December 14, 2022 2:32 am
The Mon Valley Alliance and the Greater Charleroi Community Development Corporation gathered with Commonwealth Officials to announce a Neighborhood Partnership Program offered to Charleroi for the first time. The six year plan is worth $1.5 million and will be funded by four local and regional businesses. LaCarte Enterprises, Fourth Street Barbecue, Key Bank and UPMC Health Plan will collectively contribute $250,000 to the plan annually. In return the companies will earn a tax credit. Jamie Colecchi, CEO of the Mon Valley Alliance credits the hard work of business leaders, service program providers and private partners in landing the program and developing a program that will serve Charleroi’s unique needs. Contributor John LaCarte of LaCarte Enterprises, a fourth generation Charleroi corporation, said he is only too happy to help the program and develop the sense of pride that his grandfather had when he immigrated to this country and started his business in Charleroi. The Neighborhood Partnership Program is part of a $36 million tax credit program under the Neighborhood Assistance Program. In Charleroi it will drive housing development, downtown development and social services particularly with the growing immigrant population. (Front Left to Right: Ian Luluicci, KeyBank; Renee Bonari, KeyBank; Nathan B. Sommer, KeyBank; Dana Scarpino, UMPC Health Plan; Ali Doyle, the Governor’s Regional Representative; John LaCarte, LaCarte Enterprises; Jamie Colecchi, MVA; Bud Cook, PA State Representative)
December 13, 2022 4:54 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden has signed gay marriage legislation into law before a crowd of thousands, a ceremony that reflects growing acceptance of same-sex unions. “This law and the love it defends strike a blow against hate in all its forms,” Biden said Tuesday on the South Lawn of the White House. “And that’s why this law matters to every single American.” Lawmakers from both parties were there, as well as first lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff. Singers Sam Smith and Cyndi Lauper performed. (Photo: AP)
December 13, 2022 4:24 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Inflation in the United States slowed again last month in the latest sign that price increases are gradually cooling despite the pressures they continue to inflict on American households. Consumer prices rose 7.1% in November from a year ago. That was down from 7.7% in October and a recent peak of 9.1% in June. It was the fifth straight slowdown. On a month-to-month basis, the consumer price index rose just 0.1% in November, down from 0.4% in October. Even with last month’s further easing of inflation, the Federal Reserve plans to keep raising interest rates. On Wednesday, the Fed is set to boost its benchmark rate for a seventh time this year.
December 13, 2022 4:22 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Scientists announced that they have for the first time produced more energy in a fusion reaction than was used to ignite it. The achievement marks a major breakthrough in the decades-long quest to harness the process that powers the sun. The Energy Department said Tuesday that researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California achieved the result, which is called net energy gain. Net energy gain has been an elusive goal because fusion happens at such high temperatures and pressures that it is incredibly difficult to control. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and other officials say the breakthrough will pave the way for advancements in national defense and the future of clean power.
December 13, 2022 4:21 am
BEIJING (AP) – Some Chinese universities say they will allow students to finish the semester from home in hopes of reducing the potential for a bigger COVID-19 outbreak during the January Lunar New Year travel rush. It wasn’t clear how many schools were taking part. But universities in Shanghai and nearby cities said students would be given the option of either returning home early or staying on campus and undergoing testing every 48 hours. Universities have been the scene of frequent lockdowns over the past three years, occasionally leading to clashes between the authorities and students. Tuesday’s announcements came as China begins relaxing its strict “zero-COVID” policy, allowing people with mild symptoms to recuperate at home.
December 13, 2022 4:20 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has charged the former CEO of failed cryptocurrency firm FTX with orchestrating a scheme to defraud investors. A civil complaint filed Tuesday alleges that Sam Bankman-Fried raised more than $1.8 billion from equity investors since May 2019 by promoting FTX as a safe, responsible platform for trading crypto assets. The complaint says Bankman-Fried diverted customer funds to Alameda Research LLC, his privately-held crypto fund, without telling them. The complaint also says Bankman-Fried commingled FTX customers’ funds at Alameda to make undisclosed venture investments, lavish real estate purchases, and large political donations.
December 13, 2022 4:19 am
Elon Musk’s Twitter has dissolved its Trust and Safety Council. That’s the advisory group of nearly 100 independent civil, human rights and other organizations that the company formed in 2016 to address hate speech, child exploitation, suicide, self-harm and other problems on the platform. The council had been scheduled to meet with Twitter representatives on Monday night. But Twitter informed the group via email that it was disbanding it shortly before the meeting was to take place. That’s according to multiple council members who provided images of the email to The Associated Press. They spoke on the condition of anonymity due to fears of retaliation.
December 13, 2022 4:17 am
Peters Township Council had funding as its theme on Monday night. Council adopted the 2023 budget with no tax increase for the second year in a row. According to Township Manager Paul Lauer the $27 million budget will be increasing payroll by adding two firemen and three school resource officers. It will also totally reconstruct Longvue Drive, a road adopted in the 1970’s that once completed will meet township road standards. Council also was paid a visit by Representative Natalie Mihalek. She brought with her a $650,000 Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program grant. That matching grant will be dedicated to improvements at baseball fields 1 and 2 at Peterswood Park. Improvements include new dugouts, press boxes, lighting and a synthetic turf infield.
December 13, 2022 4:15 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – As flu cases ramp up, several local pharmacies are struggling to keep Tamiflu in stock, including the Medicine Shoppe along Bailey Avenue in Mount Washington. They’ve been out of stock for about a month. “A lot of main wholesalers are all out of it,” said Medicine Shoppe owner Jamie Wyles. “We do shop a lot of secondary wholesalers looking for it, but no one seems to have any at the moment.” Owners of some local pharmacies said sourcing Tamiflu has been hit or miss so far this flu season. Tamiflu is used to treat flu symptoms within 48 hours. Wyles said it’s concerning that they are seeing a shortage of it this early in the season. Normally it happens later in January or February. “Right now, it’s nowhere to be found,” said Wyles. This comes at a time when flu cases in Pennsylvania are high, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And there have been almost 8,000 more cases in Allegheny County compared to this time last year, according to the county’s health department. If you get a prescription for Tamiflu, double check with your pharmacy to see if they have it before you go. Blueberry Pharmacy in West View said they have Tamiflu in stock. Doctors say the best way to fight the flu is by getting a flu shot.
December 13, 2022 4:10 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – The death of a man who fell from an escalator at Acrisure Stadium has officially been ruled accidental, according to the Medical Examiner’s office. Dalton Keane, a 27-year-old father of one, died in the hospital after falling from an escalator in the stadium while attending a Steelers game in October. Police told Channel 11 that investigation and eyewitness reports showed that the case was not criminal. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office listed Keane’s cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries of head, trunk and extremities due to falling.
