upi--2020-08-12--Masters golf tournament to take place without fans in November

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- Augusta National Golf Club announced Wednesday that this year 's Masters Tournament will be held without spectators or guests because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Augusta National and Masters chairman Fred Ridley issued a statement on the decision , saying the risks of having fans in attendance `` are simply too significant to overcome . ''
The 2020 Masters Tournament was originally scheduled for April 9-12 but was postponed until mid-November due to the COVID-19 outbreak .
`` Since our initial announcement to postpone the 2020 Masters , we have remained committed to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how best to host a global sporting event amid this pandemic , '' Ridley said Wednesday .
`` As we have considered the issues facing us , the health and safety of everyone associated with the Masters always has been our first and most important priority .
`` Throughout this process , we have consulted with health officials and a variety of subject matter experts .
Ultimately , we determined that the potential risks of welcoming patrons and guests to our grounds in November are simply too significant to overcome . ''
2007 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't fathom '' not having spectators at this year 's event .
`` I really ca n't fathom it , but that being said , I ca n't fathom not having the Masters Tournament this year , '' Johnson told ESPN .
`` It 's unfortunate .
... We would love to have fans out there .
There 's an entertainment value in our product , in our game , in our sport that 's immense , and it 's fun knowing there 's energy out there .
`` You want that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fans is much more intimate , and I want it back sooner than later . ''
The PGA Tour is in its 10th week after the coronavirus shut down sports across the global for more than three months .
The PGA Championship -- won by 23-year-old Collin Morikawa on Sunday -- was the first major since golf returned and was played without fans at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco .
Next month 's U.S. Open at Winged Foot also will take place without fans .
The Open Championship -- initially set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tournament .

Patrons watch on during the third round of the 2019 Masters Tournament on April 13, 2019, at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Fans won't be permitted at this year's event because of the coronavirus pandemic. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Augusta National Golf Club announced Wednesday that this year's Masters Tournament will be held without spectators or guests because of the coronavirus pandemic. Augusta National and Masters chairman Fred Ridley issued a statement on the decision, saying the risks of having fans in attendance "are simply too significant to overcome." Advertisement
The 2020 Masters Tournament was originally scheduled for April 9-12 but was postponed until mid-November due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
"Since our initial announcement to postpone the 2020 Masters, we have remained committed to a rescheduled tournament in November while continually examining how best to host a global sporting event amid this pandemic," Ridley said Wednesday. "As we have considered the issues facing us, the health and safety of everyone associated with the Masters always has been our first and most important priority.
"Throughout this process, we have consulted with health officials and a variety of subject matter experts. Ultimately, we determined that the potential risks of welcoming patrons and guests to our grounds in November are simply too significant to overcome."
2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson said he "can't fathom" not having spectators at this year's event.
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"I really can't fathom it, but that being said, I can't fathom not having the Masters Tournament this year," Johnson told ESPN. "It's unfortunate. ... We would love to have fans out there. There's an entertainment value in our product, in our game, in our sport that's immense, and it's fun knowing there's energy out there.
"You want that energy. ... The relation there with the fans is much more intimate, and I want it back sooner than later."
The PGA Tour is in its 10th week after the coronavirus shut down sports across the global for more than three months. The PGA Championship -- won by 23-year-old Collin Morikawa on Sunday -- was the first major since golf returned and was played without fans at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.
Next month's U.S. Open at Winged Foot also will take place without fans. The Open Championship -- initially set for July 16-19 -- canceled its 2020 tournament.
Moments from the 2020 PGA Championship


upi--2020-08-12--Prosecutors request to revoke bail for man who posed as CIA agent

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- Federal prosecutors said a Florida man who posed as a covert Central Intelligence Agency operative has continued a similar scheme despite pleading guilty in June .
Prosecutors on Tuesday requested that Garrison Kenneth Courtney 's bail be revoked as he awaits sentencing after alleging attempting to again defraud a company by posing as a U.S. intelligence official after pleading guilty to wire fraud on June 11 in efforts to defraud companies of more than $ 4 million .
`` The government has received compelling evidence showing that even after his guilty plea , Courtney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraudulent scheme , by continuing to pose falsely as a government official within the United States intelligence community involved in a supposed classified program , '' they wrote .
Courtney , 44 , faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to posing as a CIA agent and approaching companies claiming to be part of a classified `` task force '' to convince them into placing him on their payroll under the false claim that the government would reimburse the funds .
He was released pending sentencing after pleading guilty and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been working under the alias `` Baer Pierson '' after the company began the process of terminating him .
The company , which was not one he pleaded guilty to defrauding , said Courtney attempted to convince them his CIA cover was blown and contacted them under the alias `` Devon Azzamoria '' telling them he was arranging for the company to `` read in '' to a classified government program .
Phone logs showed the phone number was traced to Courtney 's home in Florida .
Prosecutors said Courtney should be remanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until his sentencing on Oct. 23 .
`` Courtney 's brazen actions in continuing to perpetrate his fraud , even after pleading guilty and being admonished by this Court , show that there are no conditions short of detention that can protect the community pending sentencing , '' they wrote .

Prosecutors have requested that bail be revoked for a man who pleaded guilty to posing as a CIA agent, alleging he has since continued a similar scheme. Pool photo by Olivier Douliery/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors said a Florida man who posed as a covert Central Intelligence Agency operative has continued a similar scheme despite pleading guilty in June. Prosecutors on Tuesday requested that Garrison Kenneth Courtney's bail be revoked as he awaits sentencing after alleging attempting to again defraud a company by posing as a U.S. intelligence official after pleading guilty to wire fraud on June 11 in efforts to defraud companies of more than $4 million. Advertisement
"The government has received compelling evidence showing that even after his guilty plea, Courtney has persisted in a variation of his fraudulent scheme, by continuing to pose falsely as a government official within the United States intelligence community involved in a supposed classified program," they wrote.
Courtney, 44, faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to posing as a CIA agent and approaching companies claiming to be part of a classified "task force" to convince them into placing him on their payroll under the false claim that the government would reimburse the funds.
He was released pending sentencing after pleading guilty and resigned from a company where he had been working under the alias "Baer Pierson" after the company began the process of terminating him.
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The company, which was not one he pleaded guilty to defrauding, said Courtney attempted to convince them his CIA cover was blown and contacted them under the alias "Devon Azzamoria" telling them he was arranging for the company to "read in" to a classified government program.
Phone logs showed the phone number was traced to Courtney's home in Florida.
Prosecutors said Courtney should be remanded in custody of the U.S. Marshal until his sentencing on Oct. 23.
"Courtney's brazen actions in continuing to perpetrate his fraud, even after pleading guilty and being admonished by this Court, show that there are no conditions short of detention that can protect the community pending sentencing," they wrote.


upi--2020-08-12--Dallas Cowboys to sign former Pro Bowl DE Everson Griffen

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- The Dallas Cowboys are signing former Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl defensive end Everson Griffen .
League sources told NFL Media and the Dallas Morning News on Wednesday that Griffen agreed to a contract with the Cowboys .
Financial details of the agreement were n't disclosed , and the Cowboys have yet to confirm the pact .
Griffen , a four-time Pro Bowler , spent the last 10 seasons with the Vikings after the franchise selected him in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft .
He parted ways with the team earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer .
Griffen , 32 , voided the remaining three years on his contract prior to free agency after accomplishing two milestones last season -- recording six or more sacks and playing at least 57 percent of the Vikings ' defensive snaps .
According to ESPN , Griffen was one of two players last year who had a player-controlled void written into his agreement .
The veteran pass rusher and the Vikings broke off contract discussions because he refused to play on another reduced salary , like he did last season .
Griffen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 , has recorded 353 total tackles , 74.5 sacks , two interceptions and 16 passes defensed in 147 career games .
He ranks fourth in Vikings history in sacks , recording a career-best 13 quarterback takedowns in the 2017 campaign .
Griffen will join a Cowboys defensive front that includes DeMarcus Lawrence , Aldon Smith , Gerald McCoy and Tyrone Crawford .

