July 14, 2021 4:10 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Democrats say they’ve reached a budget agreement envisioning spending an enormous $3.5 trillion over the coming decade. It would pave the way for their drive to pour federal resources into climate change, health care and family-service programs sought by President Joe Biden. The accord marks a major step in the party’s push to meet Biden’s goal of bolstering an economy that was ravaged by the pandemic and setting it on course for long-term growth. But Democrats face possible objections from rival moderate and progressive factions. And they’ll have to work hard to convert their plans into legislation they can push through the closely divided Congress.
July 14, 2021 4:08 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Legislative leaders on the five-person group redrawing Pennsylvania state lawmakers’ district lines based on census data are hearing how the delay in the release of updated population figures may require them to move more quickly than anticipated. The state’s Legislative Reapportionment Commission heard Tuesday that census numbers might not be ready before the end of September. Counties need the new maps by Jan. 24 in order to provide the requisite information to candidates and others circulating nominating petitions during a period that kicks off on Feb. 15. Candidates have until March 8 to submit signed nominating petitions to appear on next year’s May 17 primary ballot.
July 14, 2021 3:56 am
The Master Revitalization Steering Committee held their second input meeting on Tuesday to discuss restoration plans for Claysville. The revitalization project seeks to revive businesses and explore new economic opportunities for all nine municipalities. Although more borough residents attended the second meeting, their survey responses were in line with those from the first meeting. There are a few essential common themes shared between the first and second meeting, according to committee member Rick Newton. “Infrastructure, utilities, broadband internet access, cell phone access, sewage- all of those were common themes from last meeting that continued to this meeting”, said Newton. Popular audience topics included repairing old roads, developing new young centers, preserving lakes and trails, and removing dilapidated houses. Some people, like Morris inhabitant Dale Leech, complained about the deteriorating buildings around their property. Leech proposes that these buildings should be sold and “put back onto the taxbase for the property value” before any new houses are built from the plan. For the second meeting, there was reportedly a greater demand for retail centers to be built in areas like Taylorstown. The committee’s consultant, Herbert, Rolland, and Grubic Inc., will count all of the survey responses and officially publish their results on the committee website.
July 14, 2021 3:44 am
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – A week after the state enacted an anti-hazing law in honor of an Ohio University student who died in 2018, the university suspended another fraternity for allegedly violating hazing rules. The Athens-based school sent the Beta Chapter of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity a notice Tuesday that it will be suspended for four years. An investigation by the university revealed a pattern of student code of conduct violations. It’s not clear what prompted the investigation. The suspension follows Gov. Mike DeWine signing a bill into law that places tougher penalties for hazing at Ohio universities and colleges starting this fall.
July 13, 2021 12:56 pm
LOS ANGELES (AP) – “The Crown” tied with “The Mandalorian” for the most Emmy nominations Tuesday, 24 each, but the Marvel universe also got bragging rights with runner-up “WandaVision.” The nominations reinforced the rapid rise of streaming, with the top-nominated scripted shows on services that largely emerged in the past two years. In the top three categories – drama, comedy and limited series – only the NBC show “This Is Us” snagged a nomination. The nominees for best drama series are: “The Boys”; “Bridgerton”; “The Crown”; “The Handmaid’s Tale”; “Lovecraft Country”; “The Mandalorian”; “Pose”; “This Is Us.” CBS will air the Emmy Awards on Sept. 19.
July 13, 2021 8:20 am
An unidentified man was injured in a motorcycle crash late Monday night in Amwell Township. Washington County 9-1-1 says it happened just before 11:30 p.m. near Exit 30, Amity/Lone Pine. A motorist came upon the motorcycle on the side of the highway and then found the operator a short distance away. The man was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. There is no word on his condition.
July 13, 2021 8:03 am
A powerful storm system rolled through Washington County early Tuesday morning. Emergency crews were busy dealing with fires, flooding and other issues. Fire crews were called to a house fire in the City of Washington just after the system rolled through. Fire was reported in the attic and behind the walls of a three-story, multi-family home in the 400 block of E. Maiden St. Everyone got out safely but there is no word on what sparked the fire. Washington County 9-1-1 dispatchers say fire fighters were also called to a lightning strike at a home in the 8-hundred block of S. Central Avenue in North Strabane. Firefighters also responded to a large shed fire behind a home along Valley View Dr. in Union Township. The heavy downpours also resulted in flooding. A portion of West Pike Street in Canonsburg flooded, as did some homes and businesses along Georgetown Rd. in Cecil Township. The storm also knocked out power to some 900 West Penn Power customers throughout Washington County.
July 13, 2021 4:14 am
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Texas Republicans are authorizing law enforcement to find and bring back more than 50 legislators who fled to Washington “under warrant of arrest if necessary” after Democrats left the state to again block passage of sweeping new voting restrictions. Still, it was not immediately clear Tuesday whether state troopers would actually be sent to Washington, where they would have no jurisdiction to make arrests. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has already threatened Democrats with arrest once they return home, which may not be until the current 30-day session is over. The move by Republicans was expected after most Democrats in the Texas House boarded private planes Monday to deny GOP the quorum necessary to conduct business.
July 13, 2021 4:13 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Charlie Robinson, the versatile and prolific actor who was best known for his long-running role as the court clerk Mac Robinson in the sitcom “Night Court,” has died. He was 75. His manager said Robinson died Sunday at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. His many credits ranged from stage productions of “Driving Miss Daisy” and “Fences” to such films as “Secret Santa” and “Miss Lettie and Me.” On television, he also appeared in the acclaimed, but short-lived “Buffalo Bill”; “Home Improvement”; “The Game” and “Hart of Dixie” among other series. The Houston-native’s recent credits include the teleplay “Some Old Black Man” and the stage play “The Last Romance,” co-starring Michael Learned.
July 13, 2021 4:12 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Wildfires that have torched homes and forced thousands to evacuate are burning across 10 parched Western states, and the largest, in Oregon, is threatening California’s power supply. Nearly 60 large, active wildfires are burning from Alaska to Wyoming. California’s largest has prompted evacuations on both sides of the Nevada state line. The largest fire in the U.S. is the Bootleg Fire in Oregon. It remains out of control after burning an area nearly twice the size of Portland and disrupting power transmission lines to California. The good news is that forecasters say a heat wave over the West seems to be easing in many areas.
