January 16, 2025 5:01 am
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that a last-minute dispute with Hamas was holding up Israeli approval of a long-awaited ceasefire that would pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip and release dozens of hostages. Netanyahu signaled complications with the deal shortly after U.S. President Joe Biden and key mediator Qatar announced it was complete. It was not yet clear if Netanyahu’s statements merely reflected jockeying to keep his fractious coalition together or whether the deal was at risk. The Israeli Cabinet is expected to vote on the deal Thursday. But Netanyahu’s office said they won’t meet until Hamas backs down, accusing it of reneging on parts of the agreement, without elaborating. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 72 people in the war-ravaged territory.
January 16, 2025 4:56 am
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Police believe a cat was stolen from a porch in Fayette County. Pennsylvania State Police issued a press release on Jan. 15 saying the crime happened on Dec. 17. Troopers were called to a house on Stewarton Road in Springfield Township for reports of a cat stolen on that date. The victim told police an unidentified woman rang the house doorbell and stayed on the front porch for around 10 minutes before leaving. Troopers said the cat may have been stolen in those 10 minutes. The cat is a 3-year-old Maine Coon female. Troopers said it is worth $2,500. A Red Dodge Avenger with aftermarket wheels and a license plate reading: MHM1845 is believed to be involved in the incident.
January 16, 2025 4:53 am
MONESSEN, Pa. — (WPXI) – The president of the Monessen volunteer fire department is facing a number of charges. Stephen Gaydos III is accused of stealing more than $30,000 from the organization over the course of several years. According to the criminal complaint, Gaydos had access to the bank account and began taking money from it in December 2020. Police say the theft was only discovered when the department board of directors asked Gaydos to close the account and found it only contained about $7. Gaydos allegedly admitted to taking the money. “It’s a shame this stuff occurs, but it does, unfortunately […] sometimes things like this go unmonitored and squeeze through the cracks. It’s an absolute shame,” neighbor Paul Kucera said. Neighbors say they hope this doesn’t hurt the public’s confidence in the department. Gaydos is due in court on Jan. 24.
January 15, 2025 5:40 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pam Bondi, Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, has sought to reassure Democratic senators that her Justice Department would not prosecute anyone for political purposes. But at her confirmation hearing Wednesday, she also refused to rule out the potential for investigations into adversaries of the Republican president-elect. The often-testy hearing centered on concerns that Trump would seek to use the Justice Department’s law enforcement powers to exact retribution against opponents, including investigators who investigated him. Democrats pressed her on whether she could maintain the department’s independence from the White House and say no to the president if asked to do something unethical. (Photo: AP)
January 15, 2025 12:57 pm
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Mediators announced that Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal, pausing a devastating 15-month war in the Gaza Strip and raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies. The deal, coming after weeks of painstaking negotiations in the Qatari capital, promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in phases, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and would allow hundreds of thousands of displaced people in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. It also would flood badly needed humanitarian aid into a devastated territory. The agreement is expected to go into effect in the coming days.
January 15, 2025 10:21 am
(AP) – U.S. regulators are banning the dye called Red 3 from the food supply. The move comes nearly 35 years after the dye was barred from cosmetics such as lipsticks because of potential cancer risk. Food and Drug Administration officials on Wednesday granted a 2022 petition filed by consumer advocates. The groups argued that some studies found the dye causes cancer in laboratory rats. FDA officials cited a statute known as the Delaney Clause, which requires FDA to ban any additive found to cause cancer in people or rats. Officials say the cancer risk has not been documented in people.
January 15, 2025 6:16 am
Washington County Controller Heather Sheatler has announced that she will seek the Republican nomination for the office in the May Primary election. Sheatler has worked in the Controller’s office for nearly 22 years and was appointed Controller back in October after Controller April Sloane resigned as part of a plea agreement related to charges that were filed against her in connection with the death of her dog. Sheatler says she “brings a wealth of experience and an unwavering commitment to fiscal responsibility. ” Since stepping into the role, “her number one focus has been to protect county taxpayers. ” “As someone who has spent my entire career serving the taxpayers of Washington County, I am excited to bring my proven leadership and dedication to this role in the years ahead,” said Sheatler. “My priority has always been to protect public resources and ensure that taxpayer dollars are managed with accountability and care.” Sheatler is a graduate of McGuffey High School and Penn Commercial Business school. She resides in Blaine Township with her husband and two teenage sons.
January 15, 2025 5:07 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Firefighters reported significant gains against the two massive wildfires burning around Los Angeles while also extinguishing smaller blazes set by arsonists. The progress was reported Wednesday as a final round of windy, flame-fanning weather moved through Southern California. With winds picking up again, much of the nation’s second-most populous metropolitan region was still on alert for new outbreaks and flareups from the fires that have killed at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes. Better conditions expected in the coming days should help fire crews to make even more headway and allow residents to return to their neighborhoods to begin rebuilding.
January 15, 2025 5:05 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained in a massive law enforcement operation at the presidential compound Wednesday. He said he complied with the warrant after weeks of defiance over attempts to question him in the investigation over his imposition of martial law last month. In a video message recorded before he was escorted to the headquarters of the anti-corruption agency, Yoon lamented that the “rule of law has completely collapsed in this country.” Yoon contends the agency doesn’t have the authority to investigate whether his declaration of martial law was attempted rebellion. He insists it was a legitimate act of governance after the liberals leading parliament thwarted his agenda.
January 15, 2025 5:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has used his farewell address to the nation to warn of an “oligarchy” of the ultra-wealthy taking root in the country and of a “tech-industrial complex” that is infringing on Americans’ rights and the future of democracy. Speaking Wednesday from the Oval Office as he prepares to hand over power to President-elect Donald Trump, Biden spotlighted the accumulation of power and wealth in the U.S. among just a small few. The president warned Americans to be on guard for their freedoms and their institutions during a turbulent era of rapid technological and economic change. Biden also called for a constitutional amendment to end immunity for sitting presidents.
