upi--2020-07-24--It's time for the American left to reclaim patriotism

July 24 ( UPI ) -- Last weekend , the country lost a man who fought for voting rights , for justice , for civility and sacrifice .
The void left by the passing of Rep. John Lewis is all the more profound because he was a shining example of how one can be both a protester and a patriot .
I love this country deeply .
And yet I know that our nation has committed many great atrocities .
A liberal 's patriotism is like growing up to realize your parents have flaws , that they 've made grave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you mourn them and you do everything you can to prevent them from happening to your own children .
But you never stop loving your parents .
Love and disapproval are n't mutually exclusive .
Lewis personified this .
His bona fides as a critic of the country are unparalleled .
As a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee , Lewis spent his early years fighting to make right the gross injustices of racial discrimination that our government had been perpetuating on its own people for centuries .
From the devastating blows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he protested , he galvanized support for the 1964 Civil Rights Act .
And , even as a member of Congress , he sometimes used the same strategies he used as a young protester , most famously organizing a sit-in right inside the House chamber to protest Congress ' lack of response to growing gun violence .
And still , his love for his country was undeniable .
This is why , after working so hard as a protester , he joined the highest institution of government , using the legislative process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ultimate act of patriotism .
As he amassed a record as one of the most consistently liberal members of Congress , he still drew praise from conservative detractors for his patriotism .
When he died , former House Speaker Newt Gingrich called him an `` American hero , '' House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called him `` a patriot in the truest sense '' and former Republican strategist Steve Schmitt called on Americans `` to rejoice and be thankful for the life of the American hero and patriot John Lewis . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in both `` blue '' and `` red '' states , flew their flags at half-mast .
This dynamic , though , of seeing liberal protest as patriotic -- and of protesters proclaiming their love for country even as they protest -- seems to be falling away from my fellow leftists .
Some liberals see expressions of patriotism as a defense of right-wing extremism .
Others find it even harder to feel any love for their country at a time when the nation is having a national reckoning on a history of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some are downright derogatory about their homeland ; they took to Twitter on the Fourth of July , America 's most patriotic day , to call out our nation 's prior and ongoing injustices with a `` # fvckthefourth '' hashtag .
The nation as a whole is struggling with patriotism .
Americans are feeling the least patriotic we 've felt in decades .
According to a recent Gallup poll , less than half of Americans ( 42 % ) describe themselves as `` extremely proud '' to be Americans , including 41 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats and 67 % of Republicans .
Although Republicans have historically polled higher in feeling `` extremely proud '' to be American than independents or Democrats , the current poll reflects a lower level of pride than Republicans felt even during the entire Obama years .
In spite of patriotism being down across the board , the accusations of a lack of patriotism are decidedly `` one way . ''
In the words of Professor Ted Zorn from Massey Business School , `` It 's almost always in one direction , with Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusation on Democrats and those who lean left . ''
Meanwhile , President Donald Trump likes to tout his supposed patriotism with symbolism , using simple visible gestures and statements , whether it is `` hugging '' the American flag or wearing a mask and claiming , `` There is nobody more patriotic than me . ''
The left should not cede patriotism to this kind of performance .
In fact , if anything , left-leaning Americans should be emboldened by the example of Lewis and reclaim the mantle of patriotism .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing right into Trump 's game .
He 's been branding this national struggle as a stark binary , one between patriots and traitors with no one in between .
On the Fourth of July , he stood in front of a national landmark and denounced those who dissent against him .
He stated , `` Make no mistake : This left-wing cultural revolution is designed to overthrow the American Revolution . ''
The Republican National Committee and conservative pundits like Tucker Carlson sing a constant refrain that an unpatriotic liberal cultural movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow it .
For liberals to say we love our nation does n't validate right-wing extremism , and I 'm not even sure where that idea came from .
It 's the opposite .
Right-wing extremism has hijacked patriotism and tried to claim a monopoly on it , claiming that the only way to love our nation is to accept it as it is .
For liberals , though , to say we love our country , to fly the flag , to sing the national anthem , shows right-wing `` patriotism '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the words of Charles de Gaulle , `` Patriotism is when love of your country comes first ; nationalism , when hate for people other than your own comes first . ''
Failing to make that distinction in very explicit terms is handicapping the left .
Protesters and patriots exist across the political spectrum , but not all protests are patriotic .
Nonetheless , we saw the power of expressions of patriotism when crowds gathered at the Michigan Capitol to protest government closures designed to stop the spread of COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ these protesters arrived with guns and threatened violence but never faced the police violence that peaceful Black Lives Matter marchers have faced , even though they were clearly more menacing .
This apparent double standard has been attributed to latent racism in law enforcement , but I do n't think that 's the complete explanation .
Protesters in Michigan , North Carolina and other places flew the American flag and proclaimed a love for the country .
So much of patriotism is the symbolism it uses -- flags , colors , mascots -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem treasonous to the people watching these scenes on the news .
Brutalizing the people without the flag ?
Not so much .
It 's more important now than ever for leftist protesters to claim their patriotism and be explicit about their love of country , whether it 's by waving the American flag , singing God Bless America or even just openly calling ourselves patriots .
In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd , our nation is facing the largest protest movement in its history and it shows no signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the federal government is responding by deploying anonymous troops in unmarked cars to cities across the nation .
That power should n't be wasted .
It should be used to tell the world that our protest and our liberal values are the very embodiment of this country and its values .
We need to keep repeating that , reminding people that we 're marching because we love this land , just like Lewis always did .
He showed us how we can have it both ways .
Dr. Hemal Sampat is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Voices Fellow with The OpEd Project .

Rep. John Lewis' love for his country was undeniable. File Pool Photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais/UPI | License Photo
July 24 (UPI) -- Last weekend, the country lost a man who fought for voting rights, for justice, for civility and sacrifice. The void left by the passing of Rep. John Lewis is all the more profound because he was a shining example of how one can be both a protester and a patriot. I love this country deeply. And yet I know that our nation has committed many great atrocities. A liberal's patriotism is like growing up to realize your parents have flaws, that they've made grave mistakes. You discover these errors, you mourn them and you do everything you can to prevent them from happening to your own children. But you never stop loving your parents. Love and disapproval aren't mutually exclusive. Advertisement
Lewis personified this. His bona fides as a critic of the country are unparalleled. As a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Lewis spent his early years fighting to make right the gross injustices of racial discrimination that our government had been perpetuating on its own people for centuries. From the devastating blows he took at the hands of police as he protested, he galvanized support for the 1964 Civil Rights Act. And, even as a member of Congress, he sometimes used the same strategies he used as a young protester, most famously organizing a sit-in right inside the House chamber to protest Congress' lack of response to growing gun violence.
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And still, his love for his country was undeniable. This is why, after working so hard as a protester, he joined the highest institution of government, using the legislative process to further advance his cause, arguably the ultimate act of patriotism. As he amassed a record as one of the most consistently liberal members of Congress, he still drew praise from conservative detractors for his patriotism.
When he died, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich called him an "American hero," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called him "a patriot in the truest sense" and former Republican strategist Steve Schmitt called on Americans "to rejoice and be thankful for the life of the American hero and patriot John Lewis." At least 21 states across the nation, in both "blue" and "red" states, flew their flags at half-mast.
This dynamic, though, of seeing liberal protest as patriotic -- and of protesters proclaiming their love for country even as they protest -- seems to be falling away from my fellow leftists. Some liberals see expressions of patriotism as a defense of right-wing extremism. Others find it even harder to feel any love for their country at a time when the nation is having a national reckoning on a history of governmental oppression of its own citizens. Some are downright derogatory about their homeland; they took to Twitter on the Fourth of July, America's most patriotic day, to call out our nation's prior and ongoing injustices with a "#fvckthefourth" hashtag.
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The nation as a whole is struggling with patriotism. Americans are feeling the least patriotic we've felt in decades. According to a recent Gallup poll, less than half of Americans (42%) describe themselves as "extremely proud" to be Americans, including 41% of independents, 24% of Democrats and 67% of Republicans. Although Republicans have historically polled higher in feeling "extremely proud" to be American than independents or Democrats, the current poll reflects a lower level of pride than Republicans felt even during the entire Obama years.
In spite of patriotism being down across the board, the accusations of a lack of patriotism are decidedly "one way." In the words of Professor Ted Zorn from Massey Business School, "It's almost always in one direction, with Republicans and pundits on the right using this accusation on Democrats and those who lean left." Meanwhile, President Donald Trump likes to tout his supposed patriotism with symbolism, using simple visible gestures and statements, whether it is "hugging" the American flag or wearing a mask and claiming, "There is nobody more patriotic than me."
Advertisement
The left should not cede patriotism to this kind of performance. In fact, if anything, left-leaning Americans should be emboldened by the example of Lewis and reclaim the mantle of patriotism.
We're not doing that and we're playing right into Trump's game. He's been branding this national struggle as a stark binary, one between patriots and traitors with no one in between. On the Fourth of July, he stood in front of a national landmark and denounced those who dissent against him. He stated, "Make no mistake: This left-wing cultural revolution is designed to overthrow the American Revolution." The Republican National Committee and conservative pundits like Tucker Carlson sing a constant refrain that an unpatriotic liberal cultural movement seeks to devalue America.
And we allow it.
For liberals to say we love our nation doesn't validate right-wing extremism, and I'm not even sure where that idea came from. It's the opposite. Right-wing extremism has hijacked patriotism and tried to claim a monopoly on it, claiming that the only way to love our nation is to accept it as it is. For liberals, though, to say we love our country, to fly the flag, to sing the national anthem, shows right-wing "patriotism" for what it really is: nationalism. In the words of Charles de Gaulle, "Patriotism is when love of your country comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first." Failing to make that distinction in very explicit terms is handicapping the left.
Advertisement
Protesters and patriots exist across the political spectrum, but not all protests are patriotic. Nonetheless, we saw the power of expressions of patriotism when crowds gathered at the Michigan Capitol to protest government closures designed to stop the spread of COVID-19. As many pundits have pointed out, these protesters arrived with guns and threatened violence but never faced the police violence that peaceful Black Lives Matter marchers have faced, even though they were clearly more menacing. This apparent double standard has been attributed to latent racism in law enforcement, but I don't think that's the complete explanation.
Protesters in Michigan, North Carolina and other places flew the American flag and proclaimed a love for the country. So much of patriotism is the symbolism it uses -- flags, colors, mascots -- and roughing up some flag-waving protesters would seem treasonous to the people watching these scenes on the news. Brutalizing the people without the flag? Not so much.
It's more important now than ever for leftist protesters to claim their patriotism and be explicit about their love of country, whether it's by waving the American flag, singing God Bless America or even just openly calling ourselves patriots. In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, our nation is facing the largest protest movement in its history and it shows no signs of slowing. It's so powerful that the federal government is responding by deploying anonymous troops in unmarked cars to cities across the nation.
Advertisement
That power shouldn't be wasted. It should be used to tell the world that our protest and our liberal values are the very embodiment of this country and its values. We need to keep repeating that, reminding people that we're marching because we love this land, just like Lewis always did. He showed us how we can have it both ways.
Dr. Hemal Sampat is a hospitalist at Massachusetts General Hospital and a Public Voices Fellow with The OpEd Project.


