920 career games between the Marlins and Brewers.


upi--2020-03-03--At least 25 dead after tornado hits Nashville

March 3 ( UPI ) -- At least 25 people died Tuesday after a tornado swept through Nashville and surrounding areas of Middle Tennessee .
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said the twister caused damage across four counties , with the greatest toll in Putnam County , where 16 people died .
Among the dead there were multiple children .
Three people died in Wilson County , two in Nashville and one in Benton County .
Police said 40 buildings collapsed when the tornado hit early Tuesday , and damage in metro Nashville stretched for at least 20 miles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ torn off , and extensive damage was reported along Interstate 40 in Wilson County east of the city with hundreds of people displaced .
Serious damage was also reported in Nashville 's Germantown neighborhood .
Its popular farmers market was converted into a makeshift shelter , while the city 's Five Points neighborhood was described by reporters as `` half-destroyed . ''
Nashville Mayor John Cooper said at least 20 people were hospitalized .
`` Nashville is hurting , and our community has been devastated , '' he tweeted .
`` My heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loved ones .
Be sure to lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need , and let 's come together as a community once more .
Together , we will get through this and come out stronger . ''
Tuesday 's storm cut power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses , and Nashville schools were closed .
State officials said they were working to ensure that voters in stricken areas of Tennessee would be able to participate in Tuesday 's presidential primary , although voting was n't scheduled to begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of State Tre Hargett said voting would go on , and he was working `` to ensure polls in affected counties are open . ''
Tuesday afternoon , a Nashville judge ordered that all Davidson County polling sites will remain open until 8 p.m. , a 1-hour extension .
Additionally , five other sites will have their closing time extended until 10 p.m. Four of the top-polling Democratic campaigns and the Tennessee Democratic Party requested the extension in light of the severe weather .
President Donald Trump acknowledged the devastation on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those affected '' and indicating he would travel to Tennessee on Friday to tour the damage .

Workers look over damage in their neighborhood in the Germantown area of Nashville on Tuesday after a deadly tornado hit. Photo by Rick Musacchio/EPA-EFE
March 3 (UPI) -- At least 25 people died Tuesday after a tornado swept through Nashville and surrounding areas of Middle Tennessee. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said the twister caused damage across four counties, with the greatest toll in Putnam County, where 16 people died. Among the dead there were multiple children. Advertisement
Three people died in Wilson County, two in Nashville and one in Benton County.
Police said 40 buildings collapsed when the tornado hit early Tuesday, and damage in metro Nashville stretched for at least 20 miles. The roof of a middle school was torn off, and extensive damage was reported along Interstate 40 in Wilson County east of the city with hundreds of people displaced.
Serious damage was also reported in Nashville's Germantown neighborhood. Its popular farmers market was converted into a makeshift shelter, while the city's Five Points neighborhood was described by reporters as "half-destroyed."
Nashville Mayor John Cooper said at least 20 people were hospitalized.
"Nashville is hurting, and our community has been devastated," he tweeted. "My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones. Be sure to lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need, and let's come together as a community once more. Together, we will get through this and come out stronger."
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Tuesday's storm cut power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses, and Nashville schools were closed.
State officials said they were working to ensure that voters in stricken areas of Tennessee would be able to participate in Tuesday's presidential primary, although voting wasn't scheduled to begin until later in storm-hit areas.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett said voting would go on, and he was working "to ensure polls in affected counties are open."
Tuesday afternoon, a Nashville judge ordered that all Davidson County polling sites will remain open until 8 p.m., a 1-hour extension. Additionally, five other sites will have their closing time extended until 10 p.m.
Four of the top-polling Democratic campaigns and the Tennessee Democratic Party requested the extension in light of the severe weather.
President Donald Trump acknowledged the devastation on Twitter, sending out "prayers for all of those affected" and indicating he would travel to Tennessee on Friday to tour the damage.


