December 1, 2021 5:39 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden has unveiled his new HIV/AIDS strategy to end the more than 40-year-old epidemic, calling for a renewed focus on vulnerable Americans. The new strategy asserts that gay and bisexual Black and Latino men are too often stigmatized even as they are disproportionately affected by HIV. The new strategy, which declares racism a “public health threat,” was released Wednesday on the annual commemoration of World AIDS Day. áIt is meant to serve as a framework for how the administration shapes its policies, research, programs and planning over the next three years. The epidemic has killed more than 36 million worldwide, including 700,000 Americans.
December 1, 2021 4:20 pm
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – The U.S. identified its first known case of the omicron variant Wednesday – in a vaccinated traveler returning to California from South Africa – as scientists around the world raced to establish whether the new, mutant version of the coronavirus is more dangerous than the previous ones. The first U.S. case is a person who returned from South Africa on Nov. 22. The person had mild symptoms that are improving, and has agreed to remain in quarantine. All the individual’s close contacts have been contacted and have tested negative. Nigeria and Saudi Arabia also reported omicron infections Wednesday, marking the first known cases in West Africa and the Persian Gulf region.
December 1, 2021 12:35 pm
SOMERSET, Pa. (AP) – A prosecutor accused of sexual assault is now without his public salary and benefits. The Somerset County salary board voted Tuesday to halt payments to Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Lynn Thomas. His $185,000 salary goes to acting District Attorney Molly Metzgar. The move is in response to a change in state law that requires district attorneys to hold an active law license. Thomas’ law license was temporarily suspended by the state Supreme Court on Oct. 27. áHe faces charges that include sexual assault and false imprisonment. A Republican, Thomas was elected two years ago.
December 1, 2021 4:28 am
The State Police Fire Marshall is investigating an overnight fire in Avella. The fire broke out just before 2 a.m. Wednesday at a home along Gardner Street. Officials say one person was inside the home at the time but did get out. That person has not been identified but was reportedly taken to an area hospital after suffering burns. Fire officials say the home was fully engulfed when they arrived. There is no word on what may have sparked the fire. That investigation is ongoing. (Photo: WPXI)
December 1, 2021 4:20 am
NEW YORK (AP) – CNN says it is suspending anchor Chris Cuomo indefinitely pending a further review of documents revealing how he helped his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, when he was facing charges of sexual harassment. The network said transcripts released by New York’s attorney general revealed its anchor had a greater involvement in his brother’s case than they knew and raise serious questions. Cuomo is anchor of ‘Cuomo Prime Time’ on the network, frequently CNN’s most-watched show. He anchored Monday night after the documents were released, but did not discuss the matter.
December 1, 2021 4:18 am
OXFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) – A Michigan teenager has been charged with murder, terrorism and other counts for a shooting that killed four fellow students and injured others at Oxford High School. Charges against 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley were announced Wednesday, a few hours after authorities reported the death of a fourth teen from the school in southeastern Michigan. Crumbley is charged as an adult with one count of terrorism causing death, four counts of first-degree murder and seven counts assault with intent to murder. The shooting occurred Tuesday, about 30 miles north of Detroit in Oakland County. Investigators say Crumbley was armed with a semi-automatic handgun purchased last week by his father.
December 1, 2021 4:15 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The House panel investigating the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection is preparing to vote on pursuing contempt charges against a former Justice Department official. The vote expected Wednesday comes as the committee aggressively seeks to gain answers about the violent attack by former President Donald Trump’s supporters. Jeffrey Clark is a former Justice Department lawyer who aligned with Trump as Trump tried to overturn his election defeat. Clark appeared for a deposition last month but refused to answer any questions. Meanwhile, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has agreed to cooperate with the panel on a limited basis.
December 1, 2021 4:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court’s conservative majority justices are signaling they will allow states to ban abortion much earlier in pregnancy. And they’re indicating they may go even further to overturn the nationwide Roe v. Wade right that has existed for nearly 50 years. After nearly two hours of arguments on Wednesday, all six conservative justices, including three appointed by former President Donald Trump, indicated they would uphold a Mississippi law that is in question. That law is much more restrictive than the landmark Roe v. Wade court ruling of 1973. At the very least, upholding the Mississippi law would undermine Roe. And several justices indicated they are ready to get rid of Roe outright. A decision is expected next June.
December 1, 2021 4:07 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s high court says that for now, an order requiring masks inside Pennsylvania’s K-12 schools and child care facilities will remain in place. The state Supreme Court said Tuesday that could change again after it hears oral argument next week in Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s appeal of a lawsuit that has overturned the mandate. If the justices hadn’t acted, the mask mandate would have ended on Saturday. A Commonwealth Court majority said earlier this month that acting Health Secretary Alison Beam lacked authority to require masks. The lower court said Beam didn’t comply with state laws about reviewing and approving regulations and that the mandate was adopted without an existing disaster emergency.
November 30, 2021 3:17 pm
OXFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) – Authorities say a 15-year-old sophomore opened fire at his Michigan high school, killing three other students and wounding six other people, including a teacher. Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said at a news conference that he didn’t know what the assailant’s motives were for the attack Tuesday afternoon at Oxford High School in Oxford Township, a community of about 22,000 people roughly 30 miles north of Detroit. Authorities arrested the suspect at the school and recovered a handgun. They didn’t immediately release the names of the suspect or victims.
