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TESTS SHOW NEW VIRUS LIVES ON SOME SURFACES FOR UP TO 3 DAYS

UNDATED (AP) — Tests led by U.S. government scientists show that the new coronavirus can live in the air for several hours and on some surfaces for up to three days. Their work, published on Wednesday, suggests that the virus can spread through the air as well as from touching things that were contaminated by others who have it. Experts say it shows the importance of the hygiene steps health officials recommend, such as washing your hands and not touching your face. The virus can live up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

VIRUS NIXES FANS FROM MARCH MADNESS, SOME NHL, NBA GAMES

College basketball's March Madness became the highest-profile sporting event to forego fans during the coronavirus pandemic. The NCAA joined some NBA and NHL teams that have decided to play in largely empty arenas to slow the disease's spread. NCAA President Mark Emmert says only essential staff and limited family will be allowed to attend the men's and women's tournaments, which begin next week. NBA games in San Francisco and NHL games in Columbus, Ohio, and San Jose, California, will also be played without fans. Baseball's Mariners say they will move their games out of Seattle for all of March because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

STORE OWNER CHARGED AFTER HOMEMADE SANITIZER BURNS YOUTHS

RIVER VALE, N.J. (AP) — Authorities say a convenience store owner in New Jersey created and sold a spray sanitizer that left four children with burns in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Authorities issued a summons charging 47-year-old Manisha Bharade with endangering the welfare of children and deceptive business practices. State consumer officials also opened an investigation into the sale and promotion of health and sanitation products at her 7-Eleven store in River Vale. Authorities say Bharade mixed commercially available foaming sanitizer, which wasn't meant for resale, with water and packaged the bottles in her store. Three 10-year-olds and an 11-year-old were burned after using the product.

REPORT: LAND FOR $9.4B COMPLEX COULD HOLD 7 SLAVE CEMETERIES

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Louisiana activists say archaeologists have found that land bought for a planned $9.4 billion plastics complex may include up to seven slave cemeteries — five more than previously thought. Rise St. James founder Sharon Lavigne said she sent a letter about the report to the St. James Parish Council on Wednesday. She wants to convince council members to revoke permits for Formosa Plastics Group member FG LA LLC. The company plans a complex of 10 chemical plants and four other "major facilities" on 2,500 acres in the parish.

UTILITY CREW FINDS HUMAN REMAINS IN CLOGGED SEWER PIPE

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say an underground utility crew checking out a sewer blockage found skeletal remains. Panama City police Chief Scott Ervin says the crew was vacuuming out the sewer on Wednesday morning when the vacuum became clogged. That's when they discovered the bones and called the medical examiner's office. Ervin says they've since learned that the bones are human. The area is now being treated as a crime scene. Ervin says the bones appear to have been in the pipe for some time. No additional details were available.

HEARING STARTS FOR WHETHER HAWAII HEIRESS NEEDS CONSERVATOR

HONOLULU (AP) — A 93-year-old Native Hawaiian heiress says she doesn't need anyone to handle her estate because she isn't dead yet. Abigail Kawananakoa testified in a hearing over whether she needs a conservator to oversee her $215 million trust. A judge has ruled that portions of the hearing that deal with medical or financial information will be closed to the public. Kawananakoa's fortune has been tied up in a court case since her 2017 stroke. People have been watching the battle over her trust because they are concerned about the fate of a foundation she set up to benefit Native Hawaiian causes.