March 5, 2021 1:25 pm
A SWAT situation in Burgettstown ended peacefully after an hours long standoff. Smith Township Police Chief LaRue tells WJPA News that they received a call around four o’clock Friday morning of a man threatening suicide in a home on Harris Street in the area of Joffre Bulger Road. When they arrived, LaRue says the situation changed into a domestic incident and a weapon was fired from inside the home. A SWAT team was called in at that time and they in turn, called for the Allegheny County Bomb Squad. LaRue says the road in that area was shut down and residents in neighboring homes were evacuated as a safety precaution. A woman in the home, believed to be the man’s girlfriend, came out of the home, but she was alone. LaRue says they were eventually able to go into the home and clear the residence, but the man was not inside. He was picked up and taken into custody a short time later, in Hanover Township. There were no injuries. LaRue says the man was taken to Washington Hospital and charges for examination and charges are expected to be filed.
March 5, 2021 3:09 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times report that the true number of people who had died in nursing homes in New York was altered by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s top aides in a state Health Department report in July. The newspapers cited documents and anonymous sources in reporting that the aides pushed state health officials to alter the public report so that only residents who died inside long-term care facilities, and not those who became ill there and later died at a hospital, were counted. The report was released as the Democratic governor’s administration faced criticism over its March 25 directive that sent thousands of recovering coronavirus patients into nursing homes.
March 5, 2021 3:07 am
BAGHDAD (AP) – Pope Francis is heading to Iraq to urge the country’s dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns to honor its martyrs. áIraqis were keen to welcome him and the global attention his visit will bring, with banners and posters hanging high in central Baghdad and billboards depicting Francis with the slogan “We are all Brothers” decorating the main thoroughfare. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein described the visit as a historic meeting between the “minaret and the bells,” saying Iraqis were eager to welcome Francis’ “message of peace and tolerance.”
March 5, 2021 3:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The threat to the Capitol still has police on edge. The acting chief of the U.S. Capitol Police is appealing to congressional leaders to back her request to keep National Guard troops protecting the building and lawmakers for another two months. Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman told congressional leaders in a letter obtained by The Associated Press she needed their assistance with the three-member Capitol Police Board, which oversees her department and reports to those House and Senate leaders. Her letter underscores the confusion over how best to secure the Capitol after a dismal lack of protection on Jan. 6. Authorities were on high alert Thursday after warnings of a new plot to attack the Capitol, but all was quiet.
March 5, 2021 3:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. employers likely stepped up their hiring in February as confirmed viral cases declined, consumers spent big chunks of their government aid checks and the economy appeared to be sustaining a tentative recovery. Economists have forecast that job growth reached 175,000 last month, according to data provider FactSet. That would mark a sharp improvement over an average of just 29,000 jobs a month from November through January. Yet with the nation still 10 million jobs short of its pre-pandemic level, monthly hiring would need to significantly accelerate to bring relief to the many people who remain laid off, especially at restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues and other areas of the hospitality industry that are far from recovered.
March 5, 2021 3:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Democrats trying to move their 1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill through the Senate have laid aside one battle over boosting the minimum wage. But they’ve promptly descended into another internal fight, slowing work on President Joe Biden’s premier legislative priority. The Senate seemingly killed progressives’ last-ditch effort to include a federal minimum wage hike in the relief package. The vote against the increase was 58-42, with eight Democrats joining Republicans in opposition, though the vote wasn’t yet formally gaveled to a close. But then, a deal on unemployment benefits between progressive and moderate Democrats seemed to unravel, and Senate work froze as leaders sought a solution.
March 5, 2021 3:00 am
PITTSBURGH (WPXI) — After an “overwhelmingly positive response” to an initial Covid-19 vaccine clinic at Heinz Field this week, officials are opening up more appointment slots for next week. Appointments for March 8-9 will be made available online on Friday, March 5. Additional appointments may be added as more vaccines are received. Appointments can be scheduled at the “Vaccine Clinics” option via the Giant Eagle online scheduling tool. Giant Eagle Pharmacy expects to receive a shipment of vaccine in the coming days that would enable appointments for March 10 to be made available online over the weekend, and eligible patients are encouraged to routinely check availability online. More than 4,000 people managed to secure online appointments via Giant Eagle for vaccinations this week. The clinic is a partnership between Giant Eagle and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
March 5, 2021 1:15 am
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice says as of midnight Friday, March 5th, restaurants and bars can now use 100% of their seating capacity where social distancing is possible. The state’s mask mandate will remain in effect. Justice says full capacity will be allowed at small business and retail stores and gyms and museums, but standing room to congregate will not be allowed in places such as bars. Last month, Justice had already loosened restrictions on businesses after a dip in cases and deaths. But he said he will not be influenced by a few other Republican governors removing mask mandates.
March 5, 2021 1:11 am
As of Thursday, the main pavilion in Washington Park will be called The Rotary Community Pavilion. Washington’s Fiscal Director Joe Manning, himself a Rotarian, says the board agreed to the name change because of all the work put into the project by the Rotary Club of Washington. Manning says the Rotary took on the project to celebrate their centennial, and through fundraising efforts and LSA contributions, were able to transform the iconic structure. Manning says there are still a few little fix-up projects to complete, but for the most part, the pavilion is ready to rent when it is safe to gather again.
March 4, 2021 1:29 pm
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Wednesday the team has signed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a new contract for 2021. Financial details of the contract were not disclosed. “We are excited we were able to come to an agreement with Ben Roethlisberger on a new contract for him to return to the Steelers in 2021,” General Manager and Vice President Kevin Colbert said in a release. “We know that Ben can still play at a high level and do special things for this team. Our goal remains the same — to put together a roster that will compete for another championship. We are happy that Ben will be one of our leaders to help us accomplish that goal.” “It is my greatest honor to be a Pittsburgh Steeler and give my all for this organization,” said Roethlisberger. “I am grateful to be at this stage of my career and more than happy to adjust my contract in a way that best helps the team to address other players who are so vital to our success. I love this game and love to compete, and I believe in this team and my ability to deliver when called upon. It all starts with great preparation and I am ready to go.”
