February 10, 2022 5:46 am
A former intern basketball coach at Washington & Jefferson College has entered a guilty plea to federal charges of production and attempted production of videos depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. 29 year old Jacob Kolonis was indicted on 16 counts following an investigation by the U.S Department of Homeland Security and the state attorney general’s office. The former Washington resident now lives in Blair County. The charges related to the exploitation of two girls from Ohio and one from Pennsylvania. Kolonis had been free on bond, but that was revoked following his plea. He is to be sentenced in June before U.S. District Judge Robert Colville.
February 10, 2022 4:21 am
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Republican legislators in Kansas have overridden the Democratic governor’s veto of a redistricting plan that politically hurts the state’s only Democrat in Congress. Their action Wednesday likely plunges Kansas into a national legal brawl amid the contest for control of the U.S. House. The vote in the Kansas House was 85-37 to overturn Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto. The new map splits the state’s side of the Kansas City area between two districts, making it harder for U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids to win reelection. It also moves the liberal northeast Kansas enclave of Lawrence into a district with conservative central and western Kansas communities. Democrats expect to challenge the lines in court.
February 10, 2022 4:20 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Bob Saget’s family says the actor-comedian died last month in Florida from an accidental blow to the head. Citing authorities, the family says that Saget struck the back of his head on an unknown surface and then went to sleep. He was found unresponsive in his hotel room on Jan. 9 and declared dead by paramedics. The family says there were no drugs or alcohol involved. Details from the Florida medical examiner’s office handling the case were unavailable Tuesday night. Saget was best known for his role as beloved single dad Danny Tanner on the sitcom “Full House” and as the wisecracking host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” He was 65 when he died.
February 10, 2022 4:18 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – Satellite photos show hundreds of people in formation at a training ground in North Korea’s capital in a possible sign the country is preparing for a military parade. The 38 North website, which specializes in North Korea studies, described the Feb. 5 imagery taken on Mirim airfield in Pyongyang. Another website, NK News, also says there have been signs of increased preparations for a military parade in Pyongyang in recent weeks. North Korea often marks important anniversaries with parades and other displays. The 80th birth anniversary of the current leader’s father is next week, and the 110th birth anniversary of the nation’s founder is in April.
February 10, 2022 4:17 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The National Archives and Records Administration is asking the Justice Department to investigate whether former President Donald Trump violated federal law in the handling of documents. That’s according to The Washington Post. It says the referral was made following several stories by the paper chronicling how then-President Trump dealt with documents, including tearing them up. In one case the archives transported 15 boxes of documents from Mar-a-Lago after Trump representatives located them and notified the archives. The referral is asking the Justice Department to investigate whether Trump violated the Presidential Records Act, which requires all presidential records of an administration be turned over to the archives when the president leaves office.
February 10, 2022 4:15 am
Local State Representative Pam Snyder has announced her plan to retire effective at the end of her current term, which ends November 30. The Democrat, who represents parts of Washington, Greene and Fayette Counties says “it has been a true honor to learn, grow and serve on multiple levels of government”. In a news release, Snyder said “while I love being the voice of our community in Harrisburg, this past year has reminded me how short and precious our time is, and I look forward to having more time to spend with my husband and family.” Snyder’s career in public service spanned three decades. She served at the local, state and federal levels of government, with the last five terms as a State Representative in the 50th District.
February 10, 2022 4:06 am
CARLISLE, Pa. (AP) – Nearly 60,000 bees have been stolen from a grocery store company’s field in Pennsylvania. Pennlive.com reports that the bees were said to have been stolen in Carlisle at the end of January. The Giant Company’s community impact manager said that the bees were an essential part of the local food chain that is suffering a declining bee population. The nationwide loss of bee populations is causing serious concerns with the agricultural industry and environmentalists. The newspaper reports that about one-third of the United States’ food supply relies on bees to pollinate plants.
February 9, 2022 1:24 pm
(AP) – Looks like the United States Postal Service is getting more money to work with. The House has passed a bill that would lift some of the budget restraints that helped push the Postal Service into debt. The measure will also let USPS keep a six-day delivery schedule. The Senate is working on similar legislation. The bill comes amid widespread complaints about slow mail service. The Postal Service is supposed to sustain itself with postage sales and other services, but has experienced 14 straight years of losses.
February 9, 2022 12:48 pm
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that the state will end a COVID-19 mask mandate requiring face coverings in most indoor public settings, but will keep masking rules in place in schools for now. The broad rule requiring masks in places like shops and offices was put in place in mid-December as the omicron variant of the virus began infecting huge numbers of New Yorkers. It was set to expire Thursday. Hochul has been saying she wants to see vaccination rates for children increase before she gets rid of a state requirement for masks in schools. (Photo: AP)
February 9, 2022 4:06 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – French President Emmanuel Macron says Russian President Vladimir Putin told him that Moscow would not further escalate the Ukraine crisis. Macron also said it would take time to find a diplomatic solution to the rising tensions. His remarks on a visit to Kyiv came after the Kremlin denied reports that he and Putin struck a deal during marathon talks Monday on de-escalating the crisis. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “in the current situation, Moscow and Paris can’t be reaching any deals.” Macron met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid mounting fears of a Russian invasion. Moscow has massed over 100,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders, but insists it has no plans to attack.
