May 12, 2020 4:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has unveiled a more than $3 trillion new coronavirus aid package. It would provide nearly $1 trillion for states, cities and tribal governments to avert layoffs and another $200 billion in “hazard pay” for essential workers. It would offer $1,200 in direct cash aid to individuals, up to $6,000 per household. It would also extend unemployment benefits, and there would be $75 billion more for virus testing. A House vote is expected Friday. But the Senate’s Republican leader is cautioning his colleagues not to go so fast. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says there is no “urgency” to act immediately.
May 12, 2020 4:05 am
Peters Township Council met Monday night and began to address operations in the township when it moves into the Governor’s Yellow Phase on Friday. Emergency Coordinator and Fire Chief Mike McLaughlin addressed council and updated them on current zip code cases of Covid-19. In the 15317 area the number of cases increased by two to 24 and in the 15367 zip code the increase was by one moving from 6 to 7. Businesses that have an occupancy quality for their business will be limited to 50 per cent of their identified occupancy rate. The fire department is also working with businesses on how to conduct one on one business transactions. Township Manager indicated that Waste Management will begin normal trash pick-ups and bulk items will be accepted, one bulk item per day. The township will begin taking reservations next Monday for their community tree branch collection and the library is exploring the possibility of curbside service for the return and circulation of library books.
May 12, 2020 2:56 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, is warning Congress that if the country reopens too soon during the coronavirus pandemic, it will bring “needless suffering and death.” Fauci is among the experts testifying to a Senate panel as its hearing opened on Tuesday. His testimony comes as President Donald Trump is pressuring states to reopen after the prolonged lock-down aimed at controlling the virus’ spread. With the U.S. economy in free-fall and more than 30 million people unemployed, Trump wants to restart the economy. Worldwide, the virus has infected nearly 4.2 million people and killed over 286,000. Some countries that have relaxed lock-down rules have seen new outbreaks.
May 11, 2020 9:56 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A majority of Americans disapprove of protests against restrictions aimed at preventing the spread the coronavirus. That’s according to a new poll that also finds the still-expansive support for such limits has dipped. The new survey from the University of Chicago Divinity School and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds 55% of Americans say they disapprove of such protests, while 31% approve. The poll also finds that 71% of Americans favor requiring people to stay in their homes except for essential errands, down slightly from 80% two weeks earlier. Similarly, 67% of Americans now say they favor requiring bars and restaurants to close, down from 76%.
May 11, 2020 8:51 am
BEAVER COUNTY, Pa — (WPXI) – The Pennsylvania National Guard arrived Monday morning at Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Beaver County to offer support to the facility and the Department of Health. The National Guard conducted an assessment of the facility on Saturday, the spokesperson said. The agency will provide additional staff to the facility from Monday, May 11 to Monday, May 18. At that point, Brighton Rehab is going to bring in additional nursing support from Texas and the National Guard will leave. There will be 27 members of the national guard who will support the staff. They will help with cleaning, meal preparations, and service. After numerous reports and questions from Channel 11, this is the latest action to be taken at the facility where it is believed more than 70 residents died from the coronavirus.
May 11, 2020 5:21 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Comedian Jerry Stiller has died at 92. His son Ben Stiller said the actor died of natural causes in a tweet posted early Monday. Jerry Stiller began his career in the 1950s as the partner of his wife Anne Meara and remained popular decades later with his featured roles on “Seinfeld” and “King of Queens.” Stiller was a multi-talented performer who appeared in an assortment of movies. He played Walter Matthau’s police sidekick in the thriller “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” and Divine’s husband Wilbur Turnblad in John Waters’ twisted comedy “Hairspray.”
May 11, 2020 4:06 am
UNDATED (AP) – Visitors wearing face masks streamed into Shanghai Disneyland as China’s most prominent theme park reopened in a new step toward rolling back anti-coronavirus controls that shut down its economy. The park, which closed Jan. 25, will limit visitors and is keeping some attractions closed in line with social distancing guidelines. Disney guests, many wearing Mickey Mouse ears, and children dressed as movie characters were checked for fevers at the gate, and decals were used to designate a safe distance between visitors. China, where the pandemic began in December, was the first economy to shut down and the first to reopen in early March.
May 11, 2020 4:02 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Some people who watch a lot of news about the new coronavirus may end up feeling ill – but not because of COVID-19. A new survey finds some people watching heavy doses of coronavirus news can make themselves sick with worry or anxiety. The Pew Research Center survey taken last month says of those Americans who said they regularly watch news on the pandemic, 71 percent they need to cut back on viewing for the sake of their mental or emotional well-being.
May 11, 2020 3:54 am
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) – Georgia’s attorney general is appointing a black district attorney to take over the case involving the slaying of Ahmaud Arbery (pictured). Attorney General Chris Carr said Monday he has chosen Cobb County District Attorney Joyette Holmes to head the prosecution. Holmes is the third outside prosecutor assigned to the case since Arbery was slain Feb 23. The case went more than two months without arrests until last week, when video of Arbery’s shooting surfaced online. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation charged a white father and son with felony murder and aggravated assault. A Justice Department spokeswoman said Monday that federal prosecutors are looking at the evidence to determine if federal hate crime charges are warranted.
May 11, 2020 3:53 am
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – The Iranian army says a missile strike on a naval vessel taking part in an exercise in the Gulf of Oman has killed 19 sailors and wounded 15. The statement on Monday significantly raised the death toll in the incident Sunday. Earlier Iranian state media reports said the Konarak, a Hendijan-class support ship, was too close to a target during an exercise on Sunday. The vessel had been putting targets out for other ships to target. It said the missile struck the vessel accidentally.
