2 views of George Floyd onlookers: Desperate to help or angry mob
To the prosecution, the witnesses who watched George Floyd’s body go still were regular people — a firefighter, a mixed martial arts fighter, a high school student and her 9-year-old cousin in a T-shirt emblazoned with the word “Love” — going about their daily lives when they happened upon the...
Scientists: Grizzlies expand turf but still need protection
BILLINGS, Mont. — Grizzly bears are slowly expanding the turf where they roam in parts of the northern Rocky Mountains but need continued protections, according to government scientists who concluded that no other areas of the country would be suitable for reintroducing the fearsome predators. The Fish and Wildlife Service...
New York is latest state to legalize recreational marijuana
New Yorkers over the age of 21 can now possess and use up to 3 ounces of cannabis in public under a legalization bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, while sales of recreational-use marijuana won’t become legal for an estimated 18 months until the state draws up regulations. Advocates...
Board OKs $1.5 million renovation of governor’s offices in Pennsylvania Capitol
HARRISBURG — The group that oversees maintenance and construction in the Pennsylvania Capitol voted unanimously Wednesday to spend nearly $1.5 million to renovate the governor’s suite. The Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee authorized an overhaul of the 10-room suite that is expected to be finished by year’s end. The work will...
Ohio’s lieutenant governor digs in heels on ‘Wuhan virus’ tweet
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s lieutenant governor dug in his heels Wednesday on a tweet in which he referred to covid-19 as the “Wuhan virus,” even as advocates warn such rhetoric is a driving force behind violence against Asian Americans, including the recent attacks in Georgia and New York. Republican Lt....
Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down governor’s mask mandate
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide mask mandate Wednesday, stripping the governor of one of his last remaining tools to curb large-scale spread of covid-19 as the state stands on the precipice of another surge in infections. The conservative-leaning court ruled 4-3...
Holy days arrive for the faithful as pandemic eases in U.S.
For Christians across the United States, Easter services on Sunday will reflect an extra measure of joy as the nation experiences rising optimism after a year of pandemic. Even if still observing restrictions, many churches may draw the largest numbers of in-person worshippers in months. It’s a season of major...
Suspect in attack on Asian American woman in NYC is arrested
NEW YORK — A parolee convicted of killing his mother nearly two decades ago was arrested on charges, including felony assault as a hate crime, in an attack on an Asian American woman in New York City, police said early Wednesday. Police said Brandon Elliot, 38, is the man seen...
Some Capitol riot suspects apologize as consequences sink in
PHOENIX — The helmet-wearing Idaho man photographed dangling by one hand from the Senate’s balcony during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol turned himself in six days later. While buckled in the vehicle delivering him to the Boise jail, Josiah Colt made a video apologizing and expressing shame...
Murrysville-Export club join international Rotary effort to ‘End Plastic Soup’Video
After growing up in Ireland, Noreen Hill-Olszewski was surprised to find how comparatively little recycling was happening in the United States. “We’re used to separating our trash, our different types of recyclables, our ‘compostibles,’” Hill-Olszewski said. Local recycling has taken a step back in recent years, with several regional haulers...
Hunter Biden says he wouldn’t repeat work for Ukrainian firm
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s son Hunter says his service on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, which Republicans tried to turn into a negative during the 2020 presidential campaign, wasn’t unethical and didn’t represent a lack of judgment on his part. But the younger Biden wouldn’t do it...
Virginia governor seeks to accelerate marijuana legalization
RICHMOND, Va. — Adults in Virginia could legally possess and grow small amounts of marijuana beginning in July, about three years sooner than initially envisioned, under changes the governor proposed Wednesday to legislation passed earlier this year. “Our Commonwealth is committed to legalizing marijuana in an equitable way,” Democratic Gov....
Pfizer says its covid-19 vaccine protects younger teens
Pfizer announced Wednesday that its covid-19 vaccine is safe and strongly protective in kids as young as 12, a step toward possibly beginning shots in this age group before they head back to school in the fall. Most covid-19 vaccines being rolled out worldwide are for adults, who are at...
