Remdesivir, given to half of hospitalized covid-19 patients in U.S., is big win for Gilead — boosted by taxpayers
It was the end of April — just as the U.S. confirmed its millionth covid-19 case and 50,000 deaths — when White House adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci announced “highly significant” news about a drug called remdesivir. That was surprising because the antiviral drug, owned by Gilead Sciences and developed with...
South Africa OKs limited use of parasite drug as covid treatment
JOHANNESBURG — South Africa is allowing the limited use of a medicine to treat covid-19 even though regulators acknowledge there’s not enough evidence that it works or is safe for this purpose. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority this week announced the drug ivermectin could be used in exceptional...
Will double-masking better protect you from covid?
When it comes to face masks, are two better than one? Some health experts — including Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert — have recently suggested wearing two face masks for extra protection during the covid-19 pandemic. “It just makes common sense that it likely would be more...
Johnson & Johnson’s 1-dose shot prevents covid-19, but less than some others
Johnson & Johnson’s long-awaited vaccine appears to protect against covid-19 with just one shot — not as strong as some two-shot rivals but still potentially helpful for a world in dire need of more doses. J&J said Friday that in the U.S. and seven other countries, the single-shot vaccine was...
Moscow court mulls house arrest for Navalny’s allies
A Moscow court on Friday considered a request to put several allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny under house arrest as authorities work to stymie more protests over the anti-corruption investigator’s jailing. Navalny’s supporters are calling for rallies on Sunday to demand his freedom. Tens of thousands of people...
WHO team to begin face-to-face meetings with China expertsVideo
WUHAN, China — World Health Organization experts are to begin face-to-face meetings with their Chinese counterparts Friday in the central city of Wuhan at the start of the team’s long-awaited fact-finding mission into the origins of the coronavirus. Those meetings should be followed by the first field visits in and...
Lawsuit: Subway’s tuna is not actually tuna, but a ‘mixture of various concoctions’
Sorry, Charlie. Two Bay Area customers allege there’s something fishy with Subway’s tuna sandwiches. Karen Dhanowa and Nilima Amin of California’s Alameda County recently filed a lawsuit accusing the restaurant franchise of misrepresenting its tuna sandwich. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges...
Oregon health workers stuck in snow give other drivers vaccineVideo
GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Oregon health workers who got stuck in a snowstorm on their way back from a covid-19 vaccination event went car to car injecting stranded drivers before several of the doses expired. Josephine County Public Health said on Facebook that the “impromptu vaccine clinic” took place after...
Novavax covid-19 vaccine works, but less so against variants
Novavax Inc. said Thursday that its covid-19 vaccine appears 89% effective based on early findings from a British study and that it also seems to work — though not as well — against new mutated versions of the virus circulating in that country and South Africa. The announcement comes amid...
Gun-toting West Virginia man with 20 rounds of ammo arrested near the Capitol building
A West Virginia senior citizen with a gun and a list of congressional members in his car was arrested as he marched alone down a Washington street near the U.S. Capitol, authorities said Thursday. Dennis Westover, 71, of South Charleston, told police he was convinced of election fraud in the...
GOP’s Rep. Jim Jordan won’t seek Rob Portman’s U.S. Senate seat
CINCINNATI — Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, a fiery Donald Trump supporter, won’t run to succeed Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who announced this week he isn’t going to seek a third term in 2022. “Mr. Jordan believes at this time he is better suited to represent Ohioans in the House...
Gov. Tom Wolf wants billions for workforce aid
HARRISBURG — Facing a deep, pandemic-inflicted budget deficit and a clock running down on his time in office, Gov. Tom Wolf will ask lawmakers for billions of dollars funded by higher taxes on Pennsylvania’s huge natural gas industry for workforce development and employment assistance to help the state recover. Wolf...
Palm Beach considers options as Trump remains at Mar-a-Lago
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Former President Donald Trump has been living at his Mar-a-Lago club since leaving office more than a week ago — a possible violation of a 1993 agreement he made with the Town of Palm Beach that limits stays to seven consecutive days. Town Manager Kirk Blouin...
