September 22, 2019 7:15 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump heads to the United Nations this coming week saddled with a long list of unresolved foreign policy deals he’s yet to close. There are challenges with Iran, North Korea, the Afghan Taliban, Israel and the Palestinians – not to mention a number of trade pacts. Trump says he’s in “no rush” to wrap up the deals. But negotiations take time and the 2020 election is looming. Some foreign policy experts give Trump credit for opening up international negotiations. They also criticize his brash negotiating style and go-it-alone approach to solving problems. Trump defends his approach. But as tensions escalate between the United States and Iran, Trump will be seeking support from other nations at the U.N. General Assembly.
September 22, 2019 7:13 am
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WPXI) – A boil water advisory was lifted Sunday for hundreds of thousands of people following a massive water main break Friday morning. It flooded a Pittsburgh road, closed schools and had crews with swift water rescue gear pulling people from homes. East Agnew Avenue in the area of Becks Run Road in the city’s Carrick neighborhood was ripped apart by the rushing water. According to Pennsylvania American Water, “acceptable test results” were obtained from the first round of water samples collected. Early Sunday, the second round of ‘clean’ test results were collected. East Agnew Street will be closed for several days, and Becks Run Road was not open for Friday’s evening commute. The approved detour for Becks Run is Carson Street to Glass Run Road to Churchview Avenue to Brownsville Road and back to Becks Run. The water rushed toward homes, filling basements and backyards. Firefighters said the water was 6 feet deep in some yards. Three homes were seriously damaged and there were about 10 homes impacted by the water. The water gushed for about six hours before crews were able to shut it off according to officials.
September 22, 2019 7:10 am
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – A project to digitize historical newspaper archives in West Virginia has landed another grant. The West Virginia University Libraries’ West Virginia & Regional History Center received a nearly $202,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to keep digitizing newspapers published in the state from 1790 to 1923. It’s the fifth grant contribution from the National Endowment for the Humanities, bringing the group’s total contribution to the center’s efforts to $968,000. The West Virginia center so far has contributed 400,000 pages from more than 50 historic newspapers to the Chronicling America website . The grant will allow another 100,000 pages to be added. This round of newspapers focuses on the Civil War and the West Virginia Mine Wars.
September 22, 2019 7:09 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Gov. Tom Wolf busied himself in the quiet Capitol over the summer with plans: paying for new voting machines, writing new charter school regulations, creating gun violence prevention programs and more. Wolf calls those moves “conversation openers” to inject momentum into an agenda the Democrat insists can get done this fall in the Republican-controlled Legislature. His administration also suggests Wolf will consider unilaterally pursuing limits on greenhouse-gas pollution from power plants if he can’t persuade lawmakers into an agreement to advance his agenda to fight climate change. For now, GOP leaders and rank-and-file Republicans suggest that attitudes didn’t change over the summer toward top Wolf priorities left hanging in June. Those include a minimum wage increase and a tax on Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling.
September 22, 2019 7:08 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. — Aggravated assault charges were dropped against a Washington man serving a life sentence for first degree murder. Brandon Wolowski, 25, was serving a life sentence for the murder of Matthew Mathias and injuring Michelle Powell, at SCI Camp Hill, when he was scheduled for a trial earlier this month. The District Attorney’s office decided against the trial citing safety concerns. Wolowski has a federal lawsuit that he filed still pending. That suit alleges that he was mistreated by Washington County Corrections Officers. A trial date has yet to be set. Wolowski is currently serving his sentence at SCI Greene County.
September 21, 2019 4:38 am
Economic Development was featured at a roundtable discussion sponsored by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Several county notables led by Will Thomeier, Director of Economic and Tourist Development for the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, discussed ongoing and future development projects throughout Washington County. William McGowen, Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County discussed the vital role a public/private partnership has in economic development. He pointed to several projects in the county, the most visible being the reclamation of the Brockway Glass factory on Interstate 70. Ben Brown, CEO of the Mon Valley Alliance highlighted business development in the Monongahela Valley but also pointed out that economic development also occurs in recreation development as his group is heavily involved in the redevelopment of the old Charleroi High School football stadium that sits right on the river. Economic development is not complete without a workforce and Jeff Nobili from the Southwest Corner Workforce Development Board explained apprenticeships available and how vital they are to supplying employers with people that can perform the jobs needed for them to succeed. Information for any of these programs can be obtained by contacting the Washington County Chamber of Commerce at www.washcochamber.com.
September 21, 2019 4:21 am
HOUSTON (AP) – A man found dead in his vehicle in southeast Texas after floodwaters receded is at least the fourth person to have died in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Imelda.
Police in Beaumont said the body of 47-year-old Malcolm Foster was found Friday morning in a Toyota Prius that was found in a flooded canal. Authorities say his family was later notified of his death. Foster is the fourth man to have drowned after Imelda inundated the region this week. Authorities said one of the men also was electrocuted while trying to move his horse to safety Thursday.
September 21, 2019 4:17 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – The money-losing Three Mile Island, site of the United States’ worst commercial nuclear power accident, has been shut down by its energy giant owner. Friday’s end to the 45-year electricity-producing career of Three Mile Island Unit 1 came after Chicago-based Exelon Corp. tried and failed to get financial aid from Pennsylvania last spring. Three Mile Island’s Unit 1 opened in 1974 and was licensed to operate through 2034. But Exelon complained the plant was losing money in competitive electricity markets. Three Mile Island also faced particularly difficult economics because the 1979 accident that destroyed Unit 2 left it with just one reactor. Decommissioning both units could take decades. No nuclear plant proposed after the 1979 accident has been successfully completed and put into operation in the United States.
September 21, 2019 4:13 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate remained stable in August, as payrolls rose to a record high. The state Department of Labor and Industry said Friday that Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate remained at 3.9%. That’s one-tenth of a percentage point above the lowest rate on record it hit earlier this year. The state says its records go back to 1976. The national unemployment rate was 3.7% in August. Among states, Pennsylvania’s rate ranks 33rd. A survey of households found Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force rose by 9,000, closer to 6.5 million, as employment and unemployment each rose by 5,000. A separate survey of employers showed seasonally adjusted non-farm payrolls rose 16,500, to a record high farther above 6 million. The education and health services sector was the biggest gainer. The figures are preliminary and could change.
September 21, 2019 4:06 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Jewish leaders are preparing to discuss plans to commemorate the deadly shooting that killed 11 worshippers inside a Pittsburgh synagogue almost a year ago.
The October 2018 shooting in the Tree of Life building was the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Seven others were injured when, authorities say, gunman Robert Bowers opened fire. He’s pleaded not guilty. Leaders of the three congregations whose members were attacked are gathering Friday to reflect on the past year and discuss plans for next month’s observance.
As the anniversary approaches, paintings by young people from around the world containing messages of support have replaced blue tarps covering a fence cordoning off the Tree of Life building.