upi--2020-03-03--Judge drops murder case against Fotis Dulos after his death

March 3 ( UPI ) -- A judge in Connecticut dropped the murder and kidnapping case against Fotis Dulos after he died last month , despite objections from his attorneys who sought to prove his innocence .
The judge issued a nolle prosequi in the case , which does not constitute an acquittal of the 52-year-old Dulos but acknowledges that the prosecution against him can not continue and allows prosecutors one year to re-file charges in addition to lifting gag orders and freeing witnesses from their obligations .
Chief State 's Attorney Richard Colangelo asked the judge to dismiss the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Norm Pattis , a defense attorney for the late Connecticut real estate developer , asked to allow the case to continue with his estate serving as the defendant .
Pattis said he would seek permission from Dulos ' estate to pursue an appeal through probate court .
`` Mr. Dulos ' memory remains stained by these scandalous accusations and we 'd like a chance to raise them in an open court .
Whether we get that chance is an open question and remains to be seen , '' he said .
`` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the form we hoped .
We hoped fully well to stand in front of you someday with the charges against Mr. Dulos ended by way of an acquittal . ''
Dulos died on Jan. 30 , two days after an apparent suicide attempt while he faced charges in the May 2019 disappearance of his estranged wife Jennifer Dulos , whose body has not been found .
Pattis said his team was investigating a theory that she had been killed by someone else and Dulos had no involvement in her disappearance but panicked when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were placed in his backyard .
Investigators said that Dulos ' DNA was found in her home along with her blood and that both of their DNA appeared in bags full of items including zip-ties , gloves , cleaning supplies and clothes he was seen putting into trash bins with his girlfriend Michelle Troconis .
Troconis and Dulos ' friend Kent Mawhinney have both pleaded not guilty in ongoing cases charging them with conspiracy to commit murder .

March 3 (UPI) -- A judge in Connecticut dropped the murder and kidnapping case against Fotis Dulos after he died last month, despite objections from his attorneys who sought to prove his innocence.
The judge issued a nolle prosequi in the case, which does not constitute an acquittal of the 52-year-old Dulos but acknowledges that the prosecution against him cannot continue and allows prosecutors one year to re-file charges in addition to lifting gag orders and freeing witnesses from their obligations.
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Chief State's Attorney Richard Colangelo asked the judge to dismiss the case against Dulos after his death but Norm Pattis, a defense attorney for the late Connecticut real estate developer, asked to allow the case to continue with his estate serving as the defendant.
Pattis said he would seek permission from Dulos' estate to pursue an appeal through probate court.
"Mr. Dulos' memory remains stained by these scandalous accusations and we'd like a chance to raise them in an open court. Whether we get that chance is an open question and remains to be seen," he said. "This was not the ending we anticipated in the form we hoped. We hoped fully well to stand in front of you someday with the charges against Mr. Dulos ended by way of an acquittal."
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Dulos died on Jan. 30, two days after an apparent suicide attempt while he faced charges in the May 2019 disappearance of his estranged wife Jennifer Dulos, whose body has not been found.
Pattis said his team was investigating a theory that she had been killed by someone else and Dulos had no involvement in her disappearance but panicked when garbage bags filled with her bloody clothes were placed in his backyard.
Investigators said that Dulos' DNA was found in her home along with her blood and that both of their DNA appeared in bags full of items including zip-ties, gloves, cleaning supplies and clothes he was seen putting into trash bins with his girlfriend Michelle Troconis.
Troconis and Dulos' friend Kent Mawhinney have both pleaded not guilty in ongoing cases charging them with conspiracy to commit murder.


upi--2020-03-03--PFAS should be classified as carcinogens, researchers say

March 3 ( UPI ) -- They have been called `` forever chemicals '' -- researchers say they earned the nickname for a reason -- and a new study suggests they increase risk for cancer .
An analysis published Tuesday in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health offers insight into the long-term effects the substances have on human health , with researchers suggesting they should be classified as carcinogens and investigated as such .
Researchers affiliated with the Washington , D.C.-based Environmental Working Group show in the analysis how PFAS -- or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ altering DNA , compromising the immune system or encouraging cell proliferation .
`` Our analysis shows that there really is a lack of safety data on these chemicals , '' Alexis Temkin , a toxicologist with the EWG , told UPI .
`` However , there 's a significant amount of evidence that we 're being exposed to these chemicals in our environment .
Even though many have been phased out or are being phased out , they tend to linger in water and elsewhere . ''
Earlier research has shown that PFAS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water , soil and in food packaging , can accumulate in the human body and persist in the environment -- hence their nickname -- and some studies have linked these chemicals with fertility problems , birth defects , obesity , diabetes and cancer .
Elevated levels of one of the most commonly used and well-studied PFAS , perfluorooctanoic acid , or PFOA , has been associated with an increased risk for non-Hodgkin 's lymphoma as well as kidney , testicular , prostate and ovarian cancers among people living in the Ohio Valley region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found to be contaminated with the chemical .
In addition , PFOA has been shown to induce tumors an animal studies , while GenX , a chemical used to replace PFOA in Teflon , for example , has been shown to cause the development of tumors in animal studies as well .
To date , however , health and environmental officials have declined to describe PFAS as carcinogens , because research has yet to demonstrate that they cause cancer in humans .
Temkin and her colleagues reviewed existing studies for evidence of carcinogenic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studies of 26 PFAS chemicals , using the Key Characteristics of Carcinogens framework for cancer hazard identification .
They found `` strong evidence '' that multiple PFAS cause oxidative stress , are immuno-suppressive and modulate receptor-mediated effects , as well as `` suggestive evidence '' indicating that some PFAS can cause epigenetic alterations and affect cell proliferation .
Not all PFAS are carcinogens , though several Temkin and her team looked at possess at least five of the `` key characteristics of carcinogens , '' Temkin said , while others `` have at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ findings , the researchers say existing scientific evidence indicates that several PFAS have at least one key characteristic of carcinogens and that these chemicals should be investigated as such .
According to Temkin , EWG will continue to work with lawmakers at the national and state level to pass legislation designed to protect the public from exposure to these chemicals .
She noted that , in February , the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to regulate PFOA and PFOS , another common PFAS , in drinking water , but that this `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Our earlier work has confirmed the presence of six to seven of these chemicals in different drinking water sources , '' Temkin said .
`` Certainly , water filtration systems can help , and consumers can also work to limit their exposure to PFAS by limiting their consumption of packaged fast foods , where they can persist in grease , or by foregoing the use of stain treatments on carpets , where PFAS may also be used . ''

