Democrat sees abortion, extremism as wedge issues in bid to unseat GOP Pennsylvania state treasurerVideo
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Democratic Pennsylvania state lawmaker announced Tuesday that he will run for treasurer in 2024, positioning himself as an ideological opposite to the Republican incumbent regarding abortion access and the 2020 election. Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, 37, announced his party primary candidacy for the seat held by incumbent...
JPMorgan to pay $75M on claims it enabled Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operations
NEW YORK — JPMorgan Chase agreed Tuesday to pay $75 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands to settle claims that the bank enabled the sex trafficking acts committed by financier Jeffrey Epstein. JPMorgan said that $55 million of the settlement will go toward local charities and assistance for victims. Another...
Woman dies after falling from a cliff at a scenic overlook in North Carolina
BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. — A South Carolina woman died after falling from a scenic overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway in western North Carolina, according to the National Park Service. Park service dispatchers received a report of a woman who fell down a steep cliff at Glassmine Falls Overlook on...
U.S. consumer confidence tumbles in September as American anxiety about the future grows
WASHINGTON — The confidence of American consumers slipped this month, particularly about the future, as expectations persist that interest rates will remain elevated for an extended period. The Conference Board, a business research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell to 103 in September from 108.7 in August....
Supreme Court will let Alabama’s congressional map be redrawn to better represent Black voters
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the drawing of a new Alabama congressional map with greater representation for Black voters to proceed. The new districts also could help Democrats trying to flip control of the House of Representatives. The justices, without any noted dissent, rejected the state’s plea...
Musk’s X is the biggest purveyor of disinformation, EU official says
LONDON — A top European Union official said Tuesday that the social network X, formerly known as Twitter, is the biggest source of fake news and urged owner Elon Musk to comply with the bloc’s laws aimed at combating disinformation. Ahead of upcoming elections, Google, TikTok, Microsoft and Meta also...
7 candidates have qualified for 2nd Republican presidential debate. Here’s who missed the cut
The field for the second Republican presidential debate will be smaller than the first. Seven candidates have qualified for Wednesday night’s debate at Ronald Reagan’s presidential library in California, the Republican National Committee said, confirming that former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson did not make the cut this time. Former President...
2 explosions rip through dwellings in Sweden, at least 1 reportedly connected to gang feud
STOCKHOLM — Two powerful explosions ripped through dwellings in central Sweden overnight, injuring at least three people and damaging buildings, with bricks and window sections left spread outside. Late on Monday, an explosion occurred in Hasselby, a suburb of the capital, Stockholm. In the early hours of Tuesday, a blast...
New cars are supposed to be getting safer. So why are fatalities on the rise?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Alyssa Milligan was someone who intuitively knew when another person needed help, encouragement or a kind word. Although she was new to Tennessee, the 23-year old physical therapy student, whose mother called her “Sweet Alyssa,” had already made many close connections, especially within the tight-knit cycling community...
Powerball jackpot climbs to $835 million after no one overcomes awful odds to win top prize
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $835 million after no one beat the immense odds Monday night and won the top prize. The winning numbers were: 10, 12, 22, 36, 50 and 4. With the latest bit of lottery losing, there now have been 29...
With a government shutdown just days away, Congress is moving into crisis mode
WASHINGTON — With a government shutdown five days away, Congress is moving into crisis mode as Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces an insurgency from hard-right Republicans eager to slash spending even if it means curtailing federal services for millions of Americans. There’s no clear path ahead as lawmakers return with tensions...
New book alleges Trump’s ex-chief of staff’s suits smelled ‘like a bonfire’ from burning papers
NEW YORK — A former aide in Donald Trump’s White House says chief of staff Mark Meadows burned papers so often after the 2020 election that it left his office smoky and even prompted his wife to complain that his suits smelled “like a bonfire.” Cassidy Hutchinson, who was a...
At least 20 dead in gas station explosion as Nagorno-Karabakh residents flee to Armenia
YEREVAN, Armenia — At least 20 people were killed and nearly 300 others injured by an explosion at a crowded gas station in Nagorno-Karabakh as thousands of people rushed to flee into Armenia, separatist authorities in the region said Tuesday. More than 13,500 people — about 12% of the region’s...
