October 6, 2022 9:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – More Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, but the labor market remains strong even in the face of persistent inflation and a slowing overall U.S. economy. Jobless claims for the week ending Oct. 1 rose by 29,000 to 219,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Last week’s number was revised down by 3,000 to 190,000. The Federal Reserve, determined to bring down decades-high inflation by raising its main borrowing rate, takes labor force data into consideration when making its rate decisions. But the more important data comes Friday in the form of the September jobs report.
October 6, 2022 4:27 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – The sheriff of Merced County in California says a baby girl and three other family members who were kidnapped at gunpoint from their business two days ago have been found dead. Sheriff Vern Warnke announced Wednesday that the bodies were found in a Merced County orchard and told reporters: “Our worst fears have been confirmed.” The announcement came after authorities released surveillance video of a man kidnapping 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri, her parents and uncle from their business Monday in Merced in the San Joaquin Valley southeast of San Francisco. Authorities earlier said the four were taken by a convicted robber who tried to kill himself a day after the kidnappings.
October 6, 2022 4:24 am
FORT MYERS, Florida (AP) – President Joe Biden has surveyed the devastation of hurricane-ravaged Florida, promising to marshal the power of the federal government to help rebuild. Biden comforted local residents alongside Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 foe. Biden praised DeSantis’ handling of the storm recovery as both men – who have battled over pandemic protocols and migration as the governor mulls a presidential bid – put aside politics for a few days. The state is struggling to recover from the wreckage of Hurricane Ian, which tore through southwestern Florida last week and left dozens dead.
October 6, 2022 4:20 am
(AP) – At least 66 clinics have stopped providing abortions in 15 states since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. That’s according to a Guttmacher Institute analysis released Thursday. The institute is a research group that supports abortion rights. The analysis examines the impact of state laws on access to abortion in the 100 days since that landmark decision on June 24. As of October 2, there were no providers offering abortions in 14 of these 15 states. The number of clinics providing abortions in the 15 states dropped from 79 to 13.
October 6, 2022 4:17 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea has launched two ballistic missiles into its eastern waters after the U.S. redeployed an aircraft carrier in response to the North’s earlier launch of a nuclear-capable missile over Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said North Korea’s continued launches were “absolutely intolerable.” The launches Tuesday were North Korea’s sixth round of weapons tests in less than two weeks, adding to a record number of missile launches this year that has been condemned by the United States and other countries. Thursday’s launches came as the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan returned to waters east of South Korea.
October 6, 2022 4:08 am
NORTH UNION TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – Pennsylvania State Police in Uniontown are asking for help finding a missing 26-year-old woman. Police said Keisha Hottinger was last seen on Sept. 25. She is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 115 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on Hottinger’s whereabouts is asked to contact Trooper Tidholm, PSP, Uniontown Station, at (724) 439-7111 or anonymously contact the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477).
October 6, 2022 4:04 am
Washington County residents were updated on the “PA Health and Environmental Studies” research study being performed by the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Health that is looking into the reasons for the occurrence of cancer at high rates in the area. Former members of the External Advisory Board to the study hosted the event that explained to residents the scope of the study and allowed them to ask questions of the panel to gain insight in how the study was conducted. The study encompasses an eight county region that includes Washington County where extensive fracking activities take place. The study looks into several criteria including the high occurrence of childhood cancers, asthma and unusual birth outcomes. The study covered well pads, transmission hubs, land fills and impoundment ponds as sources of both air and water pollution. The University of Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania Department of Health were scheduled to participate in the meeting but they both abruptly cancelled their appearances last week. Results of the study are to be released to the Department of Health on November 15. It is unknown when the study results will be released to the public. Concerned parties interested in asking questions or offering comment regarding the study are encouraged to contact the University of Pittsburgh at paenv@pitt.edu and the Pennsylvania Department of Health at https://tinyurl.com/yn7tkes7 .
October 6, 2022 2:28 am
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that it has assessed and collected a $147,250 civil penalty from Rice Drilling B LLC for erosion and sedimentation violations that were documented in 2019 and 2020 at Rice’s Mac well site in Whitely Township, Greene County. On or before January 9, 2019, officials say Rice failed to implement post construction management and erosion and sedimentation best management practices (BMPs) in accordance with its permit for constructing and maintaining the well site. As a result, three slides developed at the well site causing accelerated erosion and soil to go into three separate rain gardens. They say Rice attempted to make repairs but did not fully remediate the issue nor did it fully implement erosion and sedimentation BMPs, resulting in the development of a fourth slide allowing sediment-laden water and soil to move outside of the permitted area. As of January 27, 2021, Rice repaired and stabilized the slides and the well site was otherwise in compliance. Rice has paid a $147,250 civil penalty into the Oil and Gas Program Fund.
October 6, 2022 2:16 am
A Canonsburg man is facing multiple charges following an hours-long stand-off in Canonsburg Tuesday night. Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh says 53-year-old Lance Anthony Stumpf is being held in the Washington County Jail on multiple charges, including making terrorist threats, for threatening police. Walsh says the incident began around seven-thirty when a caller to Washington County 911 said that a man in the home on Ash Street had a shotgun in his mouth and was threatening suicide. Walsh says the caller was able to safely get out of the home and police surrounded the area. Several roads surrounding the home were closed during the incident, including Medical Boulevard where Canonsburg Hospital is located. A spokesperson said Canonsburg Hospital was placed on lock down during the incident, however, as of early Wednesday morning, the lock-down was fully lifted. According to the criminal complaint Stumpf had been threatening to die by suicide and warned he would shoot any officers that approached his home. The complaint said Stumpf is a convicted felon with a prior 302 mental health commitment. The stand-off ended around three o’clock in the morning when Stumpf was taken into custody. Walsh tells WJPA that there were no injuries and once their investigation is complete, more charges could be filed.
October 5, 2022 5:26 pm
(AP) – “Best before” labels are coming under scrutiny as concerns about food waste grow around the world. Manufacturers have used the labels for decades to estimate peak freshness. But “best before” labels have nothing to do with safety, and some worry they encourage consumers to throw away food that’s perfectly fine to eat. Major U.K. chains like Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer recently removed “best before” labels from prepackaged fruit and vegetables. The European Union is expected to announce a revamp to its labeling laws by the end of this year. In the U.S., there’s no similar push to scrap “best before” labels. But there is growing momentum to standardize the language on date labels to help educate buyers about food waste.
