Zelenskyy Delivers Upbeat Message To U.S. Lawmakers

September 21, 2023 5:09 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is delivering an upbeat message to U.S. lawmakers in a whirlwind visit to Washington. Zelenskyy briefed lawmakers on the state of the war Thursday and told them Ukrainians “are winning.” Zelenskyy was facing Republicans who are now questioning the flow of American dollars that for 19 months has helped keep his troops in the fight against Russian forces. Zelenskyy will also meet with President Joe Biden at the White House. It’s Zelenskyy’s second visit to Washington since Russia invaded and comes as Biden’s request to Congress for another $24 billion for Ukraine is hanging in the balance.

McCormick Expected To Announce Senate Bid

September 21, 2023 5:05 am

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republican David McCormick is expected to announce soon that he’ll enter Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race in his second bid for the office, this time to take on Democratic Sen. Bob Casey after losing in last year’s Republican primary.  Senate candidates in Pennsylvania will share a ticket with candidates for president next year in a state that’s critical to whether Democrats can maintain control of the White House and the Senate. A race between Casey and McCormick could be one of the nation’s most expensive and closely watched.

Zelenskyy Delivers Upbeat Message To U.S Lawmakers

September 21, 2023 5:05 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has delivered an upbeat message to U.S. lawmakers and President Joe Biden in a whirlwind visit to Washington. Asking for more military aid, Zelenskyy briefed lawmakers on the state of the war Thursday and told them Ukrainians “are winning.” Zelenskyy was facing some Republicans who are now questioning the flow of American dollars that for 19 months has helped keep his troops in the fight against Russian forces. Zelenskyy also met with military leaders at the Pentagon and then with President Biden at the White House. It was Zelenskyy’s second visit to Washington since Russia invaded and came as Biden’s request to Congress for another $24 billion for Ukraine is hanging in the balance.

Prayer Service Held For Student Killed In Crash

September 21, 2023 2:47 am

A prayer service was held Thursday night for 15-year-old Samantha lee Kalkbrenner, a Serra Catholic High School student who was killed Wednesday morning in a crash in Dravosburg.  Authorities say Kalkbrenner, was killed and three other students were taken to local hospitals in stable condition while two men were taken in critical condition.  Kalkbrenner was pronounced dead at the scene. The initial investigation by county police shows the van was attempting to make a left-hand turn onto Richland when it was struck by a Jetta traveling north on Richland. Serra Catholic High School will be closed through Friday. School activities are also cancelled.  (Photo:  WPXI)

W&J President Featured Speaker At Chamber Briefing

September 21, 2023 2:44 am

The Washington County Chamber of Commerce hosted its monthly Breakfast Briefing at the Rossin Campus Center at Washington and Jefferson College. Dr. John Knapp, President of W & J offered his view of challenges facing all colleges for the future. Knapp says that college admissions are declining because the population of college aged students peaked in the early 2010’s and continues to decline. Knapp says that W & J has been able to adapt from its founding in 1781 as a western frontier college that turned out professionals to the college it is today, still turning out highly successful professionals through its ability to adapt. Knapp pointed to programs such as the “simplified pricing” program that it uses to attract students by advertising what the cost of tuition truly is at W & J, and how affordable a college education can be. W &J’s biggest adaptation is asking that students participate in two complimentary programs of study to allow them to be a more well-rounded student and prepare them to be not just career ready but “professionally ready” to enter the workforce. They are doing that by the introduction of 27 new courses of study over the last two years. Part of that is the partnership with Washington Health System and offering a four year bachelor of science degree in nursing to supplement the already successful two year nursing school at Washington Hospital.

Layoffs Ahead In Wake of United Autoworkers Strike

September 20, 2023 4:58 pm

(AP) – Detroit carmakers are announcing more layoffs that they blame on fallout from the United Auto Workers strike. General Motors said Wednesday it idled a plant in Kansas with 2,000 workers because they don’t have auto parts to work with. The plant that makes those parts is on strike. And Stellantis, the maker of Jeep and Chrysler, says it expects to lay off more than 300 workers in Ohio and Indiana. The layoff are adding to tension just two days before the UAW is expected to call for expanding its strike, which right now is limited to three vehicle-assembly plants.

House Republicans Clash With Attorney General Garland

September 20, 2023 4:56 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans have clashed with Attorney General Merrick Garland, accusing him of the “weaponization” of its work under President Joe Biden. The Republicans used a routine oversight hearing on Wednesday to grill Garland about a special prosecutor’s investigation of the president’s son, Hunter Biden. Garland’s appearance comes at an unprecedented moment in the Justice Department’s history. The department is overseeing two cases against Donald Trump, the first former president to face criminal charges, and another against the sitting president’s son.

Kraft Heinz Recalling Thousands Of Cheese Slices

September 20, 2023 11:55 am

Kraft Heinz is recalling more than 83,000 cases of individually-wrapped Kraft Singles American processed cheese slices because part of the wrapper could stick to the slice and become a choking hazard. The company says one of its wrapping machines developed a temporary issue that makes it possible for a thin strip of film to remain on the slice even after it’s been removed from the wrapper. The machine has since been fixed. Kraft Heinz says it initiated the recall after it received several consumer complaints, but no injuries or serious health issues have been reported.  (Photo:  ABC)

Band Director Shocked With Stun Gun, Arrested

September 20, 2023 4:59 am

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Police body camera video shows an Alabama high school band director being shocked with a stun gun and arrested by officers in front of screaming students, in a chaotic scuffle that broke out after he refused to immediately stop the band as it played in the bleachers following a football game. The altercation in Birmingham erupted last Thursday after the game between Minor and Jackson-Olin high schools. The video released Monday night shows officers approaching Minor band director Johnny Mims and telling him to stop the music and clear the stadium. But the band keeps playing for another two minutes. Officers shock him with a stun gun and arrest him, in a scrum of bodies. Police say the incident is under investigation.

At Least 6 Palestinians Killed In Latest Fighting With Israel

September 20, 2023 4:54 am

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Palestinian health officials say the death toll over a day of fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip has risen to six. Officials said on Wednesday that an Israeli military raid in a West Bank refugee camp killed at least one Palestinian. Four Palestinians were killed in a raid late Tuesday on the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank, known as a militant stronghold. Another Palestinian was killed in the Gaza Strip, where youths have been staging violent protests at a separation fence. It is part of some of the worst violence to rock the West Bank in some two decades.