April 22, 2021 4:14 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A decades-long movement to reshape the American political map took has taken a further step. The House of Representatives on Thursday approved a bill to make the nation’s capital the 51st state. That’s áthe easy part, though. Now the proposal faces a far tougher fight in the Senate, where simple Democratic control of the chamber won’t be enough, and where full party-line unity among Democrats is no guarantee. The legislation proposes creating a 51st state with one representative and two senators, while a tiny sliver of land including the White House, the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall would remain as a federal district. The new state would be known as Washington, Douglass Commonwealth – named after abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
April 22, 2021 4:13 am
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Delivering the eulogy at Daunte’s Wright’s funeral Thursday, the Rev. Al Sharpton called the 20-year-old father a prince. Wright, a Black man, was shot and killed by a white police officer during an April 11 traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, a Minneapolis suburb. Sharpton says mourners came “from all over the country because you hurt one of our princes.” Wright’s mother says he called her just before he was shot, telling her he had been pulled over for having an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror, which is a traffic violation in Minnesota. Sharpton says the police “thought he was just some kid with an air freshener. He was a prince!” Police have said Wright was pulled over for having expired license plate tags. A white Brooklyn Center police officer shot the 20-year-old during a traffic stop. Her chief said it appeared the officer mistakenly used her gun instead of her Taser. The officer resigned soon after and is charged with second-degree manslaughter. Wright’s killing came amid increasing tension during the weekslong trial of Derek Chauvin, the white former police officer who killed Floyd.
April 22, 2021 4:11 am
PITCAIRN, Pa. (AP) – A rabid bat has bitten one child in Pennsylvania, and health officials are urging the parents of three other children who might have handled the bat to seek medical attention for them. The animal was captured on Monday in Pitcairn, about 15 miles east of Pittsburgh. A resident brought it to the Allegheny County Health Department for testing the following day. County health officials said Thursday that the bat tested positive for rabies. At least one child was bitten and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The Health Department says that several children might have passed the bat around.
April 22, 2021 4:08 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – The Pennsylvania state House is giving its approval to a Republican-sponsored bill to let many retail stores remain open during a declared state of disaster emergency. Backers say it would safely prevent smaller businesses from going broke. The chamber voted 117-84 Wednesday to allow retailers to be open if they restrict operations to a single employee and a single customer, or can fulfill drive-up sales that limit contact. Six Democrats joined the unanimous Republican caucus in voting for the legislation. The proposal was sent to the state Senate, where a similar bill died last year.
April 22, 2021 4:07 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A monthslong review of state election law by Pennsylvania representatives is done. Legislative leaders said Wednesday it’s unclear what changes if any might be enacted for the November election. County commissioners of both parties generally support being given more time to process ballots ahead of the election day, along with other changes in the strict timelines that govern Pennsylvania voting. They also want more financial support for training, electronic poll books and other upgrades. A list of findings from the 10 hearings that involved more than 50 testifiers included a need for better training and uniformity in a state where counties run the nuts and bolts of voting.
April 22, 2021 4:03 am
Anyone in Washington County who wants to get a COVID-19 vaccine, can get one and get it quickly. Officials with Monongahela Valley Hospital say they have a large supply of the Pfizer vaccine and appointments are available immediately at the Carroll Township Social Hall. If you are interested, officials say you can make your appointment by going online at monvalleyhospital.com or calling 724-258-1890. Hospital officials say there is no wait time.
April 21, 2021 5:20 pm
UNDATED (AP) – Health officials have released more evidence that COVID-19 infections in fully vaccinated people are uncommon. The latest study looked at recent infections in about 75 Chicago skilled nursing facilities. Nearly 8,000 residents and nearly 7,000 staff received two doses of vaccine at the facilities. In those who were fully vaccinated, health officials detected 22 breakthrough infections. Most experienced no symptoms, but two were hospitalized and one died. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the study online. Some studies have suggested vaccine effectiveness can be lower in nursing homes.
April 21, 2021 12:41 pm
UNDATED (AP) – Pennsylvania plans to greatly expand its network of COVID-19 vaccine providers as demand for the life-saving shots begins to slow and existing vaccinators order fewer doses. Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said Tuesday that with supply finally catching up to demand, she expects more providers will begin receiving shipments over the next two to three weeks. Pennsylvania had slashed the number of providers receiving vaccine by more than two-thirds in an effort to speed up the state’s vaccine rollout. Smaller vaccine providers who were cut out say that decision hurt some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.
April 21, 2021 4:14 am
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Police have shot and killed a teenage girl in Columbus. The shooting was reported Tuesday afternoon just as the verdict was being announced in the trial for the killing of George Floyd. Police showed bodycam footage Tuesday night at a news conference of the officer shooting the girl as she appeared to attempt to stab two people with a knife. A black-handled blade resembling a kitchen knife or steak knife appeared to be lying on the sidewalk next to her immediately after she fell. Police say the girl was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Nobody else was injured.
April 21, 2021 4:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden has announced new employer tax credits and other steps to encourage people reluctant to be inoculated to get the COVID-19 vaccine. His administration is trying to overcome diminishing demand for the shots as Biden celebrates reaching his latest goal of administering 200 million coronavirus doses in his first 100 days in office. He says in a White House speech that “vaccines can save your own life, but they can also save your grandmother’s life, your co-worker’s life, the grocery store clerk or the delivery person helping you and your neighbors get through the crisis. That’s why you should get vaccinated.”
