August 13, 2020 4:10 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Some area bar and restaurant owners may take matters into their own hands, possibly opening and allowing more than 25-percent capacity in their establishments. The president of the Southwest Pa. Restaurant and Tavern Association, Rodney Ambrogi – who is also the owner of Al’s Cafe in Bethel Park, told our news partners at Channel 11 the association sent a letter to Governor Tom Wolf last week. The letter asked that the governor loosen some restrictions. As of Wednesday morning, the association hadn’t heard back from him. If they don’t hear back from him by Aug. 14, according to Ambrogi, members of the association may: Open their bars for direct service again. Allow more than 25-percent capacity and enforce the six foot rule to allow more customers inside, while still following other safety guidelines. He says they are pushed in a corner and are trying to do everything they can to protect their livelihoods and family businesses. Members of the association are hopeful they’ll hear from Governor Wolf by Friday, but said they are willing to take the risk.
August 13, 2020 2:41 am
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – A West Virginia teachers’ union is urging public schools to avoid face-to-face instruction when students return next month due to the coronavirus. The West Virginia Education Association on Thursday suggested the online-only start based on a survey of the union’s membership. WVEA President Dale Lee says most respondents feel uncomfortable returning to classrooms under their individual county’s reopening plans. In addition, nearly all members are skeptical that students could effectively maintain social distancing and wear masks. Gov. Jim Justice has pushed back the start of the school year to Sept. 8. He recently said a final decision on reopening would have to be made by Sept. 1.
August 12, 2020 4:11 pm
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Hank Williams Jr., Marty Stuart and songwriter Dean Dillon are the newest inductees to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Williams joins his father, country legend Hank Williams Sr., in the Hall of Fame and is known for songs like “All My Rowdy Friends Are Comin’ Over Tonight.” Stuart, a five-time Grammy winner, started his career as a sideman backing up Lester Flatt and Johnny Cash before starting his own artist career. Dillon is known for writing dozens of hits for George Strait, including “The Chair” and “Here For a Good Time,” as well as the often covered classic “Tennessee Whiskey.”
August 12, 2020 4:55 am
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) – Trini Lopez, a singer and guitarist who gained fame for his versions of “Lemon Tree” and “If I Had a Hammer” in the 1960s and took his talents to Hollywood, has died. He was 83. Filmmaker P. David Ebersole confirms that Lopez died Tuesday from complications of COVID-19. Lopez was mentored by Buddy Holly and Frank Sinatra and became an international star, performing in English and Spanish. Unlike Mexican American singers such as Ritchie Valens, Lopez rejected advice to change his name. Sinatra signed Lopez to his Reprise Records label after seeing him perform at a West Hollywood nightclub. Ebersole had just finished shooting a documentary on Lopez.
August 12, 2020 4:21 am
CANTON, Ga. (AP) – A Georgia school district has quarantined more than 900 students and staff members because of possible exposure to the coronavirus since classes resumed this last week. The Cherokee County School District outside Atlanta said it would also temporarily shut down a hard-hit high school in which a widely shared photo showed dozens of maskless students posing together. The district serves more than 42,000 students. The state Department of Public Health reports that Georgia on Tuesday posted its highest single-day death total so far of the pandemic at 137. The state is currently averaging more than 60 deaths being reported each day.
August 12, 2020 4:18 am
DETROIT – (AP) – Ford is recalling more than 558,000 midsize SUVs in North America because the brakes may not work properly. The recall covers certain 2015 through 2018 Ford Edge and 2016 through 2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. Ford says in a statement Wednesday that some front brake hoses can rupture, causing brake fluid to leak. If too much fluid leaks, it could take more effort to stop the vehicle and stopping distances could increase. The company says it doesn’t know of any crashes or injuries. áDrivers should see a brake warning light on the dashboard if the fluid gets too low. Owners will be notified starting the week of Sept. 14. Dealers will replace the front brake jounce hoses.
August 12, 2020 4:17 am
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – Health authorities in New Zealand are scrambling to trace the source of a new outbreak of the coronavirus as the nation’s largest city goes back into lockdown. Four cases among people in one Auckland household were the country’s first cases of local transmission in 102 days. A health official said one of the infected people works at a food cold-storage facility, which was being swabbed to check if it was the possible source. The cluster surprised many and raised questions about whether the general election would go ahead as planned next month. New Zealand has been praised for its virus response after coming close to eradicating the virus with a strict lockdown and border quarantines.
August 12, 2020 4:09 am
ALLEGHENY CO., Pa. — (WPXI) – A longtime assistant district attorney for Allegheny County, Russ Broman, has died after a battle with COVID-19. District Attorney spokesperson Mike Manko confirmed Broman, 65, had been hospitalized with the coronavirus since July 7. A family attorney said in July that he was not on a ventilator but that it could be a possibility in the future. He was listed in critical condition on July 14 and remained critical over the past few weeks. The family’s attorney told our news partners at Channel 11 previously that Broman thinks he was exposed to the coronavirus on June 30 while at the Allegheny County Courthouse. Just a week later, he had to be taken to the hospital. Broman worked in the district attorney’s office since the early 1980s, and his accolades are endless. He argued in front of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court twice and 3rd Circuit Court multiple times, and he’s won a number of awards.
August 12, 2020 4:05 am
Supervisors in North Franklin Township spent their Tuesday afternoon meeting addressing left over business items. Supervisors look forward to continuing progress on the West Chestnut Street storm drain repairs. They came down hard on 4 property owners authorizing the advertisement of bids to demolish properties that long have been described as nuisance properties. Those demolition bids will be opened at noon on August 26. Supervisors also will advertise an ordinance to terminate the Recreation and Business Improvement Authority. Supervisors also will look to approve an ordinance that will establish a $20 pay per call stipend to the North Franklin Volunteer Fire Company. This stipend will be paid on all calls that the fire department is called out to answer. The funds for this program come totally from the township. Residents needing assistance will not be assessed this fee. Supervisor Bob Sabot says this is out of the generosity of the township as a way to help the fire department offset costs now that their normal fund raising activities are at a halt because of Covid-19
August 12, 2020 2:26 am
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) – Joe Biden introduced his newly chosen running mate Kamala Harris on Wednesday, with the former vice president and California senator appearing for the first time together as the Democratic presidential ticket. Biden pitched his former primary rival as a smart, tenacious figure who will help him defeat President Donald Trump in November amid a pandemic, cratering economy and national reckoning on racism. Harris is making history as the first Black woman on a national major party ticket, and she’d be the first woman to hold national executive office if Biden wins. Democrats see Harris as appealing to progressives, mainstream liberals and some independents and Republicans unhappy with Trump. The president and his allies are attempting to cast her as too left-wing for the country.
