December 5, 2023 5:17 am
SALISBURY, Md. (AP) — Last year, children were handcuffed and sent to a hospital emergency room for a psychiatric evaluation at least 117 times from schools in Wicomico County, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The state law that allows for these removals is meant to be limited to people with severe mental illness, who are endangering their own lives or safety or someone else’s. But advocates say schools nationwide are using the practice in response to behaviors prompted by bullying or frustration over assignments. The ER trips, they say, often follow months, and sometimes years, of students’ needs not being met.
December 5, 2023 5:15 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is taking up a case over a Washington couple’s $15,000 tax bill that is widely seen as a test of a never-enacted tax on wealth. Arguments are being heard Tuesday. A decision in favor of Charles and Kathleen Moore of Redmond, Washington, could strike down a provision of the 2017 tax bill that is expected to bring in $340 billion, threaten other provisions of the tax code and rule out a wealth tax that is favored by some Democrats who argue that the wealthiest Americans don’t pay their fair share of taxes. The couple is backed by conservative political groups and business interests, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
December 5, 2023 5:12 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel says its troops have entered Gaza’s second-largest city as intensified bombardment sends streams of ambulances and cars racing to hospitals with wounded and dead Palestinians. The military says its forces are “in the heart” of Khan Younis, which has emerged as the first target in the expanded ground offensive into southern Gaza. Israel says it aims is to destroy Hamas. Military officials describe the fighting as the most intense since the ground offensive began more than five weeks ago. Heavy firefights are also taking place in northern Gaza. The assault into the south is pushing a new wave of displaced Palestinians and raising alarm from relief groups.
December 5, 2023 5:09 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Negotiators at a critical U.N.-led climate conference are in Dubai are preparing to wrap up their first week with moderate progress on some issues. Wednesday is a last day of work before a rest day, giving them time to make a bit more headway before their heads of delegations return for a final week that will shape the planet’s path forward in the face of crisis. The theme of Wednesday’s sessions is transport. It’s the second-leading sector for the carbon dioxide emissions warming the planet, and sessions include things like building out EV charging infrastructure and how to decarbonize urban freight transportation.
December 5, 2023 5:08 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as Dubai hosts the United Nations’ COP28 climate talks. That’s despite facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over the war in Ukraine. Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE has signed the ICC founding treaty, meaning they don’t face any obligation to detain Putin over the warrant accusing of being personally responsible for the abductions of children from Ukraine during his war on the country. However, the visit Wednesday comes as armed U.N. police patrol a portion of Dubai’s Expo City now considered international territory for the talks.
December 5, 2023 5:08 am
CALIFORNIA BOROUGH, Pa. — PennWest California has issued an alert after a woman was reportedly assaulted off-campus early Sunday morning. The assault happened along Route 88 between Vulcan Village and Wood Street. The woman reported to police that there were two male suspects involved, both wearing face masks. Police are reminding individuals to be vigilant and not to walk alone at night, especially in low-lit areas. Anyone with information should call university police at 724-938-4299 or California Borough police by dialing 911.
December 5, 2023 5:03 am
BELLE VERNON, Pa. — (WPXI) – A family of five has been forced out of their home and had to say goodbye to multiple pets after their chimney collapsed in on itself Saturday evening. “I was just in complete shock,” said Jaclyn Broyles. Broyles is a family friend of Kandie and Lewis Stiltner. She couldn’t believe it when she heard about their chimney crashing through their living room.“They’re still in shock,” she said. Broyles told our news partners at Channel 11 that only the 13-year-old son was in the home out of the family of five. He was not hurt. The chimney fell into the living room onto a couch where the Stiltners’ four dogs were lying. Three of the dogs died from their injuries. The family is not able to stay at their home. For the time being, they’re staying with relatives. There’s no word on what caused the chimney to collapse.
December 5, 2023 4:55 am
For the first time in forty years, the Peters Township School Board met without the services of Thomas McMurray. Along with McMurray, three other former board members departed and four brand new directors were sworn in. Alexanra Binsse, Jason Camilletti, Kathleen Chaudhari, and Alex O’Neill join incumbent director Rolf Briegel as members of the school board. The school board quickly reorganized appointing Rebecca Bowman as President and Rolf Briegel, Vice President. Bowman attended the meeting remotely and refrained from appointing committee chairs until she can get a better grasp of each of the new board member’s qualifications. Briegel ran as part of the Republican group that now holds a majority on the board. Briegel says that the priorities of the board will be similar to the past board. Children come first and curricula will be reviewed but changes are unlikely. Briegel understands the challenge of keeping Peters Township as one of the premier school districts not just regionally, but statewide and nationally as well. He credits the teachers and administrators for the success of the students and is certain that the new school board as the same focus on students and support for teachers.
December 5, 2023 2:37 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro is labeling a demonstration outside of an Israeli-owned restaurant “antisemitic” after protesters marched against the bombardment of Gaza. The protest on Sunday called for a complete end to the siege, and “an end to the U.S[.] complicity with Israel,” according to a Facebook post. A video of protesters outside of the Israeli-style restaurant Goldie Falafel chanted “Goldie, Goldie, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide,” garnering backlash from the Democratic governor. Shapiro says he has been in touch with the restaurant owner to make sure he and his staff know that the governor will support them. (Photo: AP)
December 4, 2023 4:54 pm
MIAMI (AP) — The Justice Department says a former American diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to Bolivia has been charged with serving as a covert agent for Cuba’s intelligence services since at least 1981. Newly unsealed court papers allege that Manuel Rocha engaged in “clandestine activity” on Cuba’s behalf for decades, including by meeting with Cuban intelligence operatives. The complaint was filed in federal court in Miami, and includes charges of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government and other crimes. He appeared in court Monday afternoon and will remain held until a bond hearing Wednesday.
