May 12, 2020 4:18 am
LANSING, Mich. (AP) – A commission that oversees the Michigan Capitol has formed a committee to study whether to ban or restrict guns inside the building. The State Capitol Commission voted Monday to seek input from the Legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The move comes after some lawmakers reported feeling intimidated by armed demonstrators protesting her orders to curb the coronavirus. Attorney General Dana Nessel says the panel can legally prohibit firearms in the Capitol. But some commission members wanted time to study the issue. A lawyer for the panel said Legislature must change the law to regulate firearms at the Capitol.
May 12, 2020 4:16 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House is recommending that all nursing home residents and staff be tested for the coronavirus in the next two weeks. Vice President Mike Pence, who leads the White House coronavirus task force, told governors on a video conference call Monday that it’s the federal government’s strong recommendation that such testing be done. Dr. Deborah Birx, the task force coordinator, told governors to focus over the next two weeks on testing all 1 million nursing home residents. She says the White House will help states that need it.
May 12, 2020 4:15 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump’s fundraising pace has slowed slightly for the second straight month as the nation reels from the coronavirus outbreak. The Trump reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee raised more than $61.7 million in April, a record for the month. It brings Trump’s total haul for the cycle to over $742 million. Despite the drop, Trump’s fundraising remains far ahead of likely Democratic challenger Joe Biden. Biden’s presidential campaign says it and the Democratic National Committee jointly raised $60 million in April. That’s a solid sum that may ease some Democratic worries that Biden is stumbling in the money race.
May 12, 2020 4:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Counterfeit face masks that provide inadequate COVID-19 protection have been distributed to frontline health care workers across the country. An Associated Press investigation has tracked the masks to a U.S.-certified factory in China where legitimate medical masks are made. Adding to the confusion, millions of masks now considered inadequate for medical protection entered the U.S. and are now in use because of the federal government’s relaxed standards. Meanwhile state and local governments, hospitals, private caregivers and well wishers have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the flawed masks. Before the pandemic, N95 masks sold for about 60 cents each. Today they’re priced as high as $6 apiece.
May 12, 2020 4:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has unveiled a more than $3 trillion new coronavirus aid package. It would provide nearly $1 trillion for states, cities and tribal governments to avert layoffs and another $200 billion in “hazard pay” for essential workers. It would offer $1,200 in direct cash aid to individuals, up to $6,000 per household. It would also extend unemployment benefits, and there would be $75 billion more for virus testing. A House vote is expected Friday. But the Senate’s Republican leader is cautioning his colleagues not to go so fast. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says there is no “urgency” to act immediately.
May 12, 2020 4:05 am
Peters Township Council met Monday night and began to address operations in the township when it moves into the Governor’s Yellow Phase on Friday. Emergency Coordinator and Fire Chief Mike McLaughlin addressed council and updated them on current zip code cases of Covid-19. In the 15317 area the number of cases increased by two to 24 and in the 15367 zip code the increase was by one moving from 6 to 7. Businesses that have an occupancy quality for their business will be limited to 50 per cent of their identified occupancy rate. The fire department is also working with businesses on how to conduct one on one business transactions. Township Manager indicated that Waste Management will begin normal trash pick-ups and bulk items will be accepted, one bulk item per day. The township will begin taking reservations next Monday for their community tree branch collection and the library is exploring the possibility of curbside service for the return and circulation of library books.
May 12, 2020 2:56 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, is warning Congress that if the country reopens too soon during the coronavirus pandemic, it will bring “needless suffering and death.” Fauci is among the experts testifying to a Senate panel as its hearing opened on Tuesday. His testimony comes as President Donald Trump is pressuring states to reopen after the prolonged lock-down aimed at controlling the virus’ spread. With the U.S. economy in free-fall and more than 30 million people unemployed, Trump wants to restart the economy. Worldwide, the virus has infected nearly 4.2 million people and killed over 286,000. Some countries that have relaxed lock-down rules have seen new outbreaks.
May 11, 2020 9:56 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A majority of Americans disapprove of protests against restrictions aimed at preventing the spread the coronavirus. That’s according to a new poll that also finds the still-expansive support for such limits has dipped. The new survey from the University of Chicago Divinity School and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds 55% of Americans say they disapprove of such protests, while 31% approve. The poll also finds that 71% of Americans favor requiring people to stay in their homes except for essential errands, down slightly from 80% two weeks earlier. Similarly, 67% of Americans now say they favor requiring bars and restaurants to close, down from 76%.
May 11, 2020 8:51 am
BEAVER COUNTY, Pa — (WPXI) – The Pennsylvania National Guard arrived Monday morning at Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Beaver County to offer support to the facility and the Department of Health. The National Guard conducted an assessment of the facility on Saturday, the spokesperson said. The agency will provide additional staff to the facility from Monday, May 11 to Monday, May 18. At that point, Brighton Rehab is going to bring in additional nursing support from Texas and the National Guard will leave. There will be 27 members of the national guard who will support the staff. They will help with cleaning, meal preparations, and service. After numerous reports and questions from Channel 11, this is the latest action to be taken at the facility where it is believed more than 70 residents died from the coronavirus.
May 11, 2020 5:21 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Comedian Jerry Stiller has died at 92. His son Ben Stiller said the actor died of natural causes in a tweet posted early Monday. Jerry Stiller began his career in the 1950s as the partner of his wife Anne Meara and remained popular decades later with his featured roles on “Seinfeld” and “King of Queens.” Stiller was a multi-talented performer who appeared in an assortment of movies. He played Walter Matthau’s police sidekick in the thriller “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” and Divine’s husband Wilbur Turnblad in John Waters’ twisted comedy “Hairspray.”