upi--2020-07-24--Unless Congress acts, $600 federal benefit, eviction shield expire Friday

July 24 ( UPI ) -- A pair of federal measures that were enacted in the spring to help Americans with financial hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic are set to expire on Friday .
Congress faces a deadline to extend enhanced federal unemployment benefits , which have given many unemployed an additional $ 600 per week .
The other provision set to expire Friday is a national moratorium that bars landlords from evicting millions of renters in public and federally subsidized housing .
The $ 600 per week payment was included in March 's CARES Act after lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to process sufficient payouts for the full amount of workers ' lost wages .
Congress , which can extend the benefits , is still negotiating a relief bill but lawmakers in the House and Senate remain far apart on a consensus aid package .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday that the Republican plan will be `` based on approximately 70 % wage replacement . ''
Under the GOP plan , the weekly payment would likely decrease to about $ 200 or $ 300 .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the lower chamber .
`` If we 're going to ratchet that down , it ought to be over time , '' she said .
Pelosi added that she plans to arrive at the bargaining table with `` a commitment to the $ 600 . ''
The Urban Institute estimates that 12.3 million U.S. households , or 30 % of renters nationwide , face possible eviction if Congress does n't extend the eviction moratorium and state-level policies expire .
The moratorium protects renters in federal housing and those who live in homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure expires , landlords will be able to issue 30-day notices to vacate and begin filing eviction paperwork by late August .
The House has already passed legislation to create a $ 100 billion rental assistance fund and Sen. Kamala Harris , D-Calif. , introduced a housing plan that would bar evictions and foreclosures for a year .
It would also give tenants as many as 18 months to make up missed payments .
The Republican plan in the Senate contains no provisions to support either plan .

Pennsylvania Avenue that runs between the White House and the U.S. Capitol is virtually empty of traffic on April 22, in Washington, D.C. Two measures passed by Congress to help Americans facing hardship are set to expire Friday, unless they're extended by lawmakers. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
July 24 (UPI) -- A pair of federal measures that were enacted in the spring to help Americans with financial hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic are set to expire on Friday. Congress faces a deadline to extend enhanced federal unemployment benefits, which have given many unemployed an additional $600 per week. The other provision set to expire Friday is a national moratorium that bars landlords from evicting millions of renters in public and federally subsidized housing. Advertisement
The $600 per week payment was included in March's CARES Act after lawmakers decided state unemployment systems would not be able to process sufficient payouts for the full amount of workers' lost wages.
Congress, which can extend the benefits, is still negotiating a relief bill but lawmakers in the House and Senate remain far apart on a consensus aid package.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday that the Republican plan will be "based on approximately 70% wage replacement." Under the GOP plan, the weekly payment would likely decrease to about $200 or $300.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the present incarnation of the GOP bill would fail in the lower chamber.
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"If we're going to ratchet that down, it ought to be over time," she said.
Pelosi added that she plans to arrive at the bargaining table with "a commitment to the $600."
The Urban Institute estimates that 12.3 million U.S. households, or 30% of renters nationwide, face possible eviction if Congress doesn't extend the eviction moratorium and state-level policies expire.
The moratorium protects renters in federal housing and those who live in homes with federally backed mortgages. Once the measure expires, landlords will be able to issue 30-day notices to vacate and begin filing eviction paperwork by late August.
The House has already passed legislation to create a $100 billion rental assistance fund and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., introduced a housing plan that would bar evictions and foreclosures for a year. It would also give tenants as many as 18 months to make up missed payments.
The Republican plan in the Senate contains no provisions to support either plan.


upi--2020-07-24--Charges dropped against Thailand’s Red Bull heir in deadly car crash

July 24 ( UPI ) -- All charges have been dropped against the Thai heir to the Red Bull energy drink empire who crashed into a police motorcycle in 2012 , killing an officer .
Vorayuth Yoovidhya , 35 , whose nickname is Boss , no longer faces charges , including reckless driving causing death , the Royal Thai Police said , according to the Bangkok Post .
`` The revocation of warrants is a normal procedure in the case , '' said Police Col. Kritsana Pattanacharoen .
According to Kritsana , the Department of Southern Bangkok Criminal Litigation decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remaining charge , reckless driving causing death , against Vorayuth , who delayed hearing charges seven times and even fled overseas for a time .
Statutes of limitations have expired on two previous charges , one for speeding and another for failing to stop and help a crash victim .
The latter charge expired on Sept. 3 , 2017 , five years after the fatal accident .
The remaining charge , reckless driving causing death , would have been in effect until 2027 , but was dropped Friday .
Kritsana blamed the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the early stages and did not question the decision of Thailand 's prosecution to drop the last charge .
`` Whether police oppose the prosecutors ' decision or not depends on the witnesses and evidence , not on social demand .
The officers who poorly handled the case in 2012 have already faced disciplinary action , '' the Thai police official said .
In previous testimony , Vorayuth had said he did hit the motorcycle but also said the bike had cut him off , CNN reported Friday .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's body along Sukhumvit Road before fleeing the scene of the crash .
Police later located Vorayuth 's car , a black Ferrari with a damaged hood and deployed air bags , at his mansion .
Following the accident in 2012 , Vorayuth was released on a bond of $ 16,000 .
His father is Thailand 's second-wealthiest person with a net worth of $ 20.2 billion .
The victim of the crash , police Sgt .
Maj. Wichien Klanprasert , was responding to a robbery call the night he died , according @ @ @

Vorayuth Yoovidhya, 35, heir to Thailand's Red Bull energy drink empire, no longer faces any charges from a fatal car crash in 2012. File Photo by EPA
July 24 (UPI) -- All charges have been dropped against the Thai heir to the Red Bull energy drink empire who crashed into a police motorcycle in 2012, killing an officer. Vorayuth Yoovidhya, 35, whose nickname is Boss, no longer faces charges, including reckless driving causing death, the Royal Thai Police said, according to the Bangkok Post. Advertisement
"The revocation of warrants is a normal procedure in the case," said Police Col. Kritsana Pattanacharoen.
According to Kritsana, the Department of Southern Bangkok Criminal Litigation decided in late June not to press the remaining charge, reckless driving causing death, against Vorayuth, who delayed hearing charges seven times and even fled overseas for a time.
Statutes of limitations have expired on two previous charges, one for speeding and another for failing to stop and help a crash victim. The latter charge expired on Sept. 3, 2017, five years after the fatal accident.
The remaining charge, reckless driving causing death, would have been in effect until 2027, but was dropped Friday.
Kritsana blamed the police force for their handling of the case at the early stages and did not question the decision of Thailand's prosecution to drop the last charge.
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"Whether police oppose the prosecutors' decision or not depends on the witnesses and evidence, not on social demand. The officers who poorly handled the case in 2012 have already faced disciplinary action," the Thai police official said.
In previous testimony, Vorayuth had said he did hit the motorcycle but also said the bike had cut him off, CNN reported Friday. According to the Bangkok Post, Vorayuth dragged the victim's body along Sukhumvit Road before fleeing the scene of the crash. Police later located Vorayuth's car, a black Ferrari with a damaged hood and deployed air bags, at his mansion.
Following the accident in 2012, Vorayuth was released on a bond of $16,000.
His father is Thailand's second-wealthiest person with a net worth of $20.2 billion.
The victim of the crash, police Sgt. Maj. Wichien Klanprasert, was responding to a robbery call the night he died, according to CNN.


upi--2020-07-24--Watch: Sean Hayes officiates a quarantine wedding on 'Kimmel'

July 24 ( UPI ) -- Sean Hayes surprised a nurse from Santa Maria , Calif. , with a quarantine wedding while guest hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live .
Hayes met with nurse Lucio Arguijo on Thursday who was the show 's latest # HealthCareHero .
Arguijo said that his wedding to his fiance Ian had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Hayes stated that he has become ordained as an internet minister and offered to officiate their wedding on air , which the couple agreed to .
The Will & Grace alum also sent rings to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail .
`` If I could give you one piece of advice guys it would be this , never go to bed angry okay .
Save that anger for people not wearing masks , '' Hayes said as he married the pair .
Arguijo and his new husband also received $ 10,000 from Life is Good .
Hayes also interviewed his friend Jason Bateman on Jimmy Kimmel Live .
Hayes and Bateman have started a new podcast with Will Arnett titled SmartLess .
Bateman discussed his experience working with the late Katharine Hepburn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Be Love .
The actor described a unique thing she did on set .
`` She wore Reebok high tops a hundred percent of the time but when she had to wear a dressy outfit , she would simply pull black socks over the top of these high tops , '' Bateman said .

