August 4, 2020 1:48 pm
BEIRUT (AP) – Lebanon’s health minister says at least 50 people were killed and over 2,700 were injured in the huge explosion that rocked Beirut. The blast Tuesday flattened much of the the city’s port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky. A civil defense official said his men had evacuated dozens to hospitals and that there were still bodies under debris. The cause of the blast was not immediately known. An Israeli government official says Israel “had nothing to do” with it. The blast was stunning even for a city that has seen civil war, suicide bombings and bombardment by Israel. It could be heard and felt as far away as Cyprus, across the Mediterranean. (Photo: Yahoo)
August 4, 2020 12:50 pm
DETROIT (AP) – Honda is recalling over 1.6 million minivans and SUVs in the U.S. to fix problems that include faulty backup camera displays, malfunctioning dashboard lights and sliding doors that don’t latch properly. The problems were revealed in four recalls posted Tuesday by the government. They cover certain Odyssey minivans from 2018 to 2020, Pilot SUVs from 2019 through 2021 and Passport SUVs from 2019 and 2020. Honda has traced the problems to faulty backup camera software programming, water entering door handles, water getting into camera mounting holes, and defective instrument panel software. Dealers will fix the problems at no cost to owners.
August 4, 2020 6:29 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said Monday that if students aren’t physically in class, there shouldn’t be any sports. While the governor’s statement wasn’t a formal announcement, it raises a lot of questions for school districts in western Pennsylvania as they finalize back-to-school plans amid the coronavirus pandemic. Some districts are offering options for online, in-person or hybrid learning. Pittsburgh Public Schools, however, will have online classes only for at least the first nine weeks of school. During a news briefing Monday, Wolf said what happens in school should be consistent with what happens on the playing fields. “In other words, if the school is going completely virtual, seems hard to justify having in-person contact sports being played in the fall,” Wolf said.
August 4, 2020 4:25 am
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A Minnesota court is investigating how a British newspaper obtained police body-camera footage showing the arrest and death of George Floyd. The Daily Mail on Monday published parts of videos from two Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd’s arrest on May 25. A Hennepin County judge last month allowed journalists and members of the public to view the footage by appointment but has not yet ruled on a motion by a coalition of news organizations, including The Associated Press, seeking public access to the videos. A spokesman for Hennepin County District Court told the Star Tribune an investigation is underway into the leak but declined further comment.
August 4, 2020 4:22 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A key Senate Republican said he supports an increase in the food stamp benefit as part of a huge coronavirus relief bill, adding that an agreement on that issue could lead to further overall progress on the legislation. The bill remains stalled despite days of Capitol negotiations. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Pat Roberts said Tuesday that “you can make an argument that we need some kind of an increase” in food stamps and that he’s raised the topic with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. All sides predict a long slog ahead despite the lapse of a $600-per-week expanded unemployment benefit at the end of July. Several more days of talks are expected.
August 4, 2020 4:20 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Progress is coming slowly as lawmakers craft another major response to the coronavirus pandemic. Negotiators on the huge relief bill met Monday in the Capitol as issues like food for the poor and aid to schools moved to the forefront. The White House is seeking opportunities to boost President Donald Trump, like more $1,200 stimulus payments. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants big money for state and local governments. All sides predict a long slog ahead despite the lapse of a $600-per-week expanded unemployment benefit at the end of July. Several more days of talks are expected.
August 4, 2020 4:18 am
BANNING, Calif. (AP) – Authorities say a malfunctioning diesel vehicle sparked the first big Southern California wildfire of the year, which has forced thousands of people from their homes east of Los Angeles. State fire officials say the vehicle’s exhaust system spewed burning carbon Friday in Cherry Valley in Riverside County, although it hasn’t been found. The blaze is raging for a fourth day and has burned one home. It’s one of several burning around the state amid sweltering temperatures. Evacuations were ordered for a blaze in Colusa County in Northern California. Another fire in San Luis Obispo County is 60% contained.
August 4, 2020 4:17 am
WINDSOR, N.C. (AP) – Tropical Storm Isaias is spawning tornadoes and dumping rain during an inland march up the U.S. East Coast. Two people were killed after one of those tornadoes flattened a mobile home park in Windsor, North Carolina. Officials said Tuesday afternoon that several people feared missing at the park had been located. Isaias made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. The storm surge and wind left dozens of boats piled against the docks. The National Hurricane Center is predicting heavy rain and more tornadoes as Isaias moves into New England on Tuesday evening and says flash flooding is possible along the Interstate 95 corridor.
August 4, 2020 4:15 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A report by Pennsylvania’s elections agency suggests lawmakers require counties to distribute mail-in ballots earlier for the 2020 General Election and beyond, among other recommendations. The Department of State’s review of the June 2 primary said there were relatively few problems with new voting machines. It says lawmakers should allow mail-in ballots to count if they’re postmarked by election day and show up in county offices by the following Friday. The 43-page report says counties should be allowed to begin handling ballots three weeks ahead of election day in the “pre-canvass” process. About 1.3 million people voted in the primary in person, and about 1.5 million voted by mail.
August 3, 2020 5:47 pm
BANNING, Calif. (AP) – The first big Southern California wildfire of 2020 is raging for a fourth day east of Los Angeles with thousands of people forced from their homes. The fire in Riverside County is one of several blazes crews are battling across the state amid sweltering temperatures. The Riverside fire has consumed more than 41 square miles of dry brush and timber since it broke out Friday evening. An American Red Cross official says volunteers used to close contact with evacuees have had to adjust their approach because of the coronavirus. The fire as of Monday morning was only 5 percent contained.
