July 30, 2024 5:14 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Secret Service’s acting director has told lawmakers he considered it indefensible that the roof used by the gunman in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was unsecured. He also says it’s regrettable that local law enforcement had not advised his agency that a gunman had been spotted on a nearby roof. Acting director Ronald Rowe also testified Tuesday that he recently visited the shooting site and laid down on the roof of the building where shots were fired in order to evaluate the gunman’s line of sight during the July 13 shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania.
July 30, 2024 5:11 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is set to launch a battleground tour next week with her yet-to-be-named running mate, with stops in seven swing states stretching from Pennsylvania to Nevada. The planned tour is the latest sign of the whirlwind pace at which Harris has gone from President Joe Biden’s supportive running mate to likely Democratic nominee ready to identify her No. 2 and take on Republican Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Harris says she hasn’t made a decision yet on whom she will select. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly are among those under consideration. The tour is to begin Tuesday in Philadelphia leading to speculation that Shapiro could be the pick.
July 30, 2024 5:04 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump has backed away somewhat from his earlier commitment to debate Vice President Kamala Harris, questioning the value of a meetup and saying he “probably” will debate but he “can also make a case for not doing it.” Trump, in an interview with Fox News Channel that aired Monday night, was pressed several times about committing to debating Harris before giving a squishier answer than he had in recent days. The Republican former president had been eager to debate President Joe Biden when he was the Democratic nominee. But with Harris poised to take Biden’s place, Trump has been questioning the terms of the original debate he agreed to with the president.
July 30, 2024 5:03 am
ATLANTA (AP) — Little more than a week ago, Georgia appeared to be slipping out of Democrats’ reach. President Joe Biden’s campaign was pledging to concentrate more on holding the “blue wall” states in the Midwest and suggesting they might be willing to forsake “Sun Belt” battlegrounds. But now that Biden has bowed out of the race and Vice President Kamala Harris is the likely nominee, the Democrats say they have new hope for the state. They’re betting that a fresh burst of energy and a surge in fundraising has helped make Georgia a toss-up again. Harris is planning a show of political force on Tuesday in Atlanta, with a large rally like those held by Republican former President Donald Trump.
July 30, 2024 5:01 am
NEW DELHI (AP) — Multiple landslides triggered by torrential rains in southern India have killed 49 people and left many others feared trapped under the debris. The landslides hit hilly villages in Kerala state Tuesday and destroyed many houses and a bridge. Authorities have yet to determine the full scope of the disaster. Rescuers were working to pull out those stuck under mud and debris, but their efforts were hampered by blocked roads and unstable terrain. Television images showed rescuers working their way through mud and uprooted trees and vehicles stuck in a swollen river. Authorities were using helicopters to help with rescue efforts. More rain is forecast.
July 30, 2024 4:59 am
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — As thousands of people demonstrate across Venezuela, opposition candidate Edmundo González has announced that his campaign has the proof it needs to show he won the country’s disputed election whose victory electoral authorities handed to President Nicolás Maduro. González and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado told reporters they have obtained more than 70% of tally sheets from Sunday’s election, and they show González with more than double Maduro’s votes. Both called on people, some of whom protested in the hours after Maduro was declared winner, to remain calm and invited them to gather peacefully at 11 a.m. Tuesday to celebrate the results.
July 30, 2024 4:51 am
Washington City Council will be greeted with a brief agenda on Thursday night. That does not mean the meeting will be without significant affect. On the agenda is a motion to reap the first benefit from last month’s approval of a bond refinance that extends payments by one year and frees up several hundred thousand dollars annually. The first positive outcome could be the elimination of the distressed pension tax. According to Finance Director Ken Westcott, keeping the tax could have increased pension contributions by some $300,000 this year. Also up for approval is the awarding of contracts for work needed at the 7th Ward Park and the contract for the 2024 road paving program. Council will meet Thursday night at 6:00 PM.
July 30, 2024 1:48 am
(WPXI) – A man is facing charges after leading troopers on a chase in Washington County on Monday. A Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson says troopers tried serving a federal arrest warrant on Avery Turner Jr. as he was leaving a gas station in North Strabane Township. When the troopers identified themselves, they say he ran to his car that was in the gas station parking lot and drove away, intentionally ramming an unmarked police vehicle with a Trooper inside. The spokesperson says that during the chase, Turner hit two vehicles and a telephone pole at the intersection of North Main Street and Walnut Avenue within Washington. He then got out of the car and ran because a road was closed for construction. Turner was eventually taken into custody without incident. He is facing fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, among other charges.
July 30, 2024 1:36 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania will lead a House task force charged with investigating the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. Kelly was appointed leader of the effort on Monday. Kelly was present at the Trump rally and his congressional district includes the city of Butler, where the attack occurred. The 13 lawmakers appointed to the task force by House leaders have backgrounds in law enforcement, legal affairs and the military. The lawmakers are expected to issue a final report on the attack before Dec. 13 and will have the authority to issue subpoenas as they conduct their investigation. (Photo: AP)
July 29, 2024 7:37 am
FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. —(WPXI) – A vacant home in Fallowfield Township went up in flames late Sunday night. Bentleyville Fire-Rescue on Facebook said crews were called to the fire just before 10 p.m. Charleroi Fire Department on Facebook said the house was along 4th Street Ext. Crews worked on the blaze for around two hours, both organizations said. The fire is under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal, the fire department said. (PHOTO; Bentleyville Fire-Rescue)
