March 28, 2022 4:25 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Oscars ground to a shocked silence after Will Smith smacked Chris Rock onstage after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife. Smith cursed at Rock after returning to his seat. Rock was presenting the award for best documentary when the tense exchange happened. Before that, the Oscars were running smoothly and making history with their supporting actor winners. Ariana DeBose became the first Afro-Latina to win an Academy Award for supporting actress, while Troy Kotsur became the first deaf actor to win an acting award. The 94th Academy Awards kicked Sunday off with Beyonce?, a string of awards handed out off-camera to Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction epic “Dune” and a trio of Oscars hosts in Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall.
March 28, 2022 4:23 am
CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) – The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular-grade gasoline dropped 6 cents over the past two weeks to $4.37 per gallon. Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey says Sunday that the decrease comes after nine straight weeks of price hikes totaling 98 cents. The price at the pump is $1.42 higher than it was a year ago. Nationwide, the highest average price for regular-grade gas is in Los Angeles, at $5.99 per gallon. The lowest average is in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at $3.70 per gallon. The average price of diesel is $5.16 a gallon, down 4 cents.
March 28, 2022 4:22 am
BEIJING (AP) – China has begun its most extensive lockdown in two years to conduct mass testing and control a growing outbreak in Shanghai. China’s largest city with 26 million people had handled past outbreaks with limited lockdowns of housing compounds or workplaces. But the citywide lockdown that started Monday will be China’s biggest since the 76-day lockdown of Wuhan in early 2020. Residents must stay home and deliveries will be left at checkpoints. All unessential businesses will be closed and public transport suspended. The lockdown will be done in two phases of five days each while the population is tested for the virus. Most of Shanghai’s cases are in people not showing symptoms, though they can still pass the virus to others.
March 28, 2022 4:20 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Russia’s war on Ukraine has most Americans at least somewhat worried that the U.S. will be drawn directly into the conflict and could be targeted with nuclear weapons. That’s according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research that shows a level of anxiety that has echoes of the Cold War era. Close to half of Americans say they are very concerned Russia would directly target the U.S. with nuclear weapons, and 3 in 10 are somewhat concerned about that. The poll finds 71% of Americans say the invasion has increased the possibility of nuclear weapons being used anywhere in the world.
March 28, 2022 4:18 am
LVIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the West of cowardice while another top official said Russia was trying to split the nation in two, like North and South Korea. Zelenskyy made an exasperated plea for fighter jets and tanks to sustain a defense in Europe’s biggest ground conflict since World War II. Speaking after U.S. President Joe Biden met with senior Ukrainian officials in Poland, Zelenskyy lashed out at the West’s “ping-pong” about who and how jets and other defensive weapons should be provided to help Ukraine defend itself. Russia now says its main focus is on taking control of the eastern Donbas region, an apparent pullback from its earlier, more expansive goals.
March 28, 2022 4:15 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – A cold start to your work week. Lake effect snow showers will be lingering in spots through Monday morning. Temperatures will tumble down to the teens to kick off Monday, the breeze will knock wind chills down into the single digits. We won’t warm up much through the day. In fact we should break the record cold high for the the day as temperatures should only climb to the upper 20s near 30 degrees. The record low high for Monday is 30 degrees that was set back in 2015. Gusty winds are also expected Monday, gusts could reach up to 30-40 mph in the afternoon. These winds will keep wind chills in the single digits through most of the day. Not as cold Tuesday but still below average in the low 40s. The next system will arrive overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning, temperatures will be around freezing so there is a chance of snow/rain mix and freezing rain before temperatures warm up to the 60s.
March 28, 2022 4:13 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – The University of Pittsburgh’s COVID-19 Medical Response Office announced that starting March 28, Pitt community members no longer need to wear a mask inside of campus buildings. In a letter to the community, the office said there are still some restrictions, including inside health care centers. Community members are encouraged to look at the signage in these spaces. Masks will also be required in university shuttle busses. “Local conditions have remained steady following the return from spring break. Cases on Pitt campuses continue to be mild and low in number. COVID-19 Community Levels in counties where there are Pitt campuses are currently low or medium, indicating low numbers of hospitalized COVID-19 patients,” the letter said. Despite easing restrictions, the university hasn’t changed its quarantine and isolation protocols. The letter stated in these cases, community members have to wear a mask for 10 days in all public spaces, whether indoors or outdoors.
March 28, 2022 4:11 am
SOMERSET, Pa. (AP) – The attorney representing a suspended western Pennsylvania prosecutor in a sexual assault case is questioning whether the state attorney general general’s office should be handling the case. Thirty-six-year-old Jeffrey Thomas, Somerset County’s district attorney, is accused of having attacked a woman in her Windber home in September. Defense attorney Ryan Tutera has said his client maintains his innocence. Tutera said Friday that a former district attorney defeated by his client now works in the attorney general’s office, and he questioned whether that office “is the appropriate body to handle this process.” The attorney general’s office said its track record demonstrates “no fear or favor” in handling cases.
March 28, 2022 4:09 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Port Authority’s free fares will end on Monday, but over 150 employees are still off the job with pay due to not meeting company vaccine requirements. The free fares began as a favor to riders, after the vaccine mandate forced 480 employees off the job earlier this month. “I believe that people should be able to ride ‘til this is completely over,” said Danielle Sheller, a Port Authority rider in McKees Rocks. Many riders have been affected because of bus delays and cancellations resulting from the lack of workers. Port Authority said there are going to be fewer disruptions moving forward, releasing a statement last week saying: “Fortunately, it has already begun to improve as more and more employees get vaccinated and become eligible to return to work.” In the latest numbers, Port Authority says 81 employees are on a 30-day probationary period pending their second dose. Nine employees were terminated. Eight retired, and 153 employees are still off with pay as of Friday.
March 28, 2022 1:23 am
Washington County State Representative Tim O’Neal (R-48) will be introducing legislation as part of a package of bills to enhance a community’s ability to clear creeks and streams in an effort to limit flooding and protect lives and property. House Bill 2409 authored by O’Neal would state that no permit would be required to remove flood related hazards from streams that are declared to be under an emergency by the state or a county. This bill would join seven other bills looking to improve the efficiency of keeping streams and creeks clear of debris to prevent local flooding.
