upi--2020-12-14--Eagles rookie Jalen Hurts to start at quarterback for second straight week

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson announced Monday that rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts will start over Carson Wentz for a second consecutive week .
`` After going through the film and really looking back even to last week and the preparation and everything , I 'm going to continue with Jalen this week as the starter , '' Pederson told reporters .
`` ... After looking at the film again today , Jalen played well .
He was a big part of the success we had on offense and helping us win that football @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' In the Eagles ' 24-21 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday , Hurts completed 17 of his 30 pass attempts for 167 yards and a touchdown .
He added 18 rushes for 106 yards against the Saints ' top-ranked defense .
Hurts became the fifth Eagles quarterback to record at least 100 rushing yards in a single game in the Super Bowl era , joining Michael Vick , Donovan McNabb , Randall Cunningham and Jack Concannon .
Hurts also took no sacks and turned the ball over only once .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss to the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 6 .
The 27-year-old Wentz has endured one of the worst seasons of his NFL career in 2020 , ranking first in interceptions thrown ( 15 ) and sacks taken ( 50 ) this year .
Philadelphia snapped its four-game losing streak with Sunday 's win over the Saints .
The Eagles ( 4-8-1 ) remain 1 1/2 games behind the NFC East-leading Washington Football Team .
The Eagles will travel to play the Arizona Cardinals ( 7-6 ) on Sunday at State Farm Stadium @ @ @ @ @

Philadelphia Eagles rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates after throwing a 15-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter of Sunday's win over the New Orleans Saints. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson announced Monday that rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts will start over Carson Wentz for a second consecutive week. "After going through the film and really looking back even to last week and the preparation and everything, I'm going to continue with Jalen this week as the starter," Pederson told reporters. "... After looking at the film again today, Jalen played well. He was a big part of the success we had on offense and helping us win that football game [against the Saints]." Advertisement
In the Eagles' 24-21 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Hurts completed 17 of his 30 pass attempts for 167 yards and a touchdown. He added 18 rushes for 106 yards against the Saints' top-ranked defense.
Hurts became the fifth Eagles quarterback to record at least 100 rushing yards in a single game in the Super Bowl era, joining Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb, Randall Cunningham and Jack Concannon. Hurts also took no sacks and turned the ball over only once.
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The Eagles benched Wentz during their 30-16 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 6. The 27-year-old Wentz has endured one of the worst seasons of his NFL career in 2020, ranking first in interceptions thrown (15) and sacks taken (50) this year.
Philadelphia snapped its four-game losing streak with Sunday's win over the Saints. The Eagles (4-8-1) remain 1 1/2 games behind the NFC East-leading Washington Football Team.
The Eagles will travel to play the Arizona Cardinals (7-6) on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-12-14--College football: Oregon to replace Washington in Pac-12 title game

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- The Oregon Ducks are replacing Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game due to ongoing COVID-19 issues within the Huskies ' football program , the conference announced Monday .
The Pac-12 determined that Washington would be unable to field the 53 scholarship players required to compete because of positive COVID-19 cases and the related contact tracing .
The Huskies also were below the required number of student-athletes for a specific position group .
Under the conference 's rules , the second-place finisher replaces the division champion .
As a result , Oregon ( 3-2 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the title game and play USC ( 5-0 ) on Friday in Los Angeles .
`` Our goal every season is to win the Pac-12 championship , '' Washington head coach Jimmy Lake said in a statement .
`` I am so proud of the work our team and staff have put in to position ourselves to attain that goal .
Unfortunately , the virus is in our footprint .
We have not been able to resume football activities and currently the entirety of one of our key position groups , deemed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in quarantine .
`` There is no path forward to practice or play this week .
Our focus now is getting everyone healthy so we can resume football activities and prepare for a possible bowl game .
We are crushed that we can not bring home the Pac-12 trophy for our fans , staff and players . ''
Lake said the Huskies ' entire offensive line , including walk-ons , is currently unavailable and the team has n't practiced since Wednesday .
The coach said the Huskies ( 3-1 ) are expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bowl game this postseason .
Washington was forced to cancel last week 's game against Oregon because of its coronavirus issues .
The winner of that matchup would have advanced to the conference championship game .

Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal (C) and the Ducks will now represent the Pac-12 North in the title game and play USC on Friday in Los Angeles. File Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- The Oregon Ducks are replacing Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game due to ongoing COVID-19 issues within the Huskies' football program, the conference announced Monday. The Pac-12 determined that Washington would be unable to field the 53 scholarship players required to compete because of positive COVID-19 cases and the related contact tracing. The Huskies also were below the required number of student-athletes for a specific position group. Advertisement
Under the conference's rules, the second-place finisher replaces the division champion. As a result, Oregon (3-2) will now represent the Pac-12 North in the title game and play USC (5-0) on Friday in Los Angeles.
"Our goal every season is to win the Pac-12 championship," Washington head coach Jimmy Lake said in a statement. "I am so proud of the work our team and staff have put in to position ourselves to attain that goal. Unfortunately, the virus is in our footprint. We have not been able to resume football activities and currently the entirety of one of our key position groups, deemed a critical position group by the Pac-12, is in quarantine.
"There is no path forward to practice or play this week. Our focus now is getting everyone healthy so we can resume football activities and prepare for a possible bowl game. We are crushed that we cannot bring home the Pac-12 trophy for our fans, staff and players."
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Lake said the Huskies' entire offensive line, including walk-ons, is currently unavailable and the team hasn't practiced since Wednesday. The coach said the Huskies (3-1) are expected to be able to compete in a bowl game this postseason.
Washington was forced to cancel last week's game against Oregon because of its coronavirus issues. The winner of that matchup would have advanced to the conference championship game.


upi--2020-12-14--FTC begins wide-ranging probe of tech company data policies

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- In an effort to `` lift the hood '' on the practices of social media companies , online retailers and streaming services , the Federal Trade Commission on Monday issued orders to nine big technology companies requiring them to provide data on how they collect personal information and how the services affect children and teens .
The FTC also asked about advertising and user engagement practices for Amazon.com , TikTok , Discord , Facebook , Reddit , Snap , Twitter , WhatsApp and YouTube .
The agency acted under Section 6 ( b ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the commission to conduct `` wide-ranging studies that do not have a specific law enforcement purpose , '' the FTC said in a statement Monday .
The companies will have 45 days from the date they received the order to respond .
The FTC order seeks to lift the veil on how social media and video streaming services collect and track personal and demographic information , and how they feed advertisements to users .
They also seek highly secret mechanisms such as how algorithms are applied to personal information and how the companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Policymakers and the public are in the dark about what social media and video streaming services do to capture and sell users ' data and attention , '' commissioners Rohit Chopra , Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Christine S. Wilson said in a statement .
`` It is alarming that we still know so little about companies that know so much about us . ''
The study will `` lift the hood on the social media and video streaming firms to carefully study their engines , '' commissioners added .
`` As concerns mount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Americans ' privacy and behavior , this study is timely and important . ''
One dissenting opinion was made by Commissioner Noah Joshua Phillips , who cast the sole `` no '' in a 4 - 1 vote .
Phillips called the order `` sprawling and scattershot '' and said the commission demanded information from nine companies in order to fall below a threshold in the federal Paperwork Reduction Act .
Phillips said it would be hard for the commission to summarize information gleaned from the order because the tech companies have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commission would have a hard time anonymizing the results .
On Wednesday , the FTC joined a group of 48 states and territories to file an antitrust lawsuit against Facebook accusing the company of anticompetitive actions in its acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp .

The Federal Trade Commission on Monday followed up last week's anti-trust lawsuit against Facebook with a wide-ranging probe of the data practices of Amazon.com, TikTok, Discord, Facebook, Reddit, Snap, Twitter, WhatsApp and YouTube. File Pool Photo by Mandel Ngan/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- In an effort to "lift the hood" on the practices of social media companies, online retailers and streaming services, the Federal Trade Commission on Monday issued orders to nine big technology companies requiring them to provide data on how they collect personal information and how the services affect children and teens. The FTC also asked about advertising and user engagement practices for Amazon.com, TikTok, Discord, Facebook, Reddit, Snap, Twitter, WhatsApp and YouTube. Advertisement
The agency acted under Section 6(b) of the FTC Act, which authorizes the commission to conduct "wide-ranging studies that do not have a specific law enforcement purpose," the FTC said in a statement Monday. The companies will have 45 days from the date they received the order to respond.
The FTC order seeks to lift the veil on how social media and video streaming services collect and track personal and demographic information, and how they feed advertisements to users. They also seek highly secret mechanisms such as how algorithms are applied to personal information and how the companies market to children and teenagers.
"Policymakers and the public are in the dark about what social media and video streaming services do to capture and sell users' data and attention," commissioners Rohit Chopra, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Christine S. Wilson said in a statement. "It is alarming that we still know so little about companies that know so much about us."
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The study will "lift the hood on the social media and video streaming firms to carefully study their engines," commissioners added. "As concerns mount regarding the impact of the tech companies on Americans' privacy and behavior, this study is timely and important."
One dissenting opinion was made by Commissioner Noah Joshua Phillips, who cast the sole "no" in a 4 - 1 vote.
Phillips called the order "sprawling and scattershot" and said the commission demanded information from nine companies in order to fall below a threshold in the federal Paperwork Reduction Act. Phillips said it would be hard for the commission to summarize information gleaned from the order because the tech companies have different "business models" and the commission would have a hard time anonymizing the results.
On Wednesday, the FTC joined a group of 48 states and territories to file an antitrust lawsuit against Facebook accusing the company of anticompetitive actions in its acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp.


upi--2020-12-14--San Francisco 49ers' Deebo Samuel likely out for rest of season

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel is expected to miss the remainder of the 2020 regular season because of a hamstring injury .
Samuel suffered the injury during the 49ers ' loss to the Washington Football Team on Sunday .
He departed the game after only one snap -- a 9-yard carry on the 49ers ' first play from scrimmage -- and did n't return .
The second-year wideout underwent an MRI on Monday that confirmed his second hamstring strain of the 2020 season .
He missed three games earlier this year due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's going to be out a while , not ready to put a timeline on it yet , '' 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Monday .
`` I think we 'd have to make the playoffs for him to come back . ''
The 49ers currently hold a 5-8 record with three games left in the regular season .
They are two games out of the final NFC playoff spot and would need plenty of help elsewhere to earn the postseason berth .
If he has played his final snap in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just seven games due to a variety of ailments .
After sustaining a Jones fracture in his left foot in the off-season , he missed the Niners ' first three games .
Samuel returned and played in four games , then suffered his first hamstring injury that cost him three additional games .
He returned to the field again and appeared in two games -- plus the one snap against Washington on Sunday -- before his latest hamstring issue .
In parts of seven games this season , Samuel has recorded 33 receptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During his rookie campaign in 2019 , he caught 57 passes for 802 yards and three scores .

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel suffered a hamstring injury during Sunday's loss to the Washington Football Team. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel is expected to miss the remainder of the 2020 regular season because of a hamstring injury. Samuel suffered the injury during the 49ers' loss to the Washington Football Team on Sunday. He departed the game after only one snap -- a 9-yard carry on the 49ers' first play from scrimmage -- and didn't return. Advertisement
The second-year wideout underwent an MRI on Monday that confirmed his second hamstring strain of the 2020 season. He missed three games earlier this year due to a similar injury.
"He's going to be out a while, not ready to put a timeline on it yet," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Monday. "I think we'd have to make the playoffs for him to come back."
The 49ers currently hold a 5-8 record with three games left in the regular season. They are two games out of the final NFC playoff spot and would need plenty of help elsewhere to earn the postseason berth.
If he has played his final snap in 2020, Samuel will have appeared in just seven games due to a variety of ailments. After sustaining a Jones fracture in his left foot in the off-season, he missed the Niners' first three games.
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Samuel returned and played in four games, then suffered his first hamstring injury that cost him three additional games. He returned to the field again and appeared in two games -- plus the one snap against Washington on Sunday -- before his latest hamstring issue.
In parts of seven games this season, Samuel has recorded 33 receptions for 391 yards and one touchdown. During his rookie campaign in 2019, he caught 57 passes for 802 yards and three scores.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-12-14--Biden: 'The will of the people prevailed' as Electoral College affirms victory

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- President-elect Joe Biden on Monday hailed his election win a victory for Democracy , praising high voter turnout amid challenges from President Donald Trump after the Electoral College affirmed the vote .
Biden delivered remarks from his hometown of Wilmington , Del.
, after the Electoral College cast 306 votes to elect him president and his running mate , Kamala Harris vice president , on Monday evening .
`` Once again , in America , the rule of law , our Constitution and the will of the people prevailed , '' Biden said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , threatened -- proved to be resilient , true and strong . ''
Biden noted that the nation experienced record turnout in the 2020 presidential election , despite the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` In the start of this pandemic , this crisis , many were wondering how many would even vote at all , but those fears proved to be unfounded , '' he said .
`` We saw something very few predicted or even thought possible , the biggest voter turnout in the history of the United States of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this election now ranks as the clearest demonstration of the true will of the American people . ''
Appealing to Trump to accept the results of the election , Biden noted that the 306 electoral votes he received was the same amount Trump gained when he was elected in 2016 .
`` At the time , President Trump called the Electoral College tally a 'landslide , ' '' Biden said .
`` By his own standards these numbers represented a clear victory then , and I respectfully suggest they do so now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed legal challenges and a Texas lawsuit seeking to decertify the election results in Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as `` a position so extreme we 've never seen it before '' but praised the Supreme Court 's unanimous rejection of the Texas suit .
`` Every single avenue was made available for President Trump to contest the results , he took full advantage of each and every one of those avenues .
President Trump was denied no course of action he wanted to take , '' Biden said .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and threats experienced by state and local officials and election workers amid challenges to the election as `` unconscionable . ''
`` Our friends and our neighbors -- often volunteers -- Democrats , Republicans , Independents , demonstrating absolute courage , they showed a deep and unwavering faith in and a commitment to the law , '' he said .
`` They did their duty in the face of a pandemic .
And then they could not and would not give credence to what they knew was not true .
They knew this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by them , it was honest , it was free and it was fair . ''

President-elect Joe Biden declared that "the will of the people prevailed" in remarks from his hometown of Wilmington, Del., after the Electoral College affirmed his victory Monday night. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- President-elect Joe Biden on Monday hailed his election win a victory for democracy, praising high voter turnout amid challenges from President Donald Trump after the Electoral College affirmed the vote. Biden delivered remarks from his hometown of Wilmington, Del., after the Electoral College cast 306 votes to elect him president and his running mate Kamala Harris vice president on Monday evening. Advertisement
"Once again, in America, the rule of law, our Constitution and the will of the people prevailed," Biden said. "Our democracy -- pushed, tested, threatened -- proved to be resilient, true and strong."
Biden noted that the nation experienced record turnout in the 2020 presidential election, despite the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"In the start of this pandemic, this crisis, many were wondering how many would even vote at all, but those fears proved to be unfounded," he said. "We saw something very few predicted or even thought possible: the biggest voter turnout in the history of the United States of America. A number so big that this election now ranks as the clearest demonstration of the true will of the American people."
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Appealing to Trump to accept the results of the election, Biden noted that the 306 electoral votes he received was the same number that elected Trump in 2016.
"At the time, President Trump called the Electoral College tally a 'landslide,'" Biden said. "By his own standards, these numbers represented a clear victory then, and I respectfully suggest they do so now."
He also criticized Trump's many failed legal challenges and a Texas lawsuit seeking to decertify the election results in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as "a position so extreme we've never seen it before" but praised the Supreme Court's unanimous rejection of the Texas suit.
"Every single avenue was made available for President Trump to contest the results, he took full advantage of each and every one of those avenues. President Trump was denied no course of action he wanted to take," Biden said.
Biden condemned the political pressure, verbal abuse and threats experienced by state and local officials and election workers amid challenges to the election as "unconscionable."
"Our friends and our neighbors -- often volunteers -- Democrats, Republicans, Independents, demonstrating absolute courage, they showed a deep and unwavering faith in and a commitment to the law," he said. "They did their duty in the face of a pandemic. And then they could not and would not give credence to what they knew was not true. They knew this election was overseen, it was overseen by them, it was honest, it was free and it was fair."


upi--2020-12-14--Attorney General William Barr to leave White House on Dec. 23

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- Attorney General William Barr will depart from the White House this month , President Donald Trump announced Monday .
Barr will leave the position Dec. 23 `` to spend the holidays with his family '' after serving as attorney general since 2019 , Trump said in a tweet Monday afternoon .
`` Our relationship has been a very good one , he has done an outstanding job ! ''
Trump wrote .
Trump said that Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen will become acting attorney general , while Richard Donoghue will take on the duties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resignation letter , Barr said he was greatly honored to have served in Trump 's administration and praised the president 's accomplishments since taking office .
`` I am proud to have played a role in the many successes and unprecedented achievements you have delivered for the American people , '' he wrote .
Barr was sworn in as attorney general in February 2019 , replacing Jeff Sessions who resigned upon a request from Trump .
He had previously served as attorney general under President George H.W .
Bush in 1991 .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release of special counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation into Russian collusion and interference in the 2016 presidential election .
The announcement of his departure also came shortly after the electoral college affirmed President-elect Joe Biden 's victory in November 's presidential election .
Trump recently criticized Barr and the Department of Justice for not investigating Biden 's son , Hunter Biden , over his tax affairs before the election .
Barr also contradicted the president 's claims seeking to discredit the 2020 election process , saying in an early December interview that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large-scale voter or election fraud that would overturn Biden 's victory .

