Court Blocks Governor’s Carbon Emissions Plan

April 6, 2022 4:07 am

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A Pennsylvania court is blocking the centerpiece of Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to fight climate change, the latest challenge to the Democrat’s effort to make Pennsylvania the first major fossil-fuel state to adopt a carbon pricing policy. Commonwealth Court, in a one-line unsigned order, said Tuesday it won’t allow the official publication of the regulation “pending further order.” The regulation would require fossil fuel-fired power plants to pay a price for every ton of carbon dioxide they emit starting July 1 in a major power-producing state. The regulation was to be published on Saturday. But the court sided with Republican lawmakers who contend it’s an illegal use of regulatory authority.

Washington Man To Face Trial On Child Sex Assault Charges

April 6, 2022 4:05 am

A Washington County man will face trial on felony charges of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and aggravated indecent assault, all of them on a person less than 16 years old. Clayton Warmus, 30 of Washington faced his preliminary hearing and all charges against him were held for court. Warmus is accused of sexually assaulting a juvenile from August of 2020 through March of 2021. During the hearing the victim related how Warmus had them engage in sexual acts on approximately 30 occasions. Most of the assaults came in the victim’s home as Warmus had moved in with the victim and mother. Several assaults occurred at a second location that was described as a friend of Warmus’ home. Warmus is in the Washington County Jail unable to post a $150,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 26.

North Strabane Man Facing Attempted Homicide Charges

April 6, 2022 2:16 am

Police in North Strabane Township have arrested Dylan Gledhill on multiple charges, including attempted homicide, in connection with a stabbing that occurred at his home on Hunting Creek Road Monday afternoon. Police allege that Gledhill got into a fight with his roommate, Tyler LaBrosse and used a knife or dagger to stab him.  According to the criminal complaint, Gledhill came to the Canonsburg Police Department covered in blood and told police he had gotten into a fight with his roommate at their home.  Police say they went to the house, where they found LaBrosse covered in blood with lacerations to both arms.  LaBrosse reportedly told police that he and Gledhill got into a fight and Gledhill started to hit him.  He said that when he grabbed Gledhill to try and calm him down, Gledhill pulled away and came back with a “dagger.”  Police say LaBrosse was flown to a trauma center for emergency surgery. There’s been no word on his condition

U.S. & Allies Will Impose New Sanctions On Russia

April 5, 2022 5:49 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. and its European allies will impose stiff new sanctions, including a ban on new investments in Russia on Wednesday in retaliation for Russia’s “war crimes” in Ukraine, according to the White House. The joint action also will include toughened sanctions on Russia’s financial institutions and government-owned enterprises, and more sanctions on Russian government officials and their family members. The White House said the sanctions were intended to further Russia’s economic, financial and technological “isolation” from the rest of the world as a penalty for its attacks on civilians in Ukraine.

Not “Eggs-Actly” Good News Ahead Of Easter

April 5, 2022 12:30 pm

This is not eggs-exactly the news you want to hear the week before Easter. Consumers can expect to see a surge in egg prices ahead of the holiday due to the avian flu outbreak. Egg prices have risen 52% since Feb. 8, according to The Wall Street Journal. The average price for a dozen eggs is now $2.88, the highest it has been since the pandemic began in March 2020, according to market research firm Urner Barry. Avian influenza has been found in 118 flocks in 24 states, with over 22 million birds affected, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The outbreak has led to more than 17 million bird deaths, according to The Wall Street Journal. In Iowa, over 5 million birds have been destroyed. On the upside, however,experts say egg shortages are not expected at this time.

One Person Shot At Erie High School

April 5, 2022 12:03 pm

ERIE, Pa. (AP) – Authorities say one student was injured in a shooting at a school in northwestern Pennsylvania, but that person’s injuries weren’t life-threatening. Erie city and school officials said shortly before 10 a.m. Tuesday that police had been called to Erie High School where the city said “a single individual” was shot. Officials said that person was in good condition and had been taken to a hospital. Erie police said the person injured was a student. State police said the shooter had fled the school. Erie Public Schools reported that the building was “on hard lockdown” and “evacuation by orderly dismissal” would begin after police green-lighted that process.

Ivanka Trump Testifies Before Jan. 6 Committee

April 5, 2022 4:13 am

WASHINGTON (AP) – Ivanka Trump, former President Donald Trump’s daughter and one of those closest to him during the insurrection at the Capitol, is testifying before the House panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack. Committee chairman Bennie Thompson said Tuesday afternoon that she had been answering investigators’ questions on a video teleconference since the morning and was not “chatty” but had been helpful to the probe. Her decision to cooperate is a significant development for the committee. Lawmakers have said they want to discuss what Ivanka Trump knew about her father’s efforts to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject the results of the 2020 election.

Senate Bargainers Reach $10B COVID Agreement

April 5, 2022 4:10 am

WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate bargainers have reached agreement on a slimmed-down $10 billion package for countering COVID-19 with treatments, vaccines and other steps. But the compromise ended up dropping all funding to help nations abroad combat the pandemic. It drew quick support Monday from President Joe Biden, who initially pushed for a $22.5 billion package. He ended up settling for much less despite administration warnings that the government was running out of money to keep pace with the disease’s continued – though diminished – spread in the U.S. Questions remain about whether objections by some Republicans might prevent the Senate from considering the bill this week, as Biden wants.

UkrainIan President Address U.N. Security Council

April 5, 2022 4:10 am

BUCHA, Ukraine (AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told the U.N. Security Council that the Russian military must be brought to justice immediately for war crimes. The Ukrainian leader made his plea via video Tuesday as grisly evidence continued to emerge of civilian massacres carried out by Russian forces on the outskirts of Kyiv. The images, particularly from the town of Bucha, have stirred global revulsion and led to demands for tougher sanctions and war crime prosecutions against Russia.

Pa. Aims To Reduce Wait For Clemency By Years

April 5, 2022 4:07 am

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – The process for inmates and ex-convicts in Pennsylvania to apply for clemency should go fully online by year’s end in an effort to improve access to a cornerstone of the nation’s criminal justice movement and to reduce the wait by years. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman said Monday that his goal is for the state Board of Pardons to use the online system to turn around an application for a pardon or commutation in a year or less. The process often takes several years currently under what Fetterman calls an inefficient and paper-based system. April is recognized as Second Chance Month. Fetterman as lieutenant governor chairs the five-member Board of Pardons.