But, folks, questions abound. How many games will actually be played, though, as the sport is reeling from a rash of COVID-related cancellations, adjustments and postponements? That’s an excellent question. What will those matchups be? Another great query. If nothing else, many are different now than they were on Monday, and others will certainly change again before tip-off time. Oh, and what the heck does MTE stand for? That one, friends, is a 2020 special — it stands for Multiple Team Event, where a host location (sometimes a place, sometimes a school/team) invites several schools/teams to their place for multiple days of games....

According to the World Health Organization, an outbreak of the disease now known as COVID-19 was first reported in Wuhan, in central China, in December. Italy’s first COVID patient was detected on February 21 in a town near Milan, in the northern region of Lombardy. But a study by the researchers at the National Cancer Institute in Milan found COVID-19 antibodies in blood samples from as early as September last year....

The survey, which was conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and published Wednesday, found that at least 30 percent of respondents have indicated that they definitely will not, or probably will not, receive the inoculation. Among those surveyed, 15 percent said they were certain they won’t get vaccinated, while 17 percent said they probably won’t. The poll surveyed 1,055 U.S. adults from January 28 through February 1....

While it is clear that the three COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use in the United States are highly effective at preventing disease—particularly serious cases and deaths—the science is not yet settled on the question of transmission. Nevertheless, experts say there is evidence to suggest that these vaccines do reduce infections. Scott Halpern, an intensive care physician and epidemiologist at the University of Pennsylvania, told Newsweek, this evidence comes in three main forms....

As soon as Payton stepped down as Saints coach earlier this week, rumors began swirling about a reunion between Payton and Jones in Dallas in the near future. MORE: Why is Sean Payton stepping away from the Saints? It’s reasonable that those questions started being asked and those assumptions started being made, because Jones sounded noncommittal about current Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy as recently as last week. He finally committed to McCarthy for 2022 during a radio appearance Friday....

Yet, at the same time, it’s not that hard to believe, considering the Cowboys’ plight during his time there. He’s coached the Cowboys for 6 1/2 seasons. Only two coaches in the NFL divisional playoffs have less experience, and those two (the Texans’ Bill O’Brien, the Falcons’ Dan Quinn) are also the only ones with less playoff experience. One of the coaches with more of both, the Packers’ Mike McCarthy, will be on the opposite sideline in AT&T Stadium on Sunday....

After finishing off a 75-yard drive to take the lead 20-17 at FedEx Field Sunday, coach Jason Garrett inexplicably called for an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff. It did not go well, to say the least: The kick hit a Cowboy players’ leg before it traveled the required 10 yards. So the fact that the Cowboys recovered it was moot. MORE: Week 2 Power Rankings The penalty gave Washington the ball at the Dallas 38-yard line — as well as the momentum they had just lost....

Elliott, selected fourth overall by the Cowboys in the 2016 draft, officially became a holdout when he didn’t report for the opening of Dallas’ training camp in Oxnard, California. It’s not clear how long Elliott’s holdout will last, but ESPN reported Tuesday that Elliott’s representatives told the Cowboys he won’t play this season without a new contract. Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones later in the day said the the ultimatum is “news to us and it certainly doesn’t change anything,” while also describing Dallas’ offer to Elliott as “very generous....

A deal could be finalized Thursday, according to ESPN.com. MORE: Angry, vengeful QBs could be league’s best in 2016 Foles, who was released by the Rams on July 27, has other suitors in the Vikings and Chiefs. But the Cowboys are the most logical choice with the biggest need after Moore, the primary backup to Tony Romo, broke his ankle Tuesday. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Wednesday the team has spoken with Foles, who was a three-year starter for the Eagles before getting traded to the Rams....

The Cardinals need this win to get closer to the Seahawks (5-0) in the NFC West and also strengthen their wild-card playoff chances. With the Eagles (1-4-1) and Washington (1-5) losing in Week 6, the Cowboys can start building a comfortable lead in the NFC East. Arizona comes in with a dangerous offense and Dallas can move the ball well with Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup to help Dalton....

