May 15, 2020 10:35 am
Pittsburgh’s Fourth of July fireworks and other events have been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the city announced Friday. Officials said events that cannot comply safely with social distancing and will not be allowed include: July 4 fireworks, City-sponsored concerts, and the Great Race. Meanwhile, Allegheny County has announced all pools and spray parks will be closed for summer. The County Parks Department made the announcement. Officials said Boyce Park Wave Pool, Deer Lakes Spray Park, North Park Swimming Pool, Round Hill Spray Park, Settlers Cabin Park Wave Pool and South Park Wave Pool will all be closed.
May 15, 2020 8:18 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Democratic-controlled House is pressing ahead with votes on another massive rescue bill that would pump almost $1 trillion to states and local governments, renew $1,200 cash payments for individuals, and extend a $600 weekly supplemental federal unemployment benefit. Friday’s measure – with a $3 trillion-plus price tag – promises to pass largely along party lines. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has loaded the 1,815-page measure with a slew of Democratic priorities, and it has earned a White House veto threat and a scathing assessment from top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who called it “a totally unserious effort.”
May 15, 2020 7:28 am
A Virginia man is in the Washington County Jail facing numerous charges, including statutory sexual assault, aggravated assault and corruption of minors. Waynesburg State Police say 26 year old Apipat Vutipawat of Alexandria was questioned after police responded to his vehicle stuck in mud in Wednesday night in Greene County. They found him with a 14 year old girl from Vandergrift, Pa. The victim told police that the man was her boyfriend and they had met thru a dating app. Police say they stayed at the Hyatt Place Hotel in North Strabane and had sex.
May 15, 2020 4:09 am
NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. health officials have released part of some long-delayed specific guidance that schools, businesses, and other organizations can use as states reopen from coronavirus shutdowns. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday posted a set of six “decision tool” documents. The one-page documents use traffic signs and other graphics to tell organizations things to consider before reopening. The CDC has prepared more extensive, and more specific, guidance. That has not been posted. The CDC drafted the guidance more than a month ago and it was initially shelved by the Trump administration.
May 15, 2020 4:08 am
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning doctors about a rare but serious condition in children linked with the coronavirus. In an alert issued Thursday, the CDC called the condition multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Over 100 children in New York and several other states have been sickened. It was first reported several weeks ago in Europe. A few deaths have occurred. The CDC says symptoms include a fever, severe illness requiring hospitalization, and inflammatory markers in the blood. Most affected children have had current or recent coronavirus infections.
May 15, 2020 4:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal health officials are warning about potential accuracy problems with a rapid test for COVID-19 made by Abbott Laboratories. The 15-minute test has been distributed to thousands of testing sites across the U.S. and is used daily at the White House. The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it is investigating early data suggesting Abbott’s ID NOW test can miss COVID-19 cases caught by rival tests. The warning came one day after researchers at New York University reported “unacceptable” results for the test in a 100-patient study. President Donald Trump has repeatedly hailed the test as a “game changer.”
May 15, 2020 4:04 am
DENVER (AP) – Denver Mayor Michael Hancock says thousands of city employees, including himself, will be furloughed for eight days this year to help close what is expected to be a $226 million budget gap caused by the coronavirus. Denver has seen steep declines in sales, lodging and other taxes since the pandemic hit Colorado two months ago, and the state is still under a safer-at-home order that has placed restrictions on businesses. City leaders say the drop in tax revenue is affecting the fund that pays for police and fire services, as well as street maintenance. Several American cities, large and small, have already furloughed employees to save money in the face of dire economic forecasts.
May 15, 2020 4:02 am
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) – President Donald Trump says he intends to prepare the country for future pandemics by restocking the national stockpile. He says that includes bringing critical manufacturing back to the U.S. from abroad. Trump announced his plans Thursday while visiting a Pennsylvania medical equipment distributor. His comments came the same day a whistleblower testified that the Trump administration had failed to properly prepare for the current pandemic. Trump is also trying to convince the public that it’s time for states to begin to reopen, even as the virus continues to spread. He is calling on Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor to open up the state.
May 15, 2020 4:00 am
China’s foreign minister says the country has brought the coronavirus outbreak under control and he lashed out at foreign politicians he accused of having “insisted on politicizing the epidemic, labeling the virus, and smearing the World Health Organization.” Wang Yi’s comments carried by the official Xinhua News Agency appeared directed at the United States, where President Donald Trump’s administration has repeatedly castigated China for allegedly covering up the initial outbreak and has suspended payments to the WHO over what it calls a pro-China bias and failure to effectively deal with the pandemic. Other countries, including Australia, have also urged an independent investigation into the origin of the pandemic, calls that China has furiously rejected.
May 15, 2020 3:56 am
Under the yellow designation, stay-at-home orders will be lifted and gatherings of up to 25 people will be allowed. Currently, the statewide red designation bans all gatherings or outside trips that are not related to health, safety or going to work at an essential job. Here is what is allowed in the “Yellow Phase:”
- Child care is open, although businesses must follow federal and state guidance for safety, social distancing and cleaning.
- Most retail stores will be allowed to open, but curbside pickup and delivery is still preferable.
- Pet Groomers
- 232 Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores, including in our area, will allow limited in-store public access.
- Golf courses, marinas, guided fishing trips and privately owned campgrounds are opened statewide.
- Construction is now allowed statewide.
- Restaurants and bars will still be limited to carryout or delivery.
