April 10, 2024 4:57 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s parliament has passed a law that will govern how the country recruits new conscripts following months of delay and after thousands of amendments were submitted to water down the initial draft. Lawmakers dragged their feet for months over the law, which is expected to be unpopular. The law on Thursday was spurred by a request from the military command under former army commander Valerii Zaluzhny, who said Ukraine needs up to 500,000 new recruits to boost army ranks.
April 10, 2024 4:56 am
North Franklin Township Supervisors met Tuesday and one of the items on the agenda was an update on progress of the new Community Center. Supervisor Chairman Bob Sabot reported that they are in the final phase of construction. Finish work is now going on with cabinet installation and flooring. Sabot says that paving could begin in the parking lot this week. The anticipated move date for township offices is in June. There will be a grand opening held on June 22 from 11-3. The first township council meeting will be held on June 25. Additionally, the township is expected to enter into a sales agreement for the sale of the current municipal building. The offer price for the building is $450,000. In other township business, supervisors heard from a frustrated and emotional tenant at the Washington Crown Center. She asked for supervisor support so that a watermain break at the mall will not force them or any of the other tenants to close their businesses. She was told by the mall manager that the plumbing company involved will not address the current $5000 repair until the previous $15,000 that is owed them is paid. Supervisors empathized with the business owner and shared their frustrations. Supervisor Sabot explained that supervisors are entering into an executive session after the meeting to discuss litigation surrounding the condition of the mall and the owner’s lack of action. The mall is owned by the Kohan Retail Investment Group out of Great Neck, New York.
April 10, 2024 2:48 am
Several members of state and local government, along with business and labor groups, gathered on the steps of the Capital Building in Harrisburg to call on Governor Josh Shapiro to pressure Attorney General Michelle Henry to approve the proposed merger of the Washington Health System and UPMC. State Representative Tim O’Neal, organized the press conference that called for Shapiro to tell Henry to stop bending to outside pressures from arguments that do not involve the merger and have her approve it. At issue are disputes between UPMC and the SEIU in Pittsburgh over wages paid to medical professionals in certain UPMC facilities. In the proposed agreement, UPMC is guaranteeing current staffing for 10 years and wages will be paid at current contract levels. The proposal is also calling for $300 million in investment from UPMC in WHS in Washington and Greene Counties to maintain current services and expand services in the future. City of Washington Mayor JoJo Burgess called on Shapiro for help while telling the SEIU that they should keep their fight in Pittsburgh and not influence a necessary merger in Washington when they represent less than 10% of union employees. Frances Kino, an emergency room technician spoke about how WHS Greene voted out the SEIU and found immediate benefits without their representation. Electra Janis summed up the benefits of the merger by pointing to three main benefits, preserving 2700 jobs at WHS, preserving local access to core health care and community commitments established by the WHS board. The merger was unanimously approved by the WHS in June of 2023 and is awaiting the decision from the Attorney General.
April 10, 2024 2:18 am
North Franklin Fire Chief Dave Bane tells WJPA News that one person was hurt and taken to a hospital following a two-vehicle accident around noon on Wednesday in the 1600 block of Chestnut Street, underneath the Interstate 70 overpass. Bane says the driver of a pick-up truck t-boned an SUV. The female driver of the SUV was trapped in her vehicle and firefighters had to work on freeing her. She was taken to a hospital for treatment. There’s been no word on the extent of her injuries. Bane says a male passenger in her vehicle was also taken to the hospital for evaluation. The driver of the pick-up wasn’t hurt. (Photo courtesy of Facebook)
April 10, 2024 1:23 am
North Franklin Township Supervisors have stepped up to fix a water main break at Washington Crown Center Mall that forced the facility to close for three days. The break happened on Monday and mall officials announced Wednesday evening that it will reopen at 11 a.m Thursday. The closure has affected most all businesses there, and on Tuesday night, several of those business owners turned out at the supervisors meeting to complain. Supervisor’s Chairman Bob Sabot says as a result, the township decided to use emergency funding to fix the problem. Pennsylvania American Water officials told WJPA that the water line at the mall was a private line and their only responsibility was to turn the water off and then back once they were informed that repairs were complete. Efforts to contact a mall spokesperson have so far been unsuccessful.
April 9, 2024 5:36 pm
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A Maryland senator says a third channel will open this month at Baltimore’s port after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse two weeks ago. Sen. Ben Cardin also said Tuesday that the state’s congressional delegation will sponsor legislation seeking federal aid to pay the entire cost of a new bridge. Cardin said it is hoped that the entire channel for the Port of Baltimore will be reopened by the end of May. Cardin also said he will be leading an effort to introduce legislation clarifying that federal funds will be used to pay for the replacement. (Photo: AP)
April 9, 2024 5:25 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Beyoncé has made history once again. Her latest album, the epic “Act ll: Cowboy Carter,” hit No. 1 on the Billboard country albums chart, making her the first Black woman to top the chart since its 1964 inception. The album also topped the all-genres Billboard 200, marking her eighth No. 1 album. According to Luminate, “Cowboy Carter” totaled 407,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. since its March 29 release. As a Black woman reclaiming country music, she stands in opposition to stereotypical associations of the genre with whiteness. In February, “Texas Hold ’Em” reached No. 1 on the country airplay chart. (Photo: AP)
April 9, 2024 2:59 pm
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Supreme Court says the state can enforce its long-dormant law criminalizing all abortions except when a mother’s life is at stake. The ruling examined whether the state is still subject to a law that predates Arizona’s statehood. The 1864 law provides no exceptions for rape or incest, but allows abortions if a mother’s life is in danger. The state’s high court ruling reviewed a 2022 decision by the state Court of Appeals that said doctors couldn’t be charged for performing the procedure in the first 15 weeks of pregnancy.
April 9, 2024 9:33 am
Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay $600 million in a class-action lawsuit settlement related to a fiery train derailment in February 2023 in eastern Ohio. The company said Tuesday that the agreement, if approved by the court, will resolve all class action claims within a 20-mile radius from the derailment and, for those residents who choose to participate, personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius from the derailment.
April 9, 2024 5:17 am
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — The parents of a Michigan school shooter have each been sentenced to at least 10 years in prison for failing to take steps that could have prevented the killing of four students in 2021. Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting. They were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors presented evidence of an unsecured gun at home and indifference toward Ethan Crumbley’s mental health. The 15-year-old pulled a handgun from his backpack and shot up the school. He was allowed to stay in school despite the discovery of a violent drawing earlier that day. The shooter is serving a life prison sentence.
