September 2, 2021 2:55 am
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – A program offering cash incentives for out-of-state workers to move to West Virginia has welcomed its first round of new residents, and more people can now apply. The public-private program says 53 newcomers are getting settled in to the northern college town of Morgantown. The window is now open for the second phase, with out-of-staters applying to live in Lewisburg. The program leverages one of West Virginia’s natural beauty to reverse an exodus of people. The 2020 census found that West Virginia lost a greater percentage of its residents than any other state in the past decade.
September 1, 2021 5:44 pm
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Emergency officials are rushing to evacuate about 3,000 people downstream from a dam near Johnstown after hours of heavy rains triggered plans to ensure safety of downstream residents. Cambria County emergency management director and 911 center head Art Martynuska said Wednesday the water level at the Wilmore dam reached the height that required evacuation. He says the nearby Hinckston Run Dam is also being monitored and may require evacuation. Pennsylvanians are being drenched by downpours and bracing for high winds as the remnants of Hurricane Ida plow through the state, inundating creeks, streams and rivers.
September 1, 2021 4:30 am
WACO, Texas (AP) – A Central Texas school district is closing its schools after two teachers died last week of COVID-19. Connally Independent School District officials closed its seven suburban Waco schools for the rest of the week Tuesday after the Saturday COVID-19 death of 41-year-old Natalia Chansler. She taught social studies to sixth graders at Connally Junior High. A district spokeswoman says her death came after the Aug. 24 death of 59-year-old David McCormick, who taught social studies to Connally Junior High seventh graders. It was not immediately known if either teacher was vaccinated. Connally High School football coach Terry Gerik says the Cadets will play La Vega as scheduled Friday night.
September 1, 2021 4:28 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Louisiana residents still reeling from flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Ida are scrambling for food, gas, water and relief from the oppressive heat. Meanwhile, thousands of line workers are toiling to restore electricity and officials have vowed to set up more sites where people can get free meals and cool off. Ida knocked out power to more than a million people, including all of New Orleans. Mayor LaToya Cantrell says she expects the city’s main power company to be able to provide some electricity by Wednesday evening, though she stressed that doesn’t mean a quick citywide restoration.
September 1, 2021 4:26 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Ukrainian leader who found himself ensnarled in Donald Trump’s first impeachment is coming to Washington to see a new president. In a meeting Wednesday with President Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking increased military aid and backing for his country’s bid for NATO membership. The White House says the meeting is aimed at showing support for Ukraine’s sovereignty in the face of Russia’s seizure of Crimea and backing of armed separatists in the country’s east. Biden also intends to encourage Zelenskyy’s efforts to tackle corruption and reassure him that the U.S will help protect Ukraine’s energy security.
September 1, 2021 4:25 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden defended the way the U.S. ended its 20-year “forever war” in Afghanistan. He called the military airlift to extract some 120,000 Afghans, Americans and other allies an “extraordinary success.” More than 100 Americans and thousands of Afghans were left behind, but Biden said diplomatic and other efforts would continue to get them out. His speech Tuesday from the White House came 24 hours after the departure of the last American aircraft from Kabul. Biden said: “I was not going to extend this forever war. And I was not going to extend a forever exit.”
September 1, 2021 4:23 am
The remnants of Hurricane Ida will not soon be forgotten in Southwestern Pennsylvania as heavy rains pounded the region for several hours Wednesday morning.l The mayor of Bridgeville has declared a state of emergency in the borough after flood waters forced the evacuation of several residents and businesses. Forty students and a driver needed to be rescued when a school bus was overtaken by floodwaters along Seavey Road in Shaler Township. Most schools in Washington and Allegheny counties were closed or on remote-learning schedules and morning commuters had a treacherous drive as flooded roadways seemed to appear out of nowhere. Washington County Interim Emergency Management Director Ryan Frazee says areas like Cecil, Midway, Peters, Donegal and Hopewell Townships were all hit very hard. A section of Route 519 (Western Avenue) was closed between Meddings and Paxton Farm roads. There were also reports of mudslides affecting area roadways. At the height of the storm, West Penn Power reported more than 18-hundred customers without power. Frazee tells WJPA News that, while emergency responders were busy, there were no reports of any major injuries and a new forecast issued Wednesday afternoon gives them hope that the rivers in the area will crest lower than the height initially expected.
August 31, 2021 2:33 pm
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Mike Richards is out as executive producer of “Jeopardy!”, days after he exited as the quiz show’s newly appointed host because of past misogynistic and other comments. Richards is also no longer executive producer of “Wheel of Fortune,” according to a memo to staff that was confirmed by Sony, which produces both of the shows. Suzanne Prete, an executive with the game shows, says in the memo that they “had hoped that when Mike stepped down from the host position at Jeopardy! it would have minimized the disruption and internal difficulties we have all experienced these last few weeks.” She says that “has not happened.”
August 31, 2021 2:27 pm
UNDATED (AP) – Walgreens will hike starting pay to $15 an hour beginning in October, as employers across the United States continue boosting wages to attract workers. The drugstore chain says the wage hike will take effect in phases and be completed by November 2022. It will affect workers in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where the company has about 190,000 hourly employees and 9,100 store locations.
August 31, 2021 4:15 am
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) – A ferocious wildfire is approaching Lake Tahoe just hours after roads were clogged with fleeing cars when the entire California resort city of South Lake Tahoe was ordered to evacuate. Communities just across the state line in Nevada are warned to get ready to leave. The huge Caldor Fire has grown to more than 292 square miles. Flames crossed state highways 50 and 89 and burned mountain cabins as it churns down slopes into the Tahoe Basin. New firefighters arrived Monday evening and were dispatched immediately to protect homes. Forecasters are warning of critical fire weather through Wednesday.
