Mexico’s New President Faces Three Pressing Challenges

June 4, 2024 4:54 am

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s newly elected president faces a long list of challenges, including persistent cartel violence, a deeply divided country, cash-straitened social programs and the long shadow of her mentor, outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. But for some analysts what awaits Claudia Sheinbaum mostly comes down to three things: money, dialogue and what happens in the U.S. election. She begins her six-year presidential term Oct. 1, so has four months to define her agenda. During this time, López Obrador is expected to continue delivering his daily morning press briefings as he tries to solidify his legacy. The coexistence might be far from easy: He has divided society; she says she wants to unite it. He is a leader of the masses; she is an academic and a scientist.

Two Palestinians Killed In West Bank

June 4, 2024 4:53 am

The Israeli military says it killed two Palestinians, who it claimed were attempting to launch a shooting attack toward Israeli communities from the occupied West Bank. Residents of Israeli communities just outside the West Bank have reported an uptick in shootings emanating from the occupied Palestinian territory in recent days. A surge of violence has gripped the West Bank since the October start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. A cease-fire proposal announced by United States President Joe Biden has placed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a crossroads. The proposal offers the possibility of ending Israel’s war against Hamas, returning scores of hostages held by the militant group, and quieting the northern border with Lebanon.

City Council Considering Comprehensive Plan Update

June 4, 2024 4:42 am

The agenda meeting for Washington City Council was very succinct. All items discussed were general day to day business items. Council did hear from City Administrator Donn Henderson on his thoughts on updating the city’s comprehensive plan. According to Henderson, the plan has not been updated since its adoption approximately 12 years ago. The plan studies the city and tries to direct council on programs that need to be addressed. It also demonstrates what went well over the past decade. Henderson is looking to contact the Department of Community and Economic Development to access grants that would offset the cost of the study and formation of the plan. According to Henderson that cost could run more than $100,000 without grant funding. In conjunction with the comprehensive plan, Henderson suggested that council could consider a housing opportunity plan that would study the city’s housing inventory. It would look for methods of creating more home ownership opportunities and look for ways to help current owners maintain and upgrade their current homes. In city business, council will look to approve the payoff of the city’s $1 million Tax Anticipation Note. The note is taken out to allow the city to operate day to day until municipal taxes are collected. Council will meet on Thursday June 6, for its voting meeting.

Washington Financial Bank Robbed

June 4, 2024 1:15 am

Washington Police are searching for the man who robbed the Washington Financial Bank at 98 East Wylie Avenue Monday morning around nine-thirty.  Police say the man, described as having an olive complexion, walked into the bank and handed a teller a note demanding money.  Police say he made a vague threat but did not brandish a weapon.  They say he fled on foot.  There were no injuries and no information was given on the amount of money taken.  Police are asking for anyone with information to call them at 724-233-4226 or message their Facebook page.

Ticketmaster Reporting Mass Data Breach

June 3, 2024 2:49 pm

(AP) – Live Nation is investigating a data breach at its Ticketmaster subsidiary, which dominates ticketing for live events in the United States. Live Nation, based in Beverly Hills, California, said in a regulatory filing Friday that on May 27 “a criminal threat actor″ offered to sell Ticketmaster data on the dark web. Other media reports say a hacking group named ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the breach in an online forum and was seeking $500,000 for the data, which reportedly includes names, addresses, phone numbers and some credit card details of Ticketmaster customers.  (Photo:  AP)

Technical Issues Cause Problems On NYSE

June 3, 2024 1:51 pm

NEW YORK (AP) — A technical issue caused the temporary halt for some stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange Monday, including at least one whose price briefly fell nearly 100%. The exchange said in a trading update on Monday that trading was halted in a number of stocks following a technical issue related to the publication of some pricing data. It said the issue has been resolved and that impacted stocks have either reopened for trading or are in the process of reopening. Berkshire Hathaway saw its A-class shares plunge 99.97% before its trading was halted.

One Person Arrested In Pitt Protest

June 3, 2024 12:40 pm

(WPXI) – Protesters gathered outside the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning just before 6 p.m. on Sunday. Some tents were set up on the lawn outside of the Cathedral. At 7:21 p.m. Pitt Police said the Cathedral of Learning and William Pitt Union would be closed until further notice. They also believe traffic will be impacted near Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Blvd. Protesters say they stand with the people of Palestine. One person was detained at the protest. Donald Johnson, who, Pitt police say was preventing officers from doing their duties by using his body as a barrier as protesters were running cases of water toward the encampment. Police said they do not have a permit for food or water. Protesters are calling for the University of Pittsburgh to sever any ties with Israel or companies promoting the Israel-Hamas War.

Zelenskyy In Philippines To Promote Peace Summit

June 3, 2024 5:11 am

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in the Philippines on a rare Asian trip to urge regional leaders to attend a Swiss-organized peace summit on the war in Ukraine that he accuses Russia, with China’s help, of trying to undermine. Zelenskyy arrived unannounced and under heavy security in Manila late Sunday after speaking over the weekend at the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore. Zelenskyy had planned but failed to meet with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Singapore so he decided to fly to Manila to personally invite Marcos to attend the summit in Switzerland. He was given a red-carpet welcome with military honors Monday at the presidential palace in Manila.

Opening Statements Set To Begin In Hunter Biden Trial

June 3, 2024 5:10 am

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — The jury has been seated in Hunter Biden’s federal firearms case. Twelve panelists and four alternates were chosen after one day of jury selection. Opening statements will begin Tuesday. The president’s son has been charged with lying on federal gun purchase forms when he said he wasn’t a drug addict. He has pleaded not guilty and argues he’s being unfairly targeted by the Justice Department. Prospective jurors are being asked about their knowledge of the case, their thoughts about gun ownership and whether they or anyone close to them have struggled with substance abuse or addiction or ever owned a gun.

U.S Pushes Cease-Fire Plan In Gaza

June 3, 2024 5:08 am

The Israeli military says the body of a presumed hostage was found in a community near the Gaza border that Hamas militants had attacked on Oct. 7. Dolev Yehud, 35, was thought to be among scores of hostages held in Gaza until Monday, when the military announced the discovery of his body and said he had been killed in the initial attack. Israeli forces are expanding their offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, once the main hub of humanitarian aid operations, as the country faces growing international criticism for the huge cost in civilian lives and the widespread destruction caused by its nearly 8-month-old war against Hamas.