upi--2020-01-28--Ex-girlfriend of Patrick Frazee sentenced to three years in prison for Kelsey Berreth killing

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- The Idaho nurse who assisted Patrick Frazee in covering up the killing of his fiancee , Kelsey Berreth , was sentenced to three years in prison on Tuesday .
Krystal Lee , previously known as Krystal Kenney , received the sentence as a result of a deal that allowed her to plead guilty to a single count of felony evidence tampering in exchange for agreeing to testify against Frazee .
Lee , 33 , will also face a year of parole after she is released .
Before her sentencing , Lee told the Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day '' and she apologized for her actions .
`` I am sorry that Kelsey 's friends and family will live the rest of their life without her .
I am sorry Kaylee has lost her mother .
I am sorry that I did not save Kelsey , '' she said .
Teller County District Court Judge Scott Sells responded that the actions Lee took in assisting in the coverup of the killing were clearly intentional .
He decided to hand her the maximum possible sentence .
`` Your actions were not impulsive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment , '' he said .
`` You made an ongoing , conscious , multiday effort to tamper with evidence . ''
Lee , who was romantically involved with Frazee , said he called her to clean up Berreth 's Woodland Park home after he beat her to death with a baseball bat on Thanksgiving day .
Lee said she brought gloves , a protective body suit and trash bags and used cleaner to wipe down walls , a couch , a refrigerator , the floors and chair and later showed authorities several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lead them to evidence .
Lee said Frazee also directed her to bring Berreth 's cellphone to Idaho to make it appear as though she had left the state .
Frazee was found guilty in the case and sentenced to life in prison .

Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The Idaho nurse who assisted Patrick Frazee in covering up the killing of his fiancee, Kelsey Berreth, was sentenced to three years in prison on Tuesday.
Krystal Lee, previously known as Krystal Kenney, received the sentence as a result of a deal that allowed her to plead guilty to a single count of felony evidence tampering in exchange for agreeing to testify against Frazee.
Advertisement
Lee, 33, will also face a year of parole after she is released.
Before her sentencing, Lee told the Colorado court that her "punishment comes every day" and she apologized for her actions.
"I am sorry that Kelsey's friends and family will live the rest of their life without her. I am sorry Kaylee has lost her mother. I am sorry that I did not save Kelsey," she said.
Teller County District Court Judge Scott Sells responded that the actions Lee took in assisting in the coverup of the killing were clearly intentional. He decided to hand her the maximum possible sentence.
"Your actions were not impulsive, they were not spur of the moment," he said. "You made an ongoing, conscious, multiday effort to tamper with evidence."
Advertisement
Lee, who was romantically involved with Frazee, said he called her to clean up Berreth's Woodland Park home after he beat her to death with a baseball bat on Thanksgiving day.
Lee said she brought gloves, a protective body suit and trash bags and used cleaner to wipe down walls, a couch, a refrigerator, the floors and chair and later showed authorities several locations where she intentionally left blood spatter to lead them to evidence.
Lee said Frazee also directed her to bring Berreth's cellphone to Idaho to make it appear as though she had left the state.
Frazee was found guilty in the case and sentenced to life in prison.


upi--2020-01-28--Bell Boeing delivers first modified MV-22 Osprey to the Marine Corps

Dec. 10 ( UPI ) -- Bell Boeing announced Tuesday that they have delivered the first modified MV-22 Osprey to the United States Marine Corps .
The MV-22 is the Marine Corps ' version of the V-22 Osprey , using tilt-rotor technology to offer the vertical flight options of a helicopter , but also the speed and range abilities of a fixed-wing aircraft .
In November Bell Boeing was awarded a $ 146 million contract for upgrades and maintenance on the MV-22 aircraft .
`` This milestone marks the beginning of an Osprey evolution , '' said Kristin Houston , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the Bell Boeing V-22 Program .
`` Through a shared focus on safety and quality , the Bell Boeing team is delivering modernized MV-22 aircraft that are ready to serve our dedicated servicemen and women who rely on this essential aviation resource . ''
According to Bell Boeing , the Marines have multiple configurations of the MV-22 aircraft in service , but Bell Boeing is reducing the number of configurations available by upgrading block `` B '' aircraft to the block `` C '' configuration , the former of which was @ @ @ @ @

Members of the Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force, 30th Infantry Regiment, 12th Brigade fast rope from a MV-22 Osprey during a joint military exercise with U.S. forces in 2017. On Tuesday Bell Boeing announced the first modified versions of the aircraft were available. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Bell Boeing announced Tuesday that they have delivered the first modified MV-22 Osprey to the United States Marine Corps. The MV-22 is the Marine Corps' version of the V-22 Osprey, using tilt-rotor technology to offer the vertical flight options of a helicopter, but also the speed and range abilities of a fixed-wing aircraft. In November Bell Boeing was awarded a $146 million contract for upgrades and maintenance on the MV-22 aircraft. Advertisement
"This milestone marks the beginning of an Osprey evolution," said Kristin Houston, vice president, Boeing Tiltrotor Programs and director of the Bell Boeing V-22 Program. "Through a shared focus on safety and quality, the Bell Boeing team is delivering modernized MV-22 aircraft that are ready to serve our dedicated servicemen and women who rely on this essential aviation resource."
According to Bell Boeing, the Marines have multiple configurations of the MV-22 aircraft in service, but Bell Boeing is reducing the number of configurations available by upgrading block "B" aircraft to the block "C" configuration, the former of which was originally delivered in 2005.


upi--2020-01-28--Diagnosing vaping-related lung emergencies not easy

Diagnosing lung emergencies caused by vaping can be a challenge because symptoms can look like pneumonia or go unrecognized , according to a new case report .
The vaping illness known as EVALI -- electronic cigarette- or vaping-associated lung injury -- has so far killed nearly 60 people in the United States .
More than 2,600 have been hospitalized .
`` Electronic cigarettes and vaping products are sending thousands of smokers , especially teens , to emergency departments , '' said lead author Dr. Kaitlyn Works .
She 's an emergency medicine physician with Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear with young people : E-cigarettes and vaping products are not a healthy alternative to smoking .
They can be dangerous , cause injuries and illnesses , or even death , '' she said .
A case in point : a 20-year-old man spent four days in the hospital , then left against his doctor 's advice .
He returned to the emergency room suffering from chest pain , fever and shortness of breath .
For two weeks before he returned , he had a cough , fever , diarrhea , nausea and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season we are seeing an additional layer of complexity -- EVALI symptoms may resemble pneumonia and become more dangerous or deadly when left untreated , '' Works said .
`` A patient with EVALI may have symptoms that vary and overlap with many illnesses , making it more complicated to diagnose . ''
An accurate diagnosis means ruling out other infections , autoimmune disorders or other conditions .
In this young man 's case , tests showed that he did n't have strep , HIV , hepatitis and other diseases .
It took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pulmonary exam and CT scan to confirm the vaping illness .
Nearly one-third of patients with vaping-related illness need intubation and mechanical breathing help , the researchers noted .
The cause of these lung emergencies appears to be vitamin E acetate , a thickening agent in many e-cigarettes that contain THC -- the active ingredient in marijuana , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The new analysis was published online Jan. 15 in the Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians ( JACEP ) Open .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to avoid these products , '' Works said in a news release from the American College of Emergency Physicians .
For more on vaping and lung damage , visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

The symptoms of vaping-linked lung illness EVALI may look like pneumonia or go unrecognized and untreated, researchers say, potentially making the condition deadly. Photo by 1503849/Pixabay
Diagnosing lung emergencies caused by vaping can be a challenge because symptoms can look like pneumonia or go unrecognized, according to a new case report. The vaping illness known as EVALI -- electronic cigarette- or vaping-associated lung injury -- has so far killed nearly 60 people in the United States. More than 2,600 have been hospitalized. Advertisement
"Electronic cigarettes and vaping products are sending thousands of smokers, especially teens, to emergency departments," said lead author Dr. Kaitlyn Works. She's an emergency medicine physician with Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.
"We must be crystal clear with young people: E-cigarettes and vaping products are not a healthy alternative to smoking. They can be dangerous, cause injuries and illnesses, or even death," she said.
A case in point: a 20-year-old man spent four days in the hospital, then left against his doctor's advice. He returned to the emergency room suffering from chest pain, fever and shortness of breath. For two weeks before he returned, he had a cough, fever, diarrhea, nausea and significant weight loss.
"This flu season we are seeing an additional layer of complexity -- EVALI symptoms may resemble pneumonia and become more dangerous or deadly when left untreated," Works said. "A patient with EVALI may have symptoms that vary and overlap with many illnesses, making it more complicated to diagnose."
Advertisement
An accurate diagnosis means ruling out other infections, autoimmune disorders or other conditions.
In this young man's case, tests showed that he didn't have strep, HIV, hepatitis and other diseases. It took a camera inserted into his lungs, a pulmonary exam and CT scan to confirm the vaping illness.
Nearly one-third of patients with vaping-related illness need intubation and mechanical breathing help, the researchers noted.
The cause of these lung emergencies appears to be vitamin E acetate, a thickening agent in many e-cigarettes that contain THC -- the active ingredient in marijuana, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The new analysis was published online Jan. 15 in the Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians (JACEP) Open.
"The simplest way to avoid EVALI is to avoid these products," Works said in a news release from the American College of Emergency Physicians.
More information
For more on vaping and lung damage, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-01-28--Scientists track flower preferences of bumble bees

