April 21, 2020 8:59 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump says he’ll sign an executive order “to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States” because of the coronavirus. National security adviser Robert O’Brien says the move is about protecting Americans’ health and livelihood. O’Brien on Tuesday cast a temporary immigration ban as similar to the restrictions on travel to the U.S. from China that Trump put in place in January. O’Brien says the administration believes those restrictions saved lives. Almost all visa processing by the State Department, including immigrant visas, has already been suspended due to the pandemic. Trump offered no details late Monday about which immigration programs might be affected by the executive order.
April 21, 2020 4:19 am
In what is becoming the new norm for governing bodies, the Chartiers Houston School Board met virtually for the first time. Agenda items were routine. The school board did agree to partner with the Allegheny Health Network for a new scoreboard in the football/soccer stadium. Superintendent John George answered questions from parents about grades, last school day and graduation. George stated that grades will still be letter based and any changes will be communicated to parents. The last day of school is still up in the air. It is currently scheduled for June 5. It could run as late as June 11. George is looking for more clarity from the state to make sure students will fulfill needed requirements. The prom is scheduled for June 17. Graduation Day is still in flux. Currently it is June 5, but it could also be scheduled for July 3 or July 31. George described steps taken to overcome technology issues. He says the school district distributed nearly 100 devices, some students do lack internet coverage and hot spots were issued. Intermittent problems with Comcast’s coverage were also addressed by the technology department. Finally, George went on to compliment the teachers, cafeteria workers, and administrative staff for their hard work to get the remote learning program running. He said he could not be prouder of everyone associated with the Chartiers Houston School District.
April 21, 2020 4:15 am
TORONTO (AP) – Canadian police say they believe there are at least 22 victims in the weekend attack by a gunman in rural communities across Nova Scotia. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Tuesday they have recovered remains from some of the locations of fires the suspect set. Earlier in the day, a young man said his his grandparents were missing and believed dead after their log cabin was set ablaze. It was not immediately clear, however, if the remains police said had been found Tuesday included those of Justin Zahl’s grandparents.
April 21, 2020 4:13 am
ATLANTA (AP) – Georgia’s governor plans to restart the state’s economy before the end of the week. He says many businesses that closed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus could reopen as early as Friday. Georgia’s timetable is one of the most aggressive in the nation. It would allow gyms, hair salons, bowling alleys and tattoo parlors to reopen as long as owners follow strict social-distancing and hygiene requirements. By Monday, movie theaters may resume selling tickets, and restaurants limited to takeout orders could return to limited dine-in service. Neighboring Tennessee planned to let businesses in most of the state begin reopening as soon as next week.
April 21, 2020 4:10 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Governors from both parties are pushing back after President Donald Trump accused Democrats of playing “a very dangerous political game” by insisting there is a shortage of tests for the coronavirus. The governors countered Monday that the White House must do more to help states do the testing that’s needed before they can ease up on stay-at-home orders. Supply shortages have stymied U.S. testing for weeks. The needs range from basic supplies like swabs and protective gear to highly specialized laboratory chemicals needed to analyze patient results.
April 21, 2020 4:08 am
(AP) – More deaths, no benefit from malaria drug in VA virus study. A malaria drug widely touted by President Donald Trump for treating the new coronavirus showed no benefit in a large new study. Researchers reported there were more than twice as many deaths among patients getting hydroxychloroquine than usual care. The analysis involved 368 men with COVID-19 in U.S. veterans hospitals. Although it was not a rigorous experiment, it is the biggest report of results so far for the drug, with or without the antibiotic azithromycin, against the coronavirus. The analysis was posted on an online site for researchers, but has not been reviewed by other scientists.
April 21, 2020 4:05 am
An Associated Press investigation has found that a relief fund Congress created to protect small businesses amid the coronavirus crisis has helped companies with thousands of employees, past regulatory run-ins and risks of financial failure even before the economy got walloped. The Paycheck Protection Program was supposed to help small businesses, which typically have less access to quick cash and credit. Its $349 billion in emergency loans are intended to keep workers on the job and bills paid on time. But the AP found 75 companies that collectively received $300 million were publicly traded, and some had market values well over $100 million.
April 21, 2020 2:43 am
The coronavirus pandemic has claimed another event – sort of. Betsy West, who serves as president of the Main Street Farmers Market Board of Directors says the market was initially set to open on Thursday, May 21st, but will instead be delayed until Thursday, June 18th. West says the market is actually deemed an essential business because it sells sustainable goods, but the board was in agreement to push the opening back a few weeks in hopes that life would be a little more normal. As it stands now, West says the market will look much different from what visitors are used to seeing. West says there will be only two entrances this year, a front and rear entrance and each will have a table lined with hand sanitizer. In addition, West says vendors will be set up using guideline set by the CDC on social distancing. There will be barrier tables and each vendor will be asked to wear a mask, and if they serve food, gloves as well. In addition, West says when the market launches, there will be no entertainment and no seating. She says they are encouraging everyone to visit the market, but they do not want to encourage people to gather and socialize as in the past years. West says this may change as the year goes on and life returns to more normal activities, but for now, they also discourage bringing children and pets as well.
April 20, 2020 5:42 pm
ATLANTA (AP) – Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says some businesses ordered closed to mitigate coronavirus threats may begin reopening statewide Friday. The Republican governor announced Monday that gyms, hair salons, bowling alleys and others will have to follow strict social distancing and hygiene requirements to remain open to the public. Restaurants will be able to resume dine-in service on a limited basis and movie theaters will be allowed to reopen next Monday. Bars, nightclubs and performance venues will remain closed. Kemp said emergency room visits from people with flu-like symptoms are declining in Georgia, a sign that infections are down.
April 20, 2020 4:14 am
President Donald Trump says he will use the Defense Production Act to increase manufacturing of swabs used to test for the coronavirus. Many governors have for weeks urged the White House to further evoke federal powers to increase private industry’s production of medical supplies as health officials work to slow the spread of the virus. Trump has generally been reluctant to do so.