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen (97) has recorded 74.5 sacks in his NFL career. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The Dallas Cowboys are signing former Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl defensive end Everson Griffen. League sources told NFL Media and the Dallas Morning News on Wednesday that Griffen agreed to a contract with the Cowboys. Financial details of the agreement weren't disclosed, and the Cowboys have yet to confirm the pact. Advertisement
Griffen, a four-time Pro Bowler, spent the last 10 seasons with the Vikings after the franchise selected him in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He parted ways with the team earlier this off-season and had remained unsigned over the summer.
Griffen, 32, voided the remaining three years on his contract prior to free agency after accomplishing two milestones last season -- recording six or more sacks and playing at least 57 percent of the Vikings' defensive snaps. According to ESPN, Griffen was one of two players last year who had a player-controlled void written into his agreement.
The veteran pass rusher and the Vikings broke off contract discussions because he refused to play on another reduced salary, like he did last season.
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Griffen, who was named second-team All-Pro in 2017, has recorded 353 total tackles, 74.5 sacks, two interceptions and 16 passes defensed in 147 career games. He ranks fourth in Vikings history in sacks, recording a career-best 13 quarterback takedowns in the 2017 campaign.
Griffen will join a Cowboys defensive front that includes DeMarcus Lawrence, Aldon Smith, Gerald McCoy and Tyrone Crawford.


upi--2020-08-12--Longtime Colts OL coach Howard Mudd dies at 78 after motorcycle accident

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- Howard Mudd , the legendary offensive line coach of the Indianapolis Colts , has died , the team announced Wednesday .
He was 78 .
Mudd was critically injured in a motorcycle accident July 29 .
He spent the past two weeks in a Seattle hospital with multiple injuries , including a fractured spine and pelvis .
`` We want to share that [ Tuesday ] we [ as a family ] made the decision to focus care on providing Howard the most comfort , '' the Mudd family said in a statement Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fought so hard against all odds to communicate to us that he loves us and that he knows we love him .
`` [ Tuesday ] , it became clear that he was ready and that we needed to surround him with love and fight for his right to comfort and peace .
This morning he was surrounded in the room by his sons [ Darren and Adam ] who held his arms and prayed over him as he passed away . ''
Colts owner Jim Irsay praised Mudd on social media , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line coaches in league history .
`` Rest in peace , Howard Mudd .
Howard was a great player during a shortened career and then became one of the game 's all-time greatest offensive line coaches , '' Irsay wrote on Twitter .
`` He contributed to many different teams over 47 years in our league -- but he will always be a Colt # LoveYouHoward . ''
Former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning echoed Irsay 's comments , saying Mudd will be greatly missed .
`` In my opinion , Howard Mudd was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history , '' Manning said in a statement .
`` I would put him on that pedestal any day of the week .
...
He will be missed by many .
I know so many like me are grateful to have played for him . ''
The San Francisco 49ers selected Mudd in the ninth round of the 1964 NFL Draft out of Michigan State .
He played with the Niners until 1969 , when he joined the Chicago Bears for his final two seasons .
Mudd , whose career was shortened because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to two All-Pro teams and the 1960s All-Decade team .
He also was a three-time Pro Bowl selection .
Mudd began his coaching career as the offensive line coach at the University of California in 1972 .
He then moved to the NFL , where he coached with the Colts ( twice ) , then-San Diego Chargers , 49ers , Seattle Seahawks ( twice ) , Cleveland Browns , Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles .
He had his most success as the Colts ' offensive line coach .
Under Mudd , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two Super Bowls -- winning one in Feb. 2007 .
Mudd briefly served as a senior offensive assistant with the Colts on head coach Frank Reich 's staff in 2019 before stepping away from football .

Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Howard Mudd, the legendary offensive line coach of the Indianapolis Colts, has died, the team announced Wednesday. He was 78.
Mudd was critically injured in a motorcycle accident July 29. He spent the past two weeks in a Seattle hospital with multiple injuries, including a fractured spine and pelvis.
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"We want to share that [Tuesday] we [as a family] made the decision to focus care on providing Howard the most comfort," the Mudd family said in a statement Wednesday. "Right after the accident he fought so hard against all odds to communicate to us that he loves us and that he knows we love him.
"[Tuesday], it became clear that he was ready and that we needed to surround him with love and fight for his right to comfort and peace. This morning he was surrounded in the room by his sons [Darren and Adam] who held his arms and prayed over him as he passed away."
Colts owner Jim Irsay praised Mudd on social media, calling him one of the best offensive line coaches in league history.
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"Rest in peace, Howard Mudd. Howard was a great player during a shortened career and then became one of the game's all-time greatest offensive line coaches," Irsay wrote on Twitter. "He contributed to many different teams over 47 years in our league -- but he will always be a Colt #LoveYouHoward."
Former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning echoed Irsay's comments, saying Mudd will be greatly missed.
"In my opinion, Howard Mudd was the best offensive line coach in NFL history," Manning said in a statement. "I would put him on that pedestal any day of the week. ... He will be missed by many. I know so many like me are grateful to have played for him."
The San Francisco 49ers selected Mudd in the ninth round of the 1964 NFL Draft out of Michigan State. He played with the Niners until 1969, when he joined the Chicago Bears for his final two seasons.
Mudd, whose career was shortened because of a knee injury, was named to two All-Pro teams and the 1960s All-Decade team. He also was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.
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Mudd began his coaching career as the offensive line coach at the University of California in 1972. He then moved to the NFL, where he coached with the Colts (twice), then-San Diego Chargers, 49ers, Seattle Seahawks (twice), Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
He had his most success as the Colts' offensive line coach. Under Mudd, the Colts kept Manning upright and played in two Super Bowls -- winning one in Feb. 2007.
Mudd briefly served as a senior offensive assistant with the Colts on head coach Frank Reich's staff in 2019 before stepping away from football.
Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-08-12--Salsa with onions linked to salmonella outbreak recalled

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- A produce company in Washington issued a recall for salsa made from onions linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 600 people .
Spokane Produce recalled several varieties of salsa products , including Saddlin ' Up Salsa in mild , medium and hot , and Salsa Verde .
The company said Tuesday that no other products it makes were affected .
The company said no illnesses have been reported in association with its products .
The recall was initiated by one issued by Thomson International earlier this month for red , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ salmonella outbreak .
The Food and Drug Administration said at least 640 people have been sickened by the outbreak , including 85 who have been hospitalized .
Illnesses have been reported in 43 states .
The Spokane Produce products were distributed in Idaho , Montana , Oregon and Washington between May 13 and Aug. 19 .
Other companies that use the produce in prepared foods have also recalled their products , including pasta and chicken salad sold by Taylor Farms , and diced onion and mirepoix sold by Marketside .
Thomson International onions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kroger , Publix and Giant Eagle .
The affected produce may not carry a label indicating their origin , so the Food and Drug Administration is recommending that consumers throw away any onions of unknown origin .
Salmonella infection can cause fever , diarrhea , nausea , vomiting and abdominal pain .
In serious cases , the bacteria can cause arterial infections , endocarditis and arthritis .

Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A produce company in Washington issued a recall for salsa made from onions linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 600 people.
Spokane Produce recalled several varieties of salsa products, including Saddlin' Up Salsa in mild, medium and hot, and Salsa Verde. The company said Tuesday that no other products it makes were affected.
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The company said no illnesses have been reported in association with its products.
The recall was initiated by one issued by Thomson International earlier this month for red, yellow and white onions linked to a salmonella outbreak.
The Food and Drug Administration said at least 640 people have been sickened by the outbreak, including 85 who have been hospitalized. Illnesses have been reported in 43 states.
The Spokane Produce products were distributed in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington between May 13 and Aug. 19.
Other companies that use the produce in prepared foods have also recalled their products, including pasta and chicken salad sold by Taylor Farms, and diced onion and mirepoix sold by Marketside.
Thomson International onions are sold at various stores, including Kroger, Publix and Giant Eagle. The affected produce may not carry a label indicating their origin, so the Food and Drug Administration is recommending that consumers throw away any onions of unknown origin.
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Salmonella infection can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In serious cases, the bacteria can cause arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.


upi--2020-08-12--Trump calls for more funding for schools that reopen in-person

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for additional funding for schools , including additional money for schools that reopen in-person .
Appearing during a back-to-school event at the White House , Trump asked Congress to appropriate another $ 105 billion for schools while maintaining his stance that schools that choose to open with online instruction only should not receive federal funding .
`` What I 'd like to do is I 'd like to see the money follow the student , '' Trump said .
`` If a school is going to be closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money on the federal basis to a school , and if the student is going to go to a different school ...
I think the money should follow the student . ''
Trump was also critical of some schools ' plans to have students alternate between one day of in-person instruction and a day of online instruction .
`` The concept of every other day seems a little ridiculous , right ? ''
Trump said .
`` If you 're going to do it , you do it .
If you 're not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of going back , even from a management standpoint from the school , every other day seems strange . ''
During a press conference later Wednesday afternoon , Trump outlined eight recommendations for in-person school reopenings including advising schools to encourage frequent hand washing or sanitizing , maintain `` high standards '' of hygiene and ventilation , minimize large indoor gatherings , social distance around high-risk individuals , encourage the use of masks when social distancing is not possible , and liberally post instructions about hygiene and social distancing .
The White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the symptoms of COVID-19 and self-asses their health every morning before arriving to school .
Trump pledged that his administration would provide 125 million reusable masks to schools throughout the country and said the administration is prepared to deploy teams from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to aid school reopenings .

