Month: April 2020

Charley Family Shop’n Save officials presented $50,000 in food vouchers to the Westmoreland County Food Bank earlier this month, in the form of 2,500 vouchers valued at $20 each.

“It’s a paper coupon that’s good at any of our three stores,” Vice President Tom Charley said. “We knew that we wanted to help out the food bank. People need food right now, and we’re in the public’s eye when it comes to that, so if we can help out, we wanted to do that.”

The Charley family has one store in Murrysville and two in Greensburg.

Food bank executive director Jennifer Miller said the vouchers will be distributed to its partner agencies in the Murrysville and Greensburg areas.

“They won’t necessarily be packed into the food boxes, but the volunteers there will have them to give out,” Miller said.

Source: Charley Family Shop’n Save donates $50,000 in food vouchers to Westmoreland food bank | TribLIVE.com

President Trump said Thursday that his former White House aide Mike Flynn is “essentially exonerated” of lying to the FBI after a new document release.Trump told reporters in the Oval

Source: Trump says Michael Flynn is ‘essentially exonerated’ of lying to FBI

Seventy veterans living in a care home in the US state of Massachusetts have died after contracting coronavirus, officials said.

The outbreak is the deadliest reported in a long-term care home in the US.

A nurse at the facility claimed understaffing had contributed to the spread as employees moved from one unit to another.

The US has more than one million confirmed cases of coronavirus – more than any other country.

Nursing homes across the US and in other parts of the world have been particularly badly hit by the pandemic.

Source: Coronavirus kills 70 veterans at Massachusetts care home – BBC News

BETHEL PARK (KDKA) — Bethel Park Police have charged three people with breaking into vending machines all over the Pittsburgh area.

Police say Larry Randolph, Jeffrey Ledonne and Angalique Visconti admitted to working together to steal from machines for several weeks.

(Photo Credit: Bethel Park Police/Facebook)

Bethel Park officers arrested them in the early morning hours of Wednesday, saying they had a change box from one of the machines, coins, drugs and tools for burglaries.

They are facing charges of theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, criminal conspiracy, criminal mischief, loitering and prowling at nighttime and other drug violations.

Source: Police Charge 3 Suspects With Breaking Into Vending Machines Across Pittsburgh Area – CBS Pittsburgh

Macy’s, one of the biggest department store chains in the United States, announced an ambitious plan on Thursday to reopen all of its 775 locations, including Bloomingdales and Bluemercury, in the next six to eight weeks, the latest sign of how eager the nation’s largest retailers are to return to business.

The reopening plan will start on Monday with 68 stores in Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Macy’s will reopen another 50 locations on May 11. Macy’s temporarily closed its stores on March 18 because of the coronavirus pandemic, causing the majority of its sales to disappear.

Macy’s expects that its reopened stores will only bring in about 15 to 20 percent of their typical business at first and “slowly build” from there, the company’s chief executive, Jeff Gennette, said during a presentation. He acknowledged that it was an open question as to whether shoppers would return.

Source: Macy’s Plans to Reopen All of Its 775 Stores in 6 to 8 Weeks – The New York Times

The transit system that never sleeps is taking a snooze.

New York’s 24/7 subway system will shutter nightly from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. to facilitate coronavirus cleaning, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday in a historic move.

“You never had a challenge of disinfecting every train every 24 hours,” said Cuomo in an Albany press briefing, a problem he earlier this week directed the MTA to solve. “It can best be done by stopping train service from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. every night.”

The nightly closures — the likes of which have never been imposed for an extended period of time on the system — will take effect in the early hours of May 6 and don’t yet have an established end date.

Cuomo announced the bombshell news in consultation with Mayor Bill de Blasio, and amid a crisis of exploding homelessness and deteriorating conditions in the subway system.

Long Island Railroad and Metro-North trains will also receive daily cleanings going forward, but without any planned service changes.

The “massive undertaking” is expected to impact an estimated 11,000 riders nightly, according to Cuomo and the MTA, who said buses, vans and for-hire vehicles will be provided to pick up the slack.

Source: NYC subways will close overnight for coronavirus cleanings: Cuomo

“What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said.

Source: FDA reportedly will approve COVID-19 treatment remdesivir

In 2017, the state Labor and Industry Department agreed to pay Geographic Solutions of Florida $35 million for a new unemployment system.

It appears that the new system has yet to go online.

Source: Investigation finds Pennsylvania unemployment system was scheduled to be replaced two years ago

The United States passed 60,000 coronavirus deaths on Wednesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, more than three months earlier than had been predicted by a model the White House has frequently used.

Until recently, the 60,000 mark was touted by President Trump as a measure of success.

