October 17, 2023 4:54 am
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. – An inquest into the death of a man who was shot and killed by officers after a police chase has been scheduled. Eduardo Hoover Jr., 38, died in the 1000-block of Jefferson Avenue in Washington on April 2, 2023, after what troopers said was an 18-mile-long police chase. According to state police, Hoover slowed down toward the end of the chase and allowed officers to get in front and behind his vehicle. He then stopped, put his truck in reverse and slammed into the front of a police car before driving forward and hitting a utility pole. After hitting the pole, police said Hoover put his car back in reverse and sped toward the officers, prompting them to shoot. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The inquest into Hoover’s death will be conducted on Tuesday, October 24 in the public meeting room at the Washington County Crossroads Center.
October 16, 2023 3:54 pm
(AP) – Reese’s may be violating state and federal laws with a sweepstakes offer currently advertised on packs of peanut butter cups. The promotion on two-cup packages reads “You could win $25,000” and, in smaller print, “See details inside.” But only after consumers have bought and opened a package can they see the small print: no purchase is necessary to win. The Reese’s contest was first reported Monday by Edgar Dworsky, a consumer advocate and former assistant attorney general in Massachusetts. Pennsylvania-based Hershey Co., which owns the Reese’s brand, didn’t immediately respond to telephone and email messages left Monday by The Associated Press. (Photo: AP)
October 16, 2023 9:41 am
SUAMICO, Wis. (AP) — A grassroots pro-democracy group led by a Republican former state senator is trying to build trust in elections by hosting forums in small towns throughout Wisconsin. The Keep Our Republic group is working with local officials to organize community events meant to teach residents about the election process and combat election conspiracy theories in the perennial presidential swing state. But at one recent town hall in the Republican-leaning village of Suamico, they faced an uphill fight as they grapple with what many have described as an almost faith-like pull of conspiracy theories being promoted through online misinformation and far-right figures.
October 16, 2023 5:13 am
Actor Suzanne Somers, who’s best known for playing Chrissy Snow on the U.S. TV sitcom “Three’s Company,” has died. She was 76. Her family said in statement that Somers had breast cancer for over 23 years and died Sunday morning. Her immediate family members were with her in Palm Springs, California, and had been planning to celebrate her 77th birthday on Monday. Somer’s most famous acting role came with “Three’s Company.” That ABC network sitcom aired from 1977 to 1984, though Somers’ participation ended in 1981. On “Three’s Company,” she played the ditzy blonde opposite John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt.
October 16, 2023 5:11 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says in a social media post he’ll appeal a narrow gag order imposed on him in his 2020 election interference case in Washington. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan’s Monday order bars the Republican presidential candidate from making statements targeting prosecutors, possible witnesses and the judge’s staff. The judge says the former president can’t mount a “smear campaign” against prosecutors. Monday’s order marks a milestone moment in the federal case that accuses Trump of illegally conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. During a campaign appearance in Iowa later Monday, Trump decried the order as unconstitutional, and claimed it would only help him in the polls.
October 16, 2023 5:10 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Major U.S. pharmacy chain Rite Aid says it has filed for bankruptcy and obtained $3.45 billion in fresh financing as it carries out a restructuring plan while coping with falling sales and opioid-related lawsuits. Rite Aid said it would also close “underperforming” stores. Rite Aid, which owns Bartell Drug, is among the companies that has faced lawsuits over the opioid epidemic. It said the head of a financial advisory firm, Jeffrey Stein, was appointed CEO as of Sunday, replacing interim CEO Elizabeth Burr. In 2022, Rite Aid settled for up to $30 million to resolve lawsuits alleging its pharmacies contributed to an oversupply of prescription opioids.
October 16, 2023 5:09 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hard-charging right-wing Republican Rep. Jim Jordan is shoring up support to win the House speaker’s gavel. One by one Jordan, has been peeling off detractors who view the Ohio Republican as too extreme. A pressure campaign from Donald Trump allies including Fox News’ Sean Hannity is helping to round up support. A floor vote that could turn into a showdown is set for midday Tuesday. In a letter Monday to colleagues, Jordan took a cooperative tone, vowing to “bring all Republicans together.” It’s been two weeks without a House speaker after hardline Republicans ousted Kevin McCarthy.
October 16, 2023 5:07 am
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hospitals in Gaza faced collapse Monday as water, power and medicine neared depletion, and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians searched for dwindling food supplies while Israel maintained punishing airstrikes in retaliation for last week’s deadly rampage by Hamas. Thousands of patients’ lives were at risk, U.N. officials said, and mediators struggled for a cease-fire to let in aid waiting at the Egyptian border. All eyes were on the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, where trucks carrying aid have waited for days unable to pass through. As Israel prepared a likely ground offensive into Gaza, fears rose over the conflict spreading along Israel’s border with Lebanon.
October 16, 2023 5:03 am
BEAVER COUNTY, Pa. — (WXPI) – Thousands of people are without gas service in Beaver County. Columbia Gas said around 4,000 customers in Freedom, Economy Borough, Conway and Baden have had their natural gas service shut down. The company shut down the service after technicians noticed an issue with gas that had been added by a third-party provider. Columbia Gas said the shutdown is expected to last “several days” but has not specified how many it will be. Workers are expected to go door-to-door to perform safety checks and relight natural gas appliances once services are restored. Columbia Gas said those workers will have a company badge with their photo on it. The incident was not believed to be intentional and Columbia Gas said the shutdown is being done out of an abundance of caution.
October 16, 2023 5:00 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia police say one man has been arrested and at least two other suspects are being sought in an airport parking garage shooting that killed one officer and wounded another last week. Police said 18-year-old Yobranny Martinez Fernandez was arrested Monday in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and was being held for extradition. It’s unclear whether he has an attorney. Authorities say Officers Richard Mendez and Raul Ortiz found people breaking into a car Thursday night at Philadelphia International Airport. During a confrontation, Mendez was shot four times and later died. Ortiz, hit once, was released from the hospital Saturday. An 18-year-old believed to be involved was also killed.
