upi--2020-05-15--Famous birthdays for May 15: Jasper Johns, Lainie Kazan

May 15 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Taurus .
-- U.S. @ @ @ @ @ 1860 -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in 1937 ( age 83 )

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President Barack Obama awards the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom to artist Jasper Johns during a ceremony at the White House in Washington on February 15, 2011. Johns turns 90 on May 15. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
May 15 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Taurus. They include: Advertisement
-- Author L. Frank Baum in 1856
-- French chemist Pierre Curie in 1859
-- U.S. first lady Ellen Wilson in 1860
-- Author Katherine Anne Porter in 1890
-- Former Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley in 1902
-- Actor Joseph Cotten in 1905
-- Country singer Eddy Arnold in 1918
-- Artist Jasper Johns 1930 (age 90)
-- Actor Anna Maria Alberghetti in 1936 (age 84)
-- Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in 1937 (age 83)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- Singer Trini Lopez in 1937 (age 83)
-- Media executive Roger Ailes in 1940
-- Actor/singer Lainie Kazan in 1940 (age 80)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- Musician Brian Eno in 1948 (age 72)
-- Hall of Fame baseball player George Brett in 1953 (age 67)
-- Composer Mike Oldfield in 1953 (age 67)
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-- Sports broadcaster Dan Patrick in 1956 (age 64)
-- Writer Laura Hillenbrand in 1967 (age 53)
-- Hall of Fame football player Emmitt Smith in 1969 (age 51)
-- Zara Tindall, equestrian/British royal, in 1981 (age 39)
-- Tennis player Andy Murray in 1987 (age 33)


upi--2020-05-15--On This Day: Alabama Gov. George Wallace shot during presidential campaign

On this date in history : In 1911 , the U.S. Supreme Court , ruling in Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey vs. United States , ordered the dissolution of the company after determining it to be a monopoly .
In 1918 , the first regular U.S. airmail service was established between Washington and New York City .
In 1930 , Ellen Church became the first airline stewardess , flying on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Cheyenne , Wyo .
She persuaded the airline it needed a hostess in the sky and later developed a training program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died in 1965 in a horseback riding accident .
In 1941 , the Gloster-Whittle E 28/39 aircraft flew over Cranwell , England , in the first successful test of an Allied aircraft using jet propulsion .
In 1948 , troops from Egypt , Trans-Jordan , Syria , Lebanon and Iraq invaded Israel starting the 1948 Arab-Israeli War .
In 1958 , Gen. Charles De Gaulle announced `` I hold myself ready to take over the powers of the Republic . ''
Thus , the 67-year-old World War II hero stepped back into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France to the brink of civil war .
In 1963 , U.S. astronaut Gordon Cooper was launched into space atop an Atlas rocket in the final Mercury flight .
He completed 22 orbits .
In 1969 , Justice Abe Fortas , under fire for a money deal with jailed financier Louis Wolfson , resigned from the U.S. Supreme Court .
In 1972 , Alabama Gov .
George Wallace and three others were injured by a gunman at a presidential campaign rally in Laurel , Md .
Wallace was partially paralyzed but active in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 1988 , Soviet forces began their withdrawal from Afghanistan in compliance with the Geneva accords .
In 1991 , Edith Cresson , a Socialist and former trade minister , became the first female prime minister of France .
In 2006 , the U.S. State Department said it would restore diplomatic relations with Libya for the first time since 1980 and remove the country from its terrorism sponsors list .
In 2009 , two of the `` Big 3 '' U.S. automakers , bankrupt Chrysler and almost-bankrupt General Motors , sent notices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2013 , Steven Miller resigned as acting commissioner of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service amid a controversy over its alleged targeting of the Tea Party and other conservative groups .
In 2018 , Russian President Vladimir Putin opened the Kerch Strait Bridge , a large connection between Russia 's Krasnodar region and Crimea , which Moscow annexed four years prior .
Its construction was controversial because the United States and most Western states did not recognize Crimea as Russian territory .
In 2019 , a rabbit sculpture by Jeff Koons sold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most paid for any artwork by a living artist .

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Alabama Gov. George Wallace is seen in a wheelchair with Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy during an Independence Day event in Decatur, Ala., on on July 4, 1973. Wallace was paralyzed in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally a little over a year earlier. UPI Photo/File | License Photo
On this date in history: In 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court, ruling in Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey vs. United States, ordered the dissolution of the company after determining it to be a monopoly. Advertisement
In 1918, the first regular U.S. airmail service was established between Washington and New York City.
In 1930, Ellen Church became the first airline stewardess, flying on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Cheyenne, Wyo. She persuaded the airline it needed a hostess in the sky and later developed a training program and manual for other stewardesses. She died in 1965 in a horseback riding accident.
In 1941, the Gloster-Whittle E 28/39 aircraft flew over Cranwell, England, in the first successful test of an Allied aircraft using jet propulsion.
In 1948, troops from Egypt, Trans-Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq invaded Israel starting the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
In 1958, Gen. Charles De Gaulle announced "I hold myself ready to take over the powers of the Republic." Thus, the 67-year-old World War II hero stepped back into the political picture in a crisis that brought France to the brink of civil war.
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UPI File Photo
In 1963, U.S. astronaut Gordon Cooper was launched into space atop an Atlas rocket in the final Mercury flight. He completed 22 orbits.
In 1969, Justice Abe Fortas, under fire for a money deal with jailed financier Louis Wolfson, resigned from the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 1972, Alabama Gov. George Wallace and three others were injured by a gunman at a presidential campaign rally in Laurel, Md. Wallace was partially paralyzed but active in Southern politics until his death in 1998.
In 1988, Soviet forces began their withdrawal from Afghanistan in compliance with the Geneva accords.
In 1991, Edith Cresson, a Socialist and former trade minister, became the first female prime minister of France.
In 2006, the U.S. State Department said it would restore diplomatic relations with Libya for the first time since 1980 and remove the country from its terrorism sponsors list.
In 2009, two of the "Big 3" U.S. automakers, bankrupt Chrysler and almost-bankrupt General Motors, sent notices terminating relationships with nearly 2,000 car dealers.
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File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI
In 2013, Steven Miller resigned as acting commissioner of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service amid a controversy over its alleged targeting of the Tea Party and other conservative groups.
In 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin opened the Kerch Strait Bridge, a large connection between Russia's Krasnodar region and Crimea, which Moscow annexed four years prior. Its construction was controversial because the United States and most Western states did not recognize Crimea as Russian territory.
In 2019, a rabbit sculpture by Jeff Koons sold at auction for $91 million, the most paid for any artwork by a living artist.


upi--2020-05-15--Grocery stores face temporary mushroom shortages

EVANSVILLE , Ind.
, May 15 ( UPI ) -- Mushrooms are in short supply at grocery stores across the country this month due in part to a continued spike in sales during the coronavirus pandemic .
Retail mushroom sales were up 37 percent during the first week of May over the same time last year , according to the Chicago-based data and analytics firm IRI .
Throughout April , sales were up more than 33 percent .
During the same time , however , the widespread closure of restaurants and institutions means food service sales have dropped to almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growers who were losing food service contracts scaled back their production during the final weeks of March , said Lori Harrison , a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania-based trade groups the American Mushroom Institute .
`` Our guys were looking at how to 'right size ' their operations , '' Harrison said .
`` They were n't sure at that point what retail was going to do , there was basically no food service and they were being told not to have workers too close together . ''
Growers made widespread decisions to decrease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth cycles are between 6 and 12 weeks .
That means that smaller crop now is hitting store shelves .
`` The COVID-19 conditions that growers were responsibly adapting their cycles to in mid-March continue to impact mushroom availability today , '' Rachel Roberts , the president of the American Mushroom Institute , said in a statement .
It is too soon to know what this shortage means for consumer prices , said Eric Davis , a spokesman for the Mushroom Council , an industry group based in Redwood Shores , Calif .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is for the four weeks ending March 22 -- just a week after many governors began to close restaurants and issue stay-at-home orders .
During those four weeks , consumer prices increased a modest 4 percent .
`` It only captures a fraction of the impact of COVID-19 , '' Davis said .
With restaurants stating to reopen -- and a clearly established high retail demand -- growers are increasing production again , Harrison said .
The American Mushroom Institute expects the shortage to persist for the next 6 to 10 weeks while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just takes time for the mushrooms to actually grow , '' Harrison said .
`` It 's not like a light switch you can turn on , and all of a sudden there are mushrooms .
But this shortage is not going to last forever . ''

Mushroom sales were up nearly 38 percent during the week of May 3 compared to a year earlier, according to the Chicago-based analytics firm IRI. Photo by Don Johnoghue/Pixabay
EVANSVILLE, Ind., May 15 (UPI) -- Mushrooms are in short supply at grocery stores across the country this month due in part to a continued spike in sales during the coronavirus pandemic. Retail mushroom sales were up 37 percent during the first week of May over the same time last year, according to the Chicago-based data and analytics firm IRI. Throughout April, sales were up more than 33 percent. Advertisement
During the same time, however, the widespread closure of restaurants and institutions means food service sales have dropped to almost nothing.
As a result, many growers who were losing food service contracts scaled back their production during the final weeks of March, said Lori Harrison, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania-based trade groups the American Mushroom Institute.
"Our guys were looking at how to 'right size' their operations," Harrison said. "They weren't sure at that point what retail was going to do, there was basically no food service and they were being told not to have workers too close together."
Growers made widespread decisions to decrease production about eight weeks ago. Mushroom growth cycles are between 6 and 12 weeks.
That means that smaller crop now is hitting store shelves.
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"The COVID-19 conditions that growers were responsibly adapting their cycles to in mid-March continue to impact mushroom availability today," Rachel Roberts, the president of the American Mushroom Institute, said in a statement.
It is too soon to know what this shortage means for consumer prices, said Eric Davis, a spokesman for the Mushroom Council, an industry group based in Redwood Shores, Calif.
The council's most recent price data is for the four weeks ending March 22 -- just a week after many governors began to close restaurants and issue stay-at-home orders. During those four weeks, consumer prices increased a modest 4 percent.
"It only captures a fraction of the impact of COVID-19," Davis said.
With restaurants starting to reopen -- and a clearly established high retail demand -- growers are increasing production again, Harrison said.
The American Mushroom Institute expects the shortage to persist for the next 6 to 10 weeks while the new crop matures.
"It just takes time for the mushrooms to actually grow," Harrison said. "It's not like a light switch you can turn on, and all of a sudden there are mushrooms. But this shortage is not going to last forever."


