June 18, 2022 10:43 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A federal appeals court has rejected a Trump administration finding that the active ingredient in the weed killer Roundup does not pose a serious health risk and is “not likely” to cause cancer in humans. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Friday ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to reexamine its 2020 finding that glyphosate did not pose a health risk for people. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, the most widely used herbicide in the world. Its original producer, Monsanto, was bought in 2018 by pharmaceutical giant Bayer, which now faces thousands of claims from people who say Roundup exposure caused their cancer.
June 18, 2022 10:41 am
Hot real estate markets have made some homeowners wary of participating in voluntary flood buyout programs. And that is impacting efforts to move people away from flooding from rising seas and more frequent storms. Flood buyout programs typically purchase flood-prone homes, raze them and turn the property into green space. They can help prevent flood-related deaths and health problems. Buyouts are also considered cheaper for taxpayers compared to rebuilding flooded houses with government payouts and federal flood insurance. Some cities have seen waning interest in the programs in the wake of rising home prices. People who take buyouts usually want to relocate to similar homes in the same community. But some worry that buyout dollars won’t be enough to buy the homes they want.
June 18, 2022 10:39 am
MEXICO CITY (AP) – Celia weakened to a tropical depression off Central America Saturday, as Tropical Storm Blas headed out to sea off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast. Celia is expected to remain off the coast of El Salvador and Guatemala over the weekend before moving toward Mexico. The depression could regenerate into a storm. The U.S. National Hurricane Center warned of heavy rains over portions of Central America and Mexico. The Hurricane Center said Celia had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph) and was about 80 miles (130 kms) south-southwest of San Salvador. Tropical Storm Blas continued to weaken Saturday in the Pacific.
June 18, 2022 10:35 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden’s top political advisers are bracing for big election losses in November. They know the party holding the White House nearly always losses congressional seats in the first midterm election of a new presidency. They also understand that gas prices racing past $5 per gallon on average, inflation exceeding its highest rates in four decades and crime rising in some areas could intensify historic headwinds. So could Biden’s low approval ratings. Some Democrats nonetheless worry the White House hasn’t fully grasped just how bad things may get and so far has been slow to prepare for that possibility.
June 18, 2022 10:33 am
ATLANTA (AP) – Witnesses say a federal officer and another man engaged in a shootout in downtown Atlanta on Friday. Federal officials haven’t explained what happened or whether an arrest was made, but one television station reported that the FBI said there’s no immediate danger to the public. It happened just after 3 p.m. on the Ted Turner Drive bridge, near the federal courthouse, State Farm Arena and the CNN Center. The Atlanta Police said at least one person was shot. Witness Ben Ivey told WSB-TV that the officer and another man fired as many as 30 shots at each other during a foot chase on the bridge.
June 18, 2022 10:31 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Authorities say a man armed with an “edged weapon” has attacked passengers at San Francisco International Airport, leaving three with cuts and scrapes. It happened around 6 p.m. in the pre-security public area of the International Terminal. Police say the man drove to the airport, went inside and walked around the departure terminal before pulling a weapon and attacking three men. Police say a suspect has been arrested. A KTVU-TV reporter says a large knife was found at the scene. Airport officials say the passengers were treated for minor injuries before continuing on their travels and other airport operations weren’t affected. There’s no word on a motive for the attack.
June 18, 2022 3:34 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – The Pennsylvania Senate is advancing two competing plans to slash the state’s corporate net income tax rate. Democrats warn the bills are premature because there’s no agreement with Gov. Tom Wolf. The bills passed Wednesday on a nearly party-line basis in twin votes in the Republican-controlled chamber. The Democratic governor has said he is optimistic about coming to an agreement with Republicans on a plan to cut taxes for corporations that pay Pennsylvania’s 9.99% tax rate. That’s one of the nation’s highest. Wolf has yet to agree to a plan as part of this month’s budget negotiations. The state House in April passed yet another plan.
June 18, 2022 2:47 am
(WPXI) – Allegheny County police are investigating the death of a three-month-old boy. Officers were called to the 300 block of Fort Couch Road in Upper Saint Clair around 5 p.m. Thursday. Once they were on scene, officers found an unresponsive infant, later identified as Kayden Nguyen by the Medical Examiner’s Office. Paramedics attempted to save the infant but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said investigators determined the little boy was left inside a parent’s vehicle for several hours. Homicide detectives are assisting in the investigation and put out the following statement: “Detectives are working to confirm the timeline of events through surveillance video in the area. They are also downloading and reviewing data from the vehicle’s on board computer. Our department is working closely with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office and the Medical Examiner’s Office. When the Medical Examiner’s Office determines the cause and manner of death a charging decision will be made.” Anyone with information is asked to call the County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.
June 18, 2022 2:43 am
Vice President Kamala Harris was in Homewood on Friday to talk about the White House’s Build Back Better Plan. She met with members of the community and other leaders to talk about how the plan could help replace lead water lines in the area. Harris was accompanied by Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge and EPA Administrator Michael Regan. Harris told the gathering that Pittsburgh is a “model of what can and will happen around the country.”
June 18, 2022 2:43 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. — A local defense attorney who represented a current inmate at the Washington County Jail was charged with felony interception of communications charges on Thursday. Kimberly Ann Furmanek was appointed in March of 2021 as conflicts counsel to John Lazear who is in jail facing multiple drug and weapons charges dating back to 2020. Furmanek represented Lazear until December of 2021 when she withdrew as Lazear’s attorney and James Jeffries was appointed as Lazear’s counsel. In May of 2022 Furmanek and Lazear were still in communication and on a recorded telephone line in the jail. Furmanek contacted Jeffries on a separate phone and began discussing Lazear’s case with Lazear listening in on the recorded line. Furmanek never disclosed to Jeffries that the other line was in use and that Jeffries was being recorded on that other line. Later in May, Lazear contacted Jeffries’ office and spoke with his secretary and made threats to her over the phone. This call was recorded at the jail also. The Washington County District Attorney issued an arrest warrant for Furmanek on Tuesday. On Thursday she was charged with felony interception of communications and conspiracy to intercept communications. Lazear was charged with the same charges and an additional misdemeanor terroristic threats charge. The investigation into this case is ongoing. District Attorney Jason Walsh is looking into the possibility of an inappropriate relationship between Furmanek and Lazear. Lazear remains in the Washington County Jail. Furmanek is free on a $25,000 bond. Both will appear for preliminary hearings on June 29.