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- To figure out what kinds of plants bumble bees like best , scientists surveyed bee-plant interactions in 400 sample plots in Plumas National Forest , located in California 's Sierra Nevada .
`` We spent 16 minutes searching for bumble bees within a 20 meter radius plot , '' lead study author Jerry Cole , a biologist with the Institute for Bird Populations , told UPI in an email .
`` Any time we saw a bumble bee using a plant we captured it in a net and then identified the plant to species @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bumble bee species visiting more than 100 different species of flower .
However , scientists determined the bees only preferentially selected 14 of the plant species .
Cole and his research partners , including scientists from the University of Connecticut and the USDA Forest Service , used statistical models to account for the abundance of flowers in each plot .
If a flower is particularly abundant , it can make it appear as though bees have a preference for the flower when no preference exists .
The flower , in other words , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not preferred .
`` The kinds of models that incorporate availability have been around and used for decades to answer questions about what habitat is most selected by a given organism , '' Cole said .
All of the bee species showed a preference for many of the same species , but each species was found on flower species that others ignored .
The list of flowers that bees preferred -- including species like Agastache urticifolia , called nettleleaf giant hyssop or horse mint , and Lupinus polyphyllus , or large-leaved lupine -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The findings , published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Entomology , do n't suggest there is a handful of flower species that are key to bee health .
Instead , the results echo those of other studies that showed plant diversity is essential to bee health .
The largest bee populations are found in habitats with a variety of flowers .
`` Having plants with staggered blooming periods can be beneficial to a large group of bumble bee species , '' Cole said .
`` So when restoring or enhancing habitat for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plant species with blooming periods across an entire season and provide relatively consistent food for bumble bees . ''

A Vosnesensky bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, is photographed visiting lupine flowers in a meadow in California's Sierra Nevada. Photo by Spencer Hardy/The Institute for Bird Populations
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- To figure out what kinds of plants bumble bees like best, scientists surveyed bee-plant interactions in 400 sample plots in Plumas National Forest, located in California's Sierra Nevada. "We spent 16 minutes searching for bumble bees within a 20 meter radius plot," lead study author Jerry Cole, a biologist with the Institute for Bird Populations, told UPI in an email. "Any time we saw a bumble bee using a plant we captured it in a net and then identified the plant to species." Advertisement
The researcher observed 13 different bumble bee species visiting more than 100 different species of flower. However, scientists determined the bees only preferentially selected 14 of the plant species.
Cole and his research partners, including scientists from the University of Connecticut and the USDA Forest Service, used statistical models to account for the abundance of flowers in each plot. If a flower is particularly abundant, it can make it appear as though bees have a preference for the flower when no preference exists. The flower, in other words, is simply available in great numbers, not preferred.
"The kinds of models that incorporate availability have been around and used for decades to answer questions about what habitat is most selected by a given organism," Cole said.
Advertisement
All of the bee species showed a preference for many of the same species, but each species was found on flower species that others ignored. The list of flowers that bees preferred -- including species like Agastache urticifolia, called nettleleaf giant hyssop or horse mint, and Lupinus polyphyllus, or large-leaved lupine -- could be used to inform habitat restoration.
The findings, published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Entomology, don't suggest there is a handful of flower species that are key to bee health. Instead, the results echo those of other studies that showed plant diversity is essential to bee health. The largest bee populations are found in habitats with a variety of flowers.
"Having plants with staggered blooming periods can be beneficial to a large group of bumble bee species," Cole said. "So when restoring or enhancing habitat for bumble bees it's important to have plant species with blooming periods across an entire season and provide relatively consistent food for bumble bees."


upi--2020-01-28--Grenfell Tower construction firms knew cladding would fail in fire, inquiry told

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- Architects , a main contractor and a fire engineer on London 's Grenfell Tower , destroyed in a 2017 fire that killed 72 people , knew the cladding system would fail in a fire , according to emails disclosed Tuesday .
Craig Orr , an attorney for Celotex , which provided insulation used on the tower , disclosed the correspondence on the second day of the second phase of a public inquiry examining what led up to the disaster .
Renovation of the building concluded in 2016 .
The first phase of the inquiry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 , 2017 , apartment building fire , blamed the London Fire Brigade for `` systemic '' failures and found that aluminum composites panels and the `` melting and dripping of burning polyethylene '' fed the fire .
It also found that 2016 renovations to the tower violated safety rules .
Studio E architecture firm staff , an Exova fire engineer , facade installer Harley , and lead contractor Rydon discussed how cladding for the 120-home , 24-story tower would likely fail in a fire two years before the tragedy .
`` Metal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ architect emailed a fire engineer in spring 2015 , while the project was underway .
A facade installer employee told a colleague `` as we all know , the ACM [ combustible cladding panels ] will be gone rather quickly in a fire ! ''
an email also revealed .
`` Each of Harley , Studio E , Exova and Rydon was openly acknowledging in these emails that the cladding would fail in the event of a fire with external flaming , '' Orr said , after pointing out other acknowledgements of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tragically , is what happened . ''
Celotex said it had carried out tests and the insulation panels could be safely used with cladding that was not combustible , rather than the type used at Grenfell that was .
`` The cladding system designed and installed on Grenfell Tower bore no resemblance to the system described in Celotex 's marketing materials , '' Orr said .
Architects , the cladding firm , and fire safety advisers should have known there were `` clear and specific warnings '' about fire safety in the marketing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Orr also argued it was the responsibility of designers , contractors and consultants to make sure the product was being used safely , not the manufacturers .
In front of bereaved family members and survivors , the inquiry also heard how cladding panels that Arconic made , which contained flammable polyethylene core , were chosen in 2014 to help the management organization cut hundreds of thousands of dollars from the budget .
Arconic also said it was not required to ensure its product could be used safely on tall buildings , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designers .
The companies involved in the refurbishment have repeatedly blamed each other , and Richard Millett , the counsel to the inquiry , described it as a `` merry-go-round of buck-passing , '' on Tuesday .

The London Grenfell Tower destroyed by a 2017 fire is shown. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Architects, a main contractor and a fire engineer on London's Grenfell Tower, destroyed in a 2017 fire that killed 72 people, knew the cladding system would fail in a fire, according to emails disclosed Tuesday. Craig Orr, an attorney for Celotex, which provided insulation used on the tower, disclosed the correspondence on the second day of the second phase of a public inquiry examining what led up to the disaster. Renovation of the building concluded in 2016. Advertisement
The first phase of the inquiry focused on the night of the June 14, 2017, apartment building fire, blamed the London Fire Brigade for "systemic" failures and found that aluminum composites panels and the "melting and dripping of burning polyethylene" fed the fire. It also found that 2016 renovations to the tower violated safety rules.
Studio E architecture firm staff, an Exova fire engineer, facade installer Harley, and lead contractor Rydon discussed how cladding for the 120-home, 24-story tower would likely fail in a fire two years before the tragedy.
"Metal cladding always burns off," one architect emailed a fire engineer in spring 2015, while the project was underway.
Advertisement
A facade installer employee told a colleague "as we all know, the ACM [combustible cladding panels] will be gone rather quickly in a fire!" an email also revealed.
"Each of Harley, Studio E, Exova and Rydon was openly acknowledging in these emails that the cladding would fail in the event of a fire with external flaming," Orr said, after pointing out other acknowledgements of the issue in emails. "That, tragically, is what happened."
Celotex said it had carried out tests and the insulation panels could be safely used with cladding that was not combustible, rather than the type used at Grenfell that was.
"The cladding system designed and installed on Grenfell Tower bore no resemblance to the system described in Celotex's marketing materials," Orr said.
Architects, the cladding firm, and fire safety advisers should have known there were "clear and specific warnings" about fire safety in the marketing materials for the insulation, he added.
Orr also argued it was the responsibility of designers, contractors and consultants to make sure the product was being used safely, not the manufacturers.
In front of bereaved family members and survivors, the inquiry also heard how cladding panels that Arconic made, which contained flammable polyethylene core, were chosen in 2014 to help the management organization cut hundreds of thousands of dollars from the budget.
Advertisement
Arconic also said it was not required to ensure its product could be used safely on tall buildings, and similarly passed the buck to architects and designers.
The companies involved in the refurbishment have repeatedly blamed each other, and Richard Millett, the counsel to the inquiry, described it as a "merry-go-round of buck-passing," on Tuesday.


upi--2020-01-28--Too few patients enrolling in cancer clinical trials, experts say

Enrollment in clinical trials that can potentially extend the life of cancer patients is too low , a new study finds .
Researchers at Penn State also found that white males with private health insurance and cancers that have spread , and who are treated at academic medical centers , are most likely to enroll in clinical trials .
Lead researcher Dr. Nicholas Zaorsky , of Penn State College of Medicine , and his team analyzed data from over 12 million patients with 46 types of cancer from 2004 to 2015 .
Only about 11,600 patients enrolled in clinical trials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's one-tenth of 1 percent .
As these trials can benefit patients , senior study author Dr. Niraj Gusani expressed his concern about the low enrollment rates .
`` Major advances in cancer treatment have been supported by clinical trials , '' Gusani said .
`` By volunteering to participate in a trial , patients may help further the field of research and gain access to new treatments . ''
The researchers found that patients with cancer treated in clinical trials lived longer than those who were not treated in trials .
Patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ median of 7.5 months longer than those who did not .
According to Zaorsky , prior analysis of clinical trial survival improvement did n't account for factors like age , race , gender and cancer type .
`` If you 're going to evaluate whether clinical trial enrollment is beneficial for patients , you have to try and match each patient to someone who has a similar cancer and sociodemographic profile , '' Zaorsky said .
`` Otherwise , it is like comparing apples to oranges . ''
Though those enrolled in clinical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be true for the general public .
Since the majority of patients enrolled had specific traits , from being white to possessing private insurance , this raises questions about generalizability .
`` If clinical trials are going to be used to determine standards of care for the general population , then the study participants need to be representative of the general population -- and this study shows that often this is n't the case , '' Gusani said .
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more on clinical trials .

