January 10, 2024 5:03 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration pledged from day one to restore truth and transparency to the federal government. But now the administration is facing criticism and credibility questions after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization was kept secret for days — even from the White House. The prolonged focus on a senior official’s medical secrecy is also shedding an unwelcome spotlight on Biden’s own health as the oldest president in history seeks another term. The questions over transparency and health have put the White House on the defensive for days as the election year opens.
January 10, 2024 5:01 am
UNION TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – A Washington County homeowner is at her breaking point. “It’s very frustrating,” Emily Croup said. “It happens every time it rains.” Inches of rainwater floods in front of her home on Spruce Street in Union Township, Washington County. “It could definitely cause a hazard,” said Croup. “Again, we don’t know if there’s a hole that’s being created below that could cave in.” Croup told Channel 11 she’s been dealing with the pool of water for more than 10 years, including her mother-in-law who lives right across the street. The rainwater typically flows straight into her basement causing major damage and headaches. A backed up storm drain is what Croup said is creating the watery mess. She said she’s called the supervisors and gone to township meetings to address the drainage problem. “They say they’re going to do something, but nothing has been done,” Croup said. “You feel like it’s falling on deaf ears.”
January 10, 2024 4:49 am
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A crippling fuel leak has forced a U.S. company to give up on landing a spacecraft on the moon. Astrobotic Technology’s lander began leaking fuel shortly after Monday’s launch from Florida. The company said Tuesday that the leak may have been the result of a ruptured tank. The spacecraft also encountered problems with its solar panel. The company said the goal now was to keep the lander operating as long as possible in space. A second lander from a Houston company is due to launch next month. Only four countries have successfully landed on the moon.
January 10, 2024 2:28 am
Two Washington residents have been sentenced in federal court on their convictions of conspiracy to defraud the United States, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced on Wednesday. United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed a sentence of 3 years’ probation on Julia Jolly, age 37, and a sentence of 3 years’ probation on Ethan Gordon, age 30, with joint restitution of $61,852. According to information presented to the court, Gordon and Jolly agreed to submit false Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan applications (COVID-19 pandemic relief loans administered by the Small Business Administration). One false application was submitted in Gordon’s name, and one in Jolly’s name, resulting in a combined loss of over $60,000 to the government.
January 9, 2024 3:52 pm
(WPXI) – Two tractor-trailers overturned and crashed Tuesday morning over an embankment on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Westmoreland County. It happened at around 9:15 a.m. near mile marker 95.9 in Donegal Township. Two people were taken to a hospital from the crash. There’s no word on their conditions at this time. One of the trucks appeared to be carrying a variety of beverages that spilled out along the hillside. The Turnpike Commission said they have to wait until Wednesday to clear the wreckage, but it is no longer impacting traffic.
January 9, 2024 3:40 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Doctors say Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has prostate cancer and his recent secretive hospitalization was for surgery and later to treat a urinary tract infection related to that operation. The 70-year-old Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Dec. 22 and underwent surgery to treat the cancer. Austin developed the infection a week later. Senior administration and defense officials were not told for days about his hospitalization or his cancer. Meanwhile, the White House has sent agencies a memo outlining specific notification procedures. (Photo: AP)
January 9, 2024 3:36 pm
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A crippling fuel leak has forced a U.S. company to give up on landing a spacecraft on the moon. Astrobotic Technology’s lander began leaking fuel shortly after Monday’s launch from Florida. The spacecraft also encountered problems with its solar panel. The company said Tuesday that the goal now is to keep the lander operating as long as possible in space, in order to learn as much as possible for its next mission. A second lander from a Houston company is due to launch next month. Only four countries have successfully landed on the moon.
January 9, 2024 7:19 am
Sports Facility, LLC, the parent company of the Washington Wild Things, has named Christine Blaine as their Chief Executive Officer. Blaine was actually the very first employee of the baseball club when it was brought to Washington back in 2001. Blaine initially served as Director of Marketing and Communication and most recently served as Vice President of Corporate Partnerships. She will continue to work with corporate partnerships in her new role but will also oversee other departments at Wild Things Park. Sports Facility, LLC owner Stu Williams says “Chris is an essential member of our staff and any success the organization has is in part due to her efforts”.
January 9, 2024 5:10 am
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Authorities say an explosion at a historic Texas hotel on Monday injured 21 people and trapped some in the basement before they were found by rescue crews. One person was in critical condition. Fort Worth Fire Department spokesman Craig Trojacek says investigators are confident the blast was “some kind of gas explosion.” He says the blast flung doors and entire sections of wall onto the road in front of the 20-story hotel, where rescue crews found several people trapped in the basement. The Sandman Signature in the heart of downtown Fort Worth was undergoing construction. The hotel is in a busy area of downtown about one block from the Fort Worth Convention Center.
January 9, 2024 5:10 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump says a president “has to have immunity.” But federal appeals court judges in Washington are expressing deep skepticism that he is immune from prosecution on charges that he plotted to overturn the results of the 2020 election he lost to Joe Biden. On Tuesday Trump returned to the federal courthouse in Washington for his appeal of charges against him. The three-judge panel also questioned whether they had jurisdiction to consider the appeal at this point in the case, raising the prospect that Trump’s appeal could be dismissed. During lengthy arguments, the judges repeatedly pressed Trump’s lawyer to defend claims that Trump was shielded from criminal charges.
