April 5, 2023 4:14 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Former teacher and union organizer Brandon Johnson has been elected Chicago mayor. Tuesday’s win is a major victory for the Democratic Party’s progressive wing as the nation’s third-largest city grapples with high crime and financial challenges. Johnson is a Cook County commissioner who was endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union. He defeated former Chicago schools CEO Paul Vallas, who was backed by the police union. Johnson will succeed Lori Lightfoot, the first Black woman and first openly gay person to be the city’s mayor. Johnson’s victory capped a remarkable trajectory for a candidate who was little known when he entered the race. He climbed to the top of the field with organizing and financial help from the politically influential Chicago Teachers Union.
April 5, 2023 4:07 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is making $450 million available for solar farms and other clean energy projects at the site of current or former coal mines. The money is part of President Joe Biden’s efforts to combat climate change. Up to five projects nationwide will be funded through the 2021 infrastructure law, at least two set aside for solar farms. The White House said Tuesday it’ll allow developers of clean energy projects to take advantage of billions of dollars in new bonuses. The bonuses are being offered in addition to investment and production tax credits available through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
April 5, 2023 2:17 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A spokesman says former Vice President Mike Pence won’t appeal a judge’s order compelling him to testify in the Justice Department’s investigation into efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The decision sets up a possible appearance by Pence in the coming weeks before a federal grand jury in Washington that’s scrutinizing attempts by the former president and supporters before the Capitol riot to undo Democrat Joe Biden’s victory. Multiple Trump administration officials have testified in that investigation, as well in a separate inquiry examining Trump’s possession of classified documents, but Pence would be the highest-profile witness to answer questions before a grand jury. (Photo: AP)
April 4, 2023 4:22 am
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The fate of abortion access in battleground Wisconsin likely rests with Tuesday’s outcome of the heated race for state Supreme Court that became the most expensive contest of its kind in U.S. history. The future of Republican-drawn legislative maps, voting rights and years of other Republican policies also hang in the balance. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has been under conservative control for 15 years. It came within one vote of overturning President Joe Biden’s narrow win in 2020. Democratic-backed candidate Janet Protasiewicz faces Republican-backed Dan Kelly in the officially nonpartisan race that has broken down along partisan lines.
April 4, 2023 4:21 am
VOORSCHOTEN, Netherlands (AP) — A train has derailed near the Dutch city of The Hague, killing one person and injuring some 30 passengers, many of them seriously. At least two carriages came to rest in a field next to the tracks after the accident in the early hours on Tuesday. Television images showed people using makeshift bridges to cross a canal running alongside the rails to reach the stricken train in the darkness. The cause of the accident that happened around 3:25 a.m. in the town of Voorschoten, near The Hague, is not immediately clear.Dutch media reported that there was a small construction crane on the tracks, but authorities did not immediately confirm that.
April 4, 2023 4:20 am
BEIJING (AP) — China’s leaders are seething at U.S. efforts to cut off access to technology to make advanced computer chips. They appear to be struggling to figure out how to retaliate without hurting their own ambitions in telecoms, artificial intelligence and other industries. President Xi Jinping’s government sees the chips that are used in everything from phones to kitchen appliances to fighter jets as critical assets in its rivalry with Washington and efforts to gain wealth and global influence. China has its own chip foundries, but they can supply only low-end processors used in autos and appliances. The U.S. government, Japan and the Netherlands have cut off access to chipmaking tools they say might be used to make weapons.
April 4, 2023 4:19 am
Forecasters are warning of more severe weather and fire danger in the days ahead across much of the same region hit hard by storms last week. The fierce storms that began Friday spawned tornadoes in 11 states. That system dropped a tornado in Little Rock, Arkansas, and traveled northeast through the South and into the Midwest and Northeast. Forecasters say more severe weather is forecast for Tuesday afternoon and evening across parts of northeastern Missouri into southeastern Iowa and west central Illinois. The threat for fire danger also remains high across portions of Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. Wildfires destroyed more than 40 homes in Oklahoma on Friday.
April 4, 2023 4:13 am
The Washington City Council breezed through their agenda meeting Monday night. Department reports highlighted discussion. Leading off, Police Chief Dan Rush publicly thanked Doug DeCosta for his efforts in helping return two kidnapped children to their home in Zanesville, Ohio last month. Rush explained how DeCosta recognized the vehicle and kids from an Amber Alert earlier in the day and contacted police to make sure no further harm was done. Rush reported that the man arrested for the kidnapping, Thomas Pritchard, is in jail awaiting a preliminary hearing. Council also received good news from Christy Rowing, Executive Director of the City of Washington Citywide Development Corporation. Rowing reported that the city was awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania State Local Share Accounts fund. The city will receive $99,000 to improve streetscape lighting. The lighting was found to be deficient during he Christmas Parade in 2022 when a lady temporarily lost contact with a young child and found it difficult to see much of anything due to dim lighting on city streets. Rowing expects to begin installation of updated and new light poles and lights in late summer.
April 4, 2023 4:10 am
UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – A Unity Township woman is out $14,000 after a man told her that her McAfee account was credited for more than she was owed. According to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office, the woman, 74, spoke with Pennsylvania State Police back in January about the theft. The woman said she was contacted by an unknown man who said her McAfee account was credited $14,000 instead of $140. She was told to transfer the money from her bank into Bitcoin to return it. Officials said the woman withdrew the requested amount of money from her bank account and was told to buy Bitcoin from a kiosk at the Lowrey Avenue Sunoco gas station in Jeanette. The woman sent the receipt with the account number and other personal information to the man, officials said. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating and urge residents to never give out personal information, never buy gift cards or send money electronically to someone you do not know, hang up and call police if it seems suspicious. The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office is assisting with the investigation.
April 4, 2023 4:06 am
A portion of a Jefferson Hills road is permanently closed as part of the construction of the Mon Fayette Expressway. Approximately one mile of Miller Road, between the intersection with State Route 885 (Clairton Road) and the intersection with State Route 837 (North State Street) closed at 7 a.m. for construction of PA Turnpike 43, according to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Cul-de-sacs will be constructed at each end of the closure for turn-around points, according to the commission. Alternate routes are 837 and 885. The project is part of the Route 51 to I-376 Project’s 53A1 construction section. For more information visit www.paturnpike.com/monfayette.
