Category: News

Neshannok wins over Freedom 54 – 20

Neshannok traveled to Freedom tonight for a game between the Lancers and the Bulldogs.  The Lancers got points on the board early with two touchdowns early in the game. On their next drive however, the bulldogs began to fight back, managing to secure an interception.  Neshannok managed to stick Freedom to 4th down, but as the Lancers were expecting a punt, the Bulldogs pulled off a fake punt and got themselves a first down.  Freedom scored on the next play setting the score to 13 – 7 in favor of the Lancers. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Neshannok came back with another score to put their lead at 20 – 7 at halftime.  Freedom started the 4th quarter strong with a 73 yard touchdown pass to tighten the score to a single possession game.  Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Neshannok was not willing to give up their fight.  The Lancers managed to spend the rest of the game putting more points on the board.  The game ended with a score of 54 – 20, in favor of Neshannok.

Scoring Updates: Neshannock at Freedom: Friday September 25, 2020

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Point Park’s varsity esports program to kick off first season in newly renovated space with state-of-the-art equipment

Point Park’s varsity esports program to kick off first season
in newly renovated space with state-of-the-art equipment

PITTSBURGH, PA – Point Park University’s varsity esports program will make its debut at the end of September in a newly renovated space using state-of-the-art equipment.

Chris Gaul, Esports Director and Head Coach, will have an 18-person team competing in the National Association of Collegiate Esports Rocket League Fall Season, as well as League of Legends, in a 1,450-square-foot-space in the University’s Student Center. The room is equipped with 16 gaming stations and three large-screen televisions mounted on the wall to highlight the action at any of the terminals. To comply with COVID-related precautions, alternate gaming stations will be used to prevent athletes from sitting next to one another, and each station will be cleaned and disinfected after use.

The University’s Physical Plant remodeled the space — which used to be a yoga/pilates studio – and worked with Point Park’s Media Services and IT departments, as well as outside vendors Extron and RPC Video. A new high-speed data network was installed and configured, and multimedia lines were supplied.

“We have been given an exceptional facility to service our esports program,” Gaul said. “The installation was seamless, and the system assists in coaching and recruiting while positioning our athletes to succeed right out of the gate.”

In the first phase of the project, the University’s Media Services department worked with RPC Video – the AV contractor – and Extron to design and price out a system. The end result allows video from any of the 16 systems to appear on the wall-mounted televisions; an Extron touch panel was integrated, which allows Gaul to easily route audio and video to any display in the room. An Extron SMP 111 streaming and recording device was integrated to allow matches to be streamed live on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube.

Steve Obenreder from RPC Video began discussions with Fred Angiolieri, Senior Director of Media Services at Point Park, in fall 2019. Once they worked out a plan for the space, they began to look at manufacturers for the equipment.

“The manufacturer that took the most active interest was Extron. They offered advice on how their product would fit into our plan,” Obenreder said.

In fact, Extron worked out a deal with Point Park to use its XTP signal routing approach, which would offer the University the kind of system performance Extron felt was necessary for a seamless competitive gaming experience.

Angiolieri and his Media Services team did some of the general installation work before handing off the rest of the installation to RPC Video. Extron provided a system design engineer onsite who worked along with RPC Video to commission the AV system, ensuring it was fully optimized.

“Preparing our varsity esports program for competition this fall was a monumental task, and we could not have done without Chris Gaul leading the program,” said John Ashaolu, Point Park’s Director of Athletics. “But getting the program to this point also was made possible by the extraordinary work by dedicated professionals at Point Park, and through RPC Video and Extron. This was a team effort on a grand scale.”

The varsity esports program kicks off competition in the NACE Rocket League at 8 p.m. Sept. 29 against Penn College Rocket League. The team’s League of Legends season starts Oct. 19.

Gov. Wolf Issues Statement on Trump Rallies in PA

Gov. Wolf Issues Statement on Trump Rallies in PA

Harrisburg, Pa. – Today, Governor Tom Wolf urged President Donald Trump to help solve problems for Pennsylvanians instead of exacerbating public health risks in the commonwealth. He called on the president to abide by COVID-19 mitigation guidance when visiting the commonwealth and forgo holding unsafe rallies in Pennsylvania.

The governor made the following statement:

“Three weeks ago, the Trump campaign held a rally here in Pennsylvania that violated the commonwealth’s public health guidance by disregarding gathering limits, mask orders and social distancing guidelines. My administration did not make an exception for that rally, and is still awaiting a response to a letter sent to the Trump campaign on September 10, 2020, asking them to abide by the commonwealth’s COVID-19 mitigation measures in order to keep our residents safe. Again this past Tuesday, the president held a large rally in close quarters here in Pennsylvania. Once again, I am requesting that the President of the United States not endanger Pennsylvanians by holding unsafe rallies that will put Pennsylvania communities at risk.