Attorney General William Barr will depart the White House on Dec. 23, after serving in the Trump administration since 2019, President Donald Trump said Monday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Attorney General William Barr will depart from the White House this month, President Donald Trump announced Monday. Barr will leave the position Dec. 23 "to spend the holidays with his family" after serving as attorney general since 2019, Trump said in a tweet Monday afternoon. Advertisement
"Our relationship has been a very good one, he has done an outstanding job!" Trump wrote.
Trump said that Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen will become acting attorney general, while Richard Donoghue will take on the duties of Deputy Attorney General.
In his resignation letter, Barr said he was greatly honored to have served in Trump's administration and praised the president's accomplishments since taking office.
"I am proud to have played a role in the many successes and unprecedented achievements you have delivered for the American people," he wrote.
Barr was sworn in as attorney general in February 2019, replacing Jeff Sessions who resigned upon a request from Trump. He had previously served as attorney general under President George H.W. Bush in 1991.
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During the Trump administration, Barr oversaw the release of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian collusion and interference in the 2016 presidential election.
The announcement of his departure also came shortly after the electoral college affirmed President-elect Joe Biden's victory in November's presidential election.
Trump recently criticized Barr and the Department of Justice for not investigating Biden's son, Hunter Biden, over his tax affairs before the election.
Barr also contradicted the president's claims seeking to discredit the 2020 election process, saying in an early December interview that the Justice Department had not found evidence of large-scale voter or election fraud that would overturn Biden's victory.


upi--2020-12-14--Impending nor'easter may dump 1 foot of snow in 'blockbuster storm'

A `` blockbuster snowstorm '' will disrupt the northeastern United States as it is predicted to unload more snow in one day in some places than every winter storm from last winter combined .
Forecasters with the National Weather Service have begun sounding the alarm about the coming storm .
`` A Nor'easter will affect the region later this week bringing what will likely be the most impactful winter weather in several years , '' the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly , New Jersey , said on Monday .
Over a foot of snow is forecast to fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , across eastern Pennsylvania and into southern New England .
Despite the heaviest snow missing the Interstate-95 corridor , it could still be a shock for residents in and around New York City , Philadelphia , Baltimore and Washington , D.C. '' The cities along the Northeast I-95 corridor have also been in a snow drought , '' AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Courtney Travis said Monday .
Last winter was one of the least-snowiest seasons on record for the mid-Atlantic , including in Philadelphia which measured just 0.3 of an inch of snow .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the city since record-keeping began .
A similar story unfolded in Washington , D.C. , with the nation 's capital receiving just 0.6 of an inch of snow throughout all of last winter , significantly lower than the 18 inches of snow that falls in a typical winter .
Underscoring just how long it 's been since some of these areas have experienced significant snowfall , forecasters at the NWS office for Washington , D.C. , and Baltimore posted on Twitter , `` For the first time since Jan 2016 , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ snowstorm for areas north and west of Interstate-95 . ''
`` Last winter , the pattern just never really set up in the right way to bring a snowstorm to the mid-Atlantic , '' AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda said .
`` For much of the winter , the storm track favored a more western trajectory , closer to the Ohio Valley , '' Sojda explained .
`` This repeatedly caused storms to bring warm air into the Northeast and mid-Atlantic ahead of them , and mainly rain with every storm . ''
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the system for people that have moved to the Northeast since the snow drought has started , as well as long-time residents that may have forgotten where they placed their snow shovels when they last used them two winters ago .
`` The fact that a potentially historic snowstorm is coming early on this winter , right on the heels of such a snowless winter last year , adds to the contrast and apparent hyperbole of the storm , '' Sojda said .
By December standards , the gathering storm is projected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent memory .
`` The last time that Philadelphia received more than 6 inches of snow on a single day from a snowstorm in December was on Dec. 8 , 2013 , '' Travis said .
According to AccuWeather WinterCast , Philadelphia may measure around 6 inches of snow by the time the storm comes to an end .
If totals end up on the higher end of this range , it would make the list for the top 10 snowiest December days ever in the City of Brotherly Love .
Farther @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a total of 4.8 inches of snow last season in Central Park , well below its 28.5-inch average .
AccuWeather is forecasting 6 inches to 12 inches of snow to fall in the Big Apple from this storm , more than enough to eclipse last season 's snow total in one fell swoop .
This year could be the year that those dreaming of a white Christmas have their dreams come true due to the December snowstorm , especially in areas where snow is measured in feet .
Currently , the AccuWeather Local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inches .
`` Overall , a chillier pattern looks to last until Christmas , so if any locales get around a foot or more of snow , it could be enough to last until Christmas , '' AccuWeather long-range meteorologist Tyler Roys said .

A nor'easter snowstorm is predicted to hit the northeast United States this week, dumping more than 1 foot of snow in some places. Photo courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
A "blockbuster snowstorm" will disrupt the northeastern United States as it is predicted to unload more snow in one day in some places than every winter storm from last winter combined. Forecasters with the National Weather Service have begun sounding the alarm about the coming storm. Advertisement
"A Nor'easter will affect the region later this week bringing what will likely be the most impactful winter weather in several years," the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, said on Monday.
Over a foot of snow is forecast to fall over a large area from northwestern Virginia, across eastern Pennsylvania and into southern New England. Despite the heaviest snow missing the Interstate-95 corridor, it could still be a shock for residents in and around New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
"The cities along the Northeast I-95 corridor have also been in a snow drought," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Courtney Travis said Monday.
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Last winter was one of the least-snowiest seasons on record for the mid-Atlantic, including in Philadelphia which measured just 0.3 of an inch of snow. This was the second-lowest winter snowfall total for the city since record-keeping began.
A similar story unfolded in Washington, D.C., with the nation's capital receiving just 0.6 of an inch of snow throughout all of last winter, significantly lower than the 18 inches of snow that falls in a typical winter.
Underscoring just how long it's been since some of these areas have experienced significant snowfall, forecasters at the NWS office for Washington, D.C., and Baltimore posted on Twitter, "For the first time since Jan 2016, there is a threat for a high impact snowstorm for areas north and west of Interstate-95."
"Last winter, the pattern just never really set up in the right way to bring a snowstorm to the mid-Atlantic," AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda said.
"For much of the winter, the storm track favored a more western trajectory, closer to the Ohio Valley," Sojda explained. "This repeatedly caused storms to bring warm air into the Northeast and mid-Atlantic ahead of them, and mainly rain with every storm."
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This week's storm will be a shock to the system for people that have moved to the Northeast since the snow drought has started, as well as long-time residents that may have forgotten where they placed their snow shovels when they last used them two winters ago.
"The fact that a potentially historic snowstorm is coming early on this winter, right on the heels of such a snowless winter last year, adds to the contrast and apparent hyperbole of the storm," Sojda said.
By December standards, the gathering storm is projected to be one of the largest storms in recent memory.
"The last time that Philadelphia received more than 6 inches of snow on a single day from a snowstorm in December was on Dec. 8, 2013," Travis said.
According to AccuWeather WinterCast, Philadelphia may measure around 6 inches of snow by the time the storm comes to an end. If totals end up on the higher end of this range, it would make the list for the top 10 snowiest December days ever in the City of Brotherly Love.
Farther up I-95, New York City saw a total of 4.8 inches of snow last season in Central Park, well below its 28.5-inch average. AccuWeather is forecasting 6 inches to 12 inches of snow to fall in the Big Apple from this storm, more than enough to eclipse last season's snow total in one fell swoop.
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This year could be the year that those dreaming of a white Christmas have their dreams come true due to the December snowstorm, especially in areas where snow is measured in feet. Currently, the AccuWeather Local StormMax trade is projected to be 30 inches.
"Overall, a chillier pattern looks to last until Christmas, so if any locales get around a foot or more of snow, it could be enough to last until Christmas," AccuWeather long-range meteorologist Tyler Roys said.


upi--2020-12-14--Florida's Keyontae Johnson remains in critical but stable condition after collapse

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- The University of Florida announced Monday that men 's basketball star Keyontae Johnson remains in critical but stable condition after collapsing during a game over the weekend .
`` Keyontae Johnson has been successfully transferred as planned from Tallahassee Memorial to UF Health in Gainesville by ShandsCair , '' the school said in a statement .
`` He continues in critical but stable condition , is following simple commands and undergoing further tests . ''
Earlier Monday , Johnson 's grandfather , Larry DeJarnett , told USA Today that Johnson was in a medically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoped to bring him out of it later in the day .
Johnson collapsed face-first while walking back onto the court following a timeout in the first half of Saturday 's game between the Gators and Florida State .
His teammates immediately signaled for the medical staff , and Johnson was stretchered off the court before being rushed to Tallahassee Memorial .
Florida initially described Johnson as being in critical but stable condition .
The team did n't reveal the cause of Johnson 's collapse .
Johnson previously tested positive for COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus can lead to myocarditis , a viral infection that can cause inflammation of the heart muscle .
Johnson , an All-SEC selection as a sophomore and the SEC Preseason Player of the Year in 2020 , was averaging 19.7 points and six rebounds through three games this season .
He was a projected first-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft .

