June 25, 2020 4:59 pm
(AP) – Chuck E. Cheese is filing for bankruptcy protection. The 43-year-old chain, which drew kids with pizza, video games and a singing mouse mascot, was struggling even before the coronavirus pandemic. But it said the prolonged closure of many venues due to virus restrictions led to Thursday’s Chapter 11 filing. Irving, Texas-based CEC Entertainment Inc. has reopened 266 company-operated Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza restaurants, but it’s unclear how willing parents will be to host birthday parties and other gatherings. The company says it will continue to reopen locations and offer carryout while it negotiates with debt and lease holders.
June 25, 2020 9:48 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – After months of steady progress, new confirmed cases of COVID-19 climbed to near record levels in the U.S. this week. Experts blame a nation that’s become complacent, and a new poll finds evidence to back them up. The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds support for measures to slow the virus’ spread has declined from the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, even though many Americans never fully embraced the reopening effort now underway in many states. Half of Americans now favor stay-at-home orders, down from about 6 in 10 one month ago and 8 in 10 in April. (Graph: CNN)
June 25, 2020 4:06 am
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – Disney is postponing the mid-July reopening of its Southern California theme parks until it receives guidelines from the state. The company announced Wednesday an indefinite postponement for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in Anaheim. Disney hoped to reopen them on July 17 after a four-month closure due to the coronavirus. But Disney needs state approval and says California won’t be issuing guidelines until after July 4. Disney also says it’s still negotiating agreements with employee unions, some of which have raised safety concerns about the reopenings. The company indicates it still plans to reopen Florida’s Disney World on July 11.
June 25, 2020 4:04 am
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin’s governor has activated the National Guard to protect state properties after a night of violence that included the toppling of two statues outside the state Capitol and an attack on a state senator. Protesters also threw a Molotov cocktail into a government building and attempted to break into the Capitol, only to be repelled by pepper spray from police stationed inside. The violence broke out Tuesday night as a group of 200 to 300 people protested the arrest of a Black man who shouted at restaurant customers through a megaphone while carrying a baseball bat.
June 25, 2020 4:03 am
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – President Donald Trump’s plans to kick off Independence Day with a showy display at Mount Rushmore are drawing sharp criticism from Native Americans who view the monument as a desecration of land violently stolen from them. Several groups led by Native American activists are planning protests for Trump’s July 3 visit, part of his “comeback” campaign for a nation reeling from sickness, unemployment and social unrest. But it comes amid a national reckoning over racism and a reconsideration of the symbolism of monuments around the globe. Many Native Americans activists say the Rushmore memorial is as reprehensible as the many Confederate monuments being toppled around the nation.
June 25, 2020 4:00 am
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Grammy-winning country group The Dixie Chicks have dropped the word Dixie from their name, now going by The Chicks. The group made of Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines and Emily Strayer posted a statement on their website saying they wanted to meet “this moment.” The group also acknowledged that there was an existing band in New Zealand that allowed them “to share their name.” The move follows a decision by country group Lady Antebellum to change to Lady A after acknowledging the word’s association to slavery. That band received criticism with their switch after a Black singer revealed she’d been performing as Lady A for years. (Photo: CNN)
June 25, 2020 3:57 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s House and Senate have begun passing legislation spurred by widespread protests over police brutality and the killing of George Floyd, including legislation designed to prevent “bad apples” from continuing to find employment in police departments. Wednesday’s votes were unanimous, although all four bills still require approval from the other chamber before going to Gov. Tom Wolf. One Senate bill requires police agencies to compile and report use of force incidents. The other bill bans police from using chokeholds. The House approved bills to train officers in how to interact with people of different racial and ethic backgrounds and require that an applicant’s former department provide information on the officer’s disciplinary history.
June 25, 2020 2:47 am
GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) – A man convicted of murder for a fatal shooting that he said was committed by his now-deceased twin brother has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. Darrelle Tolbert-McGhee also received a five-to-10 year term for a related weapons offense. The 31-year-old Penn Hills man had been convicted in January by a Westmoreland County in the April 2017 slaying of Michael Wilson in downtown Jeannette. Tolbert-McGhee didn’t speak during the sentencing hearing Wednesday. His lawyer said his client maintains his innocence and will appeal the convictions. Prosecutors have argued that evidence from eyewitnesses identified the defendant as the shooter and his identity wasn’t in question.
June 25, 2020 2:33 am
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) – A man and two women in a Pittsburgh suburb are charged with criminal homicide in the death of his 3-year-old daughter, who was found badly bruised and malnourished. Authorities on Wednesday announced charges in the June 9 death of áBella Seachrist. Detectives say the child suffered “prolonged physical and mental abuse.” Authorities have charged her father, 29-year-old Jose Salazar-Ortiz; her stepmother, 27-year-old Laura Ramriez; and Ramriez’s sister, 20-year-old Alexis Herrera, with criminal homicide, aggravated assault of a child, child endangerment and other counts. Salaza-Ortiz and Ramriez are held in the Allegheny County Jail. An arrest warrant has been issued for Herrera.
June 24, 2020 1:54 pm
(WPXI) – A teenager was killed by a train and two of her friends took desperate measures to try to survive. The teens were walking across a train trestle near the intersection of Wabash Avenue and Millers Run Road in South Fayette around 11:00 a.m. Wednesday. Two other friends were walking on the ground nearby, police said. A train struck a 15-year-old girl, killing her. A 17-year old girl who was also on the trestle jumped over and hung onto the ledge until the train passed. Channel 11 has learned a friend and nearby contractor ran over to help and pulled her to safety. She is expected to survive. A teenage boy who was also walking on the tracks shouted ‘train’ and then quickly – perhaps instinctively – made a move that would save his life. “The kid miraculously laid on the tracks and the train went right over him and he had not injuries at all,” said Chief John Phoennik. Phoennik said his department is constantly urging people to avoid walking across the train trestle.
