Category: News

More of Pennsylvania emerges from coronavirus shutdowns

More of Pennsylvania emerges from coronavirus shutdowns
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM and MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Residents of 12 more Pennsylvania counties are allowed to freely leave their homes, and other parts of the shutdown have been lifted, as Gov. Tom Wolf prepares to announce which counties have made sufficient progress against the new coronavirus to join them. Wolf announced last week that the 12 counties would leave the so-called “red phase” and joining the “yellow” phase on Friday. They join 37 other counties that have already moved to yellow. In addition, Wolf has suggested that he could announce that he’s easing practically all of the state’s pandemic restrictions in some other counties.

NASA’s newest test pilots are veteran astronauts, friends

NASA’s newest test pilots are veteran astronauts, friends
By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The two astronauts who will test drive SpaceX’s brand new rocketship and return human orbital launches to the U.S. are classmates and friends. They’re also veteran spacefliers married to veteran spacefliers, and fathers of young sons. Retired Marine Col. Doug Hurley will be in charge of launch and landing, a fitting assignment for the pilot of NASA’s last space shuttle mission. Air Force Col. Bob Behnken will oversee rendezvous at the International Space Station. They’ll end a nine-year launch drought for NASA when they blast off aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida. Liftoff is set for next Wednesday.

Ambridge Teacher Nominated For “Teacher Of The Year” Award

An Ambridge teacher has been nominated for a prestigious award. More on that from Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano:

Pa. Rep. Josh Kail to Cancel Events Because of COVID-19

Kail to Cancel Events Because of COVID-19

 

CENTER – As the governor prohibits events with more than 25 people even in the yellow phase of reopening, Rep. Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) was forced to cancel three events: Donuts and Discussion events on Friday, May 22, and Friday, June 5, as well as a REAL ID event on Friday, May 29.

 

Washington County moved into the yellow phase of reopening on Friday, May 15. Beaver County won’t move into the yellow phase until Friday, May 22.

 

“Unfortunately, with our counties still barred from gatherings in excess of 25 people, we’re not allowed to host these events. While I hope to hold events later in the summer, Gov. Tom Wolf and his administration haven’t released any information – despite repeated requests – about the metrics a county needs to meet to move to green. At this point, we’re waiting,” Kail said.

 

Residents are encouraged to contact Kail’s office with any state-related questions or concerns they have by calling 724-728-7655. Kail and his staff continue to serve residents throughout the pandemic.

 

“I share in the frustration that many residents are feeling because the governor has so much control over our lives,” Kail added. “The representation they usually have in their state legislators has truly been silenced as the governor is making all the rules without considering input from other elected officials. Our government was designed to have checks and balances to avoid any single person having absolute power, but that’s not how it’s working now.”

Jerry Sloan, Jazz Great & Hall Of Fame Coach, Dies At 78

The Hall of Fame basketball coach Jerry Sloan has died. His death was announced by the Utah Jazz, the team he took to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998. The Jazz say he died Friday from complications related to Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia. Sloan spent 23 seasons coaching the Jazz, and the team finished below .500 in only one of those years. Sloan won 1,221 games in his career, the fourth-highest total in NBA history. Jerry Sloan was 78 years old.

Gov. Wolf Modifies Executive Order on Foreclosure and Eviction Suspensions 

Gov. Wolf Modifies Executive Order on Foreclosure and Eviction Suspensions 

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Gov. Tom Wolf amended his executive order protecting Pennsylvanians from foreclosure and eviction to specify that the order only applies to evictions and foreclosures enacted due to lack of payment or because a tenant has overstayed a lease.

“I am protecting housing for Pennsylvanians who may be facing economic challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Gov. Wolf. “My order will not affect proceedings for other issues, such as property damage or illegal activity. I encourage all Pennsylvanians to continue abiding by the terms of their lease or mortgage.”

The executive order, signed by Gov. Wolf on May 7, 2020, suspends evictions and foreclosures until July 10, 2020.  The Pennsylvania Supreme Court previously closed court eviction proceedings until May 11, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the suspensions, residents are required to continue making rent or mortgage payments or they ma

Biden: If You Can’t Choose Me Over Trump, ‘You Ain’t Black’

ATLANTA (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is reacting testily to public calls that he select a black woman as his running mate. Biden says several African Americans are under consideration but that his decision shouldn’t determine how people vote. He spoke Friday in an online interview with prominent black radio personality Charlamagne Tha God. “If you’ve got a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or for Trump, then you ain’t black,” Biden said.  Separately on Friday, Biden used a CNBC interview to condemn a proposal from the Chinese government to crack down on semi-autonomous Hong Kong, and he suggested that Trump isn’t being vocal enough in his opposition.

Local Food Banks To Recieve Grant Money

Local food banks will be getting a boost thanks to a new grant. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has the story:

Pennsylvania Jobless Rate Hits 15.1% As Payrolls Collapse

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate skyrocketed in April at the height of the state’s pandemic-driven shutdown to its highest rate in over four decades of record-keeping, the state Department of Labor and Industry said Friday. Meanwhile, payrolls fell by more than 1 million to the lowest level in at least three decades. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate more than doubled to 15.1% in April, up from 5.8% in March, the department said. The national rate was 14.7% in April. Pennsylvania’s highest unemployment rate was 12.7% in 1983, according to online federal data that keeps track back to 1976. Meanwhile, 1.9 million Pennsylvanians have sought unemployment benefits since mid-March, almost one-third of the labor force.

NASA, SpaceX Bringing Astronaut Launches Back To Home Turf

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — For the first time in nearly a decade, U.S. astronauts are about to blast into orbit aboard an American rocket from American soil. And for the first time in the history of human spaceflight, a private company is running the show. The curtain rises next Wednesday with the scheduled liftoff of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon crew capsule, with two NASA astronauts bound for the International Space Station. The drama will unfold at the exact spot at Kennedy Space Center in Florida where men flew to the moon and the last space shuttle soared.