February 7, 2024 4:59 am
QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Officials say a pair of bombings at the election offices of a political party and an independent candidate in southwest Pakistan killed at least 24 people and wounded more than two dozen others. The twin attacks come a day before Pakistan’s parliamentary elections. Local authorities said the attacks happened in Pashin and Qillah Saifullah, two districts in Baluchistan province. Jan Achakzai, the spokesperson for the provincial government, confirmed the attacks and the casualties. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, which came a day before the country opens its ballot boxes.
February 7, 2024 4:57 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Hamas demands for a cease-fire and vowed to press ahead with Israel’s military offensive in Gaza until achieving “absolute victory.” Netanyahu made the comments Wednesday shortly after meeting the visiting U.S. secretary of state, Antony Blinken, who has been traveling the region in hopes of securing a cease-fire agreement. Blinken however said an agreement was still possible. Netanyahu added that the operation would last months, not years. He ruled out any arrangement that leaves Hamas in full or partial control of Gaza. He also said that Israel is the only power capable of guaranteeing security in the long term.
February 7, 2024 4:56 am
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistanis are braving cold winter weather and sporadic violence to vote for a new parliament. Thursday’s election comes a day after twin bombings claimed at least 30 lives in the worst election-related violence ahead of the balloting. Tens of thousands of security forces were deployed at polling stations and authorities suspended mobile phone services across the country to prevent disruptions and flash protests. Pakistan’s Interior Ministry said the decision was made to maintain law and order. It did not say when the suspension would be lifted. There were a handful of attacks that appeared aimed at disrupting the vote.
February 7, 2024 4:54 am
GERMAN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – An ambulance was involved in a crash in German Township on Tuesday afternoon. Emergency crews were called to Route 21 and Leckrone-Highhouse Road at 2:04 p.m., a Fayette County 911 supervisor confirmed. An EMT was taken to WVU-Uniontown with minor injuries. “Thank you to the local fire departments for their rapid response to assist,” Fayette EMS said in a Facebook post. “Seatbelts save lives.”
February 7, 2024 4:54 am
GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A volcano in southwestern Iceland has erupted for the third time since December and sent jets of lava into the sky. The eruption on Thursday morning triggered the evacuation the Blue Lagoon spa which is one of the island nation’s biggest tourist attractions. The Icelandic Meteorological Office says the eruption began about at about 0600 GMT or 1 a.m. EST along a three-kilometer or nearly two-mile fissure northeast of Mount Sundhnukur. The event is taking place about four kilometers or 2½ miles northeast of Grindavik. The coastal town of 3,800 people was evacuated before a previous eruption on Dec. 18.
February 7, 2024 2:48 am
Washington County Commissioners have announced that they have hired a new director of Human Resources. Chairman Nick Sherman says Brian Guyton of Canonsburg brings a great deal of human resources knowledge and experience that will benefit county employees. Guyton will oversee an office that develops policies related to benefit programs for workers, the selection of new employees, labor contracts, employee counseling and training activities for workers.
February 7, 2024 1:55 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro’s second budget proposes significant increases to education and economic development and would regulate adult use marijuana, while leaning heavily on Pennsylvania’s flush reserves to underwrite his vision. The Democrat on Tuesday unveiled his budget for the upcoming fiscal year in front of a joint session of the House and Senate. Shapiro is calling on lawmakers to enact his projected $48.3 billion budget to inject more cash into underfunded public schools and attract major industrial and high-tech projects to invigorate a slow-growing economy. He says the budget does not call for a tax increase, or require one for at least five years.
February 7, 2024 1:49 am
(WPXI) – Two people are facing charges after an “extensive investigation” into the abuse of a 6-year-old child in Fayette County, state police announced Tuesday. Jacob Weight Sr., 37, and Mimi Frost, 33, were both charged in Fayette County with aggravated assault, corruption of minors, strangulation, endangering the welfare of children and more. A state police spokesperson said the investigation began when troopers were called to a home on Sheridan Avenue in Brownsville on an undisclosed date for an unresponsive child. Responding troopers found the home in “deplorable condition,” noting dog feces, trash and urine throughout. Troopers interviewed all the children in the home and learned the 6-year-old was being held in a dog crate, zip tied and beat with a broom on multiple occasions. State police say Weight and Frost also committed “various other criminal acts against the child.”
February 7, 2024 1:40 am
In an emailed statement on Tuesday, Washington County Commission chairman Nick Sherman said an emergency meeting was held to take further action regarding a cyber-security attack in January on the county’s computer system. Sherman says they approved the retention of Digital Mint of Chicago, Illinois to provide digital security consulting services and to take the steps necessary to restore the County’s computer network and authorize expenditures for incident response, settlement, attorneys fees and to address implement cyber security issues within the County. They also voted to retain Sylint, LLC of Sarasota, Florida to conduct a thorough analysis of the County’s computer network and present a plan to implement a broader modernization of cyber security within the County, that would include the installation of hardware, software, etc., needed to protect and preserve critical information maintained by the county. Any and all expenditures are to be paid from the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) and not from the county’s general fund. Sherman said the funds shall not exceed an amount of $400,000.00, without further approval by the commissioners, The board also voted to authorize the county solicitor to execute any engagement agreements required, with the firms identified, as well as other documentation necessary to address the ransomware attack, Sherman, however, did not address the issue of whether all services had been restored at this time or whether there was any ransom involved in the attack.
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.
