April 25, 2024 5:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy is thought to have extended its surprisingly healthy streak at the start of this year, with consumers still spending freely despite the pressure of high interest rates. The government is expected to report that the gross domestic product grew at a slow but still-decent 2.2% annual pace from January through March. Some economists envision a stronger expansion than that. A forecasting model issued by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta points to a first-quarter annual pace of 2.7%, propelled by a 3.3% increase in consumer spending, the principal driver of economic growth. Either way, the economy’s growth is widely expected to have decelerated from the vigorous 3.4% annual pace of October through December.
April 24, 2024 5:00 am
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — When cases of locally transmitted malaria were found in the United States last year, it was a reminder that climate change is reviving or migrating the threat of some diseases. But across the African continent malaria has never left, killing or sickening millions of people. Cases of resistance to antimalarial drugs and insecticides are increasing. Funding by governments and donors for innovation is slowing. And living conditions play a role, with crowded neighborhoods, stagnant water, poor sanitation and lack of access to treatment and prevention materials. For World Malaria Day on Thursday, here is what you need to know.
April 24, 2024 4:57 am
Incumbent Republican Bud Cook held off a challenger in the 50th Legislative District which includes all of Greene County and parts of Washington County. Cook defeated political newcomer Stephanie Waggett with some 63-percent of the vote. Now, the four-term incumbent is taking aim at what he calls “the politically connected and insiders”. One of those, he says, is Republican State Senator Camera Bartolotta who backed Waggett. It’s unclear if Cook will face a Democratic challenger in November.
April 24, 2024 7:27 am
South Strabane resident Chris Dziados it the winner in the Democratic race in the 14th Congressional District. He received 52-percent of the vote to defeat Ken Bach. The district includes Washington, Greene and Fayette counties, as well as part of Westmoreland, Indiana and Somerset counties. Dziados will now face incumbent Republican Congressman Guy Reschenthaler in the November general election.
April 24, 2024 5:03 am
Republican York County District Attorney Dave Sunday and Democratic former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale won their parties’ nominations for state attorney general Tuesday evening, with Sunday defeating a single opponent and DePasquale topping a field of five candidates. Sunday has been elected twice as district attorney in York County, where he lives in Spring Garden Township. He also has served as a special assistant U.S. attorney. The five-candidate fray among Democrats was the biggest field among the primary elections for statewide row offices. Incumbent Attorney General Michelle Henry, appointed to the job by Gov. Josh Shapiro in 2023 after he became governor, is not seeking election.
April 24, 2024 5:01 am
Democrats nominated Erin McClelland, a two-time congressional candidate from Harrison, Allegheny County, who has helped run various human services organizations, to challenge Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, and they nominated state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta of Philadelphia to challenge Republican state Auditor General Tim DeFoor. Ms. McClelland prevailed despite being heavily outspent by her party-endorsed rival.
April 24, 2024 2:44 am
The Freedom Transit began a series of public hearings on Tuesday to seek public opinion on proposed rate changes that could go into effect this summer. The hearing describes how rates will be streamlined and how some riders will see an increase in fares and how others will see a decrease. Currently Freedom Transit has four separate fares ranging from $1.50 to $5.00 depending on destination. The new proposal will look to institute a two tiered price system of $2.00 for Washington County Travel and $4.00 for Allegheny County travel. Effectively, riders that currently pay fares in Zone 1 will see an increase of fifty cents. Riders who pay fares in Zones 2 and 3 will see price decreases of fifty cents and $1.50. Allegheny County riders would see a decrease of $1.00. According to Emma Brzustowicz, Outreach and Marketing Coordinator for Freedom Transit, they have not had a fare increase since 2012. The reasons for the increase are related to inflationary costs that have risen by 35.2% for Freedom Transit since the last rate increase. That fare schedule would also align with what the Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority charges. This was the first of four public hearings scheduled. The other three will be on April 30 from noon to 2:00 PM at the Heritage Public Library in McDonald, also on April 30 from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM at the Frank Sarris Public Library in Canonsburg and once again on May 1 from noon to 7:00 PM at the Freedom Transit Transportation Center in Washington. After the input has been examined, if the rate changes are approved they would go into effect on July 1.
April 23, 2024 2:21 am
A deal between the city of Washington and the Washington School District – to renovate the Colt Baseball Field at Washington Park is dead. The school board, Monday night, voted to rescind an agreement with the city, on what would have been a two-million-dollar project. The work would have included a turf field for the school’s baseball and softball teams and other youth programs to play on. District Superintendent George Lammay tells WJPA that the district is now looking at other options, options that will not include engaging with the city. Last August, the two sides had informally agreed to the project, a project that Lammay says he saw as a win-win for the city and the school district.. Washington Mayor JoJo Burgess says city officials have been in constant contact and had meetings with the district’s solicitor and the school board president regarding some land issues that needed to be dealt with before any official agreement could be signed. He tells WJPA that the city plans to do everything by the book and legally, so if the district doesn’t want to wait, perhaps it is a good idea that they seek other options.
April 23, 2024 2:37 am
A Donora man has died after being struck by a train late Monday night. Authorities say 30-year-old Cody David Kimmel was struck by a train around eleven-thirty near 65 East First Street in Donora. He was taken to Penn Highlands Monongahela Valley Hospital where he died a short time later. The incident is under investigation by the Donora Police Department and the Norfolk Southern Railroad Police. An autopsy is pending.
April 24, 2024 5:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is considering a case that will determine when doctors can provide abortions during medical emergencies in states with bans enacted after the high court’s sweeping decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The case’s hearing begins Wednesday and comes from Idaho, which is one of 14 states that now ban abortion at all stages of pregnancy with limited exceptions. The Biden administration argues that even in states where abortion is banned, federal health care law says hospitals must be allowed to terminate pregnancies in rare emergencies where a patient’s life or health is at serious risk. Idaho contends its ban has exceptions for life-saving abortions but allowing it in more medical emergencies would turn hospitals into “abortion enclaves.”