Enrollment in clinical trials that can potentially extend the life of cancer patients is too low, a new study finds.
Researchers at Penn State also found that white males with private health insurance and cancers that have spread, and who are treated at academic medical centers, are most likely to enroll in clinical trials.
Advertisement
Lead researcher Dr. Nicholas Zaorsky, of Penn State College of Medicine, and his team analyzed data from over 12 million patients with 46 types of cancer from 2004 to 2015. Only about 11,600 patients enrolled in clinical trials postdiagnosis as a first treatment. That's one-tenth of 1 percent.
As these trials can benefit patients, senior study author Dr. Niraj Gusani expressed his concern about the low enrollment rates.
"Major advances in cancer treatment have been supported by clinical trials," Gusani said. "By volunteering to participate in a trial, patients may help further the field of research and gain access to new treatments."
The researchers found that patients with cancer treated in clinical trials lived longer than those who were not treated in trials. Patients who enrolled in clinical trials survived a median of 7.5 months longer than those who did not.
Advertisement
According to Zaorsky, prior analysis of clinical trial survival improvement didn't account for factors like age, race, gender and cancer type.
"If you're going to evaluate whether clinical trial enrollment is beneficial for patients, you have to try and match each patient to someone who has a similar cancer and sociodemographic profile," Zaorsky said. "Otherwise, it is like comparing apples to oranges."
Though those enrolled in clinical trials had better outcomes, this may not be true for the general public. Since the majority of patients enrolled had specific traits, from being white to possessing private insurance, this raises questions about generalizability.
"If clinical trials are going to be used to determine standards of care for the general population, then the study participants need to be representative of the general population -- and this study shows that often this isn't the case," Gusani said.
More information
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more on clinical trials.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-01-28--Look: Police dog helps man find lost wedding ring next to road

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- A British police dog came to a rescue of a man who tossed his wedding ring during an argument with his wife and could n't find it at the roadside .
The West Midlands Police said Constable Carl Woodall was out on patrol with his sniffer dog , Odin , when he spotted two men with a flashlight acting suspiciously at the side of a Harbourne road about 2 a.m. Saturday .
Woodall approached the men , who told him one of them had thrown his wedding ring at the side of the road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had been searching for it without any luck for some time .
`` Apparently the man pulled the ring off and threw it in a momentary loss of temper , but very quickly regretted his actions and was desperate to find it , '' Woodwall said .
`` Our dogs are trained to sniff out human scent .
The men said they 'd been looking for quite some time and the ring was quite small , so I was n't confident there 'd be enough scent for Odin . ''
Woodall decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to sniff out the ring in some tall grass in a matter of about two minutes .
`` It was in grass a couple of inches long .
And of course it was pitch black .
They could have spent all night and still not found it , '' Woodall said .
`` Odin got a pat and thanks all round .
It 's nice to be nice and I was back on patrol in less than five minutes , '' he said .

A police dog named Odin was able to help a man who threw his wedding next to a road and was unable to locate the object after hours of searching. Photo courtesy of the West Midlands Police
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Jan. 28 (UPI) -- A British police dog came to a rescue of a man who tossed his wedding ring during an argument with his wife and couldn't find it at the roadside. The West Midlands Police said Constable Carl Woodall was out on patrol with his sniffer dog, Odin, when he spotted two men with a flashlight acting suspiciously at the side of a Harbourne road about 2 a.m. Saturday. Advertisement
Woodall approached the men, who told him one of them had thrown his wedding ring at the side of the road during an argument with his wife and they had been searching for it without any luck for some time.
"Apparently the man pulled the ring off and threw it in a momentary loss of temper, but very quickly regretted his actions and was desperate to find it," Woodwall said. "Our dogs are trained to sniff out human scent. The men said they'd been looking for quite some time and the ring was quite small, so I wasn't confident there'd be enough scent for Odin."
Woodall decided to try anyway, and Odin was able to sniff out the ring in some tall grass in a matter of about two minutes.
Advertisement
"It was in grass a couple of inches long. And of course it was pitch black. They could have spent all night and still not found it," Woodall said.
"Odin got a pat and thanks all round. It's nice to be nice and I was back on patrol in less than five minutes," he said.


upi--2020-01-28--Long-term use of schizophrenia meds not a threat to health

Good news for people with schizophrenia : Long-term antipsychotic-drug treatment does not increase the risk of heart disease .
And taking the drugs is associated with a lower risk of death , according to a new study .
The average life expectancy of people with schizophrenia is 10 to 20 years less than in the general population .
There has long been concern that one reason is long-term use of antipsychotic drugs to ease symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations .
`` Antipsychotics get something of a bad press , which can make it difficult to reach out to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are , '' said study co-author Jari Tiihonen , a professor of psychiatry at Karolinska Institute in Sweden .
`` We know from previous studies that only half of those who have been discharged from hospital after their first psychotic episode with a schizophrenia diagnosis take antipsychotic drugs , '' Tiihonen added in an institute news release .
Previous studies found that the death rate among people with schizophrenia on antipsychotic medications was 30 percent to 50 percent lower than among those who took a placebo .
But most of the studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not reflect the fact that antipsychotic treatment is often lifelong , the study authors noted .
The new study included more than 62,000 people in Finland who had received a schizophrenia diagnosis at some time between 1972 and 2014 .
They were followed for an average of more than 14 years .
The chances of being hospitalized for physical conditions such as heart disease were just as high when the patients were on antipsychotic drugs as when they were n't .
However , cumulative death rates during the follow-up were 26 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent when they were n't taking the drugs , according to the study .
Instead of taking recommended antipsychotics , Tiihonen said many people with schizophrenia are on long-term benzodiazepine medication , which is in breach of existing guidelines and is associated with increased mortality risk .
Benzodiazepines , which include Valium and Xanax , are typically tranquilizers .
`` Building trust and understanding towards the efficacy and safety of antipsychotic drugs is important , and we hope that this study can contribute to this end , '' Tiihonen said .
Antipsychotic drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and Thorazine ( chlorpromazine ) .
Newer ones are called atypicals , and include Abilify ( aripiprazole ) and Zyprexa ( olanzapine ) .
Because antipsychotics are associated with weight gain , it was thought they might raise the risk of heart disease .
But the researchers noted they may reduce high blood pressure , quell anxiety and the risk for substance abuse , and lead patients toward a healthier lifestyle .
The study was published recently in the journal World Psychiatry .
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more @ @ @

Good news for people with schizophrenia: Long-term antipsychotic-drug treatment does not increase the risk of heart disease. And taking the drugs is associated with a lower risk of death, according to a new study.
The average life expectancy of people with schizophrenia is 10 to 20 years less than in the general population. There has long been concern that one reason is long-term use of antipsychotic drugs to ease symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.
Advertisement
"Antipsychotics get something of a bad press, which can make it difficult to reach out to the patient group with information on how important they are," said study co-author Jari Tiihonen, a professor of psychiatry at Karolinska Institute in Sweden.
"We know from previous studies that only half of those who have been discharged from hospital after their first psychotic episode with a schizophrenia diagnosis take antipsychotic drugs," Tiihonen added in an institute news release.
Previous studies found that the death rate among people with schizophrenia on antipsychotic medications was 30 percent to 50 percent lower than among those who took a placebo.
But most of the studies were shorter than six months, which does not reflect the fact that antipsychotic treatment is often lifelong, the study authors noted.
Advertisement
The new study included more than 62,000 people in Finland who had received a schizophrenia diagnosis at some time between 1972 and 2014. They were followed for an average of more than 14 years.
The chances of being hospitalized for physical conditions such as heart disease were just as high when the patients were on antipsychotic drugs as when they weren't.
However, cumulative death rates during the follow-up were 26 percent when patients were taking antipsychotics and 46 percent when they weren't taking the drugs, according to the study.
Instead of taking recommended antipsychotics, Tiihonen said many people with schizophrenia are on long-term benzodiazepine medication, which is in breach of existing guidelines and is associated with increased mortality risk. Benzodiazepines, which include Valium and Xanax, are typically tranquilizers.
"Building trust and understanding towards the efficacy and safety of antipsychotic drugs is important, and we hope that this study can contribute to this end," Tiihonen said.
Antipsychotic drugs include older medications like Haldol (haloperidol) and Thorazine (chlorpromazine). Newer ones are called atypicals, and include Abilify (aripiprazole) and Zyprexa (olanzapine).
Because antipsychotics are associated with weight gain, it was thought they might raise the risk of heart disease.
But the researchers noted they may reduce high blood pressure, quell anxiety and the risk for substance abuse, and lead patients toward a healthier lifestyle.
Advertisement
The study was published recently in the journal World Psychiatry.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more on schizophrenia.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-01-28--Woman wins lottery jackpot just months after her father

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- A Maryland woman discovered lottery luck runs in the family when she won a $ 50,000 prize less than a year after her father collected the same amount .
The 49-year-old Frederick County woman told Maryland Lottery officials she had n't intended to buy a lottery ticket when she visited the Pilot Travel Center in Hagerstown , but her father 's recent experience made her reconsider .
`` I saw the Lottery display and immediately flashed to my dad winning $ 50,000 last summer , '' the woman said .
`` I remembered that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` When I saw that they had a multiplier game , I just had to get one , '' she said .
The lucky winner scratched off a $ 50,000 prize and quickly called her father .
`` It was pretty early in the morning .
I was on the way to work , '' she said .
`` Dad was groggy , but when I told him what I saw on the ticket he immediately became super excited for me . ''
The winner said her husband 's response was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I was joking .
He just would n't believe it , '' she said .
`` When I 'd buy a ticket with him in the past , he 'd tell me that there was no chance I 'd win , that the odds were against the family winning big twice . ''

Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- A Maryland woman discovered lottery luck runs in the family when she won a $50,000 prize less than a year after her father collected the same amount.
The 49-year-old Frederick County woman told Maryland Lottery officials she hadn't intended to buy a lottery ticket when she visited the Pilot Travel Center in Hagerstown, but her father's recent experience made her reconsider.
Advertisement
"I saw the Lottery display and immediately flashed to my dad winning $50,000 last summer," the woman said. "I remembered that he'd won with a multiplier ticket."
The player selected a 50X The Cash scratch-off.
"When I saw that they had a multiplier game, I just had to get one," she said.
The lucky winner scratched off a $50,000 prize and quickly called her father.
"It was pretty early in the morning. I was on the way to work," she said. "Dad was groggy, but when I told him what I saw on the ticket he immediately became super excited for me."
The winner said her husband's response was more skeptical.
"He was sure that I was joking. He just wouldn't believe it," she said. "When I'd buy a ticket with him in the past, he'd tell me that there was no chance I'd win, that the odds were against the family winning big twice."


upi--2020-01-28--New technology promises on-the-spot hydrogen fuel production

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- Many scientists and policy makers predict hydrogen and hydrogen-powered fuel cells will transform the energy economy .
Because hydrogen fuel cells do n't emit carbon dioxide , widespread adoption of the technology could help slow climate change .
But hydrogen 's low density makes it very hard to transport .
Current methods for on-board hydrogen generation methods are slow and inefficient .
Luckily , scientists in China have discovered a new technique that could be used for real-time , on-demand hydrogen generation .
The technology relies on a unique metal alloy featuring gallium , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the alloy is pressed to an aluminum plate submerged in water , hydrogen is produced .
The hydrogen is funneled directly to a proton exchange membrane fuel cell , PEMFC , which converts the chemical energy into electrical energy .
Engineers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing and Tsinghua University , Beijing , developed a fuel cell prototype powered by the unique hydrogen production technology .
`` Compared with traditional power generation methods , PEMFC inherits a higher conversion efficiency , '' study author Jing Liu , a professor at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said in a news release .
`` It could start rapidly and run quietly .
Moreover , a key benefit to this process is that the only product it generates is water , making it environmentally friendly . ''
Scientists were able to improve on previous on-board hydrogen generation methods by adding bismuth to the alloy .
When bismuth was added to the mix , the reaction that generates hydrogen proved more stable and durable .
Scientists hope to find a way to recycle the bismuth to make the new technology more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various problems in existing methods for post-reaction mixture separation , '' Liu said .
`` An acid or alkaline solution can dissolve aluminum hydroxide but also causes corrosion and pollution problems . ''
The authors of the new technology , described this week in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy , acknowledged that their prototype will need to be optimized in other ways , too , before it is commercialized .
Specifically , the scientists need to find a way to better dissipate the heat created during the hydrogen reaction process .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ realized , it could help hydrogen fuel cell technology overcome one of the biggest obstacles to its widespread adoption , the need for fuel transportation infrastructure .
`` The merit of this method is that it could realize real-time and on-demand hydrogen production , '' said Liu .
`` It may offer a possibility for a green and sustainable energy era . ''

Scientists say they have developed a hydrogen fuel cell system with the potential to significantly reduce carbon output from a range of sources, including cars and airplanes. File Photo by Mike Nelson/EPA
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Many scientists and policy makers predict hydrogen and hydrogen-powered fuel cells will transform the energy economy. Because hydrogen fuel cells don't emit carbon dioxide, widespread adoption of the technology could help slow climate change. But hydrogen's low density makes it very hard to transport. Current methods for on-board hydrogen generation methods are slow and inefficient. Advertisement
Luckily, scientists in China have discovered a new technique that could be used for real-time, on-demand hydrogen generation.
The technology relies on a unique metal alloy featuring gallium, indium, tin and bismuth. When the alloy is pressed to an aluminum plate submerged in water, hydrogen is produced. The hydrogen is funneled directly to a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, PEMFC, which converts the chemical energy into electrical energy.
Engineers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing and Tsinghua University, Beijing, developed a fuel cell prototype powered by the unique hydrogen production technology.
"Compared with traditional power generation methods, PEMFC inherits a higher conversion efficiency," study author Jing Liu, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tsinghua University, said in a news release. "It could start rapidly and run quietly. Moreover, a key benefit to this process is that the only product it generates is water, making it environmentally friendly."
Advertisement
Scientists were able to improve on previous on-board hydrogen generation methods by adding bismuth to the alloy. When bismuth was added to the mix, the reaction that generates hydrogen proved more stable and durable. Scientists hope to find a way to recycle the bismuth to make the new technology more eco-friendly and cost-effective.
"There are various problems in existing methods for post-reaction mixture separation," Liu said. "An acid or alkaline solution can dissolve aluminum hydroxide but also causes corrosion and pollution problems."
The authors of the new technology, described this week in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, acknowledged that their prototype will need to be optimized in other ways, too, before it is commercialized. Specifically, the scientists need to find a way to better dissipate the heat created during the hydrogen reaction process.
If the potential of the technology is realized, it could help hydrogen fuel cell technology overcome one of the biggest obstacles to its widespread adoption, the need for fuel transportation infrastructure.
"The merit of this method is that it could realize real-time and on-demand hydrogen production," said Liu. "It may offer a possibility for a green and sustainable energy era."


upi--2020-01-28--Watch: Drag queens Kim Chi and Miz Cracker star in Super Bowl commercial

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- Drag queens Kim Chi and Miz Cracker are set to become the first drag @ @ @ @ @ Super Bowl commercial by featuring in an ad for Sabra hummus .
Sabra released a @ @ @ @ @ the RuPaul 's Drag Race alumni trying on a football helmet .
`` I hope @ @ @ @ @ helmet hair , '' Miz Cracker says in the clip .
The Sabra ad , @ @ @ @ @ Feb. 2 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers , is @ @ @ @ @ Super Bowl commercial to star drag queens .
The ad will also feature rapper T-Pain @ @ @ @ @ New Jersey stars Caroline Manzo and Teresa Giudice .

Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Drag queens Kim Chi and Miz Cracker are set to become the first drag performers to star in a Super Bowl commercial by featuring in an ad for Sabra hummus.
Sabra released a teaser video to YouTube showing the RuPaul 's Drag Race alumni trying on a football helmet.
Advertisement
"I hope this doesn't give me helmet hair," Miz Cracker says in the clip.
The Sabra ad, set to air during the Feb. 2 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, is believed to be the first Super Bowl commercial to star drag queens.
The ad will also feature rapper T-Pain and former Real Housewives of New Jersey stars Caroline Manzo and Teresa Giudice.


upi--2020-01-28--U.S. deficit projected to hit $1T milestone in 2020

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. budget deficit is projected to surpass $ 1 trillion this year , @ @ @ @ @ hit that milestone since 2012 , the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday .
The office @ @ @ @ @ hit $ 1.02 trillion in 2020 .
It will average $ 1.3 trillion each year @ @ @ @ @ 5.4 percent of the GDP .
The U.S. government is expected to spend $ 4.6 @ @ @ @ @ year and bring in $ 3.6 trillion in taxes .
In terms of the national @ @ @ @ @ indicates it will reach $ 31.4 trillion by 2030 , up from previous estimates .
@ @ @ @ @ deficit and debt on the 2017 tax cuts and an increase in new federal spending @ @ @ @ @ on the assumption that Congress will allow tax cuts passed in 2017 to expire in @ @ @ @ @ reported that Republicans plan to try to extend those cuts .

Senate staff members move copies of President Trump's fiscal year 2020 budget on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on March 11. On Tuesday, the Congressional Budget Office indicated there will be a $1.02 trillion deficit in this year's budget. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. budget deficit is projected to surpass $1 trillion this year, the first time it's hit that milestone since 2012, the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday. The office said the deficit will likely hit $1.02 trillion in 2020. It will average $1.3 trillion each year between 2021-30, representing about 5.4 percent of the GDP. Advertisement
The U.S. government is expected to spend $4.6 trillion in the current fiscal year and bring in $3.6 trillion in taxes.
In terms of the national debt, the new report indicates it will reach $31.4 trillion by 2030, up from previous estimates.
The CBO blames the rising deficit and debt on the 2017 tax cuts and an increase in new federal spending. The estimates are based on the assumption that Congress will allow tax cuts passed in 2017 to expire in 2025. The Washington Post reported that Republicans plan to try to extend those cuts.


upi--2020-01-28--U.S. expands coronavirus screenings, United suspends some flights to China

