July 29, 2020 4:22 am
State officials across the U.S. say Senate Republicans’ proposed slashing of a federally funded boost in unemployment benefits could delay payments for weeks or even months. Democrats are pushing back, arguing that cutting the extra payments to $200 from $600 is bad policy – and that it’s hard to implement. It took some states a month earlier this year to program aging computer systems to handle the initial increase. Under the GOP plan, there would be a second and maybe more challenging step of boosting benefits – so they equal no more than 70% of a person’s previous income.
July 29, 2020 4:21 am
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Oregon Gov. Kate Brown says federal agents who have been guarding the U.S. courthouse during violent protests in downtown Portland, Oregon, will begin withdrawing in the next 24 hours. But Trump administration officials said some would remain in the building and the entire contingent would stay in the city on standby. It was not clear if the complex agreement announced Wednesday would reduce tensions on the streets of Portland, where protests have been staged nightly for more than two months. The deal also seemed likely to further muddle the situation by adding yet another law enforcement agency to the mix – the Oregon State Police.
July 29, 2020 4:20 am
APEX, N.C. (AP) – Vice President Mike Pence said schools around the country will have the resources they need to reopen for in-person learning during a visit to a classroom of masked fourth graders at a North Carolina private school. Pence visited a Raleigh-area campus of Thales Academy on Wednesday as part of a push to encourage more K-12 schools to reopen with in-person instruction. He was accompanied by U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Pence took several questions from students in a classroom and then participated in a round-table discussion. (Photo: AP)
July 29, 2020 4:18 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A new $1 trillion COVID-19 response package by Senate Republicans is supposed to give the government all the weapons it needs to battle the surging coronavirus pandemic. But Republicans have more than just the “invisible enemy” in mind. They’re proposing billions for F-35 fighters, Apache helicopters and infantry carriers sought by Washington’s powerful defense lobby. Overall, the proposal stuffs $8 billion into Pentagon weapons systems built by defense contractors like Boeing, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics. The bill was drafted by Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican.
July 29, 2020 4:17 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Facebook internal company documents are being deployed against CEO Mark Zuckerberg by lawmakers asserting that the company has gobbled up rivals to squelch competition. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the Democrat who heads the House Judiciary Committee, told Zuckerberg at a hearing Wednesday that documents obtained from the company “tell a very disturbing story” of Facebook’s acquisition of the Instagram messaging service. He says the documents show Zuckerberg called Instagram a threat that could “meaningfully hurt” Facebook. The questioning came at a congressional hearing that also featured Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
July 29, 2020 4:16 am
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Heavy rains are hitting the eastern Caribbean due to a weather system headed to Puerto Rico and other islands that’s expected to develop into a tropical storm and unleash flooding and landslides.The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Wednesday the storm is expected to move over or near Puerto Rico on Wednesday night, then brush the northern shores of Hispaniola the following day while on a path that could take it to the U.S. mainland by the weekend.
July 29, 2020 4:13 am
North Strabane Township Supervisors have authorized the purchase of a second canine police unit. Pending finalization of donations, the township will begin the process of acquiring the dog and training it. Outfitting a vehicle and acquiring protective gear for the dog is also needed. The final number needed to proceed is $75,000 and no action will be taken until that number is reached. No taxpayer dollars will be used for the establishment of the unit. All funds have been privately raised. Supervisors passed an ordinance establishing stricter guidelines for road and sidewalk restoration for utility companies once they have made repairs to their lines. The township will also apply for a PennDot Multi Modal grant to fund improvements along McDowell Lane. The improvements would run in conjunction with the replacement of a bridge that crosses Canonsburg Lake. Bike lanes and expanded pedestrian walkways are envisioned. Monies from developer impact fees will also be used to make up any difference that the grant money would not cover.
July 29, 2020 4:09 am
Two Washington County teens were sentenced by Judge Gary Gilman on Wednesday. Christopher Urista, 17 of Washington and Jamie Watkins 15, of Monongahela received identical sentences for their roles in the robbery and beating of Steven Whatley and his girlfriend in Monongahela back in December. Both men are juveniles being sentenced as adults. Plea agreements for both were reached with the District Attorney’s office. Both men will receive sentences that are single charges of felony robbery and felony conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. Those charges carry a 4-8 year sentence each and will be served concurrently. A single charge of felony aggravated assault will carry a sentence of 5 years probation to be served consecutively once the prison sentence is complete. Restitution in the amount of $26,347 will be split between both men. The sentences require that there be no contact with the victims and a drug and alcohol evaluation must be performed. Urista and Watkins will be transferred to SCI Pine Grove to begin their sentences in a juvenile wing of that facility.
July 29, 2020 4:07 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – People who rely on mass transit are concerned because their means to get around – as well as their jobs – could be in danger if critical funding isn’t provided quickly. Workers and riders are calling on Pa. Sen. Bob Casey to help push for adequate public transportation funding. “COVID-19 has pushed public transit to the brink of extinction,” said Bill McDowell, of Pittsburghers for Public Transit. Downtown Pittsburgh is desolate, buses are seemingly empty and so is the T. As the pandemic lingers, downtown offices are empty. Every day, millions in fare and tax revenue is lost in Pennsylvania. And Yasha Zarrinkelk, of Transit for Philadelphia, said that fair hikes, layoffs and shutdowns are “on the horizon if Congress doesn’t pass the $32 billion necessary for transit.” If this public service isn’t fully funded, community leaders and advocates argue the outcomes disproportionately affect essential workers, those with disabilities and people of color. Lish Danielle, a representative for One Pennsylvania, said 60% of public transit riders are African-Americans.
July 29, 2020 2:44 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Eight people face federal charges over alleged actions amid racial justice protests in Pittsburgh two months ago. Jurors indicted people on charges that include throwing objects at officers or into a police vehicle, vandalizing a police vehicle, burning a police vehicle and hitting police horses. The incidents occurred on May 30, as large protests were going on after the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis. Public safety officials said multiple officers were hurt and three journalists attacked or injured, although the injuries were not deemed to be serious. Damage in downtown Pittsburgh was described as extensive.
