UNDATED (AP) — Tests led by U.S. government scientists show that the new coronavirus can live in the air for several hours and on some surfaces for up to three days. Their work, published on Wednesday, suggests that the virus can spread through the air as well as from touching things that were contaminated by others who have it. Experts say it shows the importance of the hygiene steps health officials recommend, such as washing your hands and not touching your face. The virus can live up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is expected to announce an executive order insisting on American-made medical supplies and pharmaceuticals in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Thats’ according to a person familiar with the plan who wasn’t authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. Word of the planned announcement comes amid another tumultuous day in the crisis. Confirmed cases in the United States are topping 1,000, fluctuations in the financial markets are continuing and Washington is straining to respond. The White House is also considering a host of more aggressive responses, including a declaration of a national disaster.

ROME (AP) — The World Health Organization is declaring that the global coronavirus crisis is now a pandemic. The assessment comes as Italy is weighing even tighter restrictions on daily life and has announced billions in financial relief to cushion economic shocks from the coronavirus. Premier Giuseppe Conte says he will consider requests to toughen an already extraordinary lockdown. The hardest-hit region of Lombardy is pushing for a shutdown of nonessential businesses and public transportation on top of travel and social restrictions. The death toll in Italy has risen to 631. In the U.S., more than 1,000 people have been infected.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Bernie Sanders is moving ahead with his Democratic presidential campaign. He told reporters in Burlington, Vermont, on Wednesday that he’s not quitting despite key primary losses to Joe Biden the night before. The Vermont senator’s path to the presidential nomination considerably narrowed after decisive losses to Biden in Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi. He did not address supporters publicly Tuesday night. Pressure has been growing on Sanders to end his presidential bid and work to unify the party against President Donald Trump. But he’s mapping a path forward.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A task force set up three years ago is making recommendations about how to improve the process of reentering outside society after prisoners finish their sentences. The Pennsylvania Reentry Council released findings on Wednesday that address housing, work, health, education and other challenges for former inmates.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Two former Pennsylvania constables have been charged with filing nearly 700 fraudulent invoices and stealing over $130,000. Prosecutors in Allegheny County say 48-year-old Anthony Cioppa Jr. made nearly $76,000 and 46-year-old Steven Wright made over $56,000 by cheating the system. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the county district attorney’s office filed charges of conspiracy and theft by deception Friday against Cioppa and Wright for allegedly filing 673 fraudulent invoices and stealing over $132,000. Cioppa’s attorney declined to comment Tuesday and said he was evaluating whether a conflict of interest will prevent further representation. Officials could not confirm whether Wright has an attorney.

UNDATED (AP) — A mother is suing a Pittsburgh hospital after she says it collected and drug tested her urine without her consent and reported a false positive result to the county’s child protective services, launching a child abuse investigation. Cherell Harrington gave birth at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-Magee Women’s Hospital in November 2017. She also names Allegheny County as a defendant after what she says was an invasive investigation that included contacting her older child’s school despite her baby testing negative for drugs. It’s the second lawsuit for UPMC over the practice of reporting unconfirmed positive drug tests and one of a handful filed around the country.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Cases of the new coronavirus crept into new counties in Pennsylvania as more schools and prisons took precautions and Philadelphia’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade was canceled. Bucks County late Tuesday night confirmed its first two cases of COVID-19. That’s the disease caused by the virus. That boosted the statewide total to at least 14 confirmed cases, amid growing reports of people getting sick while in Pennsylvania. The state’s health secretary isn’t recommending that large gatherings be canceled. But Philadelphia officials are urging people not to attend events of more than 5,000 attendees, including professional sporting events.

The Hopewell School Board is looking for a new member…now that one of its members is resigning. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

A free Naloxone training session is being held next week in Beaver Falls. The Heritage Valley Family Medicine Center is presenting the program March 19th at the Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls along with Beaver County Behavioral Health, Drug, and Alcohol. Those taking part in the program will be shown the signs of opioid overdose and will learn how to administer Naloxone in an emergency situation.