upi--2020-05-15--Sportsbooks thrive on odd events during pandemic curtailments

MIAMI , May 15 ( UPI ) -- Major sports are suspended in the United States , but bettors still clamor for action on online sportsbooks , with many wagering on competitions that normally do n't attract much attention .
`` Business is booming , '' said Adam Burns , the sportsbook director at BetOnline.AG .
`` We probably took in 10 times more money than last year on the 2020 NFL Draft .
It goes to show people are looking for something to bet on .
The draft is always big , but I could n't believe how much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woke up the next morning . ''
Websites like BetOnline.AG and SportsBetting.AG usually are filled with gambling options , such as game results , point totals and personal statistics for live NFL , NBA , MLS and MLB action in the United States and abroad .
Oddsmakers quickly became creative after league shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Sportsbooks now offer betting odds on virtual events , like the a recent Kentucky Derby clash that pitted former Triple Crown winners against each other in a digital format .
Gambling sites also offer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computer-simulated versions of NFL games and UFC bouts .
Odds are posted for an expected Electoral College battle between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden in the U.S. 2020 election .
Betters also can put money on the actor and actress they think will play Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin in the Tiger King movie .
Brad Pitt , Rob Lowe and Nicholas Cage are the betting favorites for the male lead .
Among the favorites for female lead are Patricia Clarkson , Shelley Long and Lisa Kudrow .
Bets on sports other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 21.7 million in April 2020 in New Jersey sportsbooks , up from $ 14.8 million in 2019 , according to a state gambling revenue report .
`` The rise in bets on nontraditional sports has been interesting , and with auto racing and golf closer to starting , that trend could increase , '' said Dustin Gouker , lead analyst for PlayUSA.com network , which analyzes and researches betting trends .
The pandemic has proven that virtually any competition will attract wagers .
Betting on table tennis thousands of miles away has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of income for gambling sites .
For those matches , gamblers can wager and stream simultaneously , though there 's a seven-hour time difference between the U.S. East Coast and Moscow .
Hundreds of clashes in the Moscow Liga Pro are listed on the betting sites daily .
The intense games involve two competitors smashing high-speed forehand and backhand shots and displaying rapid reflexes to maintain long rallies .
Table tennis wagers are also available for matches in the Czech Republic , Ukraine and Brazil .
While sportsbooks have capitalized on the interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worry that the novelty of the sports will wear off and eat into profits .
To bolster revenue , the sites have increased prop bet offerings -- bets made based on some aspect of a competition that does n't impact the outcome .
Those often focus on point totals and player performance .
The problem right now , though , is that no players are competing in the United States , so the action is restricted to Asia and Europe .
`` Thankfully , we have some sports returning to action like UFC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , odds manager at SportsBetting.AG .
`` Sports fans are just begging for something to watch and wager on . ''
Physical casinos in Las Vegas remain shut , but several are open online .
The lack of games and closed casinos resulted in gain of only $ 1.45 million for Nevada casinos in March , down from a record $ 32.5 million in that month a year earlier , according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board .
Nevada casinos also shifted resources to offer betting on new sports trends because the major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more gamblers to their online platforms as a result .
`` Our mobile sites have remained active , yet focused on substantially different sports given the cancellation of many major sporting events , '' a Caesars Entertainment spokesperson said .
`` There 's been more creativity into setting odds on events like the NFL Draft , table tennis in Eastern Europe or even eSports .
In addition , sports betting enthusiasts have increased their volume on our online casino and poker sites in states where these are legally offered . ''
Caesars -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- plans to launch online sports in new states to prepare for the return of major league sports .
Since the 2018 repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act , Caesars has rolled out sportsbooks in seven states .
Previous regulations had limited sports betting to Nevada .
MGM Resorts International said its BetMGM platform `` is doing well in light of the current environment '' with the help of online bets in home dart competitions , Belarusian soccer and , of course , Russian table tennis .
`` We 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and poker business in New Jersey is performing at remarkable levels since sports stopped , '' said Jason Scott , vice president of trading for Roar Digital , a joint venture between MGM and GVC Holdings .
`` Another positive observation is that numbers in Colorado where we commenced trading on May 1 have been well over projection , '' Scott said .
BetMGM clients can bet digitally in Colorado , West Virginia , Indiana , Nevada and New Jersey .
Online sportsbooks expect to receive lots of wagering on horse racing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bets -- wagers made based on how an event will finish in the future -- for marquee races .
Racing was held last weekend in Japan and in Hallandale Beach , Fla. Churchill Downs in Louisville , Ky. , will resume races Saturday .
Churchill Downs Inc. said in its quarterly report that its adjusted earnings were down 26 percent in the first quarter of 2020 compared with adjusted earnings of $ 55.3 million in the same quarter a year ago .
The company , which owns online wagering platform TwinSpires.com , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of wagers increased .
TwinSpires allowed wagers for tracks that held races without fans , like Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs , while Churchill Downs Racetrack was idle .
`` Right now we 're in a period of lower competition and high concentrations of fans wagering on less content , '' Churchill Downs Racetrack said .
`` That often translates to full fields that create a better product as there are fewer places for horses to run . ''

Casinos like Caesars Palace remain busy online after they shifted their focus to provide creative odds for events such as the 2020 NFL Draft, eSports and Russian table tennis. File Photo by James Atoa/UPI | License Photo
MIAMI, May 15 (UPI) -- Major sports are suspended in the United States, but bettors still clamor for action on online sportsbooks, with many wagering on competitions that normally don't attract much attention. "Business is booming," said Adam Burns, the sportsbook director at BetOnline.AG. Advertisement
"We probably took in 10 times more money than last year on the 2020 NFL Draft. It goes to show people are looking for something to bet on. The draft is always big, but I couldn't believe how much money [was bet] when I woke up the next morning."
Websites like BetOnline.AG and SportsBetting.AG usually are filled with gambling options, such as game results, point totals and personal statistics for live NFL, NBA, MLS and MLB action in the United States and abroad.
Oddsmakers quickly became creative after league shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sportsbooks now offer betting odds on virtual events, like the recent Kentucky Derby clash that pitted former Triple Crown winners against each other in a digital format.
Advertisement
Gambling sites also offer odds for streamed video game competitions and computer-simulated versions of NFL games and UFC bouts.
Odds are posted for an expected Electoral College battle between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden in the U.S. 2020 election.
Handicapping a movie
Betters could put money on the actor and actress they think will play Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin in the Tiger King movie. Brad Pitt, Rob Lowe and Nicolas Cage -- who has been cast in a new Tiger King TV series -- were the favorites for the male lead. Among the favorites for female lead were Patricia Clarkson, Shelley Long and Lisa Kudrow.
Bets on sports other than basketball, football and baseball generated $21.7 million in April 2020 in New Jersey sportsbooks, up from $14.8 million in 2019, according to a state gambling revenue report.
"The rise in bets on nontraditional sports has been interesting, and with auto racing and golf closer to starting, that trend could increase," said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayUSA.com network, which analyzes and researches betting trends.
Advertisement
The pandemic has proven that virtually any competition will attract wagers. Betting on table tennis thousands of miles away has been one of the most unexpected sources of income for gambling sites.
For those matches, gamblers can wager and stream simultaneously, though there's a seven-hour time difference between the U.S. East Coast and Moscow.
Hundreds of clashes in the Moscow Liga Pro are listed on the betting sites daily. The intense games involve two competitors smashing high-speed forehand and backhand shots and displaying rapid reflexes to maintain long rallies.
Table tennis wagers are also available for matches in the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Brazil.
While sportsbooks have capitalized on the interest in the peculiar offerings, site operators worry that the novelty of the sports will wear off and eat into profits.
To bolster revenue, the sites have increased prop bet offerings -- bets made based on some aspect of a competition that doesn't impact the outcome. Those often focus on point totals and player performance.
No U.S. players
The problem right now, though, is that no players are competing in the United States, so the action is restricted to Asia and Europe.
"Thankfully, we have some sports returning to action like UFC and NASCAR," said Robert Cooper, odds manager at SportsBetting.AG. "Sports fans are just begging for something to watch and wager on."
Advertisement
Physical casinos in Las Vegas remain shut, but several are open online. The lack of games and closed casinos resulted in gain of only $1.45 million for Nevada casinos in March, down from a record $32.5 million in that month a year earlier, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Nevada casinos also shifted resources to offer betting on new sports trends because the major leagues are suspended. That has brought more gamblers to their online platforms as a result.
"Our mobile sites have remained active, yet focused on substantially different sports given the cancellation of many major sporting events," a Caesars Entertainment representative said.
"There's been more creativity into setting odds on events like the NFL Draft, table tennis in Eastern Europe or even eSports. In addition, sports betting enthusiasts have increased their volume on our online casino and poker sites in states where these are legally offered."
Caesars -- the official casino partner of the NFL -- plans to launch online sports in new states to prepare for the return of major league sports.
Since the 2018 repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, Caesars has rolled out sportsbooks in seven states. Previous regulations had limited sports betting to Nevada.
Advertisement
MGM Resorts International said its BetMGM platform "is doing well in light of the current environment" with the help of online bets in home dart competitions, Belarusian soccer and, of course, Russian table tennis.
"We're very happy to report that our casino and poker business in New Jersey is performing at remarkable levels since sports stopped," said Jason Scott, vice president of trading for Roar Digital, a joint venture between MGM and GVC Holdings.
"Another positive observation is that numbers in Colorado, where we commenced trading on May 1, have been well over projection," Scott said.
BetMGM clients can bet digitally in Colorado, West Virginia, Indiana, Nevada and New Jersey.
Horse racing limited
Online sportsbooks expect to receive lots of wagering on horse racing in coming months. They've added futures bets -- wagers made based on how an event will finish in the future -- for marquee races.
Racing was held last weekend in Japan and in Hallandale Beach, Fla. Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., will resume races Saturday.
Churchill Downs said in its quarterly report that its adjusted earnings were down 26 percent in the first quarter of 2020 compared with adjusted earnings of $55.3 million in the same quarter a year ago.
Advertisement
The company, which owns online wagering platform TwinSpires.com, said content for available wagers decreased, but the number of wagers increased. TwinSpires allowed wagers for tracks that held races without fans, like Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs, while Churchill Downs Racetrack was idle.
"Right now we're in a period of lower competition and high concentrations of fans wagering on less content," Churchill Downs Racetrack said. "That often translates to full fields that create a better product as there are fewer places for horses to run."