Just 10 days ago, Trump said that as many as 60,000 Americans were expected to die from the coronavirus. That was far below earlier estimates of 100,000 to 200,000 from the White House coronavirus task force, and the high range of over 2 million predicted by British researchers on the assumption that no social distancing measures would be implemented.

“Now we’re going toward 50 — I’m hearing, or 60,000 people. One is too many. I always say it,” Trump said during a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House. “But we would have had millions of deaths instead of — it looks like we’ll be at about a 60,000 mark, which is 40,000 less than the lowest number thought of.”

Source: U.S. death toll passes 60,000 mark Trump said would mark success in coronavirus fight – AOL News

Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home in Brooklyn was cited Wednesday with failing to control the smell after they stored dozens of bodies in the back of unrefrigerated U-Haul trucks.

• Around 100 bodies were found stacked in two rental trucks outside the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home in Brooklyn on Wednesday
• Police investigated after neighbors reported a foul smell and of seeing stacks of bodies being loaded into the back of unrefrigerated U-Haul trucks
• There were 50 bodies being stored in each of the trucks 
• Neighbors described gruesome scenes at the home as it struggled to cope with the surge of bodies caused by the coronavirus outbreak in New York City
• The facility said it was forced to store bodies in the trucks when its freezer broke
• No criminal charges were brought but the funeral home has been cited for failure to control the smell 
• Funeral homes across the have been overwhelmed in recent weeks as the daily death toll reached dramatic heights during the coronavirus pandemic
• Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

Source: Dozens of bodies found stored in U-Haul trucks outside Brooklyn funeral home | Daily Mail Online

New information has emerged in recent days about a sexual assault allegation against the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, made by Tara Reade, a former staff assistant in Biden’s Senate office. For the first time, someone has gone on the record to say that Reade detailed the allegation to her decades ago in the same way Reade is describing it now.

A former neighbor of Reade’s named Lynda LaCasse told NPR on Wednesday about a conversation the two had approximately 25 years ago regarding the alleged assault. The revelation, first reported by Business Insider, comes with increasing pressure on Democrats to respond, as well as calls from Republicans for the accusation to be examined more openly.

LaCasse said she remembers stepping outside her home in California to sneak a cigarette away from her kids sometime in 1995 or early 1996, when she was joined by Reade on her front stoop. They were emotional, discussing custody issues and violence, and she recalls Reade then mentioning Joe Biden, a man she was not particularly familiar with at the time.

Source: New Information Emerges Around Biden Sexual Assault Allegation : NPR

(CNN)Norwegian multimillionaire Tom Hagen has been arrested on suspicion of killing his wife, Anne-Elisabeth Hagen, who disappeared 18 months ago.

Hagen’s lawyer denies the property and energy mogul was involved, and he has not yet been charged with any crimes.

Anne-Elisabeth Hagen, 69, disappeared in October 2018 and the family said a ransom had been demanded for her release, but on Tuesday Norwegian police arrested Hagen, 70, on suspicion of killing her, according to public broadcaster NRK.

Source: Tom Hagen, Norwegian tycoon, arrested on suspicion of wife’s murder – CNN

The facility, located in Robards, in Henderson County, will be closed for at least four days, per a statement from the plant’s manager.

Source: Tyson Foods processing plant in Kentucky the latest to close following reported coronavirus outbreak

ALLEGHENY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Police are investigating an alleged attack near a Westmoreland County walking trail.

Allegheny Township police are checking surveillance video after a woman said she was assaulted by a man last month near Tredway Trail, according to our news partners at TribLIVE.com.

The woman told police she was approached in the parking area near the Braeburn Docks.

Police don’t have any suspects, but tell TribLIVE.com investigators are working with the woman to develop a sketch.The woman was not taken to the hospital.

Source: Police investigating attack near Westmoreland Co. walking trail

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents seized a shipment of 1,600 counterfeit Roku remotes in Pittsburgh.

(Photo Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

Officials say the shipment of counterfeit remotes — worth $80,000 — arrived from China on April 13.

The remotes were headed to an address in Butler County.

“Customs and Border Protection officers remain committed to protecting the intellectual property rights of businesses while protecting consumers against potentially harmful counterfeit products,” said Kathleen Killian Schafer, CBP’s acting port director for the Port of Pittsburgh. “Consumers should be aware that counterfeit goods pose a health and safety threat and should protect their families by purchasing safe, authentic goods from reputable vendors.”

Source: Pittsburgh Customs Agents Seize 1,600 Counterfeit Roku Remotes Worth $80,000 – CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH —

Governor Tom Wolf’s administration is expected to announce on Friday which parts of Pennsylvania will begin reopening on May 8.

However, the state is still determining how regions would be grouped when it comes to relaxing restrictions in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The state health department said Friday’s announcement will also come with a benchmark for widespread testing throughout the state.Meanwhile, PNC Bank is facing a class action lawsuit in which one of PNC’s customers claims the bank favored existing customers for the Paycheck Protection Program Loans that are part of Congress’ response to the pandemic.By law, banks are required to handle those loan applications on a first-come, first-serve basis.

