July 22, 2020 4:03 am
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – A 36-year-old man is accused of raping four Penn State students over a seven-year period, and DNA from the victims led police to him. áJeffrey P. Fields of Port Matilda was charged with rape and other offenses on Tuesday and jailed without bail. Investigators say genealogical tools helped to connect Fields to the attacks that occurred between August 2010 and July 2017. They say Fields worked in State College during that period. Fields did not have a lawyer listed in court records.
July 22, 2020 4:02 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A state-run veterans nursing home in Pennsylvania where 42 residents have died of COVID-19 failed to take steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. That’s according to a new state Health Department report. Health inspectors say that Southeastern Veterans’ Center, a 292-bed facility outside Philadelphia, ignored state and federal guidelines meant to control the virus in nursing homes. The lapses put 128 of the facility’s 154 residents in “immediate jeopardy” of serious injury or death, according to the Health Department.
July 22, 2020 3:56 am
North Strabane Supervisors led off their Agenda Meeting with a Public Hearing on an ordinance that will require utility companies to adhere to stricter standards when restoring roads and sidewalks after repairs have been made. The intent of the ordinance is to have better restoration repairs made by the utilities so that a smoother ride can be attained after the repair has been made. The new standards will also allow the road to last longer and not need to be resurfaced as often. Supervisors will also consider a request to PennDot to lower the speed limit on McClelland Road from Morganza Road to the off ramp of I-79 to 25 miles per hour. Supervisors also listened to a presentation from Penn Micro regarding the installation of a microgrid for power generation for township use and to sell electricity back to First Energy. Initial studies estimate that the township could realize revenue in the amount of roughly $800,000 per year if the presented plan were to be adopted. The township will continue to study the proposal. Finally, Fire Chief Mark Grimm reported on a program called Community Connect. Residents can enter details about their home for the fire department to use in case an emergency arises. Details such as kid’s rooms, residents with disabilities, pets and shut off locations for utilities can be added. Grimm calls the program a great success so far. Councilwoman Emily Holmes used the program and looks at it as a lifesaver for residents. Council will meet again on July 28.
July 22, 2020 2:50 am
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Ohio’s governor is ordering that masks be worn statewide to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Gov. Mike DeWine says the mask mandate will go into effect Thursday evening for everyone age 10 and older. The Republican governor said Wednesday that more counties are seeing an increasing number of cases. Residents will need to wear a mask when out in public or in a place where they are unable to follow social distancing rules. Up until now, Ohio had only required masks in counties that were considered “hotspots.” (Photo: CNN)
July 22, 2020 2:17 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania Turnpike officials have announced yet another toll increase – 6% beginning early next year – as well as a new 45% surcharge for non-EZ-Pass users whose tolls are assessed by mail based on their license plates. Officials said the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission on Tuesday approved a 6% increase for EZ-Pass users as well those without passes in the “Toll by Plate” program. But they also approved an average 45% increase over the 2020 cash rate “to reflect the costs of collections for this tolling method.” The new rates are to take effect Jan. 3.
July 21, 2020 4:47 pm
UNDATED (AP) – One of Pennsylvania’s most popular fairs is apologizing after a dunk-tank promotion led to accusations of transphobia. The dunk tank featured a man in a dress. The Bloomsburg Fair likened him in a Facebook post to Dr. Rachel Levine, a transgender woman who is Pennsylvania’s health secretary. A U.S. senator and other politicians issued statements of condemnation, and some people said they planned to skip this year’s fair in September. Fair officials apologized Tuesday and said they meant no disrespect. Levine is leading the state’s pandemic response and has been subjected to a stream of mockery and abuse.
July 21, 2020 3:24 pm
UNDATED (AP) – New research suggests that antibodies the immune system makes to fight the new coronavirus may only last a few months in people with mild illness. Tuesday’s report in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that about half of antibodies are gone after roughly 10 weeks. However, scientists say this does not mean all protection also is gone or that it won’t be possible to develop an effective vaccine. The immune system remembers how to make fresh antibodies if needed and other parts of it also can mount an attack. Still, the results raise warnings about the notion of herd immunity or immunity passports for people who have survived COVID-19.
July 21, 2020 9:49 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump took center stage in the federal government’s coronavirus response Tuesday afternoon. That’s after a White House debate over how best to deploy its greatest and most volatile asset – him – played out in public amid the president’s faltering poll numbers. One week after a campaign shake-up, Trump advisers have stressed the urgency of the president adopting a disciplined public agenda in an effort to turn around his lagging performance against Democratic rival Joe Biden. Now, after a three-month hiatus from daily briefings, Trump is set to resume a regular public presence as confirmed coronavirus cases spike nationwide.
July 21, 2020 8:52 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Pennsylvania officials want to squash rumors that some counties will return to the red phase of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan. The Pennsylvania Department of Health called such rumors “blatantly false,” PennLive reported. Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said it has no idea where the “bad rumors” came from. Right now, all Pennsylvania counties are in the green phase. Pennsylvania has seen an uptick in reported COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in recent weeks. The state placed a lot of focus on Allegheny County after a surge in cases started last month. On Monday, 172 new cases were reported — the third straight day under 200.
July 21, 2020 4:07 am
ST. LOUIS (AP) – St. Louis’ top prosecutor has told The Associated Press that she’s charging a white husband and wife with felony unlawful use of a weapon for displaying guns during a racial injustice protest outside their mansion. Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced the charges Monday against Mark and Patricia McCloskey. Both are personal injury attorneys and in their 60s. The McCloskeys’ actions during the June 28 protest drew praise from some who said they were legally defending their $1.15 million home, but scorn from others who said they risked bloodshed. Several hundred protesters were marching to the mayor’s home, just a few blocks away.
