March 8, 2023 4:19 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI finds itself in a challenging moment as it conducts simultaneous investigations involving classified documents held by former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. The dual inquiries are both overseen by Justice Department special counsels and are unfolding in a hyper-partisan environment as election season nears and as Republicans use their new House majority to investigate the FBI and attack its credibility. In an interview with The Associated Press this week, FBI Director Christopher Wray acknowledged that it was a tough time for the FBI. But he downplayed the impact that the “noise” had on the FBI’s day-to-day work, on morale or on its relationship to other law enforcement agencies.
March 8, 2023 4:17 am
CLEVELAND — (WPXI) – A Norfolk Southern employee was killed after a train hit a dump truck in Ohio Tuesday. The accident happened on a rail line that runs through the Cleveland area at around 1 a.m. A spokesperson for Cleveland-Cliffs, part of the area the rail line runs through, says the accident is “being controlled by Cleveland police and Norfolk Southern.” The victim was identified by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office as Louis Shuster, 46. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. This is the third Norfolk Southern incident in Ohio in just over a month.
March 8, 2023 4:11 am
Tuesday at 4:30 pm was the deadline for candidates for elected offices in Washington County to file petitions to appear on the ballot for the upcoming primary election on May 16. Melanie Ostrander, Director of Elections in Washington County called “Monday and Tuesday very busy days in the office.” A review of prospects for county wide offices show contested races on the republican ticket in five of the seven races. In the republican race for county commissioner, incumbent Nick Sherman will be joined by Bruce Bandel, Ashley Duff, Electra Janis, Kevin Redford and Sonia Stopperich Sulc. On the democratic side, incumbent commissioner Larry Maggi is joined by Cindy Fisher and Randy Barli. In county row office races, register of wills, clerk of courts, prothonotary and coroner are all seeing contested races on the republican side. The races for district attorney and treasurer both have single candidates for the republican ticket. Democratic candidates for row offices are all running unopposed. The democratic slot for coroner is vacant. Beginning on Wednesday, a seven day period begins for the public to request to review petitions. Immediately after, a challenge period will be held for anyone to challenge a candidates petitions and have those challenges reviewed by a common pleas judge.
For a complete listing of the 2023 primary candidates, visit the Washington County Elections Office, here.
March 8, 2023 4:09 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro is proposing a hefty an increase in aid to Pennsylvania’s schools in his first budget he’s delivering to the Legislature. But the Democrat’s administration also emphasized prudence Tuesday, saying a massive cash surplus will dwindle over time. The administration also faces demands for more money for schools, highways and social services. Shapiro addressed a joint session of the House and Senate, promising to repay voters’ trust by showing that “government can be a positive, productive force for good.” Spending would rise by 6% while Shapiro is proposing no increases in income or sales taxes. But Republican lawmakers caution that Shapiro is deficit spending.
March 8, 2023 2:24 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania state lawmaker is quitting the Legislature, a week after a union lobbyist accused him by name of having sexually harassed her four years ago. Democratic Rep. Mike Zabel of Delaware County said in the letter sent Wednesday to Democratic Speaker Joanna McClinton that his resignation will take effect March 16. That leaves enough time for her to order that the vacancy be filled during the May primary. Zabel says the toll from the scandal has been too great for his family and has been detrimental to his well-being. He said he’s seeking treatment of an undisclosed nature. (Photo: AP)
March 7, 2023 4:53 pm
(WPXI) – The National Transportation Safety Board announced Tuesday that they’re launching a special investigation into Norfolk Southern’s organization and safety culture. “Given the number and significance of recent Norfolk Southern accidents, the NTSB also urges the company to take immediate action today to review and assess its safety practices, with the input of employees and others, and implement necessary changes to improve safety,” the NTSB said in a media release. Since Dec. 2021, the NTSB has launched five investigations involving Norfolk Southern incidents, with one of those being in Pennsylvania and three being in Ohio. On Feb. 3, 50 cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, just under an hour drive from Pittsburgh. The train was carrying vinyl chloride in some of the cars and burned for days before a controlled release was executed.
March 7, 2023 10:25 am
CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — Two Americans are back on U.S. soil after surviving a deadly kidnapping in Mexico. They were brought to a Texas hospital for treatment on Tuesday. Two other Americans were killed. Irving Barrios, Tamaulipas state’s top prosecutor, confirmed the two surviving Americans were turned over to U.S. authorities at the international bridge to Brownsville, Texas. The Brownsville Herald reported the two were then taken to Valley Regional Medical Center with an FBI escort. A relative of one of the victims said Monday that the four had traveled together from the Carolinas so one of them could get a tummy tuck surgery.
March 7, 2023 10:22 am
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are getting the vegan treatment. Hershey says its Reese’s Plant Based Peanut Butter Cups, which go on sale this month, will be its first vegan chocolates sold nationally. A second plant-based offering, Hershey’s Plant Based Extra Creamy with Almonds and Sea Salt, will follow in April. The chocolates are made with oats instead of milk. Hershey says consumers want choice and are looking for products they consider healthier or with fewer ingredients, including reduced sugar and plant-based options.
March 7, 2023 9:28 am
Pa. U.S. Senator, Democrat John Fetterman is “well on his way to recovery” according to his chief of staff. Adam Jentleson shared photos of Fetterman Monday, saying he and the Senator were discussing legislation at Walter Reed. “He’s laser focused on PA & will be back soon,” Jentleson tweeted. Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in February for treatment of clinical depression. In a statement, his camp said Fetterman has experienced depression throughout his life, and that it had only recently become severe. Fetterman had a stroke days before last May’s primary election and spent the last five months on the campaign trail recovering. He continued to experience the after-effects, in particular auditory processing disorder, which can render someone unable to speak fluidly and quickly process spoken conversation into meaning. The week before entering the hospital for treatment of depression, Fetterman stayed two days in George Washington University after becoming lightheaded. Fetterman’s office said there was no evidence of a new stroke or a seizure. He could be in the hospital “for weeks” or until doctors are satisfied with his progress, one of Fetterman’s aides said. He is not expected to resign from the Senate.
March 7, 2023 9:21 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has started to unveil parts of his budget proposal being released later this week. The Democratic president is beginning with his plan for Medicare, including higher taxes on wealthy people to increase funding for the program’s trust fund. Biden also wants to expand Medicare’s ability to negotiate prescription drug prices. Biden writes Tuesday in The New York Times that Medicare is “more than a government program.” Biden calls Medicare “the rock-solid guarantee that Americans have counted on to be there for them when they retire.” The president is scheduled to release his budget proposal Thursday in Philadelphia. The budget proposal’s future is uncertain, with Republicans in control of the House.
