June 2, 2020 4:26 am
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A Minneapolis medical examiner has classified George Floyd’s death as a homicide, saying his heart stopped as police restrained him and compressed his neck. The medical examiner’s report also lists heart disease and hypertension as “other significant conditions,” along with fentanyl intoxication and recent methamphetamine use. A widely seen citizen video that shows Floyd struggling with a police officer holding his knee on his neck has sparked protests nationwide. Floyd’s family said Monday that its independent autopsy found Floyd died by asphyxiation, and their attorney called for charges against the police officer to be upgraded to first-degree murder.
June 2, 2020 4:23 am
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The state of Minnesota has filed a human rights complaint against the Minneapolis Police Department in the death of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes, even after he stopped moving. Gov. Tim Walz and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights announced the filing at a news conference Tuesday. Widely seen bystander video showing Floyd’s death has sparked protests around the world. The officer, Derek Chauvin, has been fired and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Three other officers involved were fired but have not been charged.
June 2, 2020 4:21 am
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Riot police firing tear gas have scattered a protest crowd in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. That came hours after Monday’s firing of the city’s police chief in the uproar over the early morning shooting death of a popular restaurant owner by security forces. David McAtee, owner of a Louisville barbecue spot, died while police and National Guard soldiers were enforcing a curfew amid protests over a previous police shooting in Kentucky’s largest city. Police said they were responding to gunfire from a crowd. Louisville’s mayor announced Police Chief Steve Conrad was fired, saying officers involved in the shooting had failed to activate body cameras.
June 2, 2020 4:20 am
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Some Democratic governors are resisting President Donald Trump’s threat to deploy the U.S. military unless they dispatch National Guard units to “dominate the streets” in reaction to the violence that has gripped the country. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he doesn’t believe the federal government can send military troops into his state. He accuses Trump of creating an “incendiary moment” by threatening to do so. Demonstrations against the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis while in police custody have turned violent across the country, with people breaking into businesses and stealing, smashing car windows and setting buildings on fire.
June 2, 2020 4:19 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump is stepping up the pressure on governors to crack down after a week of unrest set off by the death of George Floyd, demanding New York call in the National Guard to stop the “lowlifes and losers.” As cities around the U.S. witnessed a seventh straight night of both peaceful demonstrations and bursts of theft, vandalism and attacks on police, the president amplified his hard-line calls of a day earlier, in which he threatened to send in the military to restore order if governors didn’t do it.
June 2, 2020 4:17 am
You can add the West Alexander and Greene County Fairs to the list of events now cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. On its website, the Greene County Fair Board announced that “It is with great sadness and regret” that the event scheduled for August 9-15 has been cancelled. The board says it is “of the upmost importance for the health and safety of our fair goers, staff, concessionaires, sponsors, entertainers, families and others.” They also say that “additional factors’ contributed to the decision with uncertainty regarding “gathering restrictions, livestock and other participation, logistics with our carnival partners.” The board says they understand that there will be “mixed feelings in the community and hope all understand how hard this decision has been. We are looking forward to the 2021 Greene County Fair.” Board members for the West Alexander Fair echoed the sentiments of the board members in Greene County, saying they will be looking forward to a great event in 2021.
June 2, 2020 4:05 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Amid protests over George Floyd’s death across Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf is ordering Philadelphia and five counties to count ballots in the primary election that arrive by mail for seven days after Tuesday’s 8 p.m. deadline. Wolf made the announcement Monday as the state prepared for a primary election like none other in its history Tuesday. Wolf’s order is limited to Philadelphia and Allegheny, Erie, Montgomery, Delaware and Dauphin counties. Already, counties are struggling with a flood of mail-in ballots and difficulties wrought by the pandemic. Wolf’s order faced an imminent challenge by Republican Party officials, who said it violates constitutional protections that ensure equal voting laws.
June 2, 2020 4:03 am
PITTSBURGH – Tuesday marks the 2020 primary election in Pennsylvania. Many normal aspects of this election have already changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All voters heading to the polls are asked to wear masks. If you don’t have one, one will be offered. The deadline to apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot has already passed. Mail-in ballots can be dropped off at the Washington County Elections office until 8 p.m. Also, remember that mail-in ballots will not be accepted at polling places on Election Day. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are still in line at 8 p.m. when the polls close, you will still be allowed to cast your ballot.
June 2, 2020 3:57 am
PITTSBURGH – (WPXI)- Thousands of protesters gathered in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood Monday afternoon. It wasn’t until a few hours later when police said a small group of people split off from the peaceful protest and began to damage businesses in the area. Police said they started to throw rocks and other items at law enforcement, and smoke was thrown after officers gave numerous orders for them to disperse. Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said 9 officers were injured. All officers were evaluated and released from the hospital. Hissrich said least 4 windows were broken, but it doesn’t appear any businesses were looted. Two protesters were transported to hospital with injures that they said they got from bean bags. Hissrich said 20 people were arrested tonight, which include four people who are not from Pennsylvania. Police did clarify that officers deployed smoke and not tear gas.
June 2, 2020 2:01 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – About 500 fare collectors and other toll workers along the Pennsylvania Turnpike are about to those their jobs. The Turnpike Commission voted Tuesday to make the entire interstate network a cashless system. The cuts are the latest development in the agency’s multi-year transition from a system that’s largely relied on workers stationed in toll booths to collect cash to one that employs E-ZPass as well as automated license readers. The job losses will begin June 18, and the commission said some health benefits will remain in place for two years.