July 24 (UPI) -- Sean Hayes surprised a nurse from Santa Maria, Calif., with a quarantine wedding while guest hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Hayes met with nurse Lucio Arguijo on Thursday who was the show's latest #HealthCareHero.
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Arguijo said that his wedding to his fiance Ian had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hayes stated that he has become ordained as an internet minister and offered to officiate their wedding on air, which the couple agreed to.
The Will & Grace alum also sent rings to the couple, which they received in the mail.
"If I could give you one piece of advice guys it would be this, never go to bed angry okay. Save that anger for people not wearing masks," Hayes said as he married the pair.
Arguijo and his new husband also received $10,000 from Life is Good.
Hayes also interviewed his friend Jason Bateman on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Hayes and Bateman have started a new podcast with Will Arnett titled SmartLess.
Bateman discussed his experience working with the late Katharine Hepburn on 1994 television movie This Can't Be Love. The actor described a unique thing she did on set.
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"She wore Reebok high tops a hundred percent of the time but when she had to wear a dressy outfit, she would simply pull black socks over the top of these high tops," Bateman said.


upi--2020-07-24--Judge bars federal police from targeting reporters, observers in Portland

July 24 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge has issued an order barring federal agents from arresting or using physical force against journalists and legal observers without just cause amid ongoing protests in Portland , Ore. U.S. District Judge Michael Simon on Thursday issued a temporary restraining order against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security , unidentified federal officers and others accused of intentionally targeting journalists and observers at protests in the city , which have gone on for nearly two months .
The class action suit was filed by the publishers of The Portland Mercury , a bi-weekly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American Civil Liberties Union .
Eight journalists in the suit say they were targeted by federal officers with non-lethal munitions and tear gas -- in one case at a location blocks away from the protest sites , even though they were committing no crimes .
In his 22-page order , Simon enjoined federal officers that were sent to Portland and other cities by the Trump administration from intentionally using force against journalists and photographers wearing a visible `` press '' insignia , as well as clearly identified legal observers , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also warned that violators will not be shielded from lawsuits under the `` qualified immunity '' doctrine .
Justice Department Attorney Andrew Warden had argued that federal officers ca n't readily distinguish press members from violent demonstrators under the conditions of a protest , and that reporters are guaranteed `` no special rights of access above and beyond the public . ''
`` The plaintiffs were identifiable as press , not engaging in unlawful activity or protesting , were not standing near protesters , and yet were subject to violence by federal agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the [ defendants ' ] arguments , this evidence does not support that the force used on plaintiffs were 'unintended consequences ' of crowd control . ''
The suit is separate from another filed by the ACLU this week that accuses local and federal law enforcement of targeting and attacking volunteer street medics during the protests in Portland .

July 24 (UPI) -- A federal judge has issued an order barring federal agents from arresting or using physical force against journalists and legal observers without just cause amid ongoing protests in Portland, Ore.
U.S. District Judge Michael Simon on Thursday issued a temporary restraining order against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, unidentified federal officers and others accused of intentionally targeting journalists and observers at protests in the city, which have gone on for nearly two months.
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The class action suit was filed by the publishers of The Portland Mercury, a bi-weekly alternative newspaper, and is supported by the American Civil Liberties Union.
Eight journalists in the suit say they were targeted by federal officers with non-lethal munitions and tear gas -- in one case at a location blocks away from the protest sites, even though they were committing no crimes.
In his 22-page order, Simon enjoined federal officers that were sent to Portland and other cities by the Trump administration from intentionally using force against journalists and photographers wearing a visible "press" insignia, as well as clearly identified legal observers, such as those sent by the ACLU.
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He also warned that violators will not be shielded from lawsuits under the "qualified immunity" doctrine.
Justice Department Attorney Andrew Warden had argued that federal officers can't readily distinguish press members from violent demonstrators under the conditions of a protest, and that reporters are guaranteed "no special rights of access above and beyond the public."
Simon, however, disagreed.
"The plaintiffs were identifiable as press, not engaging in unlawful activity or protesting, were not standing near protesters, and yet were subject to violence by federal agents," he wrote. "Contrary to the [defendants'] arguments, this evidence does not support that the force used on plaintiffs were 'unintended consequences' of crowd control."
The suit is separate from another filed by the ACLU this week that accuses local and federal law enforcement of targeting and attacking volunteer street medics during the protests in Portland.


upi--2020-07-24--Enrique Hernandez leads Dodgers past Giants

July 24 ( UPI ) -- Clayton Kershaw was scratched from his start and Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts combined for just two hits , but Enrique Hernandez provided plenty of spark to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers over the San Francisco Giants .
Hernandez went 4 for 5 with a home run and five RBIs in the 8-1 opening day victory Thursday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles .
`` I have put a lot of work in and try to stay consistent and not try to do too much , '' Hernandez told reporters .
`` That 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it paid off .
`` Hopefully I can have a few more of these days . ''
Ace pitcher Johnny Cueto started the game for the Giants .
Dustin May -- a 6-foot-6 right-hander -- got the last-minute start in place of Kershaw .
Pablo Sandoval gave the Giants an early edge with a sacrifice fly in the top of the third frame .
Hernandez then stepped to the plate and leveled the score in the bottom of the fourth inning .
The Dodgers second baseman smacked a fly ball to left field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Cueto .
The Giants ace left the game after that frame , but San Francisco 's bullpen kept the Dodgers quiet for the next two innings .
Los Angeles then erupted for five runs in the bottom of the seventh frame to take control of the rivalry clash .
Justin Turner brought in Betts on a fielder 's choice to give the Dodgers a 2-1 edge .
Hernandez followed with a two-run single before Austin Barnes raked another RBI single .
Max Muncy brought in the final run of the rally when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loaded .
Hernandez topped off his impressive performance with a home run in the bottom of the eighth frame .
Bellinger -- the reigning National League MVP -- began the frame with a pop out , which prompted Justin Turner to step into the batter 's box .
Turner lifted a 2-2 fastball to right field for a double .
Corey Seager then grounded out before Hernandez settled in for the fourth at-bat of the inning .
Giants relief pitcher Conner Menez threw consecutive balls to Hernandez before he worked the count even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an 80.4-mph curveball to the Dodgers infielder .
Hernandez hacked the offering to left field for a 338-foot , two-run homer .
`` We 're deep , '' Betts said .
`` Our lineup is just tough to get through without getting hit around a little bit .
`` We battled and grinded through the whole day and we put up some runs .
With the offense we have , we should win a lot of games if they only put up one .
Everybody contributes , not one person we rely on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May allowed 7 hits and one run in 4.1 innings .
Cueto allowed five hits and one run in four innings for the Giants .
Betts was 1 for 5 with a run scored .
Bellinger was 1 for 4 and had a walk .
Tyler Heineman , Alex Dickerson and Mike Yastrzemski each had two hits for the Giants .
The Dodgers and Giants battle in the second game of the series at 9:40 p.m. EDT Friday at Dodger Stadium .

1/3
Fans were forced to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants game from outside of Dodger Stadium Thursday due to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by Etienne Laurent/EPA-EFE
July 24 (UPI) -- Clayton Kershaw was scratched from his start and Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts combined for just two hits, but Enrique Hernandez provided plenty of spark to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers over the San Francisco Giants. Hernandez went 4 for 5 with a home run and five RBIs in the 8-1 opening day victory Thursday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Advertisement
"I have put a lot of work in and try to stay consistent and not try to do too much," Hernandez told reporters. "That's basically the approach I took tonight and it paid off.
"Hopefully I can have a few more of these days."
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Ace pitcher Johnny Cueto started the game for the Giants. Dustin May -- a 6-foot-6 right-hander -- got the last-minute start in place of Kershaw.
Pablo Sandoval gave the Giants an early edge with a sacrifice fly in the top of the third frame. Hernandez then stepped to the plate and leveled the score in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Dodgers second baseman smacked a fly ball to left field for an RBI single during that exchange with Cueto.
The Giants ace left the game after that frame, but San Francisco's bullpen kept the Dodgers quiet for the next two innings. Los Angeles then erupted for five runs in the bottom of the seventh frame to take control of the rivalry clash.
Justin Turner brought in Betts on a fielder's choice to give the Dodgers a 2-1 edge. Hernandez followed with a two-run single before Austin Barnes raked another RBI single. Max Muncy brought in the final run of the rally when he took a walk with the bases loaded.
Hernandez topped off his impressive performance with a home run in the bottom of the eighth frame.
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Bellinger -- the reigning National League MVP -- began the frame with a pop out, which prompted Justin Turner to step into the batter's box. Turner lifted a 2-2 fastball to right field for a double. Corey Seager then grounded out before Hernandez settled in for the fourth at-bat of the inning.
Giants relief pitcher Conner Menez threw consecutive balls to Hernandez before he worked the count even at 2-2. He then lofted in an 80.4-mph curveball to the Dodgers infielder. Hernandez hacked the offering to left field for a 338-foot, two-run homer.
"We're deep," Betts said. "Our lineup is just tough to get through without getting hit around a little bit.
"We battled and grinded through the whole day and we put up some runs. With the offense we have, we should win a lot of games if they only put up one. Everybody contributes, not one person we rely on, everybody passing the baton."
May allowed 7 hits and one run in 4.1 innings. Cueto allowed five hits and one run in four innings for the Giants. Betts was 1 for 5 with a run scored. Bellinger was 1 for 4 and had a walk. Tyler Heineman, Alex Dickerson and Mike Yastrzemski each had two hits for the Giants.
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The Dodgers and Giants battle in the second game of the series at 9:40 p.m. EDT Friday at Dodger Stadium.
Baseball kicks off with preseason training


upi--2020-07-24--Iran says U.S. warplanes harassed commercial flight over Syria

July 24 ( UPI ) -- Iran says a pair of U.S. warplanes harassed an Iranian airliner after it left Tehran late Thursday bound for Lebanon .
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Friday that the incident involving U.S. warplanes and Mahan Air Flight 1152 was `` under investigation . ''
`` Due political and legal measures will be taken upon completion of the information at hand , '' Mousavi said .
Officials said Flight 1152 was in Syrian air space in the al-Tanf region , where the United States has an airbase .
State-run Islamic Republic of Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were `` provocative and dangerous '' because they forced the jetliner down to a lower altitude .
Iranian officials said several passengers were injured and at least one was knocked unconscious .
Some passengers saw the warplanes flying next to the airliner , according to IRIB .
Navy Capt .
Bill Urban , a spokesman for U.S. Central Command , said one American F-15 was on a routine air mission and performed a standard visual inspection of the passenger airliner at a `` safe distance '' of about 3,280 feet .
`` Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Mahan Air passenger plane , the F-15 safely opened distance from the aircraft , '' Urban said in a statement .
`` The professional intercept was conducted in accordance with international standards . ''

