June 8, 2024 4:52 am
PARIS (AP) — President Joe Biden is being feted by French President Emmanuel Macron with a state visit this weekend in Paris. The two allies aim to show off their partnership on global security issues and move past trade tensions. The state visit Saturday will begin with a welcome ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe and a military parade leading to the Élysée Palace, where the two will hold official meetings and deliver public statements. Later, Macron will host a dinner at the palace for Biden and his wife, Jill. Both leaders this week have used D-Day 80th anniversary events in France to underscore the urgent need to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion.
June 8, 2024 4:50 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers added a vigorous 272,000 jobs in May, accelerating from April and a sign that companies are still confident enough in the economy to keep hiring despite persistently high interest rates. Last month’s strong job growth reflected the durability of America’s consumer-driven economy. With the nation’s households continuing their steady spending, many employers have had to keep hiring to meet their customer demand. The unemployment rate edged up to a still-low 4%, from 3.9%, ending a 27-month streak of unemployment below 4%. That had matched the longest such run since the late 1960s. President Joe Biden is likely to point to Friday’s jobs report as a sign of the economy’s robust health under his administration.
June 8, 2024 4:49 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Biden administration is keeping up its biggest push of the eight-month-old war in Gaza to get Israel and Hamas into a cease-fire. But the world is still waiting for signs that the cease-fire appeal that President Joe Biden began a week ago is working. Biden spoke from the White House on May 31 to publicly outline terms of a deal that would halt fighting in Gaza and release hostages. Nimrod Novik, a former adviser to the late Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, says Biden’s outlining of the proposal has served to ‘out’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, by revealing the seriousness of the effort to free hostages held by Hamas.
June 8, 2024 4:44 am
Several agenda items for Washington County Commissioners to consider on Thursday were intergovernmental agreements and memorandums of understanding for participation in the Washington County Land Bank. A unanimous vote found agreements between Fallowfield Township, Chartiers Township, the Charleroi School District and the Chartiers-Houston School District being approved for their participation. According to Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman, the main reason that the entities are participating is to avail themselves to the county’s AA bond rating. Being able to partner with the county through the land bank gives the entities an additional avenue of funding should they be inclined to use it. Participation in the Washington County Land also allows municipalities to fight blight by demolishing unsightly structures and making Washington County a more attractive place to live, according to Sherman. Also approved was a measure to allow not more than $85,000 in blight remediation funds available through the County of Washington Redevelopment Authority to be used by Upper Crust Gourmet Italian Deli, LLC for blight remediation at 15 N. Main Street. The building is not the building that had been recently remodeled, but the one next door that fell down several years ago. Behind the plywood mural on that lot is debris that will be removed. It is unclear what may happen with the lot once it has been cleared.
June 8, 2024 4:33 am
PITTSBURGH – Mayor Ed Gainey signed a Declaration of Disaster Emergency after a fire at Second Avenue Commons homeless shelter this week. The declaration will help expedite repairs for the shelter, a news release says, and city leaders are ready to take action to be sure the shelter is repaired and reopened as quickly as possible. “Expediting the repair and reopening of the Second Avenue Commons is critical for the health and safety for some of our most vulnerable residents,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “This order will ensure that we are able to move with the speed required to meet this moment in order to return this critical piece of our health and human services infrastructure to operation.” The declaration is in effect until Dec. 8, 2024.
June 8, 2024 4:16 am
SOUTH PARK TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A woman and a child were found dead in a car in South Park Township on Friday evening. Friday afternoon, a man contacted Mount Lebanon police requesting a welfare check on a 43-year-old woman and a 10-year-old girl. Investigators learned the woman’s vehicle was found at Diana Grove, and officers responded to the area after 7 p.m. The woman and child were found dead inside the car. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the woman as Serena Guan and the girl as Abigail Neal. There were no obvious signs of trauma to either the woman or the girl, Allegheny County police said, and information on their cause and manner of death will come from the medical examiner. Police have not given any information on their relationship. Detectives don’t believe there is a threat to the public. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-833-ALL-TIPS.
June 8, 2024 3:44 am
CHARLEROI, Pa. — An I-70 off-ramp that was closed because of an unstable tractor-trailer has re-opened. The Charleroi Fire Department said the I-70 West off ramp to Route 88 was shut down Friday morning. The tractor-trailer was stuck at an angle on the barrier. There’s been no word on how the truck managed to land on the barrier. Charleroi Fire Chief Bob Whiten tells WJPA there were no injuries and no hazards.
June 8, 2024 2:12 am
Authorities say they now believe that one man is responsible for two separate bank robberies within seventy-two-hours of one another in Washington County this week. The first occurred Monday morning at the Washington Financial Bank on East Wylie Avenue in Washington and the second happened Wednesday morning at the First National Bank on Route Nineteen in North Strabane Township. The male suspect is described as being white and in the second robbery, was wearing a black jacket, a backpack, cargo pants and his face was partially covered by a hospital mask. North Strabane police say the FBI is now also involved and they are working with City of Washington police as well. Anyone with information on the robbery, including information on the suspect is asked to submit a tip at 724-746-4090 or tips@nstpd.com.
June 7, 2024 5:58 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — At least nine Yemeni employees of United Nations agencies have been detained by Yemen’s Houthi rebels under unclear circumstances. That’s according to regional officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday as they weren’t authorized to brief journalists. A human rights group said people working for aid groups also likely have been detained. The detentions come as the Houthis have been targeting shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war. The group has been cracking down on dissent, though it’s unclear what sparked the detentions. The rebels have faced increasing casualties from U.S.-led airstrikes and economic strains from a civil war that has killed 150,000 people and caused a humanitarian disaster.
June 7, 2024 5:01 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address a joint meeting of Congress on July 24. Congressional leaders confirmed the date of the address late Thursday after formally inviting Netanyahu to come speak before lawmakers last week. It is the most recent show of wartime support for the longtime ally despite mounting political divisions over Israel’s military assault on Hamas in Gaza. The leaders say the invitation is intended to “highlight America’s solidarity with Israel.” They are calling on Netanyahu to “share the Israeli government’s vision for defending democracy, combatting terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region.”
