June 7, 2022 4:07 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Louisiana’s Democratic governor says he’ll call the state’s Republican-dominated Legislature into special session to draw up new congressional districts. Gov. John Bel Edwards made the announcement Monday evening after a federal judge in Louisiana blocked the use of a newly drawn map that includes only one mostly Black district. U.S. District Judge Shelley Dick in Baton Rouge on Monday issued an injunction blocking the use of the new plan. She also ordered lawmakers to adopt a new plan by June 20. State officials swiftly filed a notice of appeal.
June 7, 2022 4:07 am
PHOENIX (AP) – An Arizona judge has declined a request by the state Republican Party to block most mail ballots for the 2022 election, preserving the voting method used by the overwhelming majority of voters. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen ruled Monday that nothing in the Arizona Constitution prohibits the Legislature from allowing citizens to vote by mail. The case is the latest piece of a multi-pronged effort by the Arizona Republican Party to roll back a system of no-excuse absentee voting that the GOP-controlled Legislature has built since 1991.
June 7, 2022 4:03 am
One of the most asked question over the last two years in the city of Washington has been what about the pool? Parks Director DeAnna Martin answered the question by saying that opening weekend over Memorial day was a success with 563 people using the pool on Memorial Day. She stated that pavilion rentals are booked solidly. The Dreamers Corporation will be coming in during the third week of June to install a dog park. The Washington Community Theatre is scheduled to do their annual performance again this year. Martin did say that the pickleball tournament was a big success and she looks forward to it again next year. The city fire department has been equally busy. Aside from their normal course of business, they have partnered with the American Red Cross on a campaign to install smoke detectors in resident’s homes. Chief Chris Richer states that residents simply make an appointment with the Red Cross and the fire department will come out and install up to three detectors. They will also perfrom an inspection and offer other fire prevention advice. They have installed 200 detectors in just under a month and expect to be busy with more installations.
June 7, 2022 4:01 am
A former Peters Township man was sentenced on his open guilty plea on several assault charges dating back to 2019. Marcus Mavrakis, 38 pleaded guilty to one felony aggravated assault charge and four simple assault charges on March 11. He was sentenced to 2-10 years in state prison for assaulting his wife over a 4 month period. The victim read an impact statement that described her domestic abuse that included rape, sodomy, beatings and threats. She said she suffers from PTSD but is trying to help others by volunteering for spousal abuse organizations. The defendant, in his allocution statement accepted responsibility for his actions in what he described as a violent marriage full of mutual cheating. He admitted to striking his wife but maintained his innocence on charges of rape, indecent sexual assault and strangulation. Discussions for an appeal will take place. Mavrakis was taken from the courtroom in handcuffs at the end of the hearing.
June 7, 2022 3:59 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled Senate has passed a bill that orders a number of changes to state laws over partisan election observers in polling places and election offices, a throwback to complaints in 2020 by former President Donald Trump that the Democratic bastion of Philadelphia needed to be watched closely for election fraud. Pennsylvania is still roiled by Trump’s baseless claims that 2020’s presidential election was stolen from him. The bill passed Monday, 30-19, with every Republican and one Democrat backing it. The office of Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, said in a statement that the administration strongly opposes the bill and that it “does nothing to increase access to voting.”
June 7, 2022 3:58 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has tweeted that he tested positive for COVID-19. The 73-year-old governor said in the tweet he has mild symptoms. He said he tested positive Monday evening. Wolf said in his tweet he’s grateful to have recently received his second vaccine booster shot. He said he will be following the CDC’s guidance to isolate at home. Wolf tested positive for the virus in December 2020 as well. He was asymptomatic at the time, according to his office.
June 7, 2022 2:52 am
(WPXI) – Three people were arrested after a detailed investigation on a house in Bethel Park with suspected connection to the Pagans Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG) and narcotics activity. According to the criminal complaint, Bethel Park police received a search warrant for the home at 2544 Highland Circle on April 12. The homeowner and resident, 36-year-old Joseph Roberts, is a known member of the Pagan’s Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG) and is a sergeant-at-arms within the group. Officers say they found drugs, firearms and Pagan’s branded items including clothing, ax handles and notebooks detailing meeting minutes and membership activity that was criminal in nature. A social media post from the Bethel Park Police Department said that Joseph Roberts, Twenty-six-year-old Christine Niedermeyer, Roberts girlfriend, and Steven Albertson were charged with 11 counts of weapons of mass destruction, causing or risking a catastrophe, criminal conspiracy, and drug possession/paraphernalia charges.
June 7, 2022 2:15 am
The Pennsylvania Attorney General will not file charges against Washington County Sheriff Deputies for an encounter with a county row officer. The solicitor for the Sheriff Department stated that he was informed by email that the Attorney General will not seek charges for the incident that occurred on the day before Thanksgiving 2021 when a dispute over the transfer of juvenile records erupted and found Clerk of Courts Brenda Davis being handcuffed. Davis and Prothonotary Laura Hough sought charges against deputies, Davis for being handcuffed and Hough for having her camera brushed aside while recording the encounter. According to the solicitor for the Sheriff, the Attorney general found insufficient evidence for charges. Hough states that she finds it “unfortunate that the Attorney General finds it unimportant to defend a woman and her right to her dignity.” Davis when asked for comment asked that she make her statement by email. WJPA is waiting for a response.
June 6, 2022 5:41 pm
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) – The chairman of the global Hard Rock casino and entertainment company spoke recently with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy about the “economic challenges” of banning smoking in casinos, which a bill pending in the state Legislature would do. Jim Allen says he was not trying to change the governor’s mind about signing a smoking ban, but rather to discuss the potential economic impact of ending smoking in casinos. A spokeswoman for the governor says he maintains his intention to sign a bill if one is passed. Smoking is allowed on up to 20% of the casino floor.
June 6, 2022 5:40 pm
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) – A dispute over the arcade game Donkey Kong arose during the civil trial of Bill Cosby over allegations that he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl at the Playboy Mansion in 1975. Cosby has denied the allegations by Judy Huth. On Monday, Huth’s high school friend Donna Samuelson, who visited the mansion with Huth and Cosby, was on the stand and questioning focused on a video game she says she was playing when the alleged abuse occurred. Cosby attorney Jennifer Bonjean asked her why in statements before the trial she had repeatedly said she played Donkey Kong, which was not introduced until 1981. Samuelson said that she simply got the name wrong, and had been playing different games.
