December 20, 2023 5:01 am
DENVER (AP) — A divided Colorado Supreme Court is removing former President Donald Trump from the state’s primary ballot, saying in a historic ruling that he is ineligible to be president after his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The ruling Tuesday marks the first time in history that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment has been used to disqualify a presidential candidate. Trump’s campaign spokesman called it a “flawed decision” and said they will appeal it to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has never ruled on Section 3. The provision forbids those who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office and was used mainly after the Civil War to keep former Confederates out of government.
December 20, 2023 4:54 am
DAWSON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – A Pennsylvania Department of Transportation plow truck was hit by a train in Fayette County Tuesday morning. A Pennslyvania State Police spokesperson said the PennDOT plow truck was T-boned by a train at the intersection of Laughlin Street and Railroad Street just before 6 a.m. The plow truck driver was taken to a hospital with suspected minor injuries, according to police. PSP Belle Vernon is investigating the crash.
December 20, 2023 2:34 am
Several county arts and cultural organizations were awarded grants to assist their operations. The Bradford House Historical Association received $10,178 to cover operations costs. The Little Lake Theatre Company received $16,927 to cover operating costs. The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum received $27,965 to offset lost revenues. The Washington County Historical Society received $10,000 to cover operating expenses and new programs and marketing. The grants were awarded through the PA Arts and Culture Recovery Program that looks to ensure the stability and recovery of arts and culture programs post pandemic.
December 20, 2023 2:33 am
20Several local water and sewer authorities are in line to receive funding for major water and wastewater improvement projects. The announcements coming from Harrisburg show that the following will receive Water Grant funds. In Washington County, the Mid Mon Valley Water Pollution Control Authority will receive $400,000 for sewage pump replacement at Pump Station 4 in Stockdale. The Carroll Township Authority received $700,000 for a sanitary sewer improvement project. South Strabane Township received $1,000,000 for the Quarry Road Pump Station project. Sewer Grant funding will be received by South Franklin Township for a $389,781 Paterson Road sewage pump rehabilitation. Center West Joint Sewer Authority received $37,150 to install Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems in Centerville. Hanover Township Sewer Authority received $88,115 for service line repair and control system replacement. The Tri-County Joint Municipal Authority received $196,520 for the repair of a water treatment plant in East Bethlehem Township. North Strabane Township received $200,000 for a Lindley Road sewer extension project. The funds were awarded through the Commonwealth Financing Authority and disseminated through the H2O and Small Water and Sewer programs.
December 19, 2023 5:14 am
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples. The Vatican issued a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it. The document from the Vatican’s doctrine office was released Monday. It elaborates on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals and published in October. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if they didn’t confuse it with the ritual of marriage.
December 19, 2023 5:13 am
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has approved sweeping new powers that allow police to arrest migrants who illegally cross the U.S. border and give local judges authority to order them to leave the country. The new law signed Monday tests the limits of how far a state can go to enforce immigration laws. Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and Texas’ law is likely to face swift legal challenges. Opponents have called it the most dramatic attempt by a state to police immigration since a 2010 Arizona law that was largely struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.
December 19, 2023 5:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s push to have Congress replenish wartime aid for Ukraine as part of a deal on border and immigration policy changes will almost certainly drag into next year. The Senate returned to Washington on Monday after negotiators worked through the weekend on the border legislation. They were trying to reach an agreement that could unlock the Republican votes for Biden’s $110 billion package of aid for Ukraine, Israel and other security priorities. But senators said they still had plenty of work ahead, and it remained uncertain how many more days the Senate will remain in session this week. Only 61 senators returned for a Monday evening vote.
December 19, 2023 5:10 am
MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — The U.S. and a host of other nations are creating a new force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea that have come under attack by drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the force in Bahrain on Tuesday. Under the new initiative, dubbed Prosperity Guardian, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain will protect transiting ships. Some will conduct joint patrols while others provide support in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The attacks have led multiple shipping companies to order their ships to hold in place and not enter the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait until the security situation can be addressed.
December 19, 2023 5:09 am
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel has struck southern Gaza, killing at least 28 people, and raided one of the last functioning hospitals in the north. Israel is pressing ahead with its offensive against Hamas with renewed backing from the United States, despite rising international alarm over the war’s toll. The offensive, launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, has killed nearly 20,000 Palestinians, displaced some 1.9 million and demolished much of northern Gaza. Attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have prompted the U.S. and its allies to launch a new mission to counter the threat. But after meeting with Israeli officials on Monday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin signaled that U.S. support for Israel’s offensive remains unwavering.
December 19, 2023 5:03 am
FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI) – The Pennsylvania Game Commission is asking for information after a female black bear was illegally killed in Fayette County. According to a Facebook post, the bear was found dead on Dec. 2 off of Saylor Road in Stewart Township. Investigation shows the bear was likely killed by a large-caliber gunshot wound between Nov. 29 and Dec. 1. The Pennsylvania Game Commission said the individual dressed the black bear but did not retrieve it from the woods. The game commission is looking to identify two men seen on trail camera video because they may be involved. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Southwest Region at 1-833-742-4868 or the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888-PGC-8001.