Biden urges striking auto workers to ‘stick with it’ in picket line visit unparalleled in history
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. — President Joe Biden joined United Auto Workers strikers on a picket line Tuesday as their work stoppage against major carmakers hit day 12, a demonstration of support for organized labor apparently unparalleled in presidential history. “Stick with it,” he told them, exchanging fist bumps with...
Trump lawyers say prosecutors want to ‘silence’ him with gag order in his federal 2020 election case
Lawyers for former President Donald Trump are slamming prosecutors’ request for a narrow gag order in his 2020 election subversion case in Washington, calling it an effort to “unconstitutionally silence” his political speech. In court papers filed late Monday, attorneys for Trump urge U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to deny...
First of thousands of Lahaina residents return to homes destroyed by deadly wildfireVideo
LAHAINA, Hawaii — The first of thousands of residents who lost their homes in the wildfire that destroyed the Hawaii town of Lahaina returned to their devastated properties Monday, with some stopping for a moment of reflection and others searching for mementos among the ruins. “They’re very appreciative to get...
RNC’s livestreaming partner for the GOP debate is a haven for disinformation and extremism
NEW YORK — The second Republican presidential debate will be broadcast Wednesday on Fox Business Network and Univision, but the exclusive online livestream will take place on Rumble, an alternative video-sharing platform that has been criticized for allowing— and at times promoting — far-right extremism, bigotry, election disinformation and conspiracy...
Fetterman, Lee call for indicted New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez to resign
Two Western Pennsylvania Democrats are joining a small chorus of lawmakers in calling for indicted U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., to resign. Menendez and his wife were indicted Friday on charges that they took bribes of $100,000 worth of gold bars, a luxury car and $480,000 in cash in exchange...
8 injured when JetBlue flight from Ecuador hits severe turbulence as it approaches Fort Lauderdale
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A JetBlue flight from Ecuador to Fort Lauderdale hit extreme turbulence while approaching the Florida airport Monday, injuring seven passengers and a crew member, the airline said in a statement. JetBlue flight 1256 had traveled from Guayaquil, Ecuador, and was headed to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport...
TSA: Man caught with ‘stash of fake IDs’ at Johnstown airport
A New Jersey man traveling through a Western Pennsylvnaia airport using a fake ID was caught with a stash of additional fake IDs at a security checkpoint, officials announced Monday. The man was portraying to be someone else when he was stopped Friday at the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport,...
Texas Walmart shooter agrees to pay more than $5M to families over 2019 racist attack
AUSTIN, Texas — A white Texas gunman who killed 23 people at a Walmart in 2019 after ranting about Hispanics taking over the government and economy has agreed to pay more than $5 million to victims of the racist attack, according to an order signed by a judge Monday. Patrick...
Trump argues First Amendment protects him from ‘insurrection’ cases aimed at keeping him off ballot
DENVER — Attorneys for former President Donald Trump argue that an attempt to bar him from the 2024 ballot under a rarely used “insurrection” clause of the Constitution should be dismissed as a violation of his freedom of speech. The lawyers made the argument in a filing posted Monday by...
Democratic Sen. Menendez rejects calls to resign and says cash found in home was not bribe proceedsVideo
UNION CITY, N.J. — Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey defiantly pushed back against federal corruption charges on Monday, saying nearly half a million dollars in cash authorities found in his home was from his personal savings, not from bribes, and was on hand for emergencies. Rejecting rising...
Live Casino seeks to connect with community through 3-day block party
Live Casino will host a three-day carnival at the end of the month as part of its Live in the Community campaign. The Live in the Community Block Party will take place from Friday through Sunday in the casino parking lot at Westmoreland Mall, 5256 Route 30 in Hempfield. It...
After summer’s extreme weather, more Americans see climate change as a culprit, poll shows
Kathleen Maxwell has lived in Phoenix for more than 20 years, but this summer was the first time she felt fear, as daily high temperatures soared to 110 degrees or hotter and kept it up for a record-shattering 31 consecutive days. “It’s always been really hot here, but nothing like...