October 2, 2024 5:15 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Some 45,000 dockworkers at 36 U.S. ports from Maine to Texas are on strike for the first time in decades. And experts say the workers may wield the upper hand in their standoff with port operators over wages and the use of automation. Organized labor enjoys rising public support and has achieved a string of recent victories in other industries, with the backing of the pro-union administration of President Joe Biden. Their negotiating stand is likely further strengthened from having the nation’s supply chain of goods under pressure from the effects of Hurricane Helene, which has coincided with the peak shipping season for holiday goods.
October 2, 2024 5:14 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian medical officials say at least 32 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli strikes in southern Gaza. The European Hospital in Khan Younis said it received the bodies after heavy Israeli airstrikes and ground operations in the city overnight and into Wednesday. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel has continued to strike what it says are militant targets across Gaza nearly a year after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack ignited the war. That’s even as attention has shifted to Lebanon, where Israel is battling Hezbollah, and to Iran, which launched a ballistic missile attack on Israel late Tuesday.
October 2, 2024 5:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice presidential nominees JD Vance and Tim Walz have used their time on the debate stage to focus the bulk of their attacks not on one another, but on those at the top of their rival tickets. Republican Vance and Democrat Walz both sought to project themselves as genial opponents as they lobbed criticism at Harris and Trump, respectively. With the Mideast in turmoil, the two vice presidential candidates offered different approaches toward foreign policy: Walz promised “steady leadership” under Harris while Vance pledged a return to “peace through strength” if Trump is returned to the White House. The two running mates agreed that the number of migrants in the U.S. illegally is a problem. But each laid the blame on the opposing presidential nominee.
October 2, 2024 5:09 am
The Republican National Committee and the Pennsylvania GOP have turned to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in the ballot curing legal battle here in Washington County. They have filed and appeal asking the high court to review the Commonwealth Court ruling that upheld Common Pleas Court Judge Brandon Neuman’s order that the county elections board notify voters who made fatal mistakes on their mail-in ballots and allowing them to cast a provisional ballot instead. Washington County Commissioners Chairman Nick Sherman says they are taking a wait and see approach over whether the high court will take the case. The elections board is to hold a special meeting this morning at 10 a.m. to discuss how to handle absentee and mail-in ballots for the November 5 election. It will be held in the meeting room of the Crossroads Center. WJPA News will be there.
October 2, 2024 4:56 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Some manufacturers and retailers are urging President Joe Biden to invoke a 1947 law as a way to suspend a strike by 45,000 dockworkers that has shut down 36 U.S. ports from Maine to Texas. At issue is Section 206 of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, better known as the Taft-Hartley Act. The law authorizes a president to seek a court order for an 80-day cooling-off period for companies and unions to try to resolve their differences. Biden has said, though, that he won’t intervene in the strike.
October 2, 2024 4:55 am
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) — Three residents of a northeastern Pennsylvania county are suing to overturn a local official’s announcement she will prevent all four of its drop boxes for mail-in ballots from being deployed. The Luzerne County lawsuit filed Tuesday seeks a judge’s order that the drop boxes for use by those voting by mail and absentee ballot be in place for the Nov. 5 election. The plaintiffs say Luzerne County manager Romilda Crocamo lacks authority for statements made last month that the county won’t use drop boxes “because of purported safety and security concerns.” Drop boxes are used to hand over completed mail ballots by those who don’t want to put them through the mail. Crocamo is declining comment.
October 2, 2024 4:52 am
ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – A man died after he was shot in Robinson Township, Washington County, on Monday evening. Washington County 911 tells Channel 11 that police and medics were sent to Spring Street near Valley Street just before 7 p.m. for reports of a man shot in a yard. Pennsylvania State Police said the shooting involved two men. Both were taken to the hospital, where one died. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified him as Eric Efalo, 50. Neighbors say they’re surprised by the shooting and are curious about what happened. “We were actually eating dinner and my neighbor over here heard hollers for help and then heard the gunshot and the screams stopped and they called 911,” neighbor Karen Dunks said. The neighbors are shaken up by the incident and want to know what led up to the shooting. “It was pretty scary and I don’t want to get emotional but I’m just thankful our neighbors and friends are okay from last night,” Dunks said. The investigation is ongoing.
October 2, 2024 4:49 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene has brought climate change to the forefront of the presidential campaign. President Joe Biden has toured some of the areas hardest-hit by the storm on Wednesday as he and Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to different parts of the Southeast. Trump was in Georgia on Monday and criticized the federal response. The storm and its aftermath have killed at least 180 people. Vice presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz agreed on the need for a strong response. But Walz also linked the storm to climate change, saying it “roared onto the scene faster and stronger than anything we’ve seen.″
October 2, 2024 2:34 am
The Washington County Board of Elections met to determine how to handle mail in ballots that have flaws that render them unable to be considered. The Board voted 3-0 to comply with the court order issued By Judge Brandon Neuman. The Elections office will enter the flawed ballot into the Sure System. That will generate an email from the Secretary of State to notify the voter of the flaw. If no email is provided, the voter will be notified by the county elections office by phone. With that notice, the voter may choose to vote provisionally on Election Day. On July 1, seven disenfranchised voters, The Center For Coalfield Justice and the Washington Branch of the NAACP sued the Board of Elections for its policy to disallow flawed mail in ballots and not notify voters of those flaws. On August 23, Judge Brandon Neuman determined that voters must be notified of those flaws so that they may vote with a provisional ballot if they so choose. An appeal of that decision By the Republican National Committee, the State GOP and Washington County was lost in Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court on September 24. The Republican National Committee and the State GOP are appealing that ruling to the Supreme Court. It is unclear if the Supreme Court will hear the appeal as they are being asked by the RNC and State GOP to consider a “King’s Bench” ruling on a number of other cases regarding mail in ballots before the November 5 election.
October 2, 2024 2:16 am
Washington City Police are alerting motorists that an ongoing road construction project will hamper daily travel on East Maiden Street in Washington. Police say the work is continuing till further notice, Monday through Friday, from eight a.m. until five p.m. on East Maiden Street from South Main Street to Dunn Avenue. Police say there will be long delays and are urging motorists to find alternate routes if possible.
