June 20, 2021 1:54 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – VP Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Pittsburgh on Monday with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. The visit to the presidential battleground state comes as President Joe Biden’s administration pushes a massive infrastructure plan in Congress. Biden originally went to Pittsburgh on March 31 to unveil a $2.3 trillion plan in what he billed as “a once-in-a-generation investment in America” that would also undo tax cuts for corporations under Biden’s predecessor, Republican Donald Trump. Biden is hoping for a deal with Republicans who are resisting his big ideas and trimming the potential spending, but he also is trying to assure Democrats that he won’t leave behind their priorities. (Photo: Twitter)
June 20, 2021 1:46 am
UPPER ST. CLAIR, Pa. (WPXI) — A South Fayette woman was hiking with her husband Thursday evening when she was struck by a fallen tree branch. Kara Leo, a beloved wife, mom of two boys and local business owner passed away Friday after a tragic accident. Leo was hiking along the Morton Ravine Trail in Upper St. Clair’s Boyce Mayview Park with her husband Thursday night when a tree branch fell and struck them. Kara didn’t survive her injuries. Her husband is in critical condition. On Beverly Road in Mt. Lebanon, the storefront of Kara’s bakery has a sign reading ‘closed until further notice.’ Employees and neighboring business owners fought through tears telling our newspartners at Channel 11 what Leo meant to them and the community. While her friends work to process this sudden news, they’re praying for Kara’s two little boys, Oliver and Owen, and for Kara’s husband who is still fighting for his life in the hospital. Those who knew Kara best say they want to be more like her and lead with kindness and joy.
June 19, 2021 4:23 am
BERLIN (AP) – The leaders of Germany and France have called for vigilance to prevent the spread of a coronavirus variant that this week prompted Britain to delay the planned relaxation of pandemic restrictions in England. Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday that while Germany has very low numbers of new COVID-19 infections at present, the “aggressive” delta variant could lead to a rise in new cases. Merkel spoke ahead of a working dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron, the first time she has hosted a foreign leader in Germany since last year. Macron said the European Union would discuss at an upcoming summit how to better harmonize travel restrictions during the pandemic.
June 19, 2021 4:22 am
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – A federal judge has ruled for Florida in a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order making it difficult for cruise ships to sail due to the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday wrote in a 124-page decision Friday that Florida would be harmed if the CDC order effectively blocking most cruises were to continue. The Tampa-based judge granted a preliminary injunction that prevents the CDC from enforcing the order pending further legal action on a broader Florida lawsuit. Merryday ordered both sides to return to mediation to attempt to work out a full solution.
June 19, 2021 4:21 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has solemnly sworn to navigate his country out of deepening economic troubles as he concluded a major ruling party meeting, acknowledging food shortages and urging officials to prepare for both dialogue and confrontation with the U.S. North Korea’s state media released Kim’s comments shortly before President Joe Biden’s special representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, arrived in South Korea on Saturday for talks over stalled nuclear diplomacy with the North. Kim Jong Un presided over a four-day plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Committee, which he summoned to discuss efforts to salvage a dismal economy, hurt by years of mismanagement and U.S.-led sanctions that were made worse by pandemic border closures.
June 19, 2021 4:20 am
PHOENIX (AP) – Extreme temperatures like the ones blistering the American West this week aren’t just annoying, they’re deadly. Scientists and health care experts say the record-breaking temperatures this week are a weather emergency, with heat responsible for more deaths in the U.S. than all other natural disasters combined. With more frequent and intense heat waves likely because of climate change and the worst drought in modern history, they say communities must better protect the vulnerable, like homeless people and those who live in ethnically and racially diverse low-income neighborhoods.
June 19, 2021 4:19 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The declaration of Juneteenth as a federal holiday is putting the pressure on more U.S. companies to give their employees the day off, accelerating a movement that took off last year in response to the racial justice protests that swept the country. Hundreds of top companies had already pledged last year to observe Juneteenth in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd. But most private companies take their cues from the federal government in drawing up their holiday calendars. More than 800 companies have publicly pledged to observe Juneteenth, according to HellaCreative. That is nearly double the number of companies that had joined the pledge last year.
June 19, 2021 3:50 am
The regular meeting of the Washington County Commissioners on Thursday turned contentious, when Register of Wills, James Roman, delivered harsh accusations of threats, intimidation and even fraud, against the commissioners. Roman made his remarks during the public comment of the meeting. He specifically named all three commissioners, County Controller Mike Namie and the county’s Director of Finance, Josh Hatfield, calling them “career politicians” and claiming that in their positions, they have ruled over Washington County using “Machiavellian tactics.” Roman pointed to an audit released last week, saying it was being used to distract from what he claimed, was a more than one-million-dollar misappropriation. Meanwhile, Washington County Clerk of Courts Brenda Davis also delivered a prepared statement asking commissioners to provide direction on some sixty cases in her office along with the collection of fees. Davis also called for an independent forensic audit from 2016 through 2019. Commission Chairperson Diana Irey-Vaughan tells WJPA News that in twenty-four-years of public service, she has never experienced such hostility between departments and offices. But, she said, words have consequences and they are working with the county’s solicitor to consider all potential options for the “actionable” behavior that has been exhibited.
June 18, 2021 1:56 pm
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginia University is joining the coronavirus vaccine giveaway sweepstakes. WVU is offering an incentive program for students and employees who have verified they’ve received their COVID-19 shots. It’s intended to boost the number of students, faculty and staff who confirm their vaccine information. The university say it will commit to holding a large concert in the upcoming academic year if it reaches a 70% vaccine verification rate by Aug. 1. Among the freebies being offered are football and basketball student season tickets, wilderness trips and a dinner with WVU President Gordon Gee. Drawings will be held in July.
June 18, 2021 1:53 pm
TORONTO (AP) – Canada’s public safety minister says border restrictions on nonessential travel with the United States will be extended until July 21. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says the move has been made in coordination with the U.S. He says Canada’s number one priority is to keep Canadians safe during the pandemic. The border between Canada and the U.S. remains closed to all nonessential travel. The restrictions were announced in March, 2020 in the early months of the pandemic and have been extended every month since. There are growing calls in the U.S. to open the Canada-U.S. border for nonessential travel like tourism, but under 20% of eligible Canadians are fully vaccinated now.