upi--2020-05-15--White House threatens to veto $3T HEROES Act

May 15 ( UPI ) -- The White House has threatened to veto a $ 3 trillion coronavirus relief bill that House Democrats hope to table for a vote on Friday .
Known as the HEROES Act , the legislation Democrats unveiled on Tuesday aims to funnel money to state and local governments to address issues that were not included in previous measures and increase funding for the U.S .
Postal Service .
Since it was announced , Republicans have balked at the package , deriding it as a partisan move filled with expenses unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its letter to the House of Representatives .
`` This proposed legislation , however , is more concerned with delivering on longstanding partisan and ideological wishlists than with enhancing the ability of our nation to deal with the public health and economic challenges we face , '' the Trump administration said .
`` If H.R .
6800 were presented to the president , his advisors would recommend that he veto the bill . ''
When it was unveiled , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , described it as having three pillars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to honor those fighting the coronavirus and to put money in the pockets of Americans suffering under strict lockdown measures put in place to prevent spread of the infectious and deadly coronavirus .
`` We can all agree that we must open our economy as quickly as we can , but we must do so based on science and data , '' she said .
The letter was sent on the same day the Labor Department announced nearly 3 million more Americans filed new unemployment claims , pushing the eight-week total to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March , President Donald Trump signed a more than $ 2 trillion COVID-19 bailout package , and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , said instead of working on a new bill focus should now be on maximizing the effects of the first package .
`` We now have a debt the size of our economy , '' McConnell said .
`` So I 've said , and the president has said as well , that we have to take a pause here and take a look at what we 've done @ @

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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., walks to her office prior to a House vote on a new COVID-19 stimulus bill at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Friday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
May 15 (UPI) -- The House passed a rule to allow lawmakers in the chamber to vote remotely as it considers a $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill Friday. Lawmakers voted 217-189 to push the rule change, which will allow them to vote while away from Washington, D.C., during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's the first time in the House's more-than 200-year history that the chamber will be allowed to vote remotely. Advertisement
Republicans voted against the measure, calling it a partisan power grab. Democrats said the rule change will allow congressmen to stay home and maintain social distance, measures meant to protect them from the coronavirus.
The measure temporarily allows congressmen to vote remotely by proxy and for committee proceedings to take place remotely.
The House was expected to vote Friday on the latest coronavirus relief bill, one that the White House has threatened to veto.
Known as the HEROES Act, the legislation Democrats unveiled on Tuesday aims to funnel money to state and local governments to address issues that were not included in previous measures and increase funding for the U.S. Postal Service.
Republicans have balked at the package, deriding it as a partisan move filled with expenses unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic, a notion the White House repeated Thursday in its letter to the House of Representatives.
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"This proposed legislation, however, is more concerned with delivering on longstanding partisan and ideological wish lists than with enhancing the ability of our nation to deal with the public health and economic challenges we face," the Trump administration said. "If H.R. 6800 were presented to the president, his advisers would recommend that he veto the bill."
When it was unveiled, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., described it as having three pillars to reopen the economy safely and quickly, to honor those fighting the coronavirus and to put money in the pockets of Americans suffering under strict lockdown measures put in place to prevent spread of the virus.
"We can all agree that we must open our economy as quickly as we can, but we must do so based on science and data," she said.
The letter was sent on the same day the Labor Department announced nearly 3 million more Americans filed new unemployment claims, pushing the eight-week total to more than 36 million.
In late March, President Donald Trump signed a more than $2 trillion COVID-19 bailout package, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said instead of working on a new bill, focus should be on maximizing the effects of the first package.
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"We now have a debt the size of our economy," McConnell said. "So I've said, and the president has said, as well, that we have to take a pause here and take a look at what we've done."
U.S. copes with COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-05-15--Compression stockings may not be needed after surgeries

A new study offers reassurance that many surgery patients can safely be freed from one discomfort of recovery -- wearing compression stockings to prevent blood clots .
The garments , which help keep blood from pooling in the lower legs , have long been used post-surgery .
One reason has been to thwart blood clots , which can form in the leg veins when a patient is laid up in recovery .
But rates of such blood clots have fallen dramatically over the years , according to researcher Dr. Alun Davies .
That 's due to various improvements in care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of bed and moving soon after surgery , and discharging them from the hospital earlier .
That raises the question of whether old-fashioned compression stockings still hold any benefit .
Davies and his colleagues at Imperial College London , and other British hospitals , set up a trial to find out .
The researchers randomly assigned nearly 1,900 patients undergoing elective surgery to one of two groups : One received standard anti-clotting medication after surgery the other took the same medication and used compression stockings during their hospital stay .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difference in the risk of blood clots -- an indication the stockings were unnecessary .
The findings were published online May 13 in the medical journal BMJ .
The results came as no surprise to Dr. Michael Ast , an orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery , in New York City .
Doctors have already moved away from using compression stockings specifically to prevent clots , he explained .
`` The number-one thing in preventing blood clots is getting patients up and moving around , '' Ast said .
But , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a use : Patients who are prone to swelling in the legs -- which can be painful and hinder their mobility -- may still need to wear them .
In those cases , Ast said , he generally recommends patients wear the garments for about a month after they go home .
The new study involved 1,888 patients who were mainly undergoing gastrointestinal or gynecological surgery .
All were at moderate or high risk of blood clots -- based on factors like age , obesity and certain health conditions , such as heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given heparin , an anti-clotting drug .
Half wore compression stockings while they recovered in the hospital , while the other half did not .
Overall , 1.7 percent of patients on medication alone developed a blood clot within 90 days .
That figure was 1.4 percent among patients who used compression stockings -- a difference that was not statistically significant , the researchers said .
In most cases , those blood clots were in the leg veins and not causing any pain or other symptoms they were caught by ultrasound scans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ news , Ast said : With modern care , blood clots after surgery have actually become uncommon when they do occur , they often cause no problem .
The main concern with clots in the legs is that they can break free and travel to the lungs , causing a potentially life-threatening condition called pulmonary embolism .
In this study , three patients , all age 65 or older , had a confirmed pulmonary embolism .
According to Ast , the risk of blood clots after surgery was once a much bigger concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates were as high as 25 percent after hip or knee replacements , for example .
But a lot has changed over the years .
The recognition that early movement is critical -- along with better pain management to make that possible -- has been key .
In fact , Ast said , when it comes to clot-preventing medication , baby aspirin can be used instead of heparin -- an injection drug that carries a higher risk of bleeding complications .
And once patients are home , that 's not the time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's nothing more important than moving around , even if it 's causing some pain , '' Ast said .
`` We recommend getting up and moving once an hour . ''
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has more on blood clot prevention .