PNC Bank shared a statement with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on Wednesday morning, writing, “We have no comment on the lawsuit. All of us at PNC are squarely focused on supporting our customers during this challenging time. This includes efforts to process and register as many additional small business loans as possible with the next round of funding, which has been authorized for the Paycheck Protection Program.”

Source: Morning update: New indications of when parts of Pennsylvania may reopen

Gilead Sciences Inc. GILD, +3.80% on Wednesday morning announced data from two clinical trials testing its experimental drug remdesivir in severely ill COVID-19 patients. The drugmaker’s stock was halted in premarket trading on Wednesday in advance of company disclosures about remdesivir’s performance in the studies. Gilead said an open-label Phase 3 trial testing the therapy in severely ill patients found that those taking a 5-day or 10-day course of treatment led to similar results. At least 52% of participants taking either dosing regimen were discharged from the hospital after 14 days of treatment, and at least 53% of those patients were reported as reaching “clinical recovery.” “Multiple concurrent studies are helping inform whether remdesivir is a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19,” Gilead chief medical officer Merdad Parsey said in a statement. “The study demonstrates the potential for some patients to be treated with a 5-day regimen, which could significantly expand the number of patients who could be treated with our current supply of remdesivir.” Source: Gilead says shorter remdesivir regimen is effective and drug met main goal in government study – MarketWatch

With a little bit of luck and persistence, a Colorado man has hit the jackpot twice after playing the same numbers for 30 years.

PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) — With a little bit of luck and persistence, a Colorado man has hit the jackpot twice after playing the same numbers for 30 years.

Colorado Lottery officials identified “Joe B.” as the winner of two $1 million Powerball jackpots on March 25. He claimed the winnings on Friday, KUSA-TV reported.

CALIFORNIA LOTTERY’S $212,500 SCRATCHERS GIVEAWAY ON ‘ELLEN’ MAY BE INVESTIGATED FOR ‘MISUSE OF FUNDS’

The winning tickets were sold on Lake Avenue in Pueblo at two different stores, about a mile apart, officials said.

Source: Colorado man a two-time $1M lottery winner – on same day | Fox News

Vehicle was discovered on Tuesday morning

The vehicle was spotted Tuesday morning in the water off of Greenwalt Street in Unity Township.

Upon recovering the vehicle, police identified it as being stolen from a previous incident.

Anyone with information about the theft of the vehicle should call police.

Source: Stolen vehicle found in lake in Westmoreland County

Food bank offering drive-thru distribution at local pantries

DELMONT, Pa. —

The boxes sit stacked on pallets throughout the warehouse of the Westmoreland County Food Bank. Thanks to more than 1,000 volunteers, those boxes will soon be heading towards an area food pantry to be given to a family in need.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, officials at the Westmoreland County Food Bank knew they needed to adjust the way food was distributed. It’s a task that hasn’t been easy, as the need has continued to grow.

Source: Westmoreland County Food Bank adjusts distribution process amid coronavirus concerns

A Rhode Island woman charged this month with prostitution told Greensburg police a city woman paid for her to fly to Western Pennsylvania for a visit and to “make some money,” police said.

Greensburg police this week arrested Nicole Vickers, 28, on charges that she was promoting prostitution following an undercover sting on April 28. Investigators said they responded to an advertisement on the website, “Skip the Games,” which police allege is used to promote prostitution.

Also arrested was Nicole M. Moynihan, 32, of Greensburg. She is charged with promoting prostitution and running a prostitution business.

Vickers told police she lives in Rhode Island, but Moynihan paid for her flight and transportation to Greensburg so she could “visit her and make some money,” according to court documents.

Source: Greensburg police charge 2 women with promoting prostitution | TribLIVE.com

If Nancy Pelosi didn’t have double standards, she wouldn’t have any standards at all. At least, that’s what the speaker of the House’s Monday endorsement of Joe Biden for president suggests.

“Now more than ever, we need a forward-looking, battle-tested leader who will fight for the people: a president with the values, experience, and the strategic thinking to bring our nation together and build a better, fairer world for our children,” Pelosi said as she unveiled her endorsement in a video message. “I’m proud to endorse Joe Biden for president. A leader who is the personification of hope and courage, values, authenticity, and integrity.”

Source: Nancy Pelosi’s Biden endorsement reeks of #MeToo hypocrisy

Executives from the companies in recent days tentatively settled on the timeline following talks with United Auto Workers (UAW) leaders and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office, the Journal said on Monday, citing people familiar with the plans.

Source: GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler target May 18 U.S. restart date: WSJ