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.
October 16, 2019 3:39 am
The United States Geological Survey has confirmed that a small earthquake occurred overnight just southwest of the Washington County Airport. Details are sketchy but government officials say the quake occurred just before three a.m. and registered a 2.2. magnitude. Residents in and around the area were posting on Facebook overnight that they had felt their homes shaking and some items in their homes moved. There was no damage reported and no known injuries. Earthquakes of such magnitude cause little damage and are barely felt, USGS geophysicist Julie Dutton said. If you felt it, you can go online and report the intensity to the USGS.
October 15, 2019 5:18 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani has notified lawmakers that he will not comply with a subpoena issued in the impeachment inquiry. A letter sent by attorney Jon Sale says the subpoena is “overbroad, unduly burdensome, and seeks documents beyond the scope of legitimate inquiry.” Sale is describing the impeachment inquiry itself as “unconstitutional” and “baseless.” Democrats set a Wednesday deadline for Giuliani to provide documents.
October 15, 2019 3:18 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani is acknowledging he earned $500,000 for work for a company run by a business associate who has been charged with federal campaign finance violations. Giuliani says he received two payments totaling $500,000 related to the work for Lev Parnas’ company, Fraud Guarantee, which is based in Boca Raton, Florida. Giuliani says he was hired to consult on Fraud Guarantee’s technologies and provide legal advice on regulatory issues, and that he is confident the money came from a “domestic source.” Giuliani also is playing down the $500,000 total, saying he’s had larger contracts with other clients. Parnas and an associate were arrested last week trying to board an international flight. The charges against them relate to a $325,000 donation to a group supporting Trump’s reelection. The men had key roles in Giuliani’s efforts to launch a Ukrainian corruption investigation against Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden and his son Hunter. The payments were first reported by Reuters.
