November 17, 2021 4:18 am
Hospitals in Michigan and Minnesota are reporting a wave of COVID-19 patients not seen in months. Beds are filling with unvaccinated people, and health care providers are warning that staff are being worn down by yet another surge. Michigan had slightly more than 3,000 COVID-19 patients in hospitals this week for the first time since spring. Nearly all hospital beds were occupied in Minnesota. Meanwhile, some states are ignoring federal guidance and expanding boosters. Arkansas this week joined California, Colorado and New Mexico in offering them to anyone 18 or older. Michigan has the country’s highest seven-day COVID-19 case rate at 503 per 100,000 people.
November 17, 2021 4:17 am
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) – Jurors weighing charges against Kyle Rittenhouse have returned for a second day of deliberations in his murder trial. Jurors met for a full day Tuesday with no quick verdict after two weeks of testimony in which they were given starkly different portrayals of his actions the night he shot three men on the streets of Kenosha. On Wednesday, the jury asked to view video that had been presented earlier in the trial. Rittenhouse fatally shot two men and wounded a third during a night of racial justice protests in August 2020. Prosecutors say the Illinois man was a “wannabe soldier” who provoked the confrontation, while the defense says he acted in self-defense after being ambushed by a “crazy person.”
November 17, 2021 4:16 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Republican congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona is facing censure in the House over a violent video he posted online. The House will vote Wednesday on a resolution that would censure Gosar for tweeting an animated video that depicted him striking Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York with a sword. Lawmakers teed up the censure resolution during a committee hearing Tuesday evening, with Republicans arguing that the matter should have been referred to the House Ethics Committee or handled by the GOP conference. Gosar says the video was “a symbolic portrayal of a fight over immigration policy.”
November 17, 2021 4:13 am
NEW DELHI (AP) – Authorities in New Delhi have indefinitely closed schools and shut down some coal-based power plants to combat worsening air pollution. The measures come as India’s top court is deliberating whether New Delhi should go into a lockdown as a blanket of toxic smog continues to envelope the city. A government panel issued the guidelines on Tuesday night. It also ordered a stop to construction activities until Nov. 21 and banned trucks carrying non-essential goods. The panel directed the states to encourage work from home for half of the employees in all private offices. Despite some improvement in New Delhi air over the past two days, readings of dangerous particles Wednesday were still as high as seven times the safe level.
November 17, 2021 4:11 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A bill to void a plan that would add tolls on nine Pennsylvania bridges is closer to passage after approval in the state House. State representatives voted 125 to 74 on Tuesday for a proposal that would require legislative approval of concrete proposals to add tolls. The legislation requires one more Senate vote and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is opposed. The bill would require PennDOT to publicly advertise toll proposals, take public comment and seek approval from both the governor and the Legislature. PennDOT hasn’t made final decisions on which of the nine bridges to toll. One of the bridges that would be tolled would be the I-79 bridge near the Bridgeville interchange.
November 17, 2021 4:09 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A bill to allow people to carry concealed weapons without a permit has been passed by a divided Pennsylvania House, but faces a veto threat from the governor. The parties were split in the vote Tuesday, as occurred in the state Senate last week, with Republican mostly supporting it and Democrats mostly opposed. Supporters said getting concealed carry permits under current law can be subject to the whims of county sheriffs and that concealed carry permit holders can forget when their licenses expire and therefore unknowingly violate the law. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said he will veto the legislation.
November 16, 2021 5:18 pm
It’s possible that the Pens may soon have a new owner. According to the Wall Street Journal, Fenway Sports Group LLC, the company that owns the Boston Red Sox, is in advanced talks to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins. The WSJ report said a deal “could be finalized later this week, assuming the talks don’t fall apart.” The group also owns the Red Sox’s Low-A affiliate and part of the Red Sox’s Triple-A affiliate, and 80 percent of the sports television network NESN. John W. Henry is the principal owner of Fenway Sports Group, owning 40 percent. Other partners in Fenway Sports Group include billionaire brothers Ted and Bill Alfond, LeBron James, and James’ business manager Maverick Carter. They also own Roush Fenway Racing. The current ownership group of the Penguins includes Mario Lemieux, John Surma and Debra Cafaro. They bought the franchise and helped it recover from bankruptcy, turning it into one of the most successful sport franchises in the National Hockey League. Sources say Lemieux will retain a minority stake and upper management, including David Morehouse, will stay.
November 16, 2021 12:24 pm
NEW YORK (AP) – New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says crowds will once again fill Times Square this New Year’s Eve. The mayor said Tuesday that proof of COVID-19 vaccination required for revelers who want to watch the ball drop in person. De Blasio said the celebration will come back “full strength the way we love it.” The president of the Times Square Alliance, said all spectators aged 5 and over will be asked to show proof of full vaccination. He said people who can’t be vaccinated because of a disability will have to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
November 16, 2021 7:57 am
Matthew Vasquez, 33 pleaded guilty to felony charges of conspiracy to commit fraud in the latest chapter for the Pagan Motorcycle Club member who was convicted of a brutal assault of a rival club member in 2019. Vasquez was heard on recorded phone calls making plans to hide two motorcycles to keep them from being repossessed while he was serving time in the Washington County Jail. Vasquez is currently serving 21 ½ to 43 years in SCI Albion for aggravated assault. Vasquez was sentenced to an additional two years of probation that will begin once he is done serving his current sentence.
November 16, 2021 7:56 am
A Hickory man who took his laptop computer to an office supply store for service and was found to have child pornography pleaded no contest to felony child pornography and criminal use of a communications device. Riley Carl, 87 also pleaded no contest to indecent assault of a minor under 13. In addition to the child pornography charge, Riley was arrested for fondling a five year old girl in his residence between 2011 and 2017. Riley was sentenced to 9-23 months in the Washington County Jail for the indecent assault of a minor charge. After that sentence, he will serve two-five year probation sentences for the child pornography and criminal use of communications charges. Those sentences will run concurrently. Carl is being held currently in the Washington County Jail.
