March 28, 2024 2:20 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A proposal to ban the purchase, sale and production of untraceable gun parts has passed the Pennsylvania state House of Representatives. The bill passed on Wednesday, with Democrats in the House using their majority to propel gun control after years of stagnation in a divided state government. The legislation passed the House 104-97, with almost all Democrats and three Republicans voting in favor of it. The bill will likely face a cold reception in the GOP-controlled state Senate, which has not taken up gun control measures advanced by the House this session.
March 27, 2024 7:15 pm
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Former Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut has died, according to his family. He was 82 and died Wednesday of complications from a fall. Lieberman nearly won the vice presidency on Democrat Al Gore’s ticket in the disputed 2000 White House race. Eight years later, he came close to joining the GOP ticket as John McCain’s running mate. The Democrat-turned-independent stepped down from the Senate in January 2013 after 24 years. His independent streak often irked Senate Democrats he aligned with. Yet his support for gay rights, civil rights, abortion rights and environmental causes at times won him the praise of many liberals over the years.
March 27, 2024 2:42 pm
(AP) – For the first time in history, world timekeepers may have to consider subtracting a second from our clocks in a few years because the planet is rotating a tad faster. Wednesday’s study in a scientific journal says that clocks may have to skip in a second — called a “negative leap second” — around 2029. Ice melting at both of Earth’s poles has been counteracting the planet’s burst of speed and is likely to have delayed the global second of reckoning by about three years. It’s a complicated situation that involves, physics, global power politics, climate change, technology and two types of time. (Photo: AP)
March 27, 2024 2:40 pm
BALTIMORE (AP) — Investigators are collecting evidence from the cargo ship that plowed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and caused its collapse. Meanwhile in the waters below, divers searched Wednesday through twisted metal for six construction workers who plunged into the harbor and were feared dead. The investigation picked up speed as the Baltimore region reeled from the sudden loss of a major transportation link that’s part of the highway loop around the city. The disaster also closed the port that is vital to the city’s shipping industry. Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board boarded the ship and planned to recover information from its electronics and paperwork.
March 27, 2024 5:12 am
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Someone in New Jersey overcame the odds and won the $1.12 billion Mega Millions jackpot, breaking a winless streak that dated to last December. The numbers drawn Tuesday night were: 7, 11, 22, 29, 38 and 4. Until the latest drawing, no one had matched all six numbers and won the Mega Millions jackpot since Dec. 8. It’s tough to win the Mega Millions jackpot because the odds are so long, at 1 in 302.6 million. The prize is the 8th largest in U.S. lottery history. The $1.12 billion jackpot is for a winner who is paid through an annuity. Most winners choose a cash payout, which would be $537.5 million.
March 27, 2024 5:10 am
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his government will not accept Hamas’ “delusional” conditions for a cease-fire in Gaza. The militant group has rejected the latest truce proposal because it says Israel is ignoring the group’s core demands. Hamas wants an end to the war and Israel’s full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Israel seeks to destroy Hamas and recover all of the roughly 100 Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Netanyahu on Tuesday also rebuked U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. Much of the Gaza Strip is in ruins after nearly six months of war. Most of its 2.3 million residents are displaced, and a third of the besieged population is on the brink of famine.
March 27, 2024 5:05 am
CHARLEROI, Pa. — (WPXI) – Charleroi historically was a mill town that felt the impact of a shrinking industry; but the last two years, this town’s population is exploding again. “I speak French, Creole, Portuguese, Spanish and English,” said Kervens Lerantis. He is only in the fourth grade. He’s just one of 172 English Language Learners (ELL) in the Charleroi Area School District. Many of whom never spoke the language before stepping foot in Washington County. The immigrant population has grown in this community by over 2,000% in just the last two years, bringing new challenges for the school district. “Just in the last year we had over $400,000, we had to add two ELL teachers, an ELL coach for our teachers, a registrar, an interpreter,” said Superintendent Dr. Ed Zelich. With the growth, the district is looking at another $300,000 on top of that next year. This is the highest-taxed district in the county. Dr. Zelich said increasing taxes isn’t an option, so he’s looking to the state for help. So far, the state has only offered after-school and summer tutoring, which Zelich said doesn’t even scratch the surface. The buildings are running out of space, forcing some Pre-K classes to leave the building and classroom size to grow where nearly half the lower grades are already full of multiple languages. The district has brought the PA Department of Education in and local lawmakers, but still can’t seem to get the financial help they need. The superintendent told Channel 11 he’s going to continue knocking on their doors because he knows the growth is not stopping here.
March 27, 2024 4:57 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A federal court has dismissed an attempt by conservative Pennsylvania lawmakers to overturn automatic voter registration, along with lawmakers’ other challenges to actions designed to boost voter access. Pennsylvania U.S. District Judge Jennifer Wilson wrote in her decision Tuesday that the lawmakers did not have legal standing in their filing. The lawsuit, filed by 24 Republican state lawmakers, challenged the legality of a 2021 executive order by President Joe Biden ordering federal agencies to consider ways to expand voter access. The lawsuit also challenged a state order regarding automatic voter registration and a directive that counties can’t reject registration if a driver’s license number or Social Security digits don’t match the government agency database.
March 27, 2024 4:51 am
North Strabane Township Supervisors worked through an agenda filled with ordinary decisions Tuesday night. Supervisors scheduled a public hearing on a zoning change for a parcel at the corner of Morganza Road and Curry Avenue. The parcel is currently zoned C-1 Commercial. The owner is looking to have it rezoned as I-1 Industrial. The proposed use of the property is for condominium style personal warehouses. That meeting will be held on April 30 at 6:00 PM. Supervisors approved a text amendment to their zoning ordinance to allow for hospitals, and medical offices to be allowed in the R-3 zoning district. This request was from AHN Canonsburg Hospital for the construction of its new hospital. Supervisors also reminded residents that meeting dates have changed for the month of April. The non legislative meeting will be held on Wednesday April 24 and the Legislative meeting will be held Tuesday April 30, both beginning at 7:00 PM.
March 26, 2024 5:43 pm
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has chosen Nicole Shanahan to be his vice presidential pick. Kennedy is mounting an independent White House bid that has spooked national Democrats. Shanahan is a California lawyer and philanthropist who’s never held elected office. Kennedy, a former Democrat, made the announcement in Oakland, California. Without the backing of a party, Kennedy faces an arduous task to get on the ballot, with varying rules across the 50 states. He’s picking a running mate now because about half of the states require him to designate one before he can apply for ballot access.
