Western PA News

Source: Nancy Pelosi’s HEROES Act Gives $350M to 50 Richest Zip Codes – Foundation for Economic Education

Nancy Pelosi’s HEROES Act Gives $350M to 50 Richest Zip Codes – Foundation for Economic Education

At some point, when the election chaos is finally settled, Congress will likely turn to passing another COVID-19 stimulus/relief bill. (Despite the last one being plagued by rampant fraud and dysfunction). One starting point for negotiations will be the “HEROES Act,” a $2.2 trillion bill the House passed in October on a party-line vote by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and her fellow Democrats.

One of the most significant aspects of the HEROES Act is that it allocates nearly $700 billion in federal money for state, local, and tribal governments.

Proponents say this gives localities the funds they need to pay emergency responders and fund programs necessary to protect their communities. Critics point out that much of this money is used to “bail out” blue states that were already mismanaging their budgets and running up large unfunded pension programs before the pandemic.

Indeed, the left-leaning Brookings Institution has projected that “state and local government revenues will decline $155 billion in 2020, $167 billion in 2021, and $145 billion in 2022.” Simple math shows us that the CARES Act gives states and localities hundreds of billions more in federal money than they are actually projected to lose due to pandemic-related decreases in revenue.

This alone should be a red flag. Yet a new analysis also reveals that Pelosi and her fellow “progressives” snuck millions of dollars in cash for some of the nation’s wealthiest zip codes into their emergency COVID-19 package.

NYC restaurants lose money, battle with customers over 10 p.m. curfew

If you thought restaurateurs were unhappy about New York’s 10 p.m. dining curfew, you should see their customers.

Big Apple eatery owners say revenues dropped by roughly 30 percent over the weekend as they were forced to comply with the governor’s latest efforts to rein in rising coronavirus cases.

Adding to their misery — they’ve been turned into bouncers who are forced to kick customers out at 10 p.m. on the dot or risk onerous $10,000 fines. It’s been challenging, they say, to have to remind New Yorkers that the city that never sleeps now winds down just as the 10 o’clock news is getting started.

“It’s not easy to get people to leave,” said Erin Bellard, owner of e’s BAR on the Upper West Side. “We tell them they have to leave by 10 p.m. but it’s definitely awkward. There’s always a couple of people who push back. We try to be hospitable but it’s like we are herding people out — we just can’t risk a $10,000 fine. We are struggling to stay afloat.”

Source: NYC restaurants lose money, battle with customers over 10 p.m. curfew

Tractor-trailer overturned on Pa. turnpike in Westmoreland County

Crash blocked all westbound lanes early Tuesday morning

DONEGAL, Pa. —

A tractor-trailer overturned on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Westmoreland County on Tuesday morning.

The crash happened Tuesday around 6 a.m., blocking all westbound lanes near milepost 85.5 in the area between Donegal and New Stanton.

It was initially unclear if there were any injuries.

Drivers were told to expect delays.

Source: Tractor-trailer overturned on Pa. turnpike in Westmoreland County

Johnstown man charged for ordering large quantities of THC | Now | dailyamerican.com

A 36-year-old Johnstown man has been charged with a felony count of possession with intent to deliver marijuana and a handful of misdemeanors.

A 36-year-old Johnstown man has been charged with a felony count of possession with intent to deliver marijuana and a handful of misdemeanors.

In charges filed Monday, state police said Anthony B. Elliott of Shady Lane ordered dozens of THC vape cartridges during the summer and fall of 2018. He would pick up the items after they were delivered via U.S. Postal Service to a Main Street address in Paint Borough.

Source: Johnstown man charged for ordering large quantities of THC | Now | dailyamerican.com

One man arrested after shooting in Steubenville | WTOV

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio — One man has been arrested after a shooting in Steubenville.

Officers ultimately responded to 508 Woodland Avenue for reports of shots fired, where man was found with a bullet in his hand.

Investigators found both rounds from a .22 caliber and a .9 mm hand gun.

William King Sr. was arrested and taken into custody overnight.

He is charged with felonious assault and is being held at the Jefferson County Justice Center.

Source: One man arrested after shooting in Steubenville | WTOV

Source: COVID-19 In Pennsylvania: ‘We Have No Plans To Go Back To Red, Yellow, Green,’ Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine Says – CBS Pittsburgh

COVID-19 In Pennsylvania: ‘We Have No Plans To Go Back To Red, Yellow, Green,’ Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine Says – CBS Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine says there are “no plans” at this time to reinstate the color-coded coronavirus restrictions the state saw earlier in the pandemic.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine says there are “no plans” at this time to reinstate the color-coded coronavirus restrictions the state saw earlier in the pandemic.

