February 21, 2022 4:23 am
Average daily COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are continuing to fall in the U.S., an indicator that the omicron variant’s hold is weakening across the country. Total confirmed cases reported Saturday barely exceeded 100,000, a sharp downturn from around 800,850 on Jan. 16, according to Johns Hopkins University data. In New York, the number of cases went down by more than 50% over the last two weeks. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Thomas Russo said what’s influencing the decline in Omicron cases is that it has built up some population immunity. Public health experts say they are feeling hopeful. However, many expressed concern that vaccine uptick in the U.S. has still been below expectations.
March 28, 2021 7:39 am
BEIJING (AP) — China announced new sanctions against U.S. and Canadian officials in a growing political and economic feud over its policies in the traditionally Muslim region of Xinjiang. A statement from the Foreign Ministry on Saturday said the head of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Gayle Manchin, will be barred from visiting mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao, and having any dealings with Chinese financial entities. The commission’s vice chair, Tony Perkins, was also included on the sanctions list, along with Canadian Member of Parliament Michael Chong and the body’s Subcommittee on International Human Rights. China has strongly rejected accusations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang and has launched calls for boycotts and other punishments against foreign firms including retailer H&M and Nike, along with sanctions against foreign government officials and activists whom it says are spreading false information about its policies toward Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang.
May 30, 2020 4:04 am
SOUTH STRABANE, Pa. — An individual is dead after a motorcycle crash on Interstate 79 Friday night. Officials were called to the scene around 8:45 p.m. after the unnamed operator of the vehicle lost control of the motorcycle and traveled up an embankment on the left side of the roadway. The accident occurred in the southbound lanes of I-79 near mile marker 38, or the Interstate 70 West interchange. Coroner Tim Warco’s office pronounced the individual dead at roughly 9:45 p.m. Canonsburg ambulance assisted on scene. The identity of the victim has not been released pending the notification of next of kin. The cause and manner of death is pending. The Pennsylvania State Police are still investigating the incident.
August 9, 2019 9:10 am
An audit by the Washington County Controllers office has uncovered a backlog in processing filing fees in the Prothonotary’s office. The review found the backlog, related to liens filed by the Clerk of Courts office against criminal defendants who were assessed fines and costs, totalled more than $101,000 at the end of 2018. Prothonotary Joy Schury Ranko tells WJPA News that total has already been reduced to $40,679. According to Schury Ranko, they have stream-lined the process and she expects to be completely caught up by the end of the year. Officials say the audit found that no money is missing. This all comes as a State Police investigation continues into some $96,000 is missing money discovered in an audit of the Clerk of Courts office.
September 22, 2024 6:23 am
WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — Donald Trump has returned to North Carolina to stump in the southern battleground state that both Democrats and Republicans are treating as increasingly critical to victory in November. But on Saturday he campaigned in Wilmington without Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Trump has long praised the GOP gubernatorial nominee, but his campaign is now distancing itself following a CNN report about Robinson’s alleged posts on a pornography website’s message board. Robinson has denied writing the posts and says he’s not leaving the race. State Republican officials have stood by Robinson, whose decision to keep campaigning could threaten GOP prospects in other key races, including Trump’s efforts in a battleground state he previously won twice.
November 24, 2023 5:10 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Expect big discounts and other enticements to lure shoppers to stores for Black Friday. But retailers worry those may not be enough. Consumers are coming under pressure as their savings dwindle and their credit card debt grows. And although they have gotten some relief from easing inflation, many goods and services like meat and rent are still far higher than they were just three years ago. The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, expects shoppers will spend more this year than last year, but their pace will slow given all the economic uncertainty. The group has forecast that U.S. holiday sales will rise 3% to 4% for November through December, compared with a 5.4% growth of a year ago.
January 2, 2023 4:26 pm
(WPXI) – While searching for a missing 18-year-old, Allegheny County police discovered human remains along the Montour Trail. According to Allegheny County police, detectives were conducting a search in relation to the missing person investigation of Dorian Serrano when the remains were found. According to police, Serrano was last seen by his family on June 14, 2022 in Clairton. The remains were taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office for identification, according to police. Police didn’t say if the remains found were Serrano or connected to him. Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call the Allegheny County Police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS (1-833-255-8477); callers can remain anonymous. The department can also be reached via its social media sites.
February 21, 2022 4:22 am
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Defense attorneys in the federal trial for three officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights have rested their cases, paving the way for closing arguments. Thomas Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, rested his case Monday. Lane’s co-defendants, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng, presented their cases last week. Lane testified Monday that he thought Floyd was doing OK while handcuffed, facedown on the street with Officer Derek Chauvin’s knee pressed to his neck, until paramedics arrived and turned the 46-year-old Black man over. Thao and Kueng testified earlier. All three are charged with depriving Floyd of his right to medical care. Kueng and Thao are also accused of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin.
March 28, 2021 7:38 am
LONDON (AP) — Britain is taking another small step out of lockdown as it looks nervously at a new virus surge inundating its European neighbors. With U.K. coronavirus vaccination rates outstripping those of European Union nations, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is easing the stark “stay at home” message that has curtailed everyday life — and kept the virus in check — for almost three months. From Monday, it will be replaced in England with a message to stay local. People will be allowed to meet in groups of six outdoors and can resume outdoor sports such as basketball, tennis and golf. The other parts of the U.K. — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — are taking broadly similar steps. In Wales, thousands of people poured onto beaches and beauty spots on Saturday, after the authorities lifted travel restrictions that have been in place since December.
May 30, 2020 2:26 am
An Independence Twp. man accused of killing his common law wife’s son had all charges waived to court. Arnold Lee Webster, 65 will face felony homicide and manslaughter charges along with 10 felony counts of prohibited possession of firearms. The charges stem from the August 28, 2019 shooting of Joshua Ryan Boland. Webster is accused of shooting Boland in the chest inside of Webster’s home after arguing with him outside and inside the home. Public Defender Adam Yarussi tried to have the homicide charge dismissed. He tried to make Boland look like an intruder to Webster’s home. Judge Ethan Ward did not accept the argument and held all charges for court. The trial date is pending.
