Doug Mastriano wants to classify drag shows like strip clubs and adult bookstores
A prom for LGBTQ youth in Doylestown sponsored by a state senator is drawing online attacks — and inspiring legislation from former GOP gubernatorial nominee State Sen. Doug Mastriano. The Rainbow Room, a Planned Parenthood-sponsored LGBTQ youth center that’s been serving Bucks County teens for more than 20 years, hosted...
California judge orders release of footage of Paul Pelosi attack
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Footage of the attack on former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband will be released to the public after a judge on Wednesday denied prosecutors’ request to keep it secret. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Stephen M. Murphy ruled there was no reason to keep the footage...
Questions persist on source of George Santos campaign fundsVideo
NEW YORK — Of all the questions swirling around U.S. Rep. George Santos, one of the most serious has been how he amassed the personal fortune he claimed to have used to finance his campaign. The Republican fabulist filed new campaign finance reports this week that only elevated the confusion...
Lawyer: Road rage shooter acted in anger, not premeditation
NASHVILLE — The trial in the case of a Butler County native killed as she was driving to work will center on whether Devaunte Hill acted in a premeditated way when he shot Caitlyn Kaufman, or whether he reacted automatically and without thinking after being cut off. In opening statements...
Feds reinstate road, logging restrictions on Alaska forest
JUNEAU, Alaska — A federal agency said Wednesday it is reinstating restrictions on road-building and logging on the country’s largest national forest in southeast Alaska, the latest move in a long-running fight over the Tongass National Forest. The U.S. Department of Agriculture in late 2021 announced that it was beginning...
Lawyer: School was warned 3 times the day 6-year-old boy shot teacher
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Concerned staff warned administrators at a Virginia elementary school three times that a 6-year-old boy had a gun and was threatening other students in the hours before he shot and wounded a teacher, but the administration “was paralyzed by apathy” and didn’t call police, remove the...
Donald Trump reinstated to Facebook after 2-year ban
Facebook parent Meta is reinstating former President Donald Trump’s personal account after a two-year suspension following the Jan. 6 insurrection. The company said in a blog post Wednesday it is adding “new guardrails” to ensure there are no “repeat offenders” who violate its rules. “In the event that Mr. Trump...
1 dead, 8 taken to hospitals in Chicago high-rise fireVideo
CHICAGO — Chicago authorities said one person has died and eight others were taken to hospitals Wednesday as firefighters responded to a high-rise apartment building fire on the city’s South Side, battling flames that leaped up 10 floors as snow fell. Chicago Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said the eight people...
Graham Spanier’s on-campus book event at Penn State canceled because of wintry weather
A scheduled on-campus appearance by former Penn State President Graham Spanier was canceled Wednesday after the university canceled classes and some school activities because of wintry weather. Spanier had planned to promote his book, “In the Lion’s Den: The Penn State Scandal and a Rush to Judgment,” in an appearance...
FDA food safety official resigns, cites structural issues
The federal Food and Drug Administration’s top food safety official resigned Wednesday, citing concerns about the agency’s oversight structure and the infant formula crisis that led to a nationwide shortage. Frank Yiannas, the deputy commissioner for food policy and response since 2018, told FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf in an...
State gives green light for new Bally’s mini-casino near Penn State University
The developer of a planned Bally’s mini-casino near Penn State University has been awarded a Category 4 slot machine license by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. SC Gaming OpCo LLC was awarded the license to construct a Category 4 casino in College Township, Centre County. The casino will be located...
Feds: Investigation into Tyre Nichols’ death may take timeVideo
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Wednesday the federal investigation into the death of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who died after a violent arrest by Memphis police, “may take some time.” Speaking during a news conference, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz said his office is working with...
New lawsuits target state restrictions on abortion pills
WASHINGTON — Supporters of abortion rights filed separate lawsuits Wednesday challenging two states’ abortion pill restrictions, the opening salvo in what’s expected to a be a protracted legal battle over access to the medications. The lawsuits argue that limits on the drugs in North Carolina and West Virginia run afoul...
Tax season already? Some tips for avoiding stress and scams
NEW YORK — For many people filing U.S. tax returns — especially those doing it for their first time — it can be a daunting task that’s often left to the last minute. But if you want to avoid the stress of the looming deadline, start getting organized as soon...
Record 16.3 million seek health coverage through Obamacare
WASHINGTON — A record 16.3 million people sought health insurance through the Affordable Care Act this year, double the number covered when the marketplaces first launched nearly a decade ago, the Biden administration announced Wednesday. More than 3 million new members joined the marketplace, also known as “Obamacare,” according to...
Manchin bill would delay tax credits for electric vehicles
WASHINGTON — Ratcheting up his criticism of the Biden administration, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin on Wednesday moved to delay new tax credits for electric vehicles, a key feature of President Joe Biden’s landmark climate law. Manchin said guidelines issued by the Treasury Department allow manufacturers in Europe and other countries...
AmazonSmile’s end is alarming, say nonprofits that benefited
Amazon’s surprise decision to shut down its AmazonSmile donation program has left thousands of its nonprofit beneficiaries disappointed and concerned about finding ways to replace the funding. The e-commerce giant had launched AmazonSmile in 2013, contributing 0.5% of every purchase made by participating customers to the charity of their choosing....
Lawyer: Admins were warned 3 times the day boy shot Virginia teacher
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Concerned staff warned administrators at a Virginia elementary school three times that a 6-year-old boy had a gun and was threatening other students in the hours before he shot and wounded a teacher, but the administration “was paralyzed by apathy” and didn’t call police, remove the...
Pennsylvania passes ‘forever chemicals’ drinking water limit
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania has enacted a statewide drinking water limit on two forms of highly toxic chemicals, nicknamed “forever chemicals.” The rule, published earlier this month in the official register of state government agency actions, sets a limit of 14 parts per trillion for perfluorooctanoic acid and 18 parts per...
After U.S. offer, Germany unleashes Leopard tanks for Ukraine
BERLIN — After weeks of hesitation that created impatience among Germany’s allies, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Wednesday that his government would provide Ukraine with Leopard 2 battle tanks and approve requests by other countries to do the same. The German government said it would initially provide Ukraine with one company...
Pope warns German church reform process elitist, ideological
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has warned there’s a risk that a reform process in the German Catholic Church over calls for married priests and other possible liberalizing reforms might become harmfully “ideological.” In an interview with The Associated Press at the Vatican on Tuesday, Francis was asked about the...
Ukraine forces pull back from Donbas town after onslaught
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian forces have conducted an organized retreat from a town in the eastern region of the Donbas, an official said Wednesday, in what amounted to a rare but modest battlefield triumph for Russia after a series of setbacks in its invasion that began almost 11 months ago....
Leaders are meant to keep state secrets; just not at home
WASHINGTON — Democrats responded with aggrieved fury when former President Donald Trump was found in possession of classified documents that should have been turned over to the government when he left office. Then disclosures that President Joe Biden also mishandled secret papers set loose a Republican “well, what about” roar....
Prosecutors urge Congress to let state prisons jam cellphones
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Top state prosecutors from across the country are again urging Congress to pass legislation allowing state prisons to jam the signals of cellphones smuggled to inmates, devices the attorneys argue allow prisoners to plot violence and carry out crimes. “Simply, we need Congress to pass legislation giving...
Severe weather threat moves east after tornadoes hit Texas
PASADENA, Texas — A winter storm that brought severe weather to the Gulf Coast and wintry precipitation to the north was headed east Wednesday, a day after tornadoes caused widespread damage in the Houston area and injured three people in Louisiana. On Tuesday, forecasters issued a rare tornado emergency for...
