May 12, 2023 2:39 am
A Smith Township man will face trial on a rape charge. Ryan Trevena, 35 will face rape of an unconscious victim and sexual assault felony charges after he waived his charges to court at his preliminary hearing on Thursday. The criminal complaint accused Trevena of confessing to a woman that he drugged her drink and when she passed out, he had sex with her back in December. Police recovered text messages further confessing to the incident and one that denies the drugging. In an interview with police he denied the drugging but owned up to the assault. Trevena remains in the Washington County Jail unable to post a $20,000 bond.
May 12, 2023 2:29 am
A new report by the Pennsylvania Tourism Office shows the tourism industry in the Commonwealth generated $66.3 billion in economic impact, supported 452,885 jobs, contributed $4.2 billion in state and local taxes, and welcomed 180 million visitors in 2021. The 2021 Economic Impact of Travel and Tourism report, released in tandem with National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), provides state, regional, and county level estimates that demonstrate the vital importance of the travel industry to Pennsylvania’s economy. The report, which contains the most recently available data, shows visitor activity in Pennsylvania increased significantly in 2021. This is attributed to businesses and venues reopening and traveler confidence rising. Key 2021 results include 180 million visitors, an increase of more than 28 million from 2020; $66.3 billion in total economic impact; $4.2 billion in state and local taxes; 452,885 jobs supported, which equates to 1-in-17 jobs in the state and a $9.1 billion increase in direct visitor spending to reach $38 billion – including hotels, restaurants, retailers and other tourism related businesses. Jeff Kotula is the president of the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency and he says the increase in state tourism has trickled down to Washington County as well. Kotula says since the end of the pandemic they have seen a growing number of daily visitors plus an influx of people who are coming into Washington County and are staying one or more nights. Kotula attributes the increase to a push in advertising, the agency’s website and more social media exposure.
May 11, 2023 5:48 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is proposing new limits on greenhouse gas emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants. It’s the most ambitious effort yet to reduce planet-warming pollution from the nation’s second-largest contributor to climate change. The plan could force power plants to capture smokestack emissions using technology that isn’t widely used in the U.S. and would be the first time the federal government has restricted carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. President Joe Biden calls the plan “a major step forward in the climate crisis and protecting public health.” Industry groups and Republican-leaning states accuse the Democratic administration of overreach on environmental regulations.
May 11, 2023 5:46 pm
(AP) – Elon Musk says he has found a new CEO for Twitter, or X Corp. as it’s now called. Musk did not name the person but said she will be starting in about six weeks. Musk bought Twitter last fall and has been running it since but has been insisting he is not the company’s permanent CEO. The Tesla billionaire said in a tweet Thursday that his role will transition to being executive chairman and chief technology officer. Musk, though, has made announcements in the past that he did not follow through on.
May 11, 2023 5:37 pm
(AP) – An environmental group says in a new lawsuit that Shell is putting residents’ health at risk by persistently violating air quality standards at its massive new petrochemical refinery in western Pennsylvania. A federal lawsuit filed by the Clean Air Council asks a judge to order Shell to bring the plant into compliance, and impose civil penalties of up to $140,000 per day. Opened in November, the plant 25 miles outside of Pittsburgh makes polyethylene, a plastic used in everything from consumer and food packaging to tires. The plant has been shut down for repairs since early April. Shell says it has no comment on the suit.
May 11, 2023 12:53 pm
(AP) – Peloton is recalling more than 2 million of its exercise bikes in the U.S. because the bike’s seat post assembly can break during use, posing fall and injury hazards. The recall includes approximately 2.2 million of the Peloton Bikes Model PL01. The bikes were sold in the U.S. from January 2018 through May 2023 for about $1,400. They were sold at Peloton and Dick’s Sporting Goods stores nationwide and online at Amazon, Peloton and Dick’s websites.
May 11, 2023 4:16 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Protecting a narrow, four-vote majority, Republican leaders in the House are making clear the legal process will need to play out with New York Rep. George Santos before they take steps to force his resignation or expel him. The freshman congressman has been accused by federal prosecutors of embezzling money from his campaign, falsely receiving unemployment funds and lying to Congress about his finances. The position Republican leaders have staked out generally follows the precedent that Congress has set on similar matters over the years. The House has expelled just two members in recent decades, and both votes occurred after the lawmaker had been convicted on federal charges.
May 11, 2023 4:14 am
MATAMOROS, Mexico (AP) — Migrants are rushing across the border hours before pandemic-related asylum restrictions are to expire, fearing that policies will make it far more difficult to gain entry into the United States. In a move to clear out overwhelmed holding facilities, a U.S. official says Border Patrol agents were told Wednesday to begin releasing some migrants with instructions to appear at an immigration office in the United States within 60 days. The Biden administration has been unveiling measures to replace Title 42, which suspended rights to seek asylum since March 2020 on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.
May 11, 2023 4:10 am
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip have killed a fourth militant commander, raising the death toll from the latest burst of fighting to 25. Israel was bracing for more rocket fire on Thursday amid reports of faltering Egyptian attempts to broker a cease-fire. It has been the worst bout of fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza in months and among the dead were also women and children. It has also pushed the region closer toward a full-blown war. The conflagration comes at a time of soaring tensions and spiking violence over the past year in the West Bank.
May 11, 2023 4:05 am
A Senate panel has approved a rail-safety measure in response to the train derailment earlier this year in East Palestine, Ohio. The Senate Commerce Committee voted to send the bill to the full Senate. The vote was mostly along party lines, with only two Republicans favoring it, which raises questions about whether the bill will ever get to President Joe Biden’s desk. Some Republicans complain that the measure could restrict shipments of coal and oil. The vote came after the CEO of Norfolk Southern railroad promised to compensate East Palestine residents whose homes have declined in value since the derailment in February.