Dec. 14 (UPI) -- The University of Florida announced Monday that men's basketball star Keyontae Johnson remains in critical but stable condition after collapsing during a game over the weekend.
"Keyontae Johnson has been successfully transferred as planned from Tallahassee Memorial to UF Health in Gainesville by ShandsCair," the school said in a statement. "He continues in critical but stable condition, is following simple commands and undergoing further tests."
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Earlier Monday, Johnson's grandfather, Larry DeJarnett, told USA Today that Johnson was in a medically induced coma. He said that doctors hoped to bring him out of it later in the day.
Johnson collapsed face-first while walking back onto the court following a timeout in the first half of Saturday's game between the Gators and Florida State. His teammates immediately signaled for the medical staff, and Johnson was stretchered off the court before being rushed to Tallahassee Memorial.
Florida initially described Johnson as being in critical but stable condition. The team didn't reveal the cause of Johnson's collapse.
Johnson previously tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The coronavirus can lead to myocarditis, a viral infection that can cause inflammation of the heart muscle.
Advertisement "Keyontae Johnson brings a certain toughness to the team...He plays with the heart of a champion..." Get to know our guy @keyontaejohnso1 more. #GatorsHoop pic.twitter.com/Uq1SXcsnJy— Florida Gators Men's Basketball (@GatorsMBK) April 25, 2020
Johnson, an All-SEC selection as a sophomore and the SEC Preseason Player of the Year in 2020, was averaging 19.7 points and six rebounds through three games this season. He was a projected first-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.


upi--2020-12-14--Bipartisan legislators introduce two-part $908B stimulus package

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Monday introduced a two-part COVID-19 stimulus bill totaling $ 908 billion as they seek to end months of deadlock in Congress over the measure .
The group of about 12 senators from both parties introduced the measure including a $ 748 billion package focused on funding for education , vaccines and transportation , alongside a $ 160 billion add-on including the most contentious provisions such as state and local funding and a short-term liability shield for employers .
After introducing the bill Monday , Sen. Lisa Murkowski , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , to determine what portions of the bill can successfully pass through both chambers of Congress .
`` What we 've been able to do is give to leadership , as they 're moving through in these final days , a ready-made , negotiated product , '' said Murkowski .
`` You 've got your gift , take it . ''
Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer backed the bipartisan plan earlier this month , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of state and local funding while opposing liability protections .
McConnell on the other hand had called for Congress to ditch both provisions in favor of passing a bill quickly before lawmakers wrap up their legislative session Friday .
`` The best way to do that at this late date is to negotiate a four-corners agreement , '' Sen. John Cornyn , R-Texas , said .
`` My understanding is they are looking at what the bipartisan group has come up with and a lot of it is good stuff , for potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , warned that he would oppose any agreement that did not include direct payments to Americans of $ 1,200 for each adult and $ 500 per child .
`` If the United States government wants the American people to have faith in their government in this time of emergency , it has got to respond , '' said Sanders .

A group of 12 bipartisan senators introduced a stimulus bill totaling $908 billion that separates contentious provisions such as state and local funding and liability protections for employers from broader funding. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Monday introduced a two-part COVID-19 stimulus bill totaling $908 billion as they seek to end months of deadlock in Congress over the measure. The group of about 12 senators from both parties introduced the measure including a $748 billion package focused on funding for education, vaccines and transportation, alongside a $160 billion add-on including the most contentious provisions such as state and local funding and a short-term liability shield for employers. Advertisement
After introducing the bill Monday, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said it would be up to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to determine what portions of the bill can successfully pass through both chambers of Congress.
"What we've been able to do is give to leadership, as they're moving through in these final days, a ready-made, negotiated product," said Murkowski. "You've got your gift, take it."
Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer backed the bipartisan plan earlier this month, but Democrats have largely pushed for the inclusion of state and local funding while opposing liability protections.
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McConnell on the other hand had called for Congress to ditch both provisions in favor of passing a bill quickly before lawmakers wrap up their legislative session Friday.
"The best way to do that at this late date is to negotiate a four-corners agreement," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said. "My understanding is they are looking at what the bipartisan group has come up with and a lot of it is good stuff, for potential inclusion in the year-end spending bill."
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., warned that he would oppose any agreement that did not include direct payments to Americans of $1,200 for each adult and $500 per child.
"If the United States government wants the American people to have faith in their government in this time of emergency, it has got to respond," said Sanders.


upi--2020-12-14--Electoral College affirms Joe Biden-Kamala Harris victory

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- Joe Biden and Kamala Harris officially received 306 electoral votes to be elected president and vice president as the Electoral College cast votes Monday , following weeks of efforts by President Donald Trump to cast doubt on the election process .
Shortly after 5 p.m. EST , California cast its 55 electoral votes in favor of Biden and Harris , pushing them above the 270 vote total required to be elected president and vice president , respectively .
Hawaii , which Biden won , was the final state to cast its votes , giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 232 votes going to Trump .
Electors in the key swing states of Georgia and Pennsylvania -- where the Trump campaign bitterly contested the election results in a series of lawsuits -- also cast a total of 36 votes for Biden and Harris .
Earlier , electors in Nevada also cast their six votes for Biden in a virtual meeting .
The Nevada Supreme Court had just rejected a Trump lawsuit alleging the election results were `` rigged . ''
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , who won the popular vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost the electoral vote , was among the New York electors for Biden and Harris -- the first woman to serve as vice president .
Political activist Stacey Abrams , who turned her defeat for Georgia governor into a get-out-the-vote campaign , presided over the Georgia electors ' meeting .
`` I was honored to preside over today 's meeting of Georgia electors and to cast my vote for @ JoeBiden and @ KamalaHarris , the first Democrats to win GA since 1992 , '' Abrams tweeted .
`` Together , we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ build our economy back better and recover from the pandemic . ''
Voting began again in Georgia on Monday for two runoffs that will determine which party has control of the U.S. Senate in January .
The Electoral College vote is came after all 50 states and Washington , D.C. , certified their votes and named slates of electors .
Under the Constitution , each state receives a number of electors equal to the number of their seats in Congress and , with the exception of Maine and Nebraska , every state awards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state 's popular vote .
Those electors met Monday in locations chosen by each state legislature and casti one vote for president and another for vice president on paper ballots .
After the votes were counted , the electors from each state signed six certificates with the results , which are then paired with a certificate from the governor .
One of these copies goes to the president of the U.S. Senate to be officially counted .
Two copies go sent to the state 's secretary of state , two copies are delivered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one backup copy goes to the presiding judge in the district in which the electors met .
Laws require electors to cast their ballots for the winner of the state 's popular vote in 32 states and Washington , D.C .
It is uncommon for electors to vote against their state 's selection in numbers large enough to affect an election .
However , 10 electors did so in 2016 .
In July , the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that states can punish electors who formally cast the votes for president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of their state .
The Senate will convene Jan. 6 for a session , presided over by Pence , where they will count the votes , followed by the inauguration on Jan. 20 .
In Michigan , officials closed the state House and Senate office buildings during the Electoral College meeting due to security concerns .
Amber McCann , a spokeswoman for Senate Republican Majority Leader Mike Shirkey , said law enforcement made the recommendation .
Michigan State Police Lt. Darren Green said it was monitoring social media and other communications .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in connection with a kidnapping plot against Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer .
The state 's Republican legislative leaders on Monday repeated an earlier pledge not to attempt to overturn the popular vote or interfere with the electors .
`` While there are some who still argue this should not take place , we must recognize that our feelings , our desires , and our disappointments are subordinate to the health of our democracy and the will of the majority , '' Shirkey said in a statement .

