The latest: President Trump tests positive for coronavirus
The news that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus has become the biggest story of the moment. The positive tests come just hours after the White House announced that senior aide Hope Hicks also tested positive for the virus after traveling with...
Trump’s covid-19 diagnosis rocks final stage of presidential campaign
An election year already defined by a cascade of national crises descended further into chaos Friday with President Donald Trump declaring that he’s tested positive for the coronavirus after consistently playing down the threat. No one knows exactly what comes next. At the least, the development settles the focus of...
Trump joins growing list of virus-infected world leaders
President Donald Trump has joined a growing group of world leaders who have been infected with the coronavirus. Some, like Trump, had been accused of not taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously. A few are now sending Trump their wishes for a speedy recovery. At 74, the U.S. president is the...
Trump’s age, gender put him at risk for severe coronavirus
CLEVELAND — President Donald Trump is at higher risk of developing a severe case of covid-19 because of his age and gender. Trump, 74, was diagnosed with covid-19 hours after it became publicly known that Hope Hicks, a top Trump aide who traveled with him on Air Force One and...
White House: VP Mike Pence tests negative for covid-19
WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence tested negative for covid-19 Friday morning, hours after President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were diagnosed with the coronavirus. Spokesman Devin O’Malley says Pence “remains in good health and wishes the Trumps well in their recovery.” Pence...
Wife of German rapper convicted of terrorism charges
BERLIN — The widow of a German-born rapper who joined the Islamic State extremist group in Syria and was killed in an airstrike was herself convicted Friday of membership in a terrorist organization. The Hamburg state court sentenced Omaima A., 36, to three years in prison, the dpa news agency...
Shock, sympathy, criticism: World reacts to Trump infection
TOKYO — News that the world’s most powerful man was infected with the world’s most notorious disease drew instant reactions of shock, sympathy, undisguised glee and, of course, the ever-present outrage and curiosity surrounding everything about President Donald Trump. Trump’s announcement Friday on Twitter that he and first lady Melania...
Trump announces he, first lady have coronavirus; Trump experiencing ‘mild’ symptoms; more cases expected in White House
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is experiencing “mild symptoms” of covid-19 after revealing Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus, a stunning announcement that plunges the country deeper into uncertainty just a month before the presidential election. Trump, who has spent much of...
President Trump, first lady test positive for covid-19
WASHINGTON — President Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus, the president tweeted early Friday. Trump’s positive test came just hours after the White House announced senior aide Hope Hicks came down with the virus after traveling with the president several times this week. Trump...
Pfizer CEO pushes back against Trump claim on vaccine timing
The head of Pfizer, one of the drugmakers racing to develop a coronavirus vaccine, told employees on Thursday he was disappointed that its work was politicized during the presidential debate and tried to reassure U.S. staff that the company won’t bend to pressure to move more quickly. CEO Albert Bourla...
Stay in Congress to be fleeting for Georgia election winner
ATLANTA — More than $1 million and 30,000 ballots later, Georgia voters will be sending someone to Congress amid hopes that a month in Washington is worth it. Former Atlanta City Council member Kwanza Hall and former Morehouse College President Robert Franklin are headed to a Dec. 1 runoff after...
Trump in ‘quarantine process’ after top aide gets covid-19
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says he and first lady Melania Trump are beginning a “quarantine process” as they await coronavirus test results after a top aide he spent substantial time with this week tested positive for covid-19. Trump’s comments came after he confirmed that Hope Hicks, one his closest...
Top Trump aide Hope Hicks tests positive for coronavirus
WASHINGTON — Hope Hicks, one of President Donald Trump’s closest aides, has tested positive for the coronavirus after spending time in close proximity to him this week. Hicks, who serves as counselor to Trump and traveled with him to a rally Wednesday, tested positive Thursday, according to an administration official,...
Pa. House lawmaker tests positive for covid-19, delaying legislation on election, rent relief
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. HARRISBURG — The state House of Representatives canceled its voting session Thursday after a Republican lawmaker tested positive for the...
Trump opposes changing debate rules but will still attend
MORRISTOWN, N.J. — President Donald Trump opposes changing the rules for the remaining two presidential debates against Democrat Joe Biden, but his campaign says he will attend regardless. Tuesday’s opening debate in Cleveland quickly turned chaotic, with frequent interruptions by the candidates — particularly Trump. The Commission on Presidential Debates...
Laptop, USB drives stolen from Philly election-staging site
Computer thumb drives used to program Philadelphia voting machines were stolen from a city warehouse along with the laptop of an employee from the machines’ manufacturer. The items were stolen from a warehouse in the city’s East Falls section, city election commission spokesman Nick Custodio said in a brief emailed...
Midshipman sues Naval Academy, claims looming expulsion for racist tweets violates his free speech rights
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A midshipman facing expulsion following an investigation of racist tweets he sent over the summer sued the Naval Academy Wednesday, claiming it is violating his constitutional rights of free speech and protection from self-incrimination. The Naval Academy opened an investigation into Midshipman 1st Class Chase Standage, 21,...
Hundreds of Honduran migrants set out for U.S. amid pandemic
CORINTO, Honduras — About 2,000 Honduran migrants hoping to reach the United States entered Guatemala on foot Thursday morning, testing the newly reopened frontier that had been shut by the coronavirus pandemic. Authorities had planned to register the migrants as they crossed and offer assistance to those willing to turn...
Pa. Republicans want to create and control an ‘election integrity’ panel with subpoena power
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. HARRISBURG — One day after President Donald Trump fanned manufactured fears of election fraud in Pennsylvania, Republicans in the state...
NASA tests new $23M titanium space toilet
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA’s first new space potty in decades — a $23 million titanium toilet better suited for women — is getting a not-so-dry run at the International Space Station before eventually flying to the moon. It’s packed inside a cargo ship set to blast off late Thursday...
Doctors ask Supreme Court to strike down Trump abortion rule
WASHINGTON — The nation’s largest doctors’ group on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to strike down a Trump administration rule that’s had a far-reaching impact on family planning by prohibiting taxpayer-funded clinics from referring women for abortions. The American Medical Association acted after two U.S. appeals courts issued conflicting rulings...
Court: Amazon not liable in Ohio teen’s powdered caffeine death
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Retail giant Amazon can’t be held responsible under current Ohio product liability law in the death of a high school senior who ingested powdered caffeine, the state Supreme Court said Thursday. At issue before the court was whether the state’s law, which predates online commerce, could be...
Appeals court allows Gov. Tom Wolf, state to restore covid crowd restrictions
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday granted a request from Gov. Tom Wolf to reinstate crowd gathering restrictions designed to prevent the spread of covid-19. In a two-page order filed just after noon, Judges D. Brooks Smith, Michael Chagares and Patty Shwartz granted the request to stay...
Judge says government’s suit over Bolton book can proceed
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration can move forward with its lawsuit against former national security adviser John Bolton over his tell-all book, a judge ruled Thursday in denying a request to dismiss the complaint. The Justice Department alleges that Bolton’s book, “The Room Where It Happened” contains classified information, and...
Pa. lawmaker’s positive covid-19 test cancels voting session
HARRISBURG — A Republican lawmaker’s positive test for COVID-19 on Thursday prompted legislative leaders to immediately cancel the day’s Pennsylvania House voting session, and human resources workers were deployed to trace his personal contacts to see if others should be quarantined. Rep. Paul Schemel, R-Franklin, issued a statement saying he...
