January 14, 2020 9:51 am
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Iran’s judiciary says arrests have been made over the shootdown of a Ukrainian plane that killed all 176 people on board. A judiciary spokesman says “extensive investigations have taken place and some individuals are arrested.” He was quoted by Iranian state media on Tuesday, but didn’t say how many individuals have been detained or name them. Also, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for a special court to be set up to try those responsible for the plane shootdown. The developments come amid an upswell of anger and protests by Iranians in recent days over apparent attempts by senior officials to cover up the cause of the crash.
January 14, 2020 4:27 am
TAGAYTAY, Philippines (AP) – A volcano near the Philippine capital is spewing lava half a mile high and trembling with earthquakes constantly as tens of thousands of people flee villages darkened and blanketed by heavy ash. The activity from the Taal volcano could portend a much bigger and dangerous eruption. Volcanologists say new fissures are cracking the ground and about 50 earthquakes were detected over eight hours, indicating rising magma. Heavy and prolonged ashfall is forecast in nearby villages. The number of evacuees is expected to swell. Government work was suspended and schools closed in a wide swath of towns and cities, including the bustling capital, Manila, because of the health risks from the ash.
January 14, 2020 4:26 am
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An unusually heated clash of rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination could be the hallmark of Tuesday night’s televised debate in Iowa. Just six candidates are gathering in Des Moines, the smallest number yet on a debate stage. That dynamic will offer candidates more opportunities to criticize each other’s proposals as well as tout their own. But the fuel for the fire comes from the fact that it’s the last debate before Iowa’s leadoff caucuses, set for Feb. 3. The winner will leave Iowa with momentum for the primaries to come. State polling shows Iowa’s top preference too close to call.
January 14, 2020 4:25 am
MILWAUKEE (AP) – President Donald Trump makes his first 2020 appearance in battleground Wisconsin for a rally that coincides with a Democratic presidential debate in neighboring Iowa. Counter-protests and other related events organized by both Democrats and the Trump administration were planned in Milwaukee ahead of the rally. The event was to be just across the street where Democrats will gather in six months for their national convention to pick a nominee to take on Trump. Prior to the rally, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner was to hold an event touting the administration’s criminal justice reform efforts.
January 14, 2020 4:24 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The House is expected to vote Wednesday to send the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate. Speaker Nancy Pelosi made the announcement Tuesday. Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on senators to call fresh witnesses for the trial. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the trial could start this week, but significant proceedings would launch next Tuesday after the holiday break. He said all 53 GOP senators are on board with his plan to start the session and consider the issue of witnesses later.áTrump was impeached by the Democratic-led House last month on charges of abuse of power over pushing Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden and obstructing Congress’ probe.
January 14, 2020 4:17 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A former Penn State football player claims in a new federal lawsuit that other Nittany Lions players hazed him and other younger teammates. The allegations in the lawsuit filed Monday include claims that some players imitated sexual acts in the shower. The claims also include threats of older players saying, “I am going to Sandusky you,” to younger players. Jerry Sandusky was the team’s retired longtime defensive coordinator when he was convicted in 2012 of sexual abuse of 10 boys, including physical attacks on university property. Penn State said in a statement that university police turned over results of their investigation to the local district attorney, who declined to prosecute.
January 14, 2020 4:16 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration is warning Range Resources to fix a Marcellus Shale natural gas well that it maintains has leaked methane since 2011 and contaminated groundwater and streams in north-central Pennsylvania. Wolf’s Department of Environmental Protection issued an order Monday that gives Range Resources two months to submit a plan to reduce the gas migration and, after the department approves the plan, four months to submit a plan to plug the well. Range Resources contends that the methane in the groundwater is naturally-occurring. Range has 30 days to appeal the order to the Environmental Hearing Board.
January 14, 2020 4:15 am
WASHINGTON COUNTY – (WPXI)- A humane officer for Washington County said she is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week but she is not getting paid. “I’d had too many calls in a row, too many nights in a row” Cathy Cunningham said. Cunningham recently took to Facebook in an open letter to Washington County Commissioners, asking them for money in the budget to hire a humane officer. Back in August when nearly 100 dogs were rescued from a puppy mill, Cathy Cunningham worked with state police and the Humane Society to save them but she says she was the only one who wasn’t paid. Over the last three months, she says she has rescued pigs, countless dog and cats, cows and chickens. “Washington County is not poor and the fact that this is ignored has now taken me to the point of anger,” Cunningham said. The Washington Area Humane Society has one full-time paid worker and one part-time. They work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will go out after hours for emergencies. The rest of all after-hours calls go to Cunningham or another unpaid volunteer. But after 12 years, she says can’t afford to continue and worries what will happen to the animals. “Who is going to take care of the animals in the middle of the night or on a Sunday or Christmas Day. I’ve been called out on Christmas Day,” Cunningham said.
January 13, 2020 5:21 pm
NEW YORK (AP) – Microsoft will stop providing free security updates for the Windows 7 operating system on Tuesday, meaning computers using it will be more vulnerable to malware and hacking. Users who want to protect their computers need to upgrade to Windows 10. They may also need to buy new computers because older machines might not be compatible with Windows 10. Windows 10 starts at $139 for a basic, “Home” version. Tech companies typically phase out older systems after a number of years and focus efforts on updating current versions of software. I
January 13, 2020 2:36 pm
Officials with the Greene County Emergency Management Office say they have been notified of a spill in the creek that runs parallel to Dunns Station Road in Washington Township. They say the spill affects property east of 967 Dunns Station Road towards Ruff Creek. At this time, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has determined the spill came from a drill cutting pit that overflowed. Work is being done for Consol Coal which is in the process of constructing a ventilation air shaft. Samples were taken and the results are pending. Emergency Management officials say if residents in that area have any concerns about livestock or wells that may be affected, they can call the DEP at 724-925-5500.
