May 19, 2021 4:19 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The New York attorney general’s office says that it is conducting a criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump’s business empire, expanding what had previously been a civil probe. Attorney General Letitia James’ investigators are working with the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which has been conducting a criminal investigation into Trump and his company, the Trump Organization, for two years. The Manhattan DA’s office obtained Trump’s tax records after a long legal fight in February. A message seeking comment was left with a lawyer for Trump.
May 19, 2021 4:18 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The House is poised to vote on a 9/11-style commission on the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The vote on Wednesday is the first step toward creating an independent, bipartisan panel that would investigate the siege. But the bill creating the commission is expected to be a more difficult sell in the Senate. Republicans are signaling that they will try to block or at least slow the effort. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that he is “pushing the pause button” on the legislation. Democrats would need at least 10 GOP votes in the Senate to pass it under Senate rules.
May 19, 2021 4:16 am
TOKYO (AP) – The IOC and local organizers are starting three days of meetings, some of the final planning before they attempt start the postponed Olympics in little more than nine weeks. They are meeting widespread skepticism with polling showing 60-80% oppose holding the games. Medical groups have also expressed strong opposition with the virus far from under control in Japan where only 1-2% of the population is fully vaccinated. The meetings will be headed by IOC vice president John Coates. He will attempt to again assure the Japanese population that the games will be “safe and secure.” The Olympics are to open on July 23.
May 19, 2021 4:12 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto has lost his bid for re-election to five-term state representative Ed Gainey, as the city took a big step toward electing its first Black chief executive. Peduto had been seeking a third term against three primary challengers but instead called to congratulate Gainey. Peduto tweeted late Tuesday that he was “wishing him well.” Meanwhile, Pennsylvania voters were given the opportunity to limit a governor’s emergency authority, more than a year after Gov. Tom Wolf’s pandemic restrictions drew fierce backlash among legislative Republicans. It was the headline question in an otherwise quiet off-year primary election.
May 19, 2021 3:38 am
NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) – President Joe Biden has delivered his first commencement address as commander-in-chief, praising new graduates at the Coast Guard Academy for excelling during the pandemic. He also stressed their vital role as the United States reasserts itself on the world stage. But Biden’s remarks in New London, Connecticut on Wednesday made no mention of several current global hotspots, including the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Hours earlier, Biden had issued a call for a cease-fire in the Mideast.
May 19, 2021 12:56 am
Unofficial election results from Tuesday nights election showed some runaway races and a few competitive races. With 178 of 180 Washington County voting precincts reporting results just after midnight Wednesday, here is a rundown of results in several contested races countywide.
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
Democrat: Jesse Pettit 63% 11,555 votes / Joyce Hatfield-Wise 37% 6696 votes
Republican: Pettit 69% 13,438 / Hatfield-Wise 31% 6192
Controller of Washington County
Democrat: Ben Bright 57% 9879 / Randy Barli 43% 7340
Republican: April Sloane 62% 11,476 / H. Carl Brandtonies 38% 7029
Magisterial District Judge 27-1-01 (Washington, North Franklin)
Democrat: Kelly Stewart 50% 725 / Patrick Puskarich 33% 479 / Robert Dulaney 17% 236
Republican: Puskarich 47% 484 / Stewart 27% 274 / Dulaney 26% 263
Magisterial District Judge 27-3-02 (Bentleyville, North Bethlehem, West Pike Run)
Democrat: Curtis Thompson 78% 1113 / Ronald Tardivo 22% 324
Republican: Thompson 73% 957 / Tardivo 27% 362
Magisterial District Judge 27-3-06 (Mt. Pleasant, Cecil, Robinson McDonald)
Democrat: Lou McQuillan 55% 1063 / Kristin Clingerman 45% 859
Republican: McQuillan 68% 1482 / Clingerman 32% 710
Magisterial District Judge 27-3-10 (Amwell, Blaine, Buffalo, Claysville)
Democrat: John Bruner 52% 662 / Dan Stanek 38% 480 / Scott Bernett 10% 127
Republican: Bruner 48% 1161 / Stanek 36% 892 / Burnett 8% 210 / Jason Moore 8% 188
May 18, 2021 8:49 am
A review by Washington County Common Pleas Court could lead to changes in regards to collections from criminal defendants. Those collections are currently handled by the Clerk of Courts office. Washington County Commissioners Chairman Diana Irey Vaughan tells WJPA News that the “court issued an order several weeks ago announcing that they would be reviewing policies and procedures when it comes to collections.” According to Irey Vaughan, “there was a difference of opinion between the Clerk of Courts and the courts over the best procedures to accomplish that goal”. Irey-Vaughn emphasized that there have been no allegations of any wrong-doing. Irey Vaughan says the court, this week, is expected to present its final recommendations as to how to best handle those collections. She says County Commissioners would then pass a resolution on the matter. Irey Vaughan says, years ago, those collections were done through the court system.
May 18, 2021 4:48 am
The Peters Township School Board met Monday evening and adopted the final budget for the 2021-2022 school year. The $74,250,401 budget is $3 million more than the previous budget. Business Manager Brad Rau states that a 3% raise in taxes will be needed to fund the budget. The increase is a .42 mil increase over last year and is part of a five year plan of tax increases needed to fund the debt service for the new high school. Expenses to cover costs of the Covid-19 pandemic did put a drag on the budget. Rau states that about 80% of Covid-19 costs have been reimbursed by the federal government. Covid-19 did introduce budget items that are ongoing and will continue past the pandemic, such as the Canvass Learning system the district adopted to allow them to perform remote education. The budget does show a deficit of $1.6 million dollars. That deficit will be made up by pulling funds from the general fund. The motion to approve the budget carried unanimously 8-0.
May 18, 2021 4:19 am
LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) – Heavy rains in western Louisiana flooded streets, left cars stranded and heightened worries in a region hammered by two hurricanes last year and a deep freeze this winter. The Advocate reports that the National Weather Service said between five and 12 inches of rain had already fallen in some areas. The American Press reported that some isolated areas could see as much as 20 inches of rain. Parts of southeastern Texas and western Louisiana were under flash flood warnings on Monday afternoon. Officials were asking residents to stay off the roads and said they had already deployed high water vehicles and boats to assist residents.
May 18, 2021 4:18 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. Capitol Police say that threats to members of Congress have more than doubled this year, and many members say they now fear for their personal safety more than they did before the siege of the Capitol on Jan. 6. Several lawmakers say they have boosted security measures to protect themselves and their families, money for which will be part of a broad $1.9 billion spending bill that the House will vote on this week. A separate measure would create a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack.
