May 14, 2020 9:49 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Nearly 3 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week as the viral outbreak led more companies to slash jobs even though most states have begun to let some businesses reopen under certain restrictions. Roughly 36 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the two months since the coronavirus first forced millions of businesses to close their doors and shrink their workforces, the Labor Department said Thursday. Still, the number of first-time applications has now declined for six straight weeks, suggesting that a dwindling number of companies are reducing their payrolls.
May 14, 2020 9:43 am
Washington County District Attorney Eugene Vittone wants to be perfectly clear; he is not advocating businesses reopen in violation of Governor Tom Wolf’s shutdown order. However, Vittone says it would take “extraordinary circumstances” for his office to become involved in such legal matters. Vittone, who is a Republican, was reacting to some two-dozen State Representatives who endorsed a letter to the State District Attorney’s Association urging that they declare they will not prosecute any citation related to the Governor’s order. Vittone says no such citations have been issued in the county to date. He also says that the District Attorney’s part in all of this is very small. According to Vittone, it would be the Governor’s office, State Health Department, or state licensing officials who would enforce such matters. Vittone says Washington County Presidents Judge Katherine Emery is to sign an order soon that will outline procedures in the “unlikely event” that such citations result in the county.
May 14, 2020 4:12 am
MANILA, Philippines (AP) – A strong typhoon is roaring toward the eastern Philippines as authorities try to evacuate tens of thousands of people safely during a virus lockdown. The first typhoon to hit the archipelago this year is expected to slam ashore later Thursday. A lockdown to fight the coronavirus requires people to stay in their homes and prohibits all kinds of gatherings that can set off infections. Governors say social distancing will be nearly impossible for residents staying in emergency shelters. Some emergency shelters are now serving as quarantine facilities, and they may have to be turned back into storm shelters.
May 14, 2020 4:10 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump and Republicans are launching a broad election-year attack on the foundation of the Russia investigation. That includes declassifying intelligence information to try to place senior Obama administration officials under scrutiny. The effort has been aided by a Justice Department decision to dismiss its prosecution of former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn. The decision coincides with a far-ranging push by Trump and his Republican allies to reframe the Russia investigation as a “deep state” plot to sabotage his administration.
May 14, 2020 4:09 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – The U.S. military has offered condolences to Iran over a friendly fire incident in the Islamic Republic that killed 19 of its troops earlier this week. In a statement, a U.S. Central Command spokesman identified the weapon used in the incident as an anti-ship cruise missile. He also criticized the training for taking place so close to the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil passes. Analysts have warned regional tensions likely will increase again as Iran has overcome the initial chaos of its response to the coronavirus pandemic.
May 14, 2020 4:08 am
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Wisconsin Supreme Court has struck down Gov. Tony Evers’ stay-at-home restrictions. The high court ruled for Republicans in a challenge to an extension issued by the governor’s health secretary, arguing she exceeded her authority. The 4-3 ruling means the state is essentially reopened ahead of the May 26 expiration date of Evers’ order. It lifts caps on the size of gatherings, allowing people to travel as they please and allowing shuttered businesses to reopen, including bars and restaurants. The ruling marks another defeat for Evers as Republicans continue to chip away at the Democratic governor’s authority.
May 14, 2020 4:05 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – President Donald Trump says he’s intent on building the nation’s stockpile of ventilators, masks and other equipment to meet future health threats. He says his administration has awarded contracts for nearly 200,000 ventilators and 800,000 N95 respirators and face masks. He says his goal is to produce “everything America needs for ourselves and then export to the world.” Those comments came while he was thanking workers at a medical equipment distributor in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state. They came on a day a federal whistleblower testified before a House panel about repeated efforts to jump-start U.S. production of respirator masks that he says went nowhere.
May 14, 2020 4:04 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Several Pennsylvania counties say they are moving ahead with plans to defy the governor by lifting some pandemic restrictions. Others backed down Wednesday under Gov. Tom Wolf’s threat to withhold COVID-19 funding. Commissioners in many GOP-controlled counties where the Democratic governor has yet to ease any restrictions say they can manage the coronavirus threat and reopen safely. They say the prolonged shutdown threatens to destroy local economies, especially small businesses. Wolf says moving too fast risks jeopardizing the progress Pennsylvania has made against a virus that has sickened some 59,000 and killed nearly 4,000 statewide.
May 14, 2020 4:01 am
Charleroi Borough will receive an update on their two-year STMP study conducted by the Commonwealth. Formerly known as, “Early Intervention,” the study looked into the borough’s finances, management, personnel, and departments to try and get them on a stable path moving forward. At Wednesday’s regular meeting, Council President, Mark Alterici, said the preliminary report says the borough is in “good shape” financially. The details of the report will be released to the public at the June meeting. In other business, polling locations within the borough have changed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Voters are to be notified of their new location before the June 2nd primary.
May 14, 2020 2:41 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. immunologist who says he lost his government job because he warned the Trump administration to prepare for the coronavirus pandemic isn’t backing off his bleak forecast. Dr. Rick Bright told Congress Thursday that America faces the “darkest winter in modern history” unless its leaders act decisively to prevent a rebound of the coronavirus. Bright is appearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He told the panel that the pandemic will get far worse and cause unprecedented illness and fatalities. President Donald Trump has called Bright “a disgruntled employee.” (Photo: CNN)