At Dr. Levine’s weekly media briefing Monday, she addressed the rising rate of infections across the state. Statewide percent positivity for last week is at 9.6%, compared to 6.9% the week before. Sixty-two of the 67 counties have positivity rates above 5%, including Allegheny County, which stands at 7.7%,

According to Dr. Levine, the new cases are connected to community spread, meaning someone gets the virus without any known contact with a sick person.

With cases here and across the state rising to their highest levels, Dr. Levine says it’s our collective responsibility to stop this community spread and bring those numbers back under control.

“We can answer the call to prevent the spread of this virus COVID-19,” she says.

Dr. Levine says it’s up to the public to voluntarily answer the call, wear masks, social distance and avoid gatherings large and small — regardless of your political leanings.

“Now that the election is over and the people have spoken, we need to stand united about these simple public health measures. This is not a political issue. This is not a partisan issue. This is an urgent public health issue in Pennsylvania,” she says.

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Contact GOP Legislative Leaders In Key States –DickMorris.com

Contact GOP Legislative Leaders In Key States

By Dick Morris

Call and write Republican Legislative Leaders in key battleground states.

Demand that they vote not to certify electors until their respective states audit the election results with a full recount, with Republican observers no more than three feet away and with full verification of signatures and the dates on which ballots were received.

Remember, the U.S. Constitution (Art II Sec 1) provides:

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress:

CONTACT GOP LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN KEY STATES!

GEORGIA

Contact David Ralston, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives
404.656.6502
david.ralston@house.ga.gov

Contact Mike Dugan, Georgia Senate Majority Leader
404.463.2478
mike.dugan.senate.ga.gov

PENNSYLVANIA

Contact Bryan Cutler (R), Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
717-284-1968

Contact Jake Corman (R), Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader
717-787-1377

ARIZONA

Contact Russell Bowers (R), Arizona Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
602-926-3128

Rick Gray Contact (R), Arizona Senate Majority Leader
602-926-5413

MICHIGAN

Contact Lee Chatfield (R), Michigan Speaker of the House of Representatives
517-373-2629

Contact Mike Shirkey (R), Michigan Senate Majority Leader
517-373-5932

WISCONSIN

Contact Mr. Robin Vos (R), Wisconsin Speaker of the State Assembly
608-266-3387

Contact Scott Fitzgerald (R), Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader*
608-266-5660

*Scott Fitzgerald was just elected to a Congressional seat on Nov. 3rd. He is still current Senate Majority Leader.

Contact Devin Le Mahieu (R), The newly-elected Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader
608-266-2056

Source: DickMorris.com – Official Website of Dick Morris DickMorris.com

Mayor Peduto proposes 2021 Operating and Capital budgets – South Pittsburgh Reporter

Last week, Mayor William Peduto delivered his proposed 2021 Operating and Capital budgets to City Council, and delivered his annual State of the City address.

The $564 million operating budget does not include tax increases and works to avoid layoffs and furloughs of city personnel.

Due to COVID-19 the city has been forced to spend nearly all of the $120 fund balance the city built up through fiscal discipline the past seven years, and is joining cities nationwide seeking federal aid to help pay for the services and safety provided to residents through the ongoing pandemic.

“We made tough decisions to stop public events, close pools, senior centers and rec centers, but still watched as our coworkers and neighbors lost their livelihoods and too often their lives,” the Mayor said in his budget speech.

Source: Mayor Peduto proposes 2021 Operating and Capital budgets – South Pittsburgh Reporter

Source: Coronavirus Restrictions Could Return To Allegheny County As COVID-19 Cases Surge Across Western Pa. – CBS Pittsburgh

Coronavirus Restrictions Could Return To Allegheny County As COVID-19 Cases Surge Across Western Pa. – CBS Pittsburgh

With the unsettling rise in Coronavirus cases, are we here in Western Pennsylvania about to face tighter restrictions?

November 17, 2020November 17, 2020

Sweden toughens up coronavirus rules as infections and deaths rise

Sweden appears to be changing tack and implementing stricter measures as a second wave of infections takes hold and hospitalizations rise.

Sweden appears to be changing tack and implementing stricter measures as a second wave of infections takes hold and hospitalizations rise.

The country was infamous for not imposing a lockdown during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic,

On Monday, it announced that public gatherings of more than eight people were no longer allowed.

