July 2, 2019 12:53 pm
(WPXI) – Fresh vegetable products sold under several brand names are being recalled because of potential listeria contamination. Growers Express issued the voluntary recall, which affects packaged varieties of butternut squash, cauliflower, zucchini and a butternut squash-based veggie bowl, according to a news release. The vegetables were sold under the Green Giant Fresh, Growers Express, Signature Farms and Trader Joe’s brands. According to Growers Express, the products originated from a production facility in Biddeford, Maine, and were distributed to numerous states, including Pennsylvania. “Most of the affected products are labeled with a ‘Best If Used By’ Date of June 26 – June 29, 2019. No other Growers Express products are impacted or part of this recall. This recall does not affect or include any Green Giant canned or frozen vegetable products,” the news release said. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the recall.
July 2, 2019 12:46 pm
NEW YORK (AP) – Nike is pulling a flag-themed tennis shoe after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick complained to the shoemaker, according to the Wall Street Journal. The shoe’s heel has a U.S. flag with 13 white stars in a circle on it, known as the Betsy Ross flag. Citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, the Journal said that Kaepernick, a Nike endorser, told the company he and others found the flag symbol offensive because of its connection to slavery. The Air Max 1 USA shoe had already been sent to retailers to go on sale this week for the July Fourth holiday, the Journal reports. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey lashed out at Nike over Twitter, saying that he is asking the state’s Commerce Authority to withdraw all financial incentives for the company to locate there.
July 2, 2019 12:17 pm
PITTSBURGH (WPXI) – Police announced added safety measures ahead of the Fourth of July fireworks at Point State Park. Pittsburgh Police said they are teaming up with other law enforcement agencies to keep everyone safe Thursday. Large crowds are expected on the North Shore, downtown, Mt. Washington and at Point State Park for the annual fireworks show. State, county and city mounted units will be on hand along with river rescue.
July 2, 2019 10:27 am
HONOLULU (AP) – A California man who borrowed a cookbook from a Honolulu library has returned it after nearly five decades. Hawaii News Now reports Patrick Powers delivered the “Hawaii Cooks” book to the Waikiki-Kapahulu Public Library last week while on vacation in the state. Powers says he found the book last year in a storage box and decided it was finally time to return it. He borrowed the book 47 years ago while living in Hawaii. It traveled with him when he later moved to California. Powers handed the book over with a letter explaining what happened. He also gave the library a newer copy to replace his old, damaged one. He expected to pay a hefty fine but there was no penalty.
July 2, 2019 10:20 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign says it raised $105 million during the second fundraising quarter. The campaign said Tuesday it has a whopping $100 million in cash on hand. Campaign manager Brad Parscale says the total is “a testament to the overwhelming support” for Trump, who formally announced for reelection in June. Parscale says none of the Democrats who are competing for the right to challenge Trump in 2020 can match the president’s fundraising prowess or the level of enthusiasm for him. The money was raised by the Trump campaign, Trump’s joint fundraising entities and the Republican National Committee. Campaigns have until July 15 to report their fundraising totals to the Federal Election Commission, but many will release their end-of-quarter totals if the numbers are especially good.
July 2, 2019 8:46 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker is rolling out a sweeping immigration agenda composed of changes he could make without relying on Congress to act on the issue. Among Booker’s proposals unveiled Tuesday are a shift away from criminal prosecution of migrants who cross the border, a new mandate for detention facilities to meet minimum standards and an end to multiple immigration policies executed by President Donald Trump. Booker’s immigration plan is one of the most detailed among Democratic White House hopefuls. The New Jersey senator’s proposal sets a different tone from former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s immigration agenda by focusing entirely on executive orders that a future president could pursue without relying on a legislative deal that has proved elusive in recent years.
July 2, 2019 7:46 am
PARIS (AP) – France’s president is urging Iran to immediately reduce its stockpiles of low-enriched uranium and stick to the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Emmanuel Macron said in a statement Tuesday that he “took note with concern” of Iran’s announcement that it has surpassed the limit of 300 kilograms (661 pounds) of low-enriched uranium laid out in the accord. Macron asked Iran also abstain from any other steps that would threaten the deal, which promised to lift trade sanctions in exchange for curbing Iran’s atomic program. France strongly opposed President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the deal and impose new sanctions on Iran. Macron said France will try to make sure Iran honors its commitments, as well as receives the “economic advantages of the accord.”
July 2, 2019 6:53 am
LA SERENA, Chile (AP) – Tens of thousands of tourists flocked to cities and towns across northern Chile to stake out spots in one of the world’s best locations to witness Tuesday’s total solar eclipse. Millions are expected to gaze at the cosmic spectacle that will begin in the South Pacific and sweep along a path 6,800 miles (11,000 kilometers) across open waters to Chile and Argentina. Those are the only places the total eclipse will be seen aside from an uninhabited island. The eclipse is expected to make its first landfall in Chile at La Serena, a city of some 200,000 people where the arrival of more than 300,000 visitors forced the local water company to increase output and service gas stations to store extra fuel. Police and health services were also reinforced.
July 2, 2019 6:51 am
CLINT, Texas (AP) – The head of the U.S. Border Patrol says sexist posts and comments mocking migrant deaths in a closed Facebook group for agents and employees are “completely inappropriate.” Carla Provost said in a statement Monday that any employee who violated standards will be held accountable. ProPublica published a report on the group that comprises about 9,500 current and former employees. There are about 20,000 active Border Patrol agents. Group members posted graphic doctored images of U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat. Other posts refer to Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Veronica Escobar, of Texas, in sexually explicit ways. One member encouraged agents to throw burritos at them during a facility tour Monday. The assistant commissioner of the office of professional responsibility says the “disturbing social media activity” is being investigated.
July 2, 2019 6:47 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Legislation to help Pennsylvania agriculture is going into effect, including measures to foster younger farmers, help clean water going into Chesapeake Bay and expand butchering services for small farmers. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf signed eight related farm bills in the Capitol on Monday as he was flanked by state presidents of the Future Farmers of America and the 4-H. The $23 million initiative includes funding for agricultural business development, marketing, educational programs and conservation practices. Money will also go to encourage specialty products such as hardwood, hemp and hops, and to build agricultural infrastructure in urban areas. State Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding calls it “the most comprehensive investment in agriculture in a generation.”