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President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for Congress to appropriate $105 billion for schools including additional funding for schools that choose to reopen with in-person instruction. Pool Photo by Doug Mills/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for additional funding for schools, including additional money for schools that reopen in-person. Appearing during a back-to-school event at the White House, Trump asked Congress to appropriate another $105 billion for schools while maintaining his stance that schools that choose to open with online instruction only should not receive federal funding. Advertisement
"What I'd like to do is I'd like to see the money follow the student," Trump said. "If a school is going to be closed and we're giving all of this money on the federal basis to a school, and if the student is going to go to a different school ... I think the money should follow the student."
Trump was also critical of some schools' plans to have students alternate between one day of in-person instruction and a day of online instruction.
"The concept of every other day seems a little ridiculous, right?" Trump said. "If you're going to do it, you do it. If you're not going to do it -- the concept of going back, even from a management standpoint from the school, every other day seems strange."
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During a press conference later Wednesday afternoon, Trump outlined eight recommendations for in-person school reopenings including advising schools to encourage frequent hand washing or sanitizing, maintain "high standards" of hygiene and ventilation, minimize large indoor gatherings, social distance around high-risk individuals, encourage the use of masks when social distancing is not possible, and liberally post instructions about hygiene and social distancing.
The White House also recommended that students and teachers understand the symptoms of COVID-19 and self-asses their health every morning before arriving to school.
Trump pledged that his administration would provide 125 million reusable masks to schools throughout the country and said the administration is prepared to deploy teams from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to aid school reopenings.


upi--2020-08-12--PSG shocks Atalanta in final minutes to reach Champions League semifinals

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- Paris Saint-Germain scored a pair of late goals to earn a shocking 2-1 win over Atalanta on Wednesday at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon , Portugal , and advance to the semifinals of the Champions League .
Marquinhos tied the game in the 90th minute before Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting delivered a stoppage-time winner to eliminate the Serie A club in the quarterfinals .
Choupo-Moting 's goal -- the latest regulation game-winning score in UCL quarterfinals history -- put PSG into the semifinals for the first time since 1994-95 .
`` When I came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'We ca n't lose , we ca n't go home like that . '
I was confident in myself , confident in the team and then the rest is the history of Paris , '' Choupo-Moting said .
`` It was a crazy game , a tough game and opponents . ''
PSG came close to taking the lead inside five minutes when Neymar got behind the Atalanta defense , but his shot went wide of the goal .
Atalanta -- who led Serie A with 98 goals in 38 league games this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26th minute when Mario Pasalic curled a shot past PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas .
Neymar had another scoring chance shortly after Pasalic 's goal , but he fired a shot just outside of the post .
He then rifled another shot over the goal before halftime as Atalanta took a 1-0 lead into the locker room .
`` I never thought we 'd be back home tomorrow , '' Neymar said .
`` At every moment , we just went for one thing : progress to the last four . ''
With time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after collecting a misfired shot from Neymar in the box and sending it past Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello .
A few minutes later , Choupo-Moting finished off a perfect Kylian Mbappe pass to seal the come-from-behind victory .
`` There is a great sense of regret .
It seemed we were going to do it and that would have been a great achievement , '' Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said .
`` We still have [ the memory of ] a Champions League where we have grown as a team against some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't do anything other than thank my lads . ''
PSG will play either Atletico Madrid or RB Leipzig -- who meet Thursday -- in the semifinals .

Paris Saint-Germain star forward Neymar (L) celebrates with Kylian Mbappe (R) during their game against Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by David Ramos/EPA-EFE
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Paris Saint-Germain scored a pair of late goals to earn a shocking 2-1 win over Atalanta on Wednesday at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal, and advance to the semifinals of the Champions League. Marquinhos tied the game in the 90th minute before Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting delivered a stoppage-time winner to eliminate the Serie A club in the quarterfinals. Choupo-Moting's goal -- the latest regulation game-winning score in UCL quarterfinals history -- put PSG into the semifinals for the first time since 1994-95. Advertisement
"When I came on, I thought to myself, 'We can't lose, we can't go home like that.' I was confident in myself, confident in the team and then the rest is the history of Paris," Choupo-Moting said. "It was a crazy game, a tough game and opponents."
PSG came close to taking the lead inside five minutes when Neymar got behind the Atalanta defense, but his shot went wide of the goal.
Atalanta -- who led Serie A with 98 goals in 38 league games this season -- grabbed the lead in the 26th minute when Mario Pasalic curled a shot past PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
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Neymar had another scoring chance shortly after Pasalic's goal, but he fired a shot just outside of the post. He then rifled another shot over the goal before halftime as Atalanta took a 1-0 lead into the locker room.
"I never thought we'd be back home tomorrow," Neymar said. "At every moment, we just went for one thing: progress to the last four."
With time running out, Marquinhos leveled the game after collecting a misfired shot from Neymar in the box and sending it past Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello. A few minutes later, Choupo-Moting finished off a perfect Kylian Mbappe pass to seal the come-from-behind victory.
"There is a great sense of regret. It seemed we were going to do it and that would have been a great achievement," Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said. "We still have [the memory of] a Champions League where we have grown as a team against some of the greats of Europe and I can't do anything other than thank my lads."
PSG will play either Atletico Madrid or RB Leipzig -- who meet Thursday -- in the semifinals.


upi--2020-08-12--Federal deficit reaches $2.8T, breaking annual record

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- The federal deficit reached $ 2.8 trillion for the fiscal year 2020 on Wednesday , breaking a previous annual record , according to a report by the Treasury Department .
The deficit is nearing $ 3 trillion since the start of the fiscal year after a $ 63 billion deficit was reported for the month of July , down from $ 864 billion in June amid a large increase in federal spending in response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` We have borrowed $ 2.8 trillion this year so far -- triple what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget , said in The Hill .
`` While this massive borrowing is exactly what we need to do to help the economy , it will need to be followed by measures to bring the debt back down when the economy has recovered . ''
Budget experts have attributed the decline in the monthly deficit between June and July to the delay of the federal tax deadline in response to the pandemic .
The shift has resulted in most tax revenue coming into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April , which historically is when the Treasury reports a revenue surplus .
`` We are seeing a huge influx of taxes that would otherwise be paid in April , '' Marc Goldwein , CRFB senior vice president , told The Washington Post .
`` The vast majority of the lower deficit is driven by the delay of tax season . ''

The federal deficit rose to $2.8 trillion through the end of July, breaking an annual record within the first 10 months of the fiscal year 2020. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The federal deficit reached $2.8 trillion for the fiscal year 2020 on Wednesday, breaking a previous annual record, according to a report by the Treasury Department. The deficit is nearing $3 trillion since the start of the fiscal year after a $63 billion deficit was reported for the month of July, down from $864 billion in June amid a large increase in federal spending in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement
"We have borrowed $2.8 trillion this year so far -- triple what we borrowed last year," Maya MacGuineas, the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said in The Hill. "While this massive borrowing is exactly what we need to do to help the economy, it will need to be followed by measures to bring the debt back down when the economy has recovered."
Budget experts have attributed the decline in the monthly deficit between June and July to the delay of the federal tax deadline in response to the pandemic.
The shift has resulted in most tax revenue coming into the U.S. Treasury in July rather than April, which historically is when the Treasury reports a revenue surplus.
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"We are seeing a huge influx of taxes that would otherwise be paid in April," Marc Goldwein, CRFB senior vice president, told The Washington Post. "The vast majority of the lower deficit is driven by the delay of tax season."


upi--2020-08-12--Federal judge declines to block new Title IX rule giving protections to suspects

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge on Wednesday refused to block the Education Department 's new rules on reporting sexual misconduct , allowing them to go into effect Friday .
Washington , D.C. , District Court Judge Carl Nichols said a lawsuit filed by 17 states and the District of Columbia should be heard in court , but he would n't impose a temporary injunction blocking the new rules in the meantime .
The new guidelines released by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in May add protections for suspects accused of sexual assault and misconduct .
The controversial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them as giving due process to suspects but brought concerns among women 's rights groups that they could prevent victims from coming forward .
`` Although plaintiffs have raised serious arguments about certain aspects of the rule , they have not established a likelihood of success on their claims , nor have they established that they are likely to suffer irreparable harm pending further litigation , '' Nichols wrote in his ruling .
The new rules under Title IX ensure alleged student perpetrators have the presumption of innocence throughout the disciplinary process and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against them .
Those accused are also guaranteed to cross-examine their accusers through an attorney or representative .
The changes also narrow the meaning of sexual misconduct to unwelcome conduct `` so severe , pervasive and objectively offensive '' it `` denies a person equal access to the school 's education program or activity . ''
Groups supporting sexual assault victims said the new rules allow for those victims to potentially be retraumatized through certain aspects of the investigation progress and will discourage them from coming forward with claims .
Former Vice President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the new guidelines if he 's elected president in November .

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos unveiled the new Title IX guidelines in May. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A federal judge on Wednesday refused to block the Education Department's new rules on reporting sexual misconduct, allowing them to go into effect Friday. Washington, D.C., District Court Judge Carl Nichols said a lawsuit filed by 17 states and the District of Columbia should be heard in court, but he wouldn't impose a temporary injunction blocking the new rules in the meantime. Advertisement
The new guidelines released by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in May add protections for suspects accused of sexual assault and misconduct.
The controversial changes are supported by those who view them as giving due process to suspects but brought concerns among women's rights groups that they could prevent victims from coming forward.
"Although plaintiffs have raised serious arguments about certain aspects of the rule, they have not established a likelihood of success on their claims, nor have they established that they are likely to suffer irreparable harm pending further litigation," Nichols wrote in his ruling.
The new rules under Title IX ensure alleged student perpetrators have the presumption of innocence throughout the disciplinary process and the right to see all evidence collected against them. Those accused are also guaranteed to cross-examine their accusers through an attorney or representative.
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The changes also narrow the meaning of sexual misconduct to unwelcome conduct "so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive" it "denies a person equal access to the school's education program or activity."
Groups supporting sexual assault victims said the new rules allow for those victims to potentially be retraumatized through certain aspects of the investigation progress and will discourage them from coming forward with claims.
Former Vice President Joe Biden said he'd do away with the new guidelines if he's elected president in November.
Clyde Hughes contributed to this report.


upi--2020-08-12--NBA suspends Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo one game for headbutt

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- The NBA has suspended Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo one game for headbutting Washington Wizards big man Moritz Wagner .
Following the one-game suspension , Antetokounmpo will miss the Bucks ' final game of the regular season against the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday .
He will be eligible for the team 's first-round series against the Orlando Magic .
The incident occurred with 8:50 left in the second quarter of the Bucks ' 126-113 win over the Wizards on Tuesday night .
After Wagner took a charge against Antetokounmpo , the `` Greek Freak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confronted him at the other end of the court , where the headbutt took place moments later .
He was given a flagrant foul 2 and ejected from the game -- his fourth overall ejection and first since April 2018 against the Denver Nuggets .
Antetokounmpo told reporters after the game that his headbutt was a `` terrible action '' and if he `` could go back , turn back time and go back to that play , I would n't do it . ''
He said he was frustrated by the Wizards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Antetokounmpo finishes the regular season with averages of 29.5 points , 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists .
He is considered the favorite to win a second consecutive NBA MVP Award .

