March 1, 2022 4:03 am
Washington County has moved into the “low transmission” category of COVID-19, and as a result, the mask mandate at the Washington County Courthouse has been lifted. President Judge John DiSalle on Monday, filed an administrative order easing COVID-19 safety rules, but is still encouraging visitors who are concerned about contracting the coronavirus to continue to wear a mask indoors, especially those who are considered high-risk. The mask mandate at the courthouse has been in place since early August.
February 28, 2022 4:45 pm
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has ordered the state to stop until further notice the purchase and sale of liquor produced in Russia, which invaded Ukraine last week. The Republican governor made a similar request Monday with the West Virginia Retailers Association, asking the group to remove Russian liquor from their shelves. Justice also directed the Alcohol Beverage Control Administration to make Ukrainian-produced brands available for purchase by licensed retail liquor outlets, depending on their availability. Currently, West Virginia distributes four brands of Russian vodka. There are about 73 cases of Russian liquor in the state’s warehouse.
February 28, 2022 4:16 am
A Texas man charged with storming the U.S. Capitol with a holstered handgun on his waist is the first Jan. 6 defendant to go on trial. Jury selection is scheduled to start Monday for the case against Guy Wesley Reffitt. He also is charged with interfering with police officers at the Capitol and with threatening his teenage children if they reported him to authorities after the riot. Reffitt’s trial could be a bellwether for many other Capitol riot cases. A conviction would give prosecutors more leverage in plea talks. An acquittal may lead others to wait for their own day in court.
February 28, 2022 4:14 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court is set to hear a case its conservative majority could use to hobble Biden administration efforts to combat climate change. The administration already is dealing with congressional refusal to enact the climate change proposals in President Joe Biden’s Build Better Back plan. Now the justices, in arguments Monday, are taking up an appeal from 19 mostly Republican-led states and coal companies over the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to limit carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The court took on the case even though there is no current EPA plan in place to deal with carbon output from power plants.
February 28, 2022 4:13 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea says it tested cameras to be installed on a spy satellite. Monday’s announcement comes a day after after North Korea’s neighbors detected a ballistic missile launch. The United Nations and others view a satellite launch by North Korea as a cover for tests of missile technology. Ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite lift-offs share similar bodies, engines and other technology. While North Korean state media didn’t directly acknowledge any missile launch Sunday, it suggested North Korea fired a rocket or a missile to take space-based photos. North Korea successfully put its first satellite into orbit in 2012 and second one in 2016.
February 28, 2022 4:12 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) – It was a big night at the Screen Actors Guild Awards for the drama “CODA,” Will Smith and the leads for “Ted Lasso” and “Squid Game.” In an upset, the drama about a deaf family took the top honor at the awards, held last night in Santa Monica, California. Other honors went to the lead actor of “Squid Game” and the cast of “Ted Lasso.” Meanwhile, Will Smith won best actor honors for “King Richard” – playing the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. (Photo: ABC)
February 28, 2022 4:12 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Russian forces are shelling Ukraine’s second-largest city, rocking a residential neighborhood, and closing in on the capital, Kyiv, in a 17-mile convoy of hundreds of tanks and other vehicles. Meanwhile, talks aimed at stopping the fighting yielded only an agreement to keep talking. Amid ever-growing international condemnation, Russia finds itself increasingly isolated, while also facing unexpectedly fierce resistance on the ground in Ukraine and economic havoc at home.
February 28, 2022 4:09 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Governor Tom Wolf made an announcement Sunday afternoon that he sent a letter to the Pennsylvania Liquid Control Board urging the removal of Russian-sourced products from stores and ceasing selling them. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced Sunday evening that all Russian-made products will be removed from the shelves of Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores as a show of solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine. According to a press release, Russian-made Special Order products are also no longer available. “As of today, these products will no longer be sold or procured by the PLCB,” said Board Chairman Tim Holden. “Given the evolving political-economic climate, it’s just the right thing to do.” Russian-branded products that are not actually sourced from Russia will still be available.
February 28, 2022 4:05 am
BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) – An Ohio water district has won the top prize for U.S. tap water at an international tasting contest. Montpelier, Ohio, took home first place for Best Municipal Water on Saturday at the 32nd annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting in West Virginia. It beat out last year’s winner, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which placed second. Another California entry, the Mission Springs Water District, was third. All three have won the gold medal previously. Judges based their rankings on taste, odor, mouth feel and aftertaste. Nine judges chose from among entries in 16 states, three Canadian provinces and eight other countries.
February 27, 2022 7:49 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the sea on Sunday, its neighbors said, in a resumption of weapons tests that came as the United States and its allies are focused on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The missile launch was the eighth of its kind this year. Some experts have said North Korea is trying to perfect its weapons technology and pressure the United States into offering concessions like sanctions relief amid long-stalled disarmament talks. North Korea also might view the U.S. preoccupation with the Ukraine conflict as a chance to accelerate testing activity without any serious response from Washington.
