July 9, 2019 4:06 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities have a year to develop online, anonymous reporting systems to receive complaints about sexual assault from students and employees. That’s a requirement of a new law signed by Gov. Tom Wolf, who with the law’s backers say is the first law of its kind in the nation. Tracey Vitchers of the It’s On Us campaign says many schools already have online, anonymous reporting systems. Still, Vitchers says victims typically report their assault more quickly when they can report anonymously online, compared to when they report it in person. She says many victims are afraid to identify themselves to investigators. But Vitchers says anonymous reports also can help colleges and universities determine more quickly if there are problems on campus that they need to address.
July 9, 2019 4:04 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – U.S. Customs authorities have seized a cargo ship where agents discovered nearly 40,000 pounds, or almost 18,000 kilograms, of cocaine when the vessel arrived in Philadelphia last month. U.S. Attorney William McSwain says Customs and Border Protection officials obtained a warrant Thursday and seized the MSC Gayane. The cargo ship is owned by Swiss firm MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. McSwain says the ship is subject to possible forfeiture to the U.S. The value of the ship and its other contents hasn’t been released. MSC is one of the world’s largest shipping lines in terms of containers. A spokesman for MSC says the company has no immediate comment. At least six crew members have been charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine aboard a ship. The federal investigation continues.
July 9, 2019 4:02 am
Peters Township Council tackled an aggressive agenda at their meeting on Monday night. Council approved a $10 million bond issue to cover several items, most of them related to the construction of Rolling Hills Park. With this bond council will reimburse the township for expenditures already incurred with the purchase of Rolling Hills Park and the Phase I design stage of the park. That phase will include the road, utilities, restrooms, picnic shelters and a maintenance facility. Also covered by the bond will be the purchase of a new fire truck later on this year. Council also started to take steps toward the inclusion of a Township non-discrimination statement. Council approved the unification of language between its Administrative Code and Employee Handbook. The handbook language was more expansive and was used to modify the Administrative Code to bring both into compatibility. With this motion, resident Julie Cantrell who has been lobbying for a non discrimination statement with regards to the LGBTQ community is hopeful that the township will add a statement to the township website expressing that non discrimination practice.
July 8, 2019 5:57 pm
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities have a year to develop online, anonymous reporting systems to receive complaints about sexual assault from students and employees. That’s a requirement of a new law signed by Gov. Tom Wolf, who with the law’s backers say is the first law of its kind in the nation. Tracey Vitchers of the It’s On Us campaign says many schools already have online, anonymous reporting systems. Still, Vitchers says victims typically report their assault more quickly when they can report anonymously online, compared to when they report it in person. She says many victims are afraid to identify themselves to investigators. But Vitchers says anonymous reports also can help colleges and universities determine more quickly if there are problems on campus that they need to address.
July 8, 2019 5:53 pm
MIAMI (AP) – U.S. officials have taken over the investigation of a Bahamas helicopter crash that killed billionaire coal magnate Chris Cline and six other people. National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Eric Weiss confirmed Monday that the wreckage has been moved to a secure site in the United States. He says a preliminary report should be available in about two weeks. The full investigation could take up to two years. The Bahamas Air Accident Investigation Department says flight and data recorders have been recovered and shipped to the NTSB in Washington for analysis. Bahamian officials say cranes pulled the 15-passenger Augusta AW139 from the ocean over the weekend. Investigators remained onsite Monday documenting wreckage to determine the complete craft was recovered. The helicopter crashed Thursday after taking off from a remote private island. (Photo: radaronline.com)
July 8, 2019 5:42 pm
MT. LEBANON, Pa. – The Allegheny County hazardous materials team has responded to a Mt. Lebanon neighborhood for a reported chemical odor. The smell was reported around 4:30 p.m. on Marlin Drive between Bower Hill and Jayson Avenue. Authorities have confirmed that three people were taken to the hospital, although details about their health have not been released. The Mt. Lebanon Fire Department has advised people who live in the area to keep their doors and windows closed. Anyone who smells something inside their home is asked to call 911.
July 8, 2019 5:41 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell of California is ending his presidential bid, becoming the first candidate in the crowded 2020 Democratic primary to exit the campaign. Swalwell announced his decision Monday. He had signaled that he would consider bowing out of the presidential race if he was in danger of missing the cutoff for the next nationally televised Democratic debate, which is based on separate polling and donor qualifications. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock missed the threshold for last month’s debate but was ahead of Swalwell in the competition for this month’s televised Democratic faceoff before the four-term California congressman exited the primary. If Swalwell seeks another term in Congress, he already has a challenger ahead of next year’s election in his liberal-leaning district: Democrat Aisha Wahab, a city councilwoman in Hayward.
July 8, 2019 3:52 pm
LONDON (AP) – You may have been hearing whispers about Stevie Wonder having some kind of serious health problem. The singer-songwriter is now confirming that. He told a concert audience in London over the weekend that he is in need of a kidney transplant. Speaking to his audience on Saturday night, Wonder said he was doing the shows in London then would be “taking a break.” He says he plans to have the kidney transplant “at the end of September.” Wonder says he has already found a donor – and predicts that he will be fine. The 69-year-old singer says he wanted to tell his fans himself – to tamp down speculation about his health.
July 8, 2019 11:55 am
UNDATED (AP) – Cameron Boyce has died. The actor best known for his work in the Disney Channel franchise “Descendants” for playing Adam Sandler’s son in the first two “Grown Ups” movies died over the weekend in Los Angeles. A rep for the 20-year-old actor says he died in his sleep. No official cause of death was announced. But in a statement released yesterday, his family says Boyce died “due to a seizure that was a result of an ongoing medical condition.” The family statement calls Boyce one of the world’s “brightest lights” – and that they “are utterly heartbroken.” Also expressing condolences is Disney chairman and CEO Robert Iger, who says Boyce was “filled with so much talent, heart and life.” And his movie “dad” Adam Sandler tweeted “Loved that kid…all our hearts are broken.”
July 8, 2019 9:34 am
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – China has expressed regret over Iran’s breaching of the 2015 nuclear deal and blamed the United States, saying “maximum pressure” from the Trump administration, which withdrew from the accord last year, is behind the crisis. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang described the comprehensive agreement as the only realistic and effective way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue and ease tensions. Tehran says it is now enriching uranium at a higher level than is allowed under the 2015 agreement with world powers. Geng said at a daily news briefing that “maximum pressure” imposed by the U.S. was the “root cause” of the crisis. Since withdrawing from the accord, the U.S. has imposed heavy economic sanctions on Iran. Geng called for a diplomatic solution, saying “it has been proven that unilateral bullying has become a worsening ‘tumor’ and is creating more problems and greater crises on a global scale.”
