September 20, 2020 7:54 am
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump said Saturday he’s given his “blessing” to a proposed deal that would see the popular video-sharing app TikTok partner with Oracle and Walmart and form a U.S. company. Trump has targeted Chinese-owned TikTok for national security and data privacy concerns in the latest flashpoint in the rising tensions between Washington and Beijing. The president’s support for a deal comes just a day after the Commerce Department announced restrictions that if put in place could eventually make it nearly impossible for TikTok’s legions of younger fans to use the app. Trump said if completed the deal would create a new company likely to be based in Texas. Trump said the new company will be hiring at least 25,000 people and making a $5 billion contribution to a fund dedicated to education for Americans. “That’s their contribution that I’ve been asking for,” he said.
September 20, 2020 7:52 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal officials intercepted an envelope addressed to the White House that contained the poison ricin, a U.S. law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Saturday. The letter appeared to have originated in Canada, according to a statement from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which said it was assisting the FBI. The letter was intercepted at a government facility that screens mail addressed to the White House and President Donald Trump, the U.S. official said. A preliminary investigation indicated it tested positive for ricin, a poison found naturally in castor beans, the U.S. official said. The U.S. official was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Federal investigators were working to determine where the enveloped originated and who mailed it. The FBI, the Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service were leading the investigation.
September 20, 2020 7:50 am
JUNIPER HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Strong winds stoked a wildfire burning for nearly two weeks in mountains northeast of Los Angeles, prompting authorities to issue new evacuation orders for desert communities that lost some homes a day earlier. Meanwhile, officials were investigating the death of a firefighter on the lines of another Southern California wildfire that erupted earlier this month from a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used by a couple to reveal their baby’s gender. The death occurred Thursday in San Bernardino National Forest as crews battled the El Dorado Fire about 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement.
September 20, 2020 7:49 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is promising to put forth a female nominee in the coming week to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, pushing the Republican-controlled Senate to consider the pick without delay. Taking the stage Saturday night at a North Carolina rally to chants of “Fill that seat,” the president said he would nominate his selection despite Democrats’ objections. And, after conducting what he joked was a “very scientific poll” of the Fayetteville crowd as to whether supporters wanted a man or a woman, he declared the choice would be “a very talented, very brilliant woman.” He added that he did not yet know whom he would choose. “We win an election and those are the consequences,” said the president, who then seemed to signal that he’d be willing to accept a vote on his nominee during the lame-duck period after the election. “We have a lot of time. We have plenty of time. We’re talking about January 20th.” But one Republican senator had already broken ranks. Maine’s Susan Collins, who is in a tough reelection battle, said earlier Saturday that she believed replacing Ginsburg should be the decision of the president who is elected Nov. 3. Three more defections from the GOP ranks would be needed to stop Trump’s nominee from joining the court.
September 20, 2020 7:45 am
ALLEGHENY CO., Pa. (WPXI) — A tractor-trailer crashed into a Primanti Bros. restaurant in Allegheny County early Sunday. According to emergency responders, the crash happened around 4 a.m. at the chain’s location on Steubenville Pike (Route 60) in Crafton. Police tape surrounded the front of the restaurant — as the front lobby was severely damaged according to officials. A construction manager told our news partners at Channel 11 the 18-wheeler lost its brakes, hit the guiderail and slammed into the building. Luckily, the restaurant was closed when the crash happened. An engineer is coming in to look at the restaurant for structural purposes, but officials said Primanti’s will remain closed for now. Police are investigating the incident.
September 20, 2020 7:38 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s homestretch push to repeat his razor thin victory in Pennsylvania four years ago won’t happen without white evangelicals, and there are signs that critical component of his coalition hasn’t lost the faith. It’s a group that has often made the difference for Republicans on the Pennsylvania ballot. And while some born-again voters had misgivings about Trump in 2016, they helped him eke out a 44,000-vote margin of victory in the pivotal swing state. This time around, they sound eager to repay him for supporting their agenda. Trump’s policies have helped keep in the fold evangelicals who otherwise might have been discomforted by his style. Their opinions on a range of political issues make them among the least likely voters to jump to former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democrat.
September 20, 2020 7:00 am
Washington County will play host to 16 wiffle ball teams playing their tournament to determine a national champion. The National Wiffle League Association will be at North Strabane Park from September 18 through September 20. Games begin on Saturday morning continue until a champion is crowned after Sunday’s championship game at 4:00 pm. The 16 teams come from 10 states and a team from Canonsburg is representing this area. More information can be found at www.NWLATornament.com.
September 19, 2020 7:46 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. has deployed additional troops and armored vehicles into eastern Syria after a number of clashes with Russian forces, including a recent vehicle collision that injured four American service members. Navy Capt. Bill Urban, spokesman for U.S. Central Command, says the U.S. has also sent in radar systems and increased fighter jet patrols over the region to better protect American and coalition forces. A U.S. official says the deployment includes a half-dozen Bradley fighting vehicles and fewer than 100 additional troops and is meant as a signal to Russia to avoid conflict in the region.
September 19, 2020 7:44 am
JUNIPER HILLS, Calif. (AP) – Homes have been destroyed by an unrelenting wildfire that reached a Mojave Desert community and is still growing on several fronts after burning for nearly two weeks in mountains northeast of Los Angeles. Crews protected homes and chased spot fires sparked by embers blown across neighborhoods in Juniper Hills. Surrounding communities are under evacuation orders. Officials are investigating the death of a firefighter on the lines of another Southern California wildfire sparked by a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used by a couple to reveal their baby’s gender. The death occurred Thursday in San Bernardino National Forest as crews battled the El Dorado Fire.
September 19, 2020 7:43 am
MIAMI (AP) – A hurricane watch is in effect Saturday for coastal Texas as Tropical Storm Beta gains strength in the Gulf of Mexico. A storm surge watch and a tropical storm watch are also in effect for the area during an exceptionally busy Atlantic hurricane season. Beta is forecast to become a hurricane on Sunday. Forecasters ran out of traditional storm names on Friday, forcing the use of the Greek alphabet. Teddy remains a powerful hurricane headed toward Bermuda less than a week after Hurricane Paulette there. And, parts of the Alabama coast and Florida Panhandle were still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Sally, which roared ashore Wednesday.
