December 30, 2022 2:22 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf will wrap up eight years in office next month, having steered Pennsylvania through unpredictable times when the Democrat made life-and-death decisions in the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic and managed the battleground state’s presidential election amid unprecedented Republican efforts to overturn it. Wolf, 74, leaves office with positive approval ratings from leading in-state polls and his endorsed successor, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, succeeding him — marking the first time since 1966 that a Pennsylvania governor has been succeeded by a member of the same political party. Wolf’s second term saw monumental challenges, beyond what many — if not every — governor before him had faced: a pandemic that transformed society, wiped out much of his second-term agenda and drew in the efforts of every agency under his command. He doesn’t hold any grudges and is largely satisfied with his achievements, although he acknowledges regret that he couldn’t get some initiatives through a Republican-controlled Legislature. Unemployment was at an all-time low in November, the treasury is stuffed with cash and Wolf points to a legacy of dedicating billions more dollars to public schools plagued by funding disparities. (Photo: AP)
December 29, 2022 5:27 pm
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – The U.S. Justice Department is alleging that a major drug wholesaler contributed to the deadly toll from opioids by turning a blind eye to warning signs about suspicious sales to its pharmacy customers. An 87-page civil enforcement action filed Thursday accuses AmerisourceBergen Corp. of failing to properly scrutinize orders for suspicious activity. AmerisourceBergen says the federal complaint is cherry-picking pharmacies among their tens of thousands of customers “while ignoring the absence of action” by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Opioids have been linked to more than 500,000 U.S. deaths during the past two decades.
December 29, 2022 2:31 pm
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) – An Alabama actor who played small roles in movies including “Forrest Gump” and “Sweet Home Alabama” has died at age 87. Bob Penny spent three decades as a college English professor, mostly at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He acted in some commercials on the side, which led to small parts in movies and TV shows after Penny retired from teaching in 1990. He played a bumbling, small-town lawyer in “Sweet Home Alabama,” and had roles in “My Cousin Vinny” and “Mississippi Burning.” An obituary from Laughlin Service Funeral Home in Huntsville says Penny died on Christmas Day.
December 29, 2022 2:16 pm
SAO PAULO (AP) – Pele, Brazil’s mighty king of soccer, has died. He was 82. Since 2021, he had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer discovered during a routine medical exam. His agent Joe Fraga confirmed his death. Pele was one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century. He won a record three World Cups with Brazil and was the standard-bearer of “the beautiful game” with the national team and his club Santos. His exuberance and mesmerizing moves transfixed generations of fans around the globe. His flair personified his country’s samba-style elegance. Late in his career, he helped popularize soccer in North America by joining the New York Cosmos. (Photo: ABC News)
December 29, 2022 8:56 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of people seeking unemployment benefits rose modestly last week, the latest sign that the labor market remains strong despite the Federal Reserve’s efforts to cool the economy and hiring. Applications for unemployment aid for the week ending Dec. 24 climbed 9,000 to 225,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Unemployment benefit applications are a proxy for layoffs, and are being closely monitored by economists as the Fed has rapidly raised interest rates in an effort to cool job growth and inflation. Should the Fed’s rate hikes cause a recession, as many economists fear, a jump in layoffs and unemployment claims would be an early sign.
December 29, 2022 4:32 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The House Jan. 6 committee has dropped its subpoena against former President Donald Trump as it wraps up work and prepares to dissolve next week. The committee’s Democratic chairman wrote in a letter to Trump lawyer David Warrington on Wednesday that he is formally withdrawing the subpoena. Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson said the committee “has concluded its hearings, released its final report and will very soon reach its end” and will not be able to pursue the information in the subpoena. The committee had voted to subpoena Trump during its final televised hearing before the midterm elections in October, demanding testimony and documents.
December 29, 2022 4:30 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Authorities in Ukraine say several regions of the country, including its capital, are facing a Russian missile attack. Air raid sirens rang out across the country on Thursday morning. In Kyiv, the regional administration said air defense systems were activated to fend off the missiles. The mayor of Kharkiv said numerous explosions took place in Ukraine’s second-largest city. Ukrainian authorities in several regions said some Russian missiles were intercepted. Thursday’s attack is the latest in a series of Russian strikes targeting vital infrastructure across Ukraine. Moscow has launched such attacks on weekly basis since October. In Dnipro, Odesa and Kryvyi Rih regions, electricity was switched off to minimize potential damage.
December 29, 2022 4:30 am
NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. Rep.-elect George Santos of New York is now under investigation by the Nassau County District attorney’s office. The development adds to a loudening uproar over revelations that the Republican lied about his heritage, education and professional life when he campaigned successfully for U.S. Congress. Despite intensifying doubt about his fitness to hold federal office, Santos has thus far shown no signs of stepping aside – even as he has publicly admitted to a long list of fabrications. He is scheduled to be sworn in Tuesday. If he assumes office, he could face investigations by the House Committee on Ethics and the Justice Department.
December 29, 2022 4:28 am
DALLAS (AP) – Southwest Airlines expects to return to normal operations this week after slashing about two-thirds of its schedule in recent days. After canceling another 2,350 flights Thursday, the company said it expects to be back to regular scheduling by Friday. Southwest is struggling to recover after being overwhelmed by a winter storm that left hundreds of pilots and flight attendants stranded out of position to operate flights. It is likely that far more than 1 million passengers have been affected. Southwest has canceled more than 13,000 flights since its meltdown began on Dec. 22.
December 29, 2022 4:22 am
BELLEVUE, Pa. — (WPXI) – It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t come down with something this month. “Yea they’ve gotten sick but nothing too severe or I’ve had to take them to the hospital,” said Allison Park mom Valerie Harper. Haper has two little ones and knows firsthand what it’s like dealing with the constant sniffles and colds. She’s not alone, a multitude of viral infections are making it’s rounds in western Pennsylvania. “We are actually seeing numbers of everything. Covid numbers are going up, especially people testing at home, we are seeing increased numbers in the hospitals. We are seeing increased numbers of the flu; flu really took off this fall and we aren’t even deep into flu season,” said Allegheny Health Network Dr. Brian Lamb. Combine that with RSV cases and the common cold, Dr. Lamb said it’s a perfect storm that will last you several weeks. That’s leading people to have weakened immune systems causing these cases to spike. Lamb told our news partners at Channel 11 he doesn’t think this is the end. Following the holidays, he believes COVID cases will keep rising and flu numbers too. Dr. Lamb does advise if you are going out in big crowds for New Years to at least carry a mask as some protection. Also remember to keep washing your hands and disinfecting to prevent spreading even more germs.
