March 12, 2020 2:52 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump says he’s considering restricting travel to domestic hot spots such as California and Washington state because of the coronavirus outbreak. He tells reporters at the White House, “Is it a possibility? Yes.” Trump also said he’ll postpone campaign rallies and says he believes he needs a “little separation until such time as this goes away.” As classes, sports events, concerts and conferences are canceled across the nation, Trump also is proposing postponing this summer’s Olympics in Japan for a year. Congress has decided to shut the Capitol to the public until April. White House tours have been temporarily suspended.
March 12, 2020 12:50 pm
(WPXI) – Three more people in Allegheny County have died due to flu complications, the Allegheny County Health Department announced Thursday. Two of the people were in their early 70s and one was in their early 60s, officials said. All three people had underlying medical conditions. The total number of flu deaths this season is 15, according to the Health Department. Health Department officials said that while there is a lot of focus on the coronavirus, flu activity remains high in our area and across Pennsylvania. “Over the past six weeks we’ve received roughly 800 reported flu cases each week. While these numbers are much lower than what was reported near the end of 2019, it’s critical that residents take common sense precautions and practice healthy habits to limit the spread of germs,” the Health Department said in a news release.
March 12, 2020 10:54 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s governor is closing schools and other facilities in a suburban Philadelphia county hard-hit by the COVID-19 outbreak. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday said the order in Montgomery County also applies to community centers and entertainment venues but will keep open critical infrastructure that includes health care facilities and pharmacies. It goes into effect Friday. Pennsylvania thus far is reporting 22 cases of COVID-19 infection, and more than half are in Montgomery County.
March 12, 2020 10:46 am
UNDATED (AP) – Princess Cruises has announced that, due to the new coronavirus, it will voluntarily pause global operations of its 18 cruise ships for 60 days, affecting trips departing March 12 to May 10. Cruise ships have been particularly hard hit amid the new pandemic. The Diamond Princess cruise ship, which Japanese officials held in a flawed quarantine operation, infected hundreds of passengers and crew. Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises, says the company aims to reassure passengers they have their well-being in mind. Those now on a Princess cruise that will end in the next five days will continue to sail as expected. Current voyages that extend beyond March 17 will be ended at the most convenient location for guests.
March 12, 2020 9:52 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The entertainment industry is preparing to shut down to curb the spread of the coronavirus. That means canceling upcoming movies, suspending all Broadway performances and eliminating live audiences from television shows until it’s safe to welcome crowds back. To accommodate calls for social distancing, Hollywood moved to pause the normal hum of TV productions and the bustle of red-carpet movie premieres. After New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo banned gatherings of more than 500 people, Broadway theaters announced that they would close immediately and remain dark through April 12.
March 12, 2020 9:21 am
BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Union has condemned President Donald Trump’s decision to restrict travel from Europe to the United States. Two top EU officials lamented that the decision was taken without consultation and they say the disease does not respect borders in any case. The restrictions announced by Trump would hit 26 European nations but don’t apply to the United Kingdom, where the number of confirmed cases is above 400. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s latest figures, more than 17,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed across Europe, and more than 700 people have died on the continent.
March 12, 2020 4:22 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Defying a veto threat, Congress has approved a bipartisan measure to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to launch military operations against Iran. The House gave final legislative approval to the measure Wednesday, sending it to Trump. The president has promised to veto the resolution, warning that if his “hands were tied, Iran would have a field day.” The resolution, sponsored Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, declares that Trump must win approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran. Supporters say the measure is not about Trump, but is an important reassertion of congressional power to declare war.
March 12, 2020 4:21 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Tom Hanks says he and wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for the coronavirus. Hanks says in a statement Wednesday that the couple are in Australia and felt tired, with colds, body aches and slight fevers. áThe Oscar-winner says they were tested because of their symptoms and in his words, “to play things right.” The 63-year-old actor said they will be tested, observed and isolated for as long as necessary. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
March 12, 2020 4:19 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump says he is sharply restricting travel from Europe to the U.S. for 30 days beginning Friday night as he seeks to combat a viral pandemic. Trump made the announcement Wednesday in an Oval Office address to the nation. He blames the European Union for not acting quickly enough to address the coronavirus and says U.S. clusters were “seeded” by European travelers. Trump says the restrictions won’t apply to the United Kingdom and the U.S. will monitor the situation to determine if travel can be reopened earlier. The White House has also cancelled a planned trip by the president to Nevada and Colorado this week, “out of an abundance of caution.”
March 12, 2020 4:09 am
Charleroi Borough Council is actively addressing dilapidated homes in the borough. Councilwoman Jody Cheplic informed council of one building scheduled to be demolished very soon and asked the code enforcement office to proactively search for homes that seem to be falling into severe disrepair. Cheplic and the rest of council received a preview of the Strategic Management Planning Program report that will be finalized for the Department of Community and Economic Development. A section of the report deals with housing stock and condition. According to Cheplic, 200 properties were identified as being in some form of blighted condition. Cheplic explained that many times owners are out of state and find it easier to pay fines instead of addressing the issues for which their property was cited. Cheplic is hopeful that a loan program sponsored by the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County will spur first time home buyers to buy in Charleroi and current home owners to invest in the upkeep of their current homes.
