April 30, 2020 4:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Hopes are beginning to arise that the U.S. economy might be poised to rebound by the second half of the year. The idea is that the economy might be able to mount a sharp comeback if more employees and consumers were to gradually return to working and spending. Yet most economists say such expectations should be kept in check. Among their concerns is that the coronavirus could flare up again after the economy is re-opened, forcing reopened businesses to shut down again. Another is that people will remain too wary of contracting the coronavirus to return to anything resembling normal economic behavior.
April 30, 2020 4:07 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The response from the federal Bureau of Prisons to the growing coronavirus crisis has raised alarm among advocates and lawmakers about whether the agency is doing enough to ensure the safety of the nearly 150,000 inmates serving time in federal facilities. And even though officials have stressed infection and death rates inside prisons are lower compared with outside, new figures provided by the Bureau of Prisons show that out of 2,700 tests systemwide, 2,000 have come back positive, strongly suggesting there are far more COVID-19 cases left uncovered.
April 30, 2020 4:05 am
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – A memo sent to California’s police chiefs says Gov. Gavin Newsom intends to close all beaches and state parks starting Friday in the wake of a weekend that saw a crush of people at open seashores. The head of the California Police Chiefs Association sent the bulletin to members on Wednesday, saying the governor plans to announce the order on Thursday. A message to the governor’s office seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned. The order comes as some communities reopen their beaches and pressure is building to cautiously begin easing stay-at-home restrictions that have throttled the state’s economy and kept millions at home.
April 30, 2020 4:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The federal government’s social distancing guidelines are soon to expire, and President Donald Trump says he’s not extending them. Trump’s adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is predicting that the country will be “really rocking again” by July. Adding to their optimistic view of the coronavirus outbreak, the president is planning his first long trip in weeks with a visit next week to Arizona. Yet the number of reported coronavirus infections and the number of deaths caused by COVID-19 continue to rise. More than 60,000 deaths in the U.S. have been attributed to the coronavirus. The White House’s “30 Days to Slow the Spread” guidelines expire Thursday.
April 30, 2020 4:00 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration plans to announce Friday which parts of Pennsylvania can begin seeing a step-by-step relaxation of coronavirus-related shutdown directives. Still, Wolf and administration officials weren’t projecting Tuesday when the state will have widespread mass-testing capacity. Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said the administration will announce which regions or counties can see some relief from shutdown orders by moving from a “red” designation to a “yellow” designation. Those changes would take effect the following Friday, May 8, a previously announced date. Meanwhile, Levine says one of the state’s hardest-hit areas, southeastern Pennsylvania, appears to be past its peak.
April 30, 2020 3:58 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Health officials say COVID-19 has killed hundreds more Pennsylvania nursing home residents than was previously known. The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday reported 479 new COVID-19 deaths, with 339 of them at nursing and personal care homes. That raises the state’s overall death toll to more than 2,100. Nursing homes now account for 65% of all deaths attributed to the virus in Pennsylvania. Nursing homes cite shortages of personal protective equipment and say they haven’t been able to do enough diagnostic testing to be able to quickly identify and isolate patients and staff who have the virus.
April 30, 2020 3:56 am
McKEESPORT, Pa. — (WPXI) – Pennsylvania American Water is proposing a water and sewer rate increase that could go into effect as early as 2021. The company filed a request with the Pennsylvania Utility Commission Wednesday, saying the additional money is needed to cover infrastructure improvements. The request covers its entire customer base, which includes millions of people in a number of different counties – including Allegheny. If approved, the monthly sewer bill for residential customers could increase by about $20 next year. The monthly water bill for residential customers using 3,458 gallons per month could see an $8 increase the first year. Business owners would also see an increase. Customers have until the end of June to object the rate increase request through the Public Utility Commission. Pennsylvania American Water said it is also requesting enhancements to the customer assistance program to help families who are struggling financially.
April 30, 2020 3:51 am
The California Area School District plans to operate with nearly 23% less teachers next year, according to the California Area Education Association. At last night’s virtual meeting, the board voted 5-3 to furlough staff members – a total of 14 teachers according to the association. The move comes as the district struggles to balance next year’s budget – which faces an over 1-million-dollar deficit. The district cited unknowns related to COVID-19 and the absence of in-lieu-of-taxes payments from Cal U as the major shortfalls. However, the board voted to remove a referendum on the June ballot that would have raised taxes over the allowable limit to generate additional funds. It is unclear at this time how the district will manage its shortfall. In other business, the district voted to hire Dr. Laura Jacob (Assistant to the Superintendent at Connellsville) as their new superintendent to replace retiring Michael Sears effective July 1st.
April 30, 2020 2:51 am
UNDATED (AP) – U.S. government officials say an experimental drug has proved effective against the new coronavirus in a major study. Gilead Sciences’s Remdesivir is the first treatment to pass such a strict test against the virus, which has killed more than 218,000 people since it emerged late last year. The study was led by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and tested Remdesivir versus usual care in more than 1,000 hospitalized coronavirus patients around the world. Results released Wednesday showed the drug reduced the time to recovery by 31%, or four days on average, compared to usual care. It is given through an IV and interferes with the virus’s ability to copy its genetic material.
April 29, 2020 3:27 pm
UNDATED (AP) – Boeing says it will cut about 10% of its work force and slow production of planes as it deals with the ongoing grounding of its best-selling plane and the coronavirus pandemic. With air travel falling sharply because of the virus, airlines have delayed orders and deliveries of new planes, reducing Boeing’s revenue. The company announced the job cuts as it reported a loss of $641 million in the first quarter. It earned $2.15 billion in the same period last year. Revenue fell 26% to $16.91 billion. Boeing says jobs will be eliminated through a combination of voluntary exits and layoffs. They will be deepest in the division that makes airline jets, and less severe in the company’s defense and space unit.
