March 25, 2022 4:17 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – After more than 30 hours of hearings, the Senate is on track to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. But Democrats seem unlikely to confirm her with much Republican support. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday that he’ll vote against confirming Jackson, saying he “cannot and will not” support her for a lifetime appointment. Democrats can confirm Jackson on their own in the 50-50 Senate since Vice President Kamala Harris can cast the tiebreaking vote. Jackson is the first Black woman nominated for the nation’s highest court in its more than 200-year history.
March 25, 2022 4:16 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukraine has accused Russia of forcibly relocating hundreds of thousands of civilians to Russia from devastated Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian officials allege that Moscow wants to use them as “hostages” to pressure Kyiv to give up. Ukraine’s ombudsperson said Thursday that 402,000 people, including 84,000 children, have been taken to Russia, where some have reported shortages of food and water. Russia says the people it is evacuating civilians of their own free will. Meanwhile, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged his country to keep up its military defense and not stop “even for a minute.” He said every day of fighting brings the country closer to victory and peace.
March 25, 2022 4:15 am
Russian forces have fired two missiles at a Ukrainian military unit on the outskirts of Dnipro, the fourth-largest city in the country, regional emergency services say. The strikes destroyed buildings and set off two fires, it said late Thursday, while the number of those killed and wounded was still being established. Dnipro is west of the regions along the Russian border that have been controlled by Russian-backed separatists since 2014.
March 25, 2022 4:09 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – A judge has denied bail to a woman charged with third-degree murder in an early morning crash on a Philadelphia interstate that claimed the lives of two Pennsylvania troopers and a civilian. Twenty-one-year-old Jayana Tanae Webb was ordered held pending an April 5 hearing on charges that also include second-degree manslaughter of a law enforcement officer and vehicular homicide while driving under the influence. WCAU-TV reports that defense attorney Michael Walker argued that his client was a first-time offender and posed no danger to the public, but the judge agreed with prosecutors that there was a public safety issue. Walker said later that his client was “devastated.”
March 25, 2022 2:53 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is reversing decisions from last year and says it won’t allow beer and wine licensees to sell edible products containing the marijuana extract CBD. CBD is a non-intoxicating chemical compound, one of many chemicals found in cannabis. Marketers say CBD can treat a range of ailments. Wednesday’s decision to rescind approval was made at the request of the state Department of Agriculture. A board spokesperson says the department told the liquor board that the sale of such consumable products is illegal in Pennsylvania.
March 25, 2022 2:50 am
North Franklin Township is finishing the installation of what supervisors are calling their Community Awareness Siren. A new system of sirens that are being installed at all three fire stations will not only serve as a traditional fire siren, it will also be tied in to the National Weather Service to alert residents that severe weather is near and life saving action should be taken. Plans are also being worked out with Washington County 9-1-1 to use the system in case of any other disaster such as an explosion. The tones sent out are a traditional up and down wail that will signify a fire that will last approximately 30 seconds and the weather alert siren will be a steady 5 minute wail. Residents are concerned about how often and who will be activating the siren. They are worried about whether the siren will be activated for every little occurrence. They are also concerned about devaluation of property values. Supervisor Bob Sabot indicates that the siren will benefit surrounding areas as well. He states that because North Franklin is west of the city of Washington, they would serve as a first alert to any weather emergency such as a tornado.
March 25, 2022 2:46 am
Two local addiction and recovery centers will soon be operating as one. Officials with Washington Health System announced on Thursday that they have entered into an agreement with Gateway Rehabilitation Center to sell their Greenbriar Treatment Centers. Under the agreement, all Greenbrier Center services will become part of the Gateway Rehab Addiction Treatment network. Greenbriar currently operates under the Washington Health System Umbrella. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of June. Once completed, officials say Gateway will operate the long-term inpatient residential facility which is located in Waynesburg, as well as the Greenbrier facility in Washington and the outpatient facilities in North Strabane, Monroeville, New Kensington, South Hills, Squirrel Hill, Wexford, Robinson, and two half-way houses.
March 24, 2022 4:09 am
UNITED NATIONS (AP) – The U.N. General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a resolution blaming Russia for humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and urging an immediate cease-fire and protection for millions of civilians and the homes, schools and hospitals critical to their survival. The vote Thursday on the resolution was 140-5 with only Belarus, Syria, North Korea and Eritrea joining Russia in opposing the measure. There were 38 abstentions, including China. The resolution deplores the “dire humanitarian consequences” of Russia’s aggression which it says is “on a scale that the international community has not seen in Europe in decades.”
March 24, 2022 4:07 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has announced he’ll vote against confirming Ketanji Brown Jackson, saying he “cannot and will not” support the groundbreaking nominee for a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court. While McConnell’s opposition wasn’t unexpected and Jackson’s confirmation is still on track, his declaration coming only hours after the Senate Judiciary Committee wrapped up four days of hearings probably will lead many fellow Republicans to follow suit. Democrats can confirm Jackson, the first Black woman nominated for the nation’s highest court, without any GOP support in the 50-50 Senate, where Vice President Kamala Harris can cast the tie breaking vote.
March 24, 2022 4:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The United States is expanding efforts to help refugees fleeing Ukraine after Russia invaded. It has agreed to accept up to 100,000 people who are escaping from the war and will increase support for Eastern European nations that have taken in most of those fleeing Russian forces. It’s a modest number relative to the need, with an estimated 3.5 million refugees and millions more displaced within Ukraine. It’s also modest by historical standards, far less than the number who came from Southeast Asia decades ago. Here’s a look at the situation.
