November 12, 2024 5:07 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Speaker Mike Johnson is beginning the hard fight to retain his gavel. The first test will come Wednesday during internal House Republican leadership elections that will establish the new power centers for a Washington dominated by President-elect Donald Trump. While Johnson has no serious challenger for the speakership, he faces dissent within his ranks, particularly from hard-right conservatives. Johnson needs just a simple majority in Wednesday’s closed-door voting to win the GOP nomination to become speaker. But he will need majority support of the full House, 218 votes, to actually take hold of the gavel on Jan. 3 when the new Congress convenes.
November 12, 2024 4:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress returns to a changed Washington. Lawmakers are back in town this week for the start of what’s called the “lame duck,” the eight-week sprint to finish up this session before the new one begins in January. President-elect Donald Trump’s hard-right agenda is quickly taking shape, and he has eager GOP allies in Congress. The Senate flipped to Republicans, and even with control of the House still undecided as ballots are being counted, Republicans are eyeing a full sweep of power on Capitol Hill. House and Senate Republicans will hold their leadership elections this week. Democrats vow to be a check on the White House but are also sorting out what went wrong.
November 12, 2024 4:55 am
PHOENIX (AP) — Democrat Ruben Gallego has been elected Arizona’s first Latino U.S. senator. Gallego defeated Republican Kari Lake. Both parties targeted the closely watched race in their quest for a congressional majority. Gallego’s victory continues a string of Democratic successes in a state that was reliably Republican until Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. Arizona voters had rejected Trump-endorsed candidates in every election since, but the president-elect won the state over Democrat Kamala Harris this year. Gallego is five-term House member and an Iraq War veteran with a compelling up-by-the-bootstraps life story that he featured prominently in his public appearances and ads. He will replace independent and former Democrat Kyrsten Sinema.
November 12, 2024 4:54 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says it has ratified a major defense treaty with Russia stipulating mutual military aid. Russia last week completed the ratification process of the treaty that is considered both countries’ biggest defense deal since the end of the Cold War. North Korea said the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty will take effect when both sides exchange documents on the ratification. The treaty requires them to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance if either is attacked. Details have not been disclosed, but some observers speculate the ratification could signal North Korea could formally enter the Russia-Ukraine war. The U.S., South Korea and Ukraine say North Korea has sent thousands of troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.
November 12, 2024 4:53 am
NEW YORK (AP) — A judge is postponing a decision on whether to undo President-elect Donald Trump’s conviction in his hush money case because of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. New York Judge Juan M. Merchan had been set to rule Tuesday. Instead, he told Trump’s lawyers Tuesday he’d delay the ruling until Nov. 19. According to emails filed in court, Trump’s lawyers asked for the delay over the weekend, arguing there are “strong reasons for the requested stay, and eventually dismissal of the case in the interests of justice.” A jury convicted Trump in May of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels in 2016. Trump denies any wrongdoing.
November 12, 2024 4:51 am
False posts circulating on social media claim that billionaire Elon Musk facilitated alleged election fraud through his internet service provider Starlink, manipulating the vote count, particularly in swing states, through election equipment such as ballot tabulators. Starlink, a subsidiary of Musk’s SpaceX company, uses satellites to offer high-speed internet, even in remote areas. These claims are unfounded. Election officials from multiple swing states told The Associated Press that their voting equipment doesn’t use Starlink and is not even connected to the internet. States across the U.S. have additional security measures to ensure that the count is accurate, according to experts. Election officials and security agencies have reported no significant issues with the 2024 race.
November 12, 2024 4:51 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian medical officials say two Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 14 people, including two children and a woman, most in an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone. One strike late Monday hit a cafeteria in the so-called Muwasi humanitarian zone west of the city of Khan Younis, killing at least 11 people including two children, according to officials at Nasser Hospital, where the casualties were taken. Another strike early Tuesday hit a house in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing three people including a woman, according to al-Awda Hospital, which received the casualties. The strike also wounded 11 others, it said.
November 12, 2024 4:47 am
GREENSBURG, Pa. — (WPXI) – Three students were taken to the hospital following a Veterans Day program at Greensburg Central Catholic High School on Monday. Floors in the gymnasium and the auxiliary gym were resurfaced over the weekend, and the chemicals can have a strong odor that “can be irritating.” A news release from the Diocese of Greensburg said both gyms were ventilated before the Veterans Day program. One of the students felt lightheaded and was taken to a hospital in an ambulance. Two other students were taken to a local hospital by their families.
Classes were immediately dismissed and Tuesday will be a flexible instruction day so additional ventilation can take place. “The health and safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We take any potential health concerns seriously and are working diligently to ensure our school environment remains safe for everyone. Rest assured that we are taking all necessary precautions and following expert guidance in addressing this situation,” a letter from the district said.
November 12, 2024 4:46 am
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI) – Collier Township police are filing charges against the juvenile involved in an incident that caused the Chartiers Valley School District to have all remote learning. Parents had waited most of the day to see if classes would be back in person Tuesday before getting alerted Monday around 7 p.m. that students would be back in the classroom. Chartiers Valley parent Candice Connor says it was around 10 p.m. Sunday when she was notified that all Chartiers Valley schools would be virtual on Monday. “It said there was a credible threat so they were canceling school and that was alarming,” Connor said. The move comes after police say a “credible” threat was made against the school district in addition to Parkway West Career and Technology Center. Both the school district and police haven’t specified exactly what the threat was, what it said or if it was on social media. Investigators said a juvenile was behind the threat, but didn’t say if it was a Chartiers Valley student or not. Monday night, the Bridgeville Police Department released information on its social media page saying that the juvenile was arrested by Bridgeville officers Monday night for separate charges stemming from separate incidents. Chartiers Valley Parents received an email around 7 p.m. Monday letting them know classes would be back in person. The interim superintendent explained the issue was fully resolved and that a juvenile experiencing a crisis was receiving appropriate help and support. That juvenile is being held in a secure juvenile holding facility. There will be extra police officers at all Chartiers Valley School campuses on Tuesday.
November 12, 2024 2:52 am
A hearing was held Tuesday on a request for a preliminary injunction requested by Pennsylvania’s Attorney General. The hearing came after a federal district court granted a motion by the state’s attorney general, for a temporary restraining order that would put on hold, the closing of the Pyrex Glass Plant in Charleroi. The move prevents the owners, Anchor Hocking Holding and its private equity partner from removing equipment and other materials from the plant. The court agreed with the attorney general that “Immediate and irreparable injury will result” from such actions. A spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General confirmed there was a hearing held on the matter and they expect the court to rule on the request by Thursday, November 14th, at five p.m.
