October 20, 2023 4:14 pm
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli government said Hamas militants on Friday freed two Americans — Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie, who had been held hostage in Gaza since militants rampaged through Israel two weeks ago. The pair, who also hold Israeli citizenship, were the first hostages to be released of the roughly 200 abducted. Hamas said it was releasing them in an agreement with the Qatari government for humanitarian reasons. Relatives of other captives welcomed the release and appealed for others to be freed.
October 20, 2023 5:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Jim Jordan has failed again in a third try for the House speaker’s gavel. Digging in for a fight Jordan had said at the Capitol on Friday that Congress needs “to get to work for the American people.” But Jordan lost ground as opposition deepened. GOP lawmakers had been warning the hard-edged ally of Donald Trump that no threats or promises could win their support. More than two dozen centrist Republicans revolted over the Ohio congressman’s nomination and the hardball tactics being used to win them over. Some have received death threats. One-time rival Kevin McCarthy, the ousted speaker, nominated Jordan for the job. Democrats nominated Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
October 20, 2023 5:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Addressing the nation from the Oval Office, President Joe Biden has made his case for major U.S. backing of Ukraine and Israel in a time of war. He said Thursday night that support is “vital for America’s national security.” The speech was an opportunity for Biden to argue that the United States has an obligation to help in both places, as well as for him to lobby lawmakers for the money to do so. The administration plans to request billions of dollars for additional military assistance for Israel and Ukraine. Biden also wants more money for Taiwan’s defense and for managing migrants at the southern border with Mexico.
October 20, 2023 5:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — An Army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States last month has been detained by the U.S. military. That’s according to two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the charges have not been publicly announced. The officials say Pvt. Travis King is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child. The eight counts against King are detailed in a charging document seen by the AP. King’s mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that her son should be “afforded the presumption of innocence.”
October 20, 2023 5:03 am
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel is bombarding Gaza, hitting areas in the south where Palestinians had been told to seek safety. It also began evacuating a sizable Israeli town in the north near the Lebanese border on Friday, the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in the south, and ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into a nearby hospital. Food, fuel and medicine are running low in the coastal enclave, which Israel has completely sealed off, and an expected trickle of aid from Egypt has yet to enter. Israel has vowed to crush Hamas after its brutal Oct. 7 attack inside Israel.
October 20, 2023 5:00 am
ROSTRAVER TOWNSHIP, Pa.- After details were kept secret for nearly a year, we now know that a fatal shooting in a Rostraver Township shopping plaza was an alleged murder-for-hire. According to court documents, Keven Van Lam (pictured) hired a man identified as “Tuan” to “take care” of his business partner, 49-year-old Boyke Budiarachman. Police say Van Lam believed his partner was sabotaging his business. The two went to dinner at a restaurant in that shopping plaza and that’s when police say Van Lam texted the alleged hitman, who was posing as a parking lot attendant – letting him know when they arrived and when they were leaving. That’s when Budiarachman was shot and killed. Court documents say surveillance video shows an unknown masked person shooting the victim as he was getting into his car. Police then say Van Lam drove to Philadelphia with a duffle bag stuffed with $65,000 in cash and left it in a planned location for the alleged hitman to pick up. Police say Van Lam confessed, saying he wanted Budiarachman to be hit in the legs with a baseball bat and then said the plot changed to shoot him. The defense team argues Van Lam never intended for Budiarachman to be killed. The magistrate judge held all of the charges against Van Lam, and this case will head to trial. The alleged hitman has not been identified.
October 20, 2023 4:52 am
Rite Aid plans to close about 7% of its stores initially, as the drugstore chain makes its way through its Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. The company submitted a list of 154 stores in a court filing. Most of the chain’s stores are on the East and West coasts, and the list reflects that. Several locations are in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California and Washington. Rite Aid has more than 2,200 locations in 17 states. The company said in its Tuesday bankruptcy court filing that it also may close additional stores.
October 20, 2023 4:49 am
On Thursday, Washington County Commissioners spent time answering public comment questions about issues that have reappeared as of late. Commissioner Chairwoman Diana Irey-Vaughan addressed questions from North Strabane Township Supervisor Harold Close regarding the award of a contract to MRA/TAIT instead of Motorola for the emergency responder radio system. Irey-Vaughan indicated that a lower bid from Motorola came in after bids were awarded. She also stated that American Rescue Plan Act funds dedicated to the project were limited to upgrades and improvements and not a total replacement project such as Motorola’s bid. Pennsylvania State Representative Bud Cook (R-50) continued his years long campaign to get answers as to why he feels that $10 million in LSA funds are unaccounted for. Irey-Vaughan addressed him telling him that the funds are monitored by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and administered by the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County. She said his claims of missing money are not true. Some funds are being held in escrow until the awardees receive matching funds or are ready to begin their projects.
October 20, 2023 3:34 am
Commissioner Larry Maggi was named to serve on three national committees for the national American Legion. Maggi was selected by National Commander Daniel J. Seehaver to serve on the Law and Order, Homeland Security and Youth Cadet Law Enforcement committees for the 2023-2024 term. Maggi has served on these committees for six years. The committees form policy important to the American Legion to present to Congress and the President. Maggi calls it “an honor to continue to serve our veterans and to make sure the veterans of Washington County are represented at a national level.” Maggi served in the United States Marine Corp. He has been a member of the Claysville American Legion for 53 years. On the state level, Maggi is the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Department of the American Legion State Police Youth Week and serves as Chairman of the Pennsylvania American Legion Law and Order Committee.
October 19, 2023 10:47 am
ATLANTA (AP) — Lawyer Sidney Powell has pleaded guilty to six misdemeanors related to intentionally interfering with the performance of election duties over efforts to overturn Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election in Georgia. Powell is the second defendant in the case to reach a deal with prosecutors. As part of the deal, Powell will serve six years of probation, will be fined $6,000 and will have to write an apology letter to Georgia and its residents. Powell agrees to testify truthfully against her co-defendants at future trials. Powell entered the plea Thursday, just a day before jury selection was to start in her trial. Powell was charged alongside Trump and 17 others with violating the state’s anti-racketeering law.
