October 15, 2019 7:40 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Former Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter is rejecting assertions by President Donald Trump and his Republican allies that he did anything wrong in engaging in foreign work in Ukraine and China. Hunter Biden also says he failed to take into account potential implications on his father’s political career. In an ABC interview airing Tuesday, Hunter Biden concedes he may have made a mistake “in the grand scheme of things” for failing to see the political repercussions. But he adds: “Did I make a mistake based on some ethical lapse? Absolutely not.” Trump and Republicans have targeted Hunter Biden for his work in Ukraine and China, although there’s no evidence of wrongdoing. In a July 25 phone call, Trump pressured Ukraine’s leaders to investigate the Bidens. (Photo: ABC)
October 15, 2019 4:56 am
Peters Township Council reached the limit of its patience with an eyesore property and authorized its township manager to proceed with plans for demolition. The St Petersburg Center at 214 Valleybrook Road in Peters Township has been in disrepair for many years. In 2017 authorization was given to demolish the building. Property owners Ed and Susan Courtney have delayed the demolition several times citing unclear direction from the township and delays in permitting from state departments for not being able to finish the project. The refurbishing of the building has taken on several forms and the most recent one, making it a single floor building has been dragging on for most of this year. After debate between council and the Courtneys, Councilman James Berquist made the motion to demolish the building completely. The motion passed unanimously. Berquist stated that he was not happy that this had to end this way, but council has been more that accommodating to the Courtneys. When asked for their thoughts, the Courtneys had no comment. Demolition could begin in the next 2 weeks.
October 15, 2019 4:21 am
DUBLIN, Calif. (AP) – A representative for Felicity Huffman says the actress has reported to a federal prison in California to serve a two-week sentence in the college admissions scandal. The Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin is a low-security prison for women in the San Francisco area. A federal judge in Boston sentenced Huffman last month to 14 days in prison, a $30,000 fine, 250 hours of community service and a year’s probation. The “Desperate Housewives” star pleaded guilty in May to fraud and conspiracy for paying an admissions consultant $15,000 to have a proctor correct her daughter’s SAT answers. A statement Tuesday from Huffman’s representative says that she “is prepared to serve the term of imprisonment Judge Talwani ordered as one part of the punishment she imposed for Ms. Huffman’s actions.”
October 15, 2019 4:20 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The late musical icons Whitney Houston and the Notorious B.I.G. are among the 16 acts nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 2020 class. The prestigious organization announced Tuesday that Dave Matthews Band, Motorhead, Pat Benatar, Soundgarden, The Doobie Brothers, T.Rex and Thin Lizzy join Houston and B.I.G. as first-time Rock Hall nominees. The 35th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place May 2, 2020, at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio. Nine Inch Nails, Judas Priest, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, MC5 and Todd Rundgren round out the 16 nominees for the 2020 class. The official inductees will be announced in January. Acts are eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first commercial recording.
October 15, 2019 4:19 am
CEYLANPINAR, Turkey (AP) – Doctors Without Borders says it has decided to suspend the majority of its activities and evacuate its international staff from northeast Syria because of Turkey’s military operation against Kurdish fighters. The aid organization said Tuesday that the extremely volatile situation has forced the group to evacuate from projects in areas including Ein Issa, Tal Abyad and al-Hol that includes a camp hosting tens of thousands of women and children related to Islamic State group fighters. It said the “highly unpredictable and fast-changing situation” has made it impossible for the aid organization to negotiate safe access to deliver health care and provide humanitarian assistance to people in distress. Given the numerous groups fighting on different sides of the conflict, the group said it can no longer guarantee the safety of its Syrian and international staff.
October 15, 2019 4:17 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump says he is fully prepared to destroy Turkey’s economy if its leaders continue what he calls “this dangerous and destructive path” in Syria.
On Monday, Trump announced a halt to negotiations on a $100 billion trade deal with Turkey. Other sanctions include raising steel tariffs back up to 50% and actions against three senior Turkish officials and Turkey’s defense and energy ministries. The U.S. is calling on Turkey to stop its invasion of Syria and declare a cease-fire in the assault that began after Trump announced he was moving U.S. troops out of the way. Trump is sending Vice President Mike Pence and national security adviser Robert O’Brien to Ankara as soon as possible in an attempt to begin negotiations with Kurdish forces in Syria.
October 15, 2019 4:15 am
CORNWALL, Pa. (AP) – Authorities say the co-owner of a landscaping company died when his mower slid into a creek and overturned while he was working at a retirement community in Pennsylvania. Cornwall police say 66-year-old Ralph Schreiber was cutting grass with a zero-turn mower when the accident occurred Saturday at the Alden Place community. He apparently became trapped under the mower and was later found by an employee around 12:20 p.m. It’s not clear how long Schreiber was trapped under the machine. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
October 15, 2019 4:14 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A former Pennsylvania state senator’s conviction for using government employees to work on political campaigns is being upheld by federal appeals judges. A 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Tuesday ruled against former Allegheny County Republican Sen. Jane Orie, saying her second trial in 2012 did not constitute double jeopardy and that the trial judge properly prevented testimony from a defense expert. The appeals court says it was not a violation for the first trial to be halted during jury deliberations because a forgery had just come to light that could have tainted the verdict. Orie served most of a 2 1/2-year minimum sentence for theft of services, conspiracy, evidence tampering and forgery.
October 15, 2019 4:12 am
GREENSBURG, Pa. – A retired priest of the Diocese of Greensburg who was under investigation for allegations of sexually abusing a minor has died. Msgr. Michael W. Matusak died on Sunday at the diocese’s residence for retired priests. He was removed from his positions and placed on administrative leave after a credible allegation was made of him sexually abusing a minor. He resigned and retired in July after 44 years. The results of the police investigation have still not been shared with the Diocese, according to a news release. A viewing will be held on Thursday, October 17, 2019, in St. Joseph Chapel at Christ Our Shepherd Center, Greensburg, from 1-6:30 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. followed by additional viewing until 9 p.m. Additional viewing will be held on Friday 9-10:45 a.m. followed by a Christian Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Greensburg Catholic Cemetery.
October 15, 2019 4:06 am
UNIONTOWN, Pa. – (WPXI) – A school bus driver in the Laurel Highlands School District has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to school officials. Our news partners at Channel 11 learned that on Friday, the bus company conducted random tests and school officials tell us this driver failed a breathalyzer. The driver was fired. So far, no charges have been filed. State police said they are investigating, but are waiting for test results to come in before releasing any other information. It’s unknown at this time if the driver had any students on his bus while allegedly under the influence.
