April 15, 2024 5:21 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The first criminal trial facing former President Donald Trump is also the one in which Americans are least convinced he committed a crime, a new AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds. Only about one-third of U.S. adults think Trump did something illegal in the hush money case for which jury selection began Monday, while close to half think he did something illegal in the other three criminal cases pending against him. Still, about half of Americans would consider Trump unfit to serve as president if he is convicted of falsifying business documents to cover up hush money payments to an adult film actor.
April 15, 2024 5:16 am
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli leaders are crediting an international military coalition with thwarting Iran’s direct attack and calling the coordinated response a starting point for a “strategic alliance” of regional opposition to Tehran. But an official says Israel’s War Cabinet has met without apparent decision on next steps as a nervous world waits for any sign of further escalation of the former shadow war. The military coalition is led by the United States, Britain and France and appears to include a number of Middle Eastern countries. It shot down the vast majority of about 350 drones and missiles Iran launched overnight.
April 15, 2024 5:15 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Today is Tax Day and the IRS is promoting the customer service improvements the agency rolled out since receiving tens of billions in new funding dollars through Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act. From cutting phone wait times to digitizing more documents and improving the “Where’s My Refund” tool to show more account details in plain language, agency leadership is trying to bring attention to what’s been done to repair the agency’s image as an outdated and maligned tax collector. The promotion also in part is meant to quickly normalize a more efficient and effective IRS before congressional Republicans threaten another round of cuts to the agency.
April 15, 2024 5:13 am
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian police are examining why a lone assailant who stabbed six people to death in a busy Sydney shopping mall and injured more than a dozen others targeted women while avoiding men. New South Wales state Police Commissioner Karen Webb said on Monday detectives would question the family of assailant Joel Cauchi in a bid to find his motive. She said CCTV footage from the mall shows Cauchi targeted women. Police shot Cauchi dead during the knife attack in the Westfield Bondi Junction mall on Saturday near world-famous Bondi Beach. Police have ruled out terrorism and said the 40-year-old had a history of mental illness. Only one man was killed. Webb says most of the 12 victims who survived their wounds are also women.
April 15, 2024 5:10 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The union that represents a Pittsburgh newspaper’s truck drivers, one of five unions that have been on strike for 18 months, has approved a new contract with the paper’s owners. But four other unions, including one representing the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s journalists and other newsroom employees, have not settled. The newspaper said the remaining members of Teamsters Local 211/205 voted unanimously to accept a labor dispute settlement agreement and dissolve their union at the newspaper. Details of the agreement were not disclosed. Four other unions — including the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, which represents reporters, photographers and other newsroom employees — remain on strike. Their representatives said they were disheartened by the Teamsters’ settlement.
April 15, 2024 5:09 am
FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI) – A missing Fayette County man has been found dead. On Saturday morning, Pennsylvania State Police Belle Vernon alerted the public that they were searching for Anthony Dicenzo, 83, of Brownsville, who left his home to look at real estate properties on Friday and had not returned. Police tried to ping his phone but were unsuccessful. Fayette County Coroner Bob Baker said Dicenzo was found deceased in German Township around 10:36 a.m. Saturday. The coroner’s office, Fayette County District Attorney’s Office and Pennsylvania State Police are investigating. In a news release, Pennsylvania State Police clarified that Dicenzo was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound and that his death is being investigated as a homicide. Anyone with information should contact Pennsylvania State Police Uniontown.
April 15, 2024 5:04 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — An election this month in Pittsburgh and some of its suburbs is emerging as an early test of whether Israel’s war with Hamas poses political threats to progressive Democrats in Congress who’ve criticized the conflict. First-term Rep. Summer Lee is facing a primary challenge from Bhavini Patel, a municipal councilwoman. Lee has accused Israel of committing “war crimes,” called for a cease-fire and demanded an end to U.S. military aid to Israel. That’s veered from the stand taken by President Joe Biden and most Democrats when it comes to the war If Lee is defeated in the April 23 contest, she’d be the first Democratic incumbent to lose a primary this year.
April 15, 2024 2:18 am
SOUTH FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A teen was killed, and another person was injured in a shooting in South Franklin Township. Washington County dispatchers say emergency crews were called to the 500 block of Jolly School Road around 11 p.m. Saturday. Investigators say two females were shot. One of the victims died. The Washington County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as Annalaya Wilkerson, 18, of Monongahela. The other was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. There is no word on their identity or condition. State Police are investigating.
April 14, 2024 7:33 am
(AP) – A bird flu outbreak in U.S. dairy cows has spread to more than two dozen herds in eight states. That comes weeks after the nation’s largest egg producer found the virus in its chickens. Health officials continue to stress that the risk to the public is low and that the U.S. food supply remains safe and stable. Commercial milk remains safe and available because pasteurization, a high heat treatment, kills bacteria and viruses. But there’s limited information about possible transmission of the virus in unpasteurized milk or cheese products. That is prompting officials to warn consumers about the known risks of consuming raw milk.
April 14, 2024 7:31 am
NEW YORK (AP) — For many people, tax season isn’t only about gathering W-2 forms or calling an accountant. It can also bring intense feelings of stress or anxiety about dealing with finances. Financial stress during tax season can manifest in different ways, whether that’s procrastinating on your tax return until the last minute or experiencing intense stress about filing incorrectly. If you’re dealing with financial stress right now, you’re not alone. Experts recommend that you make a plan to tackle your return step by step, ask for support from family and friends or a tax professional, and focus on self care if you’re experiencing financial stress.