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) finishes the regular season with averages of 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists. File Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The NBA has suspended Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo one game for headbutting Washington Wizards big man Moritz Wagner. Following the one-game suspension, Antetokounmpo will miss the Bucks' final game of the regular season against the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday. He will be eligible for the team's first-round series against the Orlando Magic. Advertisement
The incident occurred with 8:50 left in the second quarter of the Bucks' 126-113 win over the Wizards on Tuesday night. After Wagner took a charge against Antetokounmpo, the "Greek Freak" appeared to yell at Wagner and confronted him at the other end of the court, where the headbutt took place moments later.
He was given a flagrant foul 2 and ejected from the game -- his fourth overall ejection and first since April 2018 against the Denver Nuggets.
Antetokounmpo told reporters after the game that his headbutt was a "terrible action" and if he "could go back, turn back time and go back to that play, I wouldn't do it." He said he was frustrated by the Wizards' contact against him throughout the game.
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Antetokounmpo finishes the regular season with averages of 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists. He is considered the favorite to win a second consecutive NBA MVP Award.


upi--2020-08-12--Biden, Harris slam Trump COVID-19 response in first joint public appearance

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris criticized the Trump administration 's response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday while pledging to deliver a `` comprehensive '' virus response if elected .
Appearing in their first event together since Biden selected Harris as his running mate , the senator from California said the United States leads the world with more than 5 million cases and more than 165,000 deaths from the novel coronavirus as a result of President Donald Trump 's `` failure to take it seriously from the start . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and running , his flip-flopping on social distancing and wearing masks .
His delusional belief that he knows better than the experts .
All of that is ... the reason that an American dies of COVID-19 every 80 seconds , '' Harris said .
Harris also praised Biden for his response to the Ebola outbreak while he served alongside former President Barack Obama .
Biden said he would `` lead and take responsibility '' in his plans for virus response if elected .
`` The Joe Biden and Kamala Harris administration will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 and turn the corner on this pandemic , masking , clear science-based guidance , dramatically scaling up testing , getting states and local governments the resources they need to pen the schools and businesses safely .
We can do this , '' Biden said .
Harris also released a campaign ad Wednesday showing the moment she accepted former Biden 's request for her to be his running mate .
The video shows Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , announcing the news to Harris via video chat .
After offering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` First of all , is the answer yes ? ''
`` The answer is absolutely yes , Joe , and I am ready to work , '' Harris can be heard replying .
`` I am ready to do this with you , for you .
I am just deeply honored and I 'm very excited . ''
The video includes photos and clips from Harris ' childhood and her career as California attorney general and senator .
She narrates the video , speaking of her mother and her own record .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she says .
`` America is in a crisis and I know Joe Biden will lead us out of it .
`` As Joe says , we 're in a battle for the soul of this nation , but together it 's a battle we can win .
We just have to take action . ''
Biden 's selection of Harris as his running mate Tuesday has been met largely with praise in many political and economic circles .
Harris was long believed to be a top contender for the slot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rep. Karen Bass , D-Calif. , and former Ambassador Susan Rice , all of whom reacted enthusiastically to the announcement .
`` Her tenacious pursuit of justice and relentless advocacy for the people is what is needed right now , '' Bass tweeted .
`` Now all Americans will benefit from her work as vice president .
I will do everything I can to help her and Joe Biden win in November . ''
`` Senator Harris is a tenacious and trailblazing leader who will make a great partner on the campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
`` I will do my utmost to assist Joe Biden to become the next president of the United States and to help him govern successfully . ''
`` I 've known Kamala Harris for a long time , '' Warren said .
`` She will be a great partner ... in making our government a force for good in the fight for social , racial and economic justice . ''
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , who lost to President Donald Trump four years ago , said she 's `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the ticket .
`` She 's already proven herself to be an incredible public servant and leader . ''
Sen. Amy Klobuchar , D-Minn. , who competed for the Democratic presidential nomination , called Harris `` a good friend and incredibly strong public servant . ''
`` Sometimes campaigns can tear friendships apart but we grew closer -- and I know she has what it takes to lead side-by-side with Joe Biden , '' she added .
Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , who at one point in the spring appeared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden 's selection and urged his followers to support the party in November .
`` [ Harris ] will make history as our next vice president , '' he tweeted .
`` She understands what it takes to stand up for working people , fight for health care for all , and take down the most corrupt administration in history .
Let 's get to work and win . ''
Harris ' inclusion on the ticket also spurred some excitement on Wall Street -- which , until March , represented one of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think it 's great , '' said Marc Lasry , CEO of investment firm Avenue Capital Group and part owner of the NBA 's Milwaukee Bucks .
`` She 's going to help Joe immensely .
He picked the perfect partner . ''
`` Vice President Biden 's first decision is the perfect one and demonstrates his excellent judgment , '' Jon Henes , a partner at Kirkland & Ellis and former finance chairman of Harris ' campaign , told CNBC .
`` Kamala 's supporters will follow her lead and work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this historic and critical election . ''
A daughter of Jamaican and Indian parents , Harris succeeded longtime Sen. Barbara Boxer in 2016 and serves on the homeland security , intelligence , judiciary and budget committees .
Biden 's choice has been less well-received among Republicans .
Trump , as he 's done with just about all of his political enemies , whipped up a derogatory nickname for her -- `` Phony Kamala . ''
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said Harris , as California attorney general , `` used her office 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` She led assaults against conservative non-profits , energy companies , and parents , but not violent gang members or criminal illegal aliens , '' he said .
`` Now , she wants to turn America into San Francisco . ''
`` Joe Biden failed his first major test as a presidential candidate by picking extreme leftist Kamala Harris , who embraces the radical defund police movement , and actually wants to slash funding for our men and women in uniform , as his running mate , '' House Minority Whip Rep. Steve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

1/2
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his selection for vice president, Kamala Harris, appeared together in public for the first time Wednesday as they criticized the Trump administration's coronavirus response. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris on Wednesday appeared together in public for the first time since the ticket was completed, criticized the Trump administration's handling of COVID-19 and vowed a "comprehensive" response if they're elected. The former vice president and senator from California noted that the United States leads the world with more than 5 million cases and more than 165,000 deaths as a result of President Donald Trump's "failure to take it seriously from the start." Advertisement
"His refusal to get testing up and running, his flip-flopping on social distancing and wearing masks. His delusional belief that he knows better than the experts. All of that is ... the reason that an American dies of COVID-19 every 80 seconds," Harris said.
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Harris also praised Biden for his response to the Ebola outbreak while he served alongside former President Barack Obama. Biden said he would "lead and take responsibility" in his plans for virus response if elected.
"The Joe Biden and Kamala Harris administration will have a comprehensive plan to meet the challenge of COVID-19 and turn the corner on this pandemic, masking, clear science-based guidance, dramatically scaling up testing, getting states and local governments the resources they need to pen the schools and businesses safely. We can do this," Biden said.
Harris also released a campaign ad Wednesday showing the moment she accepted former Biden's request for her to be his running mate.
The video shows Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, announcing the news to Harris via video chat.
After offering her the job, Biden asks, "First of all, is the answer yes?"
"The answer is absolutely yes, Joe, and I am ready to work," Harris can be heard replying. "I am ready to do this with you, for you. I am just deeply honored and I'm very excited."
The video includes photos and clips from Harris' childhood and her career as California attorney general and senator. She narrates the video, speaking of her mother and her own record.
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"Right now America needs action," she says. "America is in a crisis and I know Joe Biden will lead us out of it.
"As Joe says, we're in a battle for the soul of this nation, but together it's a battle we can win. We just have to take action."
We are in a battle for the soul of this nation. But together, it's a battle we can win.@JoeBiden-I'm ready to get to work. pic.twitter.com/3PJcUTYBGU— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 12, 2020
Biden's selection of Harris as his running mate Tuesday has been met largely with praise in many political and economic circles.
Harris was long believed to be a top contender for the slot, along with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., and former Ambassador Susan Rice, all of whom reacted enthusiastically to the announcement.
"Her tenacious pursuit of justice and relentless advocacy for the people is what is needed right now," Bass tweeted. "Now all Americans will benefit from her work as vice president. I will do everything I can to help her and Joe Biden win in November."
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"Senator Harris is a tenacious and trailblazing leader who will make a great partner on the campaign trail," Rice said in a statement. "I will do my utmost to assist Joe Biden to become the next president of the United States and to help him govern successfully."
"I've known Kamala Harris for a long time," Warren said. "She will be a great partner ... in making our government a force for good in the fight for social, racial and economic justice."
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lost to President Donald Trump four years ago, said she's "thrilled to welcome" the 55-year-old Harris to the ticket.
"She's already proven herself to be an incredible public servant and leader."
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who competed for the Democratic presidential nomination, called Harris "a good friend and incredibly strong public servant."
"Sometimes campaigns can tear friendships apart but we grew closer -- and I know she has what it takes to lead side-by-side with Joe Biden," she added.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who at one point in the spring appeared to be the eventual Democratic nominee, lauded Biden's selection and urged his followers to support the party in November.
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"[Harris] will make history as our next vice president," he tweeted. "She understands what it takes to stand up for working people, fight for health care for all, and take down the most corrupt administration in history. Let's get to work and win."
Harris' inclusion on the ticket also spurred some excitement on Wall Street -- which, until March, represented one of Trump's strongest arguments for re-election.
"I think it's great," said Marc Lasry, CEO of investment firm Avenue Capital Group and part owner of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks. "She's going to help Joe immensely. He picked the perfect partner."
"Vice President Biden's first decision is the perfect one and demonstrates his excellent judgment," Jon Henes, a partner at Kirkland & Ellis and former finance chairman of Harris' campaign, told CNBC. "Kamala's supporters will follow her lead and work non-stop to help Biden and Harris win this historic and critical election."
A daughter of Jamaican and Indian parents, Harris succeeded longtime Sen. Barbara Boxer in 2016 and serves on the homeland security, intelligence, judiciary and budget committees.
Biden's choice has been less well-received among Republicans. Trump, as he's done with just about all of his political enemies, whipped up a derogatory nickname for her -- "Phony Kamala."
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House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said Harris, as California attorney general, "used her office's prosecutorial powers for political purposes."
"She led assaults against conservative non-profits, energy companies, and parents, but not violent gang members or criminal illegal aliens," he said.
"Now, she wants to turn America into San Francisco."
"Joe Biden failed his first major test as a presidential candidate by picking extreme leftist Kamala Harris, who embraces the radical defund police movement, and actually wants to slash funding for our men and women in uniform, as his running mate," House Minority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., said in statement.


