November 17, 2020 5:57 pm
(AP) – Two COVID-19 vaccines might be nearing the finish line, but scientists say it’s critical that enough people volunteer to help finish studying other candidates. Moderna and competitor Pfizer recently announced preliminary results showing their vaccines appear to be strongly effective. More vaccine types will be needed to meet global demand. And different types may work better in different people, something only testing can tell. Most vaccines in late-stage testing around the world target the “spike” protein on the coronavirus surface but they’re made using a variety of technologies, some of them brand new. Still, some countries are sticking with older vaccine approaches.
November 17, 2020 5:28 pm
SEATTLE (AP) – A federal judge in Seattle has awarded $10 million to the family of a severely disabled child who was born after a community clinic nurse inadvertently gave the mother a flu shot instead of a birth-control injection. The Seattle Times reports a federal judge last week awarded the child $7.5 million for her medical, educational and other expenses. The award came on top of $2.5 million in damages for her parents. The judge found that the mother would not have become pregnant in 2011 if the nurse at a clinic had given her the correct shot. The federal government is responsible for the damages because the clinic is federally funded.
November 17, 2020 5:24 pm
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A deadly rise in COVID-19 infections is forcing state and local officials to adjust their blueprints for fighting a virus that is threatening to overwhelm health care systems. Schools are scrapping plans to reopen classrooms. More states are adopting mask mandates. But they often face blowback from dissenters who fear the new restrictions will kill off more businesses and jobs. With Thanksgiving coming up next week, public health officials are bracing for a holiday-fueled surge. Physicians have been urging families to stick to small gatherings and avoid large parties and events where vulnerable populations could be infected.
November 17, 2020 12:33 pm
(WPXI) – Ten percent of Pittsburgh’s police department has been forced to quarantine after officers, firefighters and paramedics tested positive for COVID-10. The Department of Public Safety is dealing with a total of 21 positive coronavirus cases across fire, EMS and police. A number of first responders are in self quarantine because of possible exposure. There are nine Pittsburgh police officers who tested positive for COVID-19 and because of possible exposure, between 90 and 130 police officers are now at home in quarantine. Pittsburgh’s Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich told Channel 11’s Rick Earle that he’s concerned about that number but believes the police department can manage it. He said there will be no drop off in service and response, but if the number grows to 20 or 25% of the police bureau, they may have to make changes.
November 17, 2020 7:17 am
CANONSBURG, Pa. – (WPXI) A potential bus driver shortage could force the Canon-McMillan School District to return to full remote learning. District officials said it will be a day-to-day decision. In a letter sent to parents on Monday, the district said it will alert families if the decision must be made Tuesday morning. The letter also informed families that the district learned of one additional positive COVID-19 case in the district. A staff member at Borland Manor Elementary tested positive and contact tracing was conducted. There was also one positive case at the support facility, and another is awaiting test results while in quarantine, the letter said.
November 17, 2020 4:16 am
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) – Hurricane Iota has roared ashore as a dangerous Category 4 storm along almost exactly the same stretch of Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast that was devastated by an equally powerful Hurricane Eta 13 days earlier. Iota had intensified into an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm during the day Monday, but the U.S. National Hurricane Center says it weakened slightly as it neared the coast late Monday and made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 kph). Iota came ashore just 15 miles (25 kilometers) south of where Hurricane Eta made landfall Nov. 3, also as a Category 4 storm. Eta’s torrential rains saturated the soil in the region, leaving the land new deadly landslides and floods.
November 17, 2020 4:15 am
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – SpaceX’s newly launched capsule with four astronauts has arrived at the International Space Station. The Dragon capsule pulled up and docked late Monday night, following a 27-hour, completely automated flight from Florida. This is the second astronaut mission for SpaceX. But it’s the first time Elon Musk’s company delivered a crew for a full six-month stay. The three Americans and one Japanese astronaut will remain at the orbiting lab until their replacements arrive next spring on another Dragon. They gave a tour of their capsule Monday, and first-time space flyer Victor Glover was presented his gold astronaut pin.
November 17, 2020 4:14 am
ATLANTA (AP) – Georgia’s top elections official is under attack from President Donald Trump and other fellow Republicans in the aftermath of the heated election season. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has been disputing claims of widespread voter fraud in Georgia from Trump’s campaign since unofficial returns have shown Democrat Joe Biden with a 14,000-vote lead in the once reliably red state. Georgia’s two U.S. senators have demanded that Raffensperger resign. The state’s Republican governor and members of Congress have pushed for investigations. Raffensperger has sought to appease Republicans somewhat by ordering a hand-tallied audit of the presidential race. But he says he doesn’t think the outcome will change.
November 17, 2020 4:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A Senate panel is calling on the CEOs of Facebook and Twitter to defend their handling of disinformation in the contest between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden. But the senators are deeply divided by party over the integrity and results of the election itself. The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing Tuesday to question Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter’s Jack Dorsey on their companies’ actions around the closely contested election. Prominent Republican senators have refused to knock down Trump’s unfounded claims of voting irregularities and fraud, even as misinformation disputing Biden’s victory has flourished online.
November 17, 2020 4:12 am
ATLANTA (AP) – President-elect Joe Biden is drawing from the senior ranks of his campaign to fill out an increasingly diverse White House leadership team. People familiar with Biden’s initial decisions have confirmed that former campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon will serve as a deputy chief of staff, while campaign co-chair Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond and campaign adviser Steve Ricchetti will play senior roles in the new administration. Those familiar with the decisions were not authorized to disclose internal discussions ahead of a formal staffing announcement expected for Tuesday. Late last week, Biden tapped former senior campaign adviser Ron Klain to serve as his chief of staff.
