July 27, 2023 5:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The unraveling of Hunter Biden’s plea agreement has thrust his criminal case into uncertain waters and given new fodder to Republican critics in Congress as they push ahead with investigations into the president’s youngest son. Biden was supposed to plead guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor charges for failing to pay taxes. But U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika put the brakes on the guilty plea after raising concerns during a hearing about the structure and terms of the agreement and another deal that would allow him to avoid prosecution on a gun charge if he meets certain conditions. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that President Joe Biden would not pardon his son.
July 27, 2023 5:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell briefly left his own press conference Wednesday after stopping his remarks midsentence and staring off into space for several seconds, appearing to be disoriented. McConnell approached the podium for his weekly press conference and began speaking about the annual defense bill. He said the bill was proceeding with “good bipartisan cooperation.” But he then appeared to lose his train of thought, trailing off. McConnell then stared vacantly for around 20 seconds before his colleagues in Republican leadership, who were standing behind him, grabbed his elbows and asked if he wanted to go back to his office.
July 27, 2023 4:56 am
The environmental activist group MAD FACTS-Moms And Dads-Family Awareness of Cancer Threat Spike met for a second time on Tuesday. The featured speaker was Dr. Ned Ketyer, a retired pediatrician that is heavily involved in research on the effects of fracking on children that are raised near fracking operations. His speech touched on several topics ranging from pollution from fracking operations to mental and psychological effects that people suffer due to their proximity to a fracking operation. Ketyer pointed out to attendees that the Pennsylvania Constitution guarantees all residents are guaranteed the right to clean air and pure water in Article One, Section 27 of the Constitution. He says that residents need to hold political officials responsible to deliver that guarantee. He touched on plastics pollution. He indicated that the cracker plant in Beaver County is supplied by fracking operations. He suggested limiting the use of plastics and possibly replacing them with hemp that could be grown in western Pennsylvania. He also said that forever chemicals used in fracking are abundant in our area and all water regardless of source should be filtered with a charcoal activated filter. The group was informed that the results of a 2019 study authorized by Governor Tom Wolf and performed by the University of Pittsburgh in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Health will be released. A meeting is scheduled for August 15 at 6:30 PM at Penn West California University. The location on campus is yet to be determined. According to Ketyer, this epidemiological study will not offer findings of causation but will offer links to be studied to determine the cause of rare cancers, asthma and birth impacts to those living near fracking operations.
July 27, 2023 2:53 am
On Wednesday, Voices For Independence (VFI) held its very first “Ride for Our Rights.” It took part in 3 locations across western Pennsylvania; Washington, Seneca, and Erie, beginning at the VFI office in Washington. The convoy then headed north to the Voices for Independence office in Seneca, with a final stope at the VFI headquarters in Erie. “People with disabilities are forced to battle obstacles relating to transportation every day,” says Shona Eakin, CEO of Voices for Independence. “The current para-transit system is broken, with rides needing to be scheduled days in advance, rides arriving late, and more. We’ve actually seen individuals arrive at our office so late that their return ride home is already at the office by the time they get here. These kinds of stories happen daily, and there is no better time to call for reform than on the 33rd anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Eakin says this event is unique not only in the fact that it is the first of its kind since the “Freedom Ride of ’95,” nearly 30 years ago, but that the subject matter corresponds directly to ADA Day, is urgent in nature, and will host a variety of speakers at every stop of the trip.
July 27, 2023 2:26 am
Washington Police Chief Dan Rush says they are investigating a shooting that occurred late Tuesday night in the city’s West End. Rush says they were called to the emergency room of Washington Hospital just after ten-thirty for reports of a man with a gunshot wound. Rush says he has been identified as 24-year-old Michael Jackson and had suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. According to Rush, the shooting occurred on Broad Street near the 8th Ward Playground. Rush says they do not, at this time, have any suspects.
July 27, 2023 2:21 am
LONDON (AP) — A London jury has acquitted Kevin Spacey on sexual assault charges stemming from allegations by four men dating back 20 years. Jurors returned their verdicts Wednesday in Southwark Crown Court after deliberating over three days. Three men accused the Oscar winner of aggressively grabbing their crotches and an aspiring actor said the actor took advantage of him after he fell asleep or passed out at Spacey’s London apartment. Spacey, who turned 64 on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to nine charges, including multiple counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. (Photo: AP)
July 26, 2023 2:45 pm
(AP) – A federal judge has rejected a request by lawyers for the Pittsburgh synagogue gunman to exhume the body of his father. Robert Bowers’ lawyers had wanted the body exhumed for a DNA test after prosecutors raised questions about paternity. Bowers is facing a possible death sentence after being convicted of killing 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue. Trying to persuade jurors to spare his life, the defense says Bowers has a family history of mental illness and has introduced evidence that his father was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The judge ruled Wednesday that the defense waited too long to make the exhumation request. (Photo: AP)
July 26, 2023 9:23 am
NEW YORK (AP) — A fire on a tall construction crane in Manhattan has caused its arm to hit a building as it crashed to the street below. Photos and videos posted on social media show flames bursting from the car of a crane hundreds of feet above 10th Avenue at 41st Street on Wednesday. The crane’s arm scraped the top floors of a skyscraper across the street as it fell. There were no immediate reports of injuries. The crane fire and collapse happened shortly before 8 a.m. Firefighters on a roof deck of another building used hoses to battle the blaze. Surrounding streets were closed to traffic.
July 26, 2023 5:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has blocked a rule that allows immigration authorities to deny asylum to migrants who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border without first applying online or seeking protection in a country they passed through. But the judge on Tuesday delayed his ruling from taking effect immediately to give President Joe Biden’s administration time to appeal. The order from U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar of the Northern District of California takes away a key enforcement tool set in place by the Biden administration as coronavirus-based restrictions on asylum expired in May. The new rule imposes severe limitations on migrants seeking asylum but includes room for exceptions and does not apply to children traveling alone.
July 26, 2023 5:01 am
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden’s son Hunter has pleaded not guilty to two tax crimes after a plea deal with federal prosecutors unraveled during a court hearing in Delaware following the judge’s concerns over the agreement. Hunter Biden was charged last month with two misdemeanor tax crimes of failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018, and was expected to plead guilt after making agreement with prosecutors, who were planning to recommend two years of probation. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday. The judge gave defense lawyers and prosecutors 30 days to explain why she should accept the initial deal.
