October 10, 2023 5:06 am
TORONTO (AP) — General Motors and the union representing Canadian auto workers have reached a tentative contract agreement, ending a strike that began just after midnight. About 4,300 striking workers at two GM factories and a parts warehouse will return to work Tuesday afternoon and will vote on the three-year deal later. Lana Payne, president of the Unifor union, said in a statement that, when faced with the strike, GM had no choice but to follow a pattern agreement reached earlier with Ford. GM said it reached the three-year agreement around 1 p.m. Tuesday after workers went on strike at the Ontario facilities. GM said the deal recognizes employee contributions with significant pay and benefit increases and additional job security.
October 10, 2023 5:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is condemning the militant group Hamas for “sheer evil” for its shocking multipronged attack on Israel launched from the Gaza Strip that has killed hundreds of civilians, including at least 14 American citizens. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation on the ground. Biden spoke out of the actions he and other allies have taken to support Israel in the aftermath of the attack and expressed his horror about “sickening” reports of torture inflicted by militants on innocent civilians. Biden said “Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear.”
October 10, 2023 4:56 am
Gas prices are down this week here in Western Pennsylvania. AAA says prices at the pump dipped two-cents this week to an average of $3.90. Here in Washington, the average is a little better at $3.87. AAA says the national average dropped 11-cents to $3.70. The primary reasons are slack demand and the lower cost of oil, which is hovering around $85 per barrel. This weeks national average is 12-cents less than one-month ago and 21-cents less than a year ago.
October 10, 2023 4:51 am
INDIANA, Pa. (AP) — Authorities are seeking suspects in a shooting that killed one man and wounded eight other people at a private party in a Pennsylvania community center. State police in Indiana County said nine people between the ages of 18 and 23 were shot early Sunday at the Chevy Chase Community Center in White Township. More than 150 people were present. A 22-year-old Pittsburgh man died and one person was critically injured. According to reports, three of the eight injured were students at Waynesburgh University. Their identities have not been released. Police said dozens of shots were fired and multiple firearms were recovered. Officials are tracking down the renter of the venue and the host and $15,000 in reward money is being offered for information.
October 10, 2023 4:50 am
The Powerball just keeps getting bigger. No ticket matched all six numbers drawn in the Monday night drawing. The jackpot now climbs to an estimated $1.73 billion for the next drawing on Wednesday night. The jackpot has an estimated cash value of $756.6 million. Wednesday’s estimated jackpot ranks as the second-largest Powerball jackpot and U.S. lottery jackpot, only behind the world record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot won in California on November 7, 2022. The numbers drawn Monday night; 16, 34, 46, 55, 67 and red Powerball 14. The Power Play® multiplier was 3X. The Monday night drawing produced more than 3.7 million winning tickets across the country, including four tickets (California, Indiana, Oregon, Virginia) that matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes.
October 10, 2023 2:13 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Flags will fly at half-staff across Pennsylvania for the next several days in recognition of the lives lost in Israel after a surprise weekend attack by Hamas militants. Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered all United States and Commonwealth flags on all Commonwealth facilities, public buildings, and grounds to immediately fly at half-staff Tuesday morning. The order goes into effect immediately and remains in effect through Friday. “I condemn the horrific acts of war in Israel by Hamas and their enablers. These attacks on innocent Israeli civilians are abhorrent and warrant world condemnation and outrage,” Shapiro said in a statement. “Our family has shared many special moments in Israel and our hearts break for those living this horror now. We stand in solidarity against terror and are praying for all people in Israel.”
October 9, 2023 5:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — An infusion of federal pandemic relief to America’s schools sparked a boom in the education technology sector, an industry where research and evidence are scarce. An Associated Press analysis of public records finds districts including Nevada’s Clark County spent tens of millions of dollars on apps, games and tutoring websites. Schools often have little or no evidence the programs helped students, and some were rarely used. Some Clark County parents say software shouldn’t be a priority in a district with issues including aging buildings and more than 1,100 teacher vacancies. The district declined an interview request. Some critics have called for greater federal oversight of the industry.
October 9, 2023 5:12 am
DETROIT (AP) — Union workers at Mack Trucks are on strike after voting down a tentative five-year contract agreement that negotiators had reached with the company. The United Auto Workers said 4,000 unionized workers walked out at 7 a.m. Monday, adding to labor turmoil in the industry that has ensnared all three big Detroit automakers. Union President Shawn Fain said in a letter to Mack parent company Volvo Trucks that 73% of workers voted against the deal in results counted on Sunday. The UAW represents Mack workers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida. Union leaders had reached a tentative agreement on the deal on Oct. 1.
October 9, 2023 5:11 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he’s declaring his independence from the Democratic Party and all other political parties as he announces he’ll run for president as an independent. Kennedy said Monday from Philadelphia’s Independence Mall he’ll drop his Democratic primary bid. Kennedy speaks of a “rising tide of discontent” in the United States and says he wants to make a “new Declaration of Independence” from corporations, the media and the two major political parties. Kennedy’s decision adds a wrinkle to a 2024 race that’s heading toward a likely rematch between Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican ex-President Donald Trump. Allies of Biden and Trump have questioned whether Kennedy would be a spoiler against them.
October 9, 2023 5:10 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — For some Republicans in Congress, Taiwan and Ukraine are effectively rivals for a limited pool of U.S. military assistance. And seeing China as a bigger threat to the United States than Russia, they argue for doing more to arm Taiwan and stopping the flow of money to Ukraine. But that’s not necessarily how Taiwan and many of its supporters see it. They say China is watching closely to see if the United States has the political stamina to support an ally in a prolonged, costly war. The U.S. aid to Ukraine also has led to weapons manufacturers stepping up production — something that could benefit Taiwan in a clash with China.