Two U.S. Air Force F-15 Strike Eagles fly in formation over an undisclosed location on October 10, 2019. File Photo by U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Matthew Lotz/UPI
July 24 (UPI) -- Iran says a pair of U.S. warplanes harassed an Iranian airliner after it left Tehran late Thursday bound for Lebanon. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Friday that the incident involving U.S. warplanes and Mahan Air Flight 1152 was "under investigation." Advertisement
"Due political and legal measures will be taken upon completion of the information at hand," Mousavi said.
Officials said Flight 1152 was in Syrian air space in the al-Tanf region, where the United States has an airbase.
State-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting News said the warplanes' actions were "provocative and dangerous" because they forced the jetliner down to a lower altitude.
Iranian officials said several passengers were injured and at least one was knocked unconscious. Some passengers saw the warplanes flying next to the airliner, according to IRIB.
Navy Capt. Bill Urban, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said one American F-15 was on a routine air mission and performed a standard visual inspection of the passenger airliner at a "safe distance" of about 3,280 feet.
"Once the F-15 pilot identified the aircraft as a Mahan Air passenger plane, the F-15 safely opened distance from the aircraft," Urban said in a statement. "The professional intercept was conducted in accordance with international standards."
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upi--2020-07-24--Watch: Taylor Swift plays in the forest in 'Cardigan,' releases new album

July 24 ( UPI ) -- Taylor Swift has released her eighth studio album titled Folklore , alongside a music video for her latest single , `` Cardigan . ''
She released the music video and album at midnight on Friday .
Swift begins the clip by playing on an old piano inside a cabin .
The singer walks into the piano and ends up in a forest where she continues to play .
Swift is also transported to the middle of the ocean before returning to the cabin .
`` And when I felt like I was an old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me on and said I was your favorite , '' Swift sings on the track .
Swift previously said that the music video shoot was overseen by a medical inspector and that everyone wore masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Folklore contains 16 tracks and is available on music streaming services such as Spotify , Apple Music , Amazon Music , Pandora , Soundcloud , Tidal and Deezer .
Swift also released lyrics videos for each song on your YouTube channel .
Swift surprise announced Folklore on Thursday .
The album follows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and contained the singles `` Me !
, '' `` You Need to Calm Down , '' and `` The Man . ''

July 24 (UPI) -- Taylor Swift has released her eighth studio album titled Folklore, alongside a music video for her latest single, "Cardigan."
She released the music video and album at midnight on Friday.
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Swift begins the clip by playing on an old piano inside a cabin. The singer walks into the piano and ends up in a forest where she continues to play.
Swift is also transported to the middle of the ocean before returning to the cabin.
"And when I felt like I was an old cardigan/ Under someone's bed/ You put me on and said I was your favorite," Swift sings on the track.
Swift previously said that the music video shoot was overseen by a medical inspector and that everyone wore masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Folklore contains 16 tracks and is available on music streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, Soundcloud, Tidal and Deezer.
Swift also released lyrics videos for each song on your YouTube channel.
Swift surprise announced Folklore on Thursday. The album follows Lover which was released in August 2019 and contained the singles "Me!," "You Need to Calm Down," and "The Man."


upi--2020-07-24--Originally set to open Friday, 2020 Tokyo Olympics hope to return in a year

July 24 ( UPI ) -- Tokyo 's Olympic Stadium will sit empty Friday -- the day thousands were supposed to descend on the venue for the 2020 Summer Games -- marking the first time since World War II that the sporting event will not begin as scheduled .
Instead of hosting a big , flashy opening ceremony , the stadium was the site of a small event Wednesday to mark the one-year countdown until the new start of the rescheduled Games -- July 23 , 2021 .
Before this year , the Olympics have been canceled three times in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War I in 1916 and twice during World War II , in 1940 and 1944 .
Also , this is n't the first time Japan has had to cancel as host city .
The country was supposed to host the 1940 Summer and Winter Olympics -- back when the two were held in the same years -- but gave up its rights to do so when it declared war on China in 1937 .
Helsinki , Finland , was chosen as the new host city , but that event also fell through with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany was supposed to host the 1916 Games while London and Italy were on deck for the 1944 Summer and Winter Games , respectively .
Thousands of athletes from around the globe stayed home this week , continuing to practice for the delayed competition , some having to improvise their workout routines as gyms have been shuttered to stem the spread of the coronavirus .
The International Olympic Committee postponed this year 's Games in March , when COVID-19 began piling up in China and Italy .
The pandemic would soon envelop much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and South America the new epicenters of the disease .
To date , there have been more than 15.5 million coronavirus cases worldwide and 633,600 deaths , according to updated figures Friday from researchers at Johns Hopkins University in the United States .
Japan is way down the list for total cases , 56th , with 28,500 and 992 deaths .
By comparison , the United States leads all nations with 4.04 million cases and 144,300 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins data .
The spread of the disease prompted governments to cancel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases issue stay-home orders , requiring all non-essential businesses to close .
The IOC said in May it anticipates the postponement of the 2020 Games will cost the organization an additional $ 800 million in expenses .
Instead of welcoming an influx of visitors and tourist dollars on Thursday , the day before the opening ceremony on the original calendar , the capital city instead recorded its largest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases -- 366 -- topping the 300 mark for the first time .
The spike has local officials concerned about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's a significant number , '' Tokyo Gov .
Yuriko Koike told reporters .
`` I think we can consider this to be a warning that stronger public cooperation is needed '' to halt the spread of the virus .
The spike in cases came one day after Japan launched its Go To Travel campaign to encourage tourism nationwide .
Thursday marked the start of a four-day holiday weekend .
Under the program , the government plans to subsidize up to half of travel expenses , as much as $ 12.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is n't , however , covering any travel to and from Tokyo due to the rising number of cases there .
Despite the slow return to tourism in their country this week , most Japanese now say they do n't want to host the Summer Olympics .
According to a poll conducted by Kyodo news agency last week , 34 % said they oppose Tokyo staging the Games , while a little more than 36 % said they 'd prefer another delay .
Less than a quarter of respondents said they 're looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Of those who want the Games canceled or delayed further , about three-quarters said so because they believe the coronavirus ca n't be contained before then .
Thirteen percent said their primary concern is that Japan should instead focus on fighting the virus , and 6 % cited concern for the additional costs .

1/3
People gather to take photos Friday at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Friday. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
July 24 (UPI) -- Tokyo's Olympic Stadium will sit empty Friday -- the day thousands were supposed to descend on the venue for the 2020 Summer Games -- marking the first time since World War II that the sporting event will not begin as scheduled. Instead of hosting a big, flashy opening ceremony, the stadium was the site of a small event Wednesday to mark the one-year countdown until the new start of the rescheduled Games -- July 23, 2021. Advertisement
Before this year, the Olympics have been canceled three times in the modern era, once during World War I in 1916 and twice during World War II, in 1940 and 1944.
Also, this isn't the first time Japan has had to cancel as host city. The country was supposed to host the 1940 Summer and Winter Olympics -- back when the two were held in the same years -- but gave up its rights to do so when it declared war on China in 1937. Helsinki, Finland, was chosen as the new host city, but that event also fell through with Hitler's 1939 invasion of Poland.
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Germany was supposed to host the 1916 Games while London and Italy were on deck for the 1944 Summer and Winter Games, respectively.
Thousands of athletes from around the globe stayed home this week, continuing to practice for the delayed competition, some having to improvise their workout routines as gyms have been shuttered to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
The International Olympic Committee postponed this year's Games in March, when COVID-19 began piling up in China and Italy. The pandemic would soon envelop much of Europe before making the United States and South America the new epicenters of the disease.
To date, there have been more than 15.5 million coronavirus cases worldwide and 633,600 deaths, according to updated figures Friday from researchers at Johns Hopkins University in the United States. Japan is way down the list for total cases, 56th, with 28,500 and 992 deaths. By comparison, the United States leads all nations with 4.04 million cases and 144,300 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins data.
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The spread of the disease prompted governments to cancel large, public gatherings and in some cases issue stay-home orders, requiring all non-essential businesses to close. The IOC said in May it anticipates the postponement of the 2020 Games will cost the organization an additional $800 million in expenses.
Instead of welcoming an influx of visitors and tourist dollars on Thursday, the day before the opening ceremony on the original calendar, the capital city instead recorded its largest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases -- 366 -- topping the 300 mark for the first time. The spike has local officials concerned about a potential second wave of the virus.
"It's a significant number," Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike told reporters. "I think we can consider this to be a warning that stronger public cooperation is needed" to halt the spread of the virus.
The spike in cases came one day after Japan launched its Go To Travel campaign to encourage tourism nationwide. Thursday marked the start of a four-day holiday weekend.
Under the program, the government plans to subsidize up to half of travel expenses, as much as $12.6 billion. The Go To Travel program isn't, however, covering any travel to and from Tokyo due to the rising number of cases there.
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Despite the slow return to tourism in their country this week, most Japanese now say they don't want to host the Summer Olympics. According to a poll conducted by Kyodo news agency last week, 34% said they oppose Tokyo staging the Games, while a little more than 36% said they'd prefer another delay. Less than a quarter of respondents said they're looking forward to the Summer Olympics next year.
Of those who want the Games canceled or delayed further, about three-quarters said so because they believe the coronavirus can't be contained before then. Thirteen percent said their primary concern is that Japan should instead focus on fighting the virus, and 6% cited concern for the additional costs.


