November 20, 2024 5:00 am
Vigils and other events are being held to draw attention to transgender people who have lost their lives due to violence in the past year. Wednesday marked Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is held every Nov. 20. The Human Rights Campaign says at least 36 transgender people have been killed by violence over the past 12 months. That number is likely higher because of deaths not being reported, misreported or because the victims are misgendered. This year’s events follow an election where transgender people were the focus of a costly barrage of attack ads by Republicans.
November 20, 2024 4:59 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is clearly prizing experience on television as he chooses people to serve in his new administration. Trump likes what he calls that “central casting” look. His choices for defense secretary and transportation chief — Pete Hegseth and Sean Duffy — have both had shows on Trump’s favorite network, Fox News. Duffy is a former lawmaker and also was a cast member on MTV’s “The Real World.” Trump has tapped Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former syndicated talk show host and heart surgeon, to head the agency that oversees health insurance programs for millions of older, poor and disabled Americans.
November 20, 2024 4:56 am
ISSAQUAH, Wash. (AP) — A major storm was sweeping across the northwestern U.S., battering the region with strong winds and rain. It caused widespread power outages and downed trees that killed at least two people. Falling trees struck homes and littered roadways in Washington, where about 460,000 customers were without power Wednesday afternoon. The deaths from fallen trees occurred Tuesday night at a homeless encampment in Lynnwood and a home in Bellevue, east of Seattle. The Weather Prediction Center issued excessive rainfall risks through Friday and hurricane-force wind warnings were in effect. The storm system is considered a “bomb cyclone,” which occurs when a cyclone intensifies rapidly.
November 20, 2024 4:55 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv says it will shut its doors after receiving warning of a potentially significant air attack. The embassy also said in a statement on Wednesday that employees and U.S. citizens take shelter. It comes one day after Moscow said U.S.-made longer range missiles had been used in a Ukrainian attack that struck a weapons warehouse in the Bryansk region.
November 20, 2024 4:52 am
Get ready for a little blast of winter. We’ll see rain Thursday morning but that will turn over to all snow by 2 p.m. The National Weather Service says total daytime accumulation will be less than a half-inch. Tonight we will see a chance for more snow and it will be windy with gusts approaching 30 mph. Any new accumulation will be less than one-inch. As for Friday, we can expect snow before 1 p.m with any new accumulation of less than a half-inch. It will still be windy and the snow will change over to all rain by Friday afternoon.
November 20, 2024 4:48 am
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI) – Tuesday night’s Allegheny County Council meeting was packed with people. Dozens had to be moved to an overflow space. All of this is in response to the proposed county budget and existing opposition. In County Executive Sara Innamorato’s first-ever budget, she proposed a 2.2 mill or 46.5% property tax increase. It would equal about $180 a year more for the average homeowner. That proposal has been met with opposition. Some members of council say it’s just too steep. A memo from the county manager to council was leaked. In it, he outlined what would happen if the millage was not increased calling subsequent cuts “deep” and “catastrophic.” According to the memo, the Department of Human Services would need to cut staff and funding to a number of programs and organizations. Members of those organizations showed up in force, imploring council to vote in favor of the budget proposal. Not all agreed. The budget vote is set for Dec. 3.
November 20, 2024 2:00 am
North Strabane Township Supervisors gave residents a first look at the budget for 2025 at their agenda meeting. The spending plan comes in at $22,921,777. It is a balanced budget and no tax increase is proposed for 2025. Other business that supervisors could consider is an ordinance that will amend their zoning ordinance to create a definition and regulations for a personal warehouse as a conditional use within the C-1 zoning district. Supervisors will vote to approve the preliminary budget at their meeting on November 26th.
November 19, 2024 5:22 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — New York prosecutors oppose any effort to dismiss Trump’s hush money conviction, but say they are open to delaying sentencing until after his second term. In a court filing Tuesday, the Manhattan district attorney’s office said it’s OK with a sentencing delay while Trump’s lawyers try to get the case tossed out in light of his election. Judge Juan M. Merchan has not set a timetable for his decision. Trump’s spokesperson characterized prosecutors Tuesday filing as “a total and definitive victory” for Trump. Sentencing had been scheduled for Nov. 26. The president-elect was convicted in May of falsifying business records. The case alleges that he covered up a scheme to influence the 2016 election by paying hush money to squelch a story of extramarital sex. Trump denies the allegations.
November 19, 2024 5:19 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump says he is nominating Dr. Mehmet Oz, who hosted a long-running television talk show, to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Oz, who ran a failed bid to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate, has been an outspoken supporter of Trump and in recent days expressed support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for the nation’s top health agency, Health and Human Services. Trump has also chosen Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition operation helping to find the team that will work in the next administration. (Photo: AP)
November 19, 2024 5:01 am
BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — Big money to respond to climate change is key to the United Nations talks underway in Azerbaijan. Vulnerable nations say they need as much as $1.3 trillion to cope with damage they’ve already suffered from extreme weather events, and to adapt to a warming planet. Wealthy nations haven’t been willing to pay nearly that much. One way they’re talking about bridging the big gap is through leverage. That’s the idea that big loans can attract other loans and private spending to add up quickly. Smaller nations are skeptical of any plan that depends heavily on loans. Many are already drowning in debt and fear even more.
