Trump Lashes Out At Harris & ‘The View’

October 9, 2024 5:06 am

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has hurled insults at his rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, and the co-hosts of ABC’s “The View.” He said on Wednesday he had no interest in stopping his attacks, even if they turn off female voters. Trump spoke as Hurricane Milton made landfall, lashing Florida with rain, tornadoes and tropical-storm-force winds. “I don’t want to be nice,” Trump said at his first of two rallies of the day in the pivotal battleground state of Pennsylvania. “You know, somebody said, ‘You should be nicer. Women won’t like it.’ I said, ‘I don’t care.’”

FBI Arrests Man Who Planned Election Day Attack

October 9, 2024 4:55 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI has arrested an Afghan man who officials say was inspired by the Islamic State militant organization and was plotting an Election Day attack targeting large crowds in the U.S. That’s according to a Justice Department announcement Tuesday. Officials say 27-year-old Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi of Oklahoma City had taken steps in recent weeks to advance his attack plans, including by ordering AK-47 rifles, liquidating his family’s assets and buying one-way tickets for his wife and child to travel home to Afghanistan. After he was arrested, the Justice Department said, Tawhedi told investigators he had planned an attack for Election Day that would target large gatherings of people.

Justice Department Considers Break Up Of Google

October 9, 2024 4:53 am

The U.S. Department of Justice is considering asking a federal judge to force Google to sell parts of its business in order to eliminate its online search monopoly. In a late court filing on Tuesday, federal prosecutors also said the judge could ask the court to open the underlying data Google uses to power its ubiquitous search engine and artificial intelligence products to competitors. A federal judge ruled in August that Google’s search engine has been illegally exploiting its dominance to squash competition and stifle innovation. Google plans to appeal but must wait until the remedies are decided.

Window To Evacuate Ahead Of Milton Has Closed

October 9, 2024 4:50 am

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The National Hurricane Center says tropical storm-force winds from Hurricane Milton are just off the western coast of Florida. Officials in a Tampa Bay-area county said Wednesday that that they’re taking buses off the roads and that it’s people’s “last chance if you need to get to a shelter.” The powerful storm’s center remains over 100 miles away in the Gulf of Mexico. The hurricane center stresses it is not certain exactly where Milton’s center will come ashore Wednesday night. But it says the entire Tampa Bay region and points south are at grave risk.  (Photo:  AP)

Biden Warns Against Price Gouging

October 9, 2024 4:48 am

President Joe Biden is warning airlines and other companies not to overcharge people who are trying to get out of the path of Hurricane Milton. Biden said Tuesday he’s calling on the airlines to help people evacuate. The storm is bearing down on the west coast of Florida, causing airlines to cancel hundreds of flights in Tampa and other cities in the state. Travelers at airports and people posting online are collecting evidence of airfares rising sharply as the storm approaches. The airlines said they are capping fares and trying to accommodate people affected by the storm. United Airlines says economy-class seats on some flights from the Florida cities in the hurricane’s path are averaging less than $500.

Early In-Person Voting Begins In Arizona

October 9, 2024 4:47 am

PHOENIX (AP) — Early in-person voting is beginning in Arizona, making it the first of this year’s presidential battleground states where all residents can cast a ballot at a traditional polling place ahead of Election Day. The start of in-person voting on Wednesday in the closely contested state also is drawing the presidential tickets, with both campaigns scheduling visits there this week. Each of Arizona’s 15 counties is required to open at least one site for in-person voting, which runs until the Friday before the Nov. 5 general election. In-person voting begins next week in four more presidential swing states — Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Nevada.

Gun Found In Woman’s Purse At Pittsburgh International

October 9, 2024 4:44 am

FINDLAY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – A gun was found at Pittsburgh International Airport on Sunday. TSA officers found the teal handgun, which was not loaded, in a Ligonier woman’s purse. A release from TSA says the woman said she was moving and forgot she put the gun in her purse. “Forgetting where you placed your gun is no excuse,” Donald Weston, TSA’s Acting Federal Security Director for the airport, said. “Responsible owners of a firearm always know where their gun is. If you must travel with your firearm, the proper way to do it is to make sure it’s unloaded, packed in a hard-sided locked case and taken to the airline check-in counter. The airline will ensure it is transported in the belly of the aircraft.” This is the 34th gun found at the airport in 2024. TSA reminds travelers that bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint will result in a federal civil penalty. This applies to travelers with and without concealed carry permits.

North Franklin Amends Property Maintenance Code

October 9, 2024 2:40 am

North Franklin Township Supervisors acted on strengthening their version of the International Property Maintenance Code. Staff and Code Enforcement officers combed through the ordinance and adopted measures that will give code enforcement more power to investigate issues and properly write and enforce citations for violations. The adoption of the ordinance was unanimous. As of the last couple of years, properties, both commercial and residential have been allowed to decay due to lack of ability to address certain safety issues. The measures passed will now allow broader investigation of safety concerns and give enforcement officers the power to cite those property owners.

President Biden Stops In Pennsylvania & Wisconsin

October 9, 2024 2:24 am

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (AP) — President Joe Biden is making a rare jump into the 2024 battleground political fray since ending his reelection bid. He’ll campaign on Tuesday in Pennsylvania for a close ally and visit Wisconsin to spotlight a signature legislative achievement. But as Biden makes a quick swing through the key states, two Democratic senators locked in competitive reelection battles are taking markedly different approaches to the outgoing president. Biden was fully embraced by Sen. Bob Casey when he participated in an evening campaign fundraiser in Philadelphia with Pennsylvania’s senior senator. But in Milwaukee, where Biden spotlighted his administration’s efforts to replace the nation’s toxic lead pipes, incumbent Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin was conspicuously absent.

Disney Closing Parks Ahead Of Hurricane Milton

October 8, 2024 5:45 pm

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Orlando’s tourism machine began grinding to a halt Tuesday with at least three major theme parks and the main airport announcing closures ahead of Hurricane Milton ’s expected hit as a major storm in Florida.  Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and Sea World will close their theme parks and respective entertainment facilities on Wednesday, with the latter two also closed on Thursday and Disney likely to remain closed.  Universal also canceled Halloween Horror Nights scheduled for both days.  The theme parks join Orlando International Airport, which said it would cease operations Wednesday morning. The airport is the nation’s seventh busiest and Florida’s most trafficked.  (Photo:  AP)