Jan. 28 ( UPI ) -- The United States is ramping up its response to the 2019 novel coronavirus as it continues to spread , U.S. government officials said Tuesday , as they expand airport screenings and develop potential vaccines and drug treatments for the disease .
Multiple agencies are engaged in efforts to stem the spread of the virus beyond the five initial confirmed U.S. cases , all of which involved people who had traveled to Hubei province in China , ground zero for the virus .
The CDC on Tuesday announced plans to expand screening of travelers from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 international airports across the country , and United Airlines became the first U.S. carrier to cancel flights to China as it suspended 24 flights scheduled for the first week of February .
`` To better protect the health of the American public during the emergence of this novel coronavirus and based on evolving information from China , CDC has reassessed its entry strategy , '' CDC director Robert Redfield told reporters at a press conference .
Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , using information on its genetic make-up gathered by Chinese authorities .
The vaccine could enter initial clinical trials for its safety and efficacy within the next three months , but it 's likely to be several months , if not longer , before it 's available for broad use .
The exact timetable for a vaccine to be released will depend on how the outbreak evolves over the next several months , Fauci said .
He added that NIAID researchers were far along in developing a vaccine against SARS in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under control .
Redfield , however , said the 2019 novel coronavirus , or 2019 n-CoV , outbreak is far from under control -- at least in China .
To date , he said , the country has identified more than 4,500 cases .
The death toll from the virus is now 100 , all in China .
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar acknowledged that this suggests a high death rate with the virus , although he added that this is likely because only the most severe cases have been identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they are also cautiously optimistic that an effective treatment for 2019 n-CoVcan can be identified .
Fauci noted that clinicians in China are already using Kaletra , an antiviral used in the treatment of HIV , in patients with 2019 n-CoV , despite a lack of clinical evidence supporting its use .
NIAID , using virus samples obtained from the five confirmed cases in the United States , are assessing the effectiveness of Kaletra as well as another antiviral , Remdesivir , a drug developed initially to treat Ebola .
They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a class of drugs that has shown promise against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome , or MERS , another member of the coronavirus family .
The agency is assisting the State Department in efforts to `` repatriate '' some 240 American citizens in Hubei back to the U.S. , Azar said .
Plans currently call for these citizens to take a charter flight to an airport in California , where they will be screened for the virus .
`` Americans should know this is a potentially very serious public health threat , '' Azar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Americans should n't worry about their safety . ''
United Airlines on Tuesday also said it would suspend 24 flights between the United States and China , starting in the first week of February .
The airline is the first to cancel flights because of the ongoing outbreak .
In a statement , the airline said , `` Due to a significant decline in demand for travel to China , we are suspending some flights between our hub cities and Beijing , Hong Kong and Shanghai beginning February 1 through February 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation as it develops and will adjust our schedule as needed . ''
American , Delta and United , U.S. airlines that serve China with direct flights , have offered waivers to travelers not wishing to take planned trips to several cities , including Beijing and Shanghai , enabling them to cancel or postpone their flights without penalty .
The waivers and restrictions differ between carriers , so travelers are advised to check with the airlines .

A woman wears a mask covering her mouth and nose while walking through the subway in New York City on January 27, 2020 in New York City. 106 people have died and more than 4,500 cases have been confirmed in mainland China, as the Wuhan coronavirus spreads across Asia and the rest of the world. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The United States is ramping up its response to the 2019 novel coronavirus as it continues to spread, U.S. government officials said Tuesday, as they expand airport screenings and develop potential vaccines and drug treatments for the disease. Multiple agencies are engaged in efforts to stem the spread of the virus beyond the five initial confirmed U.S. cases, all of which involved people who had traveled to Hubei province in China, ground zero for the virus. Advertisement
The CDC on Tuesday announced plans to expand screening of travelers from China for the virus from five to 20 international airports across the country, and United Airlines became the first U.S. carrier to cancel flights to China as it suspended 24 flights scheduled for the first week of February.
"To better protect the health of the American public during the emergence of this novel coronavirus and based on evolving information from China, CDC has reassessed its entry strategy," CDC director Robert Redfield told reporters at a press conference.
Advertisement
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that agency researchers are developing a vaccine against the virus, using information on its genetic make-up gathered by Chinese authorities. The vaccine could enter initial clinical trials for its safety and efficacy within the next three months, but it's likely to be several months, if not longer, before it's available for broad use.
The exact timetable for a vaccine to be released will depend on how the outbreak evolves over the next several months, Fauci said. He added that NIAID researchers were far along in developing a vaccine against SARS in 2005 when that outbreak was eventually brought under control.
Redfield, however, said the 2019 novel coronavirus, or 2019 n-CoV, outbreak is far from under control -- at least in China. To date, he said, the country has identified more than 4,500 cases. The death toll from the virus is now 100, all in China.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar acknowledged that this suggests a high death rate with the virus, although he added that this is likely because only the most severe cases have been identified.
Advertisement
Officials at all three health agencies said they are also cautiously optimistic that an effective treatment for 2019 n-CoVcan can be identified. Fauci noted that clinicians in China are already using Kaletra, an antiviral used in the treatment of HIV, in patients with 2019 n-CoV, despite a lack of clinical evidence supporting its use.
NIAID, using virus samples obtained from the five confirmed cases in the United States, are assessing the effectiveness of Kaletra as well as another antiviral, Remdesivir, a drug developed initially to treat Ebola.
They are also working with multiple monoclonal antibodies, a class of drugs that has shown promise against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, another member of the coronavirus family.
The agency is assisting the State Department in efforts to "repatriate" some 240 American citizens in Hubei back to the U.S., Azar said. Plans currently call for these citizens to take a charter flight to an airport in California, where they will be screened for the virus.
"Americans should know this is a potentially very serious public health threat," Azar added. "But at this point, Americans shouldn't worry about their safety."
United Airlines on Tuesday also said it would suspend 24 flights between the United States and China, starting in the first week of February. The airline is the first to cancel flights because of the ongoing outbreak.
Advertisement
In a statement, the airline said, "Due to a significant decline in demand for travel to China, we are suspending some flights between our hub cities and Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai beginning February 1 through February 8. We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and will adjust our schedule as needed."
Affected airports include San Francisco International, Newark Liberty International, Chicago O'Hare International and Washington Dulles International.
American, Delta and United, U.S. airlines that serve China with direct flights, have offered waivers to travelers not wishing to take planned trips to several cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, enabling them to cancel or postpone their flights without penalty. The waivers and restrictions differ between carriers, so travelers are advised to check with the airlines.


upi--2020-01-28--Tsunami possible after major earthquake near Jamaica, Cuba

A powerful earthquake struck the Caribbean on Tuesday afternoon , shaking parts of Jamaica and Cuba shortly after 2 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ was originally rated a 7.3 by the U.S. Geological Survey , but was later upgraded @ @ @ @ @ was reported as far away as Miami .
The epicenter of the earthquake was 72 @ @ @ @ @ northwest of Lucea , Jamaica , and was shallow with a depth of just 6.2 @ @ @ @ @ .
Tsunami waves as high as 1 meter are possible along some coasts of Belize @ @ @ @ @ Mexico , Jamaica and the Cayman Islands , according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center @ @ @ @ @ nearby islands immediately following the 7.7 quake , although the extent of damage is unclear @ @ @ @

A powerful earthquake struck the Caribbean on Tuesday afternoon, shaking parts of Jamaica and Cuba shortly after 2 p.m. and raising fears of a dangerous tsunami.
The earthquake was originally rated a 7.3 by the U.S. Geological Survey but was later upgraded to a 7.7. The epicenter of the earthquake was 78 miles northwest of Lucea, Jamaica, and was shallow with a depth of 6.2 miles.
Advertisement
Shortly after the powerful earthquake jolted the Caribbean, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned of the potential for hazardous tsunami waves as high as 3 feet along some coasts of Belize, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands.
Roughly 30 minutes after the shaking had stopped, a tsunami wave of 0.4 of a foot was officially observed at George Town, Cayman Islands. No tsunami waves were observed at Jamaica or the Dominican Republic, with the tsunami danger passing by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Shaking was felt as far away as Miami and reports began surfacing on social media that high-rise buildings were felt swaying. Twitter users posted video footage on the platform showing people streaming out of office buildings in Miami, as helicopters buzzed overhead.
Advertisement
Some reports suggested that Miami International Airport had been evacuated following the shaking. However, the airport refuted this claim, stating that there were no evacuations and that operations have remained normal.
Tuesday's magnitude-7.7 earthquake was the strongest to hit the region since a magnitude-8.1 quake struck near the Dominican Republic on Aug. 4, 1946.
This was also the strongest earthquake anywhere on the globe since a magnitude-8 earthquake hit near Peru on May 26, according to USGS records.
The U.S. Geological Survey also reported a magnitude-6.5 aftershock near the Cayman Islands shortly after the earthquake.


