May 18, 2021 4:16 am
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – Israel has carried out a wave of airstrikes on what it said were militant targets in the Gaza Strip, levelling a six-story building in downtown Gaza City. Palestinian militants fired dozens of rockets into Israel early Tuesday, the latest in the fourth war between the two sides, now in its second week. The Israeli military said it struck 65 militant targets, including rocket launchers, a group of fighters and the homes of Hamas commanders. The military said Palestinian militants fired 90 rockets. There were no immediate reports of new casualties. The latest war broke out on May 10. following weeks of clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli police in Jerusalem.
May 18, 2021 3:08 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Beyond the local races on ballots, Pennsylvania’s primary election will determine the future of a governor’s authority during disaster declarations. Voters statewide Tuesday will decide four separate ballot questions, including two on whether to give state lawmakers much more power over disaster declarations. Voters also must decide primaries for open seats on the three statewide appellate courts, including a three-way GOP primary for state Supreme Court. In four parts of Pennsylvania, there are contests for open seats in the state Legislature. If recent turnout patterns hold, fewer than one-fifth of Pennsylvania’s registered voters will determine the outcomes.
May 18, 2021 2:41 am
A Peters Township man facing charges of stalking and harassment of a Washington County Judge avoided trial. Forty-nine-year-old James Carlo Quisenberry of McMurray pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge of stalking by communications to cause fear. The case stems from an interaction between Quisenberry and Common Pleas Court Judge Valarie Costanzo from 2018. Quisenberry has been described as Costanzo’s one time boyfriend. Misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats and harassment were dropped. Quisenberry was sentenced to one year of probation and must surrender all firearms. He is to have no contact with the victim.
May 18, 2021 2:29 am
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the discovery of a burned vehicle with human remains inside. The Washington County Coroner’s Office says the remains are those of a man, but the identity of the man remains unknown. Authorities say the vehicle was discovered Sunday night just before nine o’clock on Maple Road in Claysville. No further details were released. Anyone with information is asked to call the Pennsylvania State Police Washington Barracks at 724-223-5200.
May 18, 2021 1:00 am
No injuries resulted but North Strabane Township police continue to investigate an incident early Tuesday morning that included a vehicle accident and shots fired. Police Chief Brian Hughes says officers responded to a report of shots fired just after 4 a.m. and found three vehicles were involved in an altercation in the parking lot of the Comfort Inn. Chief Hughes says two people exchanged gun fire. Those two people were located and were being interviewed. At last report, no arrests had been made. A third vehicle and its driver have not been located. There was a report that police were looking for a ‘dark-colored’ Chevy Cruz with front end damage and bullet holes. The vehicle was reportedly being driven by a female. No other information has been released at this time.
May 17, 2021 1:58 pm
DALLAS (AP) – Residents of a southwest Dallas neighborhood say an 18-year-old arrested after a 4-year-old boy was found dead in the street was known to walk in the area. Neighbor Jose Ramirez tells WFAA television station that he didn’t think the man arrested “was in his right mind.” The child, who police have not yet named, was found slain at about 6:50 a.m. Saturday morning. Police have said they believe the child lived in the neighborhood where he was found. Darriynn Brown was arrested and was being held in Dallas County jail on Monday on charges of kidnapping and burglary.
May 17, 2021 1:11 pm
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) – Andrea Meza of Mexico has been crowned Miss Universe. Meza, who has a software engineering degree, beat out out Miss Brazil at the end of the night, screaming Sunday when the announcer shouted “Viva Mexico!” Previous winner Zozibini Tunzi fit the crown on Meza’s head and waited to make sure it would stay in place as Meza beamed and took her first walk to the front of the stage. Tunzi, a public relations professional who became the first Black woman from South Africa to win the contest, had held the title since December 2019. The 69th pageant was held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
May 17, 2021 12:34 pm
The maximum occupancy limits of events and gatherings in Pennsylvania increased to 50% indoors and 75% outdoors on Monday. According to a news release from Gov. Tom Wolf’s office, the update does not prevent municipalities, school districts, restaurants and venues from putting their own, stricter COVID-19 mitigation efforts in place. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance still recommends social distancing for schools, restaurants, venues and other facilities. The move comes after Wolf announced that COVID-19 mitigation orders would be lifted, with the exception of wearing a mask, by Memorial Day. A mask must still be worn indoors if you are away from home. The current order will be lifted once 70% of Pennsylvanians 18 and older are fully vaccinated, Wolf’s office said. Prior to Monday, maximum occupancy was 25% for indoor events and gatherings and 50% for outdoor events and gatherings, regardless of venue size and only if attendees and workers were able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.
May 17, 2021 10:15 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Treasury Department says 39 million families are set to receive monthly child payments beginning on July 15. The payments are part of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. The law expanded the child tax credit for one year and made it possible to pre-pay the benefits on a monthly basis. Nearly 88% of children are set to receive the benefits without their parents needing to take any additional action. Qualified families will receive a payment of up to $300 per month for each child under 6 and up to $250 per month for children between the ages of 6 and 17. The child tax credit was previously capped at $2,000.
May 17, 2021 7:25 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Republican Lou Barletta tells The Associated Press that he will run for governor of Pennsylvania. The 65-year-old Barletta becomes the first prominent figure to enter the 2022 governor’s race. Barletta is a former Hazleton mayor and four-term member of Congress, and ran statewide in a 2018 loss to Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. Barletta said he would focus on boosting the state’s economy, but also aiming to overhaul Pennsylvania’s election law and fight illegal immigration. Barletta has another strength in a Republican primary: a relationship with former President Donald Trump. Barletta served as Trump’s campaign co-chairman in Pennsylvania in 2016 before becoming one of Trump’s biggest allies on Capitol Hill.
