May 16, 2020 4:10 am
Cars, vans, and trucks of high school, middle school and elementary teachers, board members, and administrators showed their support for the Prexies’ Class of 2020 Friday night with a parade through the city. The caravan led by City of Washington Police, school officers, and city Firetrucks left Wash High about 5 p.m. and traveled to Highland Ave., East Washington, streets on the east side of town, back through the West end, and Tylerdale and back to the school lot. Seniors waved to their teachers who honked and waved and cheered. Prexies pride was on display for all to experience!
May 16, 2020 3:42 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – A Greene County judge has been accused of judicial misconduct by the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board for the alleged mishandling of criminal cases. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the board filed a 21-count complaint Thursday against President Judge Farley Toothman. The complaint alleges that in one incident Toothman retaliated against a woman who confronted his law clerk for alleged theft from a Sunoco gas station. That woman was incarcerated for 25 days on contempt charges for allegedly violating a payment plan in connection to an unrelated case. Toothman could not be immediately reached to comment on the charges. But he told the Observer-Reporter newspaper Thursday that the complaint was regrettable.
May 16, 2020 3:37 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – The state Supreme Court is dismissing a lawsuit seeking to force Pennsylvania elections officials to accept absentee or mail-in ballots as long as they are received within a week after the primary or general elections during the pandemic. The ruling was Friday. Disability Rights Pennsylvania and several other parties argued that postal delays from the pandemic could cause ballots to be received too late to count. However, Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration opposed it, saying it would be unconstitutional to give different voters different deadlines. The deadline for county elections offices to receive absentee and mail-in ballots is currently 8 p.m., when polls close, on election day.
May 15, 2020 5:29 pm
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) – Tourists are once again roaming portions of Grand Canyon National Park after some areas reopened Friday, despite concerns that it could hurt efforts to control the coronavirus. During the early morning, more than two dozen people were enjoying some viewpoints along the South Rim. Park officials say the South Rim entrance will only be open until 10 a.m. through Monday. Visitors will have limited access to viewpoints and other sites. Officials on the hard-hit Navajo Nation, which stretches into northern Arizona, expressed disappointment at the reopening. There have been at least 3,632 positive cases and 127 deaths on the reservation, which also includes parts of New Mexico and Utah.
May 15, 2020 5:16 pm
UNDATED (AP) – J.C. Penney has forestalled a bankruptcy filing by making a $17 million interest payment. The retailer had skipped an interest payment of $12 million in mid-April, kicking off a 30-day grace period. Another non-payment would have meant default. Today’s payment comes as reports are swirling about an expected bankruptcy filing. Penny would become the fourth major retailer to file for bankruptcy protection. J.Crew, Neiman Marcus and Stage Stores have filed for Chapter 11 this month.
May 15, 2020 12:45 pm
The Diocese of Pittsburgh has announced the gradual reopening of churches starting immediately. Bishop David Zubik said that Allegheny, Butler, Greene, and Washington counties join Lawrence county in moving to the state’s “yellow” level of reopening and Beaver county remains in “red” until further notice, with the strictest stay-at-home orders still in place. The Commonwealth will continually evaluate the reopening process and make necessary adjustments county-by-county, which means, our parishes throughout the diocese may be in different phases of reopening at any given time. Starting Friday, the first phase of the diocesan reopening plan for the counties in the state’s “yellow” level of reopening includes the following:
- Limited funeral Masses and weddings continue, with cleaning/sanitizing guidelines in place, expanding to groups of no more than 25 people.
- Churches will be permitted to open for private prayer with safety guidelines in place including seating in designated areas only, the use of masks, hand sanitizers, and social distancing.
- Churches will be permitted to open for Confessions – Confessionals do not meet public health safety requirements, and as such, Confessions will be heard at posted times and in a manner that preserves the sanctity of the Sacrament. Penitents must practice social distancing and all other safety guidelines.
- Baptisms can be scheduled but with the restriction of one family baptism per each ceremony and no more than 25 people present. Great care must be given to social distancing, wearing masks, and sanitization precautions.
- Livestream Masses and prayer services will continue.
Moving forward from this phase, the diocese will look to return to the public celebration of the Holy Mass, starting with daily Masses on Monday, June 1, 2020, and a goal of recommencing weekend Masses the weekend of June 6 and 7, 2020. More details will be released closer to those dates.
May 15, 2020 10:35 am
Pittsburgh’s Fourth of July fireworks and other events have been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the city announced Friday. Officials said events that cannot comply safely with social distancing and will not be allowed include: July 4 fireworks, City-sponsored concerts, and the Great Race. Meanwhile, Allegheny County has announced all pools and spray parks will be closed for summer. The County Parks Department made the announcement. Officials said Boyce Park Wave Pool, Deer Lakes Spray Park, North Park Swimming Pool, Round Hill Spray Park, Settlers Cabin Park Wave Pool and South Park Wave Pool will all be closed.
May 15, 2020 8:18 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Democratic-controlled House is pressing ahead with votes on another massive rescue bill that would pump almost $1 trillion to states and local governments, renew $1,200 cash payments for individuals, and extend a $600 weekly supplemental federal unemployment benefit. Friday’s measure – with a $3 trillion-plus price tag – promises to pass largely along party lines. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has loaded the 1,815-page measure with a slew of Democratic priorities, and it has earned a White House veto threat and a scathing assessment from top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who called it “a totally unserious effort.”
May 15, 2020 7:28 am
A Virginia man is in the Washington County Jail facing numerous charges, including statutory sexual assault, aggravated assault and corruption of minors. Waynesburg State Police say 26 year old Apipat Vutipawat of Alexandria was questioned after police responded to his vehicle stuck in mud in Wednesday night in Greene County. They found him with a 14 year old girl from Vandergrift, Pa. The victim told police that the man was her boyfriend and they had met thru a dating app. Police say they stayed at the Hyatt Place Hotel in North Strabane and had sex.
May 15, 2020 4:09 am
NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. health officials have released part of some long-delayed specific guidance that schools, businesses, and other organizations can use as states reopen from coronavirus shutdowns. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday posted a set of six “decision tool” documents. The one-page documents use traffic signs and other graphics to tell organizations things to consider before reopening. The CDC has prepared more extensive, and more specific, guidance. That has not been posted. The CDC drafted the guidance more than a month ago and it was initially shelved by the Trump administration.
