January 26, 2022 4:16 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden’s effort to rally support ahead of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine is the latest big test of his ability to bridge ideological gaps and balance competing interests to build effective coalitions. His record so far as president suggests it’s no sure thing. Biden is trying to pull off the kind of alliance on the international front that has eluded him on his domestic agenda as he faces defeats on voting rights and his signature domestic and climate spending bill. The pileup of difficult moments goes to the twin pillars of Biden’s 2020 candidacy: that he could get things done competently at home and restore America’s standing in the world.
January 26, 2022 4:12 am
BEIJING (AP) – Repeated COVID-19 testing of millions of Beijing residents is starting to test the patience of some as the city clamps down on the virus ahead of the coming Winter Olympics. A third round of mass testing for the 2 million residents of Fengtai district got underway Wednesday. Residents bundled up against the wind as they waited in line with the daytime high hovering around the freezing point. An official announcement of the testing on social media late Tuesday drew dozens of critical comments. The Chinese capital has stepped up the country’s already strict pandemic response measures ahead of the Olympics, which open Feb. 4.
January 26, 2022 4:10 am
TORONTO (AP) – Canadian officials say hackers launched a cyberattack on the country’s Global Affairs Department last week. The Canadian government is not saying who it suspects was behind the Jan. 19 attack, which has left some diplomats without access to some online services almost a week later. But the attack came one day before the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security urged companies to bolster protections against the potential for Russian-backed attacks. That comes amid escalating tensions over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine.
January 26, 2022 4:09 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Wild volatility in the stock market this week has put heightened scrutiny on the Federal Reserve’s meeting Wednesday and whether the Fed will clarify just how fast it plans to tighten credit and potentially slow the economy. With high inflation squeezing consumers and businesses, the Fed is expected to signal that it will raise its benchmark short-term interest rate in March in a sharp reversal from the ultra-low rate policies it imposed after he pandemic recession erupted two years ago. To further tighten credit, the Fed plans to end its monthly bond purchases in May. And later this year, it may start reducing its huge stockpile of Treasury and mortgage bonds.
January 26, 2022 4:05 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s state Senate is fast-tracking legislation to spend $225 million to help hospitals struggling to keep staff on board as the coronavirus packs hospitals with unvaccinated patients. The bill passed Tuesday has backing from Gov. Tom Wolf. The money is from federal pandemic relief. Under the bill, $100 million will be distributed to acute-care hospitals on a per-bed basis. Another $110 million will be distributed to hospitals that serve poorer and rural areas, hospitals with high proportions of Medicaid patients and facilities that provide inpatient behavioral health services. The other $15 million will go to pay off the student loans for nurses.
January 26, 2022 4:02 am
Supervisors in South Strabane Township had an aggressive agenda to cover on Tuesday evening, but several of the action items were tabled for future consideration. One item on the agenda is an assessment to township property owners that live within a 780 foot distance from a fire hydrant. Township Manager Brandon Stanick describes the assessment as a more equitable method to pay for fire hydrant service for those residents that would use that service most. The action was tabled until a public hearing could be held. Also on the agenda were two items where the township would enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Washington-East Washington Joint Authority and the Washington County Redevelopment Authority. The agreement with WEWJA would have them construct collection facilities within the township. The agreement with the Redevelopment Authority would be a vehicle for repayment for extending sewerage to the South Strabane side of Race Track Road. Both of those items were tabled due to lack of response from both entities. These items were introduced because of the township’s dissolution of the South Strabane Township Sanitary. Authority. Officials expect all three items to come to a vote next month.
January 25, 2022 4:31 am
Peters Township Council got a preview of what roads will be paved this year in a presentation from Township Engineer Mark Zemaitis. The township is responsible for nearly 115 miles of roads. Zemaitis expects to pave about 5.6 miles. The two million dollar budget also includes a road pavement rejuvenator program and a crack sealing program. Two minimum maintenance roads will be addressed this year. Laurel Drive and Maplewood Drive will be brought up to township standard with widening and then repaving. Another minimum maintenance road is Longvue Drive. Design work is slated for later this year so it may be bid and reconstructed in 2023.
January 25, 2022 4:15 am
NEW YORK (AP) – New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced the city will step up efforts to seize illegal guns and institute a multi-pronged plan to tackle the issue. Adams, who retired from the NYPD as a captain in 2006, was elected last year to steer the nation’s largest city after a campaign where he stood as tougher on crime than some of his fellow Democrats. The issue is now at the forefront of his young administration after a startling string of violence that’s shaken the city of nearly 9 million people and emboldened critics who say criminal justice reforms and lax prosecutors are to blame for eroding hard-won declines in shootings and murders.
January 25, 2022 4:14 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden has called a Fox News reporter a vulgarity after the reporter asked him a question about inflation. The president was in the East Room of the White House on Monday to convene a meeting of his Competition Council. The panel is focused on changing regulations to help consumers deal with high prices. Several of the gathered reporters shouted questions to the president when he concluded his remarks. Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked Biden if inflation was a political liability. Biden responded with sarcasm, saying inflation was a “great asset.” And then he added a vulgar phrase beginning with “son of a” about the reporter.
January 25, 2022 4:13 am
DALLAS (AP) – Despite being vaccinated and boosted, Elton John has contracted COVID-19 and is postponing two farewell concert dates in Dallas. A statement says John “is experiencing only mild symptoms” and the superstar is looking forward to returning to the stage “shortly.” John was due to hit the American Airlines Center stage on Jan. 25 and Jan. 26 but the statement says fans “should hold on to their tickets as they will be honored at the rescheduled dates to be announced soon.” John’s rescheduled 2020 North American tour kicked off on Jan. 19 in New Orleans. (Photo: AP)
