February 24, 2021 4:06 am
North Strabane Supervisors ended February by getting ready for the spring and summer paving projects and hiring two new police officers. At the beginning of the meeting supervisors looked back to 2020 and Township Manager Andrew Walz presented final budget numbers for 2020. Walz said that measures taken by the township to protect against any shortfalls paid off with all township accounts finishing 2020 in the black. Both the general fund and the capital fund finished the year with amounts in excess of $1 million dollars. Supervisors approved a paving program of $930,000 and according to Walz that number came in roughly $70,000 under budget. Two police officers were hired to fill a spot left open due to retirement and a spot open due to an officer leaving. Walz points out that one of the candidates is female and will become the second female police officer in the township.
February 24, 2021 2:14 am
LAS VEGAS (AP)- Class action lawsuits were filed in Nevada against 10 major auto insurance companies on Tuesday, contending that the companies charged excessive insurance premiums during the pandemic by failing to account for a drop in driving and crashes. The lawsuits acknowledge that some insurers provided discounts over the emptier roads and drop in accidents and claims, but the discounts did not offer “any meaningful relief that actually reflects the reduction in cars on the road and reduced driving during the pandemic.” The lawsuits were filed against State Farm, USAA, Geico, Acuity, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, Progressive, Travelers, Nationwide and Allstate.
February 23, 2021 2:52 pm
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Authorities and Tiger Woods’ manager say the golf star has suffered leg injuries in a vehicle rollover in suburban Los Angeles and is undergoing surgery. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department says Woods was alone in the vehicle and had to be extricated from it Tuesday. No other cars were involved in the wreck that injured the golfer. Authorities say an ambulance took Woods to a hospital in serious condition. Authorities are saying that it does not appear alcohol was a factor in the crash. Woods was in Los Angeles over the weekend as the tournament host of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera.
February 23, 2021 12:00 pm
AMBRIDGE, Pa. (AP) – A western Pennsylvania woman was held without bond Tuesday after authorities said she shot and killed her two daughters. According to police, Krisinda Bright, 48, called officers to her home on Monday afternoon and let officers in. Interim Police Chief John Deluca said officers found “a gruesome scene” inside. Kiara Bright, 16, and Jasmine Cannady, 22, were shot in the head, the Beaver County coroner said. Their mother was taken to the county jail without incident and was charged with two counts of homicide. It was not known whether she had retained a lawyer. The motive for the shootings was unclear. The youngest victim was a student at Ambridge High School. District officials posted a statement offering offering condolences and providing assistance to students, parents and teachers. “The district has counselors available for any student who may need or want help or any type of assistance surrounding this loss,” the statement said. (Photo: WPXI)
February 23, 2021 4:19 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden’s pick for health secretary is facing two days of contentious Senate hearings. Republicans are portraying the Californian as unfit. But Democrats are unfazed, accusing the GOP of playing politics despite the pandemic. California’s attorney general, Xavier Becerra, will be grilled by two panels beginning Tuesday. Republicans say he’s a radical, but Democrats shrug that off as “flailing.” If confirmed, Becerra would be the first Latino to head the Department of Health and Human Services. The $1.4 trillion agency carries a broad portfolio that includes health insurance programs, drug safety and approvals, advanced medical research and the welfare of children.
February 23, 2021 4:18 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden will visit Texas on Friday as the state begins its recovery from a devastating winter storm that caused serious damage to homes and businesses across the state and left many without power or clean water for days. The White House announced Tuesday that Biden and his wife, Jill, will travel to Houston on Friday. While there, he’ll meet with local leaders to discuss the ongoing recovery from last week’s winter storm, and will visit a COVID-19 health center where vaccines are being distributed. Millions of Texas residents remain under boil water notices after the freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall caused power outages and burst pipes across the state.
February 23, 2021 4:16 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden’s nominee to head the Interior Department says oil and natural gas will continue to play a major role in America for years to come. But New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland, Biden’s nominee to be interior secretary, says the United States also must address climate change and recognize that the energy industry is changing. In testimony prepared for her confirmation hearing Tuesday, she said the Interior Department has a role in “harnessing the clean energy potential of our public lands to create jobs” while restoring and conserving federal lands. If confirmed, Haaland would be the first Native American to lead a Cabinet agency.
February 23, 2021 4:14 am
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – State TV says Iran officially has begun restricting international inspections of its nuclear facilities, a bid to pressure European countries and U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration to lift economic sanctions and restore the 2015 nuclear deal. The report Tuesday gave little detail beyond confirming that Iran had made good on its threat to reduce cooperation with International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors. Iran has said it plans to cease its implementation of the “Additional Protocol,” a confidential agreement between Tehran and the IAEA reached as part of the landmark nuclear accord. It grants the U.N. inspectors enhanced powers to visit nuclear facilities and watch Iran’s program.
February 23, 2021 4:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A Senate hearing examining what went wrong with the law enforcement response to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection has ended. House Rules Committee Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar said afterward that “it’s clear action needs to be taken” after security officials who were in charge that day described confusion during the attack and intelligence failures that failed to predict the violence. Three of the four security officials, including the Capitol police chief, resigned immediately after the attack. Klobuchar said the next police chief should have “greater ability to make decisions” both leading up to and during a crisis.
February 23, 2021 4:10 am
Nearly 40 minutes of Peters Township Council’s Monday night meeting was devoted to comments made by Council Chairman Dave Ball in an interview with a Pittsburgh television station last week. Township Manager Paul Lauer read 12 emails from residents into the record. The emails were evenly divided, six in support of Ball’s comments and six against. Several of the detractors called for Ball’s resignation as chairman. Ball stood behind his comments indicating that he was quoting Senator Pat Toomey during the interview and that he could have been more clear on what idea he was trying to convey. He also pointed out that there is a difference between his position of Chairman of the Republican Party of Washington County and his role as Chairman of Peters Township Council. He identifies the Party position as a political role but does not recognize his position on Peters Township Council as a political position. Ball stated that in his 16 years on council no decision in his recollection was political. They were made with the best interest of the township in mind. Council Vice-Chairperson Monica Merrell is happy to have the incident behind them stating that Ball did not wish to put Peters Township in a negative perception. Councilman Gary Stiegel indicated that he expected community response to be evenly divided and wants to “move on”.
