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.
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.
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.
June 3, 2024 5:06 am
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s projected election winner Claudia Sheinbaum will become the first woman president in the country’s 200-year history. The climate scientist and former Mexico City mayor said Sunday night that her two competitors had called her and conceded her victory. She said Sunday had demonstrated that Mexico is a democratic country with peaceful elections. The National Electoral Institute’s president said Sheinbaum had between 58.3% and 60.7% of the vote, according to a statistical sample. Opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez had between 26.6% and 28.6%. The governing party candidate campaigned on continuing the political course set by her political mentor President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who quickly congratulated her.
June 3, 2024 4:58 am
PENN HILLS, Pa. (AP) — Police say an exchange of gunfire in a suburban Pittsburgh bar has left two people dead and seven others injured. Allegheny County police said the shooting occurred at the Ballers Hookah Lounge and Cigar Bar in Penn Hills, where first responders found the bodies of a man and a woman around 3 a.m. Sunday. Seven additional victims were reported, some transported from the scene and others showing up at hospitals. One of the victims was reported in critical condition. County police say preliminary information indicates that “an altercation took place inside the bar and multiple individuals opened fire.” There were no immediate reports of any arrests.
June 3, 2024 4:58 am
GREENWICH, Conn. (AP) — President Joe Biden has laid into his likely opponent in November’s election, Donald Trump, for being convicted by a Manhattan jury on 34 felony counts related to hush money payments. Biden says “this campaign has entered uncharted territory.” Speaking Monday at a fundraiser in Greenwich, Connecticut, Biden said the former president “wants you to believe it’s all rigged. Nothing could be further from the truth.” He accused Trump of “attacking both the judiciary and elections system as rigged” and said such rhetoric was “reckless and dangerous and downright irresponsible.” Biden added: “This isn’t the same Trump that got elected in 2016. He’s worse.”
June 3, 2024 4:50 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania lawmakers are returning to session to begin a four-week countdown to the state government’s new fiscal year. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican lawmakers have competing visions for how to use the massive surplus. Shapiro has floated an admittedly “ambitious” $48.3 billion budget plan that would highlight boosting public-school funding. Republicans have said the governor’s plan would put the state on course to drain its $14 billion surplus. Instead, they passed a $3 billion tax-cutting plan that Democrats say would have a similar effect. This month might also feature debates over competing plans to boost college enrollment and affordability in Pennsylvania.
June 3, 2024 2:20 am
The merger of the Washington Health System and UPMC is now official. In a statement released on Saturday the Washington Health System announced that they will now be known as UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene. The announcement comes a year after the two entities announced an affiliation agreement in June of 2023. “We are elated that the affiliation is complete and look forward to starting a new chapter of collaboration with UPMC,” said Brook Ward, president of UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene. “This affiliation protects the vitality of an essential community asset and solidifies a healthy future for Washington and Greene counties for generations to come.” According to the statement, UPMC has committed to invest at least $300 million over 10 years to enhance clinical services and upgrade facilities at UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene. These investments by UPMC, combined with contributions the WHS Foundation has made and will continue to make, ensures UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene can provide state-of-the-art health care for local residents for years to come and maintain its position as one of the largest employers in Washington and Greene counties. UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene will maintain a local Board of Directors consisting of 11 legacy WHS board members and five newly appointed members from UPMC. The affiliation does not affect community members’ in-network access to WHS hospitals or doctors. UPMC Washington, UPMC Greene and their affiliated outpatient facilities will continue to honor the contracts that are in place with regional and national insurers. Washington County Commissioner’s Chairman Nick Sherman says he strongly advocated for the agreement and “I believe that combining over 120 years of excellence from the Washington County Health System with this globally respected healthcare organization presents a great opportunity for our residents and those in need of healthcare services”. Washington Health workers say they are united to hold UPMC accountable to maintain all patient services, insurance access, jobs and union standards.
June 2, 2024 6:50 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California firefighters aided by aircraft are battling a wind-driven wildfire burning near the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, says gusty winds were fueling the Corral Fire burning near the laboratory and the city of Tracy, 60 miles east of San Francisco on Saturday. Cal Fire has updated the size of the fire to 15.6 square miles from an earlier report of 13.7 square miles. Interstate 580 connecting the San Francisco Bay Area to central California has been closed in both directions near the fire.
June 2, 2024 6:47 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans in Congress are embracing Donald Trump’s strategy of blaming the U.S. justice system after his historic guilty verdict. They’re also enlisting themselves in his campaign of vengeance and political retribution. It’s all part of the GOP bid to reclaim the White House. On Friday, the House Judiciary chairman demanded the prosecutors in the New York hush money case appear for questioning. Republicans who expressed doubts about Trump’s innocence or political viability were instantly bullied to stay silent — or told to “leave the party.” President Joe Biden said the attacks on the justice system are “reckless” and “irresponsible.” Experts on authoritarianism warn that Trump is vowing to use the state against his opponents.
