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Coronavirus

Belmont County reports 2 more COVID deaths

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Cases and deaths linked to COVID-19 are increasing locally, and area health departments are looking to the state for guidance on booster shots. Belmont County Deputy Health Commissioner Robert Sproul reported two more deaths related to the pandemic Monday, bringing Belmont County’s count to 121. The most recent deaths are women in their 60s. Sproul reported 243 active cases and said there are four people hospitalized with the virus, most recently including a man in his 60s and a woman in her 40s. Neither are vaccinated. Sproul’s office was still compiling ...

Meetings to become more orderly in St. C.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — City leaders intend to hold orderly council meetings, even if disruptive participants must face criminal charges. Guests noticed some changes in the meeting chamber following the last council meeting, which featured angry outbursts and accusations surrounding information ...

CDC urges vaccines during pregnancy

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged all pregnant women Wednesday to get the COVID-19 vaccine as hospitals in hot spots around the U.S. see disturbing numbers of unvaccinated mothers-to-be seriously ill with the virus. Expectant women run a higher risk of severe illness and pregnancy complications from the coronavirus, including perhaps miscarriages and stillbirths. But their vaccination rates are low, with only about 23% having received at least one dose, according to CDC data. “The vaccines are safe and effective, and it has never been more urgent to increase ...

Nursing home overhaul bill would boost staffing, oversight

WASHINGTON (AP) — Responding to the ravages of COVID-19 in nursing homes, senior Democratic senators Tuesday introduced legislation to increase nurse staffing, improve infection control and bolster inspections. The bill, from a group led by Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Bob Casey of ...

Pandemic prompts changes in how future teachers are trained

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Before last year, a one-credit technology course for students pursuing master’s degrees in education at the University of Washington wasn’t seen as the program’s most relevant. Then COVID-19 hit, schools plunged into remote learning, and suddenly material from that course was being infused into others. “It’s become so relevant, and it’s staying that way,” said Anne Beitlers, who directs Washington’s master’s program for secondary education. “And nobody’s going to question that now.” Changes to standards and curricula happen slowly, but ...

Stocks end a wobbly day lower, edging lower

NEW YORK (AP) — Technology and energy companies led stocks lower on Wall Street Monday, easing the market back from its recent all-time highs. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1%, erasing an early gain. Technology companies accounted for a big share of the decline. Industrial and consumer-centric stocks also fell. Those losses outweighed gains in health care companies, banks and elsewhere in the market. Energy companies slumped the most among S&P 500 stocks as the price of benchmark U.S. crude oil fell 2.6% to its lowest levels since May. The move lower follows a decline of 7.7% last week. ...