July 26, 2024 5:14 am
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans have a crucial decision ahead of them. On Sunday, they decide whether to give President Nicolas Maduro a third six-year term in office or to allow the opposition a chance to deliver on their promise to undo the policies that caused economic collapse and forced millions to emigrate. Maduro is being challenged by nine candidates. Maduro has fended off previous challenges by barring rivals from elections and painting them as out-of-touch elitists in league with foreign powers. But this time, he is allowing the coalition of main opposition parties to participate with former diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia as its candidate.
July 26, 2024 5:11 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department says Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a longtime leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, and Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of another infamous cartel leader, have been arrested by authorities in Texas. Zambada has been a leader of the powerful cartel for decades alongside Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. His is known for running the cartel’s smuggling operations while keeping a lower profile. A Mexican federal official told The Associated Press that Zambada and Guzmán López arrived on a private plane and turned themselves in to U.S. authorities. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the matter,
July 26, 2024 5:08 am
PARIS (AP) — The French national rail company SNCF says high-speed lines have been hit by several “malicious acts” that have heavily disrupted traffic on the day of the high-risk Olympics opening ceremony. Lines in the west, north and east of France were affected, SNCF announced. Government officials denounced the incidents hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, which are happening around France, though there was no immediate sign of a link to the Games. Many French families are also heading on summer vacation Friday. National police said authorities are investigating what happened. French media reported a big fire on a busy western route.
July 26, 2024 5:13 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood’s video game performers are going on strike, throwing part of the entertainment industry into another work stoppage after talks for a new contract with major game studios broke down over artificial intelligence protections. The strike will begin at 12:01 a.m. Friday. It’s the second strike for video game actors and performers under the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. It comes after nearly two years of negotiations with gaming giants. Union negotiators say gains have been made over wages and job safety but that the game studios will not make a deal over the regulation of generative AI.
July 25, 2024 5:16 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has voted to form a task force to investigate the security failures surrounding the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. The 416-0 vote Wednesday underscores the bipartisan outrage over the shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Trump came within inches of losing his life. One rallygoer was killed and two others severely injured. Lawmakers have responded quickly with hearings and widespread calls for accountability. The bill is sponsored by Republican Rep. Mike Kelly, whose hometown was the site of the shooting. Kelly was at the rally with members of his family.
July 24, 2024 12:56 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has voted to form a task force to investigate the security failures surrounding the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. The 416-0 vote Wednesday underscores the bipartisan outrage over the shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Trump came within inches of losing his life. One rallygoer was killed and two others severely injured. Lawmakers have responded quickly with hearings and widespread calls for accountability. The bill is sponsored by Republican Rep. Mike Kelly, whose hometown was the site of the shooting. Kelly was at the rally with members of his family.
July 25, 2024 6:58 am
A two vehicle crash involving a garbage truck and a sedan has resulted in three people being sent to area hospitals. Washington County 9-1-1 says the crash occurred just before 5 a.m. in the two-thousand block of N. Main Street in Chartiers Township. The driver of the sedan was entrapped and was extricated around 6:10 a.m. The driver of the garbage truck was also injured and taken to the hospital. There is no word on their identities or conditions. 9-1-1 dispatchers say a firefighter suffered a fractured finger and was transported to UPMC Washington. Another firefighter was treated at the scene for blood pressure and dehydration issues. Chartiers Township Police are investigating.
July 25, 2024 9:37 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s economy accelerated last quarter at a strong 2.8% annual pace, with consumers and businesses helping drive growth despite the pressure of continually high interest rates. The gross domestic product picked up in the April-June quarter after growing at a 1.4% pace in the January-March period. Economists had expected a weaker 1.9% annual pace of growth. The GDP report also showed that inflation continues to ease, though still remaining above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. The latest figures should reinforce confidence that the U.S. economy is on the verge of achieving a rare “soft landing,” whereby high interest rates, engineered by the Fed, tame inflation without tipping the economy into a recession.
July 25, 2024 4:58 am
Washington County residents who have loved ones with special needs that wander away from home have a new service at their disposal. Washington State Police Troop B and the Washington County Sheriff’s office announced a new program that will help families who have people at risk of becoming lost or disoriented. Project Lifesaver is a nationwide program that provides a transmitter to be worn by those “at risk” of becoming lost, including special needs and dementia patients. The service provides a small transmitter to be worn around the neck or as a watch so if a loved one wanders off police units can quickly track them through a hand held receiving device that will ping as they get closer to the lost person. State Trooper Rocco Gagliardi says our area faces certain obstacles due to rough terrain, several bodies of water and poor cell reception. Washington County Sheriff Tony Andronas points out the transmitter will work in other areas while traveling, so you should contact your local police department with your frequency number upon arriving at your destination. The program will be free for Washington County residents who qualify and was made possible by donations and fundraising by the Sheriff’s office. Project Lifesaver is a nationwide organization operating in 41 states and was launched in 1999. It has helped successfully save over 4300 lives since that time. Anyone interested in learning more about how to sign up for a device should contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office or Pennsylvania State Police Troop B.
July 25, 2024 2:44 am
An East Washington man charged with arson and terroristic threats waived his charges to court on Wednesday. Donald Kosek, 37 is accused of trying to set his home on fire with a woman and a 4 year old child inside. According to the criminal complaint, East Washington police were called to a Christman Avenue address where the victim told them that she and Kosek had an argument earlier in the day. Kosek tried to light a pair of boxer shorts on fire against the front door. He also tried to light a plastic pool on fire. Kosek is in the Washington County Jail on $100,000 bond. He will be arraigned on August 29.