upi--2020-07-24--CDC releases guidelines for schools to reopen

July 24 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released guidelines for schools to reopen in the fall amid the coronavirus pandemic , placing emphasis on in-person lessons .
Dr. Robert R. Redfield , director of the CDC , tweeted out the guidelines Thursday , stating school closures have not only disrupted normal ways of life but have also had negative health consequences on youth .
`` It is critically important for our public health to open schools this fall , '' he said .
`` CDC resources will help parents , teachers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school year begins . ''
The CDC argues that schools not only support learning but also help mitigate health disparities by providing critical services , such as school meal programs and social , physical , behavioral and mental health services .
Keeping schools closed , it said , disrupts children from receiving these supports .
The guidelines also state that data shows children appear to be at a lower risk of contracting the deadly and infectious coronavirus compared to adults and those who do contract it generally suffer from less serious illness .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 10-17 appear more likely to contract the virus , but they `` do not appear to be at higher risk of developing severe illness , '' it said .
Concerning community transmission of the virus following schools reopening , the CDC said evidence `` is mixed '' as some countries that restarted academics saw cases increase while others experienced a drop in infections .
The CDC said that while opening schools does pose a risk for spreading COVID-19 they play a role in the wellbeing of communities and provide critical instruction and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' social , emotional and mental health .
`` Schools are an important part of the infrastructure of communities , and they provide safe , supportive learning environments for students , employ teachers and other staff , and enable parents , guardians and caregivers to work , '' the CDC said in the guidelines .
`` The unique and critical role that schools play makes them a priority for opening and remaining open , enabling students to receive both academic instruction and support as well as critical services . ''
The guidelines suggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay informed about transmission of the virus in their communities , prepare for potential COVID-19 cases and to maintain regular communication with families , staff and other community partners .
The guidelines were published following President Donald Trump saying earlier this month that the resumption of classes is a top priority , threatening to defund schools that remain closed .

Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said it is important for schools to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic as they offer the community a slew of benefits. Pool Photo by Saul Loeb/UPI | License Photo
July 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released guidelines for schools to reopen in the fall amid the coronavirus pandemic, placing emphasis on in-person lessons. Dr. Robert R. Redfield, director of the CDC, tweeted out the guidelines Thursday, stating school closures have not only disrupted normal ways of life but have also had negative health consequences on youth. Advertisement
"It is critically important for our public health to open schools this fall," he said. "CDC resources will help parents, teachers and administrators make practical safety-focused decisions as this school year begins."
The CDC argues that schools not only support learning but also help mitigate health disparities by providing critical services, such as school meal programs and social, physical, behavioral and mental health services. Keeping schools closed, it said, disrupts children from receiving these supports.
The guidelines also state that data shows children appear to be at a lower risk of contracting the deadly and infectious coronavirus compared to adults and those who do contract it generally suffer from less serious illness.
Among children, adolescents between the ages of 10-17 appear more likely to contract the virus, but they "do not appear to be at higher risk of developing severe illness," it said.
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Concerning community transmission of the virus following schools reopening, the CDC said evidence "is mixed" as some countries that restarted academics saw cases increase while others experienced a drop in infections.
The CDC said that while opening schools does pose a risk for spreading COVID-19 they play a role in the wellbeing of communities and provide critical instruction and academic support as well as support students' social, emotional and mental health.
"Schools are an important part of the infrastructure of communities, and they provide safe, supportive learning environments for students, employ teachers and other staff, and enable parents, guardians and caregivers to work," the CDC said in the guidelines. "The unique and critical role that schools play makes them a priority for opening and remaining open, enabling students to receive both academic instruction and support as well as critical services."
The guidelines suggest schools coordinate with local public health officials to stay informed about transmission of the virus in their communities, prepare for potential COVID-19 cases and to maintain regular communication with families, staff and other community partners.
The guidelines were published following President Donald Trump saying earlier this month that the resumption of classes is a top priority, threatening to defund schools that remain closed.


upi--2020-07-24--Gov. Tim Walz signs Minnesota police reform bill into law

July 24 ( UPI ) -- Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz signed into a law police reforms following weeks of protests in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer .
The bipartisan Minnesota Police Accountability Act , which passed the Democratic-led House and the Republican-led Senate earlier this week , provides for mental health and crisis intervention training for officers , mandates monthly reports for each use of force incident and bans so-called warrior training and chokeholds , like the one former officer Derek Chauvin used on Floyd .
The law also creates a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers to intervene when another officer uses force beyond what is reasonable and a slew of types of training .
`` Every single person , every single Minnesotan deserves to feel safe and protected in their communities , '' the Democratic governor said during a press conference Thursday .
`` This bipartisan piece of legislation moves us toward criminal justice reform .
These critical reforms are long overdue -- they are meant to strengthen transparency and community oversight . ''
The bill was led by the Minnesota Legislature 's People of Color and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly two months after it was introduced following Floyd 's Memorial Day killing .
Floyd , an unarmed Black man , was killed May 25 , when Chauvin , a White officer , pinned him to the ground with a knee to his neck for more than eight minutes .
His death spurred protests against police brutality and racial inequality nationwide .
Rep. Carlos Mariani said after the Minnesota legislature passed the bill on Monday that it was the start of making overdue changes to the state to help ensure no more lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By passing this bill into law , we 're taking the first steps toward major changes to hold police officers accountable for harmful acts , and we are committed to continuing our work for safer communities , '' he said in a statement .

Protests nationwide erupted calling for police reforms following the Memorial Day police-involved killing of George Floyd. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 24 (UPI) -- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed into a law police reforms following weeks of protests in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. The bipartisan Minnesota Police Accountability Act, which passed the Democratic-led House and the Republican-led Senate earlier this week, provides for mental health and crisis intervention training for officers, mandates monthly reports for each use of force incident and bans so-called warrior training and chokeholds, like the one former officer Derek Chauvin used on Floyd. Advertisement
The law also creates a new advisory council with citizen input, mandates officers to intervene when another officer uses force beyond what is reasonable and a slew of types of training.
"Every single person, every single Minnesotan deserves to feel safe and protected in their communities," the Democratic governor said during a press conference Thursday. "This bipartisan piece of legislation moves us toward criminal justice reform. These critical reforms are long overdue -- they are meant to strengthen transparency and community oversight."
The bill was led by the Minnesota Legislature's People of Color and Indigenous Caucus and was signed into law nearly two months after it was introduced following Floyd's Memorial Day killing.
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Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed May 25, when Chauvin, a White officer, pinned him to the ground with a knee to his neck for more than eight minutes.
His death spurred protests against police brutality and racial inequality nationwide.
Rep. Carlos Mariani said after the Minnesota legislature passed the bill on Monday that it was the start of making overdue changes to the state to help ensure no more lives are lost to police violence.
"By passing this bill into law, we're taking the first steps toward major changes to hold police officers accountable for harmful acts, and we are committed to continuing our work for safer communities," he said in a statement.
Protesters demand justice in police killing of George Floyd


upi--2020-07-24--Stalking, harassment common in teen relationships

Nearly half of U.S. teens have been stalked or harassed by a partner or done the deed themselves , a new study finds .
`` These victimization and perpetration numbers are unacceptably high , '' said study author Emily Rothman , a professor of community health sciences at Boston University 's School of Public Health .
`` Unfortunately , they are in line with estimates of similar problems like dating and sexual violence victimization , so they are both shocking and unsurprising at the same time , '' Rothman said in a university news release .
The study included 148 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 18 , who were in relationships or had been in relationships in the past year .
The teens were asked if a partner had ever followed or spied on them , damaged something of theirs , or gone through their online accounts .
The teens were also asked if they 'd ever done any of these things to a partner .
The researchers found that 46.5 % of boys and nearly 51 % of girls said they 'd stalked or harassed a partner , and about 45 % of boys and 51 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these things to them .
Among boys , having worse relationships with parents and living in neighborhoods with higher rates of violent crime were associated with a higher chance of stalking or harassing a partner , the findings showed .
Among girls , being in relationships at a younger age , living in neighborhoods with higher rates of violent crime , using marijuana and using alcohol were associated with a greater likelihood of victimization and perpetration .
Hispanic boys and Black girls had higher rates of both victimization and perpetration , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journal Youth and Society .
Previous research shows that harassing and stalking behaviors can lead to physical violence .
But non-physical dating abuse needs to be recognized as real and harmful in its own right , especially during the coronavirus pandemic , Rothman added .
`` Adolescents have already been fully aware of how harmful online forms of abuse can be -- that it 's valid to be interested in that and to try to address it , '' she said .
`` COVID has in some ways made parents , teachers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now , that what we do online matters and is fully part of our real lives . ''
The findings show that dating abuse is shaped by forces larger than the individual , Rothman noted .
`` We know from intervention research that the way to prevent stalking and harassment , or sexual and dating violence , is partly about addressing how young people think about relationships , gender norms , and improving their social-emotional skills , but these are also influenced by the context in which they are operating , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism , poverty , homophobia , misogyny and disability-related discrimination is part of the solution , too , '' Rothman added .
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers advice for teens on healthy relationships .