upi--2020-08-12--Midwest derecho destroyed 10M acres of crops in Iowa

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- A powerful derecho that tore through the Midwest earlier this week also flattened more than 10 million acres of crops in Iowa , Gov .
Kim Reynolds said .
Among the crops destroyed were about 43 % of the state 's corn and soybean yields .
`` Although it will take days or weeks to know the full scope of damage , initial reports are significant , '' Reynolds said Tuesday .
More than 600,000 customers also remained without power in the region Wednesday after the derecho -- a fast-moving line of severe thunderstorms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
About 300,000 of those customers were located in Iowa , according to poweroutage.us , the state 's three largest metropolitan areas of Des Moines , Cedar Rapids and Davenport continued to report widespread outages .
Two deaths have also been reported as a result of the storm including a 63-year-old bicyclist who was struck by a large falling tree and a 73-year-old woman who was found in a mobile home that was damaged by the derecho .
Reynolds said the storm resulted in more widespread damage than typical tornadoes and issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is just about across the entire state , very widespread and significant , significant damage has been done , '' she said .

Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A powerful derecho that tore through the Midwest earlier this week also flattened more than 10 million acres of crops in Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds said.
Among the crops destroyed were about 43% of the state's corn and soybean yields.
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"Although it will take days or weeks to know the full scope of damage, initial reports are significant," Reynolds said Tuesday.
More than 600,000 customers also remained without power in the region Wednesday after the derecho -- a fast-moving line of severe thunderstorms -- tore through the area earlier this week.
About 300,000 of those customers were located in Iowa, according to poweroutage.us, the state's three largest metropolitan areas of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport continued to report widespread outages.
Two deaths have also been reported as a result of the storm including a 63-year-old bicyclist who was struck by a large falling tree and a 73-year-old woman who was found in a mobile home that was damaged by the derecho.
Reynolds said the storm resulted in more widespread damage than typical tornadoes and issued emergency declarations in 20 counties.
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"It is just about across the entire state, very widespread and significant, significant damage has been done," she said.


upi--2020-08-12--Male frog in Brazil loyal to two females during breeding season

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- Scientists have discovered a frog species in Brazil 's Atlantic rainforest that practices harem polygyny .
The discovery , described Wednesday in the journal Science Advances , marks the first time biologists have observed a male frog offering his companionship and loyalty to two females during a breeding season .
`` Single-male polygyny with reproductive fidelity occurs in invertebrates , bony fishes , and some tetrapods , such as lizards , mammals , and birds , '' researchers wrote in the new paper .
According to the study 's authors , the practice is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the practice of polygyny among Thoropa taophora frogs , researchers observed the behavior of males during the course of the breeding season .
The research team , led by Fabio de Sá , a biologist at Sao Paulo State University , watched as male frogs regularly patrolled their territory and emitted loud calls to scare off intruders .
For several weeks , males remained close to their eggs and tadpoles , guarding them from predators .
Female behavior observed by the research team suggests each harem features a hierarchical structure .
Scientists noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cannibalizing eggs , the male would mate with her , ensuring that her genes would be carried by the new eggs .
`` When a secondary or a peripheral female cannibalizes eggs , the monopolist male immediately approaches and briefly embraces the female , which stops cannibalism , '' researchers wrote .
When scientists analyzed the genes of tadpoles produced by different harems , they found the dominant female 's genes accounted for between 56 percent and 97 percent of the offspring .
De Sá and colleagues estimate the unique behavior of Thoropa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the competition among males for ideal breeding grounds and fit females .

Male Thoropa taophora frogs mate with and remain loyal to two females during breeding season. Photo by Fábio de Sá
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Scientists have discovered a frog species in Brazil's Atlantic rainforest that practices harem polygyny. The discovery, described Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, marks the first time biologists have observed a male frog offering his companionship and loyalty to two females during a breeding season. Advertisement
"Single-male polygyny with reproductive fidelity occurs in invertebrates, bony fishes, and some tetrapods, such as lizards, mammals, and birds," researchers wrote in the new paper.
According to the study's authors, the practice is not well-documented among amphibians.
To confirm the practice of polygyny among Thoropa taophora frogs, researchers observed the behavior of males during the course of the breeding season.
The research team, led by Fabio de Sá, a biologist at Sao Paulo State University, watched as male frogs regularly patrolled their territory and emitted loud calls to scare off intruders. For several weeks, males remained close to their eggs and tadpoles, guarding them from predators.
Female behavior observed by the research team suggests each harem features a hierarchical structure. Scientists noted that when a higher ranking female started cannibalizing eggs, the male would mate with her, ensuring that her genes would be carried by the new eggs.
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"When a secondary or a peripheral female cannibalizes eggs, the monopolist male immediately approaches and briefly embraces the female, which stops cannibalism," researchers wrote.
When scientists analyzed the genes of tadpoles produced by different harems, they found the dominant female's genes accounted for between 56 percent and 97 percent of the offspring.
De Sá and colleagues estimate the unique behavior of Thoropa taophora frogs evolved due to the pressures of the competition among males for ideal breeding grounds and fit females.


upi--2020-08-12--Lung cancer deaths in U.S. fall by up to 6% annually, analysis finds

