March 19, 2020 3:56 am
BEIJING (AP) – Last month, Wuhan was overwhelmed with thousands of new cases of coronavirus each day. But in a dramatic development that underscores just how much the pandemic has pivoted toward Europe and the United States, Chinese authorities said Wuhan and its surrounding province had no new cases to report. The news offered a rare glimmer of hope as the world battles the virus, and perhaps a lesson in the strict measures needed to halt its spread. It came as President Donald Trump likened the fight to “a war” and invoked emergency powers that allow him to compel manufacturers to deal with the pandemic.
March 19, 2020 3:54 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s Department of Health is working to open public testing sites for the coronavirus, as more services shut down and the state sees a spike in people filing for unemployment compensation. The Department of Labor and Industry said unemployment compensation claims exceeded 50,000 on Monday, and Tuesday’s filings were on course to exceed that number. In the entire first week of March, the state received barely 12,000 claims. Meanwhile, the state’s health systems and hospitals are working to open sample-taking sites and set up testing laboratories. Amtrak is shutting down lines in Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike is ending dining service at its service plazas.
March 19, 2020 3:53 am
BEAVER CO, Pa. – (WPXI)- The Shell Cracker plant will shut down for the next week due to coronavirus concerns. The company provided the following statement: “The health and well-being of our workers and nearby communities remains Shell’s top priority. That’s an ethos we live by every day, but it’s especially relevant at time when the world is taking drastic measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We’re committed to doing our part. We have made the decision to temporarily suspend construction activities at Shell’s Beaver County site, effective March 18th. In the days ahead we will install additional mitigation measures aligned with CDC guidance. -Hilary Mercer, VP Shell Pennsylvania Chemicals. Earlier in the day ,officials in Beaver County called for the temporary closure of the Shell Cracker plant in Potter Township after workers raised concerns about working conditions amid the coronavirus outbreak.
March 19, 2020 3:48 am
SOUTH UNION TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – One person was flown to a local hospital after being shot outside a YMCA building in Fayette County. The shooting happened around 7 p.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of the Uniontown Area YMCA in South Union Township, according to investigators. Witnesses told our news partners at Channel 11 they heard five or six gunshots when it happened. State police are investigating the shooting, and officials said the victim was flown to a nearby hospital as investigators remain on scene. No information was provided regarding a suspected shooter, and the victim’s condition is unknown.
March 19, 2020 2:43 am
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will reopen all 17 of its service plazas Friday, March 20. Starting tomorrow at 7 a.m., restrooms inside all service plazas will be open 24 hours. The outdoor portable toilets will remain in place at the service plazas for approximately one week. Limited food options will be available at all service plazas starting tomorrow at 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. for take-out only. (Thereafter, and until further notice, food will be served from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. except at North Midway and Valley Forge locations which will offer food 24/7.) All service plazas will have limited staffing for the safety of the employees of HMS Host and 7-Eleven, which operate the PA Turnpike service plazas. Fuel and all convenience stores inside the service plazas will continue to remain open 24 hours a day. For more information on service plazas
March 18, 2020 4:50 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate has overwhelming passed a second coronavirus response bill, and is sending it to President Donald Trump to enact with his signature. The vote was a lopsided 90-8 despite misgivings among many Republicans over a temporary new employer mandate to provide sick leave to workers who contract COVID-19. The measure is also aimed at making diagnostic tests for the virus free. Trump announced he’ll invoke emergency powers to marshal critical medical supplies against a pandemic threatening to overwhelm hospitals and other treatment centers. Trump took a series of extraordinary steps to steady a shaken country. Congress is considering his broad economic rescue package.
March 18, 2020 8:44 am
One person was transported to the hospital following a trailer fire late Tuesday night in South Franklin Township. Washington County 9-1-1 says the blaze broke out just before 11 p.m. along Gayle Avenue near the Washington County Airport. One report says the trailer was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived. There is no word on the identity or condition of the individual who was injured. The investigation continues into the cause of the fire.
March 18, 2020 8:41 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The New York Stock Exchange will temporarily close its iconic trading floor in lower Manhattan and move to all-electronic trading beginning Monday as a precautionary step amid the coronavirus outbreak. The exchange will operate on a regular schedule, said Stacey Cunningham, the NYSE’s president. Several thousand brokers and others used to crowd the trading floor of the NYSE as recently as the 1990s. But in the years since, the rise of electronic trading grew to dominate the action on Wall Street. These days, there are about 500 floor traders at the NYSE.
March 18, 2020 4:14 am
Municipal government is taking on a new look as the coronavirus continues to make its way through the United States. North Strabane Township has streamlined its Supervisors Meeting schedule by eliminating their agenda meeting in March and April and holding a legislative meeting only. Residents were able to call in and participate in the meeting and a live email service was employed for public participation as well. At Tuesday night’s meeting, only one resident was in the audience for the meeting. Township Manager Andrew Walz explained that this change is temporary and in accordance with the decree by Governor Tom Wolf to exercise limited exposure to one another during this viral pandemic. The Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors notified all municipalities that local government is an essential function and that municipalities should maintain all of their services. In actual township business, bids for summer road materials were opened. Bids will be awarded once reviewed by the township engineer and director of public works. Supervisors also authorized an exploratory into the possibility of creating a traffic impact fee ordinance for the township. Traffic impact fees are charged to developers to offset costs caused by the new development in the area. There are restrictions on how the fees may be used, the exploratory will gather information as to whether an impact fee will be of financial benefit to the township.
March 18, 2020 4:09 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Joe Biden’s sweeping victories in Florida, Illinois and Arizona are building his delegate lead over rival Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential race. And that is increasing the pressure on Sanders to admit defeat and leave the race. The former vice president’s third big night in as many weeks came amid tremendous uncertainty as the Democratic contest collides with efforts to slow the spread of a virus that has shut down large swaths of American life. Biden’s quest for his party’s nomination now seems well within reach. His trio of wins doubled his delegate haul over Sanders, giving the former vice president a nearly insurmountable lead.
