December 4, 2024 1:16 pm
(AP) – The U.S. government has closed its investigation into an E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers after determining there is no longer a safety risk. The outbreak, which was first reported Oct. 22, sickened at least 104 people in 14 states, including 34 who were hospitalized, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. One person in Colorado died and four people developed a potentially life-threatening kidney disease complication. The FDA, which conducted the investigation along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments, linked the outbreak to yellow onions distributed by California-based Taylor Farms and served raw on Quarter Pounders at McDonald’s restaurants in Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming and other states.
December 4, 2024 10:43 am
NEW YORK (AP) — UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has been shot and killed in what police say is a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference. The shooting rattled the city and set off a massive dragnet hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting. Police say 50-year-old Brian Thompson was shot around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch says the shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire. Police have not yet established a motive.
December 4, 2024 5:05 am
BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man has been executed for sexually assaulting and killing a 9-year-old girl, then dumping her body in a sinkhole outside of town. Christopher Collings was a friend of the family of the victim, fourth-grader Rowan Ford — so much so that he lived with the family for several months prior to Rowan’s death in November 2007. He sometimes helped Rowan with her homework. She knew him as “Uncle Chris.” Collings was executed with an injection of pentobarbital Tuesday evening at the state prison in Bonne Terre. It was the 23rd execution in the U.S. this year and the fourth in Missouri. Only Alabama with six and Texas with five have performed more executions in 2024.
December 4, 2024 5:03 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Drug Enforcement Administration says he’s withdrawing his name from consideration. Sheriff Chad Chronister, the top law enforcement officer in Hillsborough County, Florida, made the announcement in a post on X Tuesday evening. He called the nomination “the honor of a lifetime” but said he had concluded he must “back away from the opportunity.” He did not explain why. Trump’s pick of Chronister for the job, which was subject to Senate confirmation, had drawn backlash from conservatives, including over immigration and law enforcement actions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
December 4, 2024 5:02 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spent a second day Tuesday on Capitol Hill meeting privately with Republican senators. This comes amid rising questions about his ability to effectively lead the Pentagon. Hegseth told reporters he was planning to sit down with “every senator that wants to meet.” Trump tapped the Fox News co-host, who had served in the Army National Guard, as his Secretary of Defense, typically among the first Cabinet posts to be considered by the U.S. Senate for confirmation. But Hegseth is running into questions amid a sexual assault allegation, which he has denied, and other emerging reports. Just a few detractors in the Senate could sink his confirmation.
December 4, 2024 5:00 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s opposition parties have submitted a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing pressure to leave office hours after he ended a short-lived martial law that prompted troops to encircle parliament before lawmakers voted to lift it. Impeaching Yoon would require the support of two-thirds of parliament for the motion and then the backing of at least six Constitutional Court justices. The motion, submitted jointly by the main opposition Democratic Party and five smaller opposition parties, could be put to a vote as early as Friday. Yoon’s senior advisers and secretaries have offered to resign collectively and his Cabinet members, including the defense minister, also are facing calls to step down.
December 4, 2024 4:58 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, the Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people. The Biden administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors.
December 4, 2024 4:56 am
RESERVE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – A man from Ohio has been charged after police said he brought a handgun through the Pittsburgh International Airport main security checkpoint. Allegheny County police said Steven Lapp, 47, from Millersburg, was found with the handgun in his backpack at 4:19 p.m. Tuesday. Police said Lapp did not have a valid concealed carry permit. Lapp is facing a felony charge of carrying a firearm without a license.
December 4, 2024 4:52 am
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI) – Allegheny County council approved the budget it and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato struck a compromise on, resulting in a 1.7 mill increase. For homeowners who own a home assessed at $100,000, this compromised budget would increase property tax by an extra $13 per month. Previously, Innamorato proposed a 2.2 mill increase, which was around 46%. The council suggested a 28.5% increase instead. In addition to the 1.7 mill increase, they have agreed to the following principles for a 2025 budget: No layoffs of County employees. No cuts to County public safety departments or public works and fully funding Department of Human Services (including contributions from the County that will fully draw down every available State matching dollar). “I am pleased to bring this 2025 budget process to a close in a manner that provides for no layoffs of county employees, increases funding for law enforcement and public safety personnel, and maintains services for the residents of our county,” Chairman Palmosina said. County Council met Tuesday night and approved the budget on a vote of 10 to 5.
December 4, 2024 4:46 am
A grandmother looking for her lost cat apparently fell into a new sinkhole above an abandoned Westmoreland County coal mine and rescuers worked late into the night to try and find her. Video from the scene Tuesday showed bright lights illuminating snow flurries and various equipment at the site while crews worked above and below ground. Crews heard nothing earlier Tuesday when they lowered a pole camera with a sensitive listening device into the hole in Marguerite, Unity Township. Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani says a camera lowered down showed what could be a shoe. Authorities vowed to keep searching for Elizabeth Pollard until she is found.