“It is gravely concerning that the president would insist on holding this event with blatant disregard for social distancing and masking requirements. His decision to bring thousands of people together in a tight space in the midst of a global pandemic caused by an airborne virus is flat out wrong. No matter what party you support, all Americans should be very concerned that the president has put headlines and publicity above the health and safety of our families and communities. Any Pennsylvanian who chooses to attend a rally, or any large gathering, should take protective steps like wearing a mask and maintaining proper social distancing for the duration of the event. Mitigation efforts like these will help protect Pennsylvanians from potentially contracting this deadly virus and bringing it home to their families.

“It is dangerous and disappointing that the president continues to ignore science and his own health advisors while putting the lives of those who support him at risk. The president has admitted to lying about the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the meantime, our country has lost more than 200,000 lives on his watch. While we continue to see only tepid and contradictory attempts at leadership from the White House, families have lost loved ones, the economy has taken a massive hit and communities are crying out for help.

“Instead of spending his time on rallies, the president should return to Washington and deal with things that matter to Pennsylvanians, like unemployment assistance, state and local aid, hazard pay and a cohesive strategy for pulling the country out of this pandemic as quickly as possible.

“To hold this event is not just misguided, it is dangerous, it is manipulative and it is wrong. I would ask Pennsylvanians to think of the health and safety of their families and their communities before attending this event or any rally put on by the Trump campaign. And I would ask the president, for once, to put the health of his constituents ahead of his own political fortunes.”

Aliquippa Man Stopped with Loaded Gun at Pittsburgh International Airport Security Checkpoint

(MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa.) An Aliquippa man was stopped going through a TSA Security Checkpoint this week at Pittsburgh International Airport after TSA Agents spotted a loaded 9mm handgun on a checkpoint X-ray machine’s monitor. Officers immediately alerted Allegheny County Police. The weapon was loaded with five bullets and one of the bullets was in the chamber of the gun ready to be fired.

After Allegheny County Police questioned the man the gun was confiscated, and he now faces federal civil penalties. This was the 14th gun that has been found at a security checkpoint in the airport this year.

Beaver County’s hazardous materials collection at the Brady’s Run Park Recycling Center on October 10 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. 

Safely dispose of common household chemicals at Beaver County’s hazardous materials collection at the Brady’s Run Park Recycling Center on October 10 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  Advance registration for the event is required.

Acceptable items include aerosol cans, automotive fluids, batteries, chemistry sets, compact fluorescent bulbs, gasoline and kerosene, household cleaners, mercury, paint products, pesticides and herbicides, photo chemicals, pool chemicals, and smoke detectors.

Additional details, fees, and items not accepted are available at www.prc.org or by calling (724) 770-2064.

2 charged for handling of virus outbreak at veterans home

2 charged for handling of virus outbreak at veterans home
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Two former leaders of a Massachusetts home for aging veterans where nearly 80 people sickened by the coronavirus died have been criminally charged for their handling of the outbreak. Attorney General Maura Healey told reporters on Friday that former Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Superintendent Bennett Walsh and former Medical Director David Clinton were indicted by a grand jury. Each is charged with five counts of criminal neglect five counts of serious bodily injury. A phone message was left Friday with a lawyer for Walsh. It was not immediately clear whether Clinton had an attorney.

Teen charged in Kenosha shootings fights extradition

Teen charged in Kenosha shootings fights extradition
By SCOTT BAUER and TERESA CRAWFORD Associated Press
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — A 17-year-old in Illinois accused of killing two protesters days after Jacob Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is fighting his return to Wisconsin to face homicide charges that could put him in prison for life. John Pierce, an attorney for Kyle Rittenhouse, said during a brief hearing Friday that he intends to fight extradition. Judge Paul Novak gave the defense 14 days to review papers and file pleadings ahead of an Oct. 9 hearing. Rittenhouse surrendered to police in his howetown of Antioch, Illinois, a day after prosecutors say he shot and killed two and wounded a third on the streets of Kenosha on Aug. 25. His attorneys have said Rittenhouse acted in self-defense.

Minuteman Press Business Minute for Friday September 25, 2020

Dollar mixed
The U.S. dollar is mixed against other North American currencies in New York trading.
It’s worth 1.34 Canadian dollars, unchanged from late Thursday.
And the dollar is trading at 22.34 Mexican pesos, up from late Thursday.

Wall Street yo-yos as S&P 500 heads for 4th weekly loss
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are wobbling Friday morning, as the S&P 500 heads for a fourth straight week of losses amid Wall Street’s sudden September swoon. The S&P 500 was 0.1% higher after flip-flopping between small gains and losses a few times after trading opened. Stocks have been erratic recently, and indexes have taken several sharp turns in momentum each day. The S&P 500 is still on pace for a loss of 2.1% this week, which would give the index its first four-week losing streak in more than a year. Smaller stocks were faring slightly better Friday, while Treasury yields edged lower.

