At Sea: Passengers off California Await Virus Test Results

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Passengers aboard a cruise ship off the California coast have been instructed to stay in their cabins as they await test results that could show whether the coronavirus is spreading among the 3,500 people aboard. The results are expected Friday. On Thursday, a military helicopter crew lowered test kits onto the 951-foot (290-meter) Grand Princess by rope and later retrieved them for analysis at a lab as the vessel lay at sea off San Francisco, under orders to keep its distance from shore. The Princess cruise line says 45 people were selected for testing.

Today’s ‘Business Minute’ Report Sponsored by Minuteman Press

….AND NOW IT’S TIME FOR THE ‘BUSINESS MINUTE’ REPORT…BROUGHT YOU BY MINUTEMAN PRESS:

The first-ever Primanti Bros. Restautant and Bar in Beaver County opened its doors on Wednesday. The restaurant is located near the Walmart on Brodhead Road in Monaca. The new location gave away free sandwiches for a year to the first 100 customers through the door. The new Primanti’s hosted a by-invitation-only fundraiser Tuesday night for the Monaca Community Development Corp.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hiring jumped in February as employers added 273,000 jobs, evidence that the economy was in strong shape before the coronavirus began to sweep through the U.S. The Labor Department said Friday that the unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, matching a 50-year low, down from 3.6% in the previous month. The job gain comes from a survey of payrolls in the second week of February, so the healthy gains pre-date the viral outbreak.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was up one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 4.7 percent in January, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – was up 11,000 over the month to a record high of 6,549,000 due to gains in both employment and unemployment.

 

 

Gas prices in the Beaver County region dropped this week, according to Triple-A: The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is six cents cheaper this week at $2.662 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in Beaver:  $2.726 .

UNDATED (AP) — The Dow is plunging again and other major indexes like the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq are suffering greater percentage declines. On Friday, the economic repercussions of the spreading coronavirus have become clearer. However, no one knows how long it will go on, and that is causing massive disruptions in industries ranging from airlines and tech, to movie theater chains and amusement parks. Cruise ship operators may be the hardest hit. Passengers and crew members aboard a cruise ship being held off the California coast are awaiting coronavirus test results Friday. The Grand Princess lays at anchor near San Francisco on Thursday after a traveler from a previous voyage died of the disease and at least four others became infected.

….AND THAT’S THE ‘BUSINESS MINUTE’ REPORT…BROUGHT YOU BY MINUTEMAN PRESS.

 

Several Beaver County School Districts Call for Charter Reform

Several Beaver County school districts are calling for charter school reforms. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has details. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

Trump Defends His Rhetoric in 1st TV Town Hall of 2020

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — President Donald Trump defended his administration’s response to the coronavirus and his confrontational style of name-calling political opponents as he fielded questions from the public in his first TV town hall of the 2020 election cycle. Trump regularly calls his top Democratic presidential opponents “Sleepy Joe” and “Crazy Bernie.” Asked whether he could deliver his message without the controversial rhetoric, the president replied: “When they hit us, we have to hit back … You can’t turn your cheek.”

Pittsburgh Officer Shot, Suspect Dead in Exchange of Gunfire

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Authorities have released the name of the suspect who was shot and killed in an exchange of gunfire that left a Pittsburgh police detective wounded. The Allegheny County medical examiner says 25-year-old Elijah Brewer died at a hospital Thursday night following the shooting, which took place during a traffic stop on East Ohio Street. Allegheny County Police say four detectives had stopped the vehicle when there was an exchange of gunfire between the officers and the sole passenger. The detective was shot in the leg. Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich says he was taken to a hospital where he is alert and recovering.

BREAKING NEWS: PA Governor Tom Wolf Signs Emergency Disaster Declaration Due To Coronavirus

Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf has signed an emergency disaster declaration due to the coronavirus. This comes after two people were confirmed to have contracted the virus in Pennsylvania.“It’s imperative that we continue to respond quickly and accurately to the coronavirus and its introduction into Pennsylvania,” Gov. Wolf said. “First and foremost, we want all Pennsylvanians to be safe and remain healthy and follow the practical advice of the Department of Health on ways to protect yourself from any virus and that’s by washing hands, covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough and staying home if you are sick.

Aliquippa City Council Approves Grant Application for New Playground

Aliquippa City Council is moving forward with plans to bring a new playground to the Plan 11 neighborhood. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has details. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

BREAKING: Hopewell School Board Notifies Residents: No Transition Next School Year

BREAKING NEWS: The Hopewell School Board has notified residents: No transition for fourth graders next school year. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano explains. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

BREAKING NEWS: Gov. Wolf Confirms First 2 Cases Of Coronavirus In PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s governor says the state has confirmed its first 2 coronavirus cases. Gov. Tom Wolf says the state’s first two cases of coronavirus have been identified, one in Delaware County and one in Wayne County. The two people are quarantined in their homes, Wolf said. No other information on the people affected has been released. Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine says the cases are not related to a case that closed schools in Bucks County. Classes were cancelled Friday at five schools because some members of its school community were exposed to a separate confirmed case of COVID-19.

Winter Weather Returns Before A Warm Weekend

WEATHER FORECAST FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 6TH, 2020

 

TODAY – INCREASING CLOUDS WITH PERIODS OF SHOWERS
THIS AFTERNOON. HIGH – 43.

TONIGHT – CLOUDY. A FEW FLURRIES OR SNOW SHOWERS
POSSIBLE. LOW – 28.

SATURDAY – SOME CLOUDS IN THE MORNING FOLLOWED
MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES IN THE AFTERNOON.
HIGH – 45.

SUNDAY – MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES. HIGH NEAR 60.