June 26, 2020 4:04 am
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WPXI) – A comment made on social media has a Trafford Borough council member under fire. Councilman Zack Cole wished Pa. Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine a happy Father’s Day on Facebook Sunday, which sparked backlash. Levine is a transgender woman. The comment made by Cole was posted on Gov. Tom Wolf’s Facebook page. He claimed it was just a joke, but that post prompted swift and angry responses. And now many are speaking out. “It’s just hateful. It’s disguised as a joke, but it’s not funny,” said Cora Brna, a transgender advocate. “When you back through history and look at all these acts of violence towards any group, it all starts with words. The rhetoric that words are just words isn’t really entirely true.” A spokesperson for the state health department issued a statement regarding the comment: “Dr. Levine serves the governor and remains laser-focused on protecting the health and well-being of Pennsylvanians as we navigate this ongoing pandemic.” Cole told Channel 11 he didn’t want to comment, but he did post a statement on his Facebook page, saying it wasn’t an apology but that his comment was in bad taste — especially with the position he holds. In that post, Cole said he is angry with how Wolf and Levine have handled the COVID-19 pandemic and won’t adhere to a “politically correct” society.
June 26, 2020 2:54 am
(WPXI) – The City of Pittsburgh has formed a task force to address the issue of a spike in the use of illegal fireworks. City officials say Pittsburgh has seen a nearly 400 percent increase in firework complaint calls. Pittsburgh police say they received 137 fireworks complaint calls from June 1st through June 21st. They received a total of 28 calls in the city during the same time last year. Firework shows across the area have been canceled because of COVID-19, so people have started putting on their own. Other cities across the country have seen a spike as well.
June 25, 2020 5:49 pm
Traffic on Interstate 79 North near the Houston Exit was snarled for a couple of hours Thursday afternoon after a three vehicle accident. State Police had little information except to say that a tractor trailer was involved and was in the median, possibly leaking fuel. The right lane of the interstate was closed for several hours while crews worked to clean up the wreckage and traffic was backed up for miles.
June 25, 2020 4:59 pm
(AP) – Chuck E. Cheese is filing for bankruptcy protection. The 43-year-old chain, which drew kids with pizza, video games and a singing mouse mascot, was struggling even before the coronavirus pandemic. But it said the prolonged closure of many venues due to virus restrictions led to Thursday’s Chapter 11 filing. Irving, Texas-based CEC Entertainment Inc. has reopened 266 company-operated Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza restaurants, but it’s unclear how willing parents will be to host birthday parties and other gatherings. The company says it will continue to reopen locations and offer carryout while it negotiates with debt and lease holders.
June 25, 2020 9:48 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – After months of steady progress, new confirmed cases of COVID-19 climbed to near record levels in the U.S. this week. Experts blame a nation that’s become complacent, and a new poll finds evidence to back them up. The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds support for measures to slow the virus’ spread has declined from the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, even though many Americans never fully embraced the reopening effort now underway in many states. Half of Americans now favor stay-at-home orders, down from about 6 in 10 one month ago and 8 in 10 in April. (Graph: CNN)
June 25, 2020 4:06 am
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – Disney is postponing the mid-July reopening of its Southern California theme parks until it receives guidelines from the state. The company announced Wednesday an indefinite postponement for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in Anaheim. Disney hoped to reopen them on July 17 after a four-month closure due to the coronavirus. But Disney needs state approval and says California won’t be issuing guidelines until after July 4. Disney also says it’s still negotiating agreements with employee unions, some of which have raised safety concerns about the reopenings. The company indicates it still plans to reopen Florida’s Disney World on July 11.
June 25, 2020 4:04 am
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin’s governor has activated the National Guard to protect state properties after a night of violence that included the toppling of two statues outside the state Capitol and an attack on a state senator. Protesters also threw a Molotov cocktail into a government building and attempted to break into the Capitol, only to be repelled by pepper spray from police stationed inside. The violence broke out Tuesday night as a group of 200 to 300 people protested the arrest of a Black man who shouted at restaurant customers through a megaphone while carrying a baseball bat.
June 25, 2020 4:03 am
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – President Donald Trump’s plans to kick off Independence Day with a showy display at Mount Rushmore are drawing sharp criticism from Native Americans who view the monument as a desecration of land violently stolen from them. Several groups led by Native American activists are planning protests for Trump’s July 3 visit, part of his “comeback” campaign for a nation reeling from sickness, unemployment and social unrest. But it comes amid a national reckoning over racism and a reconsideration of the symbolism of monuments around the globe. Many Native Americans activists say the Rushmore memorial is as reprehensible as the many Confederate monuments being toppled around the nation.
June 25, 2020 4:00 am
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Grammy-winning country group The Dixie Chicks have dropped the word Dixie from their name, now going by The Chicks. The group made of Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines and Emily Strayer posted a statement on their website saying they wanted to meet “this moment.” The group also acknowledged that there was an existing band in New Zealand that allowed them “to share their name.” The move follows a decision by country group Lady Antebellum to change to Lady A after acknowledging the word’s association to slavery. That band received criticism with their switch after a Black singer revealed she’d been performing as Lady A for years. (Photo: CNN)
June 25, 2020 3:57 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s House and Senate have begun passing legislation spurred by widespread protests over police brutality and the killing of George Floyd, including legislation designed to prevent “bad apples” from continuing to find employment in police departments. Wednesday’s votes were unanimous, although all four bills still require approval from the other chamber before going to Gov. Tom Wolf. One Senate bill requires police agencies to compile and report use of force incidents. The other bill bans police from using chokeholds. The House approved bills to train officers in how to interact with people of different racial and ethic backgrounds and require that an applicant’s former department provide information on the officer’s disciplinary history.
