May 14, 2019 6:43 pm
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Authorities say a western Pennsylvania professor working as an Uber driver has been charged with holding two women against their will in his vehicle over the weekend. Thirty-six-year-old Richard Lomotey is charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment and harassment. Pittsburgh police said Lomotey picked the women up early Saturday and was supposed to drive to Penn Hills, but veered from the route, pulled over, said “You’re not going anywhere” and tried to lock the doors, but the women escaped. Penn State-Beaver says Lomotey is an assistant professor but has been placed on leave following the “deeply troubling” allegations. Uber called the alleged actions “unacceptable” and said his access to the app has been removed. Court documents don’t list a defense attorney and a listed number for Lomotey couldn’t be found Monday.
May 14, 2019 6:41 pm
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The attorney general of Pennsylvania says he’s filing a lawsuit accusing a pharmaceutical giant of fueling the opioid epidemic. Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s office said it would announce details of the lawsuit Tuesday afternoon. Pennsylvania is one of the states hardest hit by opioid addiction. Shapiro’s office two years ago joined with dozens of other states to investigate companies that make and distribute opioid painkillers. Several Pennsylvania counties have already sued drugmakers, and a federal judge in Cleveland is overseeing more than 1,500 lawsuits filed by local governments, American Indian tribes and others against the opioid industry. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says opioids, including prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and illicit drugs such as fentanyl and heroin, were involved in a record 48,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2017.
May 14, 2019 6:38 pm
MOSCOW (AP) – U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo has told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the start of their talks in Russia that he hopes that the U.S. and Russia can mend their relations and find areas of mutual cooperation. Pompeo said in televised remarks at the meeting venue in the Black Sea resort of Sochi that he has come to Russia because President Donald Trump is “committed to improve this relationship.” He said that each country wants to protect its interests but that there are areas for mutually beneficial cooperation, including the fight against terrorism. Pompeo said that an improved relationship, damaged by Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, its interference in the 2016 U.S. elections and U.S. sanctions against Russia, “will be good not only for our two countries but for the whole world as well.”
May 14, 2019 6:37 pm
Peters Township Council is still trying to figure out just what to do about an aquatics facility. Council held a public hearing recently and was unable to really come to some consensus. What the meeting did do is bring out more questions than answers. Several self described younger residents attended the meeting and voiced strong support for a pool. Council is struggling with just what to build and when. Councilman David Ball wonders if spending $11 million dollars on an outdoor facility used 3 months a year is the right idea. Should a year round facility be under consideration? Council Chairman Frank Kosir is looking to make sure that what is built is what best suits residents now and in the future. He wants to make sure that whatever is built is something that everyone can be proud of 20 years from now. In an effort to answer some of these questions, council did authorize a marketing survey to be done.
May 14, 2019 6:37 pm
BEIJING (AP) – U.S. trade officials have issued a $300 billion target list of Chinese imports including laptop computers for more tariff hikes, ratcheting up tensions with Beijing.
The U.S. Trade Representative said the list is aimed at carrying out President Donald Trump’s threat to extend punitive 25% duties to all Chinese goods shipped to the United States. The release follows Beijing’s announcement of tariff hikes on $60 billion of American imports in response to U.S. higher duties imposed on Chinese imports last week in an escalation of their fight. The U.S. list includes laptop computers, industrial equipment and a range of farm goods. The USTR noted it excludes pharmaceuticals and rare earths. The flurry of penalties and retaliatory moves has deepened concerns the dispute will hobble economic growth, shaking financial markets.
May 14, 2019 6:30 pm
Witness testimony in the civil trial against the NCAA took a small detour as Judge Michael Lucas granted a departure from the order of witness presentation. Defense for the NCAA called Dr. Robert Harbaugh, Director of Penn State Institute of Neurosciences to the stand. Testimony took all day as the defense used Harbaugh’s expertise to refute testimony from last week given by Dr. Julie Schwartzbard. Harbaugh’s testimony centered on reports indicating that there is no known cause of ALS, and that other documentation was not available during the playing career of Matt Onyshko, a former football player at California University of Pennsylvania and the plaintiff in this case. Under cross examination, an opinion expressed by Dr. Harbaugh was highlighted. In previous interviews, Harbaugh stated that removing facemasks from football helmets could positively influence the decrease of concussions in football as players would be reluctant to use their heads while tackling for fear of doing other damage. Harbaugh indicated that he agreed with the idea as presented by other football coaches he consulted with. Testimony resumed this morning.
January 31, 2019 9:33 am
CHARLESTON, W. Va. (AP) – West Virginia’s governor has fired 34 correction officer trainees who were photographed giving a Nazi salute, and he fired their instructor. He also says four instructors are being suspended without pay. Republican Gov. Jim Justice announced his decision Monday after receiving a report from state investigators that the trainees regularly gave the Nazi salute “as a sign of respect” for their instructor in the weeks prior to the release of the photo. Its release earlier this month triggered widespread outrage. A three-page executive summary was released Monday detailing the state’s inquiry into the controversial image. (Photo: CNN)
November 28, 2023 4:40 am
A boil water advisory in Donegal Township remains in effect. Township officials say that a water main break Tuesday afternoon caused the water to be shut off throughout the township. Repairs to the break are now done. The water is now being tested for purity. Pure tests must be obtained for two days before the advisory can be lifted. Details on further developments will be announced as they become available.
January 5, 2023 4:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Pressure is building on Republican Kevin McCarthy to determine whether or not he can win over enough fellow Republicans to become House speaker. Thursday is Day 3 of the standoff between McCarthy and 20 colleagues withholding the support he needs for the job. So far, ten votes have failed to elect a speaker. The impasse has left the House unable to fully form and govern. McCarthy said after a round of late talks Wednesday that progress is being made. But Colorado Republican Ken Buck has told the GOP leader to “figure out” the path forward. His right-flank detractors appear intent on waiting him out, as long as it takes.
February 23, 2022 3:23 am
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida House Republicans have advanced a bill to forbid discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, rejecting criticism from Democrats who said the proposal demonizes LGBTQ people. The measure, dubbed by opponents as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, is now set for a final vote in the House after GOP lawmakers refused a series of Democratic amendments Tuesday. The proposal has drawn intense national scrutiny and has served as the one of the latest battlegrounds between the White House and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running for reelection and is widely considered to be a potential 2024 presidential candidate.
