March 11, 2023 6:48 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is sticking with a blue-and-white color scheme for the exterior of the new version of Air Force One. The Air Force says the light blue on the new model of the modified 747s that transport the president will be a little bit deeper and more modern in tone than the robin’s egg blue on the aircraft currently in use. Boeing is currently modifying two of its 747-800 aircraft that will use the Air Force One call sign when the president is aboard. They will replace the existing fleet of two aging Boeing 747-200 aircraft the president currently uses.
March 11, 2023 4:14 am
The Department of Environmental Protection released its first report on groundwater testing it conducted near the Norfolk Southern train derailment site at East Palestine, Ohio. The DEP states that it found no contamination of groundwater in Pennsylvania. The DEP analyzed water samples collected from private drinking water wells for vinyl chloride, ehtanol and glycol. The preliminary results did not detect the presence of any of the chemicals of concern. The DEP has also begun collecting soil samples from Pennsylvania properties within a two mile radius of the derailment site to determine any impacts from the train derailment and the controlled burn of the train cars carrying vinyl chloride.
March 11, 2023 4:13 am
The Pennsylvania Department of Health will continue operation of the Health Resource Center that it opened in the aftermath of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The center will operate March 13 through March 15. Monday through Wednesday hours will be from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM. On Thursday March 16 the center will open from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. Staff from the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environmental Protection will be on hand to answer questions and listen to concerns from residents affected by the derailment.
March 11, 2023 3:58 am
(ABC) – The 16th largest bank in the U-S has failed. Silicon Valley Bank on Friday, was taken over by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, known as the FDIC. The bank’s branches in California and Massachusetts are now shut down. Deposits below 250-thousand dollars are insured by the FDIC. Above that, it’s unclear if depositors will get their money. This is the largest bank failure since Washington Mutual failed in the 2008 financial crisis. The FDIC today ordering the closure of Silicon Valley Bank and immediately took over its money. The bank had 209 billion dollars in assets at the end of 2022. The warning signs showed mid week when the bank announced it was trying to raise capital after some big losses. Silicon Valley Bank has been heavily exposed to the tech industry Tech companies are losing valuations and are taking out money. Many other banks, analysts say are in better shape.
March 10, 2023 8:55 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – America’s employers added a substantial 311,000 jobs in February, fewer than January’s huge gain but easily enough to keep pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates aggressively to fight inflation. The unemployment rate rose to 3.6% from a 53-year low of 3.4%, as more Americans began searching for work but not all found jobs. Friday’s report from the government made clear that the nation’s job market remains fundamentally healthy, with many employers still eager to hire.
March 10, 2023 4:20 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has been invited to testify next week before a New York grand jury that has been investigating hush money payments made on his behalf during his 2016 presidential campaign. That’s according to one of his lawyers. Such an invitation often indicates a decision on indictments is near. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined to comment. Any indictment would mark the first time any former U.S. president has been charged with a crime. Trump attorney Joseph Tacopina says a case would have no legal basis.
March 10, 2023 4:19 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An Emmy-winning actor whose career triumphs were later overshadowed by a trial in which he was acquitted of killing his wife, Robert Blake has died at age 89. A statement released on behalf of his niece says he died Thursday in Los Angeles. Blake was the star of the 1970s TV show “Baretta” and landed movie roles, including “In Cold Blood.” Once hailed as among the finest actors of his generation, Blake became better known as the defendant in a real-life murder trial story more bizarre than any in which he acted.
March 10, 2023 4:17 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Prosecutors are employing an unusual strategy to prove that leaders of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group orchestrated a violent plot to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory. They’re calling it the “tools theory.” Prosecutors claim former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio and four associates weaponized underlings to serve as tools of a conspiracy to stop the peaceful transfer of presidential power. Their trial began nearly two months ago and could stretch into April.
March 10, 2023 4:15 am
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Police say eight people were killed in a shooting at a Jehovah’s Witnesses hall in Hamburg, apparently including the perpetrator. An unspecified number of others were wounded, some of them seriously. Police gave the figure on their website Friday morning. There was still no word on a possible motive for the shooting on Thursday evening that stunned Germany’s second-biggest city. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a former Hamburg mayor, described the shooting as “a brutal act of violence.” Police said during the night that they believe that there was only one shooter, and that that this could be a person who was found dead in the building.
March 10, 2023 4:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s federal budget is a statement of his values. It’s a governing philosophy that believes the wealthy and large corporations should pay more taxes to help stem deficits and lift Americans toward middle class stability. For his chief critics, led by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the budget is the arena where they intend to challenge Biden with values of their own. Republicans want to slash the social safety net, trim support for Ukraine and end so-called “woke” policies. It’s a blueprint for the summer showdown over the raising the debt ceiling. The battle ahead will define Biden and the political parties ahead of the 2024 election.
