Category: News

Federal inmate dies after being pepper sprayed by guards

Federal inmate dies after being pepper sprayed by guards
NEW YORK (AP) — The federal Bureau of Prisons says an inmate at a federal jail in New York City died after being pepper sprayed by officers in his cell. The bureau said in a statement that Jamel Floyd, a 35-year-old black man, barricaded himself inside his cell at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn at 10 a.m. Wednesday and used a metal object to break the cell-door window. Floyd was pepper sprayed by officers and later pronounced dead at a hospital. The cause of death is under investigation. Officials said it does not appear be related to COVID-19.

PA. Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 6/4/20: Beaver County Plus 5 Positive Cases, No additional Deaths

Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 537 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 73,942

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 4, that there are 537 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 73,942. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

There are 5,817 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 75 new deaths. County-specific information and a statewide map are available here.

Locally in Beaver County we are at 599 cases an increase of 5 cases. 4071 people have tested negative and we remain at 74.

“As Pennsylvania continues to move forward in the process to reopen, we need to remember that the threat from COVID-19 has not gone away,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “As counties move into the yellow and green phases, we must take personal responsibility to protect others. Wearing a mask, continuing to maintain social distancing, and washing your hands frequently are all steps we can take to help protect others, including our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our essential workers and our healthcare system.”

There are 618 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure, which are considered probable cases and not confirmed cases. There are 416,942 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

  • Nearly 1% are ages 0-4;
  • Nearly 1% are ages 5-12;
  • Nearly 2% are ages 13-18;
  • 6% are ages 19-24;
  • Nearly 37% are ages 25-49;
  • 25% are ages 50-64; and
  • 28% are ages 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 15,848 resident cases of COVID-19, and 2,740 cases among employees, for a total of 18,588 at 613 distinct facilities in 45 counties. Out of our total deaths, 3,895 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 5,601 of our total cases are in health care workers.

For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.

Non-life-sustaining businesses in the red phase are ordered to be closed and schools are closed statewide through the remainder of the academic year. Currently, 57 counties are in the yellow or green phase of reopening. The first 18 counties moved to green on May 29. All remaining red counties are expected to move to yellow by June 5.

1.9 million seek jobless aid even as re-openings slow layoffs

1.9 million seek jobless aid even as reopenings slow layoffs
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 1.9 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, evidence that many employers are still cutting jobs even as the gradual reopening of businesses has slowed the pace of layoffs. The total number of people who are receiving jobless aid rose slightly to 21.5 million, down from a peak of nearly 25 million two weeks ago but still at a historically high level. It shows that scattered rehiring is offsetting only some of the ongoing layoffs with the economy mired in a recession. The latest weekly number is still more than double the record high that prevailed before the viral outbreak.

Vote counting drags into 3rd day after Pennsylvania primary

Vote counting drags into 3rd day after Pennsylvania primary
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Counting an avalanche of mail-in votes began a third day in Pennsylvania as some races from Tuesday’s primary remained too close to call. The Associated Press had not called a number of races Thursday where the contest was close or had a large number of votes yet to be counted, or both. Those races included several where incumbent state lawmakers trailed and the only competitive primary among the statewide races, a six-way Democratic primary race for auditor general. Turnout passed 1.7 million, hitting 20% of Pennsylvania’s 8.6 million registered voters. Meanwhile, deadlines to accept mailed ballots were extended into next week in Philadelphia and six counties.

BF City Manager Charles Jones Talks About His Thoughts On Police Officers & Protests

“I’m very angry as an African-American. I’m equally angry as a former law enforcement officer.”

Those were the words of Beaver Falls City Manager Charles Jones, who joined Matt Drzik on A.M. Beaver County to discuss his thoughts on the death of George Floyd, whose death has sparked nearly two weeks of protests and even riots across America, and including those in Beaver Falls which Jones also provided insight into.

Jones, who has had 30+ years as a member of law enforcement, shared his views in regards to proper police protocol, the idea that “snitch culture” is an absurdity in the officer ranks as it is in citizen culture, and the way he believes the system between police and citizen can be repaired.

Jones also talked with Drzik about the recent demonstration that took place in Beaver Falls on May 31, commending the organizers for creating a peaceful protest and cooperating with city police to do so, and also providing insight to the protest that is to take place at Lt. Calvin Smith Park (“Cannon Park”) on June 6. He emphasized that all are welcome as long as they remain peaceful and lawful.

To listen to the full interview, click on the player below.

Assessors Will Be In Some Beaver County Neighborhoods Starting June 15, 2020

(File Photo)

(Beaver, Pa.) Beaver County Solicitor Garen Fedeles informed the Beaver County Board of Commissioners yesterday during their weekly work session that Tyler Technologies will be  out in some Beaver County communities starting on June 15, 2020.

Fedeles said that Tyler will be in Vanport, Beaver , Bridgewater and Rochester starting on June 15 and it should take approximately two to three weeks. He said they will also be going door to door to ask questions and they will not be asking to enter the house. They will be taking measurements and trying to get the most accurate assessment that they can. There will also be a website set up in the near future to address questions.

You can hear Fedeles report to the commissioners below:

Virginia governor to announce removal of Lee statue

Virginia governor to announce removal of Lee statue
By ALAN SUDERMAN and SARAH RANKIN Associated Press
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is expected to announce plans Thursday for the removal of an iconic statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from Richmond’s prominent Monument Avenue. A senior administration official told The Associated Press that the governor will direct the statue to be moved off its massive pedestal and put into storage while his administration seeks input on a new location. The move would be an extraordinary victory for civil rights activists, whose calls for the removal of that monument and others in this former capital of the Confederacy have been resisted for years.

Minneapolis officials estimate damage at $55 Million

By The Associated Press undefined

MINNEAPOLIS — Officials in Minneapolis say the looting and property damage that following the death of George Floyd has caused at least $55 million in destruction.
Vandals damaged or set fire to at least 220 buildings in the city where Floyd died, but that number is expected to go up, city officials said.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey will ask for state and federal aid to help rebuild after the civil unrest. Until that happens, community members are pitching in to support Minneapolis neighborhoods.
More than $1 million has been raised to help businesses in north Minneapolis, WCCO-TV reported. The West Broadway Business and Area Coalition says it will announce how they plan to use the money in the coming weeks.
The violence follows the death of Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck, ignoring Floyd’s cries that he couldn’t breathe.
Prosecutors upgraded charges against the officer, Derek Chauvin, to second-degree murder on Wednesday and charged three other officers with aiding and abetting in the case that has rocked the nation with protests over race and police brutality.

Intruder Killed in Home Invasion in Brentwood

(Brentwood, Pa.) Allegheny County detectives are investigating an incident that happened around 10 p.m. Wednesday June 3, 2020 on West Bellecrest Avenue in Brentwood.

Detectives said that a home invasion occurred and during the home invasion the intruder was shot and killed by the residents of the home.

The intruder was pronounced dead at the scene and has not been identified.

Autopsy report shows Floyd had tested positive for COVID-19

Autopsy report shows Floyd had tested positive for COVID-19
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A full autopsy of George Floyd, the handcuffed black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police, has been released and provides several clinical details, including that Floyd had previously tested positive for COVID-19. The 20-page report released by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office came after the coroner’s office released summary findings Monday that Floyd had a heart attack while being restrained by officers, and classified his May 25 death as a homicide. Bystander video showing Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck, ignoring Floyd’s pleas until he eventually stopped moving, has sparked nationwide protests. The report also said Floyd’s lungs appeared healthy but he had some narrowing of arteries in the heart.