February 27, 2024 5:11 am
The families of hostages held in Gaza and their supporters are launching a four-day march from southern Israel to Jerusalem to demand their loved ones be set free. The march comes as negotiations are underway in Qatar to bring about a deal between Hamas and Israel that would lead to a cease-fire in exchange for the release of hostages. U.S. President Joe Biden has said such a deal was at hand but officials from Israel and Hamas were skeptical of his optimism. Negotiators from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar are working on a framework deal under which Hamas would free some of the dozens of hostages it holds, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and a six-week halt in fighting.
February 27, 2024 5:10 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden and Donald Trump are marching toward their respective presidential nominations. But Michigan’s primary on Tuesday could reveal significant political perils for both of them. Trump faces a bloc of stubbornly persistent GOP voters who favor his lone remaining rival, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Biden is confronting an energized movement of disillusioned voters upset with his handling of the war in Gaza. Michigan is the last major primary state before Super Tuesday and a critical swing state in November’s general election. Even if Biden and Trump post dominant victories on Tuesday, both campaigns will be looking at the margins for signs of weakness.
February 27, 2024 5:09 am
BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the military alliance has no plans to send combat troops into Ukraine, as some Western countries are thought to be considering putting boots on the ground. Asked by the AP about the possibility that Western troops might be sent, Stoltenberg said “there are no plans for NATO combat troops on the ground in Ukraine.” Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico said Monday that some countries are weighing whether to strike bilateral deals with Ukraine to send troops to help it fend off the Russian invasion. Fico provided no details but said that his government is not planning to send soldiers. The Czech Republic has ruled out sending any.
February 27, 2024 5:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders emerged from an “intense” Oval Office meeting with President Joe Biden speaking optimistically about the prospects for avoiding a partial government shutdown beginning this weekend. However, things are still at a crossroads on assistance for Ukraine and Israel as the president and others in the meeting urgently warned House Speaker Mike Johnson of the grave consequences of delay. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says those in the meeting told Johnson ‘get it done.’ But Johnson emerged from the meeting without mentioning Ukraine. He said “the first priority of the country is our border, and making it secure.”
February 27, 2024 5:06 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — President Joe Biden says Israel would be willing to pause its war on Hamas in Gaza during the upcoming Muslim fasting month of Ramadan if a deal is reached to release some of the hostages held by the militants. Negotiators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar are working on a framework deal under which Hamas would free some of the dozens of hostages it holds, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and a six-week halt in fighting. During the temporary pause, negotiations would continue over the release of the remaining hostages. If a deal is reached in the coming days, this timeline would also include Ramadan, which starts around March 10.
February 27, 2024 4:57 am
The bulk of Peters Township Council’s work on Monday centered on zoning issues. Immediately before the voting meeting, council held a public hearing on its intention to take several land parcels and remove them from the Conservation Residential Overlay Zoning District. This ordinance allows for cluster housing on parcels of land that are smaller than the traditional half acre minimum lots that are traditionally found in Peters Township. The parcels of interest are addresses 490 and 555 Sugar Camp Road which is commonly referred to as the Arabian horse farm and 231 Froebe Road that is being considered for the Froebe Farms development. The ordinance change was adopted during the voting portion of the council meeting. That, however did not stop consideration of the Froebe Farms development as it has been under consideration prior to the zoning change. Currently there are 3 proposals for that property that could develop a cluster home development. If none of those proposals succeed, the parcel will revert to low density zoning. The current developer asked for plans for that development to be tabled so that they may be able to address concerns presented to them by the planning commission. Additionally, council scheduled another public hearing for zoning issues surrounding a proposed townhome development along E. McMurray Road. That public hearing will be held April 8.
February 27, 2024 2:24 am
A preliminary hearing for a Bentleyville man facing nearly 100 animal cruelty charges was held Monday. Fredrick Frameli, 74 had his charges held for court for allegedly starving and mistreating 12 dogs in his home. An investigation began when police were alerted about the emaciated condition of two dogs Fermeli brought in to a Peters Township veterinarian in December of 2023. According to State Police testimony, Frameli was served a search warrant on January 23 and 12 dogs were found in deplorable living conditions and all of them exhibited signs of starvation and neglect. The dogs were taken into police custody and transported to a veterinarian for care that included being fed, bathed and having their fur shaved due to severe matting. Frameli’s attorney asked if photographic evidence existed of the search and the trooper showed him and the judge dozens of photos depicting the conditions of the home and dogs that she described. Frameli will be arraigned on all 96 charges he faces on March 28. He remains free on $500,000 bond.
February 27, 2024 2:15 am
North Strabane Township Fire Chief Rich Yosi tells WJPA News that a fire that broke out late Sunday night, injuring a teenager, is under investigation. but at this time, is not considered suspicious. Yosi says the blaze broke out in a bedroom in the basement of the home in the 4000 block of Bentwood Drive. He says crews were able to put the fire out quickly, but the teenager suffered burns and was flown to a Pittsburgh area hospital. Yosi says they don’t know at this time, how serious the injuries were, but Washington County 911 says the teen suffered second and third degree burns to over 90% of his body. The Canon-McMillan School District confirmed the teen is a high school senior. “A house fire occurred last night in North Strabane Township that has affected one of our Canon-McMillan families. A senior who attends the high school was severely injured, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family,” Superintendent Michael Daniels said in a statement. (Photo: WPXI)
February 26, 2024 4:50 pm
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio commission has awarded bids to frack oil and gas under state parks despite statewide backlash and an ongoing investigation into possibly fraudulent support. The Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission granted the mineral rights to several out-of-state oil and gas companies. This allows them to frack for oil and gas under land parcels owned by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Department of Transportation, including state parks and designated wildlife areas. Fracking opponents decry the commission for lack of transparency, as there have been no public hearings, and say the commission is giving in to corporate greed. Commission chair Ryan Richardson did not make herself available for comment Monday.
February 26, 2024 1:32 pm
(AP) – AT&T says it will give affected customers $5 each to compensate for last week’s network outage. Many customers were left without cellphone service for hours on Thursday. The company now says on its website that customers will get a $5 credit on their account within two billing cycles. The credit doesn’t apply to AT&T Business, prepaid service or Cricket, its low-cost wireless service. AT&T said prepaid customers will have options available to them if they were impacted, although it did not elaborate on what those options might be. AT&T blamed the outage on an error in coding, without elaborating, and says it was not the result of a cyberattack.
