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COVID-19: The Latest

Poll: Americans harbor fear of new infections

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Strong concern about a second wave of coronavirus infections is reinforcing widespread opposition among Americans to reopening public places, a new poll finds, even as many state leaders step up efforts to return to life before the pandemic. Yet support for public health restrictions imposed to control the virus’s spread is no longer overwhelming. It has been eroded over the past month by a widening partisan divide, with Democrats more cautious and Republicans less anxious as President Donald Trump urges states to “open up our country,” according to the ...

Blame My Roots Fest has been canceled

BELMONT — Co-owners and creators Chris and Nina Dutton announced Thursday that Blame My Roots Fest 2020, the country music festival poised to host its second installment this summer, has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Duttons attribute the inability to move forward with the festival to the ever-changing precautionary measures affiliated with the novel coronavirus. “At this point we do not know what restrictions will be in place or if events such as ours will be permitted to continue this summer,” Chris Dutton said. “The health and safety of staff, family, fans, ...

May 21: Events canceled/postponed due to coronavirus

Due to the precautions being taken surrounding the coronavirus, the following changes have been made regarding events and meetings in the local area: ¯ The Jefferson County Fair Board has canceled its meeting for today. Fair officials said they await word from Gov. Mike DeWine regarding county fairs during the pandemic. Anyone with questions may call (740) 733-8230. ¯ The Jefferson County Safety Council announced that the May Safety Council meetings have been canceled ¯ All military meetings for the Jefferson County Veterans Association have been canceled until the end of summer. ...

Trump threatens funding for states over mail-in voting

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to hold up federal funds for two election battleground states that are trying to make it easier and safer to vote during the coronavirus pandemic. He backed away from that threat but stuck with his unsupported claim that widespread voting by mail promotes “a lot of illegality.” The president targeted Michigan with a false tweet on its voting plans and also went after Nevada in the latest — and the most confused — episode in his campaign against voting by mail. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ...

National guard to help test at nursing homes

COLUMBUS — Ohio National Guard units will be going to nursing homes this week to test for the coronavirus as the death toll continues to climb at a fast pace among long-term care residents, Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday. The devastation from the virus inside the state’s nursing homes is ...

Steubenville City Council pulls plug on summer swim season

STEUBENVILLE — City Council pulled the plug on the summer swim season Tuesday, saying the risks were too great. The vote capped a lengthy discussion of Gov. Mike DeWine’s guidelines for pools, including the difficulties of enforcing a 6-foot social distancing radius in and out of the pool. Based on the pool measurements, Recreation Director Lori Fetherolf had told council they’d only be able to admit about 60 people. “Turning people away, I’m going to tell you that will be an issue,” Fetherolf said. “We’d also have to hire someone to (police) social distancing, it’s ...