October 16, 2019 11:47 am
DETROIT (AP) – The United Auto Workers and General Motors have reached a tentative contract agreement that could end a monthlong strike that brought the automaker’s U.S. factories to a standstill. The deal was hammered out Wednesday but it won’t immediately end the strike by more than 49,000 workers. They’re likely to stay on the picket lines at least a few more days until union committees vote on the deal. The entire membership also must vote. Details of the four-year agreement have yet to be released. Workers left their jobs early Sept. 16. They wanted a bigger share of GM’s profits, job security and a path to permanent jobs for temporary workers. The company wanted to reduce labor costs so they’re closer to U.S. factories run by foreign automakers.
October 16, 2019 5:50 am
The Washington opioid overdose coalition met publicly last night to discuss various topics pertaining to the opioid epidemic in Washington county. Six different speakers discussed how addiction and overdoses are being handled in the area. Executive director of the Washington drug and alcohol commission and co-chair of the Washington opioid overdose coalition, Cheryl Andrews explained that the group will be meeting next month (11/15) to build on the next three years. Research Specialist at the University of Pittsburgh, Program Evaluation and Research Unit, Dane Miller shared pertinent information regarding Washington County data, while also displaying how the county is ahead of the curve compared to the rest of the state. Amy Kisner, Certified Recovery Specialist with the Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission spoke from a recovery perspective. Kisner discussed her thoughts on the correlation between mental health issues and opioid usage. In 2019, overdose deaths in Washington county are down 24 percent compared to last year.
October 16, 2019 4:23 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The House has overwhelmingly voted its bipartisan condemnation of President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of American forces from northern Syria. Despite stark divisions over Democrats’ Trump impeachment inquiry, Democrats and Republicans banded together Wednesday and approved a nonbinding resolution by 354-60 vote. The resolution states Congress’ opposition to the troop pullback and says Turkey should cease its military action in Syria. And the measure says the White House should present a plan for an “enduring defeat” of the Islamic State group. Many worry that IS may revive itself as Turkish forces attack Syrian Kurds holding the extremists. The House debate was extraordinary for the intensity of lawmakers’ opinions. Republicans called the troop withdrawal “disastrous” and a “catastrophe.” Democrats criticized Trump directly, with Rep. Seth Moulton saying Trump “has taken the side of dictators and butchers.”
October 16, 2019 4:21 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says “all roads seem to lead to Putin” when it comes to President Donald Trump. The California Democrat told reporters Tuesday that nevertheless, she’s not going to call for a formal House vote on impeachment. Trump has said that without a vote, the ongoing impeachment inquiry is “illegitimate.” But Pelosi says “we’re not here to call bluffs” and “this is not a game to us.” She adds that when it comes to Trump, “all roads seem to lead to” Russian President Vladimir Putin. The House’s lead investigator, Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, says the White House has ordered the Defense Department to not comply with a subpoena for documents. He says such moves mean “the case for obstruction of Congress continues to build.”
October 16, 2019 4:18 am
HONG KONG (AP) – China says it will take countermeasures after the U.S. House of Representatives passed three bills showing support for protesters in Hong Kong. China’s foreign ministry said Wednesday in a statement posted to its website that the issues facing Hong Kong right now are not “so-called human rights and democracy,” but rather violence. China said the House “ignores the facts, inverts black and white” and applies double standards to crimes like arson and vandalizing shops in the name of human rights and democracy. If the bill is passed, China says, it will not only damage Sino-U.S. relations, but also harm U.S. interests in Hong Kong. The semi-autonomous Chinese city has been rocked by anti-government demonstrations for four months.
October 16, 2019 4:16 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to surmount U.S.-led sanctions he says have inflicted “many hardships and trials” on his country. State media on Wednesday showed Kim riding a white horse to climb Mount Paektu. The highest peak on the Korean Peninsula is considered sacred by North Koreans, and Kim often visited the mountain before making major decisions such as his 2018 entrance into diplomacy with Seoul and Washington. The Korean Central News Agency says Kim also visited nearby construction sites and complained about sanctions imposed on his country because of its nuclear weapons program. He was quoted as saying “the pain the U.S.-led anti-(North Korea) hostile forces inflicted upon the Korean people … turned into their anger.” The North Korea-U.S. nuclear talks broke down earlier this month.
October 16, 2019 4:15 am
The Federal Communications Commission has approved the $26.5 billion combination of Sprint and T-Mobile on a 3-2 party-line vote. The wireless merger still faces opposition from a coalition of state attorneys general, who argue the deal is bad for competition. The companies won’t merge while litigation persists. The antitrust trial is scheduled to start in New York in December, an unusual situation given that the Trump administration’s Justice Department approved the deal. The FCC chairman, Ajit Pai, a Republican, backed it months ago citing the companies’ promise to build out a next-generation 5G network to many rural areas, improving internet access. The Democratic commissioners say going from four to three major wireless companies will mean higher prices for consumers. They say it will be difficult to enforce promises made by T-Mobile and Sprint.
October 16, 2019 4:12 am
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – A fraternity has revoked its chapter at West Virginia University, citing multiple violations of alcohol and risk management policies. WBOY-TV reports the national Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity’s board of directors unanimously voted to revoke the WVU chapter’s charter following an investigation. SigEp CEO Brian Warren’s statement says the national headquarters provided support to help develop a positive culture, but current members have “squandered this assistance” and seem more interested in being a “drinking club.” The chapter responded on Twitter that it is “saddened” by the decision. It said members have been held to high standards and participated in several activities to help the community, but were met with “disdain and mistreatment” by the national headquarters.
October 16, 2019 4:11 am
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa (WPXI) – A man is in custody after leading police on a chase in Washington County, according to police. A South Strabane officer pulled over a stolen car after spotting it at Tanger Outlets, but the driver, Walter Maryland, 50, rammed the officer’s car and took off, police said. Police said Maryland struck a vehicle before getting on I-79. When he attempted to take the Houston exit on I-79, he struck another vehicle, disabling the car he was driving, according to police. Maryland ran away on foot, but he was arrested nearby, according to police. He was injured in the crash and was taken to a hospital. Police said he will be charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, fleeing and attempting to elude, receiving stolen property, multiple counts of accidents involving damage to attended vehicle or property, reckless driving and other traffic offenses. Maryland has a current arrest warrant from the Washington County Adult Probation Office, according to police. (Photo: WPXI)
October 16, 2019 4:05 am
Nearly 200 North Strabane Township residents tried to convince officials from Crown Castle Incorporated to move a proposed cellular antenna at a town hall meeting at Frank Sarris Library on Tuesday night. Jonathan Hart, Director of Government Affairs for Crown Castle described the antenna as a small cell node that would be attached to a 33 foot high wooden utility pole. Crown Castle had hoped to be able to attach the antenna to an existing pole, but none had the capacity to house the unit. Residents called for a halt to the installation looking to have it moved to a different location. Engineers for Crown Castle explained that the unit needed to be located in the public right of way on Giffin Ave. to best remedy the cellular traffic issues now being experienced by their clients. The pole would be located between Borland Manor Elementary School and the Canon McMillan Intermediate School. Residents are concerned about the possibility of children developing cancer from RF radiation waves. The concern is born of the incidence of Ewing Sarcoma and other rare children’s cancers that is currently plaguing the Canon McMillan School District.
