February 28, 2020 4:17 am
Fear of the spreading coronavirus is causing a global run on sales of face masks despite medical experts’ advice that most people who aren’t sick don’t need to wear them. In South Korea this week, hundreds lined up to buy masks from pharmacies and discount stores. Shortages started cropping up in Asia soon after the outbreak became a crisis in China. Now many places have sold out of masks, while others are limiting sales per customer. Amazon is policing its site, trying to make sure sellers don’t gouge panicked buyers. Still, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control says only people who are sick or have symptoms like fever and shortness of breath should wear masks. Others should wash their hands, disinfect commonly used surfaces and avoid touching their face.
February 28, 2020 4:15 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A new lawsuit seeks to end the practice in Pennsylvania of counting state inmates as residents of the district where they are incarcerated. The petition filed Thursday in Commonwealth Court argues it violates constitutional requirements that elections be free and equal and that state legislative districts be about the same size. The defendants are the state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar. An administration spokesman isn’t commenting, but Wolf has previously said he believes prisoners should be counted at their home or last known address for district-drawing purposes.
February 28, 2020 4:13 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – The Pennsylvania Legislature is concealing who lawmakers and staff met with and why in records on how it spends its roughly $360 million annual budget. The Caucus and Spotlight PA news organizations report that lawyers in the nation’s largest full-time Legislature cite the speech and debate clause in the state Constitution. But good-government advocates say that the speech and debate clause was intended to allow lawmakers to speak freely in official proceedings. Thousands of pages of financial records turned over in response to public records requests contained vague descriptions of expenses or redactions that made it impossible to see their purpose.
February 28, 2020 4:10 am
CHARLEROI, Pa. — (WPXI) – The Charleroi Area School District is taking action after a fight club page was created on Instagram that showed underage students fighting. District officials said they are aware of the page and had Instagram remove the profile for violation of its community guidelines. Multiple videos were posted by the account showing middle and high school students fighting. The top of the account’s bio read, “Send me fight videos to post on this page and if you snitch you’re going to be on here.” Chuck Balieu, owner of Moke’s Martial Arts, is one of many people who alerted the district about this account. “We teach students that fighting is the last resort, and to see that being promoted on social media was very concerning,” said Balieu. “I think videos like this would promote bullying as more kids would see this and try to imitate the actions.” On Thursday, the solicitor for the school district told Channel 11 they figured out who created the account and had it removed. The district released the following statement:
“The Charleroi Area School District is aware of the Instagram page and has been proactively working since yesterday to investigate this matter and have Instagram remove the profile for violations of Instagram’s community guidelines. While the District cannot comment on specific student matters, we can assure parents, guardians, and students that appropriate steps have already been and will continue to be taken regarding this matter. Charleroi Area School District will always place the health, safety, and welfare of our school community at the forefront of every decision made.”
February 28, 2020 2:54 am
The cause of a fire at a downtown Washington photography studio is under investigation. The blaze broke out just after seven in the Ruschel Studio building at 120 N. Main Street. Washington Fire Chief Gerry Coleman tells WJPA News that two residents of the building, believed to be a husband and wife were taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries, possibly smoke inhalation. There has been no word on their conditions. Officials say there are four apartments located above the photography studio and they house seven people. Everyone was safely evacuated. Authorities say they believe the blaze may have started in the basement, but the investigation is continuing. Many of those who escaped the burning building went across the street to Joe’s Bakery until Red Cross volunteers arrived. Main Street between Chestnut and Beau Street was closed throughout the morning. (Photo: Facebook)
February 27, 2020 2:17 pm
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Lee Phillip Bell, who co-created “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful,” has died. She was 91. A family spokeswoman says Bell died of natural causes at her home in Los Angeles. She hosted her own daytime talk show in her hometown of Chicago for 33 years. Bell and her husband William J. Bell were responsible for two of daytime television’s most successful and enduring dramas. “Y&R” has been on the air since 1973. “The Bold and the Beautiful” will mark its 33rd anniversary in March. Bell’s survivors include daughter Lauralee Bell (pictured), who stars on “Y&R.”
February 27, 2020 6:22 am
A new government survey finds that about 40% of American adults are obese. And nearly 1 in 10 are severely obese. Those findings were released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They come from a 2017-2018 health survey that measures height and weight. More than 5,000 U.S. adults took part. The obesity rate has risen about 40% in the last two decades. The severe obesity rate has doubled over that time. One obesity expert says the findings suggest that more Americans will get diabetes, heart disease and cancer. He also says it will be increasingly difficult for doctors to care for so many severely obese people.
February 27, 2020 5:28 am
A Washington man was killed in a crash along Interstate 70 in Ohio Wednesday night. The Ohio State Highway Patrol says 57 year old Gary Crouser was pronounced dead at the scene. A 6 year old boy traveling with him was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Police say Crouser’s pickup truck rolled over while traveling east near the exit to Route 41 in Clark County just after 9 p.m.
February 27, 2020 4:33 am
BALTIMORE (AP) – The former mayor of Baltimore has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to federal conspiracy and tax evasion. Catherine Pugh was sentenced in federal court on Thursday for selling her self-published “Healthy Holly” children’s books to nonprofit organizations to promote her political career and fund her run for mayor. Pugh spoke through tears for about 10 minutes before her sentencing. The 69-year-old former mayor apologized and said that “no one is more disappointed” than she is with her actions. The veteran Democratic politician was elected mayor in 2016 and resigned under pressure in May.
February 27, 2020 4:32 am
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Police have identified the gunman in the Milwaukee brewery shooting as an electrician whose home was searched. Milwaukee police Chief Alfonso Morales said the shooter was 51-year-old Anthony Ferrill. Morales identified the victims as Molson Coors Brewing Co. employees ranging in age from 33 to 57. Morales said police are still investigating a motive. Police searched Ferrill’s home on Milwaukee’s north side as they hunted for clues about why an employee at one of the nation’s largest breweries gunned down five co-workers before taking his own life.
