Spruced-up White House Rose Garden set for first lady speech
By JONATHAN LEMIRE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The renovations to the White House Rose Garden have been finished in time for its moment in the campaign spotlight. First lady Melania Trump will deliver her Republican National Convention speech Tuesday night from the garden, famous for its close proximity to the Oval Office. The three weeks of work on the garden, which was done in the spirit of its original 1962 design, were showcased to reporters on Saturday.

2 tropical storms a potential double threat to US Gulf Coast
By DÁNICA COTO and SETH BORENSTEIN Associated Press
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Two tropical storms are advancing across the Caribbean, posing potentially historic threats to the U.S. Gulf Coast. One is dumping rain on Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, while the other is pushing through the tap between Cuba and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Tropical Storms Laura and Marco are both projected to approach the U.S. Gulf Coast at or close to hurricane force. The current, uncertain track would take them to Texas or Louisiana. Hurricane researchers say two hurricanes have never appeared in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time, according to records going back to at least 1900.

Woman convicted in agent’s death seeks release, citing virus
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A western Pennsylvania woman convicted in the shooting death of an FBI agent during pre-dawn drug raid at her home a dozen years ago is seeking release from prison, citing the coronavirus. The Tribune-Review reports that Christina Korbe is currently scheduled for release in May 2022. She was sentenced to 15 years on voluntary manslaughter and a firearms pleas in the November 2008 death of Special Agent Samuel Hicks. Her attorney said she contracted COVID-19 in March and is still recovering, and notes that she will be eligible for release to a halfway house in less than a year. The U.S. Attorney’s office declined comment.

Domino’s^® Opens New ‘Pizza Theater’ Store in Chippewa

Locally-owned store serves the community through contactless delivery, carside delivery and carryout

 CHIPPEWA, Penn.-There’s a new Domino’s in Chippewa!  The “pizza theater,” located at 2652 Darlington Rd., was scheduled to open yesterday and is ready to serve the local community.

“These are hard times, but we want local residents to know that we’re here to serve them,” said Ali Khurram, Chippewa Domino’s franchise owner. “We’re in the business of making delicious pizza and we want to help everyone the best way we know how – by providing a hot meal for them.”

Domino’s in Chippewa provides contactless and Domino’s Carside Delivery^™ to customers, as well as a carryout option to those who prefer it.

“The safety of our team members and customers is always our first priority,” said Khurram. “With that in mind, the store is taking a number of extra precautions to keep everyone safe.”

Domino’s in Chippewa is also looking to hire delivery drivers, customer service representatives and assistant managers.

“Our hearts break for those who have lost their jobs or who are facing reduced hours because of this pandemic,” said Khurram. “We want to make sure we’re not only providing food to people, but also delivering opportunity to those who are looking for work.”

Those who are interested in applying for a job may do so at jobs.dominos.com. To place an order from Domino’s in Chippewa, customers can visit www.dominos.com or call 724-581-4646. To read about what Domino’s is doing regarding COVID-19, please visit biz.dominos.com/web/media/covid-19.

Ketamine that’s injected during arrests draws new scrutiny
By PATTY NIEBERG Associated Press/Report for America
DENVER (AP) — A drug called ketamine that’s injected as a sedative during arrests has drawn new scrutiny since a young Black man named Elijah McClain died in suburban Denver. Officers stopped him on the street and put him in a chokehold before paramedics injected him a year ago Monday. Paramedics use it often at the behest of police who believe suspects are out of control. Ketamine has become another flashpoint in the debate over law enforcement policies and brutality against people of color. An analysis by The Associated Press of policies on ketamine and cases where it was used nationwide uncovered a lack of police training, conflicting medical standards and nonexistent protocols that have resulted in hospitalizations and even deaths.

AP EXCLUSIVE: US faces back-to-school laptop shortage
By JOCELYN GECKER and MICHAEL LIEDTKE Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Schools across the United States are facing shortages and long delays in getting laptops and other equipment needed for online learning. They are this year’s most crucial back-to-school accessories.. Part of the reason is high demand and disruptions of supply chains that have jammed production of laptops and Chromebooks made by Dell, HP, Lenovo and other brands. Schools say another critical reason is the Trump administration’s recent sanctions on Chinese companies that have exacerbated massive backlogs.  Educators nationwide worry that computer shortfalls will compound inequities. They also warn of headaches for students, families and teachers.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces $4.3 Million for Beaver County Transit Authority COVID-19 Response in Rochester, Pennsylvania

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced a $4.3 million grant award to the Beaver County Transit Authority (BCTA) in Rochester, Pennsylvania, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed by President Donald J. Trump on March 27, 2020.

BCTA will use the grant funds to support operating, administrative and preventive maintenance expenses, which are necessary to maintain transit services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. See FTA’s apportionment tables for the totals apportioned to each area. (This funding is based on the agency’s current request and may not represent the full amount the agency will receive.)

“This historic $25 billion in grant funding will ensure our nation’s public transportation systems can continue to provide services to the millions of Americans who continue to depend on them,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

“We know many of our nation’s public transportation systems are facing extraordinary challenges and these funds will go a long way to assisting our transit industry partners in battling COVID-19,” said FTA Deputy Administrator K. Jane Williams. “These federal funds will support operating assistance to transit agencies of all sizes providing essential travel and supporting transit workers across the country who are unable to work because of the public health emergency.”

In addition to the CARES Act funding, FTA issued a Safety Advisory that prompts transit agencies to develop and implement policies and procedures regarding face coverings and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, physical separation, and hand hygiene consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance.  CARES Act funding can be used to cover 100 percent of these costs.

Fixing Pennsylvania mail-in vote glitches goes down to wire
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — With barely three weeks to go before counties can begin mailing out ballots, lawsuits are filling the vacuum of action to fix problems or ambiguities with Pennsylvania’s mail-in voting laws. Closed-door talks between Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration and lawmakers are showing more signs of disagreement than agreement in the shadow of a high-stakes presidential campaign in the premier battleground state. Nothing will pass without a bipartisan compromise, and lawmakers pin the first week of September as the latest that something should pass before the Nov. 3 election. Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa says talks are slow, as lawmakers wait to see if the courts will clear up issues where Republicans and Democrats disagree.

Pittsburgh mayor overhauls how police handle civil protests
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
Pittsburgh’s mayor is putting new limits on dispatching police to civil protests and has halted the practice of having plainclothes officers in unmarked cars jump out and arrest people. Democratic Mayor Bill Peduto on Friday also ordered officers to stop wearing camouflage at protests. He’s planning to designate a commander to oversee police response to protests. Police handling of civil protests in Pittsburgh in recent months has drawn complaints, including over a “jump out” arrest of a demonstrator this weekend and the use of pepper spray to disburse protesters outside the mayor’s home Wednesday night.