February 7, 2024 1:38 am
The Washington County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Promotion Agency chose the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum as its host for their February Breakfast Briefing. Chamber President Jeff Kotula pointed out that tourism is an important industry in Washington County that accounts for $700,000,000 annually and employs 6000 people and a part of that tourism package is the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum which is celebrating its 70th anniversary on February 7th. Scott Becker, Executive Director of the museum, says he was honored to host the event. During his remarks he thanked Washington County for its support over the years from the museum’s initial purchase of three trolleys in 1954 to the current campus that houses interactive displays designed by the Carnegie Science Center and a display building that houses most of the 52 trolleys that the museum owns and Volunteer Blvd., a brick paved street commemorating days gone by. Carrie Lepore, Deputy Secretary of Tourism for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (pictured) cited destinations like the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum as important drivers in tourism. She said that not only does the venue prosper, but so do local businesses like restaurants, gas stations and hotels. She pointed to tourism locations as great sources of education especially with schools. The museum has several events coming up over the next few months beginning with a volunteer open house on Saturday February 10. They also are finalizing details of the Bunny Trolley event beginning on March 22. For more information check their website at www.patrolley.org.
February 6, 2024 1:45 pm
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan jury has found a school shooter’s mother guilty of involuntary manslaughter in a groundbreaking trial to determine whether she has any responsibility in the deaths of four students in 2021. Prosecutors said Jennifer Crumbley was grossly negligent. She failed to tell Oxford High School officials that the family had a gun that her son, Ethan Crumbley, had used at a shooting range. Ethan was allowed to stay in school on Nov. 30, 2021, following a roughly 12-minute meeting with Jennifer and James Crumbley when school staff expressed concerns about a violent drawing. The teenager pulled the gun from his backpack that afternoon and show 11 people. No one had checked the backpack. (Photo: AP)
February 6, 2024 10:25 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court panel has ruled Donald Trump can face trial on charges he plotted to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The court on Tuesday rejected the Republican ex-president’s claims he’s immune from prosecution. It’s the second time in as many months judges have spurned Trump’s immunity arguments and said he can be prosecuted for actions undertaken while in the White House and in the run-up to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The court’s decision sets the stage for additional appeals from Trump, to either the U.S. Supreme Court or the entire U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The trial was originally set for March, but it was postponed last week and the judge didn’t immediately set a new date.
February 6, 2024 5:58 am
Country music singer-songwriter Toby Keith has died. He was 62. A statement posted on his website says Keith, who was battling stomach cancer, died peacefully Monday surrounded by his family. The statement says: “He fought his fight with grace and courage.” He was diagnosed in 2022. Sometimes a polarizing figure in country music, the 6-foot-4 singer broke out in the country boom years of the 1990s, crafting an identity around his macho, pro-American swagger and writing songs that fans loved to hear. His hits included “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “As Good As I Once Was,” “My List” and “Beer for My Horses,” a duet with Willie Nelson.
February 6, 2024 5:04 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rainfall from one of the wettest storms in Southern California history is easing off but forecasters say floods are still possible and saturated ground raises the threat of potentially deadly landslides. The National Weather Service says the slow-moving storm that parked itself over the region on Monday could linger into Wednesday. Authorities are warning people to remain on high alert and most of Southern California remains under flood watches. By Monday night, downtown Los Angeles had received nearly half its annual rainfall total in just two days. Meanwhile hundreds of landslides were reported. One near the Hollywood Hills sent mud and boulders down hillsides dotted with multimillion-dollar
February 6, 2024 5:03 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans are resisting the advance of a bipartisan proposal intended to clamp down on illegal border crossings. That signals a likely defeat in Congress that would leave leaders with no clear path to approve wartime aid for Ukraine. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell recommended to GOP senators in a closed-door meeting that they vote against the first procedural vote Wednesday. Senate negotiators on Sunday night released a $118 billion package of border enforcement policy and funding for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies. The bill represented a rightward tilt in Senate negotiations over border measures, but still the backlash was intense from conservatives.
February 6, 2024 5:02 am
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A ship traveling through the southern Red Sea has been attacked by a suspected Yemen Houthi rebel drone. The attack happened early Tuesday west of Hodeida, Yemen, and a projectile caused “slight damage” to the vessel’s windows on the bridge. That’s according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. The private security firm Ambrey identified the vessel as a Barbados-flagged, United Kingdom-owned cargo ship. The firm said no one was hurt onboard the vessel, which suffered “minor damage.” No group immediately claimed responsibility. However, suspicions immediately fell on the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have conducted attacks since November over Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
February 6, 2024 5:01 am
CAIRO (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Cairo for a meeting with Egyptian leaders that U.S. officials say will concentrate mainly on the task of negotiating a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. Such a cease-fire would come in exchange for the release of hostages held by the militants in Gaza. Blinken’s visit Tuesday also comes amid growing concerns in Egypt about Israel’s stated intentions to expand the combat in Gaza to areas on the Egyptian border that are crammed with displaced Palestinians. Egypt fears an expansion of combat to the Rafah area could push terrified Palestinian civilians across the border, a scenario Egypt is determined to prevent. Blinken has said repeatedly that Palestinians must not be forced out of Gaza.
February 6, 2024 4:52 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The balance of power in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is at stake for the fourth time in a year. Voters next week will choose between a Democratic school board member and a Republican political newcomer in a suburban Philadelphia district. Democrats controlled the House by one vote until a member resigned in December. Even though Democrats have been doing well in the district, the national Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is spending $50,000 on the race. A victory for Republicans would give them a majority in both the House and Senate and could allow them to advance legislation on school vouchers and proposals to amend the state constitution on issues including abortion, voter identification and curbing the governor’s regulatory authority.
February 6, 2024 4:48 am
Prior to their monthly voting meeting, Cecil Township Supervisors held a conditional use application hearing about a proposed pickleball event center. Wayne Dollard is the owner of Level Up Pickleball, LLC and the publisher of Pickleball Magazine. He is proposing an indoor, 16 court pickleball/badminton facility. Dollard and his wife Lisa are national champions in the 50 year old and above category for mixed doubles competition. He said they were approached by some 500 people in the south hills of Pittsburgh to look into building a facility for enthusiasts to use during the winter. Dollard is proposing the 48,000 square foot space that will also be home to several pool tables, dart boards for leagues and table tennis. The building is proposed for 19 Mayview Road across from the Hills-Hendersonville Elementary School. Supervisors did give approval to the conditional use application at their voting meeting immediately following. Dollard hopes to be playing pickleball in his facility at the end of the year.
