November 28, 2023 5:10 am
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has canceled his trip to Dubai for the U.N. climate conference on doctors’ orders. The announcement marked the second time the pope’s frail health had forced the cancellation of a foreign trip: He had to postpone a planned trip to Congo and South Sudan in 2022 because of knee inflammation, though he was able to make the trip earlier this year.Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Francis was improving from the flu and inflammation of his respiratory tract that forced him to cancel his audiences Saturday. But he said “the doctors have asked the pope not to make the trip planned for the coming days to Dubai.”
November 28, 2023 5:08 am
UTTARKASHI, India (AP) — India’s transportation minister says all 41 construction workers who were trapped in a collapsed mountain tunnel in the country’s north have been pulled out. The rescue mission was completed quickly after rescuers reached the trapped laborers earlier Tuesday, bringing an end to a drawn-out rescue mission that had gripped the country for days. Nitin Gadkari, the minister of road transport and highways, said on the social media platform X that he was “completely relieved and happy” after all were rescued. Gadkari added that “this was a well-coordinated effort by multiple agencies, marking one of the most significant rescue operations in recent years.”
November 28, 2023 5:06 am
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A man pleaded not guilty to attempted murder Monday in the weekend shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent in Vermont. The attack is being investigated as a possible hate crime. The three young men were shot and injured Saturday while walking near the University of Vermont campus. Forty-eight-year-old Jason Eaton (pictured) was arrested Sunday and made a brief court appearance from jail Monday. He’s charged with three counts of attempted murder. The U.S. Justice Department and state officials are also investigating whether the shooting was a hate crime. Protests have been widespread and tensions have escalated in the U.S. as the death toll rises in the Israel-Hamas war.
November 28, 2023 5:03 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A fragile truce between Israel and Hamas held for a fifth day as international mediators in Qatar worked to extend it and more hostages were freed from Gaza. Israel came under pressure from the United States to better protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza if it follows through on its promise to resume the war. The latest swap of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel got underway Tuesday evening. Israel said 10 of its citizens and 2 foreigners were freed by Hamas and had entered Egypt. Around 30 more Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released as part of the deal.
November 28, 2023 4:59 am
One person was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital after a house fire late Monday night in Canton Township. Washington County 9-1-1 says the blaze broke out around 10:30 p.m at a home along Elizabeth Street. There is no word on the identity or condition of the person injured. The State Police Fire Marshall has been called in to investigate the cause of the fire. Firefighters from several departments were called to the scene.
November 28, 2023 4:54 am
Peters Township Council began their meeting with a public hearing regarding the proposed budget and capital improvements plan. Council is looking at a budget that is $37.75 million and is balanced. There is no tax increase involved with the 2024 budget. Township Manager Paul Lauer states that deed transfer taxes in the township are a huge revenue generator but with the increase in mortgage rates staff will be paying close attention to those figures for next year’s budget. The township will be making extensive improvements to baseball fields at Peterswood Park. They will also be starting on phase one of the community aquatic facility. The initial phase calls for a splash pad and building dedicated to the use of the splash pad. Phase two of the aquatic facility would be the new pool. Lauer says that project is a project that is planned for the future. Lauer reiterated during the public hearing that even though taxes will not be rising, the fees for trash collection will. The new fee will be $100 per quarter. Lauer went on to say that fee increases like this are not isolated to Peters Township. All southwestern Pennsylvania and in fact, the nation is experiencing steep increases in trash collection. Council will formally adopt the budget in December.
November 18, 2023 4:56 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A witness testifying in federal court says he oversaw improvements at the Philadelphia home of a Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice, work he said was initially paid for by the labor union the justice’s brother led. The testimony about Justice Kevin Dougherty came this week during the embezzlement trial of his brother. John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty (pictured) is accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Contractor Anthony Massa says he was instructed to bill Local 98. John Dougherty has denied the embezzlement allegations. Kevin Dougherty has not been accused of wrongdoing. He ran successfully for state Supreme Court in 2015. The electricians’ union was a major donor to his campaign.
November 18, 2023 2:54 am
Pennsylvania State Police in Washington say a missing / endangered person has been found. No further information was given. Valerie Bonus, a white female, 63 years of age was last seen on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at approximately 5:00 p.m. Bonus suffers from dementia and her last known location was near the Dollar General on SR 0018 in South Franklin Township, Washington County. Bonus is described as 5’5”, 105 pounds, with brown eyes and brown / gray hair. She was last known to be wearing a black zip up, black leggings and a pink hat.
November 17, 2023 5:37 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Hip hop legend and marijuana aficionado Snoop Dogg says he’s going to stop smoking. In message posted to social media, the rapper and entrepreneur asked fans to respect his privacy at this time. He didn’t provide many details on the announcement, and representatives did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ requests for comment. But that didn’t stop ample speculation from fans, many of whom were caught off guard by Snoop’s decision in the comments. Some wondered if the 52-year-old would switch to another form of THC or announce a new business-related or marketing venture down the road. Others applauded the announcement and suggested Snoop may have chosen to stop smoking for his own personal health.
November 17, 2023 5:36 pm
(AP) – Advertisers are fleeing social media platform X over concerns about their ads showing up next to pro-Nazi content, hate speech on the site in general or billionaire owner Elon Musk’s own tweets endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory. IBM said it stopped advertising on X after a report said its ads were appearing alongside material praising Nazis. It said the same of ads from Apple, Oracle, NBCUniversal’s Bravo network and Comcast. The EU also said Friday that it’s pausing its advertising on X and other social media platforms, in part because of a surge in hate speech. Musk sparked outcry this week with his own tweets responding to a user who accused Jews of hating white people. Separately, a spokesperson for Lionsgate says the entertainment company has also suspended advertising on X.
