August 25, 2020 1:58 pm
NEW YORK (AP) – The number of Americans newly diagnosed with the coronavirus is falling – a development experts credit at least partly to increased wearing of masks – even as the outbreak continues to claim nearly 1,000 lives in the U.S. each day. About 43,000 new cases have been reported daily over the past two weeks across the country, down 21 percent since early August. That’s according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
August 25, 2020 12:43 pm
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Authorities say an infant struck by bullets that went into a Pittsburgh home has died from his wounds. Police responding to reports of shots fired around 6 LAST NIGHT – were directed by residents – to a home where they found a year-old boy with a gunshot wound to his head. The child, who has been identified as Zykier Young, was taken to a hospital but was pronounced dead there several hours later. An initial investigation showed the shots emanated from outside the home, then traveled through a window and two walls before hitting Young. Police said there was a shootout with multiple people firing and Young was simply caught in the crossfire. Investigators said they do have multiple shell casings from the scene, and they are examining security camera footage of the shootout. (Photo: WPXI)
August 25, 2020 10:29 am
LAS VEGAS (AP) – Tuesday’s program at the Republican National Convention is likely to wade into familiar waters, with a lineup expected to speak on divisive issues like abortion and “cancel culture,” while lambasting Democratic rival Joe Biden and the Democrats’ progressive wing. First lady Melania Trump is set to give the night’s marquee address from the Rose Garden of the White House. President Donald Trump is expected to make an appearance during prime-time programming. The program’s speakers include Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, another Republican who is being closely watched for signs of future political aspirations. Trump appeared frequently during the first day of his party’s convention.
August 25, 2020 10:28 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Responding to outcries from medical experts, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn is admitting he overstated the life-saving benefits of treating COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma. Medical experts have been pushing back against the claims about the treatment since President Donald Trump’s announcement on Sunday that the FDA had decided to issue emergency authorization for convalescent plasma. Trump hailed the decision as a historic breakthrough even though the treatment’s value has not been established. The announcement on the eve of Trump’s Republican National Convention raised suspicions that it was politically motivated to offset critics of the president’s handling of the pandemic.
August 25, 2020 4:19 am
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Jerry Falwell Jr. says he has resigned as head of evangelical Liberty University. Falwell confirmed his departure in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, a day after the school said he had submitted, then rescinded his resignation. Falwell stepped down amid conflicting claims about a sexual relationship his wife had with a younger business partner. He had already been on a leave of absence after a photo he posted on social media caused an uproar. Falwell is the son of university founder the late Rev. Jerry Falwell. (Photo: CNN)
August 25, 2020 4:18 am
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) – The father of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot, apparently in the back, by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, says his son was left paralyzed from the waist down. Blake’s father told the Chicago Sun-Times that he was told his son was shot eight times during the Sunday evening confrontation with police, which was captured on cellphone video and led to two nights of unrest in the city that’s along Lake Michigan between Milwaukee and Chicago. The father, who is also named Jacob Blake, said he was driving from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Kenosha to be with his son. He said his son has “eight holes” in his body and that doctors don’t know if the paralysis will be permanent.
August 25, 2020 4:16 am
UNITED NATIONS (AP) – The United Nations chief says the global tourism industry has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, with $320 billion lost in exports in the first five months of the year and more than 120 million jobs at risk. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said international tourist arrivals also decreased by more than half. He said in a report Tuesday that tourism is the third largest export sector of the global economy, behind fuels and chemicals, and in 2019 it accounted for 7% of global trade. He said: “It employs one in every 10 people on Earth and provides livelihoods to hundreds of millions more.”
August 25, 2020 4:15 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The Republican National Convention is off to a bumpy start with the news media. President Donald Trump complained about his coverage, CNN and MSNBC subjected him to aggressive fact-checking and Fox News Channel faced a social media backlash for not showing more of the convention. Trump, in an informal acceptance of his party’s nomination for a second term, complained about news networks not showing the full roll call of delegates voting for him. Networks juggled the roll call with coverage of the House Oversight Committee’s hearings into the Postal Service’s readiness for mail-in voting. The president made three TV appearances on the first day.
August 25, 2020 4:04 am
The construction of a new aquatic center in Peters Township’s Rolling Hills Park took center stage again at Monday night’s council meeting. Council awarded a contract for $65,500 to Kimmel-Bogrette for the design of the center. The vote to approve was narrow once again with the majority approving the contract 4-2-1. Council members Monica Merrell and Frank Arcuri voted against the project. Councilman Gary Stiegel abstained. Council then approved the creation of an advisory committee to oversee the project. Chairman David Ball appointed Council members Bob Lewis, Frank Kosir and Frank Arcuri to serve on the committee. Arcuri declined citing lack of time. Ball then appointed James Berquist to the post. Arcuri did make an impassioned speech wondering if spending upwards of $10 million is an appropriate use of funds saying that it is possible to build out the rest of the park for that money and not have to worry if an aquatic center that is used 3 to 4 months a year will cover its operating costs. Council also set September 14 as a date to hold a public hearing for a proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance relating to wireless communication facilities. Cell phone towers and upcoming installation of towers to handle 5G communications will be addressed.
August 25, 2020 2:31 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s governor is urging lawmakers to legalize recreational marijuana and spend down much of the remaining $1.3 billion in federal coronavirus relief funds. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday outlined his priorities for the fall legislative session. His proposal on the federal funding includes extra hazard pay for workers on the front lines of handling the pandemic, as well as financial support for small businesses, child care needs, protective equipment and utility shut-offs. House Republican Leader Kerry Benninghoff is dismissive of the governor’s proposals, calling them unaffordable and a taxpayer bail out of mandates.
