THE ASTRA ZENECA vaccine is authorized for use in 70 nations, but not yet in the U.S. Results released Monday from a study show it to be 79 percent effective (Shutterstock).

A study of a fourth variety of coronavirus vaccine – AstraZeneca – showed it is highly effective against COVID-19, according to the results a study released on Monday.

The vaccine, which is not yet authorized for use in the United States, is said to be 79 percent effective in preventing cases of the virus that cause symptoms, reports the Associated Press. None of the volunteers who were vaccinated in the study developed severe illnesses or required hospitalizations. This U.S. study did not find any serious side effects such as blood clots, which were reported last week and paused vaccinations for a short time overseas.

The AstraZeneca – developed in Great Britain – vaccine has been authorized for use in 70 nations. The vaccines approved for use in the U.S. are from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

News: Sedition charges weighed over Jan. 6

OATH KEEPERS logo

The U.S. Justice Department is considering sedition charges against members of the Oath Keepers right-wing militia group for the actions in the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

According to The New York Times, several members have already been indicted for conspiring to obstruct Congress.

Sedition – defined as “an incitement or resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority” – carries with it a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison and fines.

Six persons died in the incident when protestors forced their way into the Capitol in an effort to stop the formal election of Joe Biden as president

Business: The check is in the mail, etc.

The next batch of stimulus checks will be issued this week, both in paper and through direct deposit, according to the Internal Revenue Service. USA Today is reporting that the official pay date will be Wednesday, March 24. Some payments may be made via a debit card as well,

Additional payments should be sent on a weekly basis from the $1.9 trillion coronavirus impact stimulus package approved earlier this month by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, termed the American Rescue Plan.

A bull-ish Monday

Wall Street started the week on an upbeat note, posting solid gains in all three major stock trading indexes. The Dow rose by 103.23 points to 32,731.20. The S&P 500 showed an increase of 27.49 to 3,940.59 and the Nasdaq was up by 162.31 to close at 13,377.54.

Sports: Laker star Elgin Baylor dead at 86

ELGIN BAYLOR

Elgin Baylor, the high-flying forward for the Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers whose spectacular play landed him in the NBA Hall of Fame, has died at the age of 86. He twice set league records for scoring in one game with performances of 64 and 71 points before Wilt Chamberlain eclipsed those marks by scoring 100 points for the Philadelphia (now Golden State) Warriors in 1962.

When combined with Jerry West and Chamberlain on the Lakers, he contended for the NBA team title repeatedly, but lost seven times to the Boston Celtics and once to the New York Knicks.

After retirement, he coached the Utah Jazz and served as general manager for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Bruins have sweet win

The UCLA men’s basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA national championship series Monday with a 67-47 win over Abilene Christian. Next up for the Bruins (20-9) will be a game against Alabama, which advanced with a win over Maryland 96-77.

Trojans are still on track

The USC men’s basketball team also advanced to the “Sweet 16” round of the NCAA tournament Monday with an 85-51 win over Kansas. The Trojans (24-7) will next face Oregon in a Pac-12 rematch on Saturday or Sunday. The Ducks advanced with a 95-80 win over Iowa.

Weather:  Breezy days coming

It’s going to continue to be pleasant in the West Orange County area, but hang on to your hats. Daytime highs will continue to be in the high 60s and low 70s through Wednesday, and then drop into the low to mid-60s later in the week. Winds will kick up into the 15 to 20 mile-an-hour range. In the coastal Huntington Beach area, daytime highs will be two to four degrees cooler. A small craft advisory is in place because of the winds.