December 30, 2024 5:00 am
Cases of a wretched stomach bug are surging in parts of the United States this winter, according to government data. The most recent numbers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show there were 91 outbreaks of norovirus reported during the week of Dec. 5, up from 69 outbreaks the last week of November. Numbers from the past few years show a maximum of 65 outbreaks reported during that first week of December. A norovirus infection is characterized by sudden vomiting and diarrhea. Outbreaks are often seen on cruise ships, in congregate living situations like nursing homes and jails, as well as schools and places where people are close together. Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, responsible for 58% of such infections acquired in the country each year, according to the CDC. Norovirus infections are caused by a group of viruses that spread easily, with as few as 10 viral particles having the ability to make someone sick, health experts say. There are about 2,500 norovirus outbreaks reported annually in the United States. The outbreaks can occur throughout the year but are most common from November to April. Along with with vomiting and diarrhea, common symptoms include nausea, stomach pain, body ache, headache and fever.
December 30, 2024 4:55 am
Strong winds Sunday night caused power outages throughout Washington County. West Penn Power’s outage map showed more than 12-hundred customers without service as of 5 a.m. The hardest hit areas appear to be East Finley, Cecil, Donegal, Independence, Mt Pleasant and Robinson Townships. There is no word on estimated restoration times. West Penn Power is also reporting more than 19-hundred customers without power in Westmoreland County. There are about 180 customers without service in Fayette County and more than 150 in Greene County.
December 30, 2024 4:51 am
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Cities around the world are getting ready to ring in the New Year with celebrations highlighting local cultures and traditions, after a year roiled by ongoing conflict and political instability. Countries in the South Pacific Ocean will be the first to welcome 2025, with midnight in New Zealand striking 18 hours before the ball drop in Times Square in New York. In Australia, 1 million people are expected at Sydney Harbor, and some 2 million at Copacabana Beach in Brazil. Celebrations in Asia, however, have been muted by a devastating plane crash in South Korea on Sunday. Wild weather is also threatening to dampen Britain’s festivities.
December 30, 2024 4:45 am
West Penn Power crews continue work to restore power throughout Washington County after Sunday night’s strong winds. West Penn Power’s outage map still showed more than 230 customers without power as of early Tuesday morning. The outages are widespread and include about 30 customers in Peters Township, 35 in Jefferson Township and 15 in Centerville. West Penn is estimating that customers should have their service restored by either 2 or 6 p.m today.
December 30, 2024 3:40 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. — The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a new scam. Scammers are calling people in the area and impersonating a deputy. The scammer commonly refers to himself as Deputy Tony Androns and says they are calling about a “confidential matter.” They also ask for a return call. Officials said the number being given for return calls is 724-409-8449. This is not the sheriff’s office number or a Washington County number. Deputies reminded the public that they would never call anyone to collect money. This is the second scam impersonating the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in the past month. Anyone who receives a call like this is asked to contact their local police department.
December 29, 2024 4:33 pm
ATLANTA (AP) — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent more than a year in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most active and internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said the former president died Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia.
December 29, 2024 6:49 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. Officials said all but two of the 181 people on board were killed Sunday in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters. The 737-800 operated by Jeju Air plane arrived from Bangkok and crashed while attempting to land in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul. Footage of the crash aired by South Korean television channels showed the plane skidding across the airstrip at high speed, evidently with its landing gear still closed.
December 29, 2024 6:47 am
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump appears to be siding with Elon Musk and his other backers in the tech industry as a dispute over immigration visas has divided his supporters. Trump, in an interview with the New York Post on Saturday, praised the use of visas to bring skilled foreign workers to the U.S. The issue has become a flashpoint among his conservative base. Trump said he has “always liked the visas,” and is a “believer” in the program, though in the past he has criticized it.
December 29, 2024 6:44 am
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he called a “tragic incident” following the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people. He stopped short of acknowledging that Moscow was responsible. The Kremlin said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike as the plane attempted to land on Wednesday. Putin apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev “for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace.” The Kremlin also says Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are jointly investigating the crash site near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan.
December 29, 2024 5:06 am
ATLANTA (AP) — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent roughly 22 months in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife Rosalynn then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said he died peacefully Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family.