PFAS, chemicals found in drinking water in several areas of the country, have been linked with cancer. Now, new research suggests they should be formally labeled carcinogens. Photo by Katja Just/Pixabay
March 3 (UPI) -- They have been called "forever chemicals" -- researchers say they earned the nickname for a reason -- and a new study suggests they increase risk for cancer. An analysis published Tuesday in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health offers insight into the long-term effects the substances have on human health, with researchers suggesting they should be classified as carcinogens and investigated as such. Advertisement
Researchers affiliated with the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Working Group show in the analysis how PFAS -- or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances -- can act like established cancer-causing chemicals by altering DNA, compromising the immune system or encouraging cell proliferation.
"Our analysis shows that there really is a lack of safety data on these chemicals," Alexis Temkin, a toxicologist with the EWG, told UPI. "However, there's a significant amount of evidence that we're being exposed to these chemicals in our environment. Even though many have been phased out or are being phased out, they tend to linger in water and elsewhere."
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Earlier research has shown that PFAS, which have been found in drinking water, soil and in food packaging, can accumulate in the human body and persist in the environment -- hence their nickname -- and some studies have linked these chemicals with fertility problems, birth defects, obesity, diabetes and cancer.
Elevated levels of one of the most commonly used and well-studied PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, has been associated with an increased risk for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as well as kidney, testicular, prostate and ovarian cancers among people living in the Ohio Valley region, where the drinking water had been found to be contaminated with the chemical.
In addition, PFOA has been shown to induce tumors an animal studies, while GenX, a chemical used to replace PFOA in Teflon, for example, has been shown to cause the development of tumors in animal studies as well.
To date, however, health and environmental officials have declined to describe PFAS as carcinogens, because research has yet to demonstrate that they cause cancer in humans.
Temkin and her colleagues reviewed existing studies for evidence of carcinogenic traits in animal, cell and human studies of 26 PFAS chemicals, using the Key Characteristics of Carcinogens framework for cancer hazard identification.
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They found "strong evidence" that multiple PFAS cause oxidative stress, are immuno-suppressive and modulate receptor-mediated effects, as well as "suggestive evidence" indicating that some PFAS can cause epigenetic alterations and affect cell proliferation.
Not all PFAS are carcinogens, though several Temkin and her team looked at possess at least five of the "key characteristics of carcinogens," Temkin said, while others "have at least one."
Based on the findings, the researchers say existing scientific evidence indicates that several PFAS have at least one key characteristic of carcinogens and that these chemicals should be investigated as such.
According to Temkin, EWG will continue to work with lawmakers at the national and state level to pass legislation designed to protect the public from exposure to these chemicals.
She noted that, in February, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to regulate PFOA and PFOS, another common PFAS, in drinking water, but that this "could take years" to implement.
"Our earlier work has confirmed the presence of six to seven of these chemicals in different drinking water sources," Temkin said. "Certainly, water filtration systems can help, and consumers can also work to limit their exposure to PFAS by limiting their consumption of packaged fast foods, where they can persist in grease, or by foregoing the use of stain treatments on carpets, where PFAS may also be used."