Allegations pile up against Philly college kids tasked with distributing covid-19 vaccineVideo
An organization consisting mainly of young adults was authorized by officials in Philadelphia to manage the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine at the city’s largest vaccination site. The self-described “group of college kids,” Philly Fighting COVID, has reportedly bungled the job, and is currently facing a large amount of serious...
Frank Dermody lost state House election but lands $145,000/year gambling board job
What goes around comes around in the Pennsylvania Legislature. Former state Rep. Frank Dermody, who used to appoint members to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, on Thursday received an appointment of his own and the $145,000 annual salary it brings. Dermody, 69, the longtime House minority leader, in November lost...
Liquid nitrogen leak kills 6 at Georgia poultry plant
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A liquid nitrogen leak at a northeast Georgia poultry plant killed six people Thursday, with multiple others taken to the hospital, officials said. At least three of those injured at the Prime Pak Foods plant in Gainesville were reported in critical condition. Poultry plants rely on refrigeration...
Christianity on display at Capitol riot sparks new dialogue
The Christian imagery and rhetoric on view during this month’s Capitol insurrection are sparking renewed debate about the societal effects of melding Christian faith with an exclusionary breed of nationalism. The rioters who breached the Capitol on Jan. 6, leading to federal charges against more than 130 people so far,...
Biden opens sign-up window for uninsured in time of covidVideo
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday ordered government health insurance markets to reopen for a special sign-up window, offering uninsured Americans a haven as the spread of covid-19 remains dangerously high and vaccines aren’t yet widely available. Biden signed an executive order directing the HealthCare.gov insurance markets to take...
Cemetery apologizes after Black deputy is denied burial
The board of a Louisiana cemetery that denied burial to a Black sheriff’s deputy is holding an emergency meeting Thursday to remove a whites-only provision from its sales contracts. Board President H. Creig Vizena said he was stunned and ashamed to learn that the family of Allen Parish Sheriff’s Deputy...
Wolf focuses on economic comeback, bipartisan progress, transparency in ’21 agenda
Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2021 legislative agenda will focus heavily on rebuilding Pennsylvania’s economy from damage caused by the covid-19 pandemic, including targeted investments to businesses, schools and other infrastructure. “I think we need to talk about the barriers our fellow citizens face,” Wolf said. “It’s time to make plans to...
Whitmer: Holding back federal virus aid ‘cruel and reckless’
LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Thursday that she will not cede her authority to issue certain covid-19 restrictions, calling Republicans’ attempt to hold back federal pandemic relief funding unless she changes course “cruel and reckless.” The Democratic governor urged GOP lawmakers to “shift their perspective to looking forward”...
Virus variant from South Africa detected in U.S. for 1st time
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A new coronavirus variant identified in South Africa has been found in the United States for the first time, with two cases diagnosed in South Carolina, state health officials said Thursday. The two cases don’t appear to be connected, nor do the people have a history of...
Covid deaths in Pennsylvania rise, cases remain level
Pennsylvania on Thursday added 198 coronavirus deaths, bringing its total number of deaths to 21,303 since the pandemic began in March. In latest report, 187 deaths are from January, 11 are from December. January (3,520) has surpassed April (3,395) to become the second deadliest month for covid. December has the...
By Sea of Galilee, archaeologists find ruins of early mosque
TIBERIAS, Israel — Archaeologists in Israel say they have discovered the remnants of an early mosque — believed to date to the earliest decades of Islam — during an excavation in the northern city of Tiberias. This mosque’s foundations, excavated just south of the Sea of Galilee by the Hebrew...
N.Y. nursing home virus deaths were undercounted, AG says
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York may have undercounted covid-19 deaths of nursing home residents by as much as 50%, the state’s attorney general said in a report released Thursday. Attorney General Letitia James has, for months, been examining discrepancies between the number of deaths being reported by the state’s Department...
