July 16, 2019 4:14 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Beaches along the Mississippi Gulf Coast remain closed because of toxic bacteria detected before Barry blew ashore. Polluted Midwest floodwaters have fed an outbreak of cyanobacterium. Commonly known as blue-green algae, it can cause rashes, diarrhea and vomiting. It has spread eastward as water from the Mississippi River pours into the Gulf of Mexico.
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality spokesman Robbie Wilbur says Monday the agency is continuing to test water samples. He says those tested Sunday “indicated the continued presence of algal bloom.” The agency started closing some beaches June 22 along Mississippi’s mainland Gulf Coast. On July 7, it closed the last two sections near the Alabama line. Although the water is off limits, people can still be on the sand. Mississippi’s barrier islands’ beaches have remained open.
July 16, 2019 4:13 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Iran’s foreign minister has for the first time suggested his country’s ballistic missile program could be on the table for negotiations with the U.S. – if America stops selling arms to its Gulf allies in the Mideast. Mohammad Javad Zarif’s comments came in an NBC News interview that aired Monday night. Iran long has maintained its ballistic missile program, under the control of its Revolutionary Guard, is for defensive purposes only. The 2015 nuclear deal that Tehran struck with world powers did not include its missile program. Zarif says American weaponry “is going into our region, making our region ready to explode. So if they want to talk about our missiles, they need first to stop selling all these weapons.” Iran long has criticized U.S. arms sales in the region.
July 16, 2019 3:43 am
The Washington School District has been awarded grant money for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables for elementary students. According to State Senator, Camera Bartolotta, Washington along with Aliquippa and Ambridge Area will receive the grants which total more than $107,000. It’s all part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. A total of $5.5 million was awarded to schools across the state. Washington will receive the largest out of the three, over $52,000.
July 16, 2019 1:55 am
A Pittsburgh attorney whose practice was based out of Southpointe has been disbarred on consent by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The ruling, handed down Monday, takes effect next month for former Iceoplex (now Printscape Arena) at Southpointe Co-owner Steven Lynch. Lynch has been serving prison time for failing to withhold $1.5 million in payroll taxes by creating a fake corporation to shield money from the government.
July 15, 2019 3:56 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – A former Arizona Republican senator who retired last year after clashing with President Donald Trump says GOP leaders should criticize the president for his tweets directed at four Democratic congresswomen of color. Jeff Flake tells The Associated Press that as leaders, top congressional Republicans should say Trump’s comments are wrong. He also says the remarks can damage the GOP brand by further alienating millennials and suburban women already disenchanted with the party. Flake says he understands that party leaders are reluctant to weigh in because it would pressure GOP incumbents seeking re-election in tight races to do the same, and that would be risky. Flake says, “It’s just, good grief, you’ve got to stand for something.” In the tweet, Trump said the Democratic congresswomen of color should “go back” to their original countries. The four congresswomen are American and three are U.S.-born.
July 15, 2019 3:35 pm
Pennsylvania State Police say a pursuit occurred following a DUI Checkpoint over the 4th of July weekend in Uniontown. According to police, the checkpoint was set up along State Route 119 outside Uniontown on the evening of July 5 where they managed to make three DUI arrests, issue 34 traffic citations and hand out 17 written warnings. In addition, an unidentified man was arrested after police say he fled the checkpoint and crashed his car multiple times, one time hitting a house, before coming to a stop on a dead end road where he fled on foot and was stopped with a taser. He was charged with two counts of fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest, and DUI.
July 15, 2019 1:16 pm
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania is joining the short list of states where online casino-style gambling is available. On Monday, state regulators will allow Parx Casino in suburban Philadelphia and Penn National’s Hollywood Casino near Hershey to launch online gambling portals to patrons statewide as part of a three-day test. Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware are the only other states where online casino gambling is legal. A 2017 Pennsylvania law authorized an aggressive expansion of gambling , and allowed the state’s casinos to operate casino-style gambling on websites and mobile applications for a license fee of $10 million. The two casinos aren’t ready to roll out poker, however. Pennsylvania is already the nation’s No. 2 state for commercial casino revenue, behind Nevada, at $3.2 billion last year, according to American Gaming Association figures.
July 15, 2019 1:11 pm
According to our news partners at WPXI-TV, Pennsylvania State Police are searching for a man charged in the death of his new girlfriend’s infant daughter Saturday night at an apartment complex in East Huntingdon Township. Derrick Bass, 29, is charged with homicide after the 11-month-old girl was found dead in a Pack ‘n Play at the Laurel Hill Apartments on Gurley Drive, investigators said. The baby’s mother told police Bass was supposed to be watching her daughter and his two children. He was also supposed to pick her up from work, but never showed up. When the girl’s mother got home, she noticed her daughter and various electronic items were missing, according to a complaint. She called police shortly after 11 p.m. Police responded to the apartment shortly after 12:30 a.m. after the mother reported finding her daughter unresponsive in the Pack ‘n Play, the complaint said. She did not see her until that time because the baby was covered in blankets. An autopsy was conducted Sunday morning, and the preliminary cause of death was determined to be drowning, authorities said. Bass, also known as Hector, is described as being 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighing 300 pounds. He might have reddish hair. Police said Bass might be traveling with two juveniles. Anyone with information on Bass’ whereabouts is asked to call 911.
July 15, 2019 10:38 am
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) – A man sentenced to life in prison on federal hate crime charges for slamming his car into anti-racism protesters during a white nationalist rally in Virginia is set to be sentenced on state murder and wounding charges. James Alex Fields Jr. will be sentenced Monday for killing one person and injuring dozens during the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville on Aug. 12, 2017. A jury has recommended a sentence of life, plus 419 years. Judge Richard Moore is allowed to go lower than the jury’s recommendation, but can’t go higher. Last month, Fields, of Maumee, Ohio, received a life sentence on 29 federal hate crime charges. People who were hurt and the family of the woman killed, Heather Heyer, are expected to make victim impact statements during Monday’s hearing.
July 15, 2019 10:24 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Former Vice President Joe Biden will spend much of the coming week talking about his approach to health care. On Monday, Biden is unveiling a plan that would add a “public option” to the 2010 health care overhaul known as “Obamacare,” with expanded coverage paid for by raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Biden’s almost singular focus on former President Barack Obama’s health care law has been on display recently in early voting states. Biden hopes his positioning as Obamacare’s chief defender helps him on several fronts. It’s a reminder of his close work alongside Obama, who remains popular among Democratic voters. And it could reinforce Biden’s pitch as a sensible centrist. Biden’s proposal was outlined by advisers ahead of its release. It’s anchored by a “Medicare-like” plan that any American could buy on Affordable Care Act exchanges.
