November 28, 2019 4:26 am
BEIJING (AP) – China says the implementation of U.S. bills on Hong Kong human rights will undermine cooperation in important areas. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made the remarks at a press briefing Thursday in response to a question about whether President Donald Trump’s signing of the legislation will impact ongoing trade talks. Regarding unspecified countermeasures that China has threatened over the bills, Geng said: “What ought to come will come sooner or later.” The bills mandate sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials who carry out human rights abuses in Hong Kong, require an annual review of Hong Kong’s favorable trade status and prohibit the export to Hong Kong police of certain nonlethal munitions. The Chinese territory has been rocked by six months of pro-democracy demonstrations.
November 28, 2019 4:17 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – A Philadelphia police officer says in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that the department makes it difficult for new mothers to breastfeed at work. The sex and pregnancy discrimination suit says that despite complaints the department doesn’t give women the time and space they need to pump. Lead plaintiff Janelle Newsome says she stopped nursing her 15-month-old son months early because of the lack of support. She and a fellow officer, Jennifer Allen, tell The Associated Press they had to pump in unsanitary locker rooms, busy offices or lunch rooms. The lawsuit accuses the department of violating city, state and federal laws that mandate accommodations for nursing mothers. About 22% of the city’s 6,500 officers are women. A spokesman says the department has no comment on the pending litigation.
November 28, 2019 4:11 am
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Diocese of Pittsburgh’s Independent Review Board has reached a determination regarding cases of four priests in the Diocese of Pittsburgh who have been on administrative leave after being accused of having sexually abused minors: Richard Lelonis who died October 20th, 72-year-old John Bauer, who served as a priest at Immaculate Conception Church in Washington and more recently, several churches in Greene County, Bernard Costello, 82, who was assigned as temporary administrator to Mary Mother of the Church, Charleroi, where he retired in 2011 and Joseph Reschick. The earliest accusation pertains to abuse alleged to have occurred in the 1960s. The other accusations involve incidents alleged to have occurred throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The diocese instated a rigorous safe environment policy in 2002, which continues to be regularly evaluated and updated, and requires that all allegations be reported to law enforcement and evaluated by an Independent Review Board. In keeping with this policy, the cases involving the above mentioned clergy went to the Independent Review Board, which found that, based on the evidence brought forward, the accusations are credible. The Independent Review Board also recommended that Bishop Zubik not return these clergy to ministry, which he has accepted. The next step in our policy involves forwarding these cases to the Vatican, which is required by canon law. The Vatican will review all the information presented and issue a decision regarding their future clerical status. The timeline for that review will be determined by the Vatican. While this process continues, these clergy remain on administrative leave and may not engage in public ministry, dress as priests or otherwise present themselves as priests in good standing.
November 28, 2019 4:10 am
BROWNSVILLE, Pa. — Thanksgiving came early to the Greater Washington County Food Bank. On Wednesday, Dennis Davin, Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development dropped by to announce a $190,000 grant to help the Food Bank create an electrical system to allow them to save on the electric bill. Connie Burd, Executive Director of the GWCFB says the Ground Mount Solar Array will cost nearly $400,000 but should provide means for the Food Bank to eliminate their electric bill by generating their own power. After the announcement, Davin toured the facility seeing the 26,000 square foot warehouse, hydroponics containers, greenhouse and 24 acre farm. This is not the first time the Wolf Administration has been here. Davin stated that during their administration the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has granted over $1,000,000 for site acquisition and build out up to today’s grant for the first phase of the solar array.
November 27, 2019 5:28 pm
DETROIT (AP) – Fiat Chrysler is recalling more than 110,000 vans in North America because cooling fan motors can overheat and cause fires. The recall covers certain Ram ProMaster vans with air conditioning from 2015 through 2018. The company says in documents filed with U.S. regulators that fans can seize, and a circuit breaker may not stop them from overheating. Owners who see check engine or engine temperature warning lights are advised to shut off the engine and contact the dealer.
November 27, 2019 4:13 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Health officials say they have more evidence that a certain chemical compound is a culprit in a national outbreak of vaping illnesses. A study released Tuesday analyzed vaping cartridges gathered in Minnesota during the outbreak this year and cartridges seized in that state last year. The newer cartridges contained the compound vitamin E acetate, but none of the older ones did. The study was small and included just a few dozen products. But the finding echoes another study that found the compound in the damaged lungs of 29 patients across the country.
Nearly 2,300 Americans who vape have gotten sick since March, many of them teens and young adults. Vitamin E acetate has been used as a thickener in illicit vaping products that contain THC, the high-inducing part of marijuana.
November 27, 2019 4:11 am
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A storm packing heavy snow and high winds that wreaked havoc as it whipped through Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska is marching into the upper Midwest as anxious Thanksgiving travelers brace for a busy, if not perilous, holiday week. The wintry storm that left at least one person dead was expected to push eastward into South Dakota, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin on Wednesday, while a “bomb cyclone” weather phenomenon was expected to simultaneously topple trees, knock out power and dump snow as it rolled into California and Oregon. The one-two punch made for a double whammy of early wintry weather that threatened to scramble plans for millions of people nationwide during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.
November 27, 2019 4:10 am
PORT NECHES, Texas (AP) – A second explosion has torn through a Southeast Texas chemical plant about 13 hours after an initial blast injured three workers. Witnesses say the explosion erupted shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday at the plant TCP Group operates in Port Neches, about 80 miles east of Houston. The force of the blast hurled debris high into the air, but no more injuries were immediately reported. Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick has ordered a mandatory evacuation of a 4-mile (7-kilometer) radius around the plant, including Port Neches and neighboring Groves, Nederland and part of Port Arthur. Troy Monk, director of health safety and security with TPC Group, said at a news conference Wednesday that it’s unclear how long it will take to extinguish the fire. Monk said the three workers who were injured during the blast – two TPC employees and a contractor – have been treated and released from hospitals in Port Arthur and Houston. Monk said officials have not determined what caused the explosion, which blew out windows and knocked down doors of nearby homes.
November 27, 2019 4:09 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The House Judiciary Committee intends to bring in legal experts to examine the constitutional grounds for President Donald Trump’s impeachment when they meet next week. The Judiciary panel on Tuesday scheduled its first hearing for Dec. 4 as it decides whether to write articles of impeachment against Trump. That committee take over the process handled so far by the Intelligence Committee, which has been investigating Trump’s efforts to push Ukraine to take action against his political rivals. Lawmakers on Tuesday released the last two transcripts from its depositions, including from a White House budget official who detailed concerns among colleagues as Trump ordered them, through intermediaries, to put a hold on military aid to Ukraine. He said he knew of two people who left the agency over the issue.
November 27, 2019 4:07 am
Residents in North Strabane Township got some welcome news at the Township Supervisors Meeting on Tuesday night. Supervisors unanimously adopted a balanced preliminary budget for 2020 with no tax increase. The budget is just over $30 million dollars and was the result of much detailed effort. Township Manager Andrew Walz commented that there are only 3 municipalities in Washington County that offer the level of service that North Strabane Township receives and officials work diligently to bring the best services at the best price to township residents. In other township business, supervisors took one step closer to ending litigation against the Canonsburg Houston Joint Authority. Supervisors unanimously agreed to enter into a settlement agreement with CHJA. This settlement will also include the other 4 plaintiffs in the case, Cecil Township, Cecil Township Municipal Authority, Chartiers Township and the North Strabane Municipal Authority. No details of the settlement will be made public until all parties have signed off on the agreement. A joint statement detailing the settlement will be made in the near future.