A new study offers reassurance that many surgery patients can safely be freed from one discomfort of recovery -- wearing compression stockings to prevent blood clots.
The garments, which help keep blood from pooling in the lower legs, have long been used post-surgery. One reason has been to thwart blood clots, which can form in the leg veins when a patient is laid up in recovery.
Advertisement
But rates of such blood clots have fallen dramatically over the years, according to researcher Dr. Alun Davies.
That's due to various improvements in care, he said -- like getting patients out of bed and moving soon after surgery, and discharging them from the hospital earlier.
That raises the question of whether old-fashioned compression stockings still hold any benefit. Davies and his colleagues at Imperial College London, and other British hospitals, set up a trial to find out.
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The researchers randomly assigned nearly 1,900 patients undergoing elective surgery to one of two groups: One received standard anti-clotting medication after surgery the other took the same medication and used compression stockings during their hospital stay.
In the end, the two groups showed no difference in the risk of blood clots -- an indication the stockings were unnecessary.
The findings were published online May 13 in the medical journal BMJ.
The results came as no surprise to Dr. Michael Ast, an orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery, in New York City.
Doctors have already moved away from using compression stockings specifically to prevent clots, he explained.
"The number-one thing in preventing blood clots is getting patients up and moving around," Ast said.
But, he added, compression stockings still have a use: Patients who are prone to swelling in the legs -- which can be painful and hinder their mobility -- may still need to wear them. In those cases, Ast said, he generally recommends patients wear the garments for about a month after they go home.
The new study involved 1,888 patients who were mainly undergoing gastrointestinal or gynecological surgery. All were at moderate or high risk of blood clots -- based on factors like age, obesity and certain health conditions, such as heart disease.
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All of the patients were given heparin, an anti-clotting drug. Half wore compression stockings while they recovered in the hospital, while the other half did not.
Overall, 1.7 percent of patients on medication alone developed a blood clot within 90 days. That figure was 1.4 percent among patients who used compression stockings -- a difference that was not statistically significant, the researchers said.
In most cases, those blood clots were in the leg veins and not causing any pain or other symptoms they were caught by ultrasound scans.
And that's part of the good news, Ast said: With modern care, blood clots after surgery have actually become uncommon when they do occur, they often cause no problem.
The main concern with clots in the legs is that they can break free and travel to the lungs, causing a potentially life-threatening condition called pulmonary embolism. In this study, three patients, all age 65 or older, had a confirmed pulmonary embolism.
According to Ast, the risk of blood clots after surgery was once a much bigger concern: In the 1970s and 1980s, rates were as high as 25 percent after hip or knee replacements, for example.
But a lot has changed over the years. The recognition that early movement is critical -- along with better pain management to make that possible -- has been key. In fact, Ast said, when it comes to clot-preventing medication, baby aspirin can be used instead of heparin -- an injection drug that carries a higher risk of bleeding complications.
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And once patients are home, that's not the time to become a couch potato.
"There's nothing more important than moving around, even if it's causing some pain," Ast said. "We recommend getting up and moving once an hour."
More information
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has more on blood clot prevention.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-15--Police identify bodies found under Georgia bridge, rule deaths as homicides

May 15 ( UPI ) -- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the deaths of two women whose bodies were found Wednesday under a north Georgia bridge has been ruled a homicide .
The GBI identified the victims in a statement Thursday as 19-year-old Vanita Richardson and 31-year-old Trevena Clarece Campbell .
Autopsies performed by the GBI Medical Examiner concluded `` the manner of death is homicide , '' the statement read without explaining how the women were killed .
The Floyd County School District confirmed Richardson was a student at Armuchee High School and was scheduled to graduate next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for being a fun-loving , humble and motivated student who was making strong plans for her future , '' the school board said in a statement .
`` Even throughout the school closures , Vanita 's passing is felt by all . ''
Social workers and counselors will be available for grief counseling , it said .
GBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Johnston told the Rome-News Tribune the bodies were found Wednesday morning by a Georgia Department of Transportation crew performing maintenance on the bridge .
He said the two bodies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bride 's side .
The GBI requested anyone who saw `` anything suspicious '' between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning in the area to contact the authorities .

May 15 (UPI) -- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the deaths of two women whose bodies were found Wednesday under a north Georgia bridge has been ruled a homicide.
The GBI identified the victims in a statement Thursday as 19-year-old Vanita Richardson and 31-year-old Truvenia Clarece Campbell.
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Autopsies performed by the GBI Medical Examiner concluded "the manner of death is homicide," the statement read without explaining how the women were killed.
The Floyd County School District confirmed Richardson was a student at Armuchee High School and was scheduled to graduate next Saturday.
"Vanita will be remembered for being a fun-loving, humble and motivated student who was making strong plans for her future," the school board said in a statement. "Even throughout the school closures, Vanita's passing is felt by all."
Social workers and counselors will be available for grief counseling, it said.
We are deeply saddened and heartbroken by the news of the death of one of our students, Vanita Richardson who was scheduled to graduate next Saturday. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Armuchee Community and her friends and family at this time.- Floyd County Schools (@FloydCoSchools) May 14, 2020 Advertisement
GBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Johnston told the Rome-News Tribune the bodies were found Wednesday morning by a Georgia Department of Transportation crew performing maintenance on the bridge.
He said the two bodies are believed to have been dropped over the passenger side.
The GBI requested anyone who saw "anything suspicious" between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning in the area to contact the authorities.


upi--2020-05-15--Gov. Newsom slashes California budget to combat deficit caused by COVID-19

May 14 ( UPI ) -- California Gov .
Gavin Newsom has slashed billions from the state 's budget to offset the economic shortfall caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
During a press conference Thursday , Newsom announced he submitted his May revision budget proposal to the Legislature containing cuts , canceled spending and tax increases to cover the $ 54.3 billion deficit caused by declines in tax revenue and higher demand for social safety net services amid climbing unemployment as all but essential workers have been ordered to stay home to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last many years in the state of California and now being forced back into this position where we are having to make cuts breaks my heart , '' he said .
`` Because one thing I know about cuts is there 's a human being behind every single number , behind every category is a dream that is either deferred , in some cases is denied . ''
To cover the deficit , 16 percent will come from three reserves , 15 percent from pulling back on investments , 15 percent will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than $ 2 trillion relief package , 19 percent from deferrals and the rest will come from increased taxes and cuts .
According to the new plan , some $ 6 billion will be cut from program expansions and state workers will have their pay cut by 10 percent while some businesses will have tax deductions removed to generate lost revenue and $ 16 billion from the state 's rainy day fund will go to paying down the deficit .
California , the world 's fifth-largest economy , was the first state to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unemployment rate for the year to be projected at 18 percent , he said , with more than 4 million unemployment claims being filed since the order was issued .
`` COVID-19 has caused California and economies across the country to confront a steep and unprecedented economic crisis -- facing massive job losses and revenue shortfall , '' Newsom said in a statement .
`` Our budget today reflects that emergency . ''

People line up on Powell Street to received food from the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank in San Francisco on May 7. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
May 14 (UPI) -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom has slashed billions from the state's budget to offset the economic shortfall caused by the coronavirus pandemic. During a press conference Thursday, Newsom announced he submitted his May revision budget proposal to the Legislature containing cuts, canceled spending and tax increases to cover the $54.3 billion deficit caused by declines in tax revenue and higher demand for social safety net services amid climbing unemployment as all but essential workers have been ordered to stay home to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Advertisement
"We have been making historic investments in the last many years in the state of California and now being forced back into this position where we are having to make cuts breaks my heart," he said. "Because one thing I know about cuts is there's a human being behind every single number, behind every category is a dream that is either deferred, in some cases is denied."
To cover the deficit, 16 percent will come from three reserves, 15 percent from pulling back on investments, 15 percent will come from the federal government's more than $2 trillion relief package, 19 percent from deferrals and the rest will come from increased taxes and cuts.
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According to the new plan, some $6 billion will be cut from program expansions and state workers will have their pay cut by 10 percent while some businesses will have tax deductions removed to generate lost revenue and $16 billion from the state's rainy day fund will go to paying down the deficit.
California, the world's fifth-largest economy, was the first state to issue a stay-at-home order in mid-March causing the unemployment rate for the year to be projected at 18 percent, he said, with more than 4 million unemployment claims being filed since the order was issued.
"COVID-19 has caused California and economies across the country to confront a steep and unprecedented economic crisis -- facing massive job losses and revenue shortfall," Newsom said in a statement. "Our budget today reflects that emergency."


upi--2020-05-15--Hepatitis drug interferon-alpha-2b might treat COVID-19 effectively

May 15 ( UPI ) -- Treatment with the hepatitis drug interferon-alpha-2b might speed recovery for people with COVID-19 , a small study published Friday by the journal Frontiers in Immunology found .
Researchers in Wuhan , China , report that the drug significantly reduced levels of detectable virus in the upper respiratory tract , based on `` experimental '' treatment with 77 patients who had the disease .
The findings , researchers said , showed promise for interferon-alpha-2b -- which has been used against hepatitis and some forms of cancer , including melanoma -- as a treatment against COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trials of the drug are needed .
`` Interferons are our first line of defense against any and all viruses -- but viruses such as coronaviruses have co-evolved to very specifically block an interferon response , '' co-author Eleanor Fish , of the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute , said in a press release .
`` This informs us of the importance of interferons for the clearance of virus infections , '' said Fish , who also is affiliated with and the University of Toronto 's Department of Immunology .
`` Treatment with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus . ''
Other forms of interferon , interferon-beta and interferon-beta-1b , have been studied for use in COVID-19 as part of a cocktail of drugs .
Fish and her colleagues first began to experiment with interferon-alpha-2b during the sudden acute respiratory syndrome , or SARS , outbreak in 2002-03 .
Like COVID-19 , SARS was caused by a coronavirus , SARS-CoV-1 .
In this study , researchers examined the course of COVID-19 disease progression in patients with confirmed infection admitted to Union Hospital , Tongii Medical College , in Wuhan between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients had moderate symptoms , meaning none required intensive care or oxygen supplementation or intubation .
Patients in the study were treated either with interferon-alpha-2b , the antiviral arbidol or a combination of the two .
The researchers found that those who received interferon-alpha-2b as part of their treatment achieved undetectable levels of SARS-CoV-2 up to seven days faster than those who did n't receive the drug .
In addition , treatment with interferon-alpha-2b , either alone or in combination with arbidol , also cleared the virus faster than arbidol alone .
Also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein , two inflammatory proteins found in the human body that become elevated in some with COVID-19 .
Fish and her colleagues , however , emphasized that the findings need to be confirmed by a larger , randomized , controlled trial -- the gold standard for evaluating the safety and efficacy of a treatment -- before it can be considered for widespread use .
`` Rather then developing a virus-specific antiviral for each new virus outbreak , I would argue that we should consider interferons as the 'first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Fish said .
`` Interferons have been approved for clinical use for many years , so the strategy would be to 'repurpose ' them for severe acute virus infections . ''

