NASA moon-landing tech hitches ride to space on Bezos rocket

NASA moon-landing tech hitches ride to space on Bezos rocket
By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Jeff Bezos’ space company has launched a rocket with NASA’s newest moon-landing tech on board. The New Shepard rocket blasted off from a remote corner of Texas on Tuesday. The entire flight by the company Blue Origin lasted just 10 minutes, barely skimming space with a peak altitude of 66 miles. The booster landed vertically back at the launch complex, giving NASA the opportunity to test navigation equipment that could help put astronauts back on the moon by 2024. This particular rocket has now launched seven times, a record for Blue Origin. The capsule, meanwhile, parachuted onto the desert floor with science experiments, including 1.2 million tomato seeds that will be distributed to schoolchildren.

McConnell slates October revote on GOP COVID relief plan

McConnell slates October revote on GOP COVID relief plan
By ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says that he’s scheduling a procedural vote on a GOP COVID-19 relief bill for next week. He says aid to hard-hit businesses shouldn’t be held up by gridlock involving other aid proposals. The Kentucky Republican says in a statement Tuesday that the Senate will take a test vote Oct. 19 when the chamber returns on Monday. Democrats filibustered a GOP-drafted aid bill last month and recent talks on a larger deal with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., fell apart this past weekend, probably for good. McConnell’s announcement came as President Donald Trump continues to agitate for “stimulus,” saying that Republicans should “go big” rather than the limited approach they’ve been advocating.

PA loosens rent relief rules

PA loosens rent relief rules
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania is extending the application deadline and changing the rules of a key rent and mortgage relief program in an effort to boost participation by landlords and keep more people in their homes during the pandemic. State officials say some landlords have been reluctant to apply because of a $750-per-month cap on payments. Gov. Tom Wolf announced Tuesday that under the new rules, the program will allow landlords and renters to enter into repayment plans for any remaining balance.

FBI: Groups also discussed kidnapping Virginia governor

FBI: Groups also discussed kidnapping Virginia governor
By DAVID EGGERT and KATHLEEN FOODY Associated Press
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — An FBI agent testified during a court hearing in Michigan that members of anti-government paramilitary groups discussed kidnapping Virginia’s governor during a June meeting in Ohio. Special Agent Richard Trask was part of the investigation that led to six men being arrested and charged last week with plotting to abduct Michigan’s Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer. Seven other men face state terrorism charges. Trask on Tuesday did not name Virginia’s Democratic governor, Ralph Northam, during his testimony in a federal courtroom in Grand Rapids. He said members of anti-government groups from multiple states attended the meeting. Five men accused in a plot to kidnap Whitmer had a hearing on whether they should be detained before trial.

Apple unveils new iPhones for faster 5G wireless networks

Apple unveils new iPhones for faster 5G wireless networks
By MICHAEL LIEDTKE and TALI ARBEL AP Technology Writers
Apple unveiled four new iPhones equipped with technology for use with faster new 5G wireless networks. Starting prices range from almost $700 to almost $1100; the phones will be available starting later in October. Apple has one of the most loyal and affluent customer bases in the world, which has many analysts betting the next wave of phones will sell well. Apple boasted about the 5G capabilities, although promised ultrafast speeds remain uncommon, given that 5G networks are still being built out. In a move that may annoy some consumers, Apple will no longer include charging adapters with new phones.

How long can I expect a COVID-19 illness to last?

How long can I expect a COVID-19 illness to last?
By The Associated Press undefined
Most coronavirus patients have mild to moderate illness and recover quickly. Illness generally lasts for about two weeks, but that can vary widely. Older, sicker patients tend to take longer to recover. That includes those with high blood pressure and other chronic diseases. One U.S. study found that almost half of non-hospitalized patients over age 50 still had symptoms at least two weeks after becoming ill. Among those sick enough to be hospitalized, a study in Italy found that 87% of patients still had symptoms two months after getting sick. Lingering symptoms included fatigue and shortness of breath.

Resuming campaign travel, Trump to return to Pennsylvania

Resuming campaign travel, Trump to return to Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to travel to Johnstown, his first visit to Pennsylvania following his positive coronavirus test a few days after he was last in the battleground state. Tuesday evening’s rally is at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, in a coal and steel county that delivered a 37 percentage-point victory for Trump in the 2016 election. Trump’s stop in Johnstown follows Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s visit there on September 30. Biden was also in Erie on Saturday and will attend an ABC News town hall in Philadelphia on Thursday. Trump won Pennsylvania narrowly in 2016 and Democrats hope Biden’s outreach to the middle class will yield results in places like Cambria County, which used to turn out for Democrats.

Holiday shopping gets early start with October Prime Day

Holiday shopping gets early start with October Prime Day
By JOSEPH PISANI AP Retail Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Halloween is still weeks away, but retailers are hoping you’ll start your holiday shopping now. The big push is coming from Amazon, which is holding its annual Prime Day sales event Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s the first time Prime Day has been held in the fall, after Amazon postponed it from July due to pandemic. Walmart, Best Buy and Target are also offering online deals on TVs, toys and other items over the same two days. There’s good reason for the early start. Retailers are worried that a rush of online orders could lead to shipping delays in November and December. And stores want to avoid big crowds inside their stores during the pandemic.

AUDIO: Justin Fortunato Talks About Upcoming Lincoln Park Shows, Student Programs

The Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center will, in partnership with Broadway On Demand, be presenting “Alfred Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play” on October 18 & 19 at 7:30pm.

And that’s not all.

Justin Fortunato, who serves as the Artistic Producing Director at Lincoln Park, spoke with Matt Drzik on A.M. Beaver County about this weekend’s upcoming show; the second in a series of four shows following the “War Of The Worlds” show back in September.

Fortunato also talked about the two upcoming Holiday shows that will follow this weekend’s dive into mystery, and also provided an update on the student-run shows that will soon be streaming for free to Lincoln Park’s social media platforms.

For more information on the upcoming shows click here. To listen to the full interview with Matt and Justin, click on the player below!