September 23, 2019 4:25 am
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Iran’s president says his country will offer its own rival security coalition in the Persian Gulf, as the U.S. sends more troops to Saudi Arabia and heads its own regional military coalition. Hassan Rouhani, before traveling to attend the U.N. meetings, said Monday that Iran will invite “all littoral states of the Persian Gulf” to join its coalition “to guarantee the region’s security.” He says the initiative is not limited to “security” but also encompasses economic cooperation and will be presented in detail at the United Nations. Rouhani describes the coalition as a plan for “long-term” peace in the area. The proposal comes amid heightened Mideast tensions following a series of attacks, including a missile-and-drone assault on Saudi Arabia’s oil industry that U.S. alleges Iran was behind. Tehran denies the charge and has warned against retaliatory strikes.
September 23, 2019 4:24 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he personally pressured the Trump administration to release U.S. aid to Ukraine this summer, a time when the funding is now under scrutiny with a whistleblower’s complaint against the president. The Republican leader said Monday he did not know the content of the whistleblower’s complaint. President Donald Trump was reportedly withholding funding for Ukraine as he urged the country’s president to investigate his chief political rival, Joe Biden. Trump denies any wrongdoing. McConnell says he contacted both the Defense Secretary and the Secretary of State this summer to release the funds. Congress had approved $250 million for Ukraine security. He criticized Democrats for demanding public scrutiny of Trump’s actions. He said the Intelligence committee should handle questions in a classified setting.
September 23, 2019 4:23 am
NEW YORK (AP) – President Donald Trump heads into his three-day visit to the United Nations this week hoping to lean on strained alliances while fending off questions about whether he sought foreign help to damage a political rival. Trump’s latest U.N. trip comes after nearly three years of an “America First” foreign policy that has unsettled allies and shredded multinational pacts. A centerpiece of this year’s U.N. schedule will be a Monday session on climate change that Trump plans to skip. Instead, he will address a meeting about the persecution of religious minorities, particularly Christians, an issue that resonates with Trump’s evangelical supporters.
September 23, 2019 4:21 am
PITTSBURGH – (WPXI) – Crews have been working to repair the roads that were flooded and badly damaged by the ‘catastrophic’ water main break in Carrick for the past two days. Sunday morning, those repairs got harder after Pennsylvania American Water crews unintentionally struck a gas line while working on Becks Run Road. According to Columbia Gas officials, they turned off gas for two businesses in that area as a safety precaution due to damage to the gas line. Officials said there is no timeframe for when gas service will be restored in that area, but traffic has resumed normal operations just days after being completely flooded because of the water main break.
September 23, 2019 4:17 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A rare, potentially deadly virus transmitted by mosquitoes has been confirmed in three Pennsylvania counties. The Pennsylvania departments of health and agriculture issued a warning Saturday after confirming eastern equine encephalitis in Erie, Carbon, and Monroe counties. The virus was found in pheasants, horses and a wild turkey. The virus is carried by birds. Mosquitoes can transmit it to humans, horses and other birds. Health officials say the infection is fatal in 30% of human cases. They’re urging people to avoid mosquito bites when outdoors by wearing mosquito repellent and covering exposed skin with lightweight clothing. Homeowners should also make sure window screens are in good condition and eliminate standing water around their properties.
September 22, 2019 7:19 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) – There’s been a big increase in the number of tips to U.S. law enforcement about potential mass shootings following the three shootings in August that killed 34 people. Experts say media coverage of the shootings makes the public more prone to inform on worrisome relatives or neighbors in attempts to prevent more shootings. Following the high-profile shootings in California and Texas and Ohio, tips to the FBI rose by about 15,000 each week. But authorities say it’s difficult to identify and predict who the next shooter will be. Some of those would-be shooters sent text messages to friends or posted on social media that they hoped to one-up previous mass shootings by killing more people. Law enforcement authorities and experts say the reasons for the increase in tips vary.
September 22, 2019 7:17 am
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Five people remain in critical condition after a bus crash that killed four Chinese tourists and injured dozens more near a national park in Utah. Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Nick Street said Friday evening that the bus originated in Southern California, and the tourists on board were natives of mainland China. Up to 15 people suffered injuries that were originally considered very critical, but the condition of several passengers has improved in the hours since the crash. Authorities are investigating what caused the bus to careen into a guard rail Friday morning on highway winding through otherworldly spires of red rock near Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah. The names and hometowns of the victims were not immediately released.
September 22, 2019 7:16 am
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Iran’s president says his country should lead regional security in the strategic Persian Gulf. Hassan Rouhani said Sunday Iran extends its “hand of friendship and brotherhood” toward cooperating with regional nations. Rouhani also said the presence of foreign forces in the Gulf could cause problems for the world’s “energy security.” The U.S. is sending more troops to the Gulf and leading a maritime coalition, which includes the U.K., Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab nations, to secure the area’s waterways and vital oil trade routes. The U.S. has alleged Iran is behind a series of attacks on the region’s energy infrastructure, as Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers collapses. Iran denies the allegations. Rouhani said he will offer a regional peace plan during his visit to the U.N. this week.
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.
