May 18, 2020 4:11 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Police and fire investigators have launched a criminal probe into the cause of an explosion at a hash oil manufacturer in Los Angeles that injured a dozen firefighters. They are trying to determine what might have sparked the blast that shot a ball of flames out of the downtown building Saturday and sent crews running for their lives. Eight firefighters remained hospitalized Sunday: two were in critical condition, but all are expected to survive. A fire captain described the business where the explosion occurred as a maker of “butane honey oil.” Butane is an odorless gas that is used to extractáthe chemical THC from cannabis to create a highly potent oil.
May 18, 2020 4:10 am
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (AP) – Tropical Storm Arthur began moving away from the North Carolina coast Monday after dumping heavy rain as forecasters warned that the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season could also bring life-threatening surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast. With Arthur’s center passing off North Carolina, towns near the coast including Newport and Havelock recorded more than 4 inches (10 cm) of rain Monday morning as others approached that number, according to the National Weather Service. Wind gusts of at least 40 mph (64 kph) were recorded in at least two places on the Outer Banks, the weather service said.
May 18, 2020 4:09 am
BEIJING (AP) – China’s commerce ministry says it will take “all necessary measures” in response to new U.S. restrictions on Chinese tech giant Huawei’s ability to use American technology, calling the measures an abuse of state power and a violation of market principles. An unidentified spokesperson quoted Sunday in a statement on the ministry’s website said the regulations also threatened the security of the “global industrial and supply chain.” The statement said that China will “take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.” U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Friday that Washington wants to prevent Huawei from evading sanctions imposed earlier on its use of American technology to design and produce semiconductors abroad.
May 18, 2020 4:07 am
NEW YORK (AP) – J.C. Penney will permanently close almost 30% of its 846 stores as part of a restructuring under bankruptcy protection. The Plano, Texas-based department store operator said Monday that it plans to close about 192 stores by February 2021, and then 50 additional stores in the year after that. That would leave the company with just over 600 locations. J.C. Penney filed for bankruptcy reorganization on Friday, making it the biggest retailer to do since the coronavirus pandemic forced them to temporarily close all stores.
May 18, 2020 4:06 am
KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) – The Florida Keys will reopen to tourists on June 1, more than two months after the island chain closed to visitors to minimize the spread of the coronavirus. The Monroe County Emergency Management said Sunday that checkpoints that barred visitors from coming into the Florida Keys will be removed next month. The statement says hotels and other lodging establishments will also be allowed to reopen at 50% occupancy. Businesses must implement sanitation stations and follow the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s cleaning guidelines for COVID-19. The Florida Keys have been closed to non-visitors since March 22.
May 18, 2020 4:04 am
CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) – Just days after announcing it would end hazard “hero” pay to front-line workers, Kroger says it will give them extra “thank you” pay through mid-June. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the move comes after an outcry from the grocery store’s union, the United Food and Commercial Workers International. The extra pay is $400 for full-time workers and $200 for part-time workers to be paid out in two installments on May 30 and June 18. Hazard pay was a $2 per hour supplement. The union says it will continue to push for hazard pay for as long as the pandemic continues.
May 18, 2020 4:02 am
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) – Authorities say a Pennsylvania man is facing aggravated assault and other charges after being accused of dousing a 4-year-old boy with gasoline and talking about setting him on fire. Authorities say officers were sent to a Southmont borough home shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday and found the child and 27-year-old Josiah James McIntosh smelling of gasoline and the defendant in possession of a disposable lighter. Police said another man reported him saying “If we can’t get out the demon, I’ll burn it out of him.” A message was left Saturday with an attorney representing him.
May 18, 2020 2:07 am
The Canonsburg 4th of July Committee announced on Sunday that they are cancelling their 4th of July celebration. “Due to the current restrictions, the Canonsburg 4th of July Committee regretfully has reached the decision to cancel all 4th of July activities for 2020,” a post on the website said. “This decision was not arrived at lightly. We are moving our focus to the future, and wish everyone a happy and safe summer,” a post on the website said.
May 17, 2020 8:13 am
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) – Speakers at a rally for Ahmaud Arbery say justice for the black man killed during a pursuit by a white man and his son in Georgia isn’t just prison time for his killers. They say justice also requires changes in a local justice system that never charged them with a crime. Arbery was killed Feb. 23 just outside of Brunswick. Hundreds of people came to the Glynn County courthouse on Saturday demanding accountability for a case in which charges weren’t filed until state officials stepped in. Gregory McMichael said he and his son pursued Arbery because they believed he was responsible for recent break-ins in the neighborhood.
May 17, 2020 8:12 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Fred Willard, the comedic actor whose improv style kept him relevant for more than 50 years in films like “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Best In Show” and “Anchorman,” has died. He was 86. Willard’s daughter said in a statement Saturday that her father died peacefully Friday night. The cause of his death has not been released. Willard was rarely a leading man or even a major supporting character. He specialized in small, scene-stealing appearances. Willard was a four-time Emmy nominee for his roles in “What’s Hot, What’s Not,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Modern Family” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