Staff Sgt. Meghann Cinnamond, a member of the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing in Scotia talks to a person about test sample collection at a drive-through COVID-19 testing center in Staten Island, N.Y., in March. File Photo by Maj. Patrick Cordova/U.S. Air National Guard/UPI | License Photo
May 15 (UPI) -- Treatment with the hepatitis drug interferon-alpha-2b might speed recovery for people with COVID-19, a small study published Friday by the journal Frontiers in Immunology found. Researchers in Wuhan, China, report that the drug significantly reduced levels of detectable virus in the upper respiratory tract, based on "experimental" treatment with 77 patients who had the disease. Advertisement
The findings, researchers said, showed promise for interferon-alpha-2b -- which has been used against hepatitis and some forms of cancer, including melanoma -- as a treatment against COVID-19. They stressed that larger, controlled trials of the drug are needed.
"Interferons are our first line of defense against any and all viruses -- but viruses such as coronaviruses have co-evolved to very specifically block an interferon response," co-author Eleanor Fish, of the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, said in a press release.
"This informs us of the importance of interferons for the clearance of virus infections," said Fish, who also is affiliated with and the University of Toronto's Department of Immunology. "Treatment with interferon will override the inhibitory effects of the virus."
Other forms of interferon, interferon-beta and interferon-beta-1b, have been studied for use in COVID-19 as part of a cocktail of drugs.
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Fish and her colleagues first began to experiment with interferon-alpha-2b during the sudden acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, outbreak in 2002-03. Like COVID-19, SARS was caused by a coronavirus, SARS-CoV-1.
In this study, researchers examined the course of COVID-19 disease progression in patients with confirmed infection admitted to Union Hospital, Tongii Medical College, in Wuhan between Jan. 16 and Feb. 20. All patients had moderate symptoms, meaning none required intensive care or oxygen supplementation or intubation.
Patients in the study were treated either with interferon-alpha-2b, the antiviral arbidol or a combination of the two. The researchers found that those who received interferon-alpha-2b as part of their treatment achieved undetectable levels of SARS-CoV-2 up to seven days faster than those who didn't receive the drug.
In addition, treatment with interferon-alpha-2b, either alone or in combination with arbidol, also cleared the virus faster than arbidol alone. Also, interferon-alpha-2 treatment "significantly" reduced levels of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein, two inflammatory proteins found in the human body that become elevated in some with COVID-19.
Fish and her colleagues, however, emphasized that the findings need to be confirmed by a larger, randomized, controlled trial -- the gold standard for evaluating the safety and efficacy of a treatment -- before it can be considered for widespread use.
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"Rather then developing a virus-specific antiviral for each new virus outbreak, I would argue that we should consider interferons as the 'first responders' in terms of treatment," Fish said.
"Interferons have been approved for clinical use for many years, so the strategy would be to 'repurpose' them for severe acute virus infections."


upi--2020-05-14--Ex-Steelers LB James Harrison claims Mike Tomlin gave him envelope for illegal hit

May 14 ( UPI ) -- Former Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker James Harrison said head coach Mike Tomlin gave him an envelope for an illegal hit on ex-Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi in 2010 .
`` The ' G-est ' thing Mike Tomlin ever did , he handed me an envelope after that [ play ] , '' Harrison said on Barstool Sports ' Going Deep podcast .
`` I 'm not going to say what [ was inside ] , but he handed me an envelope after that . ''
Harrison initially was fined $ 75,000 for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount he said he was ever fined .
The NFL later reduced the penalty to $ 50,000 .
Massaquoi sustained a concussion as a result of the helmet-to-helmet collision , which was n't flagged in the game .
`` Listen , on everything I love , on my daddy 's grave , I hit that man with about 50 percent of what I had , and I just hit him because I wanted him to let loose of the ball , '' Harrison said on the podcast .
`` If I had [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fine me $ 75,000 , I would have tried to kill him . ''
Harrison 's fine from the hit was high because the league considered him a repeat offender , as he had been fined $ 5,000 earlier that season for unnecessary roughness .
`` I am very certain nothing like this ever happened , '' Rooney said .
`` I have no idea why James would make a comment like this but there is simply no basis for believing anything like this . ''
The NFL previously dealt with coaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or intentionally injuring others in the New Orleans Saints ' `` Bountygate '' scandal .
In the Saints ' alleged bounty program , coaches offered incentives to players for knocking opponents out of games .
During a radio interview Thursday on Baltimore 's 105.7 The Fan , Saints head coach Sean Payton was asked about Harrison 's comments .
He said fans `` should n't hold their breath '' for an NFL investigation .
`` That 'll be something that 's tucked away or under the rug at Park Avenue , '' Payton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it briefly .
...
Listen , do n't get me started on that .
I lost $ 6 million in salary .
And honestly it was something that I 'll never truly get over because I know how it was handled and how it was run and the reasons behind it .
And that 's just the truth . ''
Harrison played 13 seasons for the Steelers , winning two Super Bowl championships with the organization .
The five-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time All-Pro choice also had one-year stints with the Cincinnati @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patriots ( 2017 ) before retiring .

Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison (L) said he received the envelope from head coach Mike Tomlin (R) after a hit on Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi in 2010. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
May 14 (UPI) -- Former Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker James Harrison said head coach Mike Tomlin gave him an envelope for an illegal hit on ex-Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi in 2010. "The 'G-est' thing Mike Tomlin ever did, he handed me an envelope after that [play]," Harrison said on Barstool Sports' Going Deep podcast. "I'm not going to say what [was inside], but he handed me an envelope after that." Advertisement
Harrison initially was fined $75,000 for the devastating hit on Massaquoi, the largest amount he said he was ever fined. The NFL later reduced the penalty to $50,000.
Massaquoi sustained a concussion as a result of the helmet-to-helmet collision, which wasn't flagged in the game.
"Listen, on everything I love, on my daddy's grave, I hit that man with about 50 percent of what I had, and I just hit him because I wanted him to let loose of the ball," Harrison said on the podcast. "If I had [known] they [were] going to fine me $75,000, I would have tried to kill him."
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Harrison's fine from the hit was high because the league considered him a repeat offender, as he had been fined $5,000 earlier that season for unnecessary roughness.
On Thursday, Steelers president Art Rooney II issued a statement denying Harrison's claims.
"I am very certain nothing like this ever happened," Rooney said. "I have no idea why James would make a comment like this but there is simply no basis for believing anything like this."
The NFL previously dealt with coaches making payments to players for big hits or intentionally injuring others in the New Orleans Saints' "Bountygate" scandal. In the Saints' alleged bounty program, coaches offered incentives to players for knocking opponents out of games.
During a radio interview Thursday on Baltimore's 105.7 The Fan, Saints head coach Sean Payton was asked about Harrison's comments. He said fans "shouldn't hold their breath" for an NFL investigation.
"That'll be something that's tucked away or under the rug at Park Avenue," Payton said. "They'll look into it briefly. ... Listen, don't get me started on that. I lost $6 million in salary. And honestly it was something that I'll never truly get over because I know how it was handled and how it was run and the reasons behind it. And that's just the truth."
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Harrison played 13 seasons for the Steelers, winning two Super Bowl championships with the organization. The five-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time All-Pro choice also had one-year stints with the Cincinnati Bengals (2013) and New England Patriots (2017) before retiring.


upi--2020-05-14--Netflix picks up Dwayne Johnson-Emily Blunt film 'Ball and Chain'

May 14 ( UPI ) -- Netflix announced Thursday it will release Ball and Chain , a film based on Scott Lobdell 's 1990s comic book of the same name .
It will star Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt , the leads in Disney 's Jungle Cruise , which is scheduled to open in theaters in the summer of 2021 .
Emily V. Gordon -- whose credits include The Big Sick and Little America -- is writing the screenplay for Ball and Chain , which is about `` a troubled married couple that receive superpowers that only work when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release said .
No director has been named yet .
Johnson is producing through his Seven Bucks Productions banner .
`` One of our main initiatives at Seven Bucks is to continue to find the best platforms to tell stories that entertain and inspire on a global scale .
Netflix is the perfect partner to deliver this epic superhero/romantic comedy experience alongside us , and we 're excited to be back in business with the Netflix team .
I 'm also excited to not only reunite with dear friend Emily Blunt in front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collaborate as producing partners as we bring Emily V. Gordon 's script to life , '' Johnson said in a statement .