The Electoral College on Monday was cast the deciding votes to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris president and vice president. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Joe Biden and Kamala Harris officially received 306 electoral votes to be elected president and vice president as the Electoral College cast votes Monday, following weeks of efforts by President Donald Trump to cast doubt on the election process. Shortly after 5 p.m. EST, California cast its 55 electoral votes in favor of Biden and Harris, pushing them above the 270 vote total required to be elected president and vice president, respectively. Advertisement
Hawaii, which Biden won, was the final state to cast its votes, giving them a total of 306 votes, with 232 votes going to Trump.
Electors in the key swing states of Georgia and Pennsylvania -- where the Trump campaign bitterly contested the election results in a series of lawsuits -- also cast a total of 36 votes for Biden and Harris.
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Earlier, electors in Nevada also cast their six votes for Biden in a virtual meeting. The Nevada Supreme Court had just rejected a Trump lawsuit alleging the election results were "rigged."
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who won the popular vote over Donald Trump in 2016, but lost the electoral vote, was among the New York electors for Biden and Harris -- the first woman to serve as vice president.
Political activist Stacey Abrams, who turned her defeat for Georgia governor into a get-out-the-vote campaign, presided over the Georgia electors' meeting.
I was honored to preside over today's meeting of Georgia electors and to cast my vote for @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris, the first Democrats to win GA since 1992. Together, we will restore the soul of our nation, build our economy back better and recover from the pandemic. #gapol— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) December 14, 2020
"I was honored to preside over today's meeting of Georgia electors and to cast my vote for @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris, the first Democrats to win GA since 1992," Abrams tweeted. "Together, we will restore the soul of our nation, build our economy back better and recover from the pandemic."
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Voting began again in Georgia on Monday for two runoffs that will determine which party has control of the U.S. Senate in January.
The Electoral College vote is came after all 50 states and Washington, D.C., certified their votes and named slates of electors.
Under the Constitution, each state receives a number of electors equal to the number of their seats in Congress and, with the exception of Maine and Nebraska, every state awards those votes to the winner of the state's popular vote.
Those electors met Monday in locations chosen by each state legislature and casti one vote for president and another for vice president on paper ballots.
After the votes were counted, the electors from each state signed six certificates with the results, which are then paired with a certificate from the governor.
One of these copies goes to the president of the U.S. Senate to be officially counted. Two copies go sent to the state's secretary of state, two copies are delivered to National Archives and Records Administration and one backup copy goes to the presiding judge in the district in which the electors met.
Laws require electors to cast their ballots for the winner of the state's popular vote in 32 states and Washington, D.C. It is uncommon for electors to vote against their state's selection in numbers large enough to affect an election. However, 10 electors did so in 2016.
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In July, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that states can punish electors who formally cast the votes for president of the United States, but go against the majority of their state.
The Senate will convene Jan. 6 for a session, presided over by Pence, where they will count the votes, followed by the inauguration on Jan. 20.
In Michigan, officials closed the state House and Senate office buildings during the Electoral College meeting due to security concerns. Amber McCann, a spokeswoman for Senate Republican Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, said law enforcement made the recommendation.
Michigan State Police Lt. Darren Green said it was monitoring social media and other communications. In October, 13 men were charged in connection with a kidnapping plot against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The state's Republican legislative leaders on Monday repeated an earlier pledge not to attempt to overturn the popular vote or interfere with the electors.
"While there are some who still argue this should not take place, we must recognize that our feelings, our desires, and our disappointments are subordinate to the health of our democracy and the will of the majority," Shirkey said in a statement.


upi--2020-12-14--ICE acting director Tony Pham to leave after five months

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- Tony Pham , acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency , will resign at the year 's end after five months on the job .
Pham , the son of Vietnamese refugee parents , thanked President Donald Trump for his brief time in service .
`` Leading a law enforcement agency with such a committed workforce has been the honor of a lifetime , '' Pham said in a statement .
`` I will continue to be that tireless advocate for the hard working men and women at ICE .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , I will be returning home to Richmond , Va. , to be closer to my family . ''
Pham , a lawyer and government prosecutor for immigration cases , was appointed in August to replace acting director Matthew Albence , who retired .
During his brief time heading ICE , Pham was criticized for an October campaign to post billboards in Pennsylvania that pictured wanted immigration suspects .
`` The placement and the timing -- the placement being Pennsylvania and the timing being a month before the election -- make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not related to operational matters , '' David Lapan , a retired U.S. Marine colonel and former Trump administration press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security told CBS News .
Others blamed Pham for helping the Trump administration slow to a trickle the number of refugees admitted to the United States .
`` Tony Pham chose to promote Trump 's apartheid worldview , and turned his back on refugee communities , here and abroad , '' a group of California-based refugee organizations , including VietRISE , which supports Vietnamese refugees , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's racist billboards , its thinly-veiled electoral propaganda , the deaths in ICE prison camps and unlawful targeting of those who spoke out for Migrant Justice and for Black Lives all happened on [ Pham 's ] watch , '' the groups said .

Tony Pham, interim director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, will leave at the end of the year, he announced. Photo courtesy of ICE Twitter account
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Tony Pham, acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, will resign at the year's end after five months on the job. Pham, the son of Vietnamese refugee parents, thanked President Donald Trump for his brief time in service. Advertisement
"Leading a law enforcement agency with such a committed workforce has been the honor of a lifetime," Pham said in a statement. "I will continue to be that tireless advocate for the hard working men and women at ICE.
"However, at the end of the year, I will be returning home to Richmond, Va., to be closer to my family."
Pham, a lawyer and government prosecutor for immigration cases, was appointed in August to replace acting director Matthew Albence, who retired.
During his brief time heading ICE, Pham was criticized for an October campaign to post billboards in Pennsylvania that pictured wanted immigration suspects.
"The placement and the timing -- the placement being Pennsylvania and the timing being a month before the election -- make it clear that this is a political move, not related to operational matters," David Lapan, a retired U.S. Marine colonel and former Trump administration press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security told CBS News.
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Others blamed Pham for helping the Trump administration slow to a trickle the number of refugees admitted to the United States.
"Tony Pham chose to promote Trump's apartheid worldview, and turned his back on refugee communities, here and abroad," a group of California-based refugee organizations, including VietRISE, which supports Vietnamese refugees, said in a statement.
"ICE's racist billboards, its thinly-veiled electoral propaganda, the deaths in ICE prison camps and unlawful targeting of those who spoke out for Migrant Justice and for Black Lives all happened on [Pham's] watch," the groups said.


upi--2020-12-14--British military looking to move aircraft to sustainable sources of fuel

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- A plan to use sustainable sources for up to 50 percent of military aviation fuel was announced by British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace this week .
The British Ministry of Defense on Saturday said it would look to algae , alcohol , household waste , wood and biomass as potential sources of fuel for the nation 's F-35 and Typhoon planes and Wildcat helicopters .
Aviation fuel consumes nearly two-thirds of fuel used by the British military , the ministry said .
New aviation fuel standards in effect since November call for a reduction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complement the British government 's goal of net zero emissions throughout the country by 2050 .
`` [ Britain ] is leading the way in sustainability , and by refining our aviation fuel standards we are taking simple yet effective steps to reduce the environmental footprint of defense , '' Wallace said in the statement .
`` It is right that we step up to spearhead these positive changes across both military and civilian sectors . ''
Traditional aviation fuel used by military and commercial aircraft is kerosene-based , to reduce the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as maximizing fuel efficiency .
The operator of Russia 's Gazprom Neft aviation refueling business , Gazpromneft-Aero , began an integrated laboratory information system in July 2020 to analyze characteristics of aviation fuel and possible substitutes .
United Airlines has included biomass-derived fuel in their planes since 2019 .
A 2017 research paper by U.S. Air Force Maj. Marcus McWilliams of the Air Force 's Air University noted that most U.S. military planes can operate on sustainable aviation fuel .
But no funding has been offered to modify the engines of F-35 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on it -- and require a 12- to 24-month process of testing and certification .
The British ministry 's statement on Friday cited government and fuel business leaders approving of the changes .
`` The Defense Strategic Fuels Authority has been working tirelessly with industry partners to change the Defense Standard for Aviation Fuel , allowing [ sustainable aviation fuel ] deliveries to the MOD , '' said Lt. Gen. Richard Wardlaw of the ministry 's Chief Logistics and Support office .
`` This is a significant change for Defense , enabling us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our CO2 footprint , consistent with our wider ambition for achieving NZ50 [ the net zero plan ] , '' Wardlaw said .
Luke Robbins of CLH-PS , a British fuel pipeline operating company , was also enthusiastic .
`` We are committed to contributing to the growth of SAF in particular and this change will enable us to work with our partners , including the MOD , to facilitate its wider use in the [ British ] aviation market . ''

The British Ministry of Defense announced a plan for use of aviation fuel made from wood, alcohol and other sustainable sources to power aircraft like the Typhoon fighter plane, pictured. Photo courtesy of British Ministry of Defense
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A plan to use sustainable sources for up to 50 percent of military aviation fuel was announced by British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace this week. The British Ministry of Defense on Saturday said it would look to algae, alcohol, household waste, wood and biomass as potential sources of fuel for the nation's F-35 and Typhoon planes and Wildcat helicopters. Advertisement
Aviation fuel consumes nearly two-thirds of fuel used by the British military, the ministry said.
New aviation fuel standards in effect since November call for a reduction in emissions and carbon footprints, and complement the British government's goal of net zero emissions throughout the country by 2050.
"[Britain] is leading the way in sustainability, and by refining our aviation fuel standards we are taking simple yet effective steps to reduce the environmental footprint of defense," Wallace said in the statement. "It is right that we step up to spearhead these positive changes across both military and civilian sectors."
Traditional aviation fuel used by military and commercial aircraft is kerosene-based, to reduce the risk of icing or high-temperature explosion as well as maximizing fuel efficiency.
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The operator of Russia's Gazprom Neft aviation refueling business, Gazpromneft-Aero, began an integrated laboratory information system in July 2020 to analyze characteristics of aviation fuel and possible substitutes.
United Airlines has included biomass-derived fuel in their planes since 2019.
A 2017 research paper by U.S. Air Force Maj. Marcus McWilliams of the Air Force's Air University noted that most U.S. military planes can operate on sustainable aviation fuel. But no funding has been offered to modify the engines of F-35 and F-22 planes -- which can't run on it -- and require a 12- to 24-month process of testing and certification.
The British ministry's statement on Friday cited government and fuel business leaders approving of the changes.
"The Defense Strategic Fuels Authority has been working tirelessly with industry partners to change the Defense Standard for Aviation Fuel, allowing [sustainable aviation fuel] deliveries to the MOD," said Lt. Gen. Richard Wardlaw of the ministry's Chief Logistics and Support office.
"This is a significant change for Defense, enabling us to take a key step towards reducing our CO2 footprint, consistent with our wider ambition for achieving NZ50 [the net zero plan]," Wardlaw said.
Luke Robbins of CLH-PS, a British fuel pipeline operating company, was also enthusiastic.
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"We are committed to contributing to the growth of SAF in particular and this change will enable us to work with our partners, including the MOD, to facilitate its wider use in the [British] aviation market."


