Pa. school leaders to state officials: We need specifics, not guidance, for reopening plans
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s existing reopening guidance for schools is too vague, and superintendents and school boards need more specifics from the state Department of Health about how to do it safely, a superintendents group said Monday following a call with Wolf administration officials. The superintendents asked for more concrete recommendations...
Florida judge upholds coronavirus ordinance requiring masksVideo
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A Florida judge on Monday upheld a county’s coronavirus ordinance that requires masks be worn in public places like stores, saying government officials have the authority to protect their residents from the spread of infectious diseases. Circuit Judge John Kastrenakes, noting Palm Beach County’s recent spike...
AG William Barr to condemn rioting at much-anticipated House hearing
WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr is defending the aggressive federal law enforcement response to civil unrest in America, saying “violent rioters and anarchists have hijacked legitimate protests” sparked by George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police. Barr will tell members of the House Judiciary Committee at a...
Swimmer killed in apparent shark attack off Maine coast
HARPSWELL, Maine — A woman was killed in an apparent shark attack off the coast of Maine on Monday, a rare occurrence that has only been recorded once before in the state by an unprovoked shark. Maine Marine Patrol said a witness saw the woman swimming off the shore of...
Texas reports nearly 700 more coronavirus deaths with new data
AUSTIN — Texas reported an increase of nearly 700 additional deaths from the covid-19 virus due to a change in how the state collects fatality data, representing a grim surge in the state’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The new figures released Monday show the state now with 5,713 covid-19-identified...
Officer challenges account of violent clearing of protesters in Lafayette Square
The U.S. Park Police and Secret Service violently routed protesters from Lafayette Square last month without apparent provocation or adequate warning, immediately after Attorney General William Barr spoke with Park Police leaders, according to an Army National Guard officer who was there. The account of National Guard Maj. Adam DeMarco...
2nd presidential debate host withdraws amid virus outbreak
The University of Notre Dame has become the second university to withdraw as the host of one of this fall’s three scheduled presidential debates amid the coronavirus pandemic. The university was set to host the inaugural face-off between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden on Sept. 29....
Trump lawyers renew legal assault on tax records subpoena
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s lawyers filed fresh arguments Monday to try to block or severely limit a criminal subpoena for his tax records, calling it a harassment of the president. Lawyers filed a rewritten lawsuit in Manhattan federal court to challenge the subpoena by Manhattan’s state prosecutor on...
FDA warns Americans of toxic hand sanitizers
WASHINGTON — U.S. health officials are warning Americans again to avoid a growing list of imported hand sanitizers that may be contaminated with the toxic chemical methanol. The Food and Drug Administration said Monday there have been increasing reports of injury due to people using— sometimes ingesting—the unauthorized sanitizers, which...
Pelosi, others hail John Lewis as ‘conscience’ of CongressVideo
WASHINGTON — In a solemn display of bipartisan unity, congressional leaders praised the late Democratic Rep. John Lewis as a moral force for the nation on Monday in a Capitol Rotunda ceremony rich with symbolism and punctuated by the booming, recorded voice of the late civil rights icon. House Speaker...
More U.S. agents may go to Portland; mayors want limitsVideo
PORTLAND, Ore. — The mayors of six U.S. cities appealed Monday to Congress to make it illegal for the federal government to deploy militarized federal agents to cities that don’t want them, even as the Trump administration is considering sending more of them to Portland, Ore. “This administration’s egregious use...
GOP coronavirus plan includes another $1,200 check, cuts unemployment benefit to $200Video
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans presented their $1 trillion plan to bolster the pandemic-ravaged U.S. economy in a series of bills that would trim extra unemployment benefits, send $1,200 payments to most Americans, and shield businesses, schools and other organizations from lawsuits stemming from covid-19 infections. The $1 trillion package was...
Belgium implements drastic plan to avoid another lockdown
BRUSSELS — Belgium’s prime minister on Monday unveiled a set of drastic social distancing measures aimed at avoiding a new general lockdown amid a surge of covid-19 infections. Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes said that from next Wednesday contacts outside family circles will be limited to the same five people over...