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- Deaths from non-small cell lung cancer in the United States declined by about 3 % a year on average between 2006 and 2016 , according to an analysis published Wednesday by the New England Journal of Medicine .
The number of Americans who died from the most common form of lung cancer dropped by 3.2 % per year from 2006 through 2013 and by 6.3 % per year from 2013 through 2016 , researchers from the National Cancer Institute said .
Between 2001 and 2008 , rates of non-small cell lung cancer diagnoses across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.9 % annually .
Between 2008 and 2016 , diagnoses nationally fell by an average of 3.1 % per year , the analysis found .
This marks the first time deaths caused by the disease have declined faster than its incidence , researchers said .
`` These findings are an important confirmation of what many of us are experiencing in practice -- in addition to reduced exposure to tobacco smoke leading to decrease in incidence , screening efforts and therapeutic advances are changing clinical outcomes for patients with lung cancer , '' Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lung cancer remains the leading cause of U.S. cancer deaths for both men and women , '' said Rudin , chief of the thoracic oncology service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and who was not part of the National Cancer Institute analysis .
Reduced tobacco use in the United States has been associated with a progressive decrease in lung cancer deaths in men , since 1990 , and in women , since 2000 , because fewer people are being diagnosed with the disease , according to the National Cancer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , suggest the development of new treatments -- including targeted therapies -- and improved delivery of chemotherapy and radiation in recent years has had a positive impact as well , the researchers said .
For this study , researchers looked at data for both non-small cell lung cancer , which accounts for 76 % of lung cancers in the U.S. , and small-cell lung cancer , which accounts for 13 % of lung cancers diagnosed .
The research was conducted using records compiled by the National Cancer Institute 's Surveillance , Epidemiology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two-year survival for men with non-small cell lung cancer improved to 35 % for patients diagnosed in 2014 from 26 % for those diagnosed in 2001 , the researchers said .
The decline in deaths from non-small cell lung cancer since 2013 corresponds with the time when routine genetic testing for the disease became available .
The tests screen for specific gene mutations , which are then targeted by newly developed chemotherapy drugs , Dr. Ramaswamy Govindan told UPI .
`` These decreases are significant and are likely a sign of our improved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancer and the fact we have targeted treatments ... available , '' said Govindan , chair of medical oncology at Washington University in St. Louis , who was not part of the analysis .
Conversely , deaths from small-cell lung cancer roughly corresponded with the decrease in incidence , the researchers said .
Among men , for example , deaths declined 4.3 % annually and incidence fell 3.6 % annually from 2006 through 2016 , and the findings for women were similar , they said .
Two-year survival rates for this form of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is likely because there have n't been as many effective new treatments for small-cell lung cancer , Govindan said .
`` When I started in this field 20 years ago , 30 % of our patients with [ non-small cell lung cancer ] survived for one year after diagnosis , and now up to 60 % survive that long , '' he said .
`` Despite these improvements , we still lose far too many of our patients to this disease , and we have a long way to go before we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Better treatment and less smoking has reduced incidence of lung cancer and improved survival in those with the disease, a new analysis found. Photo courtesy of Max Pixel
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Deaths from non-small cell lung cancer in the United States declined by about 3% a year on average between 2006 and 2016, according to an analysis published Wednesday by the New England Journal of Medicine. The number of Americans who died from the most common form of lung cancer dropped by 3.2% per year from 2006 through 2013 and by 6.3% per year from 2013 through 2016, researchers from the National Cancer Institute said. Advertisement
Between 2001 and 2008, rates of non-small cell lung cancer diagnoses across the country fell by an average of 1.9% annually. Between 2008 and 2016, diagnoses nationally fell by an average of 3.1% per year, the analysis found.
This marks the first time deaths caused by the disease have declined faster than its incidence, researchers said.
"These findings are an important confirmation of what many of us are experiencing in practice -- in addition to reduced exposure to tobacco smoke leading to decrease in incidence, screening efforts and therapeutic advances are changing clinical outcomes for patients with lung cancer," Dr. Charles Rudin told UPI
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However, "lung cancer remains the leading cause of U.S. cancer deaths for both men and women," said Rudin, chief of the thoracic oncology service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and who was not part of the National Cancer Institute analysis.
Reduced tobacco use in the United States has been associated with a progressive decrease in lung cancer deaths in men, since 1990, and in women, since 2000, because fewer people are being diagnosed with the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute researchers.
The new figures, however, suggest the development of new treatments -- including targeted therapies -- and improved delivery of chemotherapy and radiation in recent years has had a positive impact as well, the researchers said.
For this study, researchers looked at data for both non-small cell lung cancer, which accounts for 76% of lung cancers in the U.S., and small-cell lung cancer, which accounts for 13% of lung cancers diagnosed.
The research was conducted using records compiled by the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry.
Two-year survival for men with non-small cell lung cancer improved to 35% for patients diagnosed in 2014 from 26% for those diagnosed in 2001, the researchers said.
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The decline in deaths from non-small cell lung cancer since 2013 corresponds with the time when routine genetic testing for the disease became available.
The tests screen for specific gene mutations, which are then targeted by newly developed chemotherapy drugs, Dr. Ramaswamy Govindan told UPI.
"These decreases are significant and are likely a sign of our improved ability to identify patients with stage 3 cancer and the fact we have targeted treatments ... available," said Govindan, chair of medical oncology at Washington University in St. Louis, who was not part of the analysis.
Conversely, deaths from small-cell lung cancer roughly corresponded with the decrease in incidence, the researchers said.
Among men, for example, deaths declined 4.3% annually and incidence fell 3.6% annually from 2006 through 2016, and the findings for women were similar, they said.
Two-year survival rates for this form of lung cancer also remained unchanged. This is likely because there haven't been as many effective new treatments for small-cell lung cancer, Govindan said.
"When I started in this field 20 years ago, 30% of our patients with [non-small cell lung cancer] survived for one year after diagnosis, and now up to 60% survive that long," he said.
"Despite these improvements, we still lose far too many of our patients to this disease, and we have a long way to go before we can say we have conquered it."


upi--2020-08-12--Louisiana man warns of large lizard on the loose

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- A Louisiana man is warning neighbors to be on the lookout for his unusual @ @ @ @ @ monitor lizard .
Michael Lauraine said in a Facebook post his 2 1/2-foot lizard , @ @ @ @ @ home during the weekend and is believed to be wandering loose in the area .
@ @ @ @ @ try to capture the reptile without expert assistance .
`` Please do not try to @ @ @ @ @ n't know you and will react out of fear , '' Lauraine wrote .
Nile @ @ @ @ @ up to 7 feet long and are known to eat smaller animals .
Louisiana Department @ @ @ @ @ an investigation has been opened into the lizard 's escape .
`` The LDWF Enforcement @ @ @ @ @ whether or not any regulations were violated in relation to the liberating of this lizard @ @ @ @ @ can not comment any further on it at this time , '' the department said @ @ @ @

A Louisiana man revealed his pet Nile monitor lizard escaped from his home and is wandering loose in Livingston Parish. Photo courtesy of Bernard DuPont/Wikimedia Commons
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A Louisiana man is warning neighbors to be on the lookout for his unusual escaped pet -- a Nile monitor lizard. Michael Lauraine said in a Facebook post his 2 1/2-foot lizard, Kido, escaped from his home during the weekend and is believed to be wandering loose in the area. Advertisement
Lauraine warned neighbors not to try to capture the reptile without expert assistance.
"Please do not try to pick him up he doesn't know you and will react out of fear," Lauraine wrote.
Nile monitors can grow to be up to 7 feet long and are known to eat smaller animals.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said an investigation has been opened into the lizard's escape.
"The LDWF Enforcement Division is currently looking into whether or not any regulations were violated in relation to the liberating of this lizard into the wild. We cannot comment any further on it at this time," the department said in a statement.


upi--2020-08-12--S&P closes just short of record high as markets rally

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- The S & P 500 narrowly missed a record close on Wednesday as markets rallied after a poor performance on Tuesday .
At the end of trading Wednesday , the S & P 500 gained 1.4 % to reach 3,380.35 points , falling just short of its record closing high of 3,386.15 and 0.4 % below its intraday all-time high .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 296.23 points , or 1.07 % , while the Nasdaq Composite increased 2.13 % .
Tech stocks , which had stumbled to begin the week helped to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gained 3.32 % , Microsoft rose 2.86 % Amazon grew 2.65 % , Facebook increased 1.47 % , Netflix rose 1.83 % and Google 's parent company , Alphabet , ended the day up 1.8 % .
Despite the United States reporting fewer than 50,000 new COVID-19 cases , stocks related to travel , retail and other business that would benefit from lifting restrictions related to the pandemic performed poorly on Wednesday , with Carnival falling 4 % .
Bank stocks also faltered on Wednesday as JPMorgan Chase stock fell 0.85 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America slid 0.71 % .
Markets also responded positively to President Donald Trump announcing Tuesday that the United States reached a deal with biotech company Moderna to secure 100 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate .

The S&P 500 closed just short of its record closing high on Wednesday, as markets bounced back from a poor performance the day earlier. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The S&P 500 narrowly missed a record close on Wednesday as markets rallied after a poor performance on Tuesday. At the end of trading Wednesday, the S&P 500 gained 1.4% to reach 3,380.35 points, falling just short of its record closing high of 3,386.15 and 0.4% below its intraday all-time high. Advertisement
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 296.23 points, or 1.07%, while the Nasdaq Composite increased 2.13%.
Tech stocks, which had stumbled to begin the week helped to lead the rally Wednesday, as Apple gained 3.32%, Microsoft rose 2.86% Amazon grew 2.65%, Facebook increased 1.47%, Netflix rose 1.83% and Google's parent company, Alphabet, ended the day up 1.8%.
Despite the United States reporting fewer than 50,000 new COVID-19 cases, stocks related to travel, retail and other business that would benefit from lifting restrictions related to the pandemic performed poorly on Wednesday, with Carnival falling 4%.
Bank stocks also faltered on Wednesday as JPMorgan Chase stock fell 0.85%, Citigroup dropped 0.76% and Bank of America slid 0.71%.
Markets also responded positively to President Donald Trump announcing Tuesday that the United States reached a deal with biotech company Moderna to secure 100 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate.


upi--2020-08-12--Watch: German circus sells jars of lion poop for gardening

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- A German circus that has been closed for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ by selling lion poop .
The Krone Circus said it is selling jars filled with @ @ @ @ @ officials said can be spread in a home garden to keep pets and wild animals @ @ @ @ @ circus said customers can visit the pop-up store during special business hours Monday through Friday @ @ @ @ @ lion feces can also be purchased for shipment online .
The circus erected a large @ @ @ @ @ '' outside the business to celebrate the new venture .

