June 30, 2019 11:01 pm
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Gov. Tom Wolf has signed legislation barring Pennsylvania’s municipalities from taxing or banning the sale or distribution of plastic bags and other containers, wrappings and bags. The measure Wolf signed Friday is a 69-page budget-related bill that lawmakers unveiled two days ago. A three-paragraph provision prohibits municipal bans or taxes on plastic bags or packaging for one year while legislative agencies study the economic and environmental impact.
June 30, 2019 11:01 pm
A Fayette county man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. United States Attorney Scott Brady brought the eight count indictment against Sean Houston, 47 of Brownsville. According to the indictment Houston produced and attempted to produce visual depictions, images and a video of the sexual exploitation of a minor. These charges occurred between December 23, 2015 and October 5, 2018. On October 29, 2018 Houston knowingly possessed visual depictions of the sexual exploitation of minors. Houston could receive life in prison or a $2 million dollar fine or both. Officers from Homeland Security Investigations, Centerville police department, North Strabane police department and the Washington County District Attorney office conducted the investigation.
June 30, 2019 11:00 pm
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has signed a $34 billion compromise state budget after lawmakers wrapped up the week with a flurry of votes. Wolf made the announcement Friday, shortly after the GOP-controlled Legislature took its final votes and adjourned for the summer. The budget includes more money for education and doesn’t raise sales or income taxes. Wolf calls it a product of ‘divided government’ amid criticism from his fellow Democrats.
June 26, 2019 2:30 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – The opening debates by Democrats running for president will feature 60-second answers, a prime-time television audience in the millions, and a chance for little-known candidates to introduce themselves to voters. Tuesday night’s session and the second night Wednesday are expected to be exercises in competitive sound bites as the candidates set out to convey their plans for the nation, throw a few elbows and sharpen what’s been a blur of a race so far for many Americans. Each two-hour debate will have 10 candidates hoping to oust President Donald Trump in 2020. The hopefuls range widely in age, sex and backgrounds and include a former vice president, six women and a pair of mayors. The debates will be carried at 9 p.m. Eastern on NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo.
June 17, 2019 3:16 pm
CLAIRTON, Pa. (AP) – Health officials in western Pennsylvania say a fire at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works has shut down pollution control systems, and residents are being warned about possible elevated levels of sulfur dioxide. U.S. Steel reported no injuries after the fire in an electrical breaker panel shortly after 4:30 a.m. Monday. The Allegheny County health department says the fire shut down three control rooms, and two are still not running. They house equipment used to operate pollution controls, including desulfurization. Officials say the elderly, parents of children and people with respiratory conditions should be aware that elevated levels of sulfur dioxide are possible until the control rooms are running again. The same two control rooms were damaged in a Christmas Eve fire that caused about $40 million in damage.
June 4, 2019 2:21 am
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) – Virginia’s Republican House speaker is calling the Democratic governor’s call for a special session on gun control “hasty and suspect” in the wake of Friday’s mass shooting in Virginia Beach, and he says it’s “more likely to inflame political tensions” than produce real changes that keep people safe. Gov. Ralph Northam is proposing a series of violence prevention measures. In response, Speaker Kirk Cox says the GOP will seek tougher punishments for people who commit acts of violence. Cox’s statement says “Republicans will put forward a package of legislation to stiffen penalties for those who use firearms to commit crimes.” He says addressing gun violence “starts with holding criminals responsible for their actions, not infringing on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens.”
June 4, 2019 2:20 am
MIAMI (AP) – Prosecutors say the Florida deputy who failed to confront a gunman during last year’s Parkland massacre has been arrested on 11 charges. State Attorney Mike Satz announced Tuesday that 56-year-old Scot Peterson faces child neglect, culpable negligence and perjury charges stemming from his actions during the shooting. Peterson, then a Broward County deputy, was on duty during the attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School but never went inside. Satz says the charges carry a combined prison sentence of nearly 100 years. Peterson’s bail was set at $102,000. A Peterson lawyer didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Twenty-year-old Nikolas Cruz faces the death penalty if convicted of killing 17 people and wounding 17 others in the attack. He has offered to plead guilty in return for a life sentence, but prosecutors have refused that offer.
June 4, 2019 2:19 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he hopes President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs on Mexico are avoided, saying Republicans are “not fans of tariffs.” The Kentucky Republican told reporters he’s hopeful that U.S. talks with a Mexican delegation will be “fruitful” and that the tariffs “will not kick in.” He added that “there’s not much support in my conference for tariffs, that’s for sure.” Trump is threatening to impose a 5% tariff on Mexican imports next week unless the country does more to stem illegal migration. Some Republicans have talked of trying to block the tariffs, a move Trump warned would be “foolish.” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he believes Trump will ultimately back down on the tariffs “when he sees what a dumb move he has made.”
June 4, 2019 2:19 am
LONDON (AP) – Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has held a meeting with President Donald Trump at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in London. Farage was photographed being driven into Winfield House on Tuesday afternoon. He later tweeted: “Good meeting with President Trump – he really believes in Brexit and is loving his trip to London.” Farage has campaigned for years to take Britain out of the European Union and is one of Trump’s most prominent British supporters. The president has called Farage a friend. Farage’s newly founded Brexit Party was the big winner in last month’s European Parliament elections in Britain, scooping up support from voters angry that the U.K. has not left the EU. He has criticized Prime Minister Theresa May’s divorce deal with the bloc and said Britain should leave the EU without an agreement. Trump praised May’s handling of Brexit on Tuesday, saying she had gotten a good deal. (Photo: CNN)
June 4, 2019 2:18 am
WEST ALEXANDER, Pa. – (WPXI) – One person is going to be feeling green after realizing the lottery ticket they bought in Washington County is a winner. The winning Extreme Green ticket worth $707,900 was sold at Berghoff Equipment & Towing Inc. on Old Brick Road in West Alexander. The Pennsylvania Lottery says Extreme Green is a $20 Fast Play game that has immediate results without having to scratch a ticket or wait for a drawing. The winner has not yet been identified.
