Republicans leap to reopen economy; Democrats more cautious
By MEG KINNARD Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Mostly Republican governors in a handful of states are racing ahead with reboots to their economy before they have met key health benchmarks recommended to control the coronavirus outbreak. Their approach stands in contrast to numerous Democratic governors who continue to maintain a cautious approach to reopening and have said they will base their decisions primarily on public health data. Governors pushing to fast-track their economic rebounds say they don’t want to endanger their residents, but numerous public health experts say that is what could happen if they don’t slow down.

Trump set to sign bill with nearly $500B more in virus aid
By ANDREW TAYLOR and ALAN FRAM Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will be holding a signing ceremony Friday for a bill providing a nearly $500 billion infusion of coronavirus spending. It’s aimed at rushing new relief to employers and hospitals buckling under the strain of a pandemic that has claimed almost 50,000 American lives and one in six U.S. jobs. Congress approved the spending almost unanimously on Thursday. House lawmakers gathered in Washington for the first time since March 27, adopting stricter social distancing rules while aiming to prove they can do their work despite the COVID-19 crisis. Easy passage of the measure belies a potentially bumpier path ahead for future legislation.

(Pittsburgh,Pa.) With Gov. Wolf setting a plan to reopen Pennsylvania in phases the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has come up with a plan to offer some sacraments with restrictions. Weddings, funerals and confession are the sacraments being addressed by the diocese.

• Weddings: They can be celebrated with no more than 10 people, including the officiant. Couples are advised that once the ritual of matrimony is celebrated, it cannot be repeated, so a Mass of Thanksgiving sometime after the actual wedding ceremony can be planned if the couple wishes for more than 10 people gather.
• Funerals: In exceptional circumstances, funerals with a Mass can be scheduled, but with a limit of 10 people or less. The diocese noted that cemeteries are still closed for public interments.
• Confession: The Sacrament of Penance can be celebrated, but only outdoors, either in parking lots or another place where social distancing is respected. It cannot be done in churches, rectories or any parish buildings.

Carrying out the directives will be at the discretion of individual parish administrators, according to the diocese. People should contact their pastor with questions.

Until further notice, church buildings are not being reopened and public celebrations of Mass continues to be suspended.

The Changes take effect immediately.

 

Story and photos by Mark Peterson.

(Monaca, PA)  The brief sunshine on Thursday morning wasn’t the only reason people were smiling  along Wagner Road in Center Township.  The weekly free food distribution by Faith Restorations Food Pantry may have also played a part.  With a high number of local residents suddenly without work, and in many cases without paychecks or unemployment compensation yet  due to the COVID-19 business shutdown, the amount of food being given away has doubled in recent days.  On Thursday, John Leonard, a volunteer with Faith Restorations, paused unloading a truck full of donated food and hopped down off of a fork lift to offer an observation about the recent spike in the need area families now have for the  food.

Faith Restorations Food Pantry relies on donations to supply the food, both cash and actual food donations.  Sean Minahan and Michael Baux  from Sodexo Food Service at The University of Pittsburgh had arrived earlier yesterday morning to the warehouse with a truck full of much needed food.  It seems that with all of the Pitt students home taking classes online,  Minahan no longer has to plan dining options and meals for thousands of hungry students every day, so this was a perfect match of time and resources.

Around 3,200 families are now being served by Faith Restorations Food Pantry. Everyone is welcome.  Distribution schedule is as follows: Mondays beginning around 9 A.M. for Veterans.  The general public can take advantage of the free food distribution on Tuesday evenings starting at 4:30 P.M. and also on Thursday mornings beginning at 10 A.M.  Leonard commented that the need is so great right now that many times, cars will begin to line up four or five hours early.  Indeed on Thursday, vehicles were lined up all the way out on to Route 18 in front of Wal Mart and heading down the hill toward Monaca.    Once open however, the assembly line style process was pretty efficient with two lines of cars quickly passing through and dozens of volunteers dropping prepared boxes of food into the awaiting hatchbacks of cars.

Providing much needed free food to is something that has an effect that still amazes John Leonard.

Faith Restorations Food Pantry can be reached at 724-709-7718,  or click here for more information about the organization’s mission.

 

 

 

Swing-state Republicans pin virus fallout on Democrats
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — With legions out of work, Republicans across the critical battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin are increasingly laying blame for the economic wreckage of the coronavirus outbreak on the stay-at-home orders or business shutdowns imposed by Democratic governors. They are ramping up a political strategy that is likely to shape the debate in the run-up to the presidential election. It comes as some governors, mostly President Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans, are beginning to ease their orders and as the GOP has started to position itself as the defender of the economy, even if it means taking health risks.

Throwback Thursday: Steelers rare first-round spectators
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers were expected to spend the first round of the NFL draft as spectators. The team traded its first pick in this year’s draft last September in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. He earned All-Pro honors in 2019 thanks to a series of dynamic plays that helped keep the injury-ravaged club in the playoff hunt until the final weeks of the season. Pittsburgh likely won’t be on the clock until the middle of the second round, where it has the 49th overall pick.

Lawmakers, many in masks, debate mammoth new aid package
By ANDREW TAYLOR and ALAN FRAM Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) —  A nearly $500 billion measure helping businesses and hospitals cope with the coronavirus’ devastation is edging toward House passage. Many lawmakers were wearing face masks and scarfs as they met to consider the measure on Thursday. The package is headed toward certain, overwhelming approval later in the day. That would send the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature. The Senate approved the legislation Tuesday. But partisan divides remain over the legislation. Republicans complained Democrats had delayed the original version of bill, which included only money for small businesses. Democrats ended up winning more money for small businesses and hospitals.

At least 7 dead as storms hit Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana
MADILL, Okla. (AP) — Severe weather is blowing across the South after apparent tornadoes tore through parts of Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. At least seven people have been killed, including a factory worker whose body was found a quarter mile from where an apparent tornado struck the factory in southern Oklahoma. A Louisiana man was swept away in flood waters after going out to grab a trash can, and a woman was killed on a bridge. Three more died when apparent tornado touched down near Onalaska, Texas. More than 150,000 customers are without power.

Matzie: More than $51,000 in funding to equip students for remote learning during pandemic

 

AMBRIDGE, April 23 – State grants totaling $51,200 will help put computers and other remote-learning tools into the hands of students who are unable to afford them, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today.

 Matzie said the Continuity of Education and Equity grants – including $46,200 to the Aliquippa School District and $5,000 for the Rochester Area School District – are vital to ensure remote learning continues for students in these districts.

 “Online lessons are an excellent way to keep our students learning during the pandemic, but they’re only effective if kids have the equipment they need to access them,” Matzie said. “The whole point of public education is to put kids on an even playing field and give them a chance to succeed, regardless of their household income.

 “Securing this funding is going to help make that happen by ensuring that access to education isn’t a matter of whose family can afford a laptop or tablet.”

 The CEEG grants are administered by the Department of Education and designed to help provide access and inclusion for all learners by bridging the gap for students who are currently limited in their ability to participate in continuity of education. The grants may be used to purchase computer equipment, such as laptops, tablets and internet hot spots, or used to provide instructional materials, such as paper lessons and coursework. 

Schools with the highest percentages of students lacking access to resources were given priority in receiving these grants.

Click the Play button below to hear News Correspondent Sandy Giordano’s Report: