June 5, 2024 5:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is trying to address a major liability for his reelection campaign by taking executive action to significantly restrict asylum. But it’s unclear whether his efforts will be enough to change the minds of voters who have increasingly voiced alarm over his handling of the border. Former President Donald Trump and his campaign have seized on the issue. Biden has shifted far to the right on immigration issues since his winning campaign four years ago. Many Democrats acknowledge Biden now faces a wholly different political reality. But some in his party have accused him of betraying Democratic priorities.
June 5, 2024 5:08 am
BEIRUT (AP) — The Lebanese army said Wednesday that at least one gunman attempted to attack on the U.S. Embassy near Beirut. The Lebanese military in a statement said that soldiers shot an assailant, who they only described as a Syrian national. The gunman was wounded and taken to a hospital. Local media reported that there was a gunfight for almost half an hour by the U.S. diplomatic mission in a suburb north of Beirut. The U.S. Embassy said the morning attack by the embassy’s entrance did not cause any casualties among their staff, and that Lebanese troops and embassy security mobilized quickly.
June 5, 2024 12:19 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Online marketplace behemoth eBay said it plans to no longer accept American Express, citing what the company says are “unacceptably high fees” and that customers have other payment options to shop online. It’s a notable blow to American Express, whose customers are often the most attractive among merchants and spend the most money per month on their cards. But it’s not the first time merchants have voiced opposition to AmEx’s business practices by walking away, most notably warehouse chain Costco nearly a decade ago.
June 4, 2024 1:53 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says he’s restricting asylum to help “gain control” of the U.S.-Mexico border. The American Civil Liberties Union says it’ll sue over Biden’s plan to enact immediate significant restrictions on migrants seeking asylum at the border. Biden signed the proclamation Tuesday as the White House tries to neutralize immigration as a political liability before November’s elections. Biden’s order would bar migrants from being granted asylum when U.S. officials deem the southern border to be overwhelmed. The Democratic president has contemplated unilateral action for months, especially after Republican lawmakers rejected a bipartisan security deal at the behest of presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. Trump says Biden has surrendered the southern border. (Photo: AP)
June 4, 2024 4:42 am
The agenda meeting for Washington City Council was very succinct. All items discussed were general day to day business items. Council did hear from City Administrator Donn Henderson on his thoughts on updating the city’s comprehensive plan. According to Henderson, the plan has not been updated since its adoption approximately 12 years ago. The plan studies the city and tries to direct council on programs that need to be addressed. It also demonstrates what went well over the past decade. Henderson is looking to contact the Department of Community and Economic Development to access grants that would offset the cost of the study and formation of the plan. According to Henderson that cost could run more than $100,000 without grant funding. In conjunction with the comprehensive plan, Henderson suggested that council could consider a housing opportunity plan that would study the city’s housing inventory. It would look for methods of creating more home ownership opportunities and look for ways to help current owners maintain and upgrade their current homes. In city business, council will look to approve the payoff of the city’s $1 million Tax Anticipation Note. The note is taken out to allow the city to operate day to day until municipal taxes are collected. Council will meet on Thursday June 6, for its voting meeting.
June 4, 2024 1:15 am
Washington Police are searching for the man who robbed the Washington Financial Bank at 98 East Wylie Avenue Monday morning around nine-thirty. Police say the man, described as having an olive complexion, walked into the bank and handed a teller a note demanding money. Police say he made a vague threat but did not brandish a weapon. They say he fled on foot. There were no injuries and no information was given on the amount of money taken. Police are asking for anyone with information to call them at 724-233-4226 or message their Facebook page.
June 4, 2024 6:28 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Protests at the University of Pittsburgh have ended in what officials are calling a peaceful ending to a long few days. Protesters were calling for the university to sever any ties with Israel or companies promoting the Israel-Hamas War. The Pittsburgh police chief told Channel 11 that the mayor and his team were able to speak with “willing and trusted participants” inside the encampment on Monday night. A short time later, protestors vacated the encampment. It came just hours after protesters clashed with police. A Pitt police officer was pulled to the ground when protestors pulled down fencing. A protestor who cut their head during the incident was taken to a local hospital. A Pitt spokesperson said the exterior of the Cathedral of Learning was vandalized during the demonstration and the city made the decision to step in overnight.
June 3, 2024 4:50 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania lawmakers are returning to session to begin a four-week countdown to the state government’s new fiscal year. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican lawmakers have competing visions for how to use the massive surplus. Shapiro has floated an admittedly “ambitious” $48.3 billion budget plan that would highlight boosting public-school funding. Republicans have said the governor’s plan would put the state on course to drain its $14 billion surplus. Instead, they passed a $3 billion tax-cutting plan that Democrats say would have a similar effect. This month might also feature debates over competing plans to boost college enrollment and affordability in Pennsylvania.
June 4, 2024 4:56 am
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Federal prosecutors on Tuesday painted President Joe Biden’s son Hunter as deceptive and driven by addiction. They say he’s a man whose dark habits ensnared loved ones and who knew what he was doing when he lied on federal forms to purchase a gun in 2018. The case is dredging up painful memories for the president and his family, and revealing new and highly personal details about their struggles with addiction and grief as the 2024 election looms, all while the first lady and Hunter Biden’s sister Ashley watched from the front row of the courtroom.
June 4, 2024 4:14 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. job openings fell in April to the lowest level since 2021. But they remained at historically strong levels despite high interest rates and signs the economy is slowing. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that employers posted 8.1 million vacancies in April, down from a revised 8.4 million in March. Still, layoffs fell, and the number of Americans quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects — rose in April. Monthly job openings have come down steadily from a peak of 12.2 million in March 2022 — as the economy’s recovery from COVID-19 lock-downs left companies desperate for workers — but they remain at a high level.
