January 3, 2020 7:19 am
The cause of a fire at 1429 Yorktown Drive in Cecil Township Friday morning is under investigation. Authorities say the blaze broke out just before six o’clock in a home that is part of a complex of four townhouses in the Georgetown Estates development. That house was destroyed and the fire did spread to a neighboring unit but damage there was minimal. Everyone inside of the house got out safely, including the family’s cat. Firefighters say they believe the fire may have started in the garage. (Photo: WPXI)
January 3, 2020 4:22 am
SYDNEY (AP) – Navy ships plucked hundreds of people from beaches and tens of thousands were urged to flee before hot, windy weather worsens Australia’s devastating wildfires. More than 200 fires are burning, and one fire official says the warnings of extreme danger to come means, “There are millions of sparks out there ready to go.” Hundreds of homes have been destroyed and 10 deaths have been confirmed from fires this week. The devastating early start to the summer wildfire season has made this Australia’s worst on record. One official noted the “fire fatigue” but told people not to wait to flee until it was too late.
January 3, 2020 4:21 am
BEIJING (AP) – Oil prices are surging and Asian stock markets are mixed after U.S. forces in Iraq killed an Iranian general. Benchmarks in Shanghai and Hong Kong declined while Australia and some Southeast Asian markets advanced. Markets in Malaysia and Indonesia, both oil producers, gained. News of the death of Gen. Qassem Soleimani prompted expectations of Iranian retaliation against American and Israeli targets. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 and Dow rose to new records, helped by technology stocks. Investors were encouraged by expectations of stronger global economic growth in 2020 and the planned signing of an interim U.S.-Chinese trade agreement.
January 3, 2020 4:20 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden says President Donald Trump has “tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox” with the targeted killing of Iran’s top general in an airstrike at Baghdad’s international airport. The former vice president is joining other Democratic White House hopefuls in criticizing Trump’s order, saying it could leave the U.S. “on the brink of a major conflict across the Middle East.” Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is calling the attack “dangerous,” while Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren says it was “reckless.” The Pentagon says the U.S. military killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, in Baghdad Friday at the direction of Trump.
January 3, 2020 4:17 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. officials are sending nearly 3,000 more Army troops to the Mideast. As well, they’ve placed a brigade in Italy on alert to fly into Beirut if needed to protect the embassy there. Reinforcements were ordered as U.S. officials said they had compelling intelligence that the Iranian general killed in a U.S. strike áwas planning a significant campaign of violence against the United States. The reinforcements are part of a series of military moves to protect U.S. interests in the Middle East.
January 3, 2020 4:13 am
NORTH UNION TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPXI) — A couple was found dead New Year’s Day in their North Union Township home after what Pennsylvania State Police are calling a murder-suicide. Investigators identified the couple Friday as William and Tina Allen. Both were found shot to death in their bedroom. Police said Tina came back to the house on Republic Street Wednesday morning. Not long after, a gunshot was heard. Relatives of the couple discovered the bedroom door was locked and became suspicious. Tina was found on the bed. Authorities said William was found in a chair with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Fayette County District Attorney Richard Bower said a suicide note was found, but he did not elaborate on what it said. Neighbors said Tina was well-known in the community for which she cared deeply. They said she was heavily involved in politics and the community, even decorating Uniontown City Hall for Christmas and helping to raise money to get lighted decorations for downtown.
January 2, 2020 5:28 pm
PHOENIX (AP) – U-Haul International has announced plans to stop interviewing and hiring nicotine users, including people who use e-cigarettes and vaping products. The Arizona Republic reported Wednesday that the well-known truck and trailer rental company approved the nicotine-free policy set to go into effect Feb. 1 in 21 states where the company operates. Company officials say people hired before the policy goes into effect won’t be affected. Officials say the company expects the nicotine-free hiring policy would help create a more healthy corporate culture. Officials say the company employs around 30,000 people across the U.S. and Canada.
January 2, 2020 2:55 pm
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Three of Pennsylvania’s professional sports mascots are depicted in the Farm Show’s butter sculpture, an annual feature of the state’s massive agricultural exposition. The sculpture was unveiled Thursday, two days before the Harrisburg event formally opens to the public. This year’s sculpture, crafted from about 1,000 pounds of donated butter, shows Gritty, Swoop and Steely McBeam, mascots for the Philadelphia Flyers and Eagles, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. This year’s Farm Show includes 12,000 competitive exhibits. It runs from Saturday through Jan. 11. Admission is free but parking in Farm Show lots is not.
January 2, 2020 10:30 am
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Former Obama housing secretary Julián Castro is ending his run for president. Castro’s announcement Thursday comes after he failed to garner enough support or donations to make the recent Democratic presidential debates. The former San Antonio mayor languished around 1% in polls and lagged behind his 2020 rivals in fundraising. Castro was the only Latino candidate in the field and one of the biggest voices on immigration. Castro says he’s “proud of the campaign” he ran. He says he and his supporters have “shaped the conversation on so many important issues.” Castro had warned supporters that failing to make the November debate stage would spell the end of his campaign.
January 2, 2020 8:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. health officials will begin cracking down on most flavored e-cigarettes that are popular with underage teenagers. But the plan from the Trump administration includes major exceptions that benefit companies that make and sell e-cigarettes and adults who use the nicotine-delivery devices. The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday the policy won’t affect menthol or tobacco flavors. The policy also won’t affect large, tank-based vaping products sold in vape shops that cater to adults. Those changes are a major step back from President Donald Trump’s original plan announced in September, which would have banned nearly all flavors in all vaping products.
