March 28, 2022 2:33 pm
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. The Republican governor signed the measure into law on Monday following a news conference at a charter school. DeSantis and others speaking in favor of the bill stood at a podium affixed with a placard reading Protect Children/Support Parents. Critics argue it marginalizes LGBTQ people and have labeled it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. It also has drawn intense scrutiny from LGBTQ advocates, students, national Democratic politicians, the White House and the entertainment industry. DeSantis and Republicans have repeatedly said the measure is reasonable.
March 28, 2022 2:30 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – A federal judge has asserted it is “more likely than not” that former President Donald Trump committed crimes in his attempt to stop the certification of the 2020 election. The ruling ordered the release of more than 100 emails from Trump adviser John Eastman to the House committee investigating the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The decision by U.S. District Court Judge David Carter marked a major legal win for the panel as it looks to correspondence from Eastman, the lawyer who was consulting with Trump as he attempted to overturn the presidential election.
March 28, 2022 2:25 pm
Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA has been selected to pilot a new teen dating violence prevention program called Coaching Girls Beyond the Game. DVSSP was one of only three domestic violence programs in Pennsylvania selected for the pilot by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. CGBG consists of a ten-session curriculum that helps high school athletic coaches utilize sports practices, team meetings, and travel time to promote safe and healthy relationships and connect athletes to vital resources if they are facing abuse in a relationship. DVSSP is now offering Coaching Girls Beyond the Game, as well as a similar program for male athletes called Coaching Boys into Men, to school districts in Washington, Greene, and Fayette counties. For more information, please call 724-223-5577 or email cbim@peacefromdv.org.
March 28, 2022 4:25 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Oscars ground to a shocked silence after Will Smith smacked Chris Rock onstage after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife. Smith cursed at Rock after returning to his seat. Rock was presenting the award for best documentary when the tense exchange happened. Before that, the Oscars were running smoothly and making history with their supporting actor winners. Ariana DeBose became the first Afro-Latina to win an Academy Award for supporting actress, while Troy Kotsur became the first deaf actor to win an acting award. The 94th Academy Awards kicked Sunday off with Beyonce?, a string of awards handed out off-camera to Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction epic “Dune” and a trio of Oscars hosts in Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall.
March 28, 2022 4:23 am
CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) – The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular-grade gasoline dropped 6 cents over the past two weeks to $4.37 per gallon. Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey says Sunday that the decrease comes after nine straight weeks of price hikes totaling 98 cents. The price at the pump is $1.42 higher than it was a year ago. Nationwide, the highest average price for regular-grade gas is in Los Angeles, at $5.99 per gallon. The lowest average is in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at $3.70 per gallon. The average price of diesel is $5.16 a gallon, down 4 cents.
March 28, 2022 4:22 am
BEIJING (AP) – China has begun its most extensive lockdown in two years to conduct mass testing and control a growing outbreak in Shanghai. China’s largest city with 26 million people had handled past outbreaks with limited lockdowns of housing compounds or workplaces. But the citywide lockdown that started Monday will be China’s biggest since the 76-day lockdown of Wuhan in early 2020. Residents must stay home and deliveries will be left at checkpoints. All unessential businesses will be closed and public transport suspended. The lockdown will be done in two phases of five days each while the population is tested for the virus. Most of Shanghai’s cases are in people not showing symptoms, though they can still pass the virus to others.
March 28, 2022 4:20 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Russia’s war on Ukraine has most Americans at least somewhat worried that the U.S. will be drawn directly into the conflict and could be targeted with nuclear weapons. That’s according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research that shows a level of anxiety that has echoes of the Cold War era. Close to half of Americans say they are very concerned Russia would directly target the U.S. with nuclear weapons, and 3 in 10 are somewhat concerned about that. The poll finds 71% of Americans say the invasion has increased the possibility of nuclear weapons being used anywhere in the world.
March 28, 2022 4:18 am
LVIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the West of cowardice while another top official said Russia was trying to split the nation in two, like North and South Korea. Zelenskyy made an exasperated plea for fighter jets and tanks to sustain a defense in Europe’s biggest ground conflict since World War II. Speaking after U.S. President Joe Biden met with senior Ukrainian officials in Poland, Zelenskyy lashed out at the West’s “ping-pong” about who and how jets and other defensive weapons should be provided to help Ukraine defend itself. Russia now says its main focus is on taking control of the eastern Donbas region, an apparent pullback from its earlier, more expansive goals.
March 28, 2022 4:15 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – A cold start to your work week. Lake effect snow showers will be lingering in spots through Monday morning. Temperatures will tumble down to the teens to kick off Monday, the breeze will knock wind chills down into the single digits. We won’t warm up much through the day. In fact we should break the record cold high for the the day as temperatures should only climb to the upper 20s near 30 degrees. The record low high for Monday is 30 degrees that was set back in 2015. Gusty winds are also expected Monday, gusts could reach up to 30-40 mph in the afternoon. These winds will keep wind chills in the single digits through most of the day. Not as cold Tuesday but still below average in the low 40s. The next system will arrive overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning, temperatures will be around freezing so there is a chance of snow/rain mix and freezing rain before temperatures warm up to the 60s.
March 28, 2022 4:13 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – The University of Pittsburgh’s COVID-19 Medical Response Office announced that starting March 28, Pitt community members no longer need to wear a mask inside of campus buildings. In a letter to the community, the office said there are still some restrictions, including inside health care centers. Community members are encouraged to look at the signage in these spaces. Masks will also be required in university shuttle busses. “Local conditions have remained steady following the return from spring break. Cases on Pitt campuses continue to be mild and low in number. COVID-19 Community Levels in counties where there are Pitt campuses are currently low or medium, indicating low numbers of hospitalized COVID-19 patients,” the letter said. Despite easing restrictions, the university hasn’t changed its quarantine and isolation protocols. The letter stated in these cases, community members have to wear a mask for 10 days in all public spaces, whether indoors or outdoors.