Nearly half of U.S. teens have been stalked or harassed by a partner or done the deed themselves, a new study finds.
"These victimization and perpetration numbers are unacceptably high," said study author Emily Rothman, a professor of community health sciences at Boston University's School of Public Health.
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"Unfortunately, they are in line with estimates of similar problems like dating and sexual violence victimization, so they are both shocking and unsurprising at the same time," Rothman said in a university news release.
The study included 148 boys and 172 girls, aged 12 to 18, who were in relationships or had been in relationships in the past year. The teens were asked if a partner had ever followed or spied on them, damaged something of theirs, or gone through their online accounts. The teens were also asked if they'd ever done any of these things to a partner.
The researchers found that 46.5% of boys and nearly 51% of girls said they'd stalked or harassed a partner, and about 45% of boys and 51% of girls reported a partner doing these things to them.
Among boys, having worse relationships with parents and living in neighborhoods with higher rates of violent crime were associated with a higher chance of stalking or harassing a partner, the findings showed.
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Among girls, being in relationships at a younger age, living in neighborhoods with higher rates of violent crime, using marijuana and using alcohol were associated with a greater likelihood of victimization and perpetration.
Hispanic boys and Black girls had higher rates of both victimization and perpetration, according to the study published online recently in the journal Youth and Society.
Previous research shows that harassing and stalking behaviors can lead to physical violence.
But non-physical dating abuse needs to be recognized as real and harmful in its own right, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, Rothman added.
"Adolescents have already been fully aware of how harmful online forms of abuse can be -- that it's valid to be interested in that and to try to address it," she said. "COVID has in some ways made parents, teachers and other adults more willing to see, right now, that what we do online matters and is fully part of our real lives."
The findings show that dating abuse is shaped by forces larger than the individual, Rothman noted.
"We know from intervention research that the way to prevent stalking and harassment, or sexual and dating violence, is partly about addressing how young people think about relationships, gender norms, and improving their social-emotional skills, but these are also influenced by the context in which they are operating," she said.
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"So, addressing racism, poverty, homophobia, misogyny and disability-related discrimination is part of the solution, too," Rothman added.
More information
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers advice for teens on healthy relationships.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-07-24--MLB openers, women's soccer championship highlight weekend sports schedule

July 24 ( UPI ) -- All 30 MLB teams will be in action , and the National Women 's Soccer League will play a championship game this weekend to boost the weekend sports schedule in the United States .
The 60-game MLB regular season began Thursday night and will run through October .
The Washington Nationals , New York Yankees , Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants took the field Thursday , while 24 teams will have their opening-day games Friday .
Fourteen games are scheduled for Saturday and 12 on Sunday .
In addition to baseball and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schedule also features NBA scrimmages , a PGA Tour tournament and a UFC Fight .
Thursday 's MLB slate included a wealth of pitching talent , with Max Scherzer , Gerrit Cole , Clayton Kershaw and Johnny Cueto on the mound as the aces for their respective teams .
Most of the matchups Saturday and Sunday are divisional clashes .
The Milwaukee Brewers will battle the Chicago Cubs in the first game at 1:05 p.m. EDT on Saturday .
The Baltimore Orioles take on the Boston Red Sox in the next game at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cardinals then host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 2:15 p.m. EDT .
The Toronto Blue Jays have a 3:10 p.m. EDT start pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays .
A dozen MLB squads will take the field for first pitches between 4:05 and 4:10 p.m. EDT Saturday .
The Nationals will host the Yankees in the second game of their three-game series at 7:15 p.m. EDT .
The Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres end Saturday 's slate with a 9:10 p.m. EDT first pitch .
Some of Sunday 's best matchups should include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cubs , the Colorado Rockies at the Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves at the New York Mets .
Top players from the National Women 's Soccer League will compete in the NWSL Challenge Cup championship game at 12:30 p.m. EDT Sunday .
The Houston Dash will take on the Chicago Red Stars in the final game of the tournament in Utah .
The game will air on CBS .
United States Women 's National Team stars Julie Ertz and Naeher also are Red Stars teammates .
Ertz will patrol the midfield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sixteen teams will battle in the MLS Is Back Tournament knockout stage , which starts Saturday in Orlando , Fla .
The winner of each matchup will advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament .
The MLS Is Back Tournament began July 8 and concludes with an Aug. 11 championship game .
Orlando City SC will face the Montreal Impact in the first round of 16 matchup at 8 p.m. EDT Saturday .
The Philadelphia Union will play the New England Revolution in the next game at 10:30 p.m. EDT Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ each play in round of 16 matchups Sunday , but their opponents have n't been determined .
The knockout stage continues Sunday and Monday , with games airing on ESPN , ESPN and FS1 .
NBA players are on the same ESPN Wide World of Sports complex as MLS players in Orlando , Fla. , but the leagues ' venues and hotels are separated .
The NBA 's resumed season does n't get underway until July 30 .
Fans can watch the teams early as they participate in preseason action this weekend in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Orlando Magic at noon EDT Saturday .
The Miami Heat battle the Utah Jazz at 4 p.m. EDT Saturday .
Sunday 's slate includes a quadruple-header , which starts with the Philadelphia 76ers in a noon EDT preseason clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder .
The Indianapolis Pacers then have a 4 p.m. EDT matchup against the Dallas Mavericks .
The Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors have a game at 6 p.m. EDT Sunday .
The Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies will take the floor at 8 p.m. EDT Sunday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBA TV .
3M Open : The third-round featured groups canbe seen from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT on PGA Tour Live ; 1 to 3 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel ; and 3 to 6 p.m. EDT on CBS .
Brewers at Cubs at 1:05 p.m. EDT on Fox Giants at Dodgers at 4:10 p.m. EDT on Fox Yankees at Nationals at 7:15 p.m. EDT on Fox Diamondbacks at Padres at 9:10 p.m. EDT on FS1 MLS Is Back Tournament : Orlando City SC vs. Montreal Impact at 8 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution at 10:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN2 Alex Oliveira vs. Peter Sobotta after first fight Paul Craig vs. Gadzhimurad Antigulov after second fight Carla Esparza vs. Marina Rodriguez after third fight Mauricio Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira after fifth fight 3M Open : Fourth round featured groups from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT on PGA Tour Live ; 1 to 3 p.m. EDT on Golf Channel ; 3 to 6 p.m. EDT on CBS Yankees at Nationals at 1:05 p.m. EDT on TBS Angels at Athletics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Braves at Mets at 7:08 p.m. EDT on ESPN Giants at Dodgers at 10:08 p.m. EDT on ESPN NWSL Challenge Cup championship : Houston Dash vs. Chicago Red Stars at 12:30 p.m. EDT on CBS MLS Is Back Tournament : Toronto FC vs. TBD at 8:30 p.m. EDT on FS1 MLS Is Back Tournament : Sporting KC vs. TBD at 11 p.m. EDT on FS1

Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees will battle the World Series champion Washington Nationals in the final two games of a three-game series this weekend at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
July 24 (UPI) -- All 30 MLB teams will be in action, and the National Women's Soccer League will play a championship game this weekend to boost the weekend sports schedule in the United States. The 60-game MLB regular season began Thursday night and will run through October. The Washington Nationals, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants took the field Thursday, while 24 teams will have their opening-day games Friday. Advertisement
Fourteen games are scheduled for Saturday and 12 on Sunday.
In addition to baseball and soccer, this weekend's live sports schedule also features NBA scrimmages, a PGA Tour tournament and a UFC Fight.
Baseball is back
Thursday's MLB slate included a wealth of pitching talent, with Max Scherzer, Gerrit Cole, Clayton Kershaw and Johnny Cueto on the mound as the aces for their respective teams.
Most of the matchups Saturday and Sunday are divisional clashes. The Milwaukee Brewers will battle the Chicago Cubs in the first game at 1:05 p.m. EDT on Saturday. The Baltimore Orioles take on the Boston Red Sox in the next game at 1:35 p.m. EDT. The St. Louis Cardinals then host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 2:15 p.m. EDT. The Toronto Blue Jays have a 3:10 p.m. EDT start pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays.
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A dozen MLB squads will take the field for first pitches between 4:05 and 4:10 p.m. EDT Saturday. The Nationals will host the Yankees in the second game of their three-game series at 7:15 p.m. EDT. The Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres end Saturday's slate with a 9:10 p.m. EDT first pitch.
Some of Sunday's best matchups should include the Yankees-Nationals finale, the Brewers against the Cubs, the Colorado Rockies at the Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves at the New York Mets.
Soccer tournaments heat up
Top players from the National Women's Soccer League will compete in the NWSL Challenge Cup championship game at 12:30 p.m. EDT Sunday. The Houston Dash will take on the Chicago Red Stars in the final game of the tournament in Utah. The game will air on CBS.
United States Women's National Team stars Julie Ertz and Naeher also are Red Stars teammates. Ertz will patrol the midfield against the Dash while Naeher plays goalie.
Sixteen teams will battle in the MLS Is Back Tournament knockout stage, which starts Saturday in Orlando, Fla. The winner of each matchup will advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament. The MLS Is Back Tournament began July 8 and concludes with an Aug. 11 championship game.
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Orlando City SC will face the Montreal Impact in the first round of 16 matchup at 8 p.m. EDT Saturday. The Philadelphia Union will play the New England Revolution in the next game at 10:30 p.m. EDT Saturday. Sporting Kansas City and Toronto FC will each play in round of 16 matchups Sunday, but their opponents haven't been determined.
The knockout stage continues Sunday and Monday, with games airing on ESPN, ESPN and FS1.
NBA scrimmages
NBA players are on the same ESPN Wide World of Sports complex as MLS players in Orlando, Fla., but the leagues' venues and hotels are separated. The NBA's resumed season doesn't get underway until July 30.
Fans can watch the teams early as they participate in preseason action this weekend in Orlando. The Los Angeles Lakers face the Orlando Magic at noon EDT Saturday. The Miami Heat battle the Utah Jazz at 4 p.m. EDT Saturday.
Sunday's slate includes a quadruple-header, which starts with the Philadelphia 76ers in a noon EDT preseason clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Indianapolis Pacers then have a 4 p.m. EDT matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors have a game at 6 p.m. EDT Sunday. The Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies will take the floor at 8 p.m. EDT Sunday in Orlando.
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The games will air on NBA TV.
Saturday
Golf
3M Open: The third-round featured groups canbe seen from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT on PGA Tour Live; 1 to 3 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel; and 3 to 6 p.m. EDT on CBS.
Baseball
Brewers at Cubs at 1:05 p.m. EDT on Fox
Giants at Dodgers at 4:10 p.m. EDT on Fox
Yankees at Nationals at 7:15 p.m. EDT on Fox
Diamondbacks at Padres at 9:10 p.m. EDT on FS1
Soccer
MLS Is Back Tournament: Orlando City SC vs. Montreal Impact at 8 p.m. EDT on ESPN2
MLS Is Back Tournament: Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution at 10:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN2
Basketball on NBATV
Lakers vs. Magic at noon EDT
Heat vs. Jazz at 4 p.m. EDT
UFC Fight Night on ESPN
Rhys McKee vs. Khamzat Chimaev at 8 p.m. EDT
Alex Oliveira vs. Peter Sobotta after first fight
Paul Craig vs. Gadzhimurad Antigulov after second fight
Carla Esparza vs. Marina Rodriguez after third fight
Fabricio Werdum vs. Alexander Gustafsson after fourth fight
Mauricio Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira after fifth fight
Robert Whittaker vs. Darren Till after sixth fight
Sunday
Golf
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3M Open: Fourth round featured groups from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT on PGA Tour Live; 1 to 3 p.m. EDT on Golf Channel; 3 to 6 p.m. EDT on CBS
Baseball
Yankees at Nationals at 1:05 p.m. EDT on TBS
Angels at Athletics at 4:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network
Braves at Mets at 7:08 p.m. EDT on ESPN
Giants at Dodgers at 10:08 p.m. EDT on ESPN
Soccer
NWSL Challenge Cup championship: Houston Dash vs. Chicago Red Stars at 12:30 p.m. EDT on CBS
MLS Is Back Tournament: Toronto FC vs. TBD at 8:30 p.m. EDT on FS1
MLS Is Back Tournament: Sporting KC vs. TBD at 11 p.m. EDT on FS1
Basketball on NBATV
76ers vs. Thunder at noon EDT
Pacers at Mavericks at 4 p.m. EDT
Blazers vs. Raptors at 6 p.m. EDT
Rockets vs. Grizzlies at 8 p.m. EDT
Baseball kicks off with preseason training