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Netflix said it will release Dwayne Johnson's upcoming movie "Ball and Chain." File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
May 14 (UPI) -- Netflix announced Thursday it will release Ball and Chain, a film based on Scott Lobdell's 1990s comic book of the same name. It will star Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, the leads in Disney's Jungle Cruise, which is scheduled to open in theaters in the summer of 2021. Advertisement
Emily V. Gordon -- whose credits include The Big Sick and Little America -- is writing the screenplay for Ball and Chain, which is about "a troubled married couple that receive superpowers that only work when they are together," a Netflix press release said.
No director has been named yet.
Johnson is producing through his Seven Bucks Productions banner.
"One of our main initiatives at Seven Bucks is to continue to find the best platforms to tell stories that entertain and inspire on a global scale. Netflix is the perfect partner to deliver this epic superhero/romantic comedy experience alongside us, and we're excited to be back in business with the Netflix team. I'm also excited to not only reunite with dear friend Emily Blunt in front of the camera, but to also collaborate as producing partners as we bring Emily V. Gordon's script to life," Johnson said in a statement.


upi--2020-05-15--Autopsy: Kobe Bryant's pilot, Ara Zobayan, had no drugs or alcohol in system

May 15 ( UPI ) -- Ara Zobayan , the helicopter pilot of Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant and seven others during their fatal crash in January , did n't have any drugs or alcohol in his system , according to autopsies released Friday .
The reports by the Los Angeles County coroner 's office described the scene of the crash in graphic detail , mentioning broken bones and dismembered body parts .
The causes of death for Bryant , his 13-year-old daughter , Gianna , Zobayan and the other passengers on board were certified as blunt trauma .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug in his system was methylphenidate , which is sold under the brand name Ritalin and used to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder .
The aircraft was headed to Bryant 's Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks , Calif. , on the morning of Jan. 26 .
During the flight , Zobayan encountered intense fog and attempted to climb sharply to get above the clouds before turning left and plunging into a hillside .
Federal authorities are still investigating the accident .
Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alyssa , along with basketball coach Christina Mauser , Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton , also were killed in the crash .
Mauser helped Bryant coach his daughter 's youth basketball team , and Alyssa and Payton were Gianna 's teammates .

Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant and eight others were killed in a helicopter crash Jan. 26 in Calabasas, Calif. File Photo by John McCoy/UPI | License Photo
May 15 (UPI) -- Ara Zobayan, the helicopter pilot of Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant and seven others during their fatal crash in January, didn't have any drugs or alcohol in his system, according to autopsies released Friday. The reports by the Los Angeles County coroner's office described the scene of the crash in graphic detail, mentioning broken bones and dismembered body parts. The causes of death for Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, Zobayan and the other passengers on board were certified as blunt trauma. Advertisement
The report on Bryant revealed the only drug in his system was methylphenidate, which is sold under the brand name Ritalin and used to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The aircraft was headed to Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif., on the morning of Jan. 26. During the flight, Zobayan encountered intense fog and attempted to climb sharply to get above the clouds before turning left and plunging into a hillside.
Federal authorities are still investigating the accident.
Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and their daughter Alyssa, along with basketball coach Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton, also were killed in the crash. Mauser helped Bryant coach his daughter's youth basketball team, and Alyssa and Payton were Gianna's teammates.


upi--2020-05-15--World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic

The world is slowly starting to open up again as the threat of the crisis brought on by the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ some countries .
From China to Israel to the United States , here 's a @ @ @ @ @ reopen .

Patrons walk to their movie with refreshments at the St. Charles Cinema. After being closed for months due to the pandemic, movie theaters in the St. Louis area and across the country are reopening. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI


upi--2020-05-15--NFL to allow teams to reopen facilities next week if protocols met

May 15 ( UPI ) -- NFL team facilities will be allowed to reopen next week if clubs meet certain protocols and have permission under state and local regulations .
In a memo sent to all 32 teams Friday , NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote that clubs could begin reopening their facilities starting Tuesday , provided they do so under `` governing state and local regulations , are in compliance with additional public health requirements in their jurisdiction , and have implemented the protocols that were developed by [ NFL chief medical officer ] Dr. [ Allen ] Sills and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Goodell sent out a memo to all NFL clubs May 6 and laid out protocols on how facilities can reopen , which includes consent from state government officials and the establishment of other safety measures by each team .
NFL teams that are not ready or permitted to reopen Tuesday can do so as soon as they meet the preestablished criteria , according to the league .
The first group of team employees permitted to return to facilities would include no more than 50 percent of non-player staff , up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the memo , the only players allowed to return would be those who were rehabilitating injuries before closures , and no coaching staff members are allowed in facilities .
`` This first phase of reopening is an important step in demonstrating our ability to operate safely and effectively , even in the current environment , '' Goodell wrote .
`` After we implement this first phase , and as more states and localities enact policies that allow more club facilities to reopen , I expect that additional staff , likely including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to club facilities in a relatively short time . ''
NFL team facilities have been closed since March because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The league previously set a deadline of Friday for clubs to be ready to implement the first phase of protocols for reopening facilities .

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said team facilities can begin reopening Tuesday, although coaches and non-rehabbing players still won't be permitted. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
May 15 (UPI) -- NFL team facilities will be allowed to reopen next week if clubs meet certain protocols and have permission under state and local regulations. In a memo sent to all 32 teams Friday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote that clubs could begin reopening their facilities starting Tuesday, provided they do so under "governing state and local regulations, are in compliance with additional public health requirements in their jurisdiction, and have implemented the protocols that were developed by [NFL chief medical officer] Dr. [Allen] Sills and distributed to all clubs on May 6." Advertisement
Goodell sent out a memo to all NFL clubs May 6 and laid out protocols on how facilities can reopen, which includes consent from state government officials and the establishment of other safety measures by each team.
NFL teams that are not ready or permitted to reopen Tuesday can do so as soon as they meet the preestablished criteria, according to the league.
The first group of team employees permitted to return to facilities would include no more than 50 percent of non-player staff, up to a total of 75 each day. According to the memo, the only players allowed to return would be those who were rehabilitating injuries before closures, and no coaching staff members are allowed in facilities.
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"This first phase of reopening is an important step in demonstrating our ability to operate safely and effectively, even in the current environment," Goodell wrote.
"After we implement this first phase, and as more states and localities enact policies that allow more club facilities to reopen, I expect that additional staff, likely including coaching staff, will be allowed to return to club facilities in a relatively short time."
NFL team facilities have been closed since March because of the coronavirus pandemic. The league previously set a deadline of Friday for clubs to be ready to implement the first phase of protocols for reopening facilities.


upi--2020-05-15--House to allow remote voting on $3T coronavirus relief bill


upi--2020-05-15--Ambo makes 6th landfall as torrential rain, damaging winds batter Philippines

May 15 ( UPI ) -- Tropical Storm Ambo , also known as Vongfong , made the sixth of numerous expected landfalls over the eastern Philippines on Friday .
Although the tropical system has begun to lose wind intensity , it will still forge a path of destruction over the country 's northern islands through the weekend .
Ambo strengthened throughout the week as it tracked over the warm waters of the Philippine Sea and became the first named tropical system in the Northern Pacific Ocean of 2020 .
On Thursday afternoon , the former typhoon had wind speeds around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Category 3 hurricane in the Atlantic and East Pacific basins .
Although Ambo has lost wind intensity and is no longer a typhoon , it still poses a significant flooding threat across the northern Philippines .
As a result , the PAGASA has heavy rainfall warnings and flooding advisories issued across regions of Luzon , including a red warning in Metro Manila on Friday evening .
A total of 3.66 inches of rain fell in parts of the city on Friday .
At least two people have been injured as of Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave their homes , according to the Philippine News Agency .
A total of 48 towns also suffered power outages across Samar and Biliran .
In preparation of the storm , towns forecast to be in the path of the typhoon issued evacuations and distribution of relief packages .
Given the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic , evacuees were required to wear face masks and families will practice social distancing in shelters .
The New York Times reports that 50,000 people took refuge in evacuation shelters .
This is increasing the concern for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the only ones preparing for the storm .
There have been reports of at least 20 cruise ships that moved out to sea to avoid bumping into each other while anchored .
According to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dave Houk , the more time Ambo remains over the islands , the faster it will weaken .
`` The mountains on each of the islands have the potential to rip Ambo apart and weaken it considerably , '' Houk added .
Wind gusts near an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 125 mph will become less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the strength of the storm , heavy tropical downpours throughout Saturday night can increase the risk of flooding and mudslides across Luzon .
`` There will be a lot of moisture associated with this system , which will help to create a wide swath of heavy rain across the northern Philippines , '' said Houk .
As much as 4 inches to 8 inches is possible across the northern Philippines .
The heaviest rain is likely to follow the center and just east of the storm 's path , as moisture is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is in this region that the AccuWeather Local StormMax of 12 inches is most likely .
The AccuWeather Local StormMax rainfall is expected to remain to the north and east of Manila , though rainfall of 3 inches to 6 inches is expected in the city .
As Ambo continues to track to the north then northeast this weekend , it will bring some rain and gusty thunderstorms to parts of southern Taiwan , but due to continue weakening , the risk to lives and property is expected to be small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weaken into the beginning of next week as it moves over cooler water and is absorbed by a nontropical system that will be tracking farther north over Japan .

