June 23, 2024 6:47 am
Behind the pageantry of President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea, a strong signal came through: In the spiraling confrontation with the U.S. and its allies over Ukraine, the Russian leader is willing to challenge Western interests like never before. The pact he signed with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un envisions mutual military assistance between Moscow and Pyongyang. Putin also said Russia could provide weapons to the isolated country, a move that could destabilize the Korean Peninsula and reverberate far beyond. He described the arms shipments as a response to NATO providing Ukraine with longer-range weapons to attack Russia. And he bluntly declared Moscow is prepared to go “to the end” to achieve its goals in Ukraine.
June 23, 2024 6:44 am
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Abortion-rights supporters in several states have used the citizen initiative process to protect access in the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a constitutional right to the procedure. But voters in half the states don’t have that right, including many of the Republican-controlled states in the South that have passed near total abortion bans since the court ruling. Citizen initiatives are avenues of direct democracy that have allowed voters to circumvent their legislatures and preserve abortion and other reproductive rights in a number of states over the past two years.
June 23, 2024 6:41 am
BEIRUT (AP) — Iran-backed groups in the Middle East say thousands of their fighters are offering to come to Lebanon to join with the militant Hezbollah group in its battle with Israel. The offer comes amid fears the situation could escalate into a full-blown war along Israel’s northern frontier with Lebanon that has seen almost daily exchanges since the Hamas attack on southern Israel in early October. Iran-backed groups from Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and other countries fought alongside Syrian government forces during Syria’s 13-civil war. Hezbollah’s leader says it has enough fighters and doesn’t need foreigners to join. Israeli officials have threatened a military offensive in Lebanon if there is no negotiated end to push Hezbollah away from the border.
June 23, 2024 6:34 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI)-The final class of Pittsburgh Technical College students graduated on Saturday. Graduation day felt bittersweet for the Pittsburgh Technical College class of 2024, knowing they’re the last to get degrees from the school. “It’s heartbreaking. This school has been around a long time,” said Tom Baker, a parent of a PTC graduate. “It’s hard to explain. I’m kind of emotional today. Just how hard he works and everything like that,” parent Justin Meager said. “Purpose and fulfillment come from individual initiative each day by setting out something to do and achieving it,” said Jacob Flasco, who spoke during the commencement ceremony. While these graduates move forward, hundreds of students still enrolled at PTC are trying to figure out what to do next. Other area schools, like the Community College of Allegheny County and Point Park University, are offering teach-out programs for students of PTC. Earlier this month, the school announced its plans to close at the end of the semester after its accrediting agency recently rejected a teach-out plan, calling it insufficient. Channel 11 has reported on allegations of financial misconduct. Sources tell us there is still an active Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office investigation into top PTC leadership. But some parents say the college offers a practical and valuable education. “She works with somebody that graduated from here in the 80′s. They had a very successful career. So, we need more trade schools it’s a shame.” Baker said. “He’s great. He’s got a great degree in electrical. And he’s already got a job. And it’s been a great experience for him,” said Jennifer Ferrera, a family member of a graduating student. “Today, yes is bittersweet, but because of you, PTC will live on forever,” PTC President Dr. Alicia B Harvey-Smith said during commencement.
June 22, 2024 4:17 am
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas State Police say a shooter opened fire Friday at a grocery store, killing three people and wounding 10 others. The shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce has left the store and parked cars riddled with bullet holes. Bystanders ducked for cover both indoors and in the grocery’s parking lot. State Police Director Co. Mike Hagar says police shot the suspected shooter, who sustained injuries that were not life-threatening. Two law enforcement officers were among those shot, and neither have life-threatening injuries. Police identified the shooter as 44-year-old Travis Eugene Posey of New Edinburg.
June 22, 2024 4:14 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza health officials say Israeli strikes on a tent camp outside the southern city of Rafah have killed at least 25 people and wounded another 50. Friday’s strikes were the latest deadly attack on displaced people in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands have fled fighting between Israel and Hamas. Witnesses whose relatives died in one of the bombardments near a Red Cross field hospital say that Israeli forces fired a second volley, which killed people who came out of their tents. The International Committee of the Red Cross said the hospital was flooded with casualties, including 22 dead and 45 wounded. It condemned the firing of “high-caliber projectiles” a few yards from the facility.
June 22, 2024 4:20 am
CHAPIN, S.C. (AP) — The president of the Teamsters Union is set to speak at this summer’s Republican National Convention. Trump said on social media that Sean O’Brien had “accepted” his invitation to address delegates in Milwaukee next month. Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz says that O’Brien requested a speaking slot at both major party conventions. Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, is trying to chip away at President Joe Biden’s support among the blue-collar workers, who will likely play a major role in the general election. Both Trump and Biden have met with Teamsters leaders this year. DNC officials said no final programming decisions had been made for their event. The union has endorsed Democratic candidates in the last two presidential cycles.
June 22, 2024 4:10 am
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) — President Joe Biden and his allies are trying to replicate their success with suburban women, who helped the Democrat beat Donald Trump in swing states like Pennsylvania four years ago. This year, they are signaling they can win a small number of Republican women who may be opposed to a second Trump presidency. But in dozens of interviews this month in Pennsylvania’s Bucks County, the most competitive of Philadelphia’s largest suburban counties four years ago, there was little evidence that traditional Republicans were ready to abandon Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, in significant numbers.
June 23, 2024 4:05 am
North Strabane Township Police have arrested two people after a search warrant was executed at the Excellence Massage and Spa in the 1000 block of Park Place Drive. Police say they have been receiving complaints about criminal activity at the location. Yingying Yu and Xiu Ying Chen were arrested on prostitution charges. Police are asking that anyone with information about such activity to contact them.
June 21, 2024 4:01 am
North Franklin Township will be having a ribbon cutting ceremony today to debut their new municipal building. The new center is located at 345 Franklin Farms Road. The building is a $4 million dollar project that is 7000 square feet. Not only will it house township offices, it will also have a multi-purpose room available for public use. The new building is situated next to the township’s 89 acre waterside park. The ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 11:00 this morning.
