March 19, 2021 4:14 am
MIAMI (AP) – Two Royal Caribbean lines will resume cruises in the Caribbean in June, ending a yearlong hiatus. Passengers 18 and older will be required to test negative for COVID-19 before getting on the ships. The company’s Celebrity Cruises subsidiary said its Celebrity Millennium ship will relaunch on June 5 from St. Maarten. One itinerary will stop in Aruba, Curacao and Barbados, and another will stop in Tortola, St. Lucia and Barbados. CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said returning to the Caribbean “marks the measured beginning of the end of what has been a uniquely challenging time for everyone.
March 19, 2021 4:13 am
ATLANTA (AP) – For Asian Americans, 2020 was a year of political success and newfound influence. But it was also a time of vulnerability to racist assaults. That painful dichotomy will be on display Friday when President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the first person of South Asian descent to hold national office, visit Atlanta just days after a white gunman killed eight people, most of them Asian American women, in three metro-area massage parlors. Biden and Harris will meet with Asian American state legislators and other community leaders about racist rhetoric and actions against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
March 19, 2021 4:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The United States has cleared President Joe Biden’s goal of injecting 100 million coronavirus shots, more than a month before his target date of his 100th day in office. This as the president prepared to set his sights higher in the nationwide vaccination effort. The nation is now administering about 2.5 million shots per day. Biden, who promised to set a new goal for vaccinations next week, teased the possibility of setting a 200 million dose goal by his 100th day in office. He told reporters Friday that, “We may be able to double it.” His comments come as the U.S. is on pace to have enough of the three currently authorized vaccines to cover the entire adult population just 10 weeks from now.
March 19, 2021 4:09 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – U.S. Postal Service investigators found no evidence of any backdated presidential election ballots in Erie, Pennsylvania. That’s according to a report summarizing the investigation into claims by a postal worker. Pennsylvania was a key target for unfounded claims of election fraud by former President Donald Trump and fellow Republicans after Trump lost the election to Democrat Joe Biden. The report says agents from the postal service’s inspector general’s office found no evidence of backdated ballots after interviewing county and post office employees and reviewing ballots received by the Erie post office. The report also says the employed acknowledged he had no evidence of any backdated presidential ballots.
March 19, 2021 2:38 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Authorities say a man who took his year-old daughter from her mother’s Pittsburgh home during an argument that sparked an Amber Alert is now facing several charges. Twenty-year-old Giante Lee Thomas Jr. went to the women’s home around 12:30 p.m. Thursday, and the woman said he pointed a gun at her during the subsequent dispute. She also said he threatened her life before he left the home with the infant. State police and other law enforcement officers spotted Thomas’ vehicle outside a city home about six hours later and found the child there unharmed. Thomas was ordered held without bail on Friday and it wasn’t known if he’s retained an attorney.
March 19, 2021 2:26 am
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office posted a warning on their Facebook page today, regarding an apparent phone scam occuring in the county. The post said that the person(s) are identifying themselves as Washington County Sheriff Deputies and they are stating that they are trying to serve you with paperwork and requesting payment. They say these people are also providing some personal information as well. The Sheriff’s Department says this is not their deputies calling and requesting payment. They say they will never request a payment via telephone. They are telling residents that if you are not sure if the call is legitimate, to please call their office to verify. Their phone number is (724) 228-6840.
March 19, 2021 2:10 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania will delay its tax filing deadline from April 15 until May 17, after the Internal Revenue Service said it is delaying the federal tax filing deadline until May 17. The state Department of Revenue said Thursday that the state’s tax-filing deadline is tied by law to the federal deadline. The IRS announced its decision Wednesday. The move provides more breathing room for taxpayers and the IRS alike to cope with changes brought on by the pandemic. Taxpayers who owe money would not face any further penalties or interest on final 2020 personal income tax returns and payments if they pay by May 17.
March 18, 2021 5:24 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. is finalizing plans to send a combined 4 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Mexico and Canada in its first export of shots. White House press secretary Jen Psaki says the Biden administration is planning to send 2.5 million doses to Mexico and 1.5 million to Canada as a “loan.” The details are still being worked out. The AstraZeneca vaccine has not been authorized for use in the U.S. but has been authorized by the World Health Organization. The premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, said, “God bless America they are coming to our rescue.” He thanked Biden for his willingness to share the vaccines.
March 18, 2021 1:20 pm
(AP) – It’s showtime! AMC Theatres says it will have 98% of its U.S. movie theaters open on Friday, with more expected to open by March 26. Shares of AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. are up more than 4% before the market open on Thursday. AMC said that California is expected to open 52 of its 54 locations by Monday. The company is preparing to resume operations at the rest of its California locations once the proper local approvals are in place. AMC previously opened more than 500 of its theaters elsewhere around the country.
March 18, 2021 4:18 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Republicans still divided over former President Donald Trump’s legacy are seizing on his signature campaign issue: immigration. The GOP is leaning in on the highly charged issue amid a spike in border crossing that are straining U.S. facilities. They are blaming Biden for rolling back many of Trump’s hardline policies and taking a kinder tone. The push comes as Republicans contend with President Joe Biden’s early popularity, good news about vaccinations, and Americans’ embrace of the COVID relief bill that they opposed. It’s an issue that some believe could help unite the party as they head into the 2022 midterm elections.