Source: Sweden toughens up coronavirus rules as infections and deaths rise

38% of Americans planning Thanksgiving despite COVID-19: survey

More than a third of Americans want to have their pumpkin pie and eat it too this Thanksgiving, according to a new survey.

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, 38 percent are planning a holiday dinner with 10 or more people — and 27 percent don’t plan on practicing social distancing during their celebration, according to the national survey by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

The survey also found that 33 percent percent of respondents said they aren’t likely to ask their guests to wear masks, and 20 percent would not turn away guests who have virus symptoms.

The majority of respondents said they would only break bread and slice turkey with people in their household, and nearly three quarters plan on practicing social distance.

“We’re going to look back at what happened during this holiday season and ask ourselves, ‘Were we part of the solution or were we part of the problem?,’ ” says Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, chief quality and patient safety officer at the Wexner Medical Center.

Source: 38% of Americans planning Thanksgiving despite COVID-19: survey

SpaceX, NASA Crew-1 mission docks with ISS for six-month stay – CNET

At exactly 7:27 p.m. ET on Sunday, a SpaceX Falcon 9 booster burst to life at the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A, its engines lighting up the Florida coast. The picture-perfect launch of the gumdrop-shaped Crew Dragon spacecraft — nicknamed Resilience — marked a historic moment in American spaceflight.

Not since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011 has NASA sent humans to orbit from American soil in an operational mission. The launch for this particular mission has been delayed, pushed back and postponed multiple times — the original timeline included a launch date of November 2016. Four years and a few technical stumbles later, Resilience has now docked with the International Space Station.

“By working together through these difficult times, you’ve inspired the nation, the world, and in no small part, the name of this incredible vehicle, Resilience,” Michael Hopkins, spacecraft commander of Crew-1, said prior to launch.

Source: SpaceX, NASA Crew-1 mission docks with ISS for six-month stay – CNET

Ancient Hermes bust found during Athens sewer work – New York Daily News

The head of ancient Greek god Hermes was unearthed in Athens during sewer work, authorities at the culture ministry said Sunday.

It was a bust that most likely dated back to around 300 B.C, the Associated Press reported. While most depictions of the ancient “winged messenger” god are youthful, this one showed the god, who goes by Mercury in Roman mythology, at “a mature age,” the culture ministry said.

The Greek sculptor Alcamenes was most likely the artist, the AP said, citing the ministry. Alcamenes flourished in the second half of the fifth century B.C., according to Encyclopedia Britannica, renowned for his delicate and finessed details of his works.

Source: Ancient Hermes bust found during Athens sewer work – New York Daily News

More than a dozen killed in fiery gas-tanker blast on Mexican highway

A gas tanker explosion along a Mexican highway killed at least a dozen people on Monday, according to reports.

The massive blast shook the busy Guadalajara-Tepic highway shortly before 11 a.m., sending motorists scrambling from their cars for safety, the Spanish-language newspaper El Universal said in a report.

Dramatic video posted on Twitter shows motorists leaving their cars and walking towards what appears to be a collision on the road ahead — only to scramble for their lives in the other direction when a burst of fire and smoke erupts in front of them.

Authorities said the explosion was caused by a tanker truck lugging natural gas that crashed into three other vehicles, bursting into flames, according to Mexico’s Milenio newspaper.

At least five people were killed in a pickup truck at the scene, three others while inside a Honda car, and three others in an unidentified vehicle

Source: More than a dozen killed in fiery gas-tanker blast on Mexican highway

Source: Tucker Carlson: The elites want COVID-19 lockdowns to usher in a ‘Great Reset’ and that should terrify you | Fox News

Tucker Carlson: The elites want COVID-19 lockdowns to usher in a ‘Great Reset’ and that should terrify you | Fox News

America is locking down again. In some places, that’s already happening. If you have kids, you’ve seen it. Joe Biden has promised more of it — more masks, more quarantines, more limits on travel, more restrictions on who you can eat with and who you can touch.

Governors Ratchet Up Restrictions Ahead of Thanksgiving | Newsmax.com

From California to Pennsylvania, governors and mayors across the U.S. are ratcheting up COVID-19 restrictions amid the record-shattering resurgence of the virus that is all but certain to get worse because of holiday travel and family gatherings over Thanksgiving.

Leaders are closing businesses or curtailing hours and other operations, and they are ordering or imploring people to stay home and keep their distance from others to help stem a rising tide of infections that threatens to overwhelm the health care system.

