Breaking News

Coronavirus

Authorities: Fake vaccination cards sold at California bar

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The owner of a Northern California bar where authorities say made-to-order fake COVID-19 vaccination cards were sold to undercover state agents for $20 each was arrested in what officials call the first such foiled operation they are aware of nationwide. The plainclothes agents from California’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control said they were told at the Old Corner Saloon in Clements to write their names and birthdates on Post-it notes and then watched as employees cut the cards, filled in identifying information and bogus vaccination dates and ...

Ohio Valley businesses struggling to find workers

WHEELING — The “now hiring” signs in front of nearly every eatery and store in the city are morphing into occasional “closed” signs. This included one outside the iconic Patsy’s Pizza that remained in place for the second half of April. Just what is happening to work in the Ohio Valley? Has a COVID-driven expansion of unemployment assistance and rounds of stimulus checks sunk -- at least temporarily -- the need for paychecks? Is it something else – population decline, opioid addiction, poor health? Three voices shared their takes on such questions. They include Joe ...

Vaccine clinic sets up shop in Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT — The Belmont County Health Department kept up the drive Friday to vaccinate area students before the summer months in keeping with Gov. Mike DeWine’s goal. On Friday, health department staff were offering doses at Bridgeport High School. About 15 students were expected to receive their first dose of the Pfizer BioNTech version of the vaccine, which is cleared for recipients younger than 18. For the past two weeks, vaccination clinics have been set up in school districts and in Bellaire near Ohio 7. “We started it at 1:30 p.m. and it’s going to go to 3:30 p.m. It ...

U.S. job growth slows sharply in sign of hiring struggles

WASHINGTON (AP) — The recovery of America’s job market hit a pause last month as many businesses — from restaurants and hotels to factories and construction companies — struggled to find enough workers to catch up with a rapidly strengthening economic rebound. Employers added just 266,000 jobs in April, sharply lower than in March and far fewer than economists had expected. With viral cases declining and states and localities easing restrictions, the recovery from the pandemic recession has been so fast that many businesses have been caught flat-footed in the face of surging ...

Communities pray for strength

BETHESDA — Area residents turned out in groups large and small to mark the National Day of Prayer on Thursday with a message of unity, community and asking God for strength to bear up during difficult times. At St. Clairsville, about 40 people gathered under a tent on the plaza in front of ...

Senator talks help for businesses

STEUBENVILLE — Scaffidi's Restaurant and Tavern Thursday became the latest business visited by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown as part of a statewide tour promoting awareness of aid available to them through the Biden administration's American Rescue Plan. Brown, D-Ohio, said the president's ...