May 8, 2024 4:59 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S. That’s according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. The shipment was supposed to consist of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, according to the official, with the focus of U.S. concern being the larger explosives and how they could be used in a dense urban setting. More than 1 million civilians are sheltering in Rafah after evacuating other parts of Gaza amid Israel’s war on Hamas, which came after the militant group’s deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
May 8, 2024 5:00 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says it has reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza. The key terminal for the entry of humanitarian aid was closed over the weekend after a Hamas rocket attack killed four Israeli soldiers nearby. An Israeli tank brigade seized the nearby Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt early Tuesday, and it remained closed. But that limited incursion does not appear to be the start of the full-scale invasion of the crowded southern city that Israel has repeatedly promised. The looming operation threatens to widen a rift between Israel and its main backer, the United States. Israel has linked the decision over launching a full-scale offensive to ongoing talks over a cease-fire and hostage release.
May 8, 2024 5:24 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are welcoming a police crackdown that cleared a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at George Washington University and led to the arrests of 33 protesters. But one of the students arrested in Washington, Moataz Salim, says authorities merely “destroyed a beautiful community space that was all about love.” Police broke up the gathering Wednesday. House Speaker Mike Johnson said it should not have required “threatening to haul D.C.’s mayor before Congress” for police to end the protest. Mayor Muriel Bowser says city officials acted because the situation was becoming more volatile. She was to testify to a House panel about her handling of the protest but the hearing was canceled after the crackdown.
May 8, 2024 5:27 pm
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to bank and tax fraud in a sports betting case. Prosecutors alleged Ippei Mizuhara stole nearly $17 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts. Mizuhara’s scheduled arraignment Thursday in federal court in Los Angeles was postponed earlier Tuesday. The scandal shocked baseball fans from the U.S. to Japan when the news broke in March. Mizuhara was initially charged with one count of bank fraud. Authorities say there was no evidence that Ohtani was involved in or aware of Mizuhara’s gambling, and the player is cooperating with investigators.
May 7, 2024 5:04 am
DALLAS (AP) — The decision by Boy Scouts of America to rebrand after 114 years and become Scouting America marks another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change. With flagging membership numbers, the Texas-based organization is leaning into a more inclusive message as it emerges from a long stretch of turmoil that includes bankruptcy and a flood of sexual abuse claims. The change was announced Tuesday at the Boy Scout’s national meeting in Florida but won’t take effect until February.
May 7, 2024 12:50 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The go-broke dates for Medicare and Social Security have been pushed back as an improving economy has contributed to changed projected depletion dates. That’s according to Monday’s annual Social Security and Medicare trustees report. Still, officials warn that policy changes are needed lest the programs become unable to pay full benefits to retiring Americans. Medicare’s go-broke date for its hospital insurance trust fund was pushed back five years to 2036. Meanwhile, Social Security’s trust funds — which cover old age and disability recipients — will be unable to pay full benefits beginning in 2035, instead of last year’s estimate of 2034.
May 7, 2024 5:11 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Porn actor Stormy Daniels has testified at Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial about a sexual encounter she says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election a decade later. Daniels’ testimony Tuesday included a detailed and at times graphic accounting of an encounter Trump has denied. Daniels’ testimony is central to the case because in the final weeks of Trump’s 2016 Republican presidential campaign, his lawyer Michael Cohen paid her $130,000 to keep quiet. Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with the hush money payments. The former president has pleaded not guilty. (Photo: AP)
May 7, 2024 1:24 pm
IRVING, Texas (AP) — The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history. The Texas-based organization is announcing at its annual meeting in Florida on Tuesday that it will become Scouting America. It’s a significant shift for the organization as it emerges from bankruptcy after a flood of sexual abuse claims, and focuses on including everyone after decades of turmoil. The organization steeped in tradition has made seismic changes, from finally allowing gay youth to welcoming girls throughout its ranks. CEO Roger Krone says the organization wants any youth in America to feel very, very welcome. (Photo: AP)
May 7, 2024 4:51 am
Cecil Township Supervisors worked quickly through an agenda filled with contract payments and land subdivisions on Monday night. Supervisor Chairman Tom Casciola indicated that the public hearing for updates to the township’s oil and gas ordinance will reconvene on Wednesday. The hearing will be held at the municipal building and begin at 6:00 PM. According to Casciola, supervisors will present proposed changes based on the previous public hearing. They will also take further testimony for possible additional changes. Casciola said that an additional meeting will be scheduled to present the ordinance in its final draft.
May 7, 2024 4:56 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – TSA stopped a loaded gun from getting on a plane at Pittsburgh International Airport on Friday. Officials say a Greensburg woman was stopped at a TSA checkpoint when officers caught her with gun that was loaded with six bullets, plus one in the chamber. This is the 12th gun stopped at the airport so far in 2024. “I would like to acknowledge my appreciation to the TSA officers who acted to ensure that the woman did not maintain control of her loaded weapon inside the terminal,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s federal security director for the airport. “The fact that there was a bullet in the chamber is an accident waiting to happen. Responsible gun owners know where their firearms are at all times and they know not to bring one in their carry-on bags.” Civil penalties for bringing a weapon into a checkpoint can reach up to $15,000, depending on the specific weapon and the circumstances. TSA prevented 44 guns from getting on planes at Pittsburgh International Airport in 2023, which is the most ever recorded for the airport.
