Omicron surge may delay Youngstown murder trial

January 5, 2022

YOUNGSTOWN — Attorneys for the prosecution and defense have asked for next Monday’s murder trial of Samuel A. Richard in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to be postponed because of the huge numbers of COVID-19 cases in the state. Assistant Prosecutor Mike Yacovone and defense attorney Tom Zena jointly asked Judge John Durkin on Monday to postpone the trial “due to the increase in number of COVID-19 cases across the country, state and county.” A filing states that prosecutors are aware of two “crucial witnesses who are unable to attend (the trial) due to medical ...

Wed. 9:03 a.m.: Chicago cancels classes after union backs remote learning

January 5, 2022

CHICAGO (AP) — Leaders of Chicago Public Schools canceled classes this morning after the teachers union voted to switch to remote learning due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, the latest development in an escalating battle over pandemic safety protocols in the nation's third-largest school ...

Wed. 8:53 a.m.: With salty language, Macron berates France’s unvaccinated

January 5, 2022

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has provoked outcries in parliament and protests from election rivals by using a vulgarity to describe his strategy for pressuring vaccine refusers to get coronavirus jabs. Macron used the French word "emmerder," rooted in the French word for ...

Wed. 8:49 a.m.: Hong Kong bans flights, imposes other COVID-19 restrictions

January 5, 2022

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong authorities announced a two-week ban on flights from the United States and seven other countries and held 2,500 passengers on a cruise ship for coronavirus testing today as the city attempted to stem an emerging omicron outbreak. The two-week ban on passenger ...

COVID’s end still far off, so we must adjust

January 4, 2022

While many — if not most — companies have returned to in-person office work once again, some companies have chosen not to do so. There are some big names setting the standard for that. Apple this week announced it will delay its workers returning to the office indefinitely, according to a shared email from CEO Tim Cook. He also said the company will be giving corporate and retail employees $1,000 to buy equipment for their home offices to better allow them to work from home. Apple has as well reinstated a mask mandate in all of its U.S. stores. Meanwhile, Google, Lyft, Uber and ...

Order in Mahoning area courts: Mask up

January 4, 2022

Mahoning County area courts in Boardman, Sebring, Austintown and Canfield are requiring all members of the public and court staff to wear face coverings while working or conducting business in the courthouses, as is the probate court. Social distancing also will be required. Only children under 5 are exempt from the requirements. The judges of the courts announced the change Monday. Source: Mahoning County courts