August 10, 2021 4:16 am
MIAMI (AP) – Tropical storm watches have been issued for various Caribbean islands for what soon could become the sixth named tropical storm of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. The National Hurricane Center announced Monday evening that watches for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Culebra, and Vieques have been upgraded to a tropical storm warning. Forecasters believe the disturbance heading toward the Lesser Antilles could become Tropical Storm Fred later Monday night or early Tuesday morning. It has been more than a month since the last storm, Hurricane Elsa, formed. The disturbance had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. A tropical storm has maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph.
August 10, 2021 4:15 am
California’s largest single wildfire in recorded history is running through forestlands as fire crews try to protect rural communities from flames that have destroyed hundreds of homes. The Dixie Fire in the northern Sierra Nevada is just 22% contained and fire officials warn that hot, dry weather and gusts could push flames harder in the next few days. On Monday, however, crews managed to make progress, cutting thousands of acres of fire lines. The fire has destroyed more than 600 homes and other buildings and gutted the town of Greenville. It’s the largest of some 100 large blazes burning in more than a dozen Western states.
August 10, 2021 4:15 am
(AP) – The surge in COVID-19 infections across the U.S. has caused a shortage of nurses and other front-line staff in virus hotspots that can no longer keep up with the flood of unvaccinated patients. Some facilities are also losing workers to burnout and lucrative out-of-state temporary gigs. Florida, Arkansas and Louisiana all have more people hospitalized with COVID-19 than at any other point in the pandemic. In Florida, ambulances and fire departments are straining to respond to emergencies. One person who suffered a heart attack in New Orleans was even bounced from six hospitals before finding an emergency room that could take him in.
August 10, 2021 4:13 am
DETROIT (AP) – Nissan says its huge factory in Smyrna, Tennessee, will close for two weeks starting Monday. The shutdown is due to computer chip shortages brought on by a coronavirus outbreak in Malaysia. The shutdown is among the longest at any U.S. auto plant of this size since the semiconductor shortage started to hit late last year. The shortage has hobbled auto production worldwide. Nissan said in a statement Tuesday that it ran short of chips due to a COVID-19 outbreak at a chip factory in Malaysia. It expects production to resume Aug. 30.
August 10, 2021 4:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – With a robust vote after weeks of fits and starts, the Senate has approved the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan. A rare coalition of Democrats and Republicans joined together Tuesday to deliver a cornerstone of President Joe Biden’s agenda. Passage provides momentum as it’s now headed to the House. The package would provide almost $550 billion in new spending over five years for roads, bridges, broadband internet, water pipes and other public works systems. Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said it will “do a lot of good for America.” The Senate turns next to Biden’s bigger package, a $3.5 trillion plan with debate likely to extend into the fall.
August 10, 2021 4:09 am
The Board of Directors of the Washington County Agricultural Fair previewed the 2021 Washington County Agricultural Fair on Tuesday morning. The fair is in its 223rd year and board members are excited for this year’s event after having to take last year off due to the coronavirus pandemic. Board President Todd Richards is looking forward to working with the children and seeing their smiles in the show arena. Board Secretary Wayne Hunnell pointed to the new entrance gate and digital sign that greets fairgoers as the biggest addition to the fairgrounds this year. The board thanks Ellen Rossi, President of the EQT Foundation for their generous grant of $100,000 to fund that gate and other improvements around the fairgrounds. The EQT Corporation will also donate $50,000 each year for the next five years to support the fair. All of the traditional attractions such as animal shows and assorted vehicle races return, along with concerts by several local artists. The Washington County Agricultural Fair kicks off at 9:00 am Saturday August 14 and runs through Saturday August 21 Information about the fair can be found at www.washingtonfair.org.
August 10, 2021 4:08 am
Authorities are investigating the death of a Washington County man who was killed in a motorcycle crash on Interstate 70 westbound Monday night. They say the crash occurred shortly after 10 o’clock at the Murtland Avenue on-ramp in South Strabane Township. The Washington County Coroner’s Office has identified the motorcycle rider as 41-year-old Homer Howard Thomas Jr. of Washington. State Police say Thomas was driving a 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle, entering the interstate – when he crossed into the center lane and into the path of a tractor-trailer driven by a 48-year-old man. Police said the motorcycle hit the passenger side of the truck and then slid. The interstate in that area was closed until around one o’clock Tuesday morning.
August 10, 2021 4:01 am
Peters Township Council reversed an earlier decision and decided to use eminent domain to acquire land to connect two housing developments. At issue is .033 acres of land owned by Jason and Sherri Snyder of Manor Way. Peters Township wants to take that land and use it to connect the Juniper Woods development to Manor Way to allow multiple points of ingress and egress to the Juniper Woods development. The Snyders and several neighbors of the Beacon Manor and Marrella Manor plans once again registered their protest over the taking of the land to provide that interconnect. They stated safety problems of the existing roads being too narrow and not to township standard. They pointed to speeding already existing on those roads, much of it due to the steep terrain of the neighborhood. Kenneth Yarsky, attorney representing the Snyders spoke on their behalf and warned council that if an eminent domain taking was approved, they would be met with challenges in court. Council approved the taking this time by the same 4-3 vote that they had when a similar measure was voted on and defeated at the May 10 council meeting. In a roll call vote, Councilman Robert Lewis reversed his previous no vote to yes.
August 10, 2021 3:59 am
Washington School District students might expect fresher air in the classrooms this school year, as an air quality assessment was presented Monday evening. Two representatives from Trane Technologies Inc. introduced their plan at Washington School District’s board meeting, claiming that it could “reduce risk and build confidence” for the buildings. The assessment will help district staff understand the proper air filtration needed during the pandemic, says Superintendent James Konrad. “It would be empowering feedback for us, just to make sure that we’ve put forth a lot of safety measures to start this school year,” says Konrad. The four steps of the inspection process, “dilute, exhaust, contain, and clean”, will ensure that healthy air can flow and humidity can be controlled within all school facilities. Konrad says the schools have already increased their ventilation and filtration, but the assessment will report “the impact it’s having throughout the district.” The proposal will likely be decided at the next district board meeting, but Konrad hopes the assessment begins before the start of the school year on Monday, Aug. 30.
August 9, 2021 5:40 pm
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) – The pandemic is reshaping America’s fitness industry and ushering in a new era of home workouts and virtual classes. High-end exercise equipment maker Peloton is breaking ground Monday on its first U.S. factory in Ohio. Soaring sales for the company come as thousands of small fitness centers have gone out of business. An industry trade group says 22% of the nation’s health clubs have closed since March of 2020. Many are struggling to stay afloat and have redesigned their spaces, turned toward personal workouts and added online training. Experts say they expect the digital fitness wave will continue to shake up the industry.