upi--2020-12-14--Study: Black kids in U.S. have higher risk for death from sepsis than White kids

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- Black children hospitalized in the United States have a significantly higher risk for death from sepsis than White or Hispanic children , according to a study published Monday by The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health .
Severe sepsis is a life-threatening reaction caused by the immune system overreacting to an infection , and it occurs most frequently in newborns and infants .
With an average of 10 days , Black and Hispanic children also had longer hospital stays than White children , who had averaged eight days , the data showed .
`` There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be an important factor in the social and economic conditions that ultimately lead to health inequalities in children , '' study co-author Dr. Nadir Yehya said in a statement .
`` Our findings demonstrate a need to examine the different ways in which these biases may contribute at structural , interpersonal or individualized levels to sepsis outcomes in children , '' said Yehya , attending physician in the Pediatric Sepsis Program and the Division of Critical Care Medicine at Children 's Hospital of Philadelphia .
More than 75,000 children and teens in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and 7,000 of them die , according to the Sepsis Alliance .
Previous studies have found that Black adults and uninsured people are more likely to die from sepsis , and that those living in high-poverty areas are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease , the Children 's Hospital of Philadelphia researchers said .
The new study included 9,816 children diagnosed with severe sepsis from the 2016 Kids ' Inpatient Database , which records 80 % of pediatric hospital discharges across 47 U.S. states .
Of the children in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , 18 % of Black children in the study died from the disease , compared to 13 % of White children and 14 % of Hispanic children , the data showed .
Risk for death from sepsis for Black children was 60 % higher than that for White children in the western United States and 30 % higher in the South .
More White children -- 52 % -- were privately insured than Black -- 23 % -- or Hispanic -- 20 % -- children , and Black and Hispanic children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live in low-income ZIP codes than White children .
And children from households lacking health insurance or whose parents paid out-of-pocket for care had a 30 % higher risk for death from sepsis than those who had health insurance or Medicaid .
A range of factors may contribute to poorer outcomes for severe sepsis in minority children and those of lower socioeconomic position , including lack of access to quality healthcare and provider bias , the researchers said .
Further studies , they said , are needed to investigate why these disparities exist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Some of the disparities in outcomes from sepsis that we 've identified related to race/ethnicity and socioeconomic position are alarming , but this analysis is an important step toward working out why they exist and what measures can be taken to address them , '' study co-author Dr. Hannah Mitchell said in a statement .
`` Importantly , no differences in survival were seen between publicly and privately insured children , '' said Mitchell , a pediatric resident at Children 's Hospital of Philadelphia .

Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Black children hospitalized in the United States have a significantly higher risk for death from sepsis than White or Hispanic children, according to a study published Monday by The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.
Severe sepsis is a life-threatening reaction caused by the immune system overreacting to an infection, and it occurs most frequently in newborns and infants.
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With an average of 10 days, Black and Hispanic children also had longer hospital stays than White children, who had averaged eight days, the data showed.
"There is growing evidence that structural racism may be an important factor in the social and economic conditions that ultimately lead to health inequalities in children," study co-author Dr. Nadir Yehya said in a statement.
"Our findings demonstrate a need to examine the different ways in which these biases may contribute at structural, interpersonal or individualized levels to sepsis outcomes in children," said Yehya, attending physician in the Pediatric Sepsis Program and the Division of Critical Care Medicine at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
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More than 75,000 children and teens in the United States are hospitalized with sepsis annually, and 7,000 of them die, according to the Sepsis Alliance.
Previous studies have found that Black adults and uninsured people are more likely to die from sepsis, and that those living in high-poverty areas are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia researchers said.
The new study included 9,816 children diagnosed with severe sepsis from the 2016 Kids' Inpatient Database, which records 80% of pediatric hospital discharges across 47 U.S. states.
Of the children in the study, 15% died from sepsis.
However, 18% of Black children in the study died from the disease, compared to 13% of White children and 14% of Hispanic children, the data showed.
Risk for death from sepsis for Black children was 60% higher than that for White children in the western United States and 30% higher in the South.
More White children -- 52% -- were privately insured than Black -- 23% -- or Hispanic -- 20% -- children, and Black and Hispanic children were up to twice as likely to live in low-income ZIP codes than White children.
And children from households lacking health insurance or whose parents paid out-of-pocket for care had a 30% higher risk for death from sepsis than those who had health insurance or Medicaid.
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A range of factors may contribute to poorer outcomes for severe sepsis in minority children and those of lower socioeconomic position, including lack of access to quality healthcare and provider bias, the researchers said.
Further studies, they said, are needed to investigate why these disparities exist and how they can be addressed.
"Some of the disparities in outcomes from sepsis that we've identified related to race/ethnicity and socioeconomic position are alarming, but this analysis is an important step toward working out why they exist and what measures can be taken to address them," study co-author Dr. Hannah Mitchell said in a statement.
"Importantly, no differences in survival were seen between publicly and privately insured children," said Mitchell, a pediatric resident at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.


upi--2020-12-14--Environmental value of renewable energy varies from place to place

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- New investments in green energy wo n't have the same impact everywhere , researchers say .
Some places will gain greater environmental benefits from renewable energy sources than others , according to a new study published Monday in the journal Nature Sustainability .
`` For years , researchers have taken different approaches to try to assess the environmental benefits of renewable energy , '' study co-author Harrison Fell said in a news release .
`` The Energy Information Administration started releasing detailed data on renewable power generation in 2018 , and we realized that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this issue using real-world data , '' said Fell , an associate professor of energy economics at North Carolina State University .
The newly published study is the first to quantify emissions reductions from new solar and wind generation using detailed green energy production data from different parts of the United States , while also accounting for the trade of electricity between different regions .
The data showed that while replacing traditional sources of electricity with wind and solar power sources will help reduce carbon emissions regardless of the location , it varies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Florida , where energy grids are mostly powered by fossils fuels , than California , where green energy sources have already become thoroughly integrated into the power grid .
`` One [ megawatt hour ] MWh of solar power produced in Florida reduces carbon dioxide emissions by about twice as much as one MWh of solar power produced in California , '' said study co-author Jeremiah Johnson .
`` That 's because California already has a cleaner grid when compared to other regions .
So offsetting an hour of conventional power generation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offsetting an hour of conventional power generation in Florida , '' said Johnson , an associate professor of civil , construction and environmental engineering at NC State .
Researchers hope policy makers will use their findings to funnel green energy investments to the places where new sources of green power will have the greatest effect on carbon emissions .
According to the new study , green energy investments do n't just benefit those living close by .
Because of the way different regions of the country exchange electricity , green energy projects in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources in neighboring states , researchers found .
`` Right now , renewable energy is largely driven by policies that vary from state to state , '' Fell said .
`` Our work here highlights one reason that this is not a very efficient approach to energy policy . ''
`` A federal approach to renewable energy policy would be better able to account for the interstate nature of energy production , energy consumption and environmental benefits , '' Fell said .

