March 9, 2022 4:31 am
BEIJING – China says it is sending humanitarian aid including food and daily necessities worth 5 million yuan ($791,000) to Ukraine while continuing to oppose sanctions against Russia over its invasion. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters an initial batch was sent to the Ukrainian Red Cross on Wednesday with more to follow “as soon as possible.” China has largely backed Russia in the conflict and Zhao reiterated Beijing’s opposition to biting economic sanctions against Moscow. Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing that “wielding the stick of sanctions at every turn will never bring peace and security but cause serious difficulties to the economies and livelihoods of the countries concerned.” He said China and Russia will “continue to carry out normal trade cooperation, including oil and gas trade, in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.”
March 9, 2022 4:28 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Legislation to limit insulin costs for people with diabetes is getting a new push in the Senate. Democrats say they want to move quickly, but they’ll need Republican support to get anything through an evenly divided chamber. And they’re not there yet. Curbs on insulin costs have the backing of President Joe Biden and before that enjoyed support from his predecessor Donald Trump. The goal reemerged this week after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote colleagues that “negotiations are underway with Senate Republicans on legislation to lower the cost of insulin.” Democrats want to regain momentum on drug costs that was lost after Biden’s domestic agenda stalled.
March 9, 2022 4:27 am
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) – Australia’s prime minister says he will declare a national emergency following floods across large swathes of the east coast that have claimed 22 lives. Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement Wednesday during a visit to flood-devastated Lismore in northern New South Wales state, where four people died last week. The national emergency declaration, Morrison said in a statement, will “ensure all our emergency powers are available and that we cut through any red tape we might face in delivering services and support on the ground.” It is the first such declaration since a law was passed in December 2020 in response to catastrophic wildfires during the previous Southern Hemisphere summer.
March 9, 2022 4:26 am
(AP) – Ukrainian officials say a Russian strike has hit a children’s hospital and maternity facility in the besieged southeastern port city of Mariupol. A statement on the city council’s social media account on Wednesday said the hospital suffered “colossal” damage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted that there were “people, children under the wreckage.” He called the strike an “atrocity.” The deputy head of Zelenskyy’s office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, says authorities are trying to establish the number of people who may have been killed or wounded. (Photo: AP)
March 9, 2022 4:07 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices are considering whether to throw out a state law that greatly expanded mail-in balloting. The court held oral argument Tuesday in Harrisburg. The litigation was brought in part by some of the Republican state representatives who voted overwhelmingly for the law about two years ago. The justices could put an end to compromise legislation that also eliminated straight-ticket voting, a priority of legislative Republicans, in exchange for no-excuse mail-in voting that proved immediately popular during the pandemic. Justices didn’t indicate when or how they’ll rule. The spring primary is currently scheduled for May 17.
March 9, 2022 4:05 am
North Franklin Township supervisors discussed last month the difficulties of snow removal in the township, especially when residents discharge snow on their property into township streets. Supervisors updated their snow removal ordinance to increase the fine from the current $15 per occurrence to $200 per occurrence. Supervisors pointed to safety concerns stating that the snow discharged into the streets could freeze causing ice patches and therefore accidents. Supervisors also felt the original fine was too inexpensive to be effective. Also, last month supervisors heard from residents that sit on the township line with Buffalo Township about the proposed development of the Gnagey Jean well pad that would be located nearby in Buffalo Township. Supervisors were presented with a letter from Range Resources alerting the Pennsylvania DEP that they were withdrawing their application to the DEP for development of the site. Residents of both townships were concerned about mine subsidence issues from the abandoned Lincoln #1 mine.
March 9, 2022 2:58 am
Two men accused of dumping a woman’s body on a secluded road will face trial. Matthew Shasura, 24 of Vestaburg and Christian Panyko, 44 of Washington are charged with misdemeanor counts of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence and other related charges. Both had their cases held for court. Both men are accused of using drugs with 33 year old Rebecca Kloster in a South Strabane Township hotel. Shasura and Panyko left to buy more drugs and they returned to find Kloster unresponsive. Attempts to revive her were unsuccessful. Security camera footage showed both men loading an unresponsive body into their car. Kloster’s body was found several days later on Hahn Drive in Cecil Township. Shasura is facing additional drug charges. Shashura is being held in the Greene County jail without bond. Panyko remains in the Washington County jail without bond.
March 9, 2022 2:22 am
The Thomas Campbell Apartments in South Strabane Township sustained a devastating fire on December 23rd of last year. Fifty-nine people were displaced and now residents are starting to move back in. A welcome home celebration took place on Wednesday morning welcoming back 19 residents of the Thomas Campbell Apartments. They were welcomed with cake and some household goods to take to their newly refurbished apartments. Dr. Arthur Keys, Board of Directors President of the Thomas Campbell Apartments says residents will be pleased with what they will see. All of their apartments have been cleaned, repainted and fully refurbished. Jasman Fleegal, Social Services Coordinator for the apartments thanked the numerous community charities such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Blueprints for their financial help during the crisis. Gift cards and cleaning goods were supplied by corporate donors such as Home Depot and Food Helpers. Fleegal states that total contributions are in the range of 300,000. Keys states that there are 36 residents still left to return. The timetable for that return varies from a few weeks to longer depending upon the damage that each unit suffered.
March 8, 2022 11:45 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia’s economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter. The move follows pleas by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to U.S. and Western officials to cut off the imports. Energy exports have kept a steady influx of cash flowing to Russia despite otherwise severe restrictions on its financial sector. Biden is to announce the move Tuesday.
March 8, 2022 4:20 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A Texas man has been convicted of storming the U.S. Capitol last year with a holstered handgun. It’s a milestone victory for federal prosecutors in the first trial among hundreds of cases arising from last year’s riot. A jury also convicted Guy Wesley Reffitt of obstructing Congress’ joint session to certify the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2021, of interfering with police officers who were guarding the Capitol and of threatening his two teenage children if they reported him to law enforcement after the attack. The verdict could be a bellwether for many other Capitol riot cases. It could give Justice Department prosecutors more leverage in plea negotiations and discourage other defendants from gambling on trials of their own. (Photo: AP)