The second-year Cardinals quarterback — who now has a 7-0 record in Jerry World dating to high school — completed just 9 of 24 passes for 188 yards and two scores to receiver Christian Kirk. That alone would have been enough to beat an anemic Cowboys team on “Monday Night Football,” but the Cardinals (4-2) poured it on for a resounding 38-10 win over Dallas (2-4). Murray displayed his elite speed throughout the game, rushing 10 times for 74 yards and another score....

The daily grind of training is very much a team effort. Having that extra push to finish the last interval of a grueling track workout or the last set of a tedious weight session can be invaluable. MORE: Track and field’s record-breaking women | How Zika virus might affect Rio Olympics Racing, however, is a zero-sum game — only one person can win the race. But at Saturday’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Los Angeles, teammates Amy Cragg and Shalane Flanagan broke the rules of individual sport with their team effort to both qualify for the Rio Olympic Games....

For now, Kimbrel and Jansen rank first and second, respectively, all-time in strikeout to baserunners allowed differential. Let’s break down the significance of their ability to strike batters out and limit baserunners. MORE: MLB Non-Stars: The most disappointing performers of the first half There have been 9,394 players who have thrown a pitch in a major league game. Only 100 — or about 1 percent — have more strikeouts than baserunners allowed....

Other possible symptoms include an asymmetrical face and a larger or smaller head than normal. This article discusses the common and rare symptoms of craniosynostosis and its complications. Frequent Symptoms The most frequent symptom of craniosynostosis is a misshapen head. The shape of your little one’s head depends on which type of craniosynostosis they have and which sutures fuse: Sagittal synostosis appears as a long, narrow head. This head shape is known as scaphocephaly....

The Muncie Animal Care and Services (MACS) said it found the abandoned animals by a river near Reynard Road on Sunday. It added the cats and kittens were left without food and water and were crowded together and that some were only one week old. But the shelter has said it is over capacity with more than 100 cats and is now calling on people to adopt the animals....

On the practical side, adding seating, lighting and music are all easy ways to enhance outdoor entertaining. One way to take those kinds of products to the next level is to inject some connectivity into them. For example, smart home lights can be programmed to function the way you what via your phone. Similarly, a Wi-Fi speaker will have more flexibility than a Bluetooth one and will make your patio space more fun....

Quarterdeck Web Author, $50. Those familiar with Microsoft Word will find this just as easy to use. It integrates itself into the word processor, automatically converting Word documents into HTML. Softquad Hot Metal Pro, $195. Professionals will favor Hot Metal for its ability to recognize a wide variety of document formats. Beginners should stay away, since it’s less intuitive than the others. Adobe Page Mill $99. Available only for Macintosh, but great for designers who work with other Adobe products, like Photoshop....

There’s no option in the Alexa desktop or web app to add custom responses to routines. But if you can’t use the mobile app, you can still program Alexa to answer custom questions using Blueprints. If you haven’t already created a routine, you can do so now. Just tap +, select When this happens, and create a trigger for your routine. For example, if you want Alexa to say something based on the behavior of a linked smart home device, choose Smart Home, and then choose the behavior....

NBC affiliate station KNSD reported that this took place just before 5 p.m. local time on Sunday. As police were responding, they received an update that the woman was stuck inside the chimney, prompting them to request the assistance of fire rescue crews. An aide to the watch commander officer with the San Diego Police Department told Newsweek that a woman called and told police her daughter was throwing items on the roof....

Hogg says she is to newborns what Robert Redford’s character was to horses in the three-hankie movie “The Horse Whisperer.” She says she can “read” a fretful baby and figure out what it needs. Ballantine Books believed in her and paid her a whopping $750,000 for a two-book deal. The first, “Secrets of the Baby Whisperer,” has become a best seller, and her 29-city author tour aims to make her name as familiar as Dr....