upi--2020-01-29--Trump impeachment: Hypocrisy can kill democracy

The trial of President Donald J. Trump in the Senate is many things , especially a classic case of hypocrisy endangering democracy .
A further danger is so politicizing impeachment that future presidents will be more vulnerable to partisan bile .
And acquittal , for those who believe Trump is guilty , could empower the president to continue his misbehavior without any congressional check or balance .
But hypocrisy reigns .
Compare the 1999 Bill Clinton impeachment trial with Trump 's .
Then-Rep. Lindsey Graham sounded like Sen. Chuck Schumer today in demanding witnesses to press the case for removing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today calling for a speedy end to the proceedings .
In American politics , hypocrisy is essential for survival .
Onetime presidential candidate Graham , having called Trump unfit for office , has converted to becoming one of the president 's closest allies and apologists .
A bevy of Republican senators said that after the unrelenting presentation of evidence by the Democratic impeachment managers , they have learned nothing or heard `` nothing new . ''
That either means they were not listening or are violating the oath of impartiality .
But if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be certain that Republicans would be acting identically as Democrats are today .
The danger is that hypocrisy can destroy democracy , especially when this seemingly irreparable partisan divide hastens the systemic elimination of truth and fact in political discourse .
Alternate facts and `` fake news '' now dominate debate .
The conspiracy over alleged Ukrainian interference in U.S. elections , along with a secret server supposedly hidden in Kiev has been absolutely repudiated and discredited .
Yet , some Senate Republicans , amplified by fellow travelers in the media , refuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustaining this myth .
Both parties too often rely on half-truths and half-facts in presenting arguments .
Democrats have made a persuasive case that the president purposely withheld military aid to Ukraine of about $ 400 million as leverage to coerce , persuade or cajole President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce publicly and pursue investigations of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden for corruption .
Now former national security adviser John Bolton 's new book seems to confirm this allegation .
Republicans have disputed this and other allegations on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , routinely withheld aid for coercive purposes .
What was not explained was that Obama 's suspension of money was for foreign aid to Egypt and Pakistan ; that the reasons were well explained to Congress as part of U.S. policy ; and not for personal gain .
The president 's attorneys accused House Democrats of disregarding the rules regarding the impeachment hearings when in fact the hearings were held in accordance with rules set by Republicans .
Similarly , Democrats have hyped and used excessive rhetoric in making their case , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
Politics have always been infected by distortions , misstatements , untruths and outright lies .
But rarely has the scale of ignoring , dismissing or bypassing truth and fact ever been so great .
The Washington Post fact checkers have cited over 16,000 instances when Trump has departed from truth and fact in his comments and statements .
Consequences do not end at the water 's edge .
Allies , friends and adversaries are taking note .
NATO allies are not convinced of Trump 's complete support for the alliance and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` attack on one '' ( still ) `` is an attack on all . ''
The threat of punitive tariffs for reasons that are grounded on arbitrary and not factual or arguable bases likewise erodes confidence in America 's steadfastness .
And in Asia , it is clear that most states are viewing China as an alternative partner , given that economic ties are greater with Beijing than Washington .
The White House 's use of alternative facts or what rightly should be called deceptions or , better , untruths and lies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note , hypocrisy can be fatal .
The Soviet Union imploded over the hypocrisy and falsehoods on which the system was based .
Eventually , lies and secret police could no longer cover up incompetent rule .
The United States is not in the same universe or condition as the Soviet Union was .
But the combination of what appears as irreconcilable political and ideological differences and unresolvable clashes over presidential conduct of office and the diminished role of truth and fact must bode ill for a democracy based on laws and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public trust : Republicans , Democrats or neither ?
There is an absence of public trust in too many institutions , especially the federal government .
Soviet hypocrisy destroyed the legitimacy of its government .
Unless we Americans recognize and act on the premise that hypocrisy and democracy are incompatible , this nation and its government remain at risk .
Harlan Ullman is a senior adviser at the Atlantic Council .
His latest book is `` Anatomy of Failure : Why America Has Lost Every War It Starts . ''
Follow him @ @ @

Onetime presidential candidate Lindsey Graham, having called Donald Trump unfit for office, has converted to becoming one of the president’s closest allies and apologists. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
The trial of President Donald J. Trump in the Senate is many things, especially a classic case of hypocrisy endangering democracy. A further danger is so politicizing impeachment that future presidents will be more vulnerable to partisan bile. And acquittal, for those who believe Trump is guilty, could empower the president to continue his misbehavior without any congressional check or balance. But hypocrisy reigns. Compare the 1999 Bill Clinton impeachment trial with Trump's. Then-Rep. Lindsey Graham sounded like Sen. Chuck Schumer today in demanding witnesses to press the case for removing Clinton. Schumer then sounded like Graham today calling for a speedy end to the proceedings. Advertisement
In American politics, hypocrisy is essential for survival. Onetime presidential candidate Graham, having called Trump unfit for office, has converted to becoming one of the president's closest allies and apologists. A bevy of Republican senators said that after the unrelenting presentation of evidence by the Democratic impeachment managers, they have learned nothing or heard "nothing new." That either means they were not listening or are violating the oath of impartiality. But if a Democrat were in the dock, be certain that Republicans would be acting identically as Democrats are today.
Advertisement
The danger is that hypocrisy can destroy democracy, especially when this seemingly irreparable partisan divide hastens the systemic elimination of truth and fact in political discourse. Alternate facts and "fake news" now dominate debate. The conspiracy over alleged Ukrainian interference in U.S. elections, along with a secret server supposedly hidden in Kiev has been absolutely repudiated and discredited. Yet, some Senate Republicans, amplified by fellow travelers in the media, refuse to accept these facts and persist in sustaining this myth.
Both parties too often rely on half-truths and half-facts in presenting arguments. Democrats have made a persuasive case that the president purposely withheld military aid to Ukraine of about $400 million as leverage to coerce, persuade or cajole President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce publicly and pursue investigations of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden for corruption. Now former national security adviser John Bolton's new book seems to confirm this allegation.
Republicans have disputed this and other allegations on the grounds that presidents, namely Barack Obama, routinely withheld aid for coercive purposes. What was not explained was that Obama's suspension of money was for foreign aid to Egypt and Pakistan; that the reasons were well explained to Congress as part of U.S. policy; and not for personal gain.
Advertisement
The president's attorneys accused House Democrats of disregarding the rules regarding the impeachment hearings when in fact the hearings were held in accordance with rules set by Republicans. Similarly, Democrats have hyped and used excessive rhetoric in making their case, as well as taking too long to deliver it.
Politics have always been infected by distortions, misstatements, untruths and outright lies. But rarely has the scale of ignoring, dismissing or bypassing truth and fact ever been so great. The Washington Post fact checkers have cited over 16,000 instances when Trump has departed from truth and fact in his comments and statements.
Consequences do not end at the water's edge. Allies, friends and adversaries are taking note. NATO allies are not convinced of Trump's complete support for the alliance and whether Article 5 would apply if an "attack on one" (still) "is an attack on all." The threat of punitive tariffs for reasons that are grounded on arbitrary and not factual or arguable bases likewise erodes confidence in America's steadfastness. And in Asia, it is clear that most states are viewing China as an alternative partner, given that economic ties are greater with Beijing than Washington.
The White House's use of alternative facts or what rightly should be called deceptions or, better, untruths and lies adds to these corrosive consequences. And note, hypocrisy can be fatal. The Soviet Union imploded over the hypocrisy and falsehoods on which the system was based. Eventually, lies and secret police could no longer cover up incompetent rule.
Advertisement
The United States is not in the same universe or condition as the Soviet Union was. But the combination of what appears as irreconcilable political and ideological differences and unresolvable clashes over presidential conduct of office and the diminished role of truth and fact must bode ill for a democracy based on laws and the Constitution. In sum, who can the public trust: Republicans, Democrats or neither?
There is an absence of public trust in too many institutions, especially the federal government. Soviet hypocrisy destroyed the legitimacy of its government. Unless we Americans recognize and act on the premise that hypocrisy and democracy are incompatible, this nation and its government remain at risk.
Harlan Ullman is a senior adviser at the Atlantic Council. His latest book is "Anatomy of Failure: Why America Has Lost Every War It Starts." Follow him @harlankullman.


upi--2020-01-29--Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to President Donald Trump's peace plan: 'No, no and no'

Jan. 29 ( UPI ) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the leaders of Iran and Turkey have dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump 's Middle East peace plan as a one-sided proposal that ignores Palestinian interests .
At a meeting in the West Bank Tuesday , the leader of the Palestinian Authority called the plan `` the slap of the century , '' as opposed to the `` deal of the century '' as it was touted by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .
The proposal calls for a two-state solution , turns over chunks of the West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditional offer to place the Palestine capital in a part of East Jerusalem .
Trump and Netanyahu said the plan is a `` realistic '' path to peace , but they did n't at all include Palestinian leaders in drawing up the framework of the proposal .
`` We say a thousand times : No , no and no to the 'deal of the century , ' '' Abbas said , vowing that the U.S. plan `` will not come to pass '' and that `` our people will send it to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have boycotted the United States after a series of moves made by the Trump administration since 2017 they see as having a pro-Israel bias .
Trump 's plan also allows for Israel annexation of territory in the West Bank it occupied after the 1967 Six-Day War .
The Palestinians and the United Nations consider the occupation , and the building of Jewish settlements there , to be illegal , and the Palestinians have long demanded that any future state be mapped out along pre-1967 lines with Jerusalem as its capital .
In return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` terrorism '' of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas , Trump and Netanyahu have offered $ 50 billion in aid .
Abbas , however , said the offer amounts to a bribe , asserting that `` Jerusalem is not for sale '' and that the Palestinian people 's `` rights are not for sale or bartering . ''
`` Will we accept a state without Jerusalem ?
It is impossible for any Palestinian , Arab , Muslim or Christian child to accept that , '' he said .
`` The so-called 'Vision for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a bankruptcy-ridden real estate developer , '' he tweeted .
`` But it is a nightmare for the region and the world .
And , hopefully , a wake-up call for all the Muslims who have been barking up the wrong tree . ''
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said any deal in which the Palestinians are denied a say over Jerusalem was `` unacceptable . ''
`` Jerusalem is sacred for Muslims , '' he said .
`` The plan to give Jerusalem to Israel is absolutely unacceptable .
This plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at legitimizing Israel 's occupation . ''

1/5
Palestinians say Trump's "Deal of the Century" for Middle East peace highly favors the Israeli Jewish state. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the leaders of Iran and Turkey have dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan as a one-sided proposal that ignores Palestinian interests. At a meeting in the West Bank Tuesday, the leader of the Palestinian Authority called the plan "the slap of the century," as opposed to the "deal of the century" as it was touted by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Advertisement
The proposal calls for a two-state solution, turns over chunks of the West Bank to the Palestinians and makes a conditional offer to place the Palestine capital in a part of East Jerusalem. Trump and Netanyahu said the plan is a "realistic" path to peace, but they didn't at all include Palestinian leaders in drawing up the framework of the proposal.
"We say a thousand times: No, no and no to the 'deal of the century,'" Abbas said, vowing that the U.S. plan "will not come to pass" and that "our people will send it to the dustbins of history."
The Palestinians have boycotted the United States after a series of moves made by the Trump administration since 2017 they see as having a pro-Israel bias.
Advertisement
Trump's plan also allows for Israel annexation of territory in the West Bank it occupied after the 1967 Six-Day War. The Palestinians and the United Nations consider the occupation, and the building of Jewish settlements there, to be illegal, and the Palestinians have long demanded that any future state be mapped out along pre-1967 lines with Jerusalem as its capital.
In return for accepting the proposal and renouncing the "terrorism" of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas, Trump and Netanyahu have offered $50 billion in aid.
Abbas, however, said the offer amounts to a bribe, asserting that "Jerusalem is not for sale" and that the Palestinian people's "rights are not for sale or bartering."
"Will we accept a state without Jerusalem? It is impossible for any Palestinian, Arab, Muslim or Christian child to accept that," he said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif dismissed the plan as a "nightmare."
"The so-called 'Vision for Peace' is simply the dream project of a bankruptcy-ridden real estate developer," he tweeted. "But it is a nightmare for the region and the world. And, hopefully, a wake-up call for all the Muslims who have been barking up the wrong tree."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said any deal in which the Palestinians are denied a say over Jerusalem was "unacceptable."
Advertisement
"Jerusalem is sacred for Muslims," he said. "The plan to give Jerusalem to Israel is absolutely unacceptable. This plan ignores Palestinians' rights and is aimed at legitimizing Israel's occupation."