“I must again pull back the reins,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday as he restricted indoor gatherings to 10 people, down from 25. “It gives me no joy.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he is pulling the “emergency brake” on efforts to reopen the economy, saying the state is experiencing the fastest growth in cases yet, and if left unchecked, it will lead to “catastrophic outcomes.” The move closes many nonessential indoor businesses and requires the wearing of masks outside homes, with limited exceptions.

The tightening came as Moderna Inc. announced that its experimental coronavirus vaccine appears to be over 94% effective, based on early results. A week ago Pfizer disclosed similar findings with its own formula.

Source: Governors Ratchet Up Restrictions Ahead of Thanksgiving | Newsmax.com

Source: Medical adviser Dr. Scott Atlas urges Mich. residents to ‘rise up’ against governor’s COVID orders | One America News Network

Medical adviser Dr. Scott Atlas urges Mich. residents to ‘rise up’ against governor’s COVID orders | One America News Network

As Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) imposes renewed coronavirus restrictions on schools and some small businesses, many are saying “enough is enough.”

In a tweet Sunday, Dr. Scott Atlas, a medical adviser to President Trump, responded to Whitmer’s latest coronavirus orders by stating “the only way this stops is if people rise up.” His comment came in response to Whitmer’s latest round of restrictions.

The only way this stops is if people rise up. You get what you accept. #FreedomMatters #StepUp https://t.co/8QKBszgKTM

— Scott W. Atlas (@ScottWAtlas) November 15, 2020

The Democrat governor has ordered high schools and college campuses to suspend in-person learning. Additionally, she has called for restaurants to stop indoor dining and has banned non-pro organized sports.

Source: Steelers vs. Bengals score: Ben Roethlisberger’s four touchdowns propel Pittsburgh to 9-0 start – CBSSports.com

Steelers vs. Bengals score: Ben Roethlisberger’s four touchdowns propel Pittsburgh to 9-0 start – CBSSports.com

The Steelers are still undefeated after routing their division rivals in Week 10

The Steelers became the 21st team in the Super Bowl era to start 9-0 after posting a 36-10 win over the visiting Bengals on Sunday. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 333 yards with four touchdown passes, propelling Pittsburgh to its 11th straight win over Cincinnati (2-6-1).

Roethlisberger’s touchdown total on Sunday was his highest in a game since he had five touchdown passes in Pittsburgh’s win over Carolina in Week 10 of the 2018 season. For his career, Roethlisberger is 26-7 against the Bengals and 22-2 against rookie quarterbacks. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was sacked four times while recording his third lowest passing output of the season. Two of those sacks were by T.J. Watt, who led a Steelers’ defense that held the Bengals to an 0-of-13 mark on third down.

Down 12-0 in the first quarter, the Bengals found pay dirt after Burrow hit fellow rookie Tee Higgins on a two-yard pass on fourth-and-goal. Pittsburgh responded with consecutive scoring drives that included Roethlisberger’s eight-yard touchdown pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster. Roethlisberger threw for 243 yards in the first half, while Diontae Johnson caught six passes for 116 yards in the first half, including his 12-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter.

Vince Vaughn’s Freaky Tops The Box Office With A Relatively Solid Debut – CINEMABLEND

With the country still struggling to contain the pandemic, Hollywood has mostly set its release schedule for the rest of 2020, and that’s come paired with a certain understanding of what theatrical releases are capable of at the box office. Being the first blockbuster out since March, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet created a high water mark in early September, making $20.2 million over an extended holiday weekend, but most big screen features since then have managed to top the charts by pulling in between $3.5-4 million. It was that amount of money that allowed Tim Hill’s The War With Grandpa to steal Tenet‘s crown, and then Mark Williams’ Honest Thief arrived a couple weeks later with that same total. November kicked off with Thomas Bezucha’s Let Him Go, which hit the high end of that range, and now we have the arrival of Christopher Landon’s Freaky… and you can probably guess how much it made.

Source: Vince Vaughn’s Freaky Tops The Box Office With A Relatively Solid Debut – CINEMABLEND

RCEP: China signs huge Asia Pacific trade deal with 14 countries – CNN

Hong Kong (CNN Business)China has just joined forces with more than a dozen countries across the Asia Pacific region to sign a huge free trade deal nearly a decade in the making.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership spans 15 countries and 2.2 billion people, or nearly 30% of the world’s population, according to a joint statement released by the nations on Sunday, when the deal was signed. Their combined GDP totals roughly $26 trillion and they account for nearly 28% of global trade based on 2019 data.

The deal includes several of the region’s heaviest economic hitters aside from China, including Japan and South Korea. New Zealand and Australia are also partners, as are Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam in Southeast Asia.