upi--2020-07-24--On This Day, July 24: Apollo 11 astronauts splash down

July 24 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1679 , New Hampshire became a royal colony of the British crown .
In 1847 , after 17 months and many miles of travel , Brigham Young led 148 Mormon pioneers into Utah 's Valley of the Great Salt Lake .
In 1956 , Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis performed together for the last time on stage at the Copacabana in New York City .
In his 2005 memoir , Lewis described his former partner as one of the greatest comedic talents of all time .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ending its historic moon-landing mission .
After the spacecraft 's splashdown in the Pacific Ocean , astronauts Neil Armstrong , Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were flown by helicopter to the recovery ship USS Hornet .
In 1974 , the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Richard Nixon should surrender White House tapes for the criminal trials of his former associates .
In 1983 , George Brett of the Kansas City Royals had a home run nullified in the `` Pine Tar Incident '' after New York Yankees Manager Billy Martin had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Royals filed a protest and the home run was later reinstated .
In 1998 , a gunman opened fire at the Capitol in Washington , killing two police officers and wounding a tourist .
Police shot the gunman , Russell Eugene Weston Jr. , who survived .
He was later charged with murder and has been confined to a psychiatric institution .
In 2002 , the U.S. House of Representatives expelled Rep. James Traficant , an Ohio Democrat , by a vote of 420-1 .
Traficant , who had been convicted of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven years in prison .
In 2005 , Lance Armstrong won a record seventh consecutive Tour de France .
All seven wins were voided in 2012 after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency concluded he had used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career .
In 2009 , an increase in the federal minimum wage , from $ 6.55 to $ 7.25 an hour , went into effect .
Representatives of small businesses said the increase would threaten their survival .
In 2011 , hundreds of gay couples in formal suits and gowns , and T-shirts recited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and largest state to recognize same-sex weddings .
In 2014 , an Air Algerie plane carrying 118 people dropped from radar en route to Algiers from Ouagadougou , the capital of the West African country of Burkina Faso , and crashed in Mali .
There were no survivors .
In 2019 , the Federal Trade Commission charged Facebook a record-breaking $ 5 billion penalty for violating a 2012 order related to fooling users about their ability to control the privacy of their personal information .

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Pararescueman Lt. Clancy Hatleberg closes the Apollo 11 spacecraft hatch as astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin, Jr. await a helicopter pickup from their life raft after they splashed down 900 miles southwest of Hawaii on July 24, 1969. File Photo courtesy NASA | License Photo
July 24 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1679, New Hampshire became a royal colony of the British crown. Advertisement
In 1847, after 17 months and many miles of travel, Brigham Young led 148 Mormon pioneers into Utah's Valley of the Great Salt Lake.
In 1956, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis performed together for the last time on stage at the Copacabana in New York City. In his 2005 memoir, Lewis described his former partner as one of the greatest comedic talents of all time.
In 1969, Apollo 11 returned to Earth, ending its historic moon-landing mission. After the spacecraft's splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were flown by helicopter to the recovery ship USS Hornet.
In 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Richard Nixon should surrender White House tapes for the criminal trials of his former associates.
In 1983, George Brett of the Kansas City Royals had a home run nullified in the "Pine Tar Incident" after New York Yankees Manager Billy Martin had Brett's bat examined by umpires. The Royals filed a protest and the home run was later reinstated.
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Newly elected Baseball Hall of Fame inductees pitcher Nolan Ryan and outfielder George Brett pose with their respective baseball cards January 6, 1999. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI
In 1998, a gunman opened fire at the Capitol in Washington, killing two police officers and wounding a tourist. Police shot the gunman, Russell Eugene Weston Jr., who survived. He was later charged with murder and has been confined to a psychiatric institution.
In 2002, the U.S. House of Representatives expelled Rep. James Traficant, an Ohio Democrat, by a vote of 420-1. Traficant, who had been convicted of racketeering, bribery and corruption, served seven years in prison.
In 2005, Lance Armstrong won a record seventh consecutive Tour de France. All seven wins were voided in 2012 after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency concluded he had used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career.
File Photo by David Silpa/UPI
In 2009, an increase in the federal minimum wage, from $6.55 to $7.25 an hour, went into effect. Representatives of small businesses said the increase would threaten their survival.
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In 2011, hundreds of gay couples in formal suits and gowns, and T-shirts recited vows after New York became the sixth and largest state to recognize same-sex weddings.
In 2014, an Air Algerie plane carrying 118 people dropped from radar en route to Algiers from Ouagadougou, the capital of the West African country of Burkina Faso, and crashed in Mali. There were no survivors.
In 2019, the Federal Trade Commission charged Facebook a record-breaking $5 billion penalty for violating a 2012 order related to fooling users about their ability to control the privacy of their personal information.


upi--2020-07-24--Famous birthdays for July 24: Barry Bonds, Rose Byrne

July 24 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Leo .

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Former San Francisco Giants player Barry Bonds acknowledges the fans during a ceremony to retire his jersey at AT&T Park in San Francisco on August 11, 2018. He turns 56 on July 24. File Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/UPI | License Photo
July 24 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Leo. They include: Advertisement
-- South American revolutionary/statesman Simon Bolivar in 1783
-- French novelist Alexandre Dumas the Elder in 1802
-- Artist Alphonse Mucha in 1860
-- British poet/author Robert Graves in 1895
-- Aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart in 1897
UPI File Photo
-- Actor Chief Dan George in 1899
-- Artist Zelda Fitzgerald in 1900
-- Feminist/former U.S. Rep. Bella Abzug, D-N.Y., in 1920
-- Political cartoonist Pat Oliphant in 1935 (age 85)
-- Comedian Gallagher, born Leo Gallagher Jr., in 1946 (age 74)
-- Actor Lynda Carter in 1951 (age 69)
-- Filmmaker Gus Van Sant in 1952 (age 68)
File Photo by Paul Treadway/UPI
-- Basketball Hall of Fame member Karl Malone in 1963 (age 57)
-- Former baseball player Barry Bonds in 1964 (age 56)
-- Actor/singer Kristin Chenoweth in 1968 (age 52)
-- Actor Laura Leighton in 1968 (age 52)
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-- Actor/singer Jennifer Lopez in 1969 (age 51)
-- Actor Rose Byrne in 1979 (age 41)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- Actor Summer Glau in 1981 (age 39)
-- Actor Anna Paquin in 1982 (age 38)
-- Actor Mara Wilson in 1987 (age 33)
-- Actor Emily Rickards in 1991 (age 29)
-- Australian television host Bindi Irwin in 1998 (age 22)


upi--2020-07-24--UPI News Quiz: NBA bubble, COVID-19 vaccine race, mission to Mars

U.S. News // 7 hours ago
Search for victims of Maui wildfire ongoing as death toll climbs to 101
Aug. 15 (UPI) -- The death toll from the Maui wildfires has risen to 101, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Tuesday night, as he announced plans to reopen the Lahaina Bypass for several hours a day to "reunite the pieces of Maui."


upi--2020-07-24--Michael Thompson, Richy Werenski share Round 2 lead at 3M Open

July 24 ( UPI ) -- Michael Thompson and Richy Werenski continued their red-hot play and sat atop the 3M Open leaderboard going into the weekend .
Werenski led the field after the opening round with an 8-under 63 .
The 24-year-old , who is winless on the PGA Tour , followed that up with a 67 Friday at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine , Minn. Thompson caught up to him with a 66 in the second round , putting the pair in a tie for first at 12-under 130 after 36 holes .
Tony Finau , who opened with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day two and was tied for third with Talor Gooch at 11-under par .
Finau , who had an eagle on hole No .
6 , had four birdies and one bogey .
`` When you shoot two rounds in the 60s , it does n't matter how the conditions are playing .
You know you 're playing good golf , '' Finau said .
`` It 's been two really clean rounds for me .
You can always build off that . ''
Xin-Jun Zhang was in fifth with a second-round 67 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cameron Davis shared a piece of sixth at 9-under par .
Brooks Koepka , a four-time major champion , was among the notable players who failed to make the cut .
He shot a 71 to finish at 1-under par , pulling a birdie putt wide right on hole No .
18 that would have kept him above the cut line .
Tommy Fleetwood , playing in his first event since March , joined Koepka after posting a 72 to finish at 1-over .
Bubba Watson , Paul Casey and Charley Hoffman also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson , the fourth-ranked player in the world , withdrew Thursday because of a back injury and a poor start .

