Inflation Likely Cooled Again Last Month

October 10, 2024 5:03 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. inflation last month likely reached its lowest point since February 2021, clearing the way for another Federal Reserve rate cut and adding to the stream of encouraging economic data that has emerged in the final weeks of the presidential campaign. The consumer price index is expected to have risen just 2.3% in September from 12 months earlier, down from the 2.5% year-over-year increase in August. A reading that low, likely reflecting lower gas prices and only a slight rise in food costs, would barely exceed the Fed’s 2% inflation target. A little over two years ago, inflation had reached a peak of 9.1%.

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.’”

Scratch-Off Worth $5 Million Sold At The Meadows

October 10, 2024 2:16 am

WASHINGTON, Pa. — (WPXI) – A Pennsylvania Lottery scratch-off ticket worth $5 million was recently sold in Washington County. The ticket was sold at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino, which will earn a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. The ticket, MONOPOLY Own It All, is a $50 game that offers top prizes of $5 million. Scratch-off prizes expire one year from the game’s end-sale date posted at palottery.com.

1 Injured In I-79 Crash

October 9, 2024 7:48 am

One person was transported to Canonsburg Hospital after a two-vehicle crash in North Strabane Wednesday morning along Interstate 79 northbound. Washington County 9-1-1 says it happened just after 7 a.m. and was a rear-end type collision near the Houston exit.  There is no word on the identity or condition of the person injured. Dispatchers said one-lane was blocked but traffic was getting by.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.