July 9, 2019 4:10 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Twenty-three U.S. governors are pointing to climate-damaging tailpipe emissions as they back California leaders in their showdown with the Trump administration over relaxing vehicle mileage standards. The stand by leaders of states and Puerto Rico – nearly all Democrats – comes as the Trump administration moves to freeze tougher mileage standards laid out by former President Barack Obama. The mileage program was one of Obama’s key efforts against climate change. The Trump administration says consumers increasingly want bigger, gas-guzzling SUVs and pickup trucks. It also argues that demanding ever-more fuel-efficient vehicles will drive up automobile costs and keep less-safe, older vehicles on the road longer. Many engineers challenge that claim. The governors’ pledge commits to sticking to the program of annual tightening in mileage standards that reduce climate-changing carbon emissions.
July 9, 2019 4:08 am
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) – First lady Melania Trump is visiting West Virginia to learn how a city at the center of the nation’s opioid epidemic is grappling with the crisis. Trump on Monday participated in a roundtable discussion on opioids with federal, state and local officials in Huntington, West Virginia. Federal statistics show West Virginia has the highest opioid overdose rate in the U.S. During the roughly hour-long meeting, Trump heard about how police, schools and health care centers in the area are fighting the opioid scourge. Huntington Mayor Steve Williams said it’s a grim task, and added that his city would still have to deal with the epidemic for at least the next 40 years even if all heroin sales were to abruptly stop.
July 9, 2019 4:06 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities have a year to develop online, anonymous reporting systems to receive complaints about sexual assault from students and employees. That’s a requirement of a new law signed by Gov. Tom Wolf, who with the law’s backers say is the first law of its kind in the nation. Tracey Vitchers of the It’s On Us campaign says many schools already have online, anonymous reporting systems. Still, Vitchers says victims typically report their assault more quickly when they can report anonymously online, compared to when they report it in person. She says many victims are afraid to identify themselves to investigators. But Vitchers says anonymous reports also can help colleges and universities determine more quickly if there are problems on campus that they need to address.
July 9, 2019 4:04 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – U.S. Customs authorities have seized a cargo ship where agents discovered nearly 40,000 pounds, or almost 18,000 kilograms, of cocaine when the vessel arrived in Philadelphia last month. U.S. Attorney William McSwain says Customs and Border Protection officials obtained a warrant Thursday and seized the MSC Gayane. The cargo ship is owned by Swiss firm MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. McSwain says the ship is subject to possible forfeiture to the U.S. The value of the ship and its other contents hasn’t been released. MSC is one of the world’s largest shipping lines in terms of containers. A spokesman for MSC says the company has no immediate comment. At least six crew members have been charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine aboard a ship. The federal investigation continues.
July 9, 2019 4:02 am
Peters Township Council tackled an aggressive agenda at their meeting on Monday night. Council approved a $10 million bond issue to cover several items, most of them related to the construction of Rolling Hills Park. With this bond council will reimburse the township for expenditures already incurred with the purchase of Rolling Hills Park and the Phase I design stage of the park. That phase will include the road, utilities, restrooms, picnic shelters and a maintenance facility. Also covered by the bond will be the purchase of a new fire truck later on this year. Council also started to take steps toward the inclusion of a Township non-discrimination statement. Council approved the unification of language between its Administrative Code and Employee Handbook. The handbook language was more expansive and was used to modify the Administrative Code to bring both into compatibility. With this motion, resident Julie Cantrell who has been lobbying for a non discrimination statement with regards to the LGBTQ community is hopeful that the township will add a statement to the township website expressing that non discrimination practice.
July 8, 2019 5:57 pm
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities have a year to develop online, anonymous reporting systems to receive complaints about sexual assault from students and employees. That’s a requirement of a new law signed by Gov. Tom Wolf, who with the law’s backers say is the first law of its kind in the nation. Tracey Vitchers of the It’s On Us campaign says many schools already have online, anonymous reporting systems. Still, Vitchers says victims typically report their assault more quickly when they can report anonymously online, compared to when they report it in person. She says many victims are afraid to identify themselves to investigators. But Vitchers says anonymous reports also can help colleges and universities determine more quickly if there are problems on campus that they need to address.
July 8, 2019 5:53 pm
MIAMI (AP) – U.S. officials have taken over the investigation of a Bahamas helicopter crash that killed billionaire coal magnate Chris Cline and six other people. National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Eric Weiss confirmed Monday that the wreckage has been moved to a secure site in the United States. He says a preliminary report should be available in about two weeks. The full investigation could take up to two years. The Bahamas Air Accident Investigation Department says flight and data recorders have been recovered and shipped to the NTSB in Washington for analysis. Bahamian officials say cranes pulled the 15-passenger Augusta AW139 from the ocean over the weekend. Investigators remained onsite Monday documenting wreckage to determine the complete craft was recovered. The helicopter crashed Thursday after taking off from a remote private island. (Photo: radaronline.com)
July 8, 2019 5:42 pm
MT. LEBANON, Pa. – The Allegheny County hazardous materials team has responded to a Mt. Lebanon neighborhood for a reported chemical odor. The smell was reported around 4:30 p.m. on Marlin Drive between Bower Hill and Jayson Avenue. Authorities have confirmed that three people were taken to the hospital, although details about their health have not been released. The Mt. Lebanon Fire Department has advised people who live in the area to keep their doors and windows closed. Anyone who smells something inside their home is asked to call 911.
July 8, 2019 5:41 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell of California is ending his presidential bid, becoming the first candidate in the crowded 2020 Democratic primary to exit the campaign. Swalwell announced his decision Monday. He had signaled that he would consider bowing out of the presidential race if he was in danger of missing the cutoff for the next nationally televised Democratic debate, which is based on separate polling and donor qualifications. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock missed the threshold for last month’s debate but was ahead of Swalwell in the competition for this month’s televised Democratic faceoff before the four-term California congressman exited the primary. If Swalwell seeks another term in Congress, he already has a challenger ahead of next year’s election in his liberal-leaning district: Democrat Aisha Wahab, a city councilwoman in Hayward.
July 8, 2019 3:52 pm
LONDON (AP) – You may have been hearing whispers about Stevie Wonder having some kind of serious health problem. The singer-songwriter is now confirming that. He told a concert audience in London over the weekend that he is in need of a kidney transplant. Speaking to his audience on Saturday night, Wonder said he was doing the shows in London then would be “taking a break.” He says he plans to have the kidney transplant “at the end of September.” Wonder says he has already found a donor – and predicts that he will be fine. The 69-year-old singer says he wanted to tell his fans himself – to tamp down speculation about his health.
