White House Egg Roll Will Be “Egg-Ucational”

March 28, 2024 4:11 pm

(AP) – The White House says it’s getting ready to welcome 40,000 people to its annual Easter Egg Roll. The egg-stravaganza was first held on the lawn in 1878. Guests this year will include thousands of military and veteran families, their caregivers and survivors. Members of the general public claimed tickets through an online public lottery. Monday’s events will be held on the South Lawn and the Ellipse and will have an “egg-ucation” component to fit with Jill Biden’s theme. The first lady is a career educator who still teaches English and writing at a northern Virginia community college.  (Photo:  AP)

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP pick in 2000, dead at 82

March 27, 2024 7:15 pm

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Former Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut has died, according to his family. He was 82 and died Wednesday of complications from a fall. Lieberman nearly won the vice presidency on Democrat Al Gore’s ticket in the disputed 2000 White House race. Eight years later, he came close to joining the GOP ticket as John McCain’s running mate. The Democrat-turned-independent stepped down from the Senate in January 2013 after 24 years. His independent streak often irked Senate Democrats he aligned with. Yet his support for gay rights, civil rights, abortion rights and environmental causes at times won him the praise of many liberals over the years.

Investigation Into Baltimore Bridge Collapse Intensifies

March 27, 2024 2:40 pm

BALTIMORE (AP) — Investigators are collecting evidence from the cargo ship that plowed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and caused its collapse. Meanwhile in the waters below, divers searched Wednesday through twisted metal for six construction workers who plunged into the harbor and were feared dead. The investigation picked up speed as the Baltimore region reeled from the sudden loss of a major transportation link that’s part of the highway loop around the city. The disaster also closed the port that is vital to the city’s shipping industry. Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board boarded the ship and planned to recover information from its electronics and paperwork.

Charleroi Seeks State Aid For Surge In Immigrant Students

March 27, 2024 5:05 am

CHARLEROI, Pa. — (WPXI) – Charleroi historically was a mill town that felt the impact of a shrinking industry; but the last two years, this town’s population is exploding again. “I speak French, Creole, Portuguese, Spanish and English,” said Kervens Lerantis. He is only in the fourth grade. He’s just one of 172 English Language Learners (ELL) in the Charleroi Area School District. Many of whom never spoke the language before stepping foot in Washington County. The immigrant population has grown in this community by over 2,000% in just the last two years, bringing new challenges for the school district. “Just in the last year we had over $400,000, we had to add two ELL teachers, an ELL coach for our teachers, a registrar, an interpreter,” said Superintendent Dr. Ed Zelich. With the growth, the district is looking at another $300,000 on top of that next year. This is the highest-taxed district in the county. Dr. Zelich said increasing taxes isn’t an option, so he’s looking to the state for help. So far, the state has only offered after-school and summer tutoring, which Zelich said doesn’t even scratch the surface. The buildings are running out of space, forcing some Pre-K classes to leave the building and classroom size to grow where nearly half the lower grades are already full of multiple languages. The district has brought the PA Department of Education in and local lawmakers, but still can’t seem to get the financial help they need. The superintendent told Channel 11 he’s going to continue knocking on their doors because he knows the growth is not stopping here.

North Strabane Township Adjusts Meeting Dates

March 27, 2024 4:51 am

North Strabane Township Supervisors worked through an agenda filled with ordinary decisions Tuesday night. Supervisors scheduled a public hearing on a zoning change for a parcel at the corner of Morganza Road and Curry Avenue. The parcel is currently zoned C-1 Commercial. The owner is looking to have it rezoned as I-1 Industrial. The proposed use of the property is for condominium style personal warehouses. That meeting will be held on April 30 at 6:00 PM. Supervisors approved a text amendment to their zoning ordinance to allow for hospitals, and medical offices to be allowed in the R-3 zoning district. This request was from AHN Canonsburg Hospital for the construction of its new hospital. Supervisors also reminded residents that meeting dates have changed for the month of April.  The non legislative meeting will be held on Wednesday April 24 and the Legislative meeting will be held Tuesday April 30, both beginning at 7:00 PM.

Five Dead – Including An Infant – In Fayette County Crash

March 26, 2024 2:30 am

WHARTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – Five people are dead after a crash in Fayette County on Tuesday afternoon. Emergency crews were called to the intersection of National Pike 40 and New Meadow Run Drive in Wharton Township at 1:21 p.m. State police said one of the victims is an infant. National Pike 40 was closed in both directions between Route 381 and Dinner Bell 5 Forks Road. It reopened just before 6 p.m. A commercial vehicle and two passenger vehicles were involved in the crash, according to state police. Police said all five victims were inside the same car. The coroner said all of the victims appeared to be from Ohio. Their identities have not been released. Troopers said the driver of the tractor-trailer was not hurt. Two people in the third car had minor injuries. The fire chief believes speed played a role in the crash saying that the road was dry at the time, and it wasn’t raining. That will be part of the investigation.

Court Tosses GOP Challenge Of Voter Access Actions

March 27, 2024 4:57 am

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A federal court has dismissed an attempt by conservative Pennsylvania lawmakers to overturn automatic voter registration, along with lawmakers’ other challenges to actions designed to boost voter access. Pennsylvania U.S. District Judge Jennifer Wilson wrote in her decision Tuesday that the lawmakers did not have legal standing in their filing. The lawsuit, filed by 24 Republican state lawmakers, challenged the legality of a 2021 executive order by President Joe Biden ordering federal agencies to consider ways to expand voter access. The lawsuit also challenged a state order regarding automatic voter registration and a directive that counties can’t reject registration if a driver’s license number or Social Security digits don’t match the government agency database.

Recovery Efforts To Resume In Baltimore

March 26, 2024 5:08 am

BALTIMORE (AP) — Recovery efforts are set to resume for the six construction workers who are presumed dead after a cargo ship hit a pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing the structure to collapse. Officials said the recovery efforts for the six missing people would resume Wednesday morning. The ship lost its steering capability before it hit the pillar around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. Audio from first responders shows a scramble to halt traffic just before the crash. The bridge is an important link in the region’s transportation infrastructure, and its collapse is expected to snarl commuter traffic and disrupt a vital shipping port.

Someone Has Won The $1.1 Billion Mega Millions Jackpot

March 27, 2024 5:12 am

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Someone in New Jersey overcame the odds and won the $1.12 billion Mega Millions jackpot, breaking a winless streak that dated to last December. The numbers drawn Tuesday night were: 7, 11, 22, 29, 38 and 4. Until the latest drawing, no one had matched all six numbers and won the Mega Millions jackpot since Dec. 8. It’s tough to win the Mega Millions jackpot because the odds are so long, at 1 in 302.6 million. The prize is the 8th largest in U.S. lottery history. The $1.12 billion jackpot is for a winner who is paid through an annuity. Most winners choose a cash payout, which would be $537.5 million.

Poll Says Trump Evokes More Anger & Fear From Democrats

March 26, 2024 5:11 am

ATLANTA (AP) — Many Americans are unenthusiastic about a November rematch of the 2020 presidential election. But presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump appears to stoke more fear and anger among Democrats than President Joe Biden does among Republicans. That’s according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. A potential Trump victory inspires more excitement among Republicans than a Biden win does among Democrats, though, highlighting a potential weak point for Biden. The findings are notable in an unusual campaign pitting an incumbent president against his predecessor, with both men facing doubters within their own parties and among independents.