UK hit by new virus test failing, finds 16,000 extra cases
The British government has launched an investigation into how nearly 16,000 new coronavirus infections went unreported as a result of a technical glitch, a failing that could have given fresh impetus to an outbreak that critics say is already out of control. Health Secretary Matt Hancock told lawmakers in the...
Pennsylvania adds 672 new covid cases, 11 new deaths
There were 672 new cases of coronavirus announced in Pennsylvania on Monday, according to a report from the state’s Department of Health. In the past seven days, 7,381 covid cases have been added to the state’s total of 164,207. It’s the fourth day the seven-day total has surpassed 7,000 cases,...
Officer wounded in Breonna Taylor protests out of hospital
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A police officer wounded during protests rekindled by a Kentucky grand jury’s decision to not charge officers in the death of Breonna Taylor has been released from the hospital. Louisville Metro Police Officer Robinson Desroches and another officer were shot on Sept. 23 during protests held after...
3 blow up ATM in open Chinese restaurant in Philadelphia, flee without cash
Three men blew up an ATM in a Chinese takeout restaurant in Philadelphia while the establishment was still open but were unable to get any cash, police said. The men entered the Golden Chinese/American takeout restaurant in northwest Philadelphia shortly after 9 p.m. Friday and ordered food, police said. They...
Belgium’s new princess sees no need to be treated as royalty
Delphine Boel has been acknowledged as Belgian Princess Delphine of Saxe-Coburg, after a two-decade royal paternity scandal. Still, she said on Monday she’d still rather be considered an artist than a royal. Last week, a Belgian court ruled in her favor and officially recognized her as the daughter of former...
3 sex assaults reported in Penn State dorms over weekend
A warning alert went out to Penn State students in State College about three separate sexual assaults reported in dorms this weekend. As WJAC-TV reports, Penn State campus police are investigating three separate sexual assaults that occurred early Saturday morning — including an alleged attack in a women’s restroom. Police...
A look at big issues on Supreme Court’s agenda in new term
Some of the issues either already on the Supreme Court’s docket when it begins its new session or likely to be before the justices soon: HEALTH CARE A week after the presidential election, the court will hear arguments in a bid by the Trump administration and Republican-led states to overturn...
Toomey confirms he won’t run for another Senate term or governor in 2022
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Lehigh Valley Republican, on Monday announced he will call it quits in 2022 after a combined total of 18 years in Congress. At a news conference near his home in suburban Allentown, Toomey said he will serve out the final two years of his second...
Trump aims for Monday release; White House press secretary tests positive
BETHESDA, Md. — President Donald Trump was hoping for a Monday discharge from the military hospital where he is being treated for covid-19, a day after he briefly ventured out while contagious to salute cheering supporters by motorcade — an outing that disregarded precautions meant to contain the virus that...
Paris on maximum virus alert, closing bars, not restaurants
PARIS — French authorities placed the Paris region on maximum virus alert Monday, banning festive gatherings and requiring all bars to close but allowing restaurants to remain open, as numbers of infections increased rapidly. Paris police prefect Didier Lallement announced the new restrictions would apply at least for the next...
Phipps Conservatory announces Sustainable Gardening Award winners
Phipps Conservatory has been allowing visitors to experience the beauty of nature for more than 120 years. A large part of Phipps’ success in recent years lies in their principles of sustainability. They focus on growing and caring for their gardens and architecture in environmentally-friendly ways that support the long-term...
Armenia, Azerbaijan clashes resume over separatist region
YEREVAN, Armenia — The fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh resumed Monday morning, with both sides accusing each other of launching attacks. Armenian military officials on Monday reported missile strikes hitting Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh. The region lies in Azerbaijan but has been...
Pandemic pushes start of holiday shopping earlier than ever
NEW YORK — Add last-minute holiday shopping to the list of time-honored traditions being upended by the coronavirus pandemic. Retailers are kicking off the holiday season earlier than ever this year in hopes of avoiding big in-store crowds and shipping bottlenecks in November and December. Stores like Best Buy, Macy’s,...
3 win Nobel medicine prize for discovering hepatitis C virus
STOCKHOLM — Americans Harvey J. Alter and Charles M. Rice and British-born scientist Michael Houghton won the Nobel Prize for medicine on Monday for their discovery of the hepatitis C virus, a major source of liver disease that affects millions worldwide. Announcing the prize in Stockholm, the Nobel Committee noted...
Campaign says Joe Biden tests negative for coronavirus
WASHINGTON — Joe Biden’s campaign says the Democratic presidential nominee tested negative for coronavirus Sunday. The results come five days after Biden spent more than 90 minutes on the debate stage with President Donald Trump. The president was diagnosed with covid-19 days after the debate, and he remains hospitalized. Biden...
Attorney General William Barr to self-quarantine
WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr will self-quarantine out of caution after President Donald Trump and several other lawmakers and aides tested positive for the coronavirus. Justice Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec said Sunday that Barr has had four covid-19 tests since Friday, and all have come back negative. She says...
Trump’s VIP medical care could do more harm than goodVideo
President Donald Trump is getting almost every medication available to help him fight off the new coronavirus. That might not be a good thing. It’s a well-established phenomenon with its own name: VIP Syndrome. Wealthy and well-known patients often have easy access to the most cutting-edge medical treatments. Taking care...
Trump leaves hospital briefly to greet supporters outsideVideo
BETHESDA, Md. — President Donald Trump declared, “I get it,” in a message to the nation Sunday evening before briefly leaving the hospital to salute cheering supporters from his motorcade, a surprising move that raised new questions about the president’s understanding of the coronavirus that has killed more than 209,000...
West Virginia delegate resigns after slurs appear online
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia House Speaker Roger Hanshaw says a House delegate has resigned after homophobic messages attributed to him were circulated online. John Mandt Jr.’s resignation from the West Virginia House of Delegates was effective the end of Saturday, Hanshaw said in a statement. Mandt, a Republican from...
Police officer killed in the line of duty in South CarolinaVideo
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — A police officer was killed in South Carolina during an exchange of gunfire after responding to a domestic call, authorities said Sunday. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said in a statement that a second officer was injured during the shootout in Myrtle Beach. A suspect...
Chuck Schumer says it’s unsafe to hold Supreme Court Senate hearingsVideo
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said it won’t be safe for the Senate to move ahead with Supreme Court hearings for Amy Coney Barrett given the virus outbreak that has sickened three Republican senators. While acknowledging that Democrats can’t block the hearings, he said they plan to use “every tool...
Letter: Top deputies accuse Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of crimesVideo
DALLAS — Several top deputies of Texas’ attorney general have reported to law enforcement that their boss engaged in crimes including bribery and abuse of office, according to an internal letter. In a single-page letter to the director of human resources in the attorney general’s office, the seven senior lawyers...
Claudia Conway announces coronavirus diagnosis on TikTok
Claudia Conway, the daughter of former White House adviser Kellyanne Conway, revealed on TikTok Sunday that she has coronavirus. “Hey guys currently dying of covid,” Conway captioned a video on the social media platform. Kellyanne Conway announced she tested positive for coronavirus Friday night and was experiencing some symptoms including...
Pennsylvania reports 2,251 new coronavirus cases, 37 new deaths over past 2 days
Pennsylvania on Sunday reported 2,251 new cases and 37 new deaths attributed to the coronavirus for the past two days. The state Department of Health said a technical issue caused a delay in Saturday’s reporting and the need to report a two-day total Sunday. The state has generally stopped issuing...
Hershey School proposes $350M network of 6 early childhood centers in Pa.
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter. The super-rich Milton S. Hershey School for poor children, which has faced criticism over how few students it helps, has...