October 13, 2021 4:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Biden administration says the United States will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel next month, ending a 19-month freeze due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All international visitors will need to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Vehicle, rail and ferry travel between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico has been largely restricted to essential travel, such as trade, since the earliest days of the pandemic. The new rules to be announced Wednesday will allow fully vaccinated foreign nationals entry to the U.S. regardless of the reason for travel. That starts in early November, when a similar easing of restrictions is set to kick in for air travel.
October 13, 2021 4:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Members of the House have approved a short-term hike to the nation’s debt limit. The vote Tuesday evening ensures the federal government can continue fully paying its bills into December. The legislation next goes to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law. A default would have had immense fallout on global financial markets, and routine government payments to Social Security beneficiaries, disabled veterans and others would have been called into question. But the relief provided will only be temporary, forcing Congress to revisit the issue in December, with Republicans promising that Democrats will have to lift the cap without their assistance.
October 13, 2021 3:59 am
The Washington County Democratic Committee held their annual banquet to kick off the election season on Tuesday night. Democratic candidates for office from around the commonwealth attended the event. Christina Proctor, Chair of the Washington County Democratic Committee stated that the event was important because democrats need to get their voters out to vote. She also indicated that this is an important election because democrats are needed in office to keep a check on the republicans already in office to make sure oversight is in place. Echoing Proctor’s comments was the keynote speaker of the night, Attorney General Josh Shapiro. In a ten minute speech he urged the crowd to make sure that they and their friends and neighbors get out and vote to prevent the lies that republicans keep repeating do not become law. He stated that all of the elections this year are important in an effort to save democracy in Pennsylvania.
October 13, 2021 2:58 am
Police in Bethel Park say one person is in custody after reportedly making threats at South Hills Village Mall around two o’clock Tuesday afternoon. Authorities say the man had a black or green duffel bag which they thought may contain a weapon. They say Macy’s was on lockdown because at one point, he was inside of the department store, but the rest of the mall was not affected. Police say he fled on foot in the parking lot near the food court and was eventually captured behind the liquor store at Village Square Mall. They say the mall quickly resumed normal operations and no one was injured. The Bethel Park Police Chief said the man may have mental health issues.
October 13, 2021 2:51 am
Two men involved in a shooting incident in California Borough earlier this month were scheduled for preliminary hearings in front of District Justice Joshua Kanalis on Tuesday. According to police, Zachary Hooks, 29 of California was arguing with Demetrius Ward, 25, of Ellsworth on the morning of October 6 outside of Hooks’ apartment. During the argument Hooks fired several shots out of his window toward Ward. Ward fled the scene. Police pulled Ward over. Ward gave police permission to search his car where they found 30 grams of marijuana. Ward faces a felony possession with intent to deliver charge. Hooks was later arrested after admitting to the shooting and police recovered a .40 caliber handgun from his apartment. Hooks faces felony attempted homicide and aggravated assault charges. Hooks had his hearing continued until a later date. Ward did not show up for his hearing and Judge Kanalis issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
October 12, 2021 4:58 pm
LOS ANGELES (AP) – A top Netflix executive says Dave Chappelle’s special “The Closer” doesn’t cross “the line on hate” and will remain on the streaming service despite fallout over the comedian’s remarks about the transgender community. In an internal memo, reported by Variety, co-CEO Ted Sarandos told Netflix managers that while some celebrities may join third parties in calling for the show’s removal, Chappelle’s special won’t be pulled. The company responded to news reports it had suspended three employees, including one who’d criticized Chappelle’s special online. Netflix said it supports open disagreement by workers. One employee was suspended, but a person familiar with the situation said it was for unauthorized attendance at a Netflix management meeting.
October 12, 2021 4:44 pm
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – A coroner in Wyoming says slain cross-country traveler Gabby Petito was strangled. The 22-year-old woman’s body was found last month near an undeveloped camping area in remote northern Wyoming along the border of Grand Teton National Park. Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue said in a news conference Tuesday he was prevented by Wyoming law from saying much more about the case. The coroner had earlier classified Petito’s death as a homicide but had not previously disclosed how she was killed. Petito’s boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, is considered a person of interest in her disappearance and remains unaccounted for. (Photo: CNN)
October 12, 2021 12:44 pm
(WPXI) – A bomb threat made at a Catholic school in Pittsburgh late Tuesday morning led to an evacuation of all students and staff at St. Benedict the Moor in the Hill District neighborhood according to a spokesperson for the diocese. School officials say 162 kids and 21 staff were evacuated. We’ll have further details when they become available.
October 12, 2021 8:45 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Members of the House are scrambling to Washington to pass a short-term lift of the nation’s debt limit. The vote Tuesday will ensure the federal government can continue fully paying its bills into December. House Democrats are expected to have enough votes on their own to ensure that President Joe Biden can sign the bill into law this week. A default would have had immense fallout on global financial markets, and routine government payments to Social Security beneficiaries, disabled veterans and others would have been called into question. But the relief provided by the bill’s passage will only be temporary, forcing Congress to revisit the issue in December.
October 12, 2021 4:44 am
Officials in the Ringgold School District say they were alerted to a possible threat of violence at the High School. In a letter, Principal Jason Minniti says the tip was reported through the Safe 2 Say Something program. An individual was implicated in that tip. Officials then decided to close the High School building. Students are learning remotely through Zoom. Minniti says “extensive security measures are in place to help us maintain a safe campus.” He says “we have excluded the implicated individual from school property. We will continue to investigate to determine any ongoing credibility of threats and follow the recommendations of the Ringgold School Police and local municipal agencies, in accordance with Ringgold School District policy.” The letter asks parents to speak with their children about the importance of school safety and encourages students to feel comfortable in reporting any information they may have that compromises their safety and/or the safety of others.
