June 18, 2024 5:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new Biden administration policy will give roughly half a million immigrants who are married to American citizens but lack legal status in the United States a pathway to citizenship for them and their children. It is one of President Joe Biden’s most sweeping immigration policy moves and one that migrant advocates had been heavily lobbying the administration to undertake. It will avoid what can be lengthy separations of families with the migrant spouses leaving the country to apply for legal status. It comes as other Biden immigration policies have made it much more difficult to qualify for asylum at the southern border and intensified removals of those who don’t qualify to stay.
June 18, 2024 5:06 am
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Extreme heat alerts are in effect for tens of millions of people in the United States as cities including Chicago break heat records. Warnings stretched from Iowa to Ohio and even into the upper reaches of Michigan on Tuesday. The dangerous heat wave is expected to linger until at least Friday. The mid-Atlantic and New England are likely to see highs in the 90s as the week progresses. Excessive humidity will make it feel even more oppressive. The U.S. last year saw the most heat waves since 1936. Officials are warning people to drink plenty of water and stay indoors.
June 18, 2024 5:05 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s military says soldiers fired warning shots to repel North Korean soldiers who temporarily crossed the rivals’ land border for the second time this month. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said around 20 to 30 North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the military demarcation line Tuesday morning. It said the North Korean soldiers retreated after the South broadcasted warnings and fired warning shots. The South’s military has observed increased North Korean construction activities along their heavily armed border to install suspected anti-tank barriers, reinforce roads and plant land mines. The South says the work has continued despite several explosions caused by mines that killed or injured an unspecified number of North Korean soldiers.
June 18, 2024 5:00 am
A line of severe thunderstorms rolled across Western Pennsylvania early Monday evening, spurring tens of thousands of power outages and exacerbating concerns over how residents can stay cool amid what’s forecast to be at least six consecutive days of temperatures in the mid- to upper 90s. Areas north of Pittsburgh appeared to be hardest hit. Tens of thousands of Duquesne Light customers around the region had lost power Monday evening. In a news release received at about 10:40 p.m., Duquesne Light said more than 48,000 customers were without power. More than 11,000 West Penn Power customers were without power as of about 11:50 p.m.
June 18, 2024 2:51 am
Washington City Police are searching for a woman who stole a purse from a pew at Immaculate Conception Church on Sunday, June 16th. Police say that during communion, the woman took the opportunity to steal the unattended purse which contained credit cards, cash, and a handgun. She then fled the church on foot. Police say any tips are appreciated and they can be given by private messaging or by calling 724-223-4226. (Photo: City of Washington Police Department)
June 17, 2024 5:38 pm
(AP) – The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes. In a Monday opinion piece for The New York Times, Dr. Vivek Murthy said that social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. Murthy said that the use of just a warning label wouldn’t make social media safe for young people, but would be a part of the steps needed. (Photo: AP)
June 17, 2024 5:36 pm
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disbanded his war Cabinet, consolidating his influence over the Israel-Hamas war and likely diminishing the odds of a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip anytime soon. Netanyahu announced the step days after his chief political rival, Benny Gantz, withdrew from the three-member war Cabinet. Gantz, a retired general and member of parliament, was widely seen as a voice of moderation. Major wartime policies will now be solely decided by Netanyahu’s security Cabinet — a larger body that is dominated by hard-liners who oppose the U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal and want to press ahead with the war.
June 17, 2024 5:22 am
NEW YORK (AP) — “The Outsiders” became the essence of a Broadway insider on Sunday as the gritty adaptation of the classic American young adult novel won the Tony Award for best new musical. Sunday night also saw theater history made for women as Broadway directors and score writers. Danya Taymor won a directing award for “The Outsiders.” Then Shaina Taub won for best score, for “Suffs.” “Stereophonic” took home best play, and “Appropriate” best play revival. The musical of “Merrily We Roll Along” also won big, nabbing the revival award as well as trophies for Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff. The night included surprise appearances from Jay-Z and Hillary Clinton.
June 17, 2024 5:21 am
(AP) – More than 70 million people in the United States are under extreme heat alerts as a heat wave moves eastward. The mid-Atlantic and New England are likely to see highs in the 90s as the week progresses. Excessive humidity will make it feel even more oppressive. The U.S. last year saw the most heat waves, consisting of abnormally hot weather lasting more than two days, since 1936. Officials again are warning residents to take precautions. Much of the Midwest and Northeast are under heat warnings or watches. While much of the U.S. swelters, late-season snow was forecast for the northern Rockies.
June 17, 2024 5:21 am
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has signed an executive order to issue more than 175,000 pardons for misdemeanor marijuana convictions. The governor described the pardons Monday as the “most sweeping state-level pardon in any state in American history.” The pardons will not result in anyone being released from incarceration. And nor will they prompt past convictions to be automatically expunged from a person’s background check. But advocates praised the move as a way of removing barriers to housing, employment, or educational opportunities based on convictions for conduct that is no longer illegal.
