August 1, 2020 4:00 am
NEW YORK (AP) – President Donald Trump says he will take action as soon as Saturday to ban TikTok, a popular Chinese-owned video app that has been a source of national security and censorship concerns. Trump’s comments on Friday aboard Air Force One came after published reports that the administration is planning to order China’s ByteDance to sell TikTok. There were also reports that Microsoft is in talks to buy the app. TikTok says it does not comment on rumors or speculation. TikTok has said it has tens of millions of U.S. users and hundreds of millions globally. But its Chinese ownership has raised concerns about censorship of videos and the potential for sharing user data with Chinese officials.
August 1, 2020 3:58 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House and its GOP allies appear to be retreating from their opposition to a $600-per-week supplemental unemployment benefit that has propped up both the economy and family budgets but expired Friday. The idea is a prominent feature of top-level Washington talks that are set to continue Saturday on a major election-season COVID-19 response measure. The two sides took their case to the media Friday. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows accused Democrats of refusing to negotiate, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said a short-term extension only makes sense if agreement is near on the larger relief bill.
August 1, 2020 3:57 am
NEW YORK (AP) – As the Nov. 3 presidential vote nears, there are fresh signs that the United States’ electoral system is again under attack from foreign adversaries. Intelligence officials confirmed in recent days that foreign actors are actively seeking to compromise the private communications of “U.S. political campaigns, candidates and other political targets” while working to compromise the nation’s election infrastructure. There is no evidence they’ve succeeded in penetrating campaigns or state election systems, but Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential campaign confirmed this week that it has faced multiple related threats. Still, foreign interference largely remains an afterthought in the 2020 contest, even as Republicans and Democrats alike concede it poses a serious threat.
August 1, 2020 3:53 am
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Hurricane Isaias is ripping shingles off roofs and blowing over trees as it carves its way through the Bahamas and heads toward the Florida coast, where officials in Miami are closing beaches, marinas and parks. Officials in Miami have 20 evacuation centers on standby that could be set up with COVID-19 safety measures. Authorities in North Carolina are ordering people on Ocracoke Island to evacuate beginning Saturday evening. Residents on several islands in the Bahamas also have been told to leave their homes.
August 1, 2020 3:47 am
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has dismissed a challenge to the governor’s statewide moratorium on foreclosures and evictions. Friday’s decision leaves in place an order that shields renters from losing their homes for failing to pay rent during the pandemic. Housing advocates expressed relief while landlords said they are frustrated and disappointed. The moratorium is set to expire on Aug. 31. Meanwhile, the Health Department said 970 more people have tested positive for the virus, with 13 new deaths.
August 1, 2020 3:29 am
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said he will not be ordering the closure of schools for the fall, despite rumors. Wolf tweeted Friday that there were “widespread rumors” that he would be announcing a statewide closure of school buildings or the cancellation of fall classes. “I want to be clear: I am not closing school buildings or cancelling classes,” Wolf said. Wolf said school governing boards and administrators will make calls about whether school buildings reopen and if classes will be held in person, remotely or some combination of the two.
August 1, 2020 2:55 am
CALIFORNIA, Pa. — (WPXI) – California University of Pennsylvania will hold classes remotely during the fall semester and all on-campus residence halls will be closed, the school announced Friday. The decision was made based on the recent rise in COVID-19 cases throughout Pennsylvania and across the country, school officials said. Cal U President Geraldine Jones said “it has become apparent that even the best on-campus experience presents too great a risk to our Cal U family. Like many of you, I am eager to return to the Cal U we all know and love. But right now, the risks are simply unacceptable.” Some classes will be offered online, but most will feature real-time remote learning. In addition to classes, student activities will be held virtually and most employees will work off-site. Classes will begin Aug. 24.
July 31, 2020 5:42 pm
UNDATED (AP) – Spirit Airlines has warned up to 30% of its employees that they will lose their jobs in October, and regional carrier ExpressJet’s future is in doubt after losing a key contract as the virus pandemic continues to hammer the airline industry. Spirit is the latest airline to deliver layoff warnings to employees, which are required by federal law 60 days before large-scale job cuts. Earlier in July, United Airlines issued layoff warnings for 36,000 employees, and it warned pilots this week of possible additional job losses this year and next year. American Airlines notified 25,000 workers that they could be furloughed in October, when billions in federal money to help cover payroll costs expires.
July 31, 2020 9:25 am
SAN DIEGO (AP) – Officials say a military seafaring assault vehicle with 15 Marines and a Navy sailor aboard sank off the coast of Southern California, leaving one of the Marines dead and eight missing. A Marine Corps spokesman says they were traveling in the amphibious assault vehicle from the shores of San Clemente Island to a Navy ship Thursday evening when they reported that the vehicle was taking on water. Two of the Marines who were rescued were injured, with one hospitalized in critical condition and the other in stable condition. Military ships and helicopters on Friday were searching choppy seas for the missing amid moderate to strong winds.
July 31, 2020 6:59 am
UNIONTOWN, Pa. — (WPXI) – Police in Uniontown are searching for the shooter who killed a teenager Wednesday night in Uniontown. Investigators said the deadly shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. in the 50 block of Lenox Street. Emergency responders found the 15-year-old victim on the back porch of the home. He had been shot twice and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Police said a warrant has been issued for a 17-year-old suspect, identified as Jadan Shaw (pictured). No arrests have been made at this time. According to a criminal complaint, one person said he was with Shaw and saw him shoot the victim. Another witness told police they also saw Shaw with a black gun in his hand. (Photo: WPXI)
