July 5, 2024 5:19 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranians have begun voting in a runoff election to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi, killed in a helicopter crash last month, as public apathy has become pervasive in the Islamic Republic after years of economic woes, mass protests and tensions in the Middle East. Voters face a choice between the hard-line former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and Masoud Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon and longtime parliament member who has allied himself with moderates and reformists within Iran’s Shiite theocracy. An initial round of voting June 28 saw no candidate get over 50% of the vote, forcing the runoff. It also saw the lowest turnout ever for an Iranian election, leaving turnout Friday a major question.
July 5, 2024 5:18 am
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the British people have “delivered a sobering verdict” as he conceded that the Labour Party has won the election. With more than two-thirds of results counted, Labour has secured enough seats to form a majority government. Exit poll results suggested that after 14 years in power under five different prime ministers, Sunak’s Conservatives are set to have their seats in the 650-seat House of Commons cut down to 131. That would be the Tories’ worst result in the party’s two-century history.
July 5, 2024 5:10 am
Three people have been injured in a shooting in Canonsburg. Our news partners at Channel 11 say all three were taken to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. There is no word on their identities. Police say it happened just before midnight along Blaine Avenue and police believe it could be connected to recent shots-fired incidents earlier this week in the Borough. Canonsburg Police had posted about those incidents on social media. They were asking residents for help after shots were fired Monday and Tuesday in the area of Franklin and Highland Avenues. Police were reviewing surveillance video from the area. State Police are now assisting with the investigation. There is no word on the identity or condition of those shot Thursday night.
July 5, 2024 4:59 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is opening a critical stretch in his effort to salvage his imperiled reelection campaign. There’s a growing sense that Biden may have just days to make a persuasive case that he’s fit for office before Democratic support for him completely evaporates in the aftermath of his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump. Already, some financial backers are holding off or canceling upcoming fundraisers. And Biden himself acknowledged to Democratic governors that he needs to get more sleep and limit late events so he can be fit and rested for the job.
July 5, 2024 4:55 am
CANONSBURG, Pa. — (WPXI) – Canonsburg held its 61st annual Fourth of July parade on Thursday. Thousands of spectators from far and wide attend the event each year, making it the second-largest Fourth of July parade in Pennsylvania. Spectators reserve their chairs days in advance. For many people in this community, this parade is a long-standing tradition. Trumpet player Vic Bell, who has been marching in the parade since he was a kid. “I did the first parade in 1962,” he said. “I’m 80 years old, my dad marched in this parade, he was 86!” Now, four generations of Bells are marching, including Vic’s grandchildren. “I tell people all the time you have no idea how many people are in the parade or at the parade unless you’re in it,” Bell said. In the parade’s sixth decade, plenty of parents who were once in it are now watching their children march. “I love it, I’ve been coming here since I was a kid, so it’s really special this year to be in it as an adult, my son is in it this year,” said Kayla McCormley, assistant band director at Chartiers Houston.
July 5, 2024 4:08 am
A bond revocation hearing has been scheduled for next week for Washington County Controller April Sloane. A motion to revoke comes from District Attorney Jason Walsh after North Strabane Township police received a tip that Sloane was living in an apartment with a cat. Sloane faces two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and a misdemeanor count of animal neglect for the death of a dog back in December of 2023. Part of her bond was that she not keep animals. The hearing will take place on July 10 at 9:00 AM in front of Judge John DiSalle.
July 4, 2024 7:13 am
A fire broke out Wednesday night in Bentleyville, according to their fire department Facebook page. An alarm came in just before 10 pm in the 400 block of Main Street for a commercial structure fire. Crews found an active fire inside a wall, which they quickly extinguished. No injuries reported and no cause of fire has been released. (Photo: Bentleyville Fire Facebook Page)
July 4, 2024 6:51 am
Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest is today. The yearly bun fight, which dates back to 1972, sees large crowds of fans in foam hot-dog hats gather in front of the original Nathan’s Famous’ restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn, to cheer on the competitors as they chow down. The contestants are allowed to dunk the dogs in cups of water to soften them up, creating a stomach-churning spectacle. The field has shifted this year as Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, the reigning champion of the contest, will not participate in Thursday’s event after signing a deal with a rival brand. Instead, Chestnut will take his hot dog-downing talents to an army base in Texas for America’s Independence Day. Chestnut, of Indiana, will compete against soldiers in Fort Bliss, in El Paso, in a 5-minute hot dog eating contest. In 2021, Chestnut set the current record of 76 hot dogs, in 10 minutes. With Chestnut out, those vying for second place in Brooklyn in the past might have renewed hope to chomp their way to victory this year. Last year’s second-place winner was Geoffrey Esper from Oxford, Massachusetts, who downed 49 dogs to Chestnut’s 62. Third place went to Australia’s James Webb with 47. Miki Sudo, of Tampa, Florida, holds the women’s record of 48.5 in 10 minutes. Miki won her ninth title at the Nathan’s Famous contest last year with 39.5 hot dogs and buns eaten. Contestants hail from 13 states and several countries. (Photo: AP)
July 4, 2024 5:54 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Senate has passed legislation to encourage school districts to effectively ban students’ use of cellphones during the school day. The bill passed 45-5 on Wednesday. It would help school districts pay for locking bags after the district creates a policy requiring students to leave their phones in such bags for the whole school day. The bill now goes to the state House for consideration. Its sponsor, Republican state Sen. Ryan Aument of Lancaster, says he hopes that limits on phone use will result in improvements in students’ mental health and academic performance. Participating school districts must track changes in student mental health, bullying, violence and academic performance.
July 4, 2024 5:25 am
All signs point to big celebrations for Americans this Fourth of July. Travel records are projected to fall as people gather for cookouts, parades and fireworks. Some unique celebrations are also planned. In Down East, Maine, lobster boat races will be held off the rocky coast. In Philadelphia, descendants of the signers of the Declaration of Independence will ring the Liberty Bell. An annual tug-of-war contest is being held in California. And, of course, there’s the annual hot dog eating contest in Coney Island, New York.
