December 22, 2024 8:09 am
(AP) – Amazon delivery drivers and Starbucks baristas are on strike in a handful of U.S. cities as they seek to exert pressure on the two major companies to recognize them as unionized employees or to meet demands for an inaugural labor contract. Strikes during busy periods like the holidays can help unions exercise leverage during negotiations or garner support from sympathetic consumers. One expert says he thinks workers at both companies are “desperate” to make progress before President-elect Donald Trump can appoint a Republican majority to the National Labor Relations Board. Workers at Starbucks, Amazon and some other prominent consumer brands are fighting for their first contracts after several locations voted to unionize. (Photo: AP)
December 22, 2024 8:05 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military says two U.S. Navy pilots have been shot down over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident. Both pilots were recovered alive, with one suffering minor injuries in the incident on Sunday. The incident came as the U.S. military conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels, though the U.S. military’s Central Command did not elaborate on what their mission was at the time. “The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18, which was flying off the USS Harry S. Truman,” Central Command said in a statement.
December 22, 2024 8:06 am
MAGDEBURG, Germany (AP) — German authorities say they received tipoffs last year about the suspect in a car attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg as more details emerged about the five people killed. Authorities have identified the suspect as a Saudi doctor who arrived in Germany in 2006. Police haven’t publicly named the suspect, but several German news outlets identified him as Taleb A., withholding his last name in line with privacy laws. He was reportedly a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy. Authorities say he does not fit the usual profile of perpetrators of extremist attacks. The man described himself as an ex-Muslim who was highly critical of Islam.
December 22, 2024 7:27 am
WASHINGTON — A Washington County man is going to prison after pleading guilty to assaulting officers with a weapon during the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan 6, 2021. The United States Attorney’s Office said Joshua Lee Atwood, 31, of Burgettstown was sentenced to four years in prison with three years of supervised release. He will also pay $2,000 in restitution. Atwood was arrested by the FBI in April. Authorities said he climbed into the Capitol through a broken window and entered the Senate room to join the mob outside of the Tunnel entrance inside the building at 4:51 p.m. on that day. They reported he picked up a wooden pole and used it to strike at the riot shields of officers in the police line. Police said he hit an officer’s helmet with that pole before throwing it at them. Atwood reportedly used pepper spray against police until the canister was empty. Police said he also threw a baseball bat, a plastic bottle, a metal scaffolding pipe and a heavy black speaker at the group of officers. The metal pipe hit an officer in the head and neck. In the 47 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,572 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 590 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing. (Photo: WPXI)
December 22, 2024 7:00 am
One person was taken to a local hospital early Saturday morning for treatment of smoke inhalation, after fire broke out at a residence at 54 West Maiden Street in Washington. The building is located directly across the street from Washington City Hall. Authorities say the blaze, which was reported around four o’clock, displaced several residents and the Red Cross was called out to provide a warming station. There’s been no word on what caused the fire.
December 22, 2024 7:31 am
(WPXI) – Check your tickets! Someone in Pennsylvania won big in Friday’s Mega Millions drawing. While the jackpot is still rolling, someone in Pennsylvania matched all five winning numbers drawn Friday night— 2-20-51-56-67, but not the Mega Ball, 19, to win $1 million. The Megaplier was 2X. Three other Pennsylvania Mega Millions players matched four of five numbers drawn, winning $10,000. The Mega Millions jackpot is estimated to be worth $944 million for the next drawing on Christmas Eve. The Mega Millions odds are 1 in 302.6 million. Winners can choose an annuity with annual payments over 29 years, but most winners take the cash option.
December 22, 2024 7:00 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has rushed through final passage of a bipartisan plan to fund federal operations and prevent a government shutdown. It now goes to President Joe Biden, who is expected to quickly sign it into law. The House passed the package late Friday in an overwhelming vote. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pushed into the night to finish early Saturday, just after the midnight deadline. The bill would temporarily fund federal operations and disaster aid, but drops President-elect Donald Trump’s demands for a debt limit increase into the new year. Speaker Mike Johnson had insisted Congress would “meet our obligations” and not allow federal operations to shutter ahead of the Christmas holiday season. He also said Trump is happy with the outcome.
December 21, 2024 9:34 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine has brought the war into the heart of Russia with drone attacks that Russian authorities said damaged residential buildings in the city of Kazan, some 600 miles from the front line. The press service of Kazan’s governor, Rustam Minnikhanov, said that eight drones attacked the city, six of which hit residential buildings. Local authorities said there were no casualties. Moscow sent 113 drones into Ukraine overnight into Saturday, Ukrainian officials said, all of which were shot down or “lost,” likely having been electronically jammed. Kharkiv regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said eight people were wounded Friday night in drone attacks.
December 21, 2024 5:45 am
MAGDEBURG, Germany (AP) — Germans are mourning a violent attack after a Saudi doctor intentionally drove a black BMW into a Christmas market teeming with holiday shoppers, killing at least five people, including a small child, and injuring at least 60 others. Authorities arrested a 50-year-old man at the site of the attack Friday evening and took him into custody for questioning. He has lived in Germany for nearly two decades, practicing medicine. Several German media outlets identified him as Taleb A. There were still no answers Saturday as to what caused him to drive into a crowd in the eastern German city of Magdeburg. Describing himself as a former Muslim, he shared dozens of posts daily focusing on anti-Islam themes.
December 21, 2024 9:31 am
(AP) — The U.S. flu season is underway. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday released its latest flu-monitoring data, and noted sharp increases in several measures. Thirteen states last week were reporting high or very high levels of flu-like illness last week, about double from the week before. No flu strain seems to be dominant, and it’s too early in the season to know how good a match the flu vaccine will be. Flu experts suggest everyone get vaccinated, especially as people prepare to attend holiday gatherings where respiratory viruses can spread widely.