Because of already installed green energy systems, the pollution reduction benefits of new green systems have different effects from state to state, researchers say. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- New investments in green energy won't have the same impact everywhere, researchers say. Some places will gain greater environmental benefits from renewable energy sources than others, according to a new study published Monday in the journal Nature Sustainability. Advertisement
"For years, researchers have taken different approaches to try to assess the environmental benefits of renewable energy," study co-author Harrison Fell said in a news release.
"The Energy Information Administration started releasing detailed data on renewable power generation in 2018, and we realized that we finally had an opportunity to address this issue using real-world data," said Fell, an associate professor of energy economics at North Carolina State University.
The newly published study is the first to quantify emissions reductions from new solar and wind generation using detailed green energy production data from different parts of the United States, while also accounting for the trade of electricity between different regions.
The data showed that while replacing traditional sources of electricity with wind and solar power sources will help reduce carbon emissions regardless of the location, it varies.
The reductions are greater in places like Florida, where energy grids are mostly powered by fossils fuels, than California, where green energy sources have already become thoroughly integrated into the power grid.
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"One [megawatt hour] MWh of solar power produced in Florida reduces carbon dioxide emissions by about twice as much as one MWh of solar power produced in California," said study co-author Jeremiah Johnson.
"That's because California already has a cleaner grid when compared to other regions. So offsetting an hour of conventional power generation in California reduces CO2 emissions less than offsetting an hour of conventional power generation in Florida," said Johnson, an associate professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering at NC State.
Researchers hope policy makers will use their findings to funnel green energy investments to the places where new sources of green power will have the greatest effect on carbon emissions.
According to the new study, green energy investments don't just benefit those living close by.
Because of the way different regions of the country exchange electricity, green energy projects in one state can help offset traditional power sources in neighboring states, researchers found.
"Right now, renewable energy is largely driven by policies that vary from state to state," Fell said. "Our work here highlights one reason that this is not a very efficient approach to energy policy."
"A federal approach to renewable energy policy would be better able to account for the interstate nature of energy production, energy consumption and environmental benefits," Fell said.
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upi--2020-12-14--Michigan congressman says he's leaving GOP to become an independent

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- A Michigan congressman said Monday he was leaving the Republican Party , blaming President Trump and fellow Republicans for refusing to accept election results causing him to fear `` long-term harm to our democracy . ''
Paul Mitchell , a Republican representative whose 10th District covers the `` thumb '' of Michigan north of Detroit , announced on Twitter that he was `` disaffiliating '' from the party .
`` I have stated publicly numerous times that when entering the political arena , a person must be willing to accept winning and losing with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both winning and losing , the latter can be brutal , '' the two-term member said in a letter to Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy .
Mitchell said he voted for President Donald Trump in 2020 , but said Trump 's refusing to concede after losing to Democrat Joe Biden was the last straw .
Trump lost to Biden by 7 million votes in the Nov. 3 election .
The Electoral College certified Biden 's 306 electoral votes Monday to Trump 's 232 votes .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes .
`` It is unacceptable for political candidates to treat our election system as though we are a third-world nation and incite distrust of something so basic as the sanctity of our vote , '' Mitchell said Monday .
`` Further , it is unacceptable for the president to attack the Supreme Court of the United States because its judges , both liberal and conservative , did not rule with his side or that 'the Court failed him . '
It was our Founding Fathers ' objective to insulate the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mitchell said he was disappointed in `` leadership of the Republican Party and our Republican Conference in the House '' for `` actively participating '' in President Trump 's so-called Stop the Steal campaign and challenges to overturn the election .
`` I fear long-term harm to our democracy , '' Mitchell said .
`` As elected members of Congress , we take an oath to 'support and defend the Constitution of the United States , ' not to preserve and protect the political interests of any individual , be it the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our cherished nation , '' Mitchell added .
The congressman said he would ask the clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives change his party affiliation to `` Independent . ''
On Monday , Michigan electoral delegates met in the locked-down statehouse building in Lansing to officially certify the state 's 16 electoral votes to Joe Biden , who won the state by 154,000 votes .
Some protesting Republican electors tried to disrupt the proceedings , but were stopped from entering by Michigan State Police .

Michigan congressman Paul Mitchell said Monday he was "disaffiliating" with the Republican Party" and would ask to be considered an Independent. Photo courtesy of Rep. Paul Mitchell/Twitter
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A Michigan congressman said Monday he was leaving the Republican Party, blaming President Trump and fellow Republicans for refusing to accept election results causing him to fear "long-term harm to our democracy." Paul Mitchell, a Republican representative whose 10th District covers the "thumb" of Michigan north of Detroit, announced on Twitter that he was "disaffiliating" from the party. Advertisement
"I have stated publicly numerous times that when entering the political arena, a person must be willing to accept winning and losing with grace and maturity. Having personally experienced both winning and losing, the latter can be brutal," the two-term member said in a letter to Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Mitchell said he voted for President Donald Trump in 2020, but said Trump's refusing to concede after losing to Democrat Joe Biden was the last straw.
Trump lost to Biden by 7 million votes in the Nov. 3 election. The Electoral College certified Biden's 306 electoral votes Monday to Trump's 232 votes. The winning candidate needed at least 270 electoral votes.
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"It is unacceptable for political candidates to treat our election system as though we are a third-world nation and incite distrust of something so basic as the sanctity of our vote," Mitchell said Monday.
"Further, it is unacceptable for the president to attack the Supreme Court of the United States because its judges, both liberal and conservative, did not rule with his side or that 'the Court failed him.' It was our Founding Fathers' objective to insulate the Supreme Court from such blatant political motivations."
Mitchell said he was disappointed in "leadership of the Republican Party and our Republican Conference in the House" for "actively participating" in President Trump's so-called Stop the Steal campaign and challenges to overturn the election. "I fear long-term harm to our democracy," Mitchell said.
"As elected members of Congress, we take an oath to 'support and defend the Constitution of the United States,' not to preserve and protect the political interests of any individual, be it the president or anyone else, to the detriment of our cherished nation," Mitchell added.
The congressman said he would ask the clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives change his party affiliation to "Independent."
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On Monday, Michigan electoral delegates met in the locked-down statehouse building in Lansing to officially certify the state's 16 electoral votes to Joe Biden, who won the state by 154,000 votes.
Some protesting Republican electors tried to disrupt the proceedings, but were stopped from entering by Michigan State Police.


upi--2020-12-14--Friends switch lottery retailers after 40 years, win big

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- A pair of Australian friends who have played the lottery together for about 40 years finally scored a jackpot of more than $ 650,000 after they changed the store from which they make their purchases .
A member of the two-person lottery team from Cambridge Park , New South Wales , told The Lott officials that they have been longtime lottery partners .
`` We 've been playing for about 40 years .
We started off working together and became mates .
We 've been playing Lotto together ever since , '' the man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when his wife checked the weekend 's Saturday Lotto numbers .
`` My wife checked the ticket on Saturday night .
She came in and woke me up and told me we 'd won .
I thought she was having me on , '' the winner said .
`` We just ca n't believe it .
We were only saying the other day we thought we were due for a big win . ''
The friends are now splitting a jackpot of $ 665,991.58 .
The man said there was one factor that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends had played the lottery together .
`` This time , my mate bought the ticket from a different outlet than usual .
Maybe that made the difference , '' he said .
The winning ticket was purchased from the Cambridge Park Newsagency .
The man said he is working out what to do with his share of the winnings .
`` The only thing I 've thought about is buying a new car , '' he said .
`` I 'm not going to get carried away until I see it in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan other things , like helping family , holidays and whatever else . ''

A pair of Cambridge Park, New South Wales, Australia, men said they changed the store from which they buy their lottery tickets after 40 years of playing together -- and won a jackpot of more than $650,000. Photo courtesy of The Lott
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A pair of Australian friends who have played the lottery together for about 40 years finally scored a jackpot of more than $650,000 after they changed the store from which they make their purchases. A member of the two-person lottery team from Cambridge Park, New South Wales, told The Lott officials that they have been longtime lottery partners. Advertisement
"We've been playing for about 40 years. We started off working together and became mates. We've been playing Lotto together ever since," the man said.
He said he was shocked when his wife checked the weekend's Saturday Lotto numbers.
"My wife checked the ticket on Saturday night. She came in and woke me up and told me we'd won. I thought she was having me on," the winner said. "We just can't believe it. We were only saying the other day we thought we were due for a big win."
The friends are now splitting a jackpot of $665,991.58. The man said there was one factor that was different from the other times the friends had played the lottery together.
"This time, my mate bought the ticket from a different outlet than usual. Maybe that made the difference," he said.
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The winning ticket was purchased from the Cambridge Park Newsagency.
The man said he is working out what to do with his share of the winnings.
"The only thing I've thought about is buying a new car," he said. "I'm not going to get carried away until I see it in the bank account. Then we can plan other things, like helping family, holidays and whatever else."


upi--2020-12-14--Watch: Florida woman finds raccoon in her Christmas tree

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- A Florida woman captured video of the chaos that ensued inside her home when @ @ @ @ @ a raccoon climbing her Christmas tree .
Aubrey Iacobelli said she awoke to the sound @ @ @ @ @ 4:15 a.m. , and a brief investigation uncovered the reason for the canine 's disquiet @ @ @ @ @ entered the home through the dog door and was climbing the Christmas tree .
A @ @ @ @ @ home shows the dog knocking the tree over in an attempt to reach the raccoon @ @ @ @ @ the house .
`` The raccoon ran away from freedom .
Jumped on my chandelier @ @ @ @ @ like 30 minutes , '' she said .
The video shows Iacobelli using a broom @ @ @ @ @ from the chandelier .
She said the raccoon ended up fleeing the house through the @ @ @

Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A Florida woman captured video of the chaos that ensued inside her home when her dog alerted her to a raccoon climbing her Christmas tree.
Aubrey Iacobelli said she awoke to the sound of her dog growling about 4:15 a.m., and a brief investigation uncovered the reason for the canine's disquiet -- a raccoon had apparently entered the home through the dog door and was climbing the Christmas tree.
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A video filmed inside Iacobelli's home shows the dog knocking the tree over in an attempt to reach the raccoon, sparking a chase through the house.
"The raccoon ran away from freedom. Jumped on my chandelier where it swung there for like 30 minutes," she said.
The video shows Iacobelli using a broom to shove the raccoon free from the chandelier.
She said the raccoon ended up fleeing the house through the dog door.


upi--2020-12-14--U.S. passes 300,000 COVID-19 deaths; NYC nurse gets one of first vaccines

Dec. 14 ( UPI ) -- The United States hit the grim milestone of 300,000 coronavirus-related deaths Monday as a New York City nurse became one of the first American recipients of a new COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer .
Nearly 1,400 Americans died Sunday , pushing the U.S. total since the start of the pandemic to 300,267 , according to a running tally kept by Johns Hopkins University .
The United States averaged 2,400 daily deaths last week , surpassing the 3,000 mark twice for the first time .
Death totals are usually lower on Mondays , reflecting delays in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 190,000 new infections were confirmed on Sunday , down from Friday 's all-time high of 232,000 but still well above the two-week average of 166,000 , according to health news website Stat .
The latest figures boosted the total U.S. caseload since March to 16.25 million , the Johns Hopkins data showed .
The number of Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 set a new record for the 17th consecutive day , rising to 109,000 , according to the COVID Tracking Project .
Amid the worsening pandemic , the first vials of a vaccine made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ German partner BioNTech arrived at healthcare facilities across the country .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious disease expert said Monday that the United States should achieve `` that umbrella of herd immunity '' by late spring or early summer of 2021 .
`` By the time we get to the fall , we can start approaching some degree of relief where the level of infection will be so low in society we can start essentially approaching some form of normality , '' Fauci told MSNBC .
An intensive-care nurse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York received the first vaccine administered in the state , and perhaps the country , Monday morning as Gov .
Andrew Cuomo watched via remote video feed .
Before nurse Sandra Lindsay received the shot , Cuomo praised the efforts of frontline responders in battling the pandemic .
`` I know how horrific it was [ for healthcare workers ] , it was a modern-day battlefield , '' he said .
`` That 's why the word 'hero ' is so appropriate for what you did . ''
Applause broke out after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he celebrated the beginning of the `` largest vaccination effort in the history of New York City , '' Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that a total lockdown might be necessary before the vaccine can make a difference .
`` It 's not just a shot in the medical sense , it 's a shot of hope , '' he said in a daily briefing , `` but we have to keep fighting this virus in the meantime . ''
Indoor restaurant dining in the city was banned beginning Monday by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but de Blasio indicated even stricter measures may be in the offing due to `` really worrisome '' increases in hospitalizations and the rate of new infections .
`` The governor said we should prepare for the possibility for a full shutdown , I agree with that , '' he said .
`` We need to recognize that that may be coming , and we need to get ready for that now . ''
Just hours after Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield approved the vaccine to be administered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 185,000 vials left Pfizer 's facility in Kalamazoo , Mich .
The first batch of vaccines arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport via Federal Express , airport officials said .
`` This is a major milestone for science , our country and our community , '' they said in a tweet .
`` Thank you to all those who made this delivery possible , and are part of the incredible effort to distribute vaccines around the world . ''
The initial vials of the vaccine also arrived in Canada late Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This is good news , '' he wrote on Twitter .
`` But our fight against COVID-19 is not over .
Now more than ever , let 's keep up our vigilance . ''
In Texas , which reported 6,500 new cases and more than 100 deaths Sunday , 109 medical facilities were awaiting the first allocation of 1.4 million doses earmarked for the state , officials said .
The initial 20,000 doses will arrive at four sites in Houston , Austin , Dallas and San Antonio .
Another 75,000 doses will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas cities on Tuesday .
Hospitals at Ohio State University and the University of Michigan were also expecting to receive their first does early Monday , officials told CNN .
• A bipartisan group of lawmakers plan to introduce their $ 908 billion COVID-19 relief bill .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer back the bill , which calls for $ 288 billion in small-business support and $ 180 billion for extended unemployment insurance .
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell opposes the measure .
• In a case that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine , an employee has filed a complaint against the University of Virginia Health System for refusing to exempt him from getting a flu shot that he believes would `` defile the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit . ''
• A Texas Boy Scout troop is helping residents at a nursing home get a little closer to their visitors with a `` hug booth . ''
It 's designed with a plexiglass window that allows guests to stick their hands through large , sanitized gloves for hugging and other @ @ @

1/6
Sandra Lindsay (L), a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, is inoculated Monday with the COVID-19 vaccine by Dr. Michelle Chester in New York City. Pool Photo by Mark Lennihan/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- The United States hit the grim milestone of 300,000 coronavirus-related deaths Monday as a New York City nurse became one of the first American recipients of a new COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer. Nearly 1,400 Americans died Sunday, pushing the U.S. total since the start of the pandemic to 300,490, according to a running tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. The United States averaged 2,400 daily deaths last week, surpassing the 3,000 mark twice for the first time. Advertisement
Death totals are usually lower on Mondays, reflecting delays in collecting data during weekends.
Meanwhile, 191,000 new infections were confirmed on Sunday, down from Friday's all-time high of 232,000 but still well above the two-week average of 166,000, according to health news website Stat.
The latest figures boosted the total U.S. caseload since March to 16.51 million, the Johns Hopkins data showed.
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The number of Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 set a new record for the 17th consecutive day, rising to 109,000, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
Amid the worsening pandemic, the first vials of a vaccine made by U.S. pharma giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech arrived at healthcare facilities across the country.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert said Monday that the United States should achieve "that umbrella of herd immunity" by late spring or early summer of 2021.
"By the time we get to the fall, we can start approaching some degree of relief where the level of infection will be so low in society we can start essentially approaching some form of normality," Fauci told MSNBC.
An intensive-care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York received the first vaccine administered in the state, and perhaps the country, Monday morning as Gov. Andrew Cuomo watched via remote video feed.
Before nurse Sandra Lindsay received the shot, Cuomo praised the efforts of frontline responders in battling the pandemic.
"I know how horrific it was [for healthcare workers], it was a modern-day battlefield," he said. "That's why the word 'hero' is so appropriate for what you did."
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Applause broke out after Lindsay was inoculated.
However, even as he celebrated the beginning of the "largest vaccination effort in the history of New York City," Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that a total lockdown might be necessary before the vaccine can make a difference.
"It's not just a shot in the medical sense, it's a shot of hope," he said in a daily briefing, "but we have to keep fighting this virus in the meantime."
Indoor restaurant dining in the city was banned beginning Monday by a order issued last week by Cuomo, but de Blasio indicated even stricter measures may be in the offing due to "really worrisome" increases in hospitalizations and the rate of new infections.
"The governor said we should prepare for the possibility for a full shutdown, I agree with that," he said. "We need to recognize that that may be coming, and we need to get ready for that now."
Just hours after Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield approved the vaccine to be administered to patients on Sunday, trucks carrying nearly 185,000 vials left Pfizer's facility in Kalamazoo, Mich.
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The first batch of vaccines arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport via Federal Express, airport officials said.
"This is a major milestone for science, our country and our community," they said in a tweet. "Thank you to all those who made this delivery possible, and are part of the incredible effort to distribute vaccines around the world."
The initial vials of the vaccine also arrived in Canada late Sunday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced.
"This is good news," he wrote on Twitter. "But our fight against COVID-19 is not over. Now more than ever, let's keep up our vigilance."
In Texas, which reported 6,500 new cases and more than 100 deaths Sunday, 109 medical facilities were awaiting the first allocation of 1.4 million doses earmarked for the state, officials said.
The initial 20,000 doses will arrive at four sites in Houston, Austin, Dallas and San Antonio. Another 75,000 doses will be arriving at 19 sites in 12 Texas cities on Tuesday.
Hospitals at Ohio State University and the University of Michigan were also expecting to receive their first does early Monday, officials told CNN.
In other COVID-19 developments Monday:
A bipartisan group of lawmakers plan to introduce their $908 billion COVID-19 relief bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer back the bill, which calls for $288 billion in small-business support and $180 billion for extended unemployment insurance. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell opposes the measure.
In a case that could have implications for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, an employee has filed a complaint against the University of Virginia Health System for refusing to exempt him from getting a flu shot that he believes would "defile the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit."
vaccine, an employee has filed a complaint against the University of Virginia Health System for refusing to exempt him from getting a flu shot that he believes would "defile the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit." A Texas Boy Scout troop is helping residents at a nursing home get a little closer to their visitors with a "hug booth." It's designed with a plexiglass window that allows guests to stick their hands through large, sanitized gloves for hugging and other physical touches.