upi--2020-01-29--Hall of Fame NFL defensive end Chris Doleman dies at 58

Jan. 29 ( UPI ) -- Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Chris Doleman has died after a battle with cancer .
He was 58 .
Doleman died Tuesday night .
The longtime Minnesota Vikings defender underwent surgery in 2018 to remove a brain tumor and had been fighting glioblastoma , an aggressive form of cancer that can occur in the brain and spinal cord .
`` The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Chris Doleman after a prolonged and courageous battle against cancer , '' Pro Football Hall of Fame President and CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the honor of getting to know him not only as a great football player but an outstanding human being .
One of the honors of my life was witnessing Chris get baptized in the Jordan River during a Hall of Fame trip to Israel .
`` The legacy of Chris Doleman will live forever in Canton , Ohio , for generations to learn from how he lived a life of courage and character . ''
The eight-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro was the No .
4 overall pick in the 1985 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vikings until joining the Atlanta Falcons in 1994 .
He played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1996 through 1998 before returning to the Vikings for his final season in 1999 .
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012 .
Doleman retired with 150.5 sacks and recorded an NFL-high 22 sacks in 1989 .
`` The Minnesota Vikings express our deepest sympathies to Chris Doleman 's family and friends upon his passing , '' the Vikings said in a statement .
`` Chris was a great example for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embodied all the best characteristics of a Viking -- resilience , toughness and a competitive spirit .
Chris always carried himself with dignity and class .
Vikings fans worldwide will greatly miss him . ''

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Chris Doleman (56) recorded the second-most sacks in franchise history, trailing only John Randle. File Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Chris Doleman has died after a battle with cancer. He was 58. Doleman died Tuesday night. The longtime Minnesota Vikings defender underwent surgery in 2018 to remove a brain tumor and had been fighting glioblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer that can occur in the brain and spinal cord. Advertisement
"The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Chris Doleman after a prolonged and courageous battle against cancer," Pro Football Hall of Fame President and CEO David Baker said.
"I had the honor of getting to know him not only as a great football player but an outstanding human being. One of the honors of my life was witnessing Chris get baptized in the Jordan River during a Hall of Fame trip to Israel.
"The legacy of Chris Doleman will live forever in Canton, Ohio, for generations to learn from how he lived a life of courage and character."
The eight-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro was the No. 4 overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft. Doleman played for the Vikings until joining the Atlanta Falcons in 1994. He played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1996 through 1998 before returning to the Vikings for his final season in 1999. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
Advertisement
Doleman retired with 150.5 sacks and recorded an NFL-high 22 sacks in 1989.
"The Minnesota Vikings express our deepest sympathies to Chris Doleman's family and friends upon his passing," the Vikings said in a statement. "Chris was a great example for players past and present, as he embodied all the best characteristics of a Viking -- resilience, toughness and a competitive spirit. Chris always carried himself with dignity and class. Vikings fans worldwide will greatly miss him."


upi--2020-01-29--Watch: Ben Schwartz says 'Sonic' film is ' a dream come true' on 'Kimmel'

Jan. 29 ( UPI ) -- Ben Schwartz appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and discussed his role as the voice of Sonic in the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog film , based on the long-running video game series of the same name .
`` It 's crazy because I played it in 1991 , I was a huge fan of the games .
Then when they were making this film and they asked if I would do it , it 's like a dream come true because now I get to be the voice , '' Schwartz said .
`` Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it then , maybe some people watch it now and I 'll be the way that they are getting introduced to the character , it 's crazy .
It blows my mind , '' he continued in reference to how Kimmel 's son was into Sonic when he was younger .
`` I 'm spreading the Sonic love on Valentine 's Day , '' Schwartz said in reference to the film 's Feb. 14 release date .
Sonic the Hedgehog , from director Jeff Fowler , also stars Jim Carrey as the villainous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's new friend Tom .
A younger version of the title character known as Baby Sonic will also make an apperance in the film .
Schwartz , best known for portraying Jean-Ralphio on Parks and Recreation , also discussed with Kimmel how he wrote jokes for Anthony Daniels ' C-3PO in Star Wars : The Rise of Skywalker .
Schwartz said he came up with C-3PO 's line about being okay after falling through a sand pit and appears in the background of a photo used in Daniels ' new memoir .

Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Ben Schwartz appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and discussed his role as the voice of Sonic in the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog film, based on the long-running video game series of the same name.
"It's crazy because I played it in 1991, I was a huge fan of the games. Then when they were making this film and they asked if I would do it, it's like a dream come true because now I get to be the voice," Schwartz said.
Advertisement
"Just like how your son was introduced to it then, maybe some people watch it now and I'll be the way that they are getting introduced to the character, it's crazy. It blows my mind," he continued in reference to how Kimmel's son was into Sonic when he was younger.
"I'm spreading the Sonic love on Valentine's Day," Schwartz said in reference to the film's Feb. 14 release date.
Sonic the Hedgehog, from director Jeff Fowler, also stars Jim Carrey as the villainous Dr. Robotnik and James Marsden as Sonic's new friend Tom. A younger version of the title character known as Baby Sonic will also make an apperance in the film.
Advertisement
Schwartz, best known for portraying Jean-Ralphio on Parks and Recreation, also discussed with Kimmel how he wrote jokes for Anthony Daniels' C-3PO in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Schwartz said he came up with C-3PO's line about being okay after falling through a sand pit and appears in the background of a photo used in Daniels' new memoir.


upi--2020-01-29--Pauley Perrette's sitcom 'Broke' to debut on April 2

Jan. 29 ( UPI ) -- Pauley Perrette and Jaime Camil 's new sitcom Broke is slated to premiere on @ @ @ @ @ show will have its debut on the same night as the Season 4 premiere of @ @ @ @ @ a Plan .
The Thursday night comedy schedule will also include new episodes of Young @ @ @ @ @ is about `` a single , suburban mother who 's shocked when her estranged sister @ @ @ @ @ wealthy , big-hearted , Latin husband , and her husband 's fiercely loyal assistant/driver/friend land @ @ @ @ @ of a place to live after the couple 's money dries up , '' a @ @ @ @ @ The ensemble also includes Natasha Leggero , Izzy Diaz and Antonio Corbo .

1/3
Pauley Perrette's sitcom "Broke" is set to debut on CBS April 2 . File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Pauley Perrette and Jaime Camil's new sitcom Broke is slated to premiere on CBS April 2. The show will have its debut on the same night as the Season 4 premiere of Matt LeBlanc's Man with a Plan. Advertisement
The Thursday night comedy schedule will also include new episodes of Young Sheldon and Mom.
Broke is about "a single, suburban mother who's shocked when her estranged sister, her sister's outrageously wealthy, big-hearted, Latin husband, and her husband's fiercely loyal assistant/driver/friend land on her doorstep in need of a place to live after the couple's money dries up," a network press release said.
The ensemble also includes Natasha Leggero, Izzy Diaz and Antonio Corbo.


upi--2020-01-29--Gal Gadot, Mindy Kaling confirmed as Oscar presenters

Jan. 29 ( UPI ) -- Gal Gadot , Mindy Kaling , Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus have been booked @ @ @ @ @ 's Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles .
Show producers Lynette Howell Taylor and Stephanie Allain @ @ @ @ @ Zazie Beetz , Timothée Chalamet , Anthony Ramos , Mark Ruffalo , Kelly Marie Tran @ @ @ @ @ out trophies at the ABC telecast on Feb. 9 .
`` We 're excited to @ @ @ @ @ help celebrate this year 's movies , '' Howell Taylor and Allain said in a @ @ @ @ @ brings their own unique energy and appeal to our global audience . ''
The producers @ @ @ @ @ 's winners in the acting categories -- Mahershala Ali , Olivia Colman , Regina King @ @ @ @ @ return as presenters for this year 's gala .
The event honoring excellence in film @ @ @ @ @ for a second , consecutive year .
Cynthia Erivo , Elton John , Idina Menzel @ @ @ @ @ Newman are set to sing the Best Song nominees .

