One reporter, two executions and haunting last words
By MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — The lead Justice Department and federal law enforcement writer for The Associated Press, Michael Balsamo, spent more than 32 hours inside a prison this past week — and watched two men die. Daniel Lewis Lee and Wesley Ira Purkey were among three convicted killers executed at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. The executions were the first carried out by the federal government in 17 years. In a first-person report, Balsamo describes the experience of waiting as their appeals played out, then watching as each condemned man lay strapped to a gurney, allowed last words, and then given a lethal injection of drugs.

Congress confronts new virus crisis rescue as pandemic grows
By LISA MASCARO AP Congressional Correspondent
WASHINGTON (AP) — With the coronavirus pandemic worsening, it’s clear that  the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill in March was only the start. Even though it was the biggest rescue of its kind in U.S. history, Congress returns to work Monday to try to draft another one. The current round of aid is running out. Extra employment benefits expire and so does a federal eviction freeze. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is poised to roll out his $1 trillion-plus proposal. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi already has pushed through a more sweeping $3 trillion effort. Big spending that Congress hoped to avoid now seems inevitable.

Floating boat cinema coming to Pittsburgh, other cities
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, watching movies from cars at drive-ins has been making a comeback — and now there are plans for a floating cinema in western Pennsylvania with people watching from mini-boats. Beyond Cinema, an Australian production company, is bringing Floating Boat Cinema to cities worldwide with a stop in Pittsburgh in September. The location for the aquatic theater planned Sept. 16 to Sept. 20 hasn’t been released, and the movies to be shown haven’t been announced.

Restaurants to fight back; sports teams want fans in stands
By MARC LEVY and MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — As Pennsylvania approached 100,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Friday, restaurant and bar owners say they’ll fight back against Gov. Tom Wolf’s orders to further limit the number of patrons they’re allowed to serve. Meanwhile, sports teams have submitted plans to the Pennsylvania Department of Health to allow fans in stands. The Wolf administration isn’t discussing details, but discourages spectators from attending games to prevent transmission of the coronavirus. Professional and college sports remain subject to Pennsylvania’s state-ordered limit of fewer than 250 people on site for games and practices, meaning that Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Penn State football games cannot have fans in the stands.

Mutual of Omaha insurance firm removing longtime Indian logo
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Insurance company Mutual of Omaha has announced it will replace its longtime corporate logo, which features a depiction of a Native American chief. The move comes as corporations and sports teams face increasing pressure to dump nicknames and depictions that reference American Indians amid a nationwide movement calling for racial justice. The company is in the process of creating a new logo. Chairman and CEO James Blackledge said in a news release Friday that Mutual of Omaha is committing an additional $1 million to the $2 million it donates annually to community-based initiatives to address racial equality and social justice.

Stress rises for unemployed as extra $600 benefit nears end
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER and SARAH SKIDMORE SELL Associated Press Writers
WASHINGTON (AP) — A major source of income for roughly 30 million unemployed people is set to end, threatening their ability to meet rent and pay bills and potentially undercutting the fragile economic recovery. In March, Congress approved an extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits; that additional payment expires next week unless it gets renewed. The unemployment insurance program has emerged as a crucial source of support at a time when the jobless rate is at Depression-era levels. In May, unemployment benefits made up 6% of all U.S. income, ahead of even Social Security, and up dramatically from February, when it amounted to just 0.1% of national income.

(New Galilee, PA)  What started out as a stop gap remedy on Palm Sunday back in April to engage worshipers during the recent COVID 19 closures,  continues to gain momentum and popularity at New Galilee Church of the Nazarene.  This Sunday,  the newly formed tradition of hosting church services outdoor “drive in style”  in the parking lot while broadcasting them on WBVP, WMBA, and 99.3 F.M. will continue, but with a different voice coming through the speaker.  Pastor C.F. Hoffman from nearby   Galilean Presbyterian Church will serve as a special guest minister this Sunday, July 19th.  As usual, the service will take place from 1 to 2 PM outside and in the parking lots around New Galilee Church of The Nazarene.

Click here to listen to the online stream , or tune in to 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA or 99.3 F.M. to hear the traditional radio broadcast of the service at 1 P.M. this Sunday, July 19, 2020.

By STAN CHOE and DAMIAN J. TROISE AP Business Writers
NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is drifting Friday following another set of mixed reports on the economy. The S&P 500 was virtually unchanged in midday trading after earlier flipping between small gains and losses. Trading was relatively quiet across markets, with stocks overseas, Treasury yields and gold also making only modest moves. The S&P 500 was nearly evenly split between stocks rising and falling. Home builders rose after a better-than-expected report on housing, but tech stocks pulled back in their latest move of weakness following their huge run this year. The S&P 500 is on track for a gain of nearly 1% this week.

By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s unemployment slid a bit down in June after hitting a pandemic peak in April, but it was well above the national rate even as payrolls rebounded by more 230,000. The state Department of Labor and Industry reported Friday that Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was 13% in June, down four-tenths of a percentage point from May’s adjusted rate. The state’s rate went over 16% in April, the highest rate in over four decades of record-keeping. A survey of employers showed seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrolls grew by more than 230,000 in June to surpass 5.4 million. That was about 1 in 5 jobs lost during the pandemic.

 

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve has opened one of its lending programs to nonprofit groups, including hospitals, educational institutions, and social service organizations. The Fed said Friday that its Main Street Lending Program, which is targeted to mid-sized businesses, will now extend credit to nonprofits with at least 10 employees and endowments of less than $3 billion.

By MATT OTT AP Business Writer
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — Construction of U.S. homes jumped 17.3% in June as some states opened back up, but still lags behind last year’s pace after this spring’s massive slowdown in building activity due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Commerce Department reported Friday that new homes were started at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,186,000 in June after a modest recovery in May followed steep declines in April and March. Even after a second straight month of increases, construction activity remains 4% below last year’s pace. Applications for building permits, a good indication of future activity, rose 2.1% to 1.24 million units.