ACLU seeks to block fetal heartbeat measure in Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Abortion-rights defenders opened a new legal fight against Kentucky on Friday to try to block one of the country’s most restrictive abortion measures, which would mostly ban the procedure once a fetal heartbeat is detected. Hours after Kentucky’s Republican-dominated legislature passed the so-called fetal heartbeat bill, the...
Montana shootings leave 1 dead, trooper and 2 others wounded
MISSOULA, Mont. — A Montana Highway Patrol trooper who was investigating a shooting that killed one person and injured two others was himself shot and critically injured Friday after finding the suspect’s vehicle, officials said. Authorities later arrested a 29-year-old suspect. Trooper Wade Palmer, 35, was among the officers searching...
Gore: US getting close to political shift on climate change
ATLANTA — Former Vice President Al Gore believes the U.S. is nearing a political tipping point, with the 2020 Democratic presidential field offering voters the chance to replace President Donald Trump with someone “committed heart and soul” to combating climate change. Gore, who emerged as a leading climate activist after...
West Newton man enjoyed sharing his passions
Although Stephen Fanala worked for 45 years in the steel industry, it was his avocations that defined him. Mr. Fanala loved to fly, and he loved to teach others about hunting and trapping. “These were not just hobbies for him — these were lifelong passions of his,” said his daughter,...
Calls for former Steeler Lynn Swann to leave USC amid college admissions scandal
Pittsburgh Steelers great Lynn Swann is facing calls to resign as the University of Southern California’s athletic director in the wake of the national college admissions scandal that has entangled four USC athletic department employees. The employees — Swann not among them — are accused of accepting $2 million in...
Cases of the mumps at Temple University increases to 46
PHILADELPHIA — Health officials say there are at least 46 cases of the mumps at Temple University and three others from surrounding counties, the most cases in the city since 2010. That’s up from 16 cases reported last week. The Department of Public Health for Philadelphia said Friday it recommends...
Pennsylvania Lottery celebrates 47 years since first drawing
It started as a 50-cent weekly game offering a chance at a $50,000 top prize, with occasional chances to become a millionaire. Forty-seven years since the first Pennsylvania Lottery drawing was held, the Lottery pays out billions each year and rakes in billions more, with proceeds benefiting older Pennsylvanians, according...
51 women sue USOC for failing to stop Nassar abuse
DENVER — Fifty-one women are suing the U.S. Olympic Committee, its board members and a number of former high-ranking officials for failing to prevent their abuse at the hands of imprisoned sports doctor Larry Nassar. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in federal court in Denver, details abuse dating to the late...
Trump issues first veto after rebuke of border order
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump issued the first veto of his presidency on Friday, overruling Congress to protect his emergency declaration for border wall funding. Flanked by law enforcement officials as well as the parents of children killed by people in the country illegally, Trump maintained that he is not...
Greyhound won’t let U.S. drop migrants in depots
PHOENIX — Greyhound Lines Inc. is no longer allowing U.S. authorities to drop off immigrant families inside bus stations, forcing those who have been released from custody to wait outside until they have a ticket. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed to The Associated Press on Friday that it had...
Penn State Extension Agronomy Guide is farmer’s ‘bible’
The biennial Penn State Extension Agronomy Guide has become a bible of sorts for farmers. The 2019-2020 edition is now available for purchase in print ($35) or as a digital download ($15), according to Penn State Extension. A bundle that includes both versions can be purchased for $45. The 478-page...
Britain’s long, complicated divorce from Europe
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s love-hate relationship with the rest of Europe goes back decades, but the Brexit crisis gripping it today stems from a dramatic January 2013 speech by Prime Minister David Cameron in which he promised an “in or out” referendum. The vote would be to determine whether Britons...
American Airlines suspends flights to Venezuela
FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines is stopping flights to Venezuela because of safety concerns after the pilots’ union told its members to refuse to work the flights. American was the last major U.S. carrier to fly to the troubled country. It flew daily to Caracas and Maracaibo from Miami....
