June 3, 2020 2:50 am
Gov. Tom Wolf announced on Friday that a number of counties will transition into the green phase, the phase with the fewest restrictions in the governor’s stoplight-colored three-phase reopening plan, starting next Friday, June 5th. Sixteen counties in western and central Pennsylvania, including much of the Pittsburgh area, will move into the green phase and they include Allegheny, Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Clinton, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Indiana, Lycoming, Mercer, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties. As for what the “Green Phase” will mean, see below:
Work-related restrictions:
- Continued telework is strongly encouraged.
- Businesses with in-person operations must follow updated business and building safety requirements.
- All businesses operating at 50% occupancy in the yellow phase may increase to 75% occupancy.
- Childcare facilities may open and must comply with state guidelines.
- Congregate care restrictions are in place.
- Prison and hospital restrictions to be determined by individual facilities.
- Schools subject to CDC and state guidance.
Social restrictions:
- Large gatherings of more than 250 persons are prohibited.
- Restaurants and bars can open at 50% occupancy.
- Personal care services (including hair salons and barber shops) can open at 50% occupancy and by appointment only.
- Indoor recreation, health and wellness businesses and personal care services (including gyms and spas) can open at 50% occupancy with appointments strongly encouraged.
- All entertainment facilities (including casinos, theaters and shopping malls) can open at 50% occupancy.
- Construction activity may return to full capacity with continued implementation of protocols.
More information on the state’s reopening plan can be found at this link: www.governor.pa.gov/process-to-reopen-pennsylvania/.
June 2, 2020 3:39 pm
NEW YORK (AP) – Though Blackout Tuesday was originally organized by the music community, the social media world also went dark in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, joining voices around the world outraged by the killings of black people in the U.S. Instagram and Twitter accounts, from record labels to everyday people, were full of black squares posted in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. Most of the captions were blank, though some posted (hash)TheShowMustBePaused, black heart emojis or encouraged people to vote. Seven states and the District of Columbia on Tuesday host presidential primary elections. But some on social media question if posting black squares diverts attentions.
June 2, 2020 3:35 pm
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – The astronauts launched into orbit by SpaceX have joined in the ringing of the opening bell for Nasdaq. NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken took part in the ceremony from the International Space Station, three days after their historic launch on a rocket built and owned by Elon Musk’s company. They floated alongside space station commander Chris Cassidy as he rang a ship’s bell to open trading on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.
June 2, 2020 7:57 am
The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington is sharply criticizing President Donald Trump for staging a visit to the historic St. John’s Church across from the White House. During Trump’s visit Monday night, he held up a Bible after authorities had cleared out peaceful protesters. The diocese of the Rev. Mariann Budde includes St. John’s, and Budde said she was “outraged” by the moment and noted that Trump didn’t pray during his visit. Budde said the church was “completely caught off-guard” by the visit, with no sense that this it’s a sacred space to be used for sacred purposes.
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.
