November 3, 2020 4:00 am
Election Day in the U.S. is unfolding like no other, with nearly 100 million Americans having already cast their ballots. Voters took advantage of absentee balloting and early in-person voting amid a pandemic that has killed more than 230,000 Americans and worries about whether the Postal Service would deliver their ballot on time. President Donald Trump has been claiming without evidence that mail ballots will lead to widespread voter fraud and has threatened to file lawsuits to stop the counting of late-arriving ballots in some states. He has especially targeted the key battleground state of Pennsylvania for legal challenges.
November 3, 2020 3:59 am
BERLIN (AP) – As Europe tries to break the surging second wave of coronavirus infections, Germany is betting on a new type of test to protect vulnerable populations. The closure of nursing homes to visitors caused considerable anguish among residents and relatives in the spring. So-called antigen tests, which look for a specific protein on the virus, were first launched months ago. Germany announced recently that it is bulk-buying millions of such tests each month. But while they are cheap and fast, some experts note the antigen method is also less accurate than the standard test and results should be treated with caution.
November 3, 2020 3:57 am
Millions of registered voters across Pennsylvania and the United States cast their ballots Tuesday for various races, including President of the United States. Polling places in Pennsylvania were open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. If your mail-in ballot is postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day and received in your county office by 5 p.m. on Nov. 6, it will be considered timely. Pennsylvania voters are playing a crucial and perhaps decisive role in choosing the next president as Donald Trump and Joe Biden headline a statewide election in which millions of ballots have already been cast. Long lines formed at many polling places as voters also decided races for Congress, the General Assembly and a trio of statewide offices – attorney general, auditor general and treasurer. Polls opened against the backdrop of a pandemic, a police shooting and civil unrest in Philadelphia, and the potential for a drawn-out legal fight over late-arriving mail-in ballots. Election officials caution the winner might not be known for days as counties begin tabulating more than 2.4 million votes that arrived by mail. Tune to WJPA 95.3 FM/1450 AM beginning at 8 p.m. for complete election results coverage.
November 3, 2020 2:52 am
(AP)- Conservative commentator Wendy Bell is falsely claiming that the administration of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is attempting to “silence voters” by ordering people who were potentially exposed to the coronavirus to stay home on Election Day. Bell made the claim on Facebook on Monday. The reality is that no one is trying to disenfranchise a voter who’s been exposed to the coronavirus. State health officials have never taken legal action against any Pennsylvania resident for breaking quarantine. What’s more, Pennsylvania has a workaround for voters who intended to cast their ballot in person on Election Day, but who no longer can because of an unexpected illness.
November 3, 2020 1:00 am
Washington County Commissioners Chairman and Election Board Chair Diana Irey-Vaughn is in quarantine. The Republican says she is showing symptoms of COVID-19 and out of an abundance of caution will isolate. She reportedly has twice tested negative for the coronavirus. This comes less than a week after fellow Republican Commissioner Nick Sherman tested positive. Both Irey-Vaughn and Sherman will handle their Election Board duties on election day over the phone. Democratic Commissioner Larry Maggi says he has tested negative and is not showing any signs of symptoms.
November 2, 2020 4:35 pm
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – If things had gone differently nearly two decades ago, Nikki McKibbin would have won the first season of “American Idol.” But she finished third in 2002, behind winner Kelly Clarkson and runner-up Justin Guarini. McKibbin has died. Her husband says she suffered a brain aneurysm last week – and was taken off life support yesterday. She was 42. McKibbin tearfully hugged her fellow contestants after being voted off Idol’s first season, prompting judge Simon Cowell to console her by saying, “out of 10,000 people, you are third. This is not a time for tears.” In a statement, “American Idol” says it’s “deeply saddened” by news of her death – and that McKibbin was “an incredible talent.”
November 2, 2020 4:27 pm
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (AP) – Eddie Hassell is dead. The actor known for his work on the NBC show “Surface” died after a shooting in the Dallas suburb of Grand Prairie, Texas. Police say the shooting happened early yesterday. They say officers responded to a report of a shooting – and found Hassell suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Grand Prairie police say they are trying to pin down a motive, though the actor’s rep tells Variety the shooting appears to be linked to a carjacking. Hassell – who was 30 – was also in the 2010 movie “The Kids Are All Right.”
November 2, 2020 12:15 pm
(WPXI) – A Baltimore Ravens player has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from the team. The Pittsburgh Steelers visited the team on Sunday when they beat them 28-24. The player, who was not identified by the team, immediately began to self-quarantine and is now in the NFL’s intensive protocol, according to a statement. Marlon Humphrey, however, a cornerback, confirmed he was the player. He tweeted Monday: “I got the Rona hopefully I’ll be back healthy soon.” Meanwhile, the Steelers have released a statement, saying they will begin taking “precautionary measures at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.”
November 2, 2020 6:52 am
MANILA, Philippines (AP) – Philippine officials say at least 16 people were killed as Typhoon Goni lashed the country over the weekend, and about 13,000 shanties and houses were damaged or swept away in the eastern island province that was first hit by the powerful storm. Goni blasted into Catanduanes province at dawn Sunday as a super typhoon with sustained winds of 140 miles per hour. But the ferocious storm weakened considerably after making landfall and shifted to spare the capital, Manila, before blowing out Sunday night into the South China Sea. The Office of Civil Defense said Monday that at least 16 people were killed in Catanduanes and nearby Albay province, where three others remain missing.
November 2, 2020 6:50 am
PETERS TOWNSHIP – The Peters Township School District is investigating allegations that members of its marching band wore black face. The allegations claim it happened during Friday night’s home football playoff game against Woodland Hills. The district released the following statement in regards to the allegations; “Peters Township School District does not condone or permit discrimination. The District is investigating the student costume choices from Friday night’s football game and reviewing the actions or inactions on behalf of District staff present at the game.” (Photo: Facebook)