Citizens go past fallen trees and debris on the road due to effects of Typhoon Vongfong/Ambo in San Policarpo town, Eastern Samar province, Philippines, on Friday. Photo by Jerome Pedrosa/EPA-EFE
May 15 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Ambo, also known as Vongfong, made the sixth of numerous expected landfalls over the eastern Philippines on Friday. Although the tropical system has begun to lose wind intensity, it will still forge a path of destruction over the country's northern islands through the weekend. Advertisement
Ambo strengthened throughout the week as it tracked over the warm waters of the Philippine Sea and became the first named tropical system in the Northern Pacific Ocean of 2020. On Thursday afternoon, the former typhoon had wind speeds around 96 mph, making it equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane in the Atlantic and East Pacific basins.
Although Ambo has lost wind intensity and is no longer a typhoon, it still poses a significant flooding threat across the northern Philippines. As a result, the PAGASA has heavy rainfall warnings and flooding advisories issued across regions of Luzon, including a red warning in Metro Manila on Friday evening. A total of 3.66 inches of rain fell in parts of the city on Friday.
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At least two people have been injured as of Friday afternoon, and 13,000 have been forced to leave their homes, according to the Philippine News Agency. A total of 48 towns also suffered power outages across Samar and Biliran.
In preparation of the storm, towns forecast to be in the path of the typhoon issued evacuations and distribution of relief packages.
Given the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, evacuees were required to wear face masks and families will practice social distancing in shelters.
The New York Times reports that 50,000 people took refuge in evacuation shelters. This is increasing the concern for further spread of the virus
Towns are not the only ones preparing for the storm. There have been reports of at least 20 cruise ships that moved out to sea to avoid bumping into each other while anchored.
According to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dave Houk, the more time Ambo remains over the islands, the faster it will weaken.
"The mountains on each of the islands have the potential to rip Ambo apart and weaken it considerably," Houk added.
Wind gusts near an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 125 mph will become less likely as Ambo loses strength.
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Regardless of the strength of the storm, heavy tropical downpours throughout Saturday night can increase the risk of flooding and mudslides across Luzon.
"There will be a lot of moisture associated with this system, which will help to create a wide swath of heavy rain across the northern Philippines," said Houk.
As much as 4 inches to 8 inches is possible across the northern Philippines.
The heaviest rain is likely to follow the center and just east of the storm's path, as moisture is pulled in from the warm Philippine Sea. It is in this region that the AccuWeather Local StormMax of 12 inches is most likely.
The AccuWeather Local StormMax rainfall is expected to remain to the north and east of Manila, though rainfall of 3 inches to 6 inches is expected in the city.
As Ambo continues to track to the north then northeast this weekend, it will bring some rain and gusty thunderstorms to parts of southern Taiwan, but due to continue weakening, the risk to lives and property is expected to be small.
Ambo is forecast to continue to weaken into the beginning of next week as it moves over cooler water and is absorbed by a nontropical system that will be tracking farther north over Japan.


upi--2020-05-15--JC Penney files for bankruptcy

JC Penney files for bankruptcy

May 15 ( UPI ) -- Big box retailer JC Penney filed for bankruptcy Friday after making a $ 17 million interest payment .
After years of dwindling sales capped off by the coronavirus pandemic that has shuttered its stores for weeks , the company said it secured $ 900 million in debtor-in-possession financing .
The funds will ensure JC Penney remains open while it works its way through bankruptcy .
`` Until this pandemic struck , we had made significant progress rebuilding our company under our plan for renewal strategy -- and our efforts had already begun to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` While we had been working in parallel on options to strengthen our balance sheet and extend our financial runway , the closure of our stores due to the pandemic necessitated a more fulsome review to include the elimination of outstanding debt . ''
In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Friday , JC Penney said the $ 17 million interest payment was due last week but has been made inside a grace period of five business days .
`` The company had entered into such grace period in order to evaluate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been implemented at this time and which continue to be considered , '' the company wrote in the filing .
JC Penney also said its current financial status is at `` known and unknown risk '' partly due to the coronavirus pandemic , and is `` out of the company 's control . ''
`` Those risks and uncertainties include ... the potential outcome of the company 's evaluation of strategic alternatives and the company 's debt levels , liquidity and ability to access financing sources and capital markets , in particular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions and uncertainties in the general economic and business environment , '' the SEC filing states .
The company announced in January it planned to close 33 stores in a move that would save $ 65 million annually .

JC Penney skipped a $12 million interest payment last month, beginning a 30-day grace period that expired Friday. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo
May 15 (UPI) -- Big box retailer JC Penney filed for bankruptcy Friday after making a $17 million interest payment. After years of dwindling sales capped off by the coronavirus pandemic that has shuttered its stores for weeks, the company said it secured $900 million in debtor-in-possession financing. The funds will ensure JC Penney remains open while it works its way through bankruptcy. Advertisement
"Until this pandemic struck, we had made significant progress rebuilding our company under our plan for renewal strategy -- and our efforts had already begun to pay off," CEO Jill Soltau said. "While we had been working in parallel on options to strengthen our balance sheet and extend our financial runway, the closure of our stores due to the pandemic necessitated a more fulsome review to include the elimination of outstanding debt."
In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Friday, JC Penney said the $17 million interest payment was due last week but has been made inside a grace period of five business days.
"The company had entered into such grace period in order to evaluate certain strategic alternatives, none of which have been implemented at this time and which continue to be considered," the company wrote in the filing.
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JC Penney also said its current financial status is at "known and unknown risk" partly due to the coronavirus pandemic, and is "out of the company's control."
"Those risks and uncertainties include ... the potential outcome of the company's evaluation of strategic alternatives and the company's debt levels, liquidity and ability to access financing sources and capital markets, in particular as the company manages its business through the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions and uncertainties in the general economic and business environment," the SEC filing states.
JC Penney skipped a $12 million interest payment last month, beginning a 30-day grace period that expired Friday.
The company announced in January it planned to close 33 stores in a move that would save $65 million annually.


upi--2020-05-15--Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers 'not thrilled' with Jordan Love pick

May 15 ( UPI ) -- Making his first public comments since last month 's NFL Draft , Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers admitted he was surprised and `` not thrilled '' with the franchise 's decision to select quarterback Jordan Love .
`` I was watching the draft feed with A.J .
Hawk and Pat McAfee , and my first reaction was surprise , '' Rodgers said .
`` I was n't thrilled by the pick , obviously , but the organization is thinking about the present and the future .
`` ...
I think it was more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on my own feelings of wanting to play into my 40s , and really the realization that it does change the controllables a little bit .
Because as much as I feel confident in my abilities and what I can accomplish and what we can accomplish , there are some new factors that are out of my control . ''
During a nearly 40-minute conference call Friday , Rodgers said he wants to finish his career with the Packers .
But the 36-year-old gunslinger knows that might not be possible after the organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall pick to select his possible replacement in Utah State 's Love .
`` My sincere desire to start and finish with the same organization , just as it has with many other players over the years , may not be a reality at this point , '' he said .
`` As much as I understand the organization 's future outlook and wanting to make sure they 're thinking about the team now and down the line -- and I respect that -- at the same time , I still believe in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play into my 40s .
I 'm just not sure how that all works together at this point . ''
Rodgers , who signed a $ 134 million contract extension with Green Bay in August 2018 , is under contract for four more seasons .
The Packers could begin to see slight salary-cap savings on Rodgers ' deal if they parted ways after the 2020 campaign .
The Packers posted a 13-3 record and reached the NFC Championship Game last season .
In 2019 , Rodgers completed 62 percent of his passes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interceptions .

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers guided the team to the NFC Championship Game last season. File Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo
May 15 (UPI) -- Making his first public comments since last month's NFL Draft, Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers admitted he was surprised and "not thrilled" with the franchise's decision to select quarterback Jordan Love. "I was watching the draft feed with A.J. Hawk and Pat McAfee, and my first reaction was surprise," Rodgers said. "I wasn't thrilled by the pick, obviously, but the organization is thinking about the present and the future. Advertisement
"... I think it was more the surprise of the pick, based on my own feelings of wanting to play into my 40s, and really the realization that it does change the controllables a little bit. Because as much as I feel confident in my abilities and what I can accomplish and what we can accomplish, there are some new factors that are out of my control."
During a nearly 40-minute conference call Friday, Rodgers said he wants to finish his career with the Packers. But the 36-year-old gunslinger knows that might not be possible after the organization traded up to the No. 26 overall pick to select his possible replacement in Utah State's Love.
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"My sincere desire to start and finish with the same organization, just as it has with many other players over the years, may not be a reality at this point," he said.
"As much as I understand the organization's future outlook and wanting to make sure they're thinking about the team now and down the line -- and I respect that -- at the same time, I still believe in myself and have a strong desire to play into my 40s. I'm just not sure how that all works together at this point."
Rodgers, who signed a $134 million contract extension with Green Bay in August 2018, is under contract for four more seasons. The Packers could begin to see slight salary-cap savings on Rodgers' deal if they parted ways after the 2020 campaign.
The Packers posted a 13-3 record and reached the NFC Championship Game last season. In 2019, Rodgers completed 62 percent of his passes for 4,002 yards, 26 touchdowns and four interceptions.


upi--2020-05-15--Judge stays execution of Walter Barton; Missouri AG appeals

May 15 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge in Missouri issued a stay of execution Friday for a man convicted of killing an 81-year-old woman in 1991 .
District Judge Brian Wimes granted the stay for Walter Barton , 64 , who was scheduled to be executed Tuesday .
He was convicted in the death of trailer park operator Gladys Kuehler .
Barton sought the stay on the grounds that a blood spatter expert disagrees with the state 's expert , who said during trial that blood pattern on the defendant 's clothes showed he killed Kuehler .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had Barton killed her , he would have had more blood on him .
The petition also called into question the reliability of a jail informant , who testified at trial that Barton threatened to kill her `` like he did that old lady . ''
Barton 's lawyers also sought the stay based on the COVID-19 pandemic , which has hindered defense attorneys across the country from conducting investigations needed in the final weeks before a scheduled execution .
Wimes said he needed more time to consider the merits of the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt appealed the stay , sending the case to the 8th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals .
If Barton is executed Tuesday , his will be the first since March 5 .
Texas has delayed or rescheduled six executions , while Tennessee delayed one , all due to the coronavirus pandemic .