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Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A German circus that has been closed for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic is making some extra money by selling lion poop.
The Krone Circus said it is selling jars filled with big cat droppings, which officials said can be spread in a home garden to keep pets and wild animals from damaging plants.
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The circus said customers can visit the pop-up store during special business hours Monday through Friday, and the jars of lion feces can also be purchased for shipment online.
The circus erected a large sculpture dubbed "Mr. Poo" outside the business to celebrate the new venture.


upi--2020-08-12--New study shows how the smallest galaxies produce stars

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- Astronomers finally have an explanation for how some of the cosmos ' smallest galaxies make new stars .
Dwarf galaxies do n't typically host as many stars as larger galaxies like the Milky Way , but they 're no lightweights either -- some have outsized stellar populations .
Now , a study published Wednesday in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society suggests a few of the universe 's smallest galaxies are able to resume stellar production after billions of years of dormancy .
`` It is estimated that these dwarf galaxies stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' lead researcher Martin Rey , an astrophysicist at Lund University in Sweden , said in a news release .
`` Our study shows that this can be a temporary hiatus . ''
New high-resolution computer models suggest heating and ionization triggered by the energy of newborn stars halts stellar production inside dwarf galaxies .
The simulations , however , also showed that star formation can resume after a prolonged hiatus .
`` Our simulations show that dwarf galaxies are able to accumulate fuel in the form of gas , which eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Rey said .
`` This explains the observed star formation in existing faint dwarf galaxies , which has long puzzled astronomers . ''
The new research was time-consuming and energy-intensive , researchers said , with each simulation running on 40 laptops for up to two months .
The modeling effort showed that while most dwarf galaxies remain permanently dormant , a few are able to accumulate enough mass to reignite star formation .
`` By deepening our understanding of this subject , we gain new insights into the modeling of astrophysical processes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the heating and cooling of cosmic gas , '' Rey said .
`` In addition , further work is underway to predict how many such star-forming dwarfs exist in our Universe , and could be discovered by astronomical telescopes , '' he said .

The Phoenix dwarf galaxy is one of the few dwarf galaxies capable of generating new stars. Photo by European Southern Observatory
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Astronomers finally have an explanation for how some of the cosmos' smallest galaxies make new stars. Dwarf galaxies don't typically host as many stars as larger galaxies like the Milky Way, but they're no lightweights either -- some have outsized stellar populations. Advertisement
Now, a study published Wednesday in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society suggests a few of the universe's smallest galaxies are able to resume stellar production after billions of years of dormancy.
"It is estimated that these dwarf galaxies stopped forming stars around 12 billion years ago," lead researcher Martin Rey, an astrophysicist at Lund University in Sweden, said in a news release. "Our study shows that this can be a temporary hiatus."
New high-resolution computer models suggest heating and ionization triggered by the energy of newborn stars halts stellar production inside dwarf galaxies.
The simulations, however, also showed that star formation can resume after a prolonged hiatus.
"Our simulations show that dwarf galaxies are able to accumulate fuel in the form of gas, which eventually condenses and gives birth to stars," Rey said. "This explains the observed star formation in existing faint dwarf galaxies, which has long puzzled astronomers."
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The new research was time-consuming and energy-intensive, researchers said, with each simulation running on 40 laptops for up to two months.
The modeling effort showed that while most dwarf galaxies remain permanently dormant, a few are able to accumulate enough mass to reignite star formation.
"By deepening our understanding of this subject, we gain new insights into the modeling of astrophysical processes such as star explosions, as well as the heating and cooling of cosmic gas," Rey said.
"In addition, further work is underway to predict how many such star-forming dwarfs exist in our Universe, and could be discovered by astronomical telescopes," he said.


upi--2020-08-12--Air Force helicopter shot at midair, service member injured

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- A military helicopter made an emergency landing Wednesday in Manassas , Va. , after @ @ @ @ @ bullet , injuring a service member inside , U.S. military officials said .
The UH-1N @ @ @ @ @ routine training mission when the incident occurred , a spokesperson from Joint Base Andrews said @ @ @ @ @ bullet caused a minor injury to an aircrew member and damage to the aircraft , @ @ @ @ @ 1st Helicopter Squadron .
The FBI said the injured service member was treated and released @ @ @ @ @ The aircraft safely landed and the incident is currently under investigation , '' the spokesperson @ @ @ @ @ Washington Field Office said it dispatched special agents to the Manassas Airport to investigate the @ @ @ @ @ Joint Base Andrews called on members of the public with any information about the shooting @ @ @ @

The UH-1N Huey assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron was conducting routine training when it was shot at. File Photo by 2nd Lt. Jessica Cicchetto/U.S. Air Force
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A military helicopter made an emergency landing Wednesday in Manassas, Va., after it was struck by a bullet, injuring a service member inside, U.S. military officials said. The UH-1N Huey helicopter was conducting a routine training mission when the incident occurred, a spokesperson from Joint Base Andrews said in a statement. Advertisement
The bullet caused a minor injury to an aircrew member and damage to the aircraft, which is attached to the 1st Helicopter Squadron. The FBI said the injured service member was treated and released from the hospital.
"The aircraft safely landed and the incident is currently under investigation," the spokesperson said.
The FBI's Washington Field Office said it dispatched special agents to the Manassas Airport to investigate the incident.
The FBI and Joint Base Andrews called on members of the public with any information about the shooting to contact authorities.


upi--2020-08-12--In Photos: Japan commemorates 35th anniversary of plane crash disaster

The JAL Flight 123 crash is one of the worst single-plane disasters in history , with 520 deaths and only @ @ @ @ @ Keizo Mori/UPI

The JAL Flight 123 crash is one of the worst single-plane disasters in history, with 520 deaths and only four survivors. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI


upi--2020-08-12--Aquarium drains wishing waterfall for 100 gallons of extra cash

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- An aquarium in North Carolina said it drained a wishing waterfall to cash in @ @ @ @ @ coins -- about 100 gallons ' worth .
The North Carolina Aquarium in Pine Knoll @ @ @ @ @ waterfall , which for 14 years served as a wishing fountain for visitors seeking to @ @ @ @ @ luck .
The aquarium said employees sifted out about 100 gallons of coins -- as @ @ @ @ @ , toys and jewelry .
Officials said the money removed from the waterfall will go @ @ @ @ @ at the facility , which has been closed to the public for nearly six months @ @ @ @ @ They said employees do not yet know exactly how much money was removed from the @ @

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Aug. 12 (UPI) -- An aquarium in North Carolina said it drained a wishing waterfall to cash in on 14 years of tossed coins -- about 100 gallons' worth.
The North Carolina Aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores said employees drained the waterfall, which for 14 years served as a wishing fountain for visitors seeking to trade their coins for good luck.
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The aquarium said employees sifted out about 100 gallons of coins -- as well as objects including eyeglasses, toys and jewelry.
Officials said the money removed from the waterfall will go toward care for the animals at the facility, which has been closed to the public for nearly six months amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
They said employees do not yet know exactly how much money was removed from the waterfall.


upi--2020-08-12--Israel stops attempted cyberattack on defense companies

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- An attempted cyberattack on Israeli defense companies was stopped , the country 's Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday .
Government officials said the attack came from an `` international cyber group called 'Lazarus , ' '' which used fake profiles on the social media platform LinkedIn in an attempt to gain access to computer systems .
`` The Malamav [ an agency of Israeli government security ] , in cooperation with other bodies in the security community , thwarted a cyberattack against leading defense industries in the State of Israel , '' the Defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The scheme aimed to send corrupt computer files hidden in job offers from impersonated CEOs and human resources offices at Israeli high-tech firm in order to eventually gather sensitive information , officials said .
Israel did not identify a foreign country as the attacker , but the United States has linked `` Lazarus '' to North Korea .
Israeli officials also did not name the companies involved in the potential security breaches .
The cyberattacks were discovered in real time , with no interruption to the work of the defense companies , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security Directorate has launched an investigation with other security agencies and the defense industry .

A cyberattack on Israeli defense firms was stopped this week, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced in Wednesday. Photo by Kirya/Wikipedia
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- An attempted cyberattack on Israeli defense companies was stopped, the country's Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday. Government officials said the attack came from an "international cyber group called 'Lazarus,'" which used fake profiles on the social media platform LinkedIn in an attempt to gain access to computer systems. Advertisement
"The Malamav [an agency of Israeli government security], in cooperation with other bodies in the security community, thwarted a cyberattack against leading defense industries in the State of Israel," the Defense Ministry said in a Twitter message.
The scheme aimed to send corrupt computer files hidden in job offers from impersonated CEOs and human resources offices at Israeli high-tech firm in order to eventually gather sensitive information, officials said.
Israel did not identify a foreign country as the attacker, but the United States has linked "Lazarus" to North Korea. Israeli officials also did not name the companies involved in the potential security breaches.
The cyberattacks were discovered in real time, with no interruption to the work of the defense companies, the Defense Ministry said.
The country's Security Directorate has launched an investigation with other security agencies and the defense industry.
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upi--2020-08-12--In Photos: Moments from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's career

Left to right , Johnson , Nicole `` Snooki '' Polizzi , and wrestler John Cena stand on the stage @ @ @ @ @ up to the wrestling stars facing off the following week , in New York City @ @ @ @ @ .
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

World Wrestling Federation (WWF) star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson poses with his wax image at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in New York City on April 10, 2002. Earlier that year, the wrestler starred in his first acting role in "The Scorpion King." Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI


upi--2020-08-12--Navajo Nation president seeks clemency for death row inmate Lezmond Mitchell

