December 5, 2020 9:16 am
The Trump administration is suspending all federal student loan payments through the end of January and keeping interest rates at 0%, extending a moratorium that started early in the pandemic but was set to expire at the end of this month. By extending payments by one month, the administration is effectively leaving it to the Biden administration or Congress to decide whether to provide longer-term relief to millions of student borrowers. The measure was included in a March relief package and the White House extended it in August, but its fate was in doubt amid stalemate over a new relief bill. In announcing the extension, DeVos rebuked Congress for failing to act.
December 5, 2020 9:14 am
HOUSTON (AP) – A federal appeals court has ruled that a lower court was wrong to bar the Trump administration from taking $3.6 billion from military construction projects for a border wall. A panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Friday that El Paso County and the nonprofit Border Network for Human Rights did not have the standing to challenge President Donald Trump’s redirecting funds from more than 100 military construction projects, including a $20 million road project at a base located in the city. The appeals court found that neither the county nor the Border Network proved it was directly harmed by Trump’s move.
December 5, 2020 9:12 am
MOSCOW (AP) – Thousands of doctors, teachers and others in high-risk groups have signed up for a COVID-19 vaccination in Moscow starting Saturday, a precursor to a Russia-wide immunization effort. The vaccination effort comes three days after President Vladimir Putin ordered the launch of a “large-scale” COVID-19 immunization campaign even though a Russian-designed vaccine has yet to complete the advanced studies needed to ensure its effectiveness and safety in line with established scientific protocols. The Russian leader said Wednesday that more than 2 million doses of the Sputnik V jab will be available in the next few days, allowing authorities to offer jabs to medical workers and teachers across the country starting late next week.
December 5, 2020 4:22 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Fresh off another rejection in Pennsylvania’s courts, Republicans are again asking the U.S. Supreme Court to undo President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the battleground state. The state’s lawyers say fatal flaws in the original case mean justices are highly unlikely to grant it. Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly of northwestern Pennsylvania and the other plaintiffs on Thursday asked the high court to prevent the state from certifying any contests from the Nov. 3 election, and undo any certifications already made, such as Biden’s victory, while its lawsuit is considered. They maintain that Pennsylvania’s expansive vote-by-mail law is unconstitutional. Most mail-in ballots were submitted by Democrats. Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court threw out the case Saturday.
December 5, 2020 4:09 am
CUMBERLAND, Pa. (AP) – A fire that broke out at an apartment building in western Pennsylvania has left a child and two adults injured and displaced dozens of residents. It’s not yet known what caused the fire at the Parkview Knoll Apartments in Cumberland Township. The blaze was reported around 2:30 a.m. Friday and was brought under control about 90 minutes later. Authorities say a 12-year-old boy who firefighters found in a stairwell and an adult resident both suffered smoke inhalation and were being treated at a hospital, while a woman who jumped from an apartment suffered an ankle injury. Two of the building’s 23 apartments were destroyed, with the others sustaining smoke damage.
December 5, 2020 4:07 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania are drafting a boatload of voting-related legislation and are vowing to make a major initiative out of addressing what they deem to be problems arising from the election. Top Democrats quickly accused Republicans on Friday of setting up a “sham process” and undermining faith in elections. Republicans have already issued more than a half-dozen memos about forthcoming legislation stemming from the election. They will push to pass something before the May 18 primary election, although getting it signed into law will depend on Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat. Democrats say Republicans should have simply allowed counties to process mail-in ballots before Election Day.
December 5, 2020 4:03 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Temple University will pay the U.S. Department of Education $700,000 to settle claims regarding years of falsified data submitted to U.S. News & World Report. The department announced the settlement Friday, noting that Temple didn’t admit any wrongdoing or liability. The matter involves false reporting about the school’s online MBA program at the Fox School of Business that officials have said was done intentionally to boost the school’s rankings and revenues. Temple issued a statement Friday saying it was grateful to have reached a conclusion in the matter and noted the changes its made, including establishing an internal verification unit and making online and telephone hotlines available for whistle-blowers.
December 4, 2020 4:17 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – President-elect Joe Biden says keeping people safe is his first consideration for his Jan. 20 inauguration, making it “highly unlikely” that a million people will pack the National Mall for his swearing-in during the coronavirus pandemic. Biden was asked about inauguration planning during a news conference Friday in Wilmington, Delaware. He suggested that the festivities could end up looking like the largely virtual convention Democrats held in August, with online activity in the states. Biden says his team is talking with congressional leaders about their plans for the inauguration. The swearing-in ceremony and a lunch for the new president and vice president are held at the Capitol. Biden says he wants people to be able to celebrate safely. He says, “There will probably not be a gigantic inaugural parade.” He says details are still being worked out.
December 4, 2020 9:17 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – America’s employers scaled back their hiring last month as the viral pandemic accelerated across the country, adding 245,000 jobs, the fewest since April and the fifth straight monthly slowdown. At the same time, the unemployment rate to a still-high 6.7%, from 6.9% in October, the Labor Department said. November’s job gain was down from 610,000 in October. Friday’s report of another slowdown in hiring was the latest evidence that the job market and the economy are faltering in the face of a virus that has been shattering daily records for confirmed infections.
December 4, 2020 7:24 am
CARMICHAELS, Pa – (WPXI) – Three people, including a 12-year-old boy, were taken to hospitals after a fire at an apartment building in Greene County, officials said. The fire was reported shortly before 2:30 a.m. at the Parkview Knoll Apartments on Ceylon Road in Carmichaels. Firefighters rescued the 12-year-old from a stairwell, the fire chief said. He had smoke inhalation and was flown to Children’s Hospital. A woman hurt her ankle after jumping out of an upstairs window. Another person also had smoke inhalation. Flames melted the siding on the building, which has 23 units. Two of the apartments were destroyed and others sustained smoke damage, the fire chief said. Forty-five people were displaced. The American Red Cross is offering assistance. A fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. (Photo: WPXI)
