By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two more Texas lawmakers who left their state to hobble efforts to pass new voting restrictions have tested positive for the coronavirus, raising to five the number of infected people in the delegation. State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio said in a statement Sunday that he had tested positive and was quarantining. A person familiar with the delegation tells The Associated Press that the number of infected members has risen to five. The person was not authorized to discuss the matter and requested anonymity.

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer
TOKYO (AP) — Toyota won’t be airing any Olympic-themed advertisements on Japanese television during the Tokyo Games despite being one of the IOC’s top corporate sponsors. The extraordinary decision by the country’s top automaker underlines how polarizing the Games have become in Japan as COVID-19 infections rise ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony. Being a corporate sponsor for the Olympics is usually all about using the games as a platform to enhance the brand. But being linked with a pandemic-era Games may be viewed by some as a potential marketing problem. Toyota signed on as a worldwide Olympic sponsor in 2015 in an eight-year deal reportedly worth nearly $1 billion.

(Photo courtesy of Pa. Media Services)

(Philadelphia, Pa.) Governor Tom Wolf thanked members of Pennsylvania-Task Force 1 (PA-TF1), who returned to Philadelphia after spending two weeks assisting with search and rescue efforts at the site of the recent deadly building collapse in Surfside, Florida.

“I want to thank the men and women of PA-TF1 for assisting at the site of terrible tragedy. This was a dangerous mission but they understood the risks and worked long hours at the site of the building collapse to provide critical emergency services. Pennsylvania is proud and grateful for their service, and I was pleased to be able to welcome them home.”

PA-TF 1 is one of 28 teams that are part of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System and is a federal resource that can quickly be mobilized to deploy to incidents anywhere in the country. The team is sponsored by the Philadelphia Fire Department.

(File Photo)

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Pa State Police at the Rivers Casino are reporting that they have filed charges of defiant trespass against 45-year-old Lisa Pifer of Coraopolis for an incident that occurred on Thursday, July 15, 2021, around 9:46 PM at the Rivers Casino.
Troopers report via release that Pifer entered the casino after knowing that she had previously been told by Troopers that she was banned from the casino.

Microsoft Exchange email hack was caused by China, US says
By ERIC TUCKER Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is blaming China for a hack of Microsoft Exchange email server software that compromised tens of thousands of computers around the world earlier this year. The administration and allied nations on Monday also disclosed a broad range of other cyberthreats from Beijing, including ransomware attacks from government-affiliated hackers that have targeted companies with demands for millions of dollars. A senior administration official says China’s Ministry of State Security has been using criminal contract hackers, who have engaged in cyber extortion schemes and operations for their own profit. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson previously said attribution of cyberattacks should be based on evidence and not “groundless accusations.”

Dangerous conditions complicate wildfire fight in western US
Associated Press undefined
BLY, Ore. (AP) — Erratic winds and dry lightning are among the dangers for crews battling the nation’s largest wildfire. The Bootleg Fire is racing through parched Oregon forests just north of the California state line. It’s already burned an area about the size of Los Angeles. Meteorologists predict critically dangerous fire weather through at least Monday, including lightning that could ignite new fires. Thousands of people are under evacuation orders. Nationwide, about 70 large fires are burning. One fire spreading south of Lake Tahoe jumped a highway, prompting the closure of the Pacific Crest Trail and the cancellation of an extreme bike ride known as the “Death Ride.”

Fetterman leads fundraising in Pennsylvania’s US Senate race
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democrat John Fetterman is showing his early fundraising prowess in the crowded stakes for Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat ahead of next year’s election. Fetterman reported $2.5 million raised in the three months ending June 30. That left him with $3 million in his campaign account, far more than any candidate, Republican or Democrat, has reported. Thursday was the Federal Election Commission deadline to file the quarterly report. Fetterman is the state’s lieutenant governor. Leading the Republican money chase is Jeff Bartos, the Montgomery County real estate investor whose campaign said he had just under $1.9 million in his account as of June 30.

(Clay Township, Pa.) Pa State Police in Butler are reporting via release that they are investigating a murder suicide that happened on Saturday .

Troopers say via release that officers were dispatched to the West Sunbury Cemetery in Clay Township early Saturday Afternoon for reports of a suicidal male. Upon arrival, officers found a person dead by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The release identified the deceased man 46-year-old Charles Smith, 46, of Evans City.

Through an investigation, it was determined that Smith shot and killed 39-year-old Terry Bolan of Evans City in Forward Twp. prior to fleeing to the cemetery and taking his own life. It not clear what led to this incident and Troopers continue to investigate.

(Beaver, Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver sent out a press release over the weekend stating that the Pa State Police in Beaver will be conducting Sobriety checkpoints throughout the area during the remainder of the month of July 2021, in support of Pa State Police’s “Impaired Driving Enforcement Initiative” They are encouraging motorists to drink responsibly and utilize a designated driver when drinking.

(Photos courtesy of City of Beaver Falls Fire Department, used with permission)

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) The City of Beaver Falls Fire Department is reporting via their Facebook page that they were dispatched to the area of A-Plus on 8th Avenue in the City of Beaver Falls for reports of  a house on fire around midnight Saturday night, July 17, 2021. As  the City of Beaver Falls Police Department and Beaver Falls Fire Chief Mark Stowe were responding to the call they found an abandon house that had previously burned last year on 10th Avenue with a large volume of fire coming from the second floor. Fire crews from the New Brighton Volunteer Fire Dept., Rochester Fire Department and Big Beaver Borough Volunteer Fire Company were already responding with Beaver Falls Fire Department to the first alarm. When the fire on 10th Ave was discovered a second alarm was sounded requesting  assistance from Patterson Heights Volunteer Fire Department and Chippewa Township Volunteer Fire Department. 

The Facebook report says that multiple hose lines and Tower 11 were put into operation bringing the fire under control in 30 minutes. Crews remained on scene to extinguish hot spots for about an hour and a half before leaving the scene. There were no injuries reported.

Photos are courtesy of Beaver Falls Fire Department: