August 20, 2023 3:00 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. — Someone hit big on a scratch-off lottery ticket in Washington County! A $5 million-winning Five Million Fabulous Fortune ticket was sold at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows on Racetrack Road. The casino will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the ticket. Five Million Fabulous Fortune is a $50 game that offers top prizes of $5 million.
August 19, 2023 7:57 am
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Lawyers and unions representing rail workers say there is a clear pattern across the industry of railroads retaliating against workers who report safety violations or injuries on the job. Often these workers run afoul of managers who don’t want to jeopardize their bonuses. The examples of retaliation discourage other workers from speaking up, out of fear they also could be disciplined or fired. The railroads say they are trying to eliminate the practice by prohibiting retaliation and creating multiple ways for workers to report safety concerns. The number of cases are down over the past five years, but government statistics show whistleblower cases continue to be filed every year.
August 19, 2023 5:00 am
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Hilary has grown rapidly to Category 4 strength off Mexico’s Pacific coast and could bring heavy rain to the southwestern U.S. on the weekend. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Hilary had sustained winds near 140 mph and was expected to continue its rapid intensification Friday morning. Tropical storm conditions are expected in some areas late Friday. Hilary’s projected path threatens landfall on the central Baja California peninsula by Sunday or it may stay just offshore and head for Southern California. It should start weakening Saturday. The hurricane center says there is a chance Hilary could still be a tropical storm or tropical depression by the time it reaches the U.S.
August 19, 2023 4:59 am
ATLANTA (AP) — Several Republican White House hopefuls are appearing at a conservative conference with hopes of making up ground against former President Donald Trump. But his shadow may be especially difficult to escape in the city where he was just indicted — again. Trump won’t speak at an Atlanta event where radio host Erick Erickson will welcome six GOP contenders. The event takes place 10 miles from the jail where Trump must soon surrender on a racketeering indictment related to the 2020 election. The timing offers one more example of the struggle facing Trump’s rivals: He dominates primary polls and media attention, and four indictments have only seemed to harden his popularity among core Republican voters.
August 19, 2023 4:58 am
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — The head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency has resigned after facing criticism for not activating disaster sirens during last week’s deadly wildfires that killed at least 111 people. The County of Maui announced Thursday on Facebook that Mayor Richard Bissen accepted the resignation of Herman Andaya, who cited unspecified health reasons for leaving his post. Bissen said that “given the gravity of the crisis we are facing,” a replacement will be named as soon as possible. On Wednesday, Andaya defended the decision not to sound sirens as flames raged. Andaya said officials were afraid the sirens would have prompted people to flee toward the mountains or inland, or into the flames.
August 19, 2023 3:00 am
SOMERSET, Pa. (AP) — A former western Pennsylvania district attorney was sentenced to up to seven years in prison after a jury convicted him of attacking a woman in her home several years ago. Somerset County’s former district attorney Jeffrey Thomas was sentenced on Thursday after a Somerset County jury found him guilty earlier this year of strangulation and criminal trespassing, both felonies, and simple assault, unlawful restraint, indecent assault and false imprisonment. He was acquitted of sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault. His lawyer says Thomas maintains he’s innocent and considers the sentence to be too harsh.
August 19, 2023 3:00 am
The figurehead of an area school district will remain in his position for the foreseeable future. The Trinity School Board approved to reappoint superintendent Dr. Michael Lucas during a board meeting Thursday night by a near unanimous decision. Dr. Lucas has been a part of the Trinity Area School District since 2011, when he was the Assistant Superintendent. He was appointed Superintendent in July of 2014 for the school district. During his time, Trinity has been able to distinguish itself from other schools with their career programs. It allows students to pursue jobs that apply both classroom knowledge and hands-on experience in their field. The school currently offers nine career programs and it’s led to an increase in the school’s attendance. His new contract runs from July 1, 2024 to June 30th 2029.
August 19, 2023 3:00 am
PLUM, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania officials say it’s unlikely that natural gas seeped from an abandoned underground mine and caused a house explosion last weekend that killed six people. The state Department of Environmental Protection said Friday that its inspectors studied the coal seam in the area and found no shafts or bore holes near the house that exploded. The blast destroyed three structures and damaged others. The cause remains under investigation. The development is on abandoned mine land surrounded by shallow oil and gas wells. The state is looking for potential sources of combustible natural gas such as landfills, sewer lines, wells, pipelines and coal mines.
August 18, 2023 4:57 am
SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — President Joe Biden has privately paid his respects to the mother of Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. Ellen Casey died last week at age 91. She is a former Pennsylvania first lady and the widow of Gov. Robert P. Casey. Biden arrived before visiting hours Thursday at St. Peter’s Cathedral in his hometown of Scranton. Before and after the flight, Biden reminisced about Ellen Casey. He told reporters she was an honorable and decent woman who had an “enormous role” in his life. He said he’d stop by to see her whenever he was in Scranton.
August 18, 2023 3:00 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate has fallen to a new record low, and is at the same rate as the rest of the nation. Meanwhile, payrolls hit a new record high. The state Department of Labor and Industry said Friday that the state’s July unemployment rate fell three-tenths of a percentage point to 3.5% from June’s rate. The drop was the largest in the nation last month. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate normally lags the national rate. But Pennsylvania’s workforce is relatively stagnant. The U.S. labor force has grown past pre-pandemic levels, while Pennsylvania’s labor force remains below its pre-pandemic record.
