July 4, 2024 6:51 am
Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest is today. The yearly bun fight, which dates back to 1972, sees large crowds of fans in foam hot-dog hats gather in front of the original Nathan’s Famous’ restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn, to cheer on the competitors as they chow down. The contestants are allowed to dunk the dogs in cups of water to soften them up, creating a stomach-churning spectacle. The field has shifted this year as Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, the reigning champion of the contest, will not participate in Thursday’s event after signing a deal with a rival brand. Instead, Chestnut will take his hot dog-downing talents to an army base in Texas for America’s Independence Day. Chestnut, of Indiana, will compete against soldiers in Fort Bliss, in El Paso, in a 5-minute hot dog eating contest. In 2021, Chestnut set the current record of 76 hot dogs, in 10 minutes. With Chestnut out, those vying for second place in Brooklyn in the past might have renewed hope to chomp their way to victory this year. Last year’s second-place winner was Geoffrey Esper from Oxford, Massachusetts, who downed 49 dogs to Chestnut’s 62. Third place went to Australia’s James Webb with 47. Miki Sudo, of Tampa, Florida, holds the women’s record of 48.5 in 10 minutes. Miki won her ninth title at the Nathan’s Famous contest last year with 39.5 hot dogs and buns eaten. Contestants hail from 13 states and several countries. (Photo: AP)
July 4, 2024 5:03 am
WASHINGTON – U.S. job openings rose slightly to 8.1 million in May despite the impact of higher interest rates. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that vacancies were up from a revised 7.9 million in April, the first reading below 8 million since February 2021. Layoffs rose slightly, and the number of Americans quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects — was basically unchanged. The U.S. economy and job market have been remarkably resilient in the face of the Federal Reserve’s campaign to raise interest rates to rein in inflation. The Fed hiked its benchmark rate 11 times in 2022 and 2023, lifting it to a 23-year high.
July 3, 2024 4:57 am
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada (AP) — Hurricane Beryl is roaring across the Caribbean Sea as a powerful Category 4 storm on a path toward Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. At least six people have died after Beryl slammed islands in the southeast Caribbean. A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica and some of the Cayman islands, and a watch was posted for Haiti’s southern coast and the east coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Beryl was losing some of its intensity but was still forecast to be near major-hurricane strength when it passes near or over Jamaica early Wednesday. It had 145-mph winds early Wednesday. People in flood-prone areas of Jamaica were warned to seek safe shelter to ride out the storm overnight and into Wednesday.
July 3, 2024 10:37 am
Canonsburg police are investigating after someone fired a gun in the east end area of the borough. On Monday and Tuesday night, several shots were fired in the area of Franklin and Highland avenues. Police said there was no apparent motive or target. “We are devoting all of our resources into finding the actor or actors as we review video surveillance footage, and follow up on the leads we have generated,” the police chief said in a social media post. Residents are advised to call 911 if they hear anything. Those with home security systems are asked to review the footage and report anything suspicious at 724-745-8020 ext. 519.
July 3, 2024 1:58 am
An assistant district attorney in Washington County is awaiting a preliminary hearing after being arrested for drunk driving. North Strabane Township Police arrested 37-year-old Rachel Anne Wheeler Friday night around ten o’clock after she drove through a red light in the township. Wheeler, who lives in North Strabane, allegedly drove through the red light while traveling north on Route Nineteen at the intersection with Racetrack Road. After being stopped by an officer, Wheeler took a breathalyzer test at the scene and her blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit. She has been charged with misdemeanors for driving under the influence. Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh says he can not comment on the case because it is a personnel matter, however, he did confirm to WJPA that Wheeler submitted her resignation on Tuesday and her case will be prosecuted by the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office.
July 3, 2024 2:27 am
Washington County Commission Chairman Nick Sherman on Tuesday, spoke with WJPA News regarding a lawsuit filed this week against the county’s election board for their decision to not allow ballot-curing in the spring primary election. The suit was filed was filed on behalf of seven voters, the Center for Coalfield Justice and the Washington Branch of the NAACP. They were represented by the ACLU of Pennsylvania, the Public Interest Law Center and Dechert, LLP stating the decision made by the board of elections, that is made up of the three county commissioners, disenfranchised 259 county voters by not allowing the county elections department to contact voters who voted by mail and had correctable errors with their ballots. The decision to not allow curing is a reversal of previous protocol that allowed the department to contact voters about their mistakes and address the errors. The suit alleges that the county violated the voters’ procedural due process rights. Sherman, however, maintains that the elections board followed the strict letter of the law and will continue to do so. He says the lawsuit may actually hurt the surrounding counties that allowed ballot curing, because once the suit goes through the legal system, he’s sure state law will prevail. Sherman added that if people want to see change in the way mail-in ballots are handled, they should contact their legislators because that would need to be done on a state level.
July 3, 2024 4:44 am
FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI) – A firefighter was hurt while battling a house fire in Fayette County on Tuesday evening. The fire broke out in a house along Yaugher Hollow Road in North Union Township around 6:30 p.m. The firefighter was taken to a local hospital with a hand or arm injury. No other injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
July 3, 2024 4:49 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) -Six tornadoes touched down throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania during last week’s storms, the National Weather Service confirmed. The NWS confirmed Tuesday that the sixth tornado, categorized as an EF-1, touched down near the Mellon Plan neighborhood of Monroeville. It swept through parts of Wall, Pitcairn and south Monroeville. A large number of trees snapped or uprooted due to the tornado, some of which fell on power lines and caused the poles to snap. There was also some fence damage, and siding removed from homes. The tornado briefly retreated north toward Kelvington Park before dissipating, the NWS said.
July 3, 2024 5:01 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — General Motors will pay nearly $146 million in penalties to the federal government because 5.9 million of its older vehicles don’t comply with emissions and fuel economy standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement Wednesday that certain GM vehicles from the 2012 through 2018 model years didn’t comply with federal fuel economy requirements. The fine comes after the Environmental Protection Agency said its testing showed the GM pickup trucks and SUVs emit over 10% more carbon dioxide on average than GM’s initial compliance testing claimed. GM says it complied with all regulations in pollution and mileage certification of its vehicles.
July 3, 2024 4:59 am
(AP) – The U.S. government will pay the vaccine maker Moderna $176 million to accelerate development of a pandemic influenza vaccine. The vaccine could be used to treat bird flu in people as cases in dairy cows continue to mount across the country. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday it is funding the development of a vaccine based on the same mRNA technology that allowed the rapid development and rollout of vaccines to protect against COVID-19. The H5N1 bird flu virus was detected earlier this year in dairy cows and has spread to more than 135 herds in 12 states and has infected three people. Federal officials say the risk to the public remains low.
