December 2, 2024 5:25 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees says it is halting aid deliveries through the main cargo crossing into Gaza because of the threat of armed gangs who have looted recent convoys. The decision could worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as another cold, rainy winter sets in. Hundreds of thousands of people are living in squalid tent camps and rely on international food aid. And in Israel, a former defense minister and fierce critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — and a hard-liner on the Palestinians — accuses the government of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza, where a military offensive continues.
December 2, 2024 5:24 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is visiting Ukraine for the first time in more than 2 1/2 years. The visit Monday comes just weeks after he was criticized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for having a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their call came at a time of widespread speculation about what the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump will mean for Ukraine. Scholz said that in his meeting with Zelenskyy he will announce further military supplies this month totaling 650 million euros. He said that “Ukraine can rely on Germany — we say what we do and we do what we say.”
December 2, 2024 5:23 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has pardoned his son, Hunter. That spares the younger Biden a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions and reverses the president’s past promises not to use the extraordinary powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family. The Democratic president had previously said he would not pardon his son or commute his sentence after his convictions in Delaware and California. The move comes weeks before Hunter Biden was set to receive his punishment after his trial conviction in the gun case and guilty plea on tax charges, and less than two months before President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to the White House.
December 2, 2024 5:21 am
CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Fifty-six people were killed and dozens injured as security forces tried to quell clashes during a soccer match in southern Guinea’s largest city. Guinea’s Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah said late Sunday on X that the stampede broke out on Sunday afternoon in the city of Nzerekore during a local tournament between the Labe and Nzerekore teams. Local media are reporting that the chaos followed a disputed penalty that angered fans, many of them clashing and pouring onto the open soccer field at the crowded stadium.
December 2, 2024 5:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s decision to go back on his word and pardon his son Hunter wasn’t all that surprising to those who are familiar with the president’s devotion to his family. But by choosing to put his family first, the 82-year-old president has raised new questions about his legacy. Biden has held himself up as placing his respect for the American judicial system and rule of law over his own personal concerns. It was part of an effort to draw a deliberate contrast with Republican Donald Trump. Now, both his broken promise and his act of clemency are a political lightning rod.
December 2, 2024 5:03 am
ERIE, Pa. — Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency on Saturday morning to support response efforts in Northwest Pennsylvania after several feet of lake-effect snow fell in the region. According to Shapiro’s office, three feet of snow has already fallen in parts of Erie County — and more is expected through Monday night. This disaster declaration allows Pennsylvania to draw down funding to provide state agencies with resources needed to assist communities impacted by the significant snowfall. More than a dozen Pennsylvania National Guard have been placed on state active duty to help and are working directly with Erie County to rescue stranded motorists and move vehicles. State police responded to nearly 200 incidents on Erie County roadways between 6 a.m. on Nov. 29 and 6 a.m. on Nov. 30, Shapiro’s office said.
December 2, 2024 4:59 am
BETHEL PARK, Pa. — (WPXI) – Crews spent several hours repairing a major water main break in Bethel Park that caused damage to a handful of homes Sunday. A fast-moving wall of water and mud gushed out of the ground and straight into Justin Lemley’s mother’s home around 11:30 a.m. “I was right down the street and when I got here, this was just a pool and it was running over there, going about 2.5 feet into my garage and the entire downstairs is flooded,” said Lemley. Pennsylvania American Water (PAWC) said an 8-inch pipe broke on Wilamit Drive. Water was shut off for about 17 customers and was restored by 7 p.m. Lemley’s home and about four others behind his flooded. It’s unclear what caused the break but workers on site said it tends to happen in cold weather.
December 2, 2024 1:24 am
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office says they’re aware of a scam where fraudsters are posing as a deputy from their department in an attempt to steal money. The sheriff’s office said the caller claims to be Deputy Thomas, but said they do not have a deputy by that name on their staff. The caller also claims to be from the Warrant Division attempting to collect unpaid fines. The sheriff’s office said that their Warrant Division will never call anyone attempting to collect unpaid fines and that their office is not even responsible for that.
December 1, 2024 6:28 am
President-elect Donald Trump’s stunning announcement that he will nominate Kash Patel as FBI director sets the stage for a fresh round of turbulence at a law enforcement agency tasked with protecting the homeland and investigating federal crimes. Patel, a steadfast Trump ally with plans to shake up the institution he’s been tapped to lead, is a study in contrasts from the current tight-lipped director who preaches a “keep calm and tackle hard” mantra. The announcement means that current FBI Director Christopher Wray can either resign from the job, consistent with Trump’s apparent wishes, or wait to be fired once Trump takes office in January. Meanwhile, Patel is likely to face deep skepticism during his confirmation hearings even in a Republican-led Senate.
December 1, 2024 6:26 am
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The first big snowfall of the season has blanketed parts of New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan during the hectic U.S. holiday travel and shopping weekend. Numbing cold and heavy snow could persist through the early part of the week and cause hazards in the Great Lakes, Plains and Midwest regions. The National Weather Service says the heaviest snow totals are expected downwind of lakes Erie and Ontario, affecting areas from northeast Ohio, far northwest Pennsylvania, western New York State and portions of northwest New York state. Cold air is expected to move over the eastern third of the U.S. by Monday with temperatures about 10 degrees below average.
