May 21, 2020 4:23 am
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) – Pandemic politics have shadowed President Donald Trump’s trip to Michigan. On Thursday, he toured a Ford Motor plant that had been repurposed to manufacture ventilators for the COVID-19 epidemic. But Trump and officials from the electoral battleground state were clashing in the meantime over federal aid, mail-in ballots and face masks. As usual, he refused to wear a protective mask, though Ford requires them and its officials wore them for the tour. The visit to Ypsilanti, outside Detroit, came a day after Trump criticized top state leaders and threatened to withhold federal funding over the state’s mail-in balloting effort. The White House didn’t invite Michigan’s Democratic governor.
May 21, 2020 4:21 am
Ford temporarily halted production at two assembly plants Tuesday and Wednesday after three workers tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The shutdowns show the difficulty that automakers and other businesses will have in trying to reopen factories in the midst of the pandemic. Aerospace engine maker Rolls-Royce plans to cut about 9,000 jobs globally as it grapples with the collapse of air travel due to the pandemic. The new CEO of United Airlines says it may take until there is a vaccine for COVID-19 before most people feel comfortable about air travel.
May 21, 2020 4:20 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The USS Theodore Roosevelt has left Guam and gone out to sea for training after nearly two months sidelined at the pier with a coronavirus outbreak. The crew will do about two weeks of training to prepare to return to duty in the Pacific. The ship has been docked in Guam since March 27, as the 4,800 crew members went through rotations of quarantine, and more than 1,000 of them have tested positive for the virus over that time. Navy Capt. Carlos Sardiello says the ship will sail with a scaled-back crew of about 3,000.
May 21, 2020 4:19 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump’s longtime personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen was released from federal prison Thursday to serve the remainder of his sentence at home. That’s according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press. Cohen has been serving a federal prison sentence at FCI Otisville in New York after pleading guilty to numerous charges, including campaign finance fraud and lying to Congress. Cohen was released on furlough to serve the remainder of his sentence at home as part of an attempt to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in federal prisons.
May 21, 2020 4:18 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A sharply divided Senate has confirmed John Ratcliffe as director of national intelligence. Democrats refused to support the nomination over fears that he will politicize the intelligence community’s work under President Donald Trump. All Democrats opposed Ratcliffe, making him the first DNI to be installed on a partisan vote since the position was created in 2005. The Texas Republican seemed unlikely to get the position when he was nominated in February, but GOP senators warmed to him as they grew concerned about the upheaval in the intelligence community and wanted a permanent, confirmed director. (Photo: CNN)
May 21, 2020 4:17 am
MIDLAND, Mich. (AP) – Floodwaters that overtook dams and forced the evacuation of about 10,000 people in Central Michigan now threaten a Dow Superfund site and downstream communities. The Tittabawassee River crested in Dow’s hometown of Midland Wednesday at just over 35 feet, about 3 feet under what officials previously forecasted. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had warned the city could end up under about 9 feet of water by Wednesday evening. Dow says floodwater has begun mixing with on-site containment ponds, prompting the company and U.S. Coast Guard to activate emergency plans. A city official says no one has been reported hurt or killed in the flooding. Whitmer says the state will investigate the operators of the Edenville and Sanford dams.
May 21, 2020 3:58 am
PITTSBURGH — The Pennsylvania Gaming Control board said the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt state casinos an unexpected and unprecedented blow over the last few months. They released a 10-page document, including a long list of what will change when doors open again. For example, everyone – players and staff – must wear masks. No one with a fever will be permitted inside. Hand sanitizing stations will be at the entrance and throughout the building, and floor markings will assist with six-feet distancing. They also released specific changes for gambling, with some of the most noticeable guidelines coming at the slot machines. The control board wants the following changes:
Plexiglass barriers between slot machines a
Removing chairs from certain machines
Disabling some slot machines to create more distance
Sanitizing wipes next to slots
For table games, they want casinos to:
Develop new protocol for sanitizing chips on daily basis
Increase distance between players
Allow no spectators to stand behind players
Sanitize equipment frequently
And the poker rooms would not be allowed to open.
None of these new restrictions can be implemented until the county enters the green phase.
May 21, 2020 2:56 am
UNDATED (AP) – Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf says his state is working on guidelines to allow sporting events and exhibitions to get back to “some semblance of normalcy.” Wolf said he’s been in touch with major professional organizations including NASCAR, the NFL, NHL, Major League Baseball and others to figure out how they can resume competition in the state. He said he expected his administration will decide in the coming days on guidelines for various venues, sports and activities going forward. NASCAR’s first Cup race outside the south is slated for Pocono Raceway.
May 21, 2020 2:46 am
The reliance on wireless communications and internet connectivity has taken on an even greater significance in recent months during the coronavirus pandemic. The Washington Chamber of Commerce dedicated their Morning Briefing series to Crown Castle to describe how increased demand is being met. Jonathan Hart, Director of Government Affairs spoke to the efforts his company brings. Crown Castle constructs communications towers that allow several customers to use. One tower will serve several large scale providers such as AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile and will serve local businesses that need radio communication between offices and cars and even medical providers that are now using more and more telemedicine. Crown Castle operates in all 50 states and Canada and has 500 cell towers, 200 small cell towers and 2200 miles of fiber in southwestern Pennsylvania alone. Hart says the coronavirus pandemic has increased internet traffic by over 20%. Hart discussed difficulties in reaching rural areas of Washington County indicating that they provide mobile hotspots for students to use for school. Hart indicated that the growth of 5G mobile technology will have a big impact on the Pittsburgh region. Studies indicate that the regional economy will realize over 2800 new jobs and an increased GDP impact of $458 million.
May 20, 2020 3:09 pm
(WPXI) – A large water main break is flooding yards in Upper St. Clair and sending water at least 25 feet into the air. It’s unclear what caused the break, but we are working to learn more.
