July 30, 2020 4:26 am
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is continuing his push to reopen schools. He said Wednesday that parents should decide for themselves whether to send their children back into the classroom next month. Florida’s largest school district is announcing it will not reopen schools for in-person learning for the first six weeks of the school year because of the surge of infections. Health officials on Wednesday reported a new single-day record of 216 reported deaths. The state’s death toll now stands at more than 6,330, and the number of confirmed cases at 9,446.
July 30, 2020 4:21 am
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin and union officials say the U.S. Postal Service is considering closing post offices across the country, sparking concerns ahead of the November election because of the increased interest in mail-in balloting. Manchin on Wednesday said he has received numerous reports from post offices and colleagues about service cuts or looming closures in West Virginia and elsewhere. That prompted him to send a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy requesting an explanation. The possible downsizing comes as DeJoy moves to eliminate overtime for hundreds of thousands of postal workers, potentially causing a delay in mail deliveries.
July 30, 2020 4:20 am
ATLANTA (AP) – John Lewis was celebrated as an American hero during his funeral as former President Barack Obama and others called on people to follow Lewis’ example and fight injustice. The private funeral occurred Thursday in Atlanta after nearly a week of mourning that began in his birthplace in Alabama. Lewis died July 17 at the age of 80. Obama called Lewis “a man of pure joy and unbreakable perseverance” during a fiery speech in which he hearkened back to Lewis’ legacy and connected it to the ongoing fight against those who are trying to restrict voting rights. (Photo: CNN)
July 30, 2020 4:18 am
ATLANTA (AP) – Former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain has died after battling the coronavirus. He was 74. A post on Cain’s Twitter account on Thursday announced the death. Cain had been ill with the virus for several weeks. It’s not clear when or where he was infected, but he was hospitalized less than two weeks after attending President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June. The former pizza company executive has been an outspoken backer of the president and was named by the campaign as a co-chair of Black Voices for Trump. (Photo: CNN)
July 30, 2020 4:17 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Capitol officials have issued broad new mask requirements after a Republican member of Congress tested positive for the coronavirus. The member, Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert, often shunned wearing masks and was known to vote without one. Pelosi announced Wednesday evening that all members will be required to wear a mask when voting on the House floor. Several hours later, the House sergeant-at-arms and the Capitol’s top physician issued an order that everyone in House office buildings will have to wear masks inside, with few exceptions. That mandate goes into effect at 8 a.m. Thursday.
July 30, 2020 4:12 am
UNIONTOWN, Pa. — (WPXI) – One person was shot and killed Wednesday night in Uniontown, according to police. Investigators said the deadly shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. in the 50 block of Lennox Street. Police confirmed at least one person was killed in the shooting, and the victim has not yet been identified. Emergency responders say the victim was a juvenile, but authorities have not said how old the person was. It’s unclear what led to the shooting, and police are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call Uniontown Police.
July 30, 2020 4:10 am
ALLEGHENY CO., Pa. — (WPXI) – Several local restaurant and bar owners are demanding to see proof that their establishments caused a spike in COVID-19 cases. The owner of House of 1,000 Beers in Warrendale told our news partners at Channel 11 that he is not taking the state or county’s word for it any longer. “You have to wonder why that you have data… and you’re hurting people’s livelihoods, and you’re killing off businesses … why wouldn’t you want to release the data that supports your actions?” said owner Art Barbus. The co-owners of The Oven in Wexford want to see proof as well. “Where’s the transparency, and if there’s not going to be any, why not?” James Samreny said. Owners feel they aren’t getting a fair shake and want a better explanation on why Allegheny County and state health officials tacked on more restrictions after Pa. moved into the green phase. Meanwhile, Allegheny County health officials said during a press conference Wednesday that they are seeing a decline in new cases, and the curve is starting flatten a bit since they implemented the latest restrictions.
July 30, 2020 2:10 am
(WPXI) – A woman is suing a local police department because she says she was sexually assaulted by an officer. She said a Monongahela police officer attacked her while he was on duty in a police car. According to the lawsuit, the woman met officer Dustin Devault during a traffic stop in 2018. The state attorney general charged Devault last November. The victim said she told him she wanted to become an officer one day, and he said he could help. She said she met up with him a week later because he promised to help her relative with their drug addiction, but that’s when she says he sexually assaulted her. She said he told her not to tell anyone and that he was best friends with the police chief. Channel 11 does not normally identify victims of sexual assault, but on Wednesday the woman told us she is speaking out publicly to help others. “The reason why I’m standing up today is to allow females to feel like they can stand up for themselves and come forward from sexual assault,” said Jesse Cimino. She said she’s now afraid of men and was asked to leave the military because of the impact the assault had on her. She also said she no longer wants to be a police officer because of this. Her attorneys are seeking damages.
July 29, 2020 10:34 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Defense officials say the U.S. will pull roughly 12,000 troops out of Germany, bringing about 6,400 forces home and shifting 5,600 to other countries in Europe, including Italy and Belgium. The plan will cost billions of dollars and take years to complete. It’s been spurred on by President Donald Trump’s demand to withdraw troops from Germany, at least in part due to its failure to spend enough on defense. Defense Secretary Mark Esper says some moves will begin in months. He says the moves promote larger strategic goals to deter Russia, reassure European allies and shift forces further east into the Black Sea and Baltic region. The plan leaves 24,000 troops in Germany.
July 29, 2020 7:17 am
A McDonald woman was killed in a one-vehicle, rollover crash Wednesday morning in Cecil Township. The Washington County Coroner’s office says it appears that 39-year-old Megan Blair Hookey lost control of her vehicle while traveling south on State Route 980 near Laurel Hill Road just before 3:30 a.m. Authorities say she was not wearing a seatbelt. A cause and manner of death are pending. Cecil Township Police continue to investigate.