Michael Thompson shot a 66 in the second round, putting him in a tie for first at 12-under 130 after 36 holes. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
July 24 (UPI) -- Michael Thompson and Richy Werenski continued their red-hot play and sat atop the 3M Open leaderboard going into the weekend. Werenski led the field after the opening round with an 8-under 63. The 24-year-old, who is winless on the PGA Tour, followed that up with a 67 Friday at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn. Advertisement
Thompson caught up to him with a 66 in the second round, putting the pair in a tie for first at 12-under 130 after 36 holes.
Tony Finau, who opened with a 65, shot a 66 on day two and was tied for third with Talor Gooch at 11-under par. Finau, who had an eagle on hole No. 6, had four birdies and one bogey.
"When you shoot two rounds in the 60s, it doesn't matter how the conditions are playing. You know you're playing good golf," Finau said. "It's been two really clean rounds for me. You can always build off that."
Xin-Jun Zhang was in fifth with a second-round 67, while defending champion Matthew Wolff and Cameron Davis shared a piece of sixth at 9-under par.
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Brooks Koepka, a four-time major champion, was among the notable players who failed to make the cut. He shot a 71 to finish at 1-under par, pulling a birdie putt wide right on hole No. 18 that would have kept him above the cut line.
Tommy Fleetwood, playing in his first event since March, joined Koepka after posting a 72 to finish at 1-over. Bubba Watson, Paul Casey and Charley Hoffman also failed to make the cut.
Dustin Johnson, the fourth-ranked player in the world, withdrew Thursday because of a back injury and a poor start.


upi--2020-07-24--Michigan State's entire football team in 14-day quarantine after positive tests

July 24 ( UPI ) -- The entire Michigan State football team will quarantine or self-isolate for 14 days after more positive coronavirus tests , the school announced Friday .
The university said a second staff member and one student-athlete tested positive for the virus .
`` As part of the athletic department 's return to campus policy , student-athletes quarantine when coming into close contact with an individual who tests positive for COVID-19 , '' the school said in a statement Friday .
`` The university has designated areas available to house individuals in quarantine as needed based upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan State halted workouts earlier this week after a staff member tested positive for the virus .
The school will perform another round of testing before deciding whether to resume workouts .
While all players will need to isolate or quarantine for two weeks , only staff members who have tested positive or experienced symptoms will be required to quarantine during a 14-day period .
Friday was the beginning of the enhanced summer access period for college football teams , which permits up to eight hours each week for weight training , conditioning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per day for meetings and a walk-through .

July 24 (UPI) -- The entire Michigan State football team will quarantine or self-isolate for 14 days after more positive coronavirus tests, the school announced Friday.
The university said a second staff member and one student-athlete tested positive for the virus.
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"As part of the athletic department's return to campus policy, student-athletes quarantine when coming into close contact with an individual who tests positive for COVID-19," the school said in a statement Friday. "The university has designated areas available to house individuals in quarantine as needed based upon the living arrangements for student-athletes."
Michigan State halted workouts earlier this week after a staff member tested positive for the virus. The school will perform another round of testing before deciding whether to resume workouts.
While all players will need to isolate or quarantine for two weeks, only staff members who have tested positive or experienced symptoms will be required to quarantine during a 14-day period.
Friday was the beginning of the enhanced summer access period for college football teams, which permits up to eight hours each week for weight training, conditioning and film study, and one hour per day for meetings and a walk-through.


upi--2020-07-24--China closes U.S. Consulate in Chengdu; State Dept. takes over Houston site

July 24 ( UPI ) -- China on Friday ordered the United States to close its consulate in southwestern Chengdu , as U.S. agents took over Beijing 's Houston Consulate less than an hour after diplomats were ordered to vacate .
In a statement , the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it notified the U.S. Embassy in China that its license to operate the Chengdu U.S. Consulate general has been revoked and that it must stop all activities there .
`` The measure by China is a legitimate and necessary response to the unjustified act by the U.S. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current situation in China-U.S. relations is not what China desires to see , and the U.S. is responsible for all this . ''
The ministry urged the United States to `` immediately retract its wrong decision and create necessary conditions for bringing the bilateral relationship back on track . ''
The U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu was established in 1985 and has been overseen by U.S. Consul General Jim Mullinax since August 2017 .
Friday 's move came two days after U.S. officials closed the Chinese Consulate in Houston , accusing it of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States gave workers at the consulate 72 hours to vacate the premises .
The Houston Chronicle reported that less than an hour after the deadline passed at 4 p.m. , a State Department official entered the building with help from a fire department to open the doors .
CNN reported there were several black SUVs , trucks , two white vans and a locksmith 's van on the property as U.S. agents took over the location .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attacked Beijing on Thursday , saying the Houston Consulate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hub of spying and intellectual property theft . ''
China has denied the accusations as `` vicious slanders '' and said its missions have promoted `` bilateral friendship and cooperation . ''
`` The U.S. demand of the closure of China 's Consulate General in Houston is in serious violation of international law '' and `` severely damages bilateral relations , a move that undercuts the bond of friendship between Chinese and American people , '' ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a news conference .
The consulate closures come at a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and China .
The Trump administration has taken a harder stance against Chinese President Xi Jinping 's regime , passing legislation to punish it over its human rights record in Hong Kong and Xinjiang province , where it 's accused of detaining some 1 million Uighur Muslims .
It has also labeled several Chinese state media in the United States as foreign missions and rejected China 's claims to the South China Sea as unlawful .
Beijing has responded by expelling U.S. journalists and imposing visa restrictions against specific U.S. politicians who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters and its Muslim minority citizens .
The government has repeatedly demanded the United States to stop interfering with its internal business .
Earlier Thursday , the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation announced charges against four Chinese researchers for visa fraud , for not revealing their status as members of China 's military when they applied for entry to the United States .
Three have been arrested , but agents believe the fourth , Juan Tang , a biology researcher at the University of California , Davis , is being harbored by China @ @ @ @ @

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U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks Thursday at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, Calif. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
July 24 (UPI) -- China on Friday ordered the United States to close its consulate in southwestern Chengdu, as U.S. agents took over Beijing's Houston Consulate less than an hour after diplomats were ordered to vacate. In a statement, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it notified the U.S. Embassy in China that its license to operate the Chengdu U.S. Consulate general has been revoked and that it must stop all activities there. Advertisement
"The measure by China is a legitimate and necessary response to the unjustified act by the U.S.," the ministry said. "The current situation in China-U.S. relations is not what China desires to see, and the U.S. is responsible for all this."
The ministry urged the United States to "immediately retract its wrong decision and create necessary conditions for bringing the bilateral relationship back on track."
The U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu was established in 1985 and has been overseen by U.S. Consul General Jim Mullinax since August 2017.
Advertisement China just informed the #US side of its decision to withdraw its consent for the establishment & operation of US Consulate General in Chengdu. The US Consulate General in Chengdu must cease all operations & events as required. https://t.co/jxYJ86OG0B— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) July 24, 2020
Friday's move came two days after U.S. officials closed the Chinese Consulate in Houston, accusing it of spying and stealing intellectual property. The United States gave workers at the consulate 72 hours to vacate the premises.
The Houston Chronicle reported that less than an hour after the deadline passed at 4 p.m., a State Department official entered the building with help from a fire department to open the doors.
CNN reported there were several black SUVs, trucks, two white vans and a locksmith's van on the property as U.S. agents took over the location.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attacked Beijing on Thursday, saying the Houston Consulate was closed "because it was a hub of spying and intellectual property theft."
China has denied the accusations as "vicious slanders" and said its missions have promoted "bilateral friendship and cooperation."
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"The U.S. demand of the closure of China's Consulate General in Houston is in serious violation of international law" and "severely damages bilateral relations, a move that undercuts the bond of friendship between Chinese and American people," ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a news conference.
The consulate closures come at a time of deteriorating relations between the United States and China.
The Trump administration has taken a harder stance against Chinese President Xi Jinping's regime, passing legislation to punish it over its human rights record in Hong Kong and Xinjiang province, where it's accused of detaining some 1 million Uighur Muslims. It has also labeled several Chinese state media in the United States as foreign missions and rejected China's claims to the South China Sea as unlawful.
Beijing has responded by expelling U.S. journalists and imposing visa restrictions against specific U.S. politicians who have voiced anger over treatment of Hong Kong protesters and its Muslim minority citizens. The government has repeatedly demanded the United States to stop interfering with its internal business.
Earlier Thursday, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation announced charges against four Chinese researchers for visa fraud, for not revealing their status as members of China's military when they applied for entry to the United States.
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Three have been arrested, but agents believe the fourth, Juan Tang, a biology researcher at the University of California, Davis, is being harbored by China's San Francisco Consulate.