Orders for big-ticket manufactured goods ticks up just 0.4%
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods increased just 0.4% in August following a much larger gain in the previous month. It was the fourth consecutive monthly increase, but the most recent uptick was far weaker than the 11.7% surge in July, according to Commerce Department data Friday.  Economists had expected production to ease somewhat after manufacturers rebounded strongly in previous months from COVID-19 related shutdowns, but the growth in August was less than half what economists had projected.

Global shares mixed…More Trump tax return court arguments
HONG KONG (AP) — Global shares were mixed today, cheered by a modest rally on Wall Street and rising hopes for fresh stimulus for the U.S. economy. In early trading, France’s CAC 40 dropped 1.5%, while Germany’s DAX slipped 1.4%. Britain’s FTSE 100 edged 0.2%. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei closed 0.5% higher. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.3%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gave up earlier gains, sinking 0.3%. The Shanghai Composite index fell 0.1%. On Wall Street, Dow and S&P futures are down.
NEW YORK (AP) — A New York prosecutor engaged in a long-running battle to obtain Donald Trump’s tax returns is resorting to “speculation and innuendo” to justify his demands, the president’s lawyers argued in court papers filed Thursday on the eve of an appeals court showdown. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments today after a district court judge last month rejected Trump’s renewed efforts to invalidate a subpoena that the office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. issued to the president’s accounting firm. Vance’s office says there’s “a mountainous record” of public allegations of misconduct to support its efforts to obtain Trump’s tax returns.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is expected to file an antitrust action against Google in coming weeks, focusing on its dominance in online search and whether it was used to stifle competition and hurt consumers, a person familiar with the matter tells The Associated Press. The department also is examining Google’s online advertising practices, said the person, who could not discuss an ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Antitrust officials at the department briefed state attorneys general this week on the planned action against Google, seeking support from states across the country that share concerns about Google’s conduct.

UNDATED (AP) — Hong Kong Disneyland has reopened for the second time as the semi-autonomous Chinese city again appears to have brought new coronavirus cases down to near-zero. The resort shut down during the initial stage of China’s outbreak when Hong Kong closed schools and offices. Disneyland reopened after cases dropped off but then was shut again once infections began to climb again over the summer. The resort reopened today with social distancing measures for lines, restaurant seating and rides and more frequent cleaning in crowded areas. Hong Kong’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism and the government has been moving steadily to bring back business without sparking new outbreaks in the densely populated city of 7.5 million.

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and her family are facing a 35 million pound ($45 million) hit from the coronavirus pandemic, partly due to a shortage of tourists. Keeper of the Privy Purse Michael Stevens says a lack of income from visitors to royal buildings is likely to bring a shortfall of 15 million pounds, or $19 million, over three years. He says the impact of the pandemic is also likely to cause a 20 million pound shortfall in a 369-million-pound program to replace antiquated heating, plumbing and wiring at Buckingham Palace. The accounts show that the monarchy cost British taxpayers 69.4 million pounds in the year to the end of March.

Gov. Wolf to Sen. Toomey: Please Remember Your Precedent, Wait to Confirm a New Supreme Court Justice

Gov. Wolf to Sen. Toomey: Please Remember Your Precedent, Wait to Confirm a New Supreme Court Justice

Harrisburg, Pa. – Today, Governor Tom Wolf called on U.S. Senator Pat Toomey to follow the precedent he set in 2016 and refuse to vote to confirm a new Associate Justice to the Supreme Court until the presidential election concludes and the elected candidate is sworn into office. The governor made the following statement:

“At a time when vital issues that affect the lives, health and safety of Pennsylvanians are being brought for consideration before the highest court in the nation, our leaders must proceed with great care and deliberation as they determine the right person to fill Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the bench.

“The next Supreme Court Justice will join the court in ruling on key issues of our day that are of grave importance to Pennsylvanians, including health care and a woman’s right to choose. It would be an unconscionable error to rush into a nomination when the people of Pennsylvania and the nation as a whole will make clear their wishes for the future of our country in a few short weeks.

“In 2016, Sen. Toomey refused to vote on a nominee to the Supreme Court after Associate Justice Antonin Scalia passed away eleven months prior to the election. To quote the senator’s own words from that time, ‘This decision should not be rushed, and it should not be made amid the clamoring of a presidential election season.’

“With less than a month and a half before the 2020 general election, I call on Sen. Toomey to uphold his own precedent, and commit to refusing to vote for or against any nominee to the Supreme Court until the next presidential term begins.”