Native American tribe, 3 governments planning 400th Pilgrim anniversary
BOSTON — Native American tribal leaders are teaming up somewhat hesitantly with the U.S., British and Dutch governments on next year’s commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrim landing. Events are planned in all three countries next year to reflect on the Pilgrims’ arrival in 1620 to what is...
Former HUD contract specialist pleads guilty in bribery scheme
WASHINGTON — A former contract specialist for the U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency has pleaded guilty in a federal bribery scheme that involved giving private information on contracts to a Maryland business in exchange for more than $38,000 in money, travel and hotels, and tickets to Washington Redskins and...
Feds: Penn State should not be permitted to trademark ‘Happy Valley’
Penn State officials are decidedly unhappy after the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office declined a request to trademark the “Happy Valley” nickname for university merchandise. “Happy Valley” is a longtime nickname for the State College area. However, it was that precise geographical association that factored into the office’s decision to...
ACLU seeks to block fetal heartbeat measure in Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Abortion-rights defenders have expanded their legal fight against Kentucky to try to block the state’s most restrictive abortion measure, which would mostly ban the procedure once a fetal heartbeat is detected. The American Civil Liberties amended a federal lawsuit Friday to take aim at the so-called fetal...
Students worldwide skip class to demand action on climate
BERLIN — From the South Pacific to the edge of the Arctic Circle, students mobilized by word of mouth and social media skipped class Friday to protest what they believe are their governments’ failure to take tough action against global warming. The coordinated ‘school strikes,’ were inspired by 16-year-old Swedish...
May tries to save Brexit deal after vote to delay U.K. exit
LONDON — British Prime Minister Theresa May worked Friday to pull off an against-the-odds rescue for her European Union divorce deal, after Parliament voted to postpone Brexit to avert a chaotic U.K. departure in two weeks. May planned to spend the next few days trying to persuade opponents in her...
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rethinking U.S. talks; Pompeo remains optimistic
PYONGYANG, North Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will soon decide whether to continue diplomatic talks and maintain his moratorium on missile launches and nuclear tests, a senior North Korean official said Friday, adding that the U.S. threw away a golden opportunity at the recent summit between their...
New Zealand mosque killer’s rifles bore white-supremacist references
The man accused of killing 49 people in an attack on a New Zealand mosque during Friday prayers used rifles covered in white-supremacist graffiti and listened to a song glorifying a Bosnian Serb war criminal. These details highlight the toxic beliefs behind an unprecedented, live-streamed massacre, which Prime Minister Jacinda...
Credit union offers member scholarships up to $2,000
The Westmoreland Water Federal Credit Union is seeking applications for $3,500 it will give out as part of its 2019 Founders’ Memorial Scholarship program. Applicants must be members of the credit union in good standing, and there are three scholarships available for $2,000, $1,000 and $500. Anyone who is eligible...
Post Office to release ‘Sesame Street’ stamps
Perhaps it’s the U.S. Postal Service’s way of giving their carriers more sunny days. This week, the Post Office announced three new stamp lines, including characters from “Sesame Street,” the classic PBS children’s show. With images of Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Grover, Bert and Ernie, and 11 other Muppets, the...
20 dead, mostly children, in Nigeria building collapse
LAGOS, Nigeria — Twenty people are confirmed dead in the school building that collapsed in Nigeria on Wednesday, and most of them are children, an official said Friday. Forty-three other people were rescued, Lagos State Health Commissioner Jide Idris told The Associated Press. The disaster occurred in the heart of...
So cute! Berlin zoo shows off new polar bear cub
BERLIN — The Berlin Tierpark zoo is showing off its new polar bear cub, a 3-month-old with a cuteness and playfulness that could make her the German capital’s next animal celebrity. The bear, who hasn’t been named, was born Dec. 1 and the zoo says she’s developing well. She was...