The trade agreement was first proposed in 2012 as a way to create one of the world’s largest free-trade zones.

Source: RCEP: China signs huge Asia Pacific trade deal with 14 countries – CNN

Downed Tree And Wires Close Thompson Run Road In Both Directions – CBS Pittsburgh

ROSS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – Thompson Run Road is closed in both directions at Miller Road due to a downed tree and downed wires.

Photo Credit: KDKA Photojournalist Ian Smith

No cars were involved and no injuries have been reported.

Source: Downed Tree And Wires Close Thompson Run Road In Both Directions – CBS Pittsburgh

Source: Report: Biden Cancer Initiative donates no money to cancer research | One America News Network

Report: Biden Cancer Initiative donates no money to cancer research | One America News Network

Tax filings revealed Joe Biden’s cancer charity took in millions of dollars but devoted none of that money to grants or actual cancer research. Newly discovered federal tax data shows the charity paid out $3 million of their $4.8 million in staff salaries.

Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, established the organization in 2017 to help develop treatments for cancer. However, the charity reportedly never gave out a single grant to research funds.

Additionally, multiple former Obama administration health officials received salaries from the charity, which exceeded the amounts they were making during their time at the White House.

The group’s president, Gregory Simon, was one of the highest earners in the company. He raked in almost $430,000 in the 2018 fiscal year, which doubled his nearly $224,000 salary of 2017.

Spokespersons for the group have stated the main point of the charity was not to give out grants, however, its mission statement remains ambiguous, stating the company will provide “urgent” solutions to the treatment and prevention of cancer.

The charity quickly fell apart after just two years of operations in 2019, following Biden’s decision to focus on running for the President.

Now, the charity has paused operations and Simon said without the Biden’s at the helm it has become increasingly difficult to gain traction.

Power outages reported as high winds howl throughout Western Pa.

As high winds continue to move through the region, a product of an easterly moving cold front, several neighborhoods are seeing power outages.

The National Weather Service issued a high wind advisory for much of Western Pennsylvania on Sunday. The advisory, issued at 9:30 a.m., is in effect until 7 p.m. Also issued was a severe thunderstorm warning, that ended around 3:15 p.m.

The National Weather Service said the cold front was expected to bring rain and winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 55 mph. The winds are expected to intensify during the afternoon.

The areas affected by the wind advisory include: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Source: Power outages reported as high winds howl throughout Western Pa.

Trump Supporters, Proud Boys Protest In DC

Video tweeted by both left- and right-wing attendees showed several instances of violence between the two sides.

“Fuck you, antifa!” alleged members of the far-right extremist men’s organization the Proud Boys can be heard yelling in one video as they throw punches, followed by shouts of “Hey, we’ve got one on the ground!”

At least one person was transported after being stabbed at 11th Street and New York Avenue NW, a DC Fire and EMS spokesperson confirmed to BuzzFeed News.

Photos and videos showed Trump flags and hats being lit on fire, and fireworks thrown at apparent Trump supporters who were dining outdoors.

One graphic Getty photograph showed a woman supporting Black Lives Matter lying motionless on the ground and bleeding from the mouth after being injured. Another showed a Trump supporter being kicked as he lay on the ground.

Video also showed Trump supporters removing and stomping on Black Lives Matter signs that were displayed at BLM Plaza, and members of the Proud Boys speaking in defense of Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old who charged with killing two people at Wisconsin protest against police brutality.

The Proud Boys’ attendance contributed to a “notable extremist presence” at the march, the Anti-Defamation League said in a post Sunday.

Source: Trump Supporters, Proud Boys Protest In DC

Source: Wolf, Murphy meet with fellow Northeast governors to discuss regional COVID-19 restrictions | PhillyVoice

Wolf, Murphy meet with fellow Northeast governors to discuss regional COVID-19 restrictions | PhillyVoice

The “emergency summit” comes as coronavirus infections spike across the region

Pittsburgh police find missing endangered man

David Paytas has been safely located.

REPEATING UPDATE: David Paytas has been safely located.

Pittsburgh police are asking the public’s help in finding an endangered missing man.

72-year-old Daniel Paytas is 5 feet 8 inches tall, 140 pounds with white hair, blue eyes and glasses.

He was last seen in Morningside on Nov. 12. Paytas is from the Morningside area and is known to frequent Bloomfield.

Police ask anyone who has seen Paytas to call (412) 323- 7141.

Source: Pittsburgh police find missing endangered man