November 19, 2020 4:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Although a growing number of Republicans have quietly acknowledged that Joe Biden won the election, few are publicly challenging President Donald Trump. The GOP’s public silence on the reality of Biden’s victory amounts to tacit approval of Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud. That has significant repercussions, delaying the transition during a deadly pandemic, sowing public doubt and endangering Biden’s ability to lead the portion of the country that may question his legitimacy. Republicans are closing the Trump era much the way they started it: by joining the president in shattering civic norms and sowing uncertainty in institutions.
November 19, 2020 4:06 am
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Texas is sending medical staff to overworked hospitals by the thousands amid as a worsening surge of cases across the state. State health officials say more than 5,400 extra medical personnel have been deployed across Texas, the highest levels since the pandemic began. That doesn’t capture the waves of extra help surging into Texas, as the military and volunteer outfits have also dispatched extra hands to America’s second-biggest state. Over the past two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new cases has increased by nearly 3,300, an increase of more than 50%.
November 19, 2020 3:59 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Republicans in the state House are pushing forward a proposal for a review of election procedures in Pennsylvania. GOP members of the State Government Committee all voted for the measure Wednesday and all Democrats were opposed. Democrats say any “confusion” over voting procedures – which is the basis for the resolution – were caused by the committee itself not acting ahead of time to make vote counting go more smoothly. The measure’s Republican sponsor insists he accepts the results of the election and isn’t trying to overturn them. The resolution needs a House floor vote but doesn’t require approval by the Senate or governor.
November 19, 2020 3:58 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s state Supreme Court will take up challenges to more than 8,000 ballots in Philadelphia filed by President Donald Trump’s campaign. They’re among the many lawsuits launched by the Republican and his allies amid President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. The high court’s five-member Democratic majority agreed Wednesday to take up the case. It involves the question of whether state law requires counties to disqualify mail-in or absentee ballots where a voter didn’t write certain information on the outer envelope. The court’s two Republican justices dissented. A Philadelphia judge upheld the city election commission’s decision to count the votes, and the Trump campaign appealed. Biden won Pennsylvania by more than 80,000 votes.
November 19, 2020 3:57 am
Pennsylvania’s contact tracing system is under strain as the explosion of new COVID-19 cases overtakes health workers’ ability to keep up. Public health experts say it’s important to interview people who have tested positive for the virus as soon as possible so their “close contacts,” or the people they exposed, can be identified and quarantined. The state Health Department’s goal is to contact each new COVID-19 patient within 24 hours of a positive test. That’s become virtually impossible as infections surge out of control, even with the addition of hundreds of contact tracers.
November 19, 2020 2:25 am
A stay-at-home and stop social gatherings advisory has been issued for Allegheny County as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. Allegheny County Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen is asking people to stay home unless they are going to work, school or need essentials, like groceries or medical care. She is also asking residents to not have guests in their home, unless they are essential workers like childcare or home healthcare workers, and to cancel any Thanksgiving plans they have with people outside of their household. “For the past few weeks, I’ve asked people to follow the rules, curtail gatherings and parties, stay home except for essentials, and wear masks. I’m done asking and today, I’m telling you that these are things we must all do to bring down the level of spread and keep our community safe,” Bogen said. Bogen said if cases increase, she can issue an order.
November 18, 2020 5:37 pm
(AP) – Conditions inside the nation’s hospitals are deteriorating by the day as the coronavirus rages through the country at an unrelenting pace. Hospitals have converted parking garages, chapels, cafeterias waiting rooms into patient rooms, and fatigue is setting in among a beleaguered workforce of medical workers. The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the U.S. has doubled in the past month and set new records every day this week. As of Tuesday, more than 76,000 people were hospitalized with the virus.
November 18, 2020 3:10 pm
NEW YORK (AP) – New York City’s mayor says he’s shuttering schools to try to stop the renewed spread of the coronavirus. It’s a painful about-face for one of the first big U.S. school systems to bring students back to classrooms this fall. The mayor and schools chancellor announced Wednesday that school buildings will close Thursday. The city had said since summer that school buildings would close if 3% of all the coronavirus tests performed citywide over a seven-day period came back positive. The mayor tweeted that the city has now hit that mark.
November 18, 2020 1:30 pm
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The public health directors of Ohio’s capital city and the surrounding county have issued an advisory stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Dr. Mysheika Roberts is Columbus health commissioner and Joe Mazzola is the Franklin County health commissioner. They issued the order Wednesday which advises all residents to remain at home as much as possible. The orders also recommend not having any guests in homes including on Thanksgiving Day, and to avoid traveling in and out of state. Exceptions would be for essential needs such as medical care, groceries, medicine and food pick-up.
November 18, 2020 11:50 am
(WPXI) – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced Wednesday the cancellation of its mandated regular season and championship competition for winter sports. The league’s board of directors voted to cancel the season. Several local colleges are a part of the PSAC, including: California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University, Edinboro University, IUP, Pitt Johnstown, Seton Hill and Slippery Rock University. Last week, the board voted to cancel PSAC Championship seasons for fall sports, yet allowed for league championship opportunities in those sports should six or more schools elect to participate. Schools who decide to play must abide by league rules and NCAA guidelines that have been set because of COVID-19. The same requirements exist for the winter sports that have been canceled. Last week, the board agreed to proceed with the intent to play a full regular and championship season for all spring sports in 2021.