House ethics panel rejects Louie Gohmert’s appeal of $5,000 metal detector fine
WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee rejected Rep. Louie Gohmert’s appeal of a $5,000 fine levied against him for evading the new metal detectors outside the House chamber in early February after he stepped out of the chamber to use the nearby restroom and then returned to the floor. Gohmert...
G. Gordon Liddy, unrepentant Watergate burglar who became talk show host, dies at 90
G. Gordon Liddy, the tough-guy Watergate operative who went to prison rather than testify and later turned his Nixon-era infamy into a successful television and talk show career, has died at age 90. Liddy died Tuesday at his daugher’s house in Virginia, his son Thomas P. Liddy told The Washington...
GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz investigated over alleged sexual relationship with underage girl
WASHINGTON — Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, a prominent conservative in Congress and a close ally of former President Donald Trump, said Tuesday he is being investigated by the Justice Department over a former relationship but denied any criminal wrongdoing. Gaetz, who represents parts of western Florida, told Axios that his...
‘Major’ pain: Biden’s dog involved in 2nd biting incident
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s younger dog Major this week was involved in his second biting incident of the month, the White House said Tuesday. The dog “nipped someone while on a walk” on Monday, said Michael LaRosa, press secretary to first lady Jill Biden, adding that the dog “is...
Pennsylvania election law reforms won’t be ready for primary
HARRISBURG — Five months after the state’s narrow and bitterly contested presidential race drew Republican claims of improper election procedures, it’s clear no changes will be enacted in time for Pennsylvania’s spring primary election. The GOP majorities in both legislative chambers have convened a series of hearings on election law...
Pittsburgh man, Boston man arrested after fatal Hawaii vacation rental fight
HONOLULU — Two visitors from the East Coast were under arrest for manslaughter as a result of a deadly fight at a Hawaii vacation rental, police said. Big Island police were dispatched to Kailua-Kona rental early Monday where a 30-year-old man wasn’t breathing. A preliminary investigation found that an argument...
Tennessee lawmakers sending governor permitless carry gun bill
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee can soon sign off on his proposal to let most adults 21 and older carry handguns — concealed or openly — without a license that now requires a background check and training. Republican lawmakers in the supermajority finished their work on the bill Monday...
Garland orders Justice Department to examine ‘disturbing trend’ in hate crimesVideo
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Merrick Garland directed Justice Department employees to give priority to investigating and prosecuting hate crimes and incidents, especially a recent outbreak of violence against Asian Americans. In a memo Tuesday to all department employees, Garland ordered a review to be completed in a month to determine...
Video shows vicious attack of Asian American woman in New YorkVideo
NEW YORK — A vicious attack on an Asian American woman near New York City’s Times Square is drawing widespread condemnation and raising alarms about the failure of bystanders to intervene amid a rash of anti-Asian violence across the country. A lone assailant was seen on surveillance video Monday kicking...
Lawyer: FBI enlisted Proud Boys leader to inform on antifa
FBI agents recruited a Proud Boys leader to provide them with information about antifa networks months before he was charged with storming the U.S. Capitol with other members of the far-right extremist group, a defense attorney says. Proud Boys “thought leader” and organizer Joseph Biggs agreed to provide the FBI...
Over 4,000 migrants, many kids, crowded into Texas facility
DONNA, Texas — The Biden administration for the first time Tuesday allowed journalists inside its main border detention facility for migrant children, revealing a severely overcrowded tent structure where more than 4,000 migrants, including children and families, were crammed into pods and the youngest kept in a large play pen...
Witnesses: Onlooker anger increased as George Floyd stopped movingVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — Onlookers grew increasingly angry as they begged Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin to take his knee off George Floyd’s neck, but Chauvin would not let up, and another officer forced back members of the crowd who tried to intervene, witnesses testified Tuesday at Chauvin’s murder trial. Witness after witness...