Walter Barton, 64, was convicted of murder for the death of 81-year-old trailer park operator Gladys Kuehler in 1991. File Photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Corrections | License Photo
May 15 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Missouri issued a stay of execution Friday for a man convicted of killing an 81-year-old woman in 1991. District Judge Brian Wimes granted the stay for Walter Barton, 64, who was scheduled to be executed Tuesday. He was convicted in the death of trailer park operator Gladys Kuehler. Advertisement
Barton sought the stay on the grounds that a blood spatter expert disagrees with the state's expert, who said during trial that blood pattern on the defendant's clothes showed he killed Kuehler. The new expert, though, said that had Barton killed her, he would have had more blood on him.
The petition also called into question the reliability of a jail informant, who testified at trial that Barton threatened to kill her "like he did that old lady."
Barton's lawyers also sought the stay based on the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hindered defense attorneys across the country from conducting investigations needed in the final weeks before a scheduled execution.
Wimes said he needed more time to consider the merits of the case beyond the Tuesday date of execution.
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt appealed the stay, sending the case to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
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If Barton is executed Tuesday, his will be the first since March 5. Texas has delayed or rescheduled six executions, while Tennessee delayed one, all due to the coronavirus pandemic.


upi--2020-05-15--COVID-19 discriminates along racial, socioeconomic lines, study finds

May 15 ( UPI ) -- Black people , poor people and those living in densely populated areas are up to four times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 , an analysis published Friday by The Lancet has found .
The study , conducted by British researchers and focusing on trends in the United Kingdom , echoes reports of similar demographic disparities in the United States .
`` It 's important to know which groups in the wider community are most at risk of infection so that we can better understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission and how to prevent new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lusignan , of the University of Oxford , said in a press release .
As of Friday afternoon , more than 1.4 million Americans have been infected with the new coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2 , and more than 86,000 have died from COVID-19 , the disease it causes , according to figures from Johns Hopkins University .
In Britain , more than 238,000 people have been infected and more than 34,000 have died , Johns Hopkins estimates .
For the study , de Lusignan and his colleagues reviewed data from the Oxford RCGP Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people tested for the virus at general practitioners ' offices -- primary care physicians -- between Jan. 28 and April 4 .
In all , 587 tested positive .
Among adults , those between 40 and 64 years old were at the greatest risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 .
People in this age group accounted for 19 percent of the total study population and more than 40 percent of those who tested positive , researchers said .
In addition , researchers noted that men accounted for more than half of the positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black adults tested were positive for the virus , compared to just 16 percent of white adults tested .
This disparity remained even after the researchers accounted for underlying health conditions , including high blood pressure and diabetes , which are more common among black adults .
Moreover , 30 percent of study participants who lived in poor communities tested positive for COVID-19 , compared to less than 8 percent of those residing in higher-income areas .
Similarly , of 1,816 people tested in urban areas , just over 26 percent tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those from rural areas did so .
Of 207 people with chronic kidney disease , 33 percent tested positive , compared to less than 15 percent of those without chronic kidney disease .
`` This analysis of primary care outcomes of individuals testing positive for virus is an important contribution to our wider understanding of how COVID-19 is affecting people of different demographic groups , '' said co-author Dr. Gayatri Amirthalingam , of Public Health England .
The researchers cautioned that some of the findings might not provide an entirely accurate picture of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , given that the study only included people who underwent a test for the virus as part of routine health services .
Such differences in access to testing have been reported in the United States , as well .
To date , more than 10 million people across the country have received the RT-PCR test , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
This test is considered the `` gold standard , '' and it was used in the British study .

A British study has revealed racial and socioeconomic disparities among those who test positive for the coronavirus. File photo by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/UPI | License Photo
May 15 (UPI) -- Black people, poor people and those living in densely populated areas are up to four times more likely to test positive for COVID-19, an analysis published Friday by The Lancet has found. The study, conducted by British researchers and focusing on trends in the United Kingdom, echoes reports of similar demographic disparities in the United States. Advertisement
"It's important to know which groups in the wider community are most at risk of infection so that we can better understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission and how to prevent new cases," study co-author Dr. Simon de Lusignan, of the University of Oxford, said in a press release.
As of Friday afternoon, more than 1.4 million Americans have been infected with the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and more than 86,000 have died from COVID-19, the disease it causes, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.
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In Britain, more than 238,000 people have been infected and more than 34,000 have died, Johns Hopkins estimates.
For the study, de Lusignan and his colleagues reviewed data from the Oxford RCGP Research and Surveillance Center on more than 3,800 people tested for the virus at general practitioners' offices -- primary care physicians -- between Jan. 28 and April 4. In all, 587 tested positive.
Among adults, those between 40 and 64 years old were at the greatest risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. People in this age group accounted for 19 percent of the total study population and more than 40 percent of those who tested positive, researchers said.
In addition, researchers noted that men accounted for more than half of the positive tests and more than 60 percent of black adults tested were positive for the virus, compared to just 16 percent of white adults tested.
This disparity remained even after the researchers accounted for underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes, which are more common among black adults.
Moreover, 30 percent of study participants who lived in poor communities tested positive for COVID-19, compared to less than 8 percent of those residing in higher-income areas.
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Similarly, of 1,816 people tested in urban areas, just over 26 percent tested positive, while less than 6 percent of those from rural areas did so.
Of 207 people with chronic kidney disease, 33 percent tested positive, compared to less than 15 percent of those without chronic kidney disease.
"This analysis of primary care outcomes of individuals testing positive for virus is an important contribution to our wider understanding of how COVID-19 is affecting people of different demographic groups," said co-author Dr. Gayatri Amirthalingam, of Public Health England.
The researchers cautioned that some of the findings might not provide an entirely accurate picture of racial and socioeconomic disparities associated with COVID-19, given that the study only included people who underwent a test for the virus as part of routine health services.
Such differences in access to testing have been reported in the United States, as well. To date, more than 10 million people across the country have received the RT-PCR test, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This test is considered the "gold standard," and it was used in the British study.


upi--2020-05-15--Scientists name four new Elvis worm species

May 15 ( UPI ) -- The group of deep sea worms known as Elvis worms is comprised of at least four distinct species , according to a new study .
The new species were collected by scientists over the course of several years .
The four species are technically scale worms , but researchers began referring to them as Elvis worms -- a reference to their unique appearance .
The deep sea scale worms sport iridescent plate-covered shells that recall the King 's sequined jumpsuits .
Scientists were only recently able to distinguish between different Elvis worm species by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four species -- Peinaleopolynoe goffrediae , P. mineoi , P. orphanage and P. elvisi -- in a new paper published this week in the journal ZooKeys .
Beneath their glittering scales are lung-like branching structures .
Researchers suspect the organ evolved its complexity to help the worms breathe in low-oxygen environs .
Most of the Elvis worms were found near whale carcasses and other kinds of decaying organic matter .
One of the newly named species was found living near a hydrothermal vent .
All four of the newly named species were found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the ocean , too deep for sunlight to reach .
While some deep sea creatures feature eyes , the Elvis worms do without .
The worms do n't produce light themselves , and they ca n't see light without eyes , so their iridescence serves no communicative purposes .
Instead , scientists suspect the glitter of their scales offer some kinds of defensive benefit .
Deep-sea predators with flashlights under their eyes might receive a blinding glare when honing in on an Elvis worm .
It 's also possible their iridescence serves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also noticed what they thought were notches on their shells .
After capturing video of a pair of worms tussling , scientists realized they were n't looking at notches .
`` It was n't until we saw that video of them fighting that it suddenly clicked .
Like , 'Wait -- these things in the scales , these notches , are bite marks , ' '' Greg Rouse , a marine biologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California , San Diego , told Inside Science .

Peinaleopolynoe orphanae, left, and Peinaleopolynoe elvisi are two of four new Elvis worms discovered by researchers, according to a study. They earned the nickname because of the sequin-like appearance of their shells. Photo by Hatch AS, Liew H, Hourdez S, Rouse GW/ ZooKeys
May 15 (UPI) -- The group of deep sea worms known as Elvis worms is comprised of at least four distinct species, according to a new study. The new species were collected by scientists over the course of several years. The four species are technically scale worms, but researchers began referring to them as Elvis worms -- a reference to their unique appearance. The deep sea scale worms sport iridescent plate-covered shells that recall the King's sequined jumpsuits. Advertisement
Scientists were only recently able to distinguish between different Elvis worm species by using genetic analysis. Researchers described the four species -- Peinaleopolynoe goffrediae, P. mineoi, P. orphanage and P. elvisi -- in a new paper published this week in the journal ZooKeys.
Beneath their glittering scales are lung-like branching structures. Researchers suspect the organ evolved its complexity to help the worms breathe in low-oxygen environs. Most of the Elvis worms were found near whale carcasses and other kinds of decaying organic matter. One of the newly named species was found living near a hydrothermal vent.
All four of the newly named species were found at least 3,280 feet below the surface of the ocean, too deep for sunlight to reach.
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While some deep sea creatures feature eyes, the Elvis worms do without. The worms don't produce light themselves, and they can't see light without eyes, so their iridescence serves no communicative purposes.
Instead, scientists suspect the glitter of their scales offer some kinds of defensive benefit. Deep-sea predators with flashlights under their eyes might receive a blinding glare when honing in on an Elvis worm. It's also possible their iridescence serves no functional purpose at all.
Researchers also noticed what they thought were notches on their shells. After capturing video of a pair of worms tussling, scientists realized they weren't looking at notches.
"It wasn't until we saw that video of them fighting that it suddenly clicked. Like, 'Wait -- these things in the scales, these notches, are bite marks,'" Greg Rouse, a marine biologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, told Inside Science.