December 14, 2023 5:10 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has authorized the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Every Republican rallied behind the politically charged process despite lingering concerns among some in the party that the investigation has yet to produce evidence of misconduct by the president. Their investigation has raised ethical questions, but no evidence has emerged that Biden acted corruptly or accepted bribes in his current role or previous office as vice president. House Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team have been facing growing pressure to show progress in what has become a nearly yearlong probe centered around the business dealings of Biden’s family members. Biden called the effort a “baseless political stunt.”
December 14, 2023 5:08 am
MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin says that some 244,000 Russian troops are currently fighting in Ukraine. That’s a rare detail on Moscow’s military operation there. Putin said during his year-end press conference Thursday that the Kremlin doesn’t need a second wave of mobilization of reservists. He said 1,500 men recruited into the army every day across the country. As of Wednesday evening, he said a total of 486,000 soldiers have signed a contract with the Russian military.
December 14, 2023 5:07 am
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel has vowed to keep fighting until it crushes Hamas after one of the deadliest single battles of the war for its soldiers in Gaza. It faces mounting international calls for a cease-fire and even some unease on the part of its closest ally, the United States. The ambush in Gaza City showed Hamas is still able to fight in some of the hardest-hit areas more than two and a half months into a massive air and ground war aimed at destroying its military capabilities. Israel has imposed a total siege on northern Gaza and flattened much of it, forcing most of the population to flee south several weeks ago. Hamas’ resilience called into question whether Israel can defeat Hamas without wiping out Gaza. Support for Hamas has surged among Palestinians.
December 14, 2023 5:02 am
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of a fire early Thursday morning in Donora that destroyed an apartment building in Donora. Officials say the blaze broke out around three o’clock in the 700 block of McKean Avenue, causing a partial collapse of the building. There were no injuries, but crews had to spread a large supply of salt across the road to prevent it from icing over because of the bitterly cold temperatures. Demolition crews were brought in after the fire gutted the three-story building, and they spent part of the morning chipping away at what was left, with demolition efforts expected to continue throughout the day. (Photo: WPXI)
December 14, 2023 5:00 am
Students in the Charleroi School District will be taking classes online for the rest of this week. Superintendent Dr. Edward Zelich in a letter to parents says a significant surge in influenza cases in the district over the past few days led them to switch to virtual learning today and Friday. He says the move prioritizes the health and safety of students, staff and their families. The letter says the district understands the move may be an inconvenience to some but “we are committed to providing a quality virtual learning experience”.
December 14, 2023 2:56 am
In a media release on Wednesday, Washington County Commissioners Diana Irey Vaughan; Larry Maggi and Nick Sherman, along with commissioner-elect Electra Janis; County Treasurer Tom Flickinger; Prothonotary Laura Hough and Recorder of Deeds Carrie Perrell all called for the immediate resignation of April Sloane, following her arrest on animal cruelty charges. “We, the undersigned Washington County elected officials, call on County Controller April Sloane to resign her office effective immediately. Ms. Sloane faces two felony counts, one for causing serious bodily injury and one for torture, of animal cruelty in connection with the death of her dog, Thor. She is also charged with a misdemeanor count of neglecting to provide veterinary care. Our heart breaks for Thor, who suffered aggravated cruelty and neglect, leading to his death on November 27. We join the countless citizens across the county who have contacted us to express their outrage over this troubling event. As elected leaders, we know that an officeholder must be free to focus on official responsibilities, something we believe Controller Sloane will be unable to do given the troubling allegations raised by authorities. For this reason, we believe she should step aside from official duties so that her office can function without the distraction and impediments these criminal charges place in her path. “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated,” Gandhi stated. Ms. Sloane no longer holds the moral compass or compassion to represent the people of Washington County. We hope she gets the assistance she needs. A donation from the undersigned will be made in Thor’s name to the Washington County Abused Animal Relief Fund (WAARF), www.waarf.org.”
December 13, 2023 5:34 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says it’ll hear appeals that could upend hundreds of charges stemming from the Capitol riot, including against ex-President Donald Trump. The justices agreed Wednesday to review an appellate ruling that revived a charge against three defendants from Texas, Pennsylvania and New York accused of obstruction of an official proceeding. The charge refers to the disruption of Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory over Trump. That’s among four counts brought against Trump in special counsel Jack Smith’s case accusing the Republican ex-president of conspiring to overturn the election results. The obstruction charge has been brought against more than 300 defendants following the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.
December 13, 2023 3:51 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans say Hunter Biden is in more trouble after defying a congressional subpoena to appear privately for a deposition with investigators digging into his business dealings. Biden insisted outside the Capitol on Wednesday he’ll only testify in public. Top Republicans say they’ll begin looking at contempt of Congress proceedings in response to Hunter Biden’s lack of cooperation. Hunter Biden says Republicans don’t want an open process allowing Americans to “see their tactics” and “expose their baseless inquiry.” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says President Joe Biden was familiar with what his son would say. She said the Bidens are proud of their son. (Photo: AP)
December 13, 2023 2:51 pm
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — School-funding legislation is on the move in Pennsylvania to send millions more to subsidize private school tuition and create a student-teacher stipend. The bill passed the Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday and heads to the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. Under the bill, the state would expand a tax credit program that subsidizes private school tuition by $130 million to $470 million. And it seeks to encourage more college students to become teachers by creating a program to give a stipend of up to $15,000 to student teachers. The legislation also ties up some loose ends of a months-old budget dispute for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
December 13, 2023 11:51 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andre Braugher (BROW’-ur), the Emmy-winning actor best known for his roles on the series “Homicide: Life on The Street” and “Brooklyn 99,” died Monday at age 61. Braugher’s publicist Jennifer Allen confirmed his death to the trade publication Variety. He died after a short illness. The Chicago-born actor had his breakthrough role in 1989’s “Glory,” starring alongside Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington, who won an Oscar for the film about an all-Black army regiment during the Civil War. Despite the part, he told The Associated Press in 2019 that he struggled to find work in a Hollywood where roles for African American actors were “few and far between. Period.” But he would establish himself with the role of Det. Frank Pembleton, which he would play for seven seasons in “Homicide: Life on the Street,” a gritty police drama on NBC based on a book by David Simon, who would go on to create “The Wire.” Braugher won two career Emmys from 11 nominations. He was married for more than 30 years to his “Homicide” co-star Ami Brabson. They had three sons. (Photo: AP)