1/3
Gal Gadot is to be a presenter at the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles on Feb. 9. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Gal Gadot, Mindy Kaling, Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus have been booked as presenters for next month's Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles. Show producers Lynette Howell Taylor and Stephanie Allain said they also lined up Zazie Beetz, Timothée Chalamet, Anthony Ramos, Mark Ruffalo, Kelly Marie Tran and Kristen Wiig to hand out trophies at the ABC telecast on Feb. 9. Advertisement The countdown is on! Welcome some of our incredible #Oscars presenters. pic.twitter.com/mmGi16Xu8S— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 28, 2020
"We're excited to welcome these talented artists to help celebrate this year's movies," Howell Taylor and Allain said in a joint statement. "Each brings their own unique energy and appeal to our global audience."
The producers previously announced that last year's winners in the acting categories -- Mahershala Ali, Olivia Colman, Regina King and Rami Malek -- would return as presenters for this year's gala.
Advertisement
The event honoring excellence in film will not have a host for a second, consecutive year.
Cynthia Erivo, Elton John, Idina Menzel, Chrissy Metz and Randy Newman are set to sing the Best Song nominees.


upi--2020-01-29--Martin Luther King III opposes President Donald Trump's visit to N.J. rally

Jan. 29 ( UPI ) -- Martin Luther King III took jabs at President Donald Trump at a rally in New Jersey Tuesday night while protesting his visit to lend support to Rep. Jeff Van Drew 's re-election campaign .
The 3-hour Democratic rally took place a few blocks from Wildwood Convention Center , where a wave of supporters gathered to see Trump and support Van Drew .
The congressman recently switched from the Democratic to the Republican Party amid efforts to impeach the president .
The son of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and Van Drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday 's Republican rally .
The Wildwood Boardwalk separated the two events , though a sizable crowd of Trump supporters heckled the demonstrating Democrats , chanting `` four more years . ''
King said he was invited by Kennedy to attend the rally , sponsored by the progressive group Cape May County Indivisible , The wife of former Rep. Patrick Kennedy and daughter-in-law of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy recently entered the race to unseat Van Drew in New Jersey 's 2nd District .
While King never mentioned Trump by name , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Great Again '' campaign motto to say that not everyone is sharing in the country 's economic prosperity .
`` Maybe for some it 's all right , but the reality is that it should be great for all Americans , '' King said .
`` We live in a country with unlimited resources , yet we have millions of people who do n't have healthcare .
We have millions of people who are homeless ; millions of people are n't getting properly educated .
That 's not the America we should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters should try to elect candidates that will bring people together and `` not divide us , '' in another subtle dig at Trump .
`` It 's all right for us to disagree , but we can disagree in a civil manner , not a disrespectful manner .
Not in a manner that denigrates others .
Not in a manner where we promote hate .
We have to find a way to promote love , '' he said .
Kennedy played on her New Jersey roots and experience as a school teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tax cuts and immigration .
`` I was a public school teacher , a mother of five kids and a mental health advocate , '' she said .
`` I know we are not well .
I know it is not OK for our students to be doing drills hiding under their desk because they 're afraid of guns .
I know it 's not OK to give big tax cuts to corporations while people in our district ca n't afford to stay in their homes .
I know it 's not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in cages instead of cribs . ''
Will Cunningham , a former staffer for Sen. Cory Booker , D-N.J. , who is also challenging Van Drew for his seat , said the congressman betrayed the district when he switched parties and does n't deserve to remain in office .
`` We are at this rally in solidarity to say what Jeff Van Drew has done to this community is unacceptable , '' Cunningham said .
`` His support for this president in a slap in our face and he will be held accountable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atlantic County Freeholder Ashley Bennett said she joined the race to unseat Van Drew because he and Trump lack the unity and respect to be inclusive .
`` I think the divisiveness that was started by this president is unhealthy for this country and we have to say 'no ' to that , '' Bennett said .
`` I think love will always trump hate and respect will always trump hate . ''
But for thousands that crowded in front of the convention center and stood in lines overnight to attend the rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a godsend to the United States .
`` People down there ca n't tell me one thing what he 's done wrong , '' Bob Emmett , of Williamstown , N.J. , said as he looked down from the boardwalk on the protest rally .
`` God bless Donald Trump .
Just think what he could have done if he was n't being exposed every day to the liberals .
He 's the greatest president in the history of the country . ''

1/3
Supporters of President Donald Trump gather Tuesday night near the Wildwood Convention Center in New Jersey for a rally for Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J. Photo courtesy Meredith Winner/Mer-Made Photography/UPI
Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Martin Luther King III took jabs at President Donald Trump at a rally in New Jersey Tuesday night while protesting his visit to lend support to Rep. Jeff Van Drew's re-election campaign. The 3-hour Democratic rally took place a few blocks from Wildwood Convention Center, where a wave of supporters gathered to see Trump and support Van Drew. The congressman recently switched from the Democratic to the Republican Party amid efforts to impeach the president. Advertisement
The son of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and Van Drew's challenger, Amy Kennedy, protested Tuesday's Republican rally. The Wildwood Boardwalk separated the two events, though a sizable crowd of Trump supporters heckled the demonstrating Democrats, chanting "four more years."
King said he was invited by Kennedy to attend the rally, sponsored by the progressive group Cape May County Indivisible, The wife of former Rep. Patrick Kennedy and daughter-in-law of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy recently entered the race to unseat Van Drew in New Jersey's 2nd District.
Advertisement
While King never mentioned Trump by name, he tweaked the president's "Make America Great Again" campaign motto to say that not everyone is sharing in the country's economic prosperity.
"Maybe for some it's all right, but the reality is that it should be great for all Americans," King said. "We live in a country with unlimited resources, yet we have millions of people who don't have healthcare. We have millions of people who are homeless; millions of people aren't getting properly educated. That's not the America we should be."
King told the attendees that voters should try to elect candidates that will bring people together and "not divide us," in another subtle dig at Trump.
"It's all right for us to disagree, but we can disagree in a civil manner, not a disrespectful manner. Not in a manner that denigrates others. Not in a manner where we promote hate. We have to find a way to promote love," he said.
Kennedy played on her New Jersey roots and experience as a school teacher to touch on issues including gun control, tax cuts and immigration.
"I was a public school teacher, a mother of five kids and a mental health advocate," she said. "I know we are not well. I know it is not OK for our students to be doing drills hiding under their desk because they're afraid of guns. I know it's not OK to give big tax cuts to corporations while people in our district can't afford to stay in their homes. I know it's not OK to have [migrant] kids in cages instead of cribs."
Advertisement
Will Cunningham, a former staffer for Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who is also challenging Van Drew for his seat, said the congressman betrayed the district when he switched parties and doesn't deserve to remain in office.
"We are at this rally in solidarity to say what Jeff Van Drew has done to this community is unacceptable," Cunningham said. "His support for this president in a slap in our face and he will be held accountable in 2020 for his decision."
Atlantic County Freeholder Ashley Bennett said she joined the race to unseat Van Drew because he and Trump lack the unity and respect to be inclusive.
"I think the divisiveness that was started by this president is unhealthy for this country and we have to say 'no' to that," Bennett said. "I think love will always trump hate and respect will always trump hate."
But for thousands that crowded in front of the convention center and stood in lines overnight to attend the rally for Van Drew, Trump has been a godsend to the United States.
"People down there can't tell me one thing what he's done wrong," Bob Emmett, of Williamstown, N.J., said as he looked down from the boardwalk on the protest rally. "God bless Donald Trump. Just think what he could have done if he wasn't being exposed every day to the liberals. He's the greatest president in the history of the country."


upi--2020-01-29--Renault appoints former Volkswagen executive Luca de Meo new CEO

Jan. 29 ( UPI ) -- French automaker Renault has appointed former Volkswagen executive Luca de Meo its new CEO .
In a statement Tuesday , Renault said the 52-year-old former executive of Volkswagen 's Spanish SEAT brand will be taking over the position July 1 from interim CEO Clotilde Delbos who will continue in her position as CFO .
Renault Board of Directors Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard said he was `` delighted '' with the new governance Meo will bring to the company .
`` Luca de Meo is a great strategist and visionary of a rapidly changing automotive world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expertise but also his passion for cars make him a real asset for the Group . ''
Goupe Renault , founded in 1898 , now consists of five brands and is part of a unique alliance with Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan , but it has been on shaky ground following the arrest of its former CEO and chairman of Nissan , Carlos Ghosn .
Ghosn was initially arrested in November 2018 in Japan where he faces numerous charges , including breach of trust , underreporting his salary , siphoning payments from the automaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company funds to a private bank account .
Late last year , the disgraced executive with Brazilian , French and Lebanese citizenship , escaped from Japan for Lebanon while out on bail .
Ghosn was succeeded at Renault by Thierry Bollore , who was ousted less than a year in the position in October .
Meo began his career at Renault before joining Toyota Europe , managing brands such as Lancia , Fiat and Alfa Romeo .
He then moved to Volkswagen in 2009 where he worked until resigning earlier this month .

Jan. 29 (UPI) -- French automaker Renault has appointed former Volkswagen executive Luca de Meo its new CEO.
In a statement Tuesday, Renault said the 52-year-old former executive of Volkswagen's Spanish SEAT brand will be taking over the position July 1 from interim CEO Clotilde Delbos who will continue in her position as CFO.
Advertisement
Renault Board of Directors Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard said he was "delighted" with the new governance Meo will bring to the company.
"Luca de Meo is a great strategist and visionary of a rapidly changing automotive world," he said. "His expertise but also his passion for cars make him a real asset for the Group."
Goupe Renault, founded in 1898, now consists of five brands and is part of a unique alliance with Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan, but it has been on shaky ground following the arrest of its former CEO and chairman of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn.
Ghosn was initially arrested in November 2018 in Japan where he faces numerous charges, including breach of trust, underreporting his salary, siphoning payments from the automaker and funneling some $5 million in company funds to a private bank account.
Advertisement
Late last year, the disgraced executive with Brazilian, French and Lebanese citizenship, escaped from Japan for Lebanon while out on bail.
Ghosn was succeeded at Renault by Thierry Bollore, who was ousted less than a year in the position in October.
Meo began his career at Renault before joining Toyota Europe, managing brands such as Lancia, Fiat and Alfa Romeo. He then moved to Volkswagen in 2009 where he worked until resigning earlier this month.