September 13, 2023 5:27 pm
Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney will not run for reelection in 2024. The former presidential candidate and Massachusetts governor announced his intentions in a video statement Wednesday, noting that he would be in his mid-80s at the end of another six-year Senate term and saying the country is ready for younger politicians. Romney, who is now 76, easily won election in reliably GOP Utah in 2018 but was expected to face more resistance from his own party after he became the only Republican to vote to convict Donald Trump at both of his impeachment trials.
September 13, 2023 5:12 am
MONESSEN, Pa. — (WPXI) – Some parents are raising concerns about student safety after a fight broke out at Monessen High School. The violent scuffle happened during the lunch period on Monday. It was recorded on several students’ cell phones and shows at least three students wrestling each other to the ground, taking swings and pulling hair. That video came up at Tuesday night’s school board meeting. Toya Sweeney, the guardian to her 14-year-old niece, said her niece was in that video, adding that she was targeted and attacked by those students. Superintendent Dr. Robert Motte said they were alerted to those threats ahead of time and thwarted plans to start a fight three different times that day before the chaos broke out in the cafeteria. This is the fourth violent fight since school started back up two weeks ago. School administrators said one security guard was working Monday. They’re looking to hire another one or two at the high school, including a part-time police officer. One security guard just resigned Monday night.
September 13, 2023 5:07 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Google is confronting a threat to its dominant search engine as federal regulators launch an attempt to dismantle its internet empire in the biggest U.S. antitrust trial in a quarter century. Over the next 10 weeks, federal lawyers and state attorneys general will try to prove Google rigged the market in its favor by locking its search engine in as the default choice in a plethora of places and devices. On Tuesday, prosecutors opened their case by saying it’s about the future of the internet and whether Google’s search engine will ever face meaningful competition. Google is arguing that competition from Microsoft’s Bing, Amazon and Yelp keep the marketplace fair.
September 13, 2023 5:06 am
DETROIT (AP) — Leaders of the United Auto Workers union are considering targeted strikes at a small number of factories run by each of Detroit’s three automakers if they can’t reach contract agreements by a Thursday night deadline. The union’s leadership discussed smaller-scale strikes at a meeting on Friday, and local union leaders were told about the strategy on Tuesday afternoon, two people with knowledge of the moves said. The people didn’t want to be identified because they weren’t authorized to disclose details until President Shawn Fain updates workers Wednesday afternoon in a Facebook Live appearance. At the Tuesday meeting, Fain didn’t say whether the union would target vehicle assembly plants or component factories, one of the people said. The UAW wouldn’t comment Tuesday on its strategy.
September 13, 2023 5:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says he’s directing the House to open an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The Republican leader faces mounting pressure from his right flank to take action as the House returns Tuesday for a disruptive fall agenda. McCarthy plans to convene lawmakers behind closed doors multiple times this week, including for a meeting to discuss the Biden impeachment. McCarthy also is struggling to pass legislation needed to avoid a federal government shutdown. It’s a familiar political bind for the California congressman, who’s juggling the impeachment inquiry and the government shutdown threat with no clear end game. The White House dismisses the impeachment push as politically motivated.
September 13, 2023 5:04 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed support for Russia’s “sacred fight” during a summit with President Vladimir Putin that the U.S. warned could lead to a deal to supply ammunition for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. The leaders met at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia’s most important domestic satellite launch center, for a summit that underscores how their interests are aligning in the face of their countries’ separate, intensifying confrontations with the United States. Putin is thought to be seeking munitions from North Korea to resupply his army in Ukraine, and Kim likely wants both help with satellite launches and economic aid in return.
September 13, 2023 5:03 am
POTTSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania police say escaped murderer Danelo Souza Cavalcante has been captured after nearly two weeks on the run. State police announced Cavalcante’s capture on social media Wednesday and planned a news conference announcing details. Heavily armed police had descended on the South Coventry Township area, closing roads and telling residents to lock their doors. The 34-year-old Cavalcante had broken out of the Chester County jail Aug. 31 while awaiting transfer to a state prison to serve a life sentence for fatally stabbing an ex-girlfriend in 2021. The capture was announced as the manhunt in rural southeastern Pennsylvania entered its 14th day.
September 13, 2023 4:59 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic state lawmaker Jared Solomon says he’ll run in next year’s election for Pennsylvania attorney general. The 44-year-old Solomon on Tuesday became the fourth Democratic candidate to join the race for the state’s top law enforcement office. Solomon is from Philadelphia and says he’ll draw on his experience running a neighborhood-improvement group, practicing anti-trust law and going against political machines. Solomon was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2016 after beating out a 42-year Democratic incumbent. The attorney general’s office has played a big role in fighting drug trafficking, suing opioid makers and defending the battleground state’s 2020 presidential election against Republican attempts to overturn it.
September 13, 2023 2:56 am
A North Strabane man had his sentence handed down to him on Tuesday, stemming from an incident that took place last fall. Lance Stumpf, 54, was arrested and charged in October of 2022 for committing terroristic threats and prohibited possession of firearm. According to police, Stumpf’s girlfriend called 911 after arriving to his Ash Street residence where he was armed with a shotgun. Stumpf, who was intoxicated, threatened to commit suicide, and to even get in a shootout with police. The surrounding neighborhood was placed on lockdown by authorities, and multiple streets were closed. Because of its close proximity to the residence, Canonsburg Hospital was also put into a lockdown situation. Stumpf will serve seven to 23 ½ months in jail for making terroristic threats, and will serve two years’ probation for the firearms charge. In addition, he was ordered to pay $5,453.11 in restitution and must wear a SRAMx device, which monitors an individual’s alcohol consumption.
September 13, 2023 2:36 am
A Monongahela woman is facing homicide, aggravated assault and other charges in the death of a 12 day old baby Tuesday. Darian Helmantoler, 22 is identified as the mother of the child. According to Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh, when police arrived they found EMTs administering CPR to the child that also had blood on its face. Police entered the Chess Street residence to find Helmantoler on a bed talking on a phone. Police noticed blood on Helmantoler and arrested her. She stated to police that “if her baby is dead she wants to go to jail, otherwise she will kill herself.” She was taken to the Monongahela Police Department for questioning and indicated that she may have rolled over onto the child. In addition to the homicide and aggravated assault charges Helmantoleer faces endangering the welfare of children and reckless endangerment charges. A preliminary hearing date is pending.
