March 22, 2020 8:22 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Donald Trump sent a personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, seeking to maintain good relations and offering cooperation in fighting the viral pandemic, Kim’s sister said Sunday. The latest correspondence came as Kim observed the firing of tactical guided weapons over the weekend, drawing criticism from South Korea, as the nuclear talks remain deadlocked. In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, Kim’s sister and senior ruling party official, Kim Yo Jong, praised Trump for sending the letter at a time when “big difficulties and challenges lie ahead in the way of developing ties” between the countries. In the letter, she said Trump explained his plan to “propel the relations between the two countries … and expressed his intent to render cooperation in the anti-epidemic work” in an apparent reference to the global coronavirus outbreak. She said her brother expressed his gratitude for Trump’s letter.
March 22, 2020 8:18 am
A worldwide group representing Olympic hopefuls is calling on the IOC to postpone the Tokyo Olympics until the coronavirus pandemic is under control. “As the world unites to limit the spread of Covid-19 virus, the IOC … must do the same,” Global Athlete said in a news release Sunday. This show of solidarity among Olympic hopefuls adds to the dozens of individual athletes who have come out against the IOC’s current stance, which is to start the games as scheduled on July 24. The IOC is in consultation with the World Health Organization and has stuck to the position that it’s too early for drastic decisions. “It’s bizarre the IOC hasn’t shown any real leadership,” said Caradh O’Donovan, a Global Athlete founder from Ireland whose karate training has been put on hold due to restrictions in her country. “They’re acting as though it’s business as usual and it just seems very strange.” O’Donovan said the unevenness around the globe regarding training, doping control and qualifying standards are among her key concerns — thoughts echoed by a number of athletes on social media and in interviews with The Associated Press over the past few days.
March 22, 2020 8:16 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Top-level negotiations between Congress and the White House are pushing toward resolution on a ballooning $1 trillion-plus economic rescue package, as President Donald Trump urged a deal to steady a nation shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic. With a population on edge and financial markets teetering, all sides indicated late Saturday that a deal is within reach. At issue is how best to keep paychecks flowing for millions of workers abruptly sidelined by the crisis. Talks also narrowed on a so-called Marshall Plan for hospitals as well as industry loans to airlines and others all but grounded by the virus outbreak and national shutdown. The post-World War II Marshall Plan helped to rebuild Western Europe. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced late Saturday all sides were “very close” to a bipartisan resolution. McConnell instructed committee chairmen to assemble draft legislation. Officials put the price tag at nearly $1.4 trillion and said that with other measures from the Federal Reserve it could pump $2 trillion into the U.S. economy.
March 22, 2020 8:12 am
SOAVE, Italy (AP) — Italy, Iran and the United States reported soaring new death tolls as the coronavirus pandemic marched relentlessly across the globe Sunday, prompting a scramble in hard-hit regions to set up more hospital beds and replenish the dwindling medical supplies needed to keep health workers safe. Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte went on TV near midnight, announcing that he was tightening the country’s lockdown and shutting down all production facilities except those providing essential goods and services. He cautioned citizens to be calm and patient, insisting there was “no alternative” than to impose further restrictions. Scientists have argued that avoiding even one infection means scores more are prevented down the line. In the U.S., where several states have ordered residents to stay indoors, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the government is “literally scouring the globe looking for medical supplies.” Health care workers from Oklahoma City to Minneapolis sought donations of protective equipment. Staff at a Detroit hospital began creating homemade face masks for workers. Negotiators from Congress and the White House resumed top-level talks on a ballooning $1 trillion-plus economic rescue package, urged by President Donald Trump to strike a deal to steady a nation upended by the coronavirus pandemic. Trump appeared confident about the nation’s ability to defeat the pandemic soon even as health leaders acknowledged that the U.S. was nowhere near the peak of the pandemic.
March 22, 2020 8:05 am
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPXI) — A passenger flight that was bound for Toronto, Canada, had to be diverted to the Pittsburgh International Airport Saturday. WestJet flight 2509 left from Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic around 3:45 p.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Toronto around 8:30 p.m. However, officials said the flight had to be diverted to Pittsburgh “due to an on-board medical emergency.” The flight landed normally at the airport, and officials said WestJet is in the process of determining onward travel. The details of the medical emergency were not released.
March 22, 2020 6:47 am
Harrisburg, PA – Due to the high volume of waiver requests, the Wolf Administration is delaying enforcement of Governor Tom Wolf’s order and the Secretary of Health’s order that all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania must close their physical locations to slow the spread of COVID-19. Per Governor Wolf’s and Dr. Levine’s orders, businesses that were non-life sustaining were ordered to close their physical locations on March 19, at 8:00 PM. This order stands, only the enforcement timing will change and become effective on Monday, March 23, at 8:00 AM. Those businesses requesting clarification on whether they are defined as life-sustaining should check this list, email the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) customer service resource account at ra-dcedcs@pa.gov, or call 1-877-PA-HEALTH and select option 1 to reach DCED staff. For businesses that determine from the list that they are non-life sustaining, but would like to seek a waiver, there is an online waiver application. When a business completes a waiver form, a team of professionals at DCED will review each request and respond based on the guiding principle of balancing public safety while ensuring the continued delivery of critical infrastructure services and functions. Those requesting a waiver will be notified via email if their operations may re-open. Businesses applying for a waiver must remain closed until a decision is made about their application.
March 22, 2020 6:21 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania is following the Federal Government’s footsteps in extending the tax return filing deadline for 90 additional days. The Department of Revenue made the decision to extend the filing deadline to July 15th amid the coronavirus crisis, something the IRS did with federal returns on Friday. The department of revenue is also waiving penalties and interest on 2019 personal income tax payments through that new deadline in the summer. Although the deadline has been extended, the Department of Revenue encourages taxpayers who are able to file their taxes electronically, to do so as soon as possible.
March 22, 2020 6:18 am
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WPXI) — Giant Eagle announced Saturday it plans to award $10 million in bonus pay to its employees as the company continues hiring efforts for positions across the organization. In a release, officials said the bonus pay will be offered to all employees at Giant Eagle, Market District, Giant Eagle Pharmacy and GetGo locations — as well as those working in warehouses and delivering products to stores. The bonus pay will start immediately and is retroactive to March 15. Company officials said there is currently a Saturday, May 2 end date, which will be reevaluated in the coming weeks. Both current and new employees will be eligible for the bonus pay as well.
March 22, 2020 6:16 am
Allegheny County Health Department officials say the number of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 has risen to 40 in Allegheny County, with four individuals hospitalized. That number of cases is an increase of nine from the 31 reported Saturday and the health department said it expects these numbers to continue to grow. In Washington County, the number of confirmed cases increased by two from Saturday, from five to seven reported on Sunday. Fayette County now has one reported case of the virus while Greene County still has no reported cases. One person has died from the virus in Southwestern Pennsylvania and that person was an adult from Clairton who was hospitalized at Jefferson Hospital in Allegheny County. As of Sunday, there are 479 positive cases of the Coronavirus confirmed in Pennsylvania. Health officials urge people to continue to practice social distancing and stay home to help slow the spread of the illness.
March 21, 2020 1:18 pm
ATLANTA (AP) – U.S. elections have been upended by the coronavirus pandemic. At least 13 states have postponed voting and more delays are possible as health officials warn that social distancing and other measures to contain the virus might be in place for weeks, if not months. States that have yet to hold their primaries find themselves in a seemingly impossible situation, as they look to balance public health concerns with the need to hold elections. While election officials routinely prepare for natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires, the virus outbreak poses a unique challenge.
