October 14, 2023 4:37 am
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin has benefited from waiting to reveal where he stood as the swing vote in a chamber closely divided between Democrats and Republicans. He’s taken the same approach when it comes to the next phase of his political career. The moderate Democrat has teased possible retirement, a run for reelection to the Senate or even a presidential campaign in 2024 — possibly as an independent candidate. During a multi-day trip to West Virginia’s state capital this week, the 76-year-old expressed growing frustration with the polarized U.S. two-party system. He said unless it changes, the system “will be the downfall of our country.”
October 14, 2023 4:33 am
and stages brief ground incursions
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinians are scrambling to flee northern Gaza after Israel’s military told about 1 million people to leave for the southern part of the besieged territory. Israel carried out some limited ground operations ahead of an expected wider land offensive against Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers following their attack into southern Israel a week ago. The unprecedented evacuation order applies to almost half of Gaza’s population, including everyone in Gaza City. Israel renewed calls on social media and in leaflets dropped from the air for some 1 million people to relocate on Saturday. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes. The U.N. and aid groups had said such a rapid exodus would cause untold human suffering.
October 14, 2023 4:11 am
PITTSBURGH -(WPXI)- Pittsburgh’s plastic bag ban goes into effect Saturday, Oct. 14. It was originally scheduled for April but was pushed back to give retailers extra time to get ready. City officials say the change is about preserving the environment. “We’re letting our customers know that tonight will be the last night they get the blue bag,” Cindi Donaldson said. She’s the manager of a Kuhn’s Markets location in Pittsburgh’s Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood. The plastic bags will be replaced with brown paper bags. They aren’t free. Shoppers will have to pay 10 cents apiece for them. They are also encouraged to use their own reusable bags. Donaldson says her store has a unique problem. “The bad thing for our store is a lot of the customers walk. So, it’s like, their grocery shopping is now going to be limited to maybe one bag in both arms. Or, if they’re really hefty, two bags.” Retailers will have the ability to empty any leftover bag stock until the end of the year. There are two Kuhn’s locations in Pittsburgh. Donaldson says they are both making the switch Saturday and will send any unused bags to stores outside the city. “If they go someplace else because of the plastic bags, that’s kind of hard. I would hate to lose business. Let’s put it that way,” Donaldson said. The paper bag fee does not apply to WIC or SNAP recipients.
October 14, 2023 4:08 am
Governor Josh Shapiro has announced that all United States flags and all Commonwealth flags will be flown at half staff on all Commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds. This is to honor Philadelphia Police Officer Richard Mendez who was killed in the line of duty on October 12. The honor will last until sunset on the date of interment. That date has not been announced. All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate.
October 13, 2023 3:21 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans have chosen Jim Jordan as their new nominee for House speaker during internal party voting. Friday’s vote puts the staunch ally of Donald Trump within reach of the speaker’s gavel. The Ohio congressman now must secure support from the rest of his colleagues ahead of a House floor vote. That could push into next week. Jordan is the hard-line chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He emerged after Majority Leader Steve Scalise abruptly ended his bid when it became clear holdouts refused to back him. Frustrated Republicans have been searching desperately to try to replace ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
October 13, 2023 12:52 pm
(WPXI) – A man is facing charges after police say he sex trafficked three girls in a Monroeville motel. According to the criminal complaint, officials were conducting surveillance on a room at the Rodeway Inn in Monroeville on May 9th. Two males were seen going in and out of the room. Officers decided to knock on the door due to suspicious activity and found two women, ages 21 and 22, and a 16-year-old girl. Investigators found condoms, wipes and pregnancy tests in the room, to which the two women said they were involved in prostitution at the motel. According to the complaint, the victims also told the officers that they would send a man, identified as Donte Lashawn Cole, images of themselves to be posted in online advertisements. The pictures would be used in advertisements on common websites used by traffickers and prostitutes to offer sex acts in exchange for money. Cole is facing 19 charges, including corrupt organization, trafficking in individuals, involuntary servitude, dealing in the proceeds of illegal activity and criminal use of communication facility.
October 13, 2023 5:02 am
(AP) – Less than a month before Hamas fighters blew through Israel’s “Iron Wall” in an attack that would leave more than 1,200 Israelis dead, they practiced in a very public dress rehearsal. A two-minute propaganda video posted to social media by Hamas on Sept. 12 shows fighters using explosives to blast through a replica of the border gate, sweep in and then move building by building through a reconstruction of an Israeli town, firing weapons at human-shaped paper targets. While Israel was clearly caught flatfooted by Hamas’ ability to breach its Gaza defenses, the group appears to have hidden its extensive preparations for the deadly assault in plain sight.
October 13, 2023 5:01 am
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Maui County has released audio of 911 calls from a deadly August wildfire in response to a public record request from The Associated Press. The 911 audio released late Thursday adds another layer to what is known about the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, illustrating some of the chaos and fear that residents experienced as they tried to reach safety. Maui County released a two-hour batch of audio covering the time when the fire was spreading through the town in response to the AP’s request. At least 98 people died in the Aug. 8 fire and more than 2,000 structures were destroyed, most of them homes.
October 13, 2023 4:58 am
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has arrived in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv to meet with senior government leaders and see firsthand some of the U.S. weapons and security assistance that Washington rapidly delivered to Israel in the first week of its war with Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers. Austin’s quick trip on Friday comes a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the region. Blinken is continuing the frantic diplomacy to avert an expanded regional conflict. Defense officials said that Austin wants to underscore America’s unwavering support for the people of Israel and that the U.S. is committed to making sure the country has what it needs to defend itself. (Photo: AP)
October 13, 2023 4:56 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed in a nationally televised address to destroy Hamas as the army prepares for an expected ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. Palestinians began a mass exodus from northern Gaza Friday after Israel’s military told some 1 million people to evacuate toward the southern part of the besieged territory. That’s an unprecedented order applying to almost half the population ahead of an expected ground invasion against the ruling Hamas militant group. The U.N. warned that so many people fleeing en masse would be calamitous. Hamas dismissed the evacuation order as a ploy and called on people to stay in their homes.