Reagan Foundation distances itself from Trump campaign and the president isn’t pleased
Don’t win this for the Gipper, Mr. President. The Reagan Foundation is distancing itself from President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign. CNN reports that the organization representing the interests and legacy of late President Ronald Reagan reached out to Trump’s campaign last week to ask that that they stop hawking a...
Rare blue lobster saved from Ohio Red Lobster
A blue lobster was saved from a diner’s plate and now resides comfortably at a new home at an Ohio zoo. The rare crustacean was spotted in the live lobster delivery by employees at the Red Lobster restaurant in Cuyahoga Falls, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. The staff contacted...
`Music in the Streets’ returns to Irwin
Irwin’s “Music in the Streets” is returning to the borough’s downtown business district this week with performances by several singers. On Thursday, Former American Idol contestant Aubrey Burchell will perform at The Lamp Theatre courtyard from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Gail, Kevin & Company will perform on Fourth Street from...
Dick’s Sporting Goods joins other retailers closing on Thanksgiving
Dick’s Sporting Goods joined a growing number of retailers that will be closed on Thanksgiving. The Findlay-based national chain announced Monday that all of its stores, including Dick’s, Field & Stream and Golf Galaxy, would be closed for the holiday. “We are so thankful to our teammates for their hard...
Iran moves mock aircraft carrier to sea amid U.S. tensions
Iran has moved a mock aircraft carrier to the strategic Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions with the United States, satellite photographs released on Monday show, likely signalling the Islamic Republic soon plans to use it for live-fire drills. An image from Maxar Technologies taken Sunday shows an Iranian fast...
Pennsylvania posts 839 new covid-19 cases on Monday
The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced 839 new cases of covid-19 on Monday. For the second straight day, the state reported a new case count below 1,000. There have been a total of 108,264 cases of covid-19 in Pennsylvania since the beginning of the pandemic in March. On Monday, there...
Mountain rescuers heft ailing St. Bernard off English peak
St. Bernards are known for helping to rescue distressed travelers in the mountains, but the tables were turned Sunday in northern England. Sixteen volunteers from the Wasdale mountain rescue team took turns carrying Daisy, a 121-pound St Bernard, from England’s highest peak, Scafell Pike. The mountain rescue team spent nearly...
White House: ‘No risk of exposure’ to Trump as national security adviser tests positive for covid-19
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s national security adviser has tested positive for covid-19 days after attending a family function, White House officials said Monday. Robert O’Brien, Trump’s fourth national security adviser, is the highest-level U.S. government official known to have tested positive for the novel coronavirus since the pandemic began....
Experimental covid-19 vaccine is put to its biggest testVideo
The biggest test yet of an experimental covid-19 vaccine got underway Monday with the first of some 30,000 Americans rolling up their sleeves to receive shots created by the U.S. government as part of the all-out global race to stop the pandemic. The glimmer of hope came even as Google,...
Wealthy donors pour millions into fight over mail-in voting
WASHINGTON — Deep-pocketed and often anonymous donors are pouring over $100 million into an intensifying dispute about whether it should be easier to vote by mail, a fight that could determine President Donald Trump’s fate in the November election. In the battleground of Wisconsin, cash-strapped cities have received $6.3 million...
On Portland’s streets: Anger, fear, and a fence that divides
PORTLAND, Ore. — The party at the Salmon Street Springs fountain, a riverfront landmark in the heart of Portland, was just getting started. Dozens of drummers beat out entrancing rhythms and a crowd of hundreds danced joyfully as the setting sun cast a soft pink glow on distant Mount Hood....
Hurricane Douglas swirls ‘uncomfortably close’ to HawaiiVideo
HONOLULU — Heavy rain and wind gusts battered Maui on Sunday as Hurricane Douglas swirled off the coast of Hawaii and officials urged residents to take shelter. Forecasters said the Category 1 hurricane would pass close to Oahu and potentially even make a direct hit on the island, which is...
