May 16, 2022 9:46 am
UNDATED (AP) – The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has hit 1 million, less than 2 1/2 years into the outbreak. That is a once-unimaginable figure that only hints at the multitudes of loved ones and friends staggered by grief and frustration. The figure is based on data kept by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of dead is equivalent to a 9/11 attack every day for 336 days. It is roughly equal to the number of Americans who died in the Civil War and World War II combined. It’s as if Boston and Pittsburgh were wiped out. Some of those left behind say they cannot return to normal. They replay their loved ones’ voicemail messages. Or watch old videos to see them dance. When other people say they are done with the virus, they bristle with anger or ache in silence.
May 16, 2022 4:28 am
LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. (AP) – Authorities say a gunman in a deadly attack at a California church was a Chinese immigrant motivated by hate for Taiwanese people. California officials spoke Monday about what led to the shooter to open fire, killing John Cheng and wounding five others. Authorities say Cheng heroically tackled the gunman and worshippers hog-tied his legs with an electrical cord until authorities arrived. The shooting was at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in the city of Laguna Woods. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department tweeted that 68-year-old David Chou of Las Vegas has been booked on one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
May 16, 2022 4:26 am
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) – Buffalo’s police commissioner says the white gunman accused of a racist rampage at a supermarket planned to keep killing people if he had escaped the scene. Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia spoke to CNN on Monday, while authorities investigated the massacre of 10 Black shoppers and workers as a potential federal hate crime or act of domestic terrorism. Gramiglia says the gunman even talked about shooting up another store. The accused gunman, 18-year-old Payton Gendron, ultimately surrendered to police who confronted him in the supermarket’s vestibule. He has been charged with murder.
May 16, 2022 4:23 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un blasted officials over slow medicine deliveries and ordered his military to respond to the largely undiagnosed COVID-19 crisis that has left 1.2 million people ill with fever and 50 dead in a matter of days. More than 560,000 people are in quarantine due to the fever. Eight more deaths and 392,920 newly detected fevers were reported Monday. It’s not known how many were COVID-19 since North Korea likely lacks enough testing supplies. It’s also not clear if North Korea’s urgent messaging about the outbreak indicates a willingness to receive outside help. It shunned vaccines from a U.N.-backed program earlier. China and South Korea said they were willing to help but indicated North Korea hasn’t requested any.
May 16, 2022 4:21 am
BEIJING (AP) – Authorities say most of Shanghai has stopped the spread of the coronavirus in the community and fewer than 1 million people remain under strict lockdown. China’s largest city is moving toward reopening as economic data showed the gloomy impact of China’s “zero-COVID” policy. Vice Mayor Zong Ming credited prevention measures and said the outbreak was under effective control with 15 out of Shanghai’s 16 districts eliminating virus transmission among people not already in quarantine. Supermarkets, malls and restaurants were allowed to reopen Monday with limits on the numbers of people and mandated “no contact” transactions. But restrictions on movement remain in place and the subway train system remains closed for now.
May 16, 2022 4:18 am
BETHEL PARK, Pa. — (WPXI) – The driver who ran over a Bethel Park police officer with a pickup truck has been identified. According to court documents, 29-year-old Jack Lawrence Scola is facing multiple charges after he allegedly ran over an officer on Friday. Police say that two officers were working a traffic detail at the intersection of Library and Broughton/Bethel Church Road, which was undergoing lane restrictions due to road work. Officers report that a driver in a black Chevrolet Silverado truck swerved around a traffic director who was holding traffic from proceeding. The driver told the traffic director that they “needed to learn how to do [their] job.” Court documents say the officer stationed on the other side of the intersection observed the confrontation and stepped into the center of the intersection, where they stopped the truck. This officer approached the truck’s driver-side door to contact the driver. The driver of the vehicle then began to drive forward. As the truck began moving, the officer attempted to grab onto the side mirror. The mirror broke off, causing the officer to fall under the truck. The truck continued to move forward and ran over the officer’s legs and lower torso. A separate driver began following the black truck after witnessing the incident. Police say the witness took note of the truck’s license plate and contacted the Bethel Park Police Dispatch. Officers used the information and found the 2017 black Chevrolet Silverado truck to be registered under Jack Lawrence Scola. Police say that when they arrived at Scola’s house, they found him sitting in the truck with the vehicle running. Court documents say that Scola allegedly showed multiple signs of being too intoxicated to drive a vehicle as officers tested him. He was detained and transported to the hospital and later taken to the Bethel Park Police Station.
May 16, 2022 4:13 am
Former Pennsylvania State Sen. Jim Ferlo has died at age 70. Ferlo represented the 38th Senatorial District, and served portions of Pittsburgh, as well as parts of Allegheny, Armstrong, and Westmoreland counties from 2003 until 2015. Multiple local leaders took to Twitter to remember the late former senator. Sen. Jay Costa said serving with Ferlo was a ‘true honor’: Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey remembered Ferlo as a ‘great leader and change agent’ for the city. Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald sent his sympathies to Ferlo’s family and friends.
May 16, 2022 4:10 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A Democrat running for the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, has suffered a stroke but is on his way to a “full recovery.” That’s according to a statement from the campaign on Sunday. The campaign says Fetterman wasn’t feeling well Friday and went to the hospital. Fetterman says: “The good news is I’m feeling much better, and the doctors tell me I didn’t suffer any cognitive damage.” He says the health emergency won’t slow his campaign. But the stunning revelation, just two days before Pennsylvania’s primary election, creates a cloud of uncertainty over the Democratic front-runner’s candidacy.
May 16, 2022 2:54 am
Ground was broken in an historic manor as the owners of Liberty Pole Spirits raised a liberty pole to signify their expansion plans are underway. The popular rye whiskey distillers who have a location on Maiden Street in Washington will build a second facility in North Strabane Township near the casino in an effort to produce more product and hopefully expand beyond their current area of western Pennsylvania. Owners Jim and Ellen Hough are excited about the project. Ellen considers them blessed to have such a popular product that the expansion is needed. Jim says that on day one, production capacity will be tripled. Capacity could increase to six times current levels with the addition of more fermenting equipment down the line. They will also be offering entertainment. Small bite food will be served and a large patio area will be able to accommodate food trucks and music. Construction on the project will begin on Tuesday with the hopes that the more than 14,000 square foot entertainment and production destination will be complete in March of 2023. The Hough’s say their Maiden Street location will remain operation for now.
May 16, 2022 2:29 am
(WPXI) – NBC News verified photos on Monday of Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Kathy Barnette marching to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 alongside members of the Proud Boys. Those members of the Proud Boys were later arrested and indicted for breaking into the Capitol and attacking officers, NBC News reported, but no evidence has been found that Barnette was inside the Capitol or involved in the breach. Barnette’s campaign provided the following statement to NBC News: “Kathy was in DC to support President Trump and demand election accountability. Any assertion that she participated in or supported the destruction of property is intentionally false. She has no connection whatsoever to the proud boys.”
