November 13, 2024 4:52 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Just hours after Republican Sen. John Thune was elected as the incoming Senate majority leader, President-elect Donald Trump presented him with one of his first tests — an announcement that he intends to nominate House Republican Matt Gaetz as attorney general. Two months before Trump takes office, he is challenging congressional Republicans to defy him as he says he will nominate potentially controversial figures to his Cabinet, including Gaetz, former Democratic House Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, and conservative media personality Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense.
November 14, 2024 4:55 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has had few defenders in Congress as reliable as Matt Gaetz. That kinship was rewarded Wednesday when Trump named Gaetz as his pick for attorney general, turning to a conservative loyalist in place of more established lawyers who’d been seen as contenders. In announcing the selection, Trump underscored the premium he places on loyalty, citing Gaetz’s support during the Russia investigation as central to his qualifications and signaling his view that government leaders should function not only as a president’s protector but also as instruments of retribution.
November 14, 2024 2:45 am
A priest from a Canonsburg Greek Orthodox Church pleaded guilty to one charge of theft by unlawful taking on Wednesday. George Athanasiou, 38 of Cecil Township entered an open plea of guilty to that charge. He faced more that 220 individual charges for his role in taking $155,000 from the All Saints Greek Orthodox Church from April of 2022 until November of 2023. In his plea proceeding, Athanasiou pledged to repay the $155,000 missing from church coffers. The punitive aspect of his sentence will be determined after a pre-sentencing investigation is completed. Athanasiou could face 7 years in jail, a $15,000 fine or both. He will be sentenced on February 18.
November 13, 2024 2:14 am
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker visited a Washington County construction company Wednesday to commend its managers and workers — including union-represented employees — for implementing innovative safety policies that protect workers on the job. Chapman Corporation, a family- and woman-owned business with more than 660 employees, is one of two employers recognized by the Shapiro Administration this year with a 2024 Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence (GASE). Since 1997, the highly competitive GASE award has recognized outstanding workplace safety programs, promoted management and employee collaborations, and encouraged the sharing of best practices and development of safety approaches across the Commonwealth. “An employer has no greater responsibility than the safety of its workers, and the Shapiro Administration is committed to supporting Pennsylvania employers in their efforts to ensure that every worker returns home safely at the end of a productive day,” Secretary Walker said. “The Governor’s Awards for Safety Excellence honor employers like Chapman Corporation and their workers — 100% of whom are union members — for setting a high standard of safety rooted in mutual respect and collaboration between labor and management.” Chapman Corporation, headquartered in Washington has been a provider of civil, mechanical, and electrical construction services for industrial clients since 1949. “I truly appreciate being part of a company with such a great reputation and so caring of its employees, and we are so proud and honored to receive this year’s Governor’s Award for Exceptional Workplace Safety,” said Chris Cipoletti, Chapman Corporation President.
November 14, 2024 5:02 am
BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — For the third straight year, efforts to fight climate change haven’t lowered projections for how hot the world is likely to get. That’s according to a new analysis Thurdsay from Climate Action Tracker, a group of scientists and analysts who study government policies and calculate projections of warming. The group also said that recent developments in China and the United States are likely to slightly worsen the outlook. They said Earth is on a path to be 2.7 degrees Celsius, or 4.9 Fahrenheit, warmer than pre-industrial times. That’s far above the 1.5-degree Celsius target set at 2015 climate talks in Paris. The world has already warmed 1.3 degrees, and climate scientists say the heat is driving ever more extreme and damaging weather around the globe.
November 14, 2024 5:39 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — The giant balloons may be flying at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but the stars will be on street. Organizers revealed Thursday that Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue and Billy Porter will all perform, an upping of the star wattage over previous years. The trio will be in front of Macy’s iconic Herald Square flagship store, while also added to the parade is “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo. They will join the already-announced parade stars: reality TV’s Ariana Madix, Broadway belter Idina Menzel, hip-hop’s T-Pain and members of the WNBA champions New York Liberty. The holiday tradition will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 28th. (Photo: AP)
November 13, 2024 5:09 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has made a victor’s return to Washington. He held a nearly two-hour Oval Office meeting Wednesday with President Joe Biden and committing to a straightforward transition of power. The meeting comes as the Republican president-elect is moving quickly to build out his new administration. “Donald, congratulations,” Biden said, greeting Trump with a handshake in the Oval Office and adding that he looked “forward to a smooth transition.” Trump also pledged a smooth transition and expressed thanks to Biden for the invitation — one that Trump himself had not extended to Biden after losing the 2020 election.
November 13, 2024 3:39 pm
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Republican Matt Gaetz of Florida to serve as his attorney general, putting a loyalist in the role of the nation’s top prosecutor. In selecting the congressman, Trump passed over some of the more established attorneys whose names had been mentioned as being contenders for the job. “Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump said in a statement. (Photo: AP)
November 13, 2024 3:32 pm
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – (AP) – President-elect Donald Trump named Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as his nominee for secretary of state on Wednesday, setting up a onetime critic who evolved into one of the president-elect’s fiercest defenders to become the nation’s top diplomat. The conservative lawmaker is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump’s running mate this summer. On Capitol Hill, Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He has pushed for taking a harder line against China and has targeted social media app TikTok because its parent company is Chinese. He and other lawmakers contend that Beijing could demand access to the data of users whenever it wants. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement.
November 13, 2024 3:35 pm
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic member of Congress and presidential candidate, to serve as director of national intelligence, continuing to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities complimentary to his own, rather than long-term professionals in their requisite fields. Trump said in a statement: “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength. Tulsi will make us all proud!”
