March 3, 2020 10:24 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – In a surprise move, the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by a sizable half-percentage point in an effort to support the economy in the face of the spreading coronavirus. Chairman Jerome Powell noted that the coronavirus “poses evolving risks to economic activity.” It was the Fed’s first rate cut since last year, when it reduced its key short-term rate three times. It is also the first time the central bank has cut its key rate between policy meetings since the 2008 financial crisis and the largest rate cut since then. Stock market averages which had fallen sharply after the opening bell, swung almost 700 points into positive territory after the Fed announcement. Earlier Tuesday, seven major economies pledged to use “all appropriate tools” to deal with the spreading coronavirus but announced no immediate actions.
March 3, 2020 4:47 am
PITTSBURGH — The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has announced a number of changes in response to the global spread of coronavirus. So far there are no cases in the Pittsburgh area, but the Allegheny County Health Department and other public organizations are preparing for what they say is inevitable. To go along with these preparations, Catholics can expect the following changes when they attend Sunday Mass. The distribution of the Precious Blood during communion is temporarily suspended. Holy Water fonts will be cleaned and drained more often and the exchange of handshakes and other physical contact during the Sign of Peace is temporarily suspended. Those who feel ill are being advised to stay home from Mass until they are well.
March 3, 2020 4:23 am
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – The Walt Disney Co. was built on the shoulders of Mickey Mouse. So it may come as a surprise that there has never been a theme park attraction based on the lovable rodent. That’s about to change with the debut of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway ride on Wednesday at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. The ride gives visitors the impression that they are watching a cartoon featuring Mickey and Minnie come to life as the Disney characters look for the perfect place for a romantic picnic and then end up on a train ride on the “Runnamuck Railroad.
March 3, 2020 4:21 am
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tornadoes have ripped across Tennessee overnight, shredding at least 40 buildings and killing at least 19 people. One of the twisters caused severe damage across downtown Nashville on Tuesday, leaving blown-down walls and roofs, snapped power lines, huge broken trees, and city streets in gridlock. Schools, courts, transit lines, an airport and the state Capitol are closed. A historic church lost its bell tower and stained glass window. Some polling stations were moved and others opened an hour late as Super Tuesday voting began. Nashville Mayor John Cooper says “last night was a reminder about how fragile life is.”
March 3, 2020 4:18 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Beto O’Rourke is the latest former Democratic presidential candidate to endorse Joe Biden. The former Texas congressman appeared at Biden’s rally in Dallas on Monday night, along with Amy Klobuchar, who ended her own 2020 bid earlier in the day. To cheers, O’Rourke said, “Tomorrow, March 3, 2020, I will be casting my ballot for Joe Biden.” Biden also nabbed the endorsement of Pete Buttigieg, who suspended his campaign on Sunday night and appeared with the former vice president ahead of Monday night’s rally. O’Rourke ended his own White House run last year after failing to recapture the enthusiasm, interest and fundraising prowess of his 2018 Senate bid.
March 3, 2020 4:15 am
BEIJING (AP) – China is reporting another encouraging number in the virus epidemic, with a daily tally of 125 new cases. That’s even lower than the six-week low reported a day earlier. But elsewhere, the problem continues to grow, with mushrooming outbreaks in Iran, South Korea and Italy. In the United States, concern was increasing along with the number of infected people, which tops 100 in 11 states. President Donald Trump met with pharmaceutical executives to push the search for a vaccine while lawmakers on Capitol Hill neared an agreement on emergency funding for virus relief.
March 3, 2020 4:14 am
BEIJING (AP) – Washington state reported additional coronavirus deaths Tuesday, bringing the total to nine. All of the COVID-19 deaths in the United States so far have been in the Seattle area. Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington on Sunday said they had evidence the COVID-19 virus may have been circulating in the state for up to six weeks undetected. If true, that could mean that there are hundreds of undiagnosed cases in the area. Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, runny nose, cough and breathing trouble. Most develop only mild disease. But some people, usually those with other medical complications, develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia, which can be fatal.
March 3, 2020 4:10 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court will review a lower court’s decision that lets some victims of childhood sexual abuse pursue lawsuits despite time limits. The justices announced Monday they will reconsider the decision allowing Renee Rice to sue. Rice alleges that Altoona-Johnstown Diocese officials’ silence regarding a Roman Catholic priest who she says molested her amounted to fraudulent concealment. A diocesan spokesman is declining to comment. Rice’s lawyer says her case has been cited by other litigants in the past eight months to support their own claims. Pennsylvania lawmakers eased time limits for future child sex abuse victims late last year, but that doesn’t apply to older claims, such as Rice’s.
March 3, 2020 4:08 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – President Donald Trump is making his first visit this year to the presidential battleground state of Pennsylvania, in a town hall-style event hosted by Fox News. Thursday’s one-hour event will be at the Scranton Cultural Center. Trump’s unexpected win in Pennsylvania in 2016 helped pave his way to the White House. He did particularly well in northeastern Pennsylvania, where the cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre have long anchored a strong Democratic presence in the area. Trump made five visits to Pennsylvania last year. No Democrat since Harry S. Truman in 1948 has become president without winning the state.
March 3, 2020 4:02 am
Washington City Council works hard to make sure that they keep a close watch on how much money is spent on heating and powering all of the buildings the city owns. Council hired the ABM Group to help monitor and streamline the city’s energy use. Councilman Joe Manning says the group surveyed each of the city’s buildings and made recommendations on how to save on energy costs. LED lights, and additional insulation are just a couple of minor adjustments that ABM suggested to the city. Washington has been using the ABM Group for about 3 years. Because the recommendations made to the city fell short of the benchmark numbers, ABM issued a check for $8000 to offset the shortfalls. Manning states that in the 3 years that they have been working together, the city has saved approximately $42,000 on energy costs. ABM will be out in the city trying to find out just went wrong with their predictions and will offer suggestions on how to fix those problems.
