May 4, 2020 4:07 am
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Officials in Nebraska are forging ahead with plans for the state’s May 12 primary despite calls from Democrats to only offer voting by mail and concerns from public health officials that in-person voting will help the coronavirus spread. Top Republican officials in the GOP-dominated state have repeatedly urged voters to cast early, absentee ballots, but they argue that voters must have the option of voting in-person. If the election proceeds as planned, Nebraska will be the first to hold a statewide election with physical polling sites since Wisconsin’s much-criticized primary, which was plagued by a poll worker shortage and long lines.
May 4, 2020 4:06 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Faced with 20,000 coronavirus deaths, the nation’s nursing homes are pushing to get states to grant them emergency protection from lawsuits alleging inadequate care. At least 15 states have enacted measures providing nursing homes some protection from lawsuits arising from the crisis. Now the industry is forging ahead with a campaign to get other states on board. Their argument is that nursing homes should not be liable for events beyond their control, such as shortages of protective equipment and testing. Watchdogs and patient advocates argue that lawsuits are the only safety net to keep facilities accountable.
May 4, 2020 4:05 am
HVAMMSTANGI, Iceland (AP) – High schools, hair salons, dentists and other businesses across Iceland are reopening after six weeks of lockdown, after this North Atlantic nation managed to tame its coronavirus outbreak. Iceland has confirmed 1,799 cases of the virus, but just 10 people have died. The number of new COVID-19 cases each day has fallen from 106 at the peak of the outbreak to single digits – even, on some days, zero. áIceland’s success reflects decisive action by authorities, who used a rigorous policy of testing and tracking to find and isolate infected people, even when they had no symptoms. Even so, Iceland’s chief epidemiologist, Thorolfur Gudnason, says “I didn’t expect the recovery to be this fast.”
May 4, 2020 4:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate gaveled in Monday as the coronavirus raged. The senators face a deepening national debate over how best to confront the deadly pandemic and its economic devastation. With the House staying away due to the health risks, but the 100 senators meeting for the first time since March, the conflicted Congress reflects an uneasy nation. Tops on the Senate agenda is not the next virus aid package, but confirming President Donald Trump’s nominees. Senate Republicans are reluctant to spend more money on virus relief. They’re counting on the country’s re-opening to kick start the economy and reduce the need for aid. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is quietly crafting the next relief package and Democrats say more must be done.
May 4, 2020 3:55 am
Students at more than 25 universities are filing lawsuits demanding tuition refunds from their schools after finding that the online classes they’re being offered don’t match up to the classroom experience. The class-action lawsuits have been filed against prestigious private schools and large public universities alike. The suits reflect students’ growing frustration with online classes that schools scrambled to create as the coronavirus forced campuses across the nation to close last month. Colleges, though, reject the idea that refunds are in order. They insist that, after being forced to close by their states, they are still offering students a quality education.
May 4, 2020 3:54 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Police are investigating the possible connection between the shooting deaths of two men found dead not far from each other in the Pittsburgh area. Police in Allegheny County say one man was found inside his home Saturday in a Ross Township apartment complex. The medical examiner identified him as 37-year-old Bing Liu of Pittsburgh. Police say a second man was found about 100 yards away in a car. He has not yet been identified. Township police say both men died of apparent gunshot wounds. Detective Sgt. Brian Kohlhepp said the two appear to be connected beyond their proximity to each other.
May 4, 2020 3:52 am
WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — Flight resumed Sunday at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Westmoreland County, but extra precautions will continue to keep passengers and employees safe. Spirit Airlines is back up and running after suspending all flights about a month ago. The sole commercial carrier at the airport stopped service after bookings dropped dramatically, causing the airport to lay off 60 of its employees. Executive Director Gabe Monzo said extra safety measures will be taken to prevent the spread of the virus, starting with increasing the frequency of cleaning routines. Spirit is expected to resume mid-day flight from Latrobe to Orlando, Florida, on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. The airport is anticipating more flights to return eventually.
May 4, 2020 2:12 am
PITTSBURGH (WPXI) — Giant Eagle is temporarily limiting the purchase of ground beef and on-sale meat items to two of each per transaction. Giant Eagle spokesman Dick Roberts says the supermarket chain had limited some meat purchases early in the COVID-19 pandemic in March, but now the demand for meat is skyrocketing — causing this latest announcement. Meat won’t disappear from supermarket shelves, but added to the mix is the impact of outbreaks of COVID-19 among U.S. slaughterhouse workers. Consumers could see a smaller selection of meat and higher prices. Roberts said Giant Eagle is working with several suppliers in each of its product categories. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed recently that consumer buying patterns change quickly and some products face supply-chain disruptions. But the USDA said it planned a $3 billion purchase of fresh produce, dairy and meat to help stabilize prices.
May 3, 2020 8:28 am
ROME (AP) — From the United States to Europe to Asia, the easing of some coronavirus lockdowns brought millions out of their homes to enjoy the outdoors and warm spring temperatures. Yet the global pandemic is still slicing through the defenses of other nations, causing infections and deaths to march relentlessly higher. India on Sunday reported more than 2,600 infections, its biggest single-day jump, and new coronavirus cases in Russia exceed 10,000 for the first time. The confirmed virus death toll in Britain was creeping up near that of Italy, the epicenter of Europe’s outbreak, even though the U.K. population is younger than Italy’s and Britain had more time than Italy to prepare before the pandemic hit. There was also worrying news from Afghanistan, where nearly a third tested positive in a random test of 500 people in Kabul, the capital city. China, which reported two only new cases, is seeing a surge in visitors to newly reopened tourist spots after domestic travel restrictions were relaxed ahead of a five-day holiday that runs through Tuesday. Nearly 1.7 million people visited Beijing parks on the first two days of the holiday, and Shanghai’s main tourist spots welcomed more than 1 million visitors, according to Chinese media. Many spots limited daily visitors to 30% of capacity or less to keep some social distancing in place.
May 3, 2020 8:26 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Weighing the risks, the Senate will reopen on Monday as the coronavirus crisis rages and the House stays shuttered, an approach that leaves Congress as divided as the nation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to convene 100 senators at the Capitol during a pandemic gives President Donald Trump the imagery he wants of America getting back to work, despite health worries and a lack of testing. Yet, the Washington region remains under stay-at-home orders as a virus hot spot. Gathering senators for the first time since March risks lawmakers as well the cooks, cleaners, police officers and other workers who keep the lights on at the Capitol complex. Trump himself offered Congress access to the instant virus test system used to screen visitors to the White House. But in an extraordinary rebuff, McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement Saturday that they would “respectfully decline” the offer and instead direct resources to the front lines “where they can do the most good.”
