March 18, 2020 2:33 am
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden, who circled the moon alone while his two crewmates drove around in the first lunar rover, has died at age 88. Worden’s family announced Wednesday that he died in his sleep in Houston. Worden flew to the moon in 1971 along with David Scott and Jim Irwin. As command module pilot, Worden remained in lunar orbit while Scott and Irwin descended to the surface with the Apollo program’s first moon buggy. That was his only spaceflight. He was in NASA’s fifth astronaut class, chosen in 1966. Scott is one of four moonwalkers still alive. Irwin died in 1991.
March 18, 2020 2:26 am
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – A moderate earthquake near Salt Lake City shut down a major air traffic hub and frightened millions of people already on edge from the coronavirus pandemic. There were no reports of injuries. The 5.7-magnitude earthquake just after 7 a.m. Wednesday also cut electricity for tens of thousands of people. The U.S. Geological Survey says the epicenter was southwest of the city and likely felt by about 2.8 million people as far away as Wyoming and Nevada.. Officials say there is no airport runway damage. The quake damaged a spire and statue at the top of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ iconic Salt Lake Temple.
March 18, 2020 2:20 am
Monongahela Valley Hospital announced on Tuesday that they have temporarily adjusted the facility’s patient visitation policy. Effective immediately, visiting hours will be from nine a.m. until eight p.m., only one visitor will be allowed in a patient’s room and visitors must be eighteen or older. There will be no visitors allowed in the Emergency Department treatment area and large groups will be discouraged from visiting patients in any part of the hospital. While these temporary measures are in place, MVH encourages continued interaction with loved ones through digital means, such as, Skype, FaceTime, Messenger and other means of communication.
March 18, 2020 2:11 am
Washington County has declared a state of emergency amid Coronavirus fears. Commission Chairperson Diana Irey-Vaughan says the declaration was made after finding out that a second case of the virus was confirmed today in the county. Irey-Vaughan says the declaration will allow them freedom to purchase necessary items, among other items, should more cases be discovered.
March 17, 2020 12:28 pm
Local police and fire departments have announced strategic plans as the Coronavirus threat looms. The plans mainly involve the implementation of “social distancing” measures to limit the spread of the virus. In Washington, Canonsburg and Chartiers Township, police are now refraining from taking any in-person reports for non-emergency situations and the Washington Fire Department says it is no longer performing non-emergency functions. Officials say that includes station tours, fire prevention and fire inspections.” In the event of an emergency, residents are asked to call 911.
March 17, 2020 9:58 am
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Iran’s state television has issued its most drastic warning so far about the new coronavirus, saying the outbreak could kill “millions” in the Islamic Republic if the public keeps traveling and ignoring health guidance. The warning came in a bulletin broadcast on Tuesday afternoon. Roughly nine out of 10 of the over 18,000 cases of the new virus confirmed across the Middle East come from Iran, where authorities denied for days the risk the outbreak posed. Iran’s supreme leader also on Tuesday issued a religious order prohibiting “unnecessary” travel in the country.
March 17, 2020 9:56 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump is asking Congress to unleash a torrent of emergency economic aid to help people through the financial storm of the coronavirus crisis. Sizable checks directly to Americans are part of the deal he wants. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says Trump wants the money sent to the public within two weeks. But the president has to deal with skepticism in Congress over the broad economic rescue package for businesses and taxpayers. The amount of the proposed checks hasn’t been disclosed but Mnuchin says it’s vital to get significant cash out to people quickly.
March 17, 2020 9:53 am
All Driver License Centers and Photo License Centers in Pennsylvania will be closed for two weeks effective close of business on Monday, March 16. Additionally, expiration dates for driver licenses, identification cards, vehicle registrations, and safety and emission inspections will be extended: Driver licenses, photo ID cards and learner’s permits scheduled to expire from March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020, the expiration date is now extended until April 30, 2020. All PennDOT District and County Maintenance offices are closed. Additionally, construction projects have been suspended in all counties until further notice, however crews are available to perform critical functions and emergency maintenance as needed. All PennDOT rest areas and welcome centers statewide are now closed.
March 17, 2020 4:05 am
NEW TRIPOLI, Pa. (AP) – Distilleries are putting their spirits to work to help fill the shortage of hand sanitizers due to the coronavirus outbreak. Green Mountain Distillers is Morrisville, Vermont, is giving away a hand sanitizing solution and Durham Distillery in Durham, North Carolina, is donating one to hospitality colleagues, using high-proof alcohol and other ingredients. A Pennsylvania distillery owner grew so disgusted by the skyrocketing price of hand sanitizer online that he’s also converted his operation. And is selling it for whatever people want to pay.
March 17, 2020 4:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Democratic presidential primary is consumed with uncertainty after leaders in Ohio called off Tuesday’s election just hours before polls were set to open to combat the new coronavirus. Not since New York City postponed its mayoral primary on the day of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks has an election been pushed off in such a high profile, far-reaching way. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said late Monday that the state’s health director will declare a health emergency and order the polls closed. Elections officials in Arizona, Illinois and Florida said they were moving forward with plans to vote.