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez has appealed to President Donald Trump to grant clemency to a death row prisoner scheduled to be executed later this month .
Lezmond Mitchell , 37 , is set to die by lethal injection Aug. 26 at the U.S. Penitentiary , Terre Haute , Ind .
He was sentenced to death for the 2001 murder of two Navajo people -- a woman and her granddaughter -- on reservation land .
Nez met with a U.S. pardon attorney Tuesday to advocate for a commutation for Mitchell .
The Navajo Nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. government should n't be able to execute Mitchell .
`` The Navajo Nation is respectfully requesting a commutation of the death sentence and the imposition of a life sentence for Mr. Mitchell , '' Nez and Navajo Vice President Myron Lizer said in a letter to Trump on July 31 .
`` This request honors our religious and traditional beliefs , the Navajo Nation 's long-standing position on the death penalty for Native Americans , and our respect for the decision of the victim 's family ... We need to address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust of our federal partners and to continue to work on the importance of protecting our people . ''
Under the Federal Death Penalty Act , the U.S. government ca n't seek the death penalty for murder committed on tribal land unless said tribe allows it .
The U.S. Attorney 's Office in Arizona originally did n't seek the death penalty for Mitchell , but received pressure from then-Attorney General John Ashcroft to do so .
Defense attorneys Jonathan Aminoff and Celeste Bacchi said that since the Navajo Nation was against the death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government used a `` loophole '' to charge him with a lesser crime -- carjacking resulting in death .
This allowed the government to seek the death penalty without tribal approval .
The defense team also accused the U.S. government of misconduct for allegedly jailing and questioning Mitchell for 25 days without providing him a lawyer and preventing Navajos from serving on his jury .
Mitchell and co-defendant Johnny Orsinger were convicted in 2003 for the deaths of Alyce Slim , 63 , and her granddaughter Tiffany Lee , 9 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before stealing her vehicle and driving it to another location where they stabbed and beat the girl to death and dismembered their bodies to prevent identification .
Mitchell and Orsinger used the vehicle to commit a robbery and when they were caught by police , Mitchell led them to the buried bodies .
Orsinger , who was a juvenile at the time , was sentenced to life in prison .
Attorney General William Barr resumed federal executions this month after a 17-year hiatus .
The Bureau of Prisons executed three men -- Daniel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dustin Lee Honken -- within a span of a week .
The men sued over the government 's decision to use a single-drug lethal injection protocol , saying it violated the law which requires federal executions to use the same method as the individual states where the murders were committed .
If his execution proceeds , Mitchell will be the fourth federal execution this year and the first Native American to be executed in modern U.S. history , his lawyers said .

Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez has appealed to President Donald Trump to grant clemency to a death row prisoner scheduled to be executed later this month.
Lezmond Mitchell, 37, is set to die by lethal injection Aug. 26 at the U.S. Penitentiary, Terre Haute, Ind. He was sentenced to death for the 2001 murder of two Navajo people -- a woman and her granddaughter -- on reservation land.
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Nez met with a U.S. pardon attorney Tuesday to advocate for a commutation for Mitchell. The Navajo Nation is against the death penalty and argues the U.S. government shouldn't be able to execute Mitchell.
"The Navajo Nation is respectfully requesting a commutation of the death sentence and the imposition of a life sentence for Mr. Mitchell," Nez and Navajo Vice President Myron Lizer said in a letter to Trump on July 31.
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"This request honors our religious and traditional beliefs, the Navajo Nation's long-standing position on the death penalty for Native Americans, and our respect for the decision of the victim's family ... We need to address this issue to move forward in our trust of our federal partners and to continue to work on the importance of protecting our people."
Under the Federal Death Penalty Act, the U.S. government can't seek the death penalty for murder committed on tribal land unless said tribe allows it. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona originally didn't seek the death penalty for Mitchell, but received pressure from then-Attorney General John Ashcroft to do so.
Defense attorneys Jonathan Aminoff and Celeste Bacchi said that since the Navajo Nation was against the death penalty in Mitchell's case, the federal government used a "loophole" to charge him with a lesser crime -- carjacking resulting in death. This allowed the government to seek the death penalty without tribal approval.
The defense team also accused the U.S. government of misconduct for allegedly jailing and questioning Mitchell for 25 days without providing him a lawyer and preventing Navajos from serving on his jury.
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Mitchell and co-defendant Johnny Orsinger were convicted in 2003 for the deaths of Alyce Slim, 63, and her granddaughter Tiffany Lee, 9.
The two men stabbed Slim dozens of times before stealing her vehicle and driving it to another location where they stabbed and beat the girl to death and dismembered their bodies to prevent identification. Mitchell and Orsinger used the vehicle to commit a robbery and when they were caught by police, Mitchell led them to the buried bodies.
Orsinger, who was a juvenile at the time, was sentenced to life in prison.
Attorney General William Barr resumed federal executions this month after a 17-year hiatus. The Bureau of Prisons executed three men -- Daniel Lewis Lee, Wesley Ira Purkey and Dustin Lee Honken -- within a span of a week. The men sued over the government's decision to use a single-drug lethal injection protocol, saying it violated the law which requires federal executions to use the same method as the individual states where the murders were committed.
If his execution proceeds, Mitchell will be the fourth federal execution this year and the first Native American to be executed in modern U.S. history, his lawyers said.


upi--2020-08-12--B-2 bombers fly to Diego Garcia in Indian Ocean

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- Three B-2 stealth bombers were deployed to a remote Indian Ocean base , the Defense Department announced on Wednesday .
The bombers arrived at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia , a base jointly operated by the United States and Britain on the archipelago of Diego Garcia , at the equator in the Indian Ocean .
The 29-hour trip from Whiteman Air Force Base , Mo.
, began on Tuesday , Pacific Air Forces said in a statement .
Although the statement said that `` the U.S. Strategic Command routinely conducts BTF [ Bomber Task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the planes ' arrival follows the deployment to Diego Garcia , earlier this year , of six B-52H bombers .
The B-52 deployment also came at the height of tension between the United States and Iran , officials said .
China has a series of military exercises planned for next week in the South China Sea -- possibly a simulated attack on Taiwanese islands in the region -- and the arrival of both of China 's aircraft carriers , are expected .
The Indo-Pacific region has recently seen increased military activity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and allies in coming months .
The most recent deployment of a B-2 to the Indo-Pacific Command came in January 2019 , when three B-2s and about 200 Air Force personal arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam , Hawaii .
A B-2 last arrived at Diego Garcia in 2016 .
The secluded nature of the air base offers B-2s safety , as well as quick access to the Middle East and the South China Sea , officials have said .
It is one of a handful of bases equipped to serve the plane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar , although that location is within reach of Iranian ballistic missiles .

A U.S. Air Force B-2 bomber lands at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia on Wednesday. Photo by TSgt. Heather Salazar/USAF
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Three B-2 stealth bombers were deployed to a remote Indian Ocean base, the Defense Department announced on Wednesday. The bombers arrived at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, a base jointly operated by the United States and Britain on the archipelago of Diego Garcia, at the equator in the Indian Ocean. Advertisement
The 29-hour trip from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., began on Tuesday, Pacific Air Forces said in a statement.
Although the statement said that "the U.S. Strategic Command routinely conducts BTF [Bomber Task Force] operations across the globe," the planes' arrival follows the deployment to Diego Garcia, earlier this year, of six B-52H bombers.
The B-52 deployment also came at the height of tension between the United States and Iran, officials said.
China has a series of military exercises planned for next week in the South China Sea -- possibly a simulated attack on Taiwanese islands in the region -- and the arrival of both of China's aircraft carriers, are expected.
The Indo-Pacific region has recently seen increased military activity, with planned exercises involving the United States and allies in coming months.
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The most recent deployment of a B-2 to the Indo-Pacific Command came in January 2019, when three B-2s and about 200 Air Force personal arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
A B-2 last arrived at Diego Garcia in 2016. The secluded nature of the air base offers B-2s safety, as well as quick access to the Middle East and the South China Sea, officials have said.
It is one of a handful of bases equipped to serve the plane. The B-2 is also housed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, although that location is within reach of Iranian ballistic missiles.


upi--2020-08-12--Watch: Firefighters rescue teen trapped in safe at gun range

Aug. 12 ( UPI ) -- Firefighters responded to a gun range in Florida to rescue a teenager who became @ @ @ @ @ safe on the showroom floor .
The Orlando Fire Department said the teen girl climbed @ @ @ @ @ Shooters World in Orlando and the door closed behind her , trapping her inside .
@ @ @ @ @ White said the Tower 10 crew used hydraulic extraction tools to force the door open @ @ @ @ @ manufacturers ' suggestions and unfortunately the fail-safe system failed on it , '' White told @ @ @ @ @ not injured during the rescue .
`` We were able to tell the minor what @ @ @ @ @ outside so they would n't be too concerned or scared , and had them back @ @ @ @ @ possible from our entry point , '' White said .

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Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Firefighters responded to a gun range in Florida to rescue a teenager who became trapped inside a large gun safe on the showroom floor.
The Orlando Fire Department said the teen girl climbed into the safe Tuesday at Shooters World in Orlando and the door closed behind her, trapping her inside.
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Orlando Fire District Chief JJ White said the Tower 10 crew used hydraulic extraction tools to force the door open.
"We tried the manufacturers' suggestions and unfortunately the fail-safe system failed on it," White told WKMG-TV.
The teenager was not injured during the rescue.
"We were able to tell the minor what we were doing from the outside so they wouldn't be too concerned or scared, and had them back away as far away as possible from our entry point," White said.