Trump Ramps Up Defense Of Vance

August 1, 2024 5:13 am

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Donald Trump is used to defending himself. But as JD Vance’s rocky rollout continues, the Republican presidential nominee is in the rare position this week of having to defend someone else’s controversial comments. Trump said on Wednesday that Vance is “strongly family-oriented” when asked repeatedly to explain Vance’s well-documented history of criticizing childless Americans. Trump’s latest defense of his vice presidential pick came more than two weeks after he announced Vance’s selection. Since the announcement, Trump’s team has been confronted with multiple reports of the Ohio senator’s controversial statements that have made his rollout among the most turbulent in recent history. A senior Trump adviser says there has been “zero conversation” about replacing Vance as his running mate.

Accusers Tell Of Abuse At Juvenile Detention Centers

July 31, 2024 5:08 am

A group of nearly 70 people allege they were sexually abused as children while housed in detention centers in Pennsylvania. The plaintiffs filed suit in state or federal court Wednesday against 10 different juvenile facilities across Pennsylvania, three of them state-operated. Some of the plaintiffs said they were repeatedly raped by staff members and threatened with harm if they reported it. Others said their reports of sexual abuse were ignored. Their lawyers say none of the facilities protected the children in their care. The litigation adds to earlier lawsuits targeting what the accusers’ lawyers say is Pennsylvania’s broken juvenile justice system.

Trump Says Harris Misled Voters About Her Race

August 1, 2024 5:15 am

CHICAGO (AP) — Donald Trump falsely suggested Kamala Harris had misled voters about her race as the former president appeared Wednesday before the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago in an interview that quickly turned hostile. The Republican former president wrongly claimed that Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American to serve as vice president, had in the past only promoted her Indian heritage. “I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black. So I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?” Trump said while addressing the group’s annual convention.

F-16’s Have Arrived To Help Ukraine

August 1, 2024 5:14 am

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The F-16 fighter jets that have been delivered to Kyiv by Western countries will be flying sorties in Ukrainian skies and helping the country’s current fleet of Soviet-era jets to counter Russia’s invasion. Analysts say the used F-16s will enhance Ukraine’s military strength, especially by upgrading its air defenses. But they won’t turn the tide of the war on their own. Ukraine faces a series of challenges using the complex F-16s and protecting them from Russian attacks when they are on the ground. The planes also require numerous support personnel. Ukrainian pilots have been on training courses in the U.S. and Europe. Russia will be looking to destroy the F-16s.

Hawaii Governor; $4B Settlement Could Come Next Week

August 1, 2024 5:16 am

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii Gov. Josh Green says the parties in Lahaina wildfire lawsuits against Hawaii, Maui County and utilities are close to a global settlement of claims that will be worth a little over $4 billion. Green told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he’s hoping to finalize the details in coming days, perhaps as soon as Aug. 6. That would be two days before the one-year anniversary of the fire that killed 102 people and wiped out historic Lahaina. He said all the plaintiffs and defendants have agreed to the global settlement number but final details are pending. Hawaiian Electric declined to comment. Maui County didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Many Roadways Closed After Truck Hits Knob Road Bridge

July 31, 2024 1:56 pm

Multiple roads in Washington County are closed after a tractor-trailer hit a bridge.  PennDOT says the roadways that are shut down in both directions include Route 40 (National Pike) between Route 43 (Mon-Fayette Expressway) in California Borough and Route 88 (California Road)/Blaine Hill Road in West Brownsville Borough, Route 2079 (Knob Road) overpass between Wilson Road in California Borough and Old National Pike in West Brownsville Borough.  Drivers are being asked to seek alternate routes.  Washington County 911 tells WJPA that a tractor-trailer ran into the Knob Road Bridge around noon.  There were no injuries.  There’s been no word on how the accident happened.  (Photo:  WPXI)

Boar’s Head Expands Recall Of Deli Meats

July 31, 2024 12:18 pm

(AP) – The popular deli meat company Boar’s Head is recalling an additional 7 million pounds of ready-to-eat products made at a Virginia plant as an investigation into a deadly outbreak of listeria food poisoning continues. The U.S. Agriculture Department says the new recall includes 71 products made between May 10 and July 29 under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names. It follows an earlier recall of more than 200,000 pounds of sliced deli poultry and meat. The new items include meat intended to be sliced at delis as well as some packaged meat and poultry products sold in stores. They include liverwurst, ham, beef salami, bologna and other products made at the firm’s Jarratt, Virginia, plant.

UAW Endorses Kamala Harris For President

July 31, 2024 2:55 pm

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president, giving her union firepower for the likely contest this November against Republican Donald Trump. UAW President Shawn Fain says the union’s “job” in this year’s election is to defeat Trump. The union has more than a million active and retired members with a strong base in what the Democrats call the “blue wall” states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Trump Appearance At NABJ Turns Hostile

July 31, 2024 4:25 pm

CHICAGO (AP) — Donald Trump falsely suggested Kamala Harris had misled voters about her race as the former president appeared before the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago Wednesday in an interview that quickly turned hostile. The Republican former president wrongly claimed that Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American to serve as vice president, had in the past only promoted her Indian heritage. “I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black. So I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?” Trump said while addressing the group’s annual convention.

Harris To Launch Battleground Tour With Running Mate

July 30, 2024 5:11 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is set to launch a battleground tour next week with her yet-to-be-named running mate, with stops in seven swing states stretching from Pennsylvania to Nevada. The planned tour is the latest sign of the whirlwind pace at which Harris has gone from President Joe Biden’s supportive running mate to likely Democratic nominee ready to identify her No. 2 and take on Republican Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Harris says she hasn’t made a decision yet on whom she will select. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly are among those under consideration. The tour is to begin Tuesday in Philadelphia leading to speculation that Shapiro could be the pick.