August 17, 2021 4:27 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House says the Taliban have agreed to allow safe passage for civilians seeking to leave Afghanistan. U.S. commanders at the Kabul airport are coordinating with the Taliban while accelerating the evacuation of Americans and at-risk Afghan allies. Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby says there have been no hostile actions by the Taliban, and that several hundred members of the now-defeated Afghan army are at the airport assisting in the evacuation. He said the U.S. military intends to complete the evacuation by Aug. 31, and that any decision to extend it would require presidential approval.
August 17, 2021 4:12 am
In what was an emotional and sometimes argumentative school board meeting, the Peters Township School Board voted to amend their health and safety plan for the 2021-2022 school year. Thirty residents spoke at the beginning of the meeting. Most that spoke were in favor of the health and safety plan in effect that allowed parental choice as to whether students could attend class with or without masks. That public comment went on for nearly two hours. Fifteen minutes later director Lisa Anderson opened the discussion on possible amendments to the plan. Director Rebecca Bowman put forth a motion calling for universal masking of all students, kindergarten through 12th grade, teachers and staff that would be reviewed at the end of the first semester. Anderson wanted to amend that amendment keeping students 12 and under masked but all others optional. Much discussion was held by the board with input from Superintendent Dr. Jeannine French, on how positive cases and associated quarantines would be addressed. Ultimately, Anderson’s amendment failed 6-3. Bowman’s original amendment passed on a roll call vote 5-4. Residents attending the meeting stormed out threatening law suits and extreme displeasure with the vote. Several indicated voting campaigns against the 5 members who voted in favor of the measure. Some of the parents in attendance are threatening to send their students to class without masks. District officials did not want to comment until they were absolutely clear on how this decision will affect operations in the district.
August 17, 2021 2:40 am
A Canonsburg man, charged with rape, appeared by video Tuesday, during his plea hearing in Washington County Court to request a jury trial. Nineteen-year-old Brady Hugh Paul is facing multiple charges, including rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, strangulation and corruption of minors. Authorities say the alleged incident occurred on December 12, 2020, when Paul reportedly raped a sixteen-year-old girl at his home in Canonsburg. Paul allegedly also offered the girl marijuana. His trial has been scheduled for October 12th.
August 16, 2021 4:30 am
QUINCY, Calif. (AP) – Thousands of Northern California homes remain threatened by the nation’s largest wildfire and officials warn the danger of new blazes erupting across the West is high because of unstable weather. Thunderstorms haven’t produced much rain, but whipped up winds and generated lightning strikes across the northern Sierra where crews were battling the month-old Dixie Fire. Extreme heat returned Sunday, with temperatures expected to top 100 degrees. More than 100 large wildfires were burning in more than a dozen states in the West, a region seared by drought and hot, bone-dry weather that turned forests, brushlands, meadows and pastures into tinder.
August 16, 2021 4:29 am
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – Three tropical systems are churning early Monday in the Atlantic basin and threatening to impact the U.S. Gulf Coast, some Caribbean islands including earthquake-damaged Haiti, and the island of Bermuda. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Fred could make landfall by Monday evening along the Florida Panhandle. Heavy rain and storm surge were expected. Tropical depression Grace is forecast to move over Hispaniola and possibly cause flooding and mudslides just days after a 7.2 magnitude quake hit Haiti. Tropical depression eight formed Sunday near Bermuda and is expected to become a tropical storm sometime Monday.
August 16, 2021 4:28 am
LES CAYES, Haiti (AP) – Many of the Haitians injured during a powerful earthquake over the weekend are lying in the open, under burning heat, waiting for help as hospitals overflow with patients. Thousands more in the quake zone are sleeping outside for a second night, clutching small transistor radios tuned to the news. Officials have raised the death toll from Saturday’s earthquake to at least 1,297. And the devastation could soon worsen. Tropical Depression Grace is predicted to reach Haiti on Monday night, bringing the potential for heavy rain, flooding and landslides. The country’s Civil Protection Agency says the magnitude 7.2 earthquake also left at least 5,700 people injured.
August 16, 2021 4:27 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Biden administration has approved a significant and permanent increase in the levels of food stamp assistance available to needy families. It’s the largest single increase in the program’s history. Starting in October, average benefits for food stamps will rise more than 25 percent above pre-pandemic levels. The increased assistance will be available indefinitely to all 42 million beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The increase coincides with the end of a 15 percent boost in SNAP benefits that was ordered as a pandemic protection measure. In practical terms, the average monthly per-person benefits will rise from $121 to $157.
August 16, 2021 4:26 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden says he stands “squarely behind” his decision for the U.S. to leave Afghanistan.. Speaking about the chaotic situation in Afghanistan, Biden says he faced a choice between following an agreement to withdraw or sending thousands more U.S. troops for a “third decade” of war. Biden spoke Monday after the planned withdrawal of American forces turned deadly at Kabul’s airport as thousands tried to flee following the Taliban’s swift takeover of the country. Biden returned to the White House from the Camp David presidential retreat to deliver his first public remarks on the situation in nearly a week.
August 16, 2021 4:21 am
EAST WASHINGTON, Pa. — (WPXI) – The Borough of East Washington honored the ultimate sacrifice that Nicholas Cumer made in 2019 when he saved two co-workers during a mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio. The Borough of East Washington held its annual community picnic on Sunday at East Washington Borough Park, where they renamed it to honor Cumer. “To see what the borough has done on his behalf renaming this park I think speaks volumes of Nick, who he is and what he represented in his life each day living it to the full and putting others needs before his own. In my opinion it’s fitting,” Rev. Brian Greenleaf with the Washington Alliance Church said. “Certainly an honor to be part of this and the family is just overwhelmed with love and support,” Rev. Greenleaf said. The new park sign featuring Cumer was unveiled by borough council.
August 16, 2021 4:16 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Western Pennsylvania has been deemed a hot spot of COVID-19 transmission by the CDC. Allegheny, Greene, Washington, Beaver, Lawrence, Armstrong and Jefferson counties each had a “high” level of transmission from Aug 8-14. According to the CDC, having a “high” COVID-19 transmission level means for every 100,000 people, there are 100 cases. Other local counties also had a “substantial” level of COVID-19 transmission during that same timeframe. “Substantial” means there are 50 to 100 cases for every 100,000 people. There are no “Moderate” or “Low” areas in any of the surrounding counties.
