In ethics complaint, Senate Democrats say Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley ‘lent legitimacy to the mob’s cause’
WASHINGTON — Seven Senate Democrats filed an ethics complaint Thursday against Sens. Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, accusing them of peddling lies about election fraud, prompting a riot on Jan. 6, then escalating the crisis when a mob stormed the Capitol hoping to avert Donald Trump’s electoral defeat by persisting...
McConnell seeks to push impeachment trial to FebruaryVideo
WASHINGTON — Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is proposing to push back the start of Donald Trump’s impeachment trial by a week or more to give the former president time to review the case. House Democrats who voted to impeach Trump last week for inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol riots...
Fauci unleashed: Doc takes ‘liberating’ turn at center stageVideo
WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci is back. In truth, the nation’s leading infectious-diseases expert never really went away. But after enduring nearly a year of darts and undermining comments from former President Donald Trump, Fauci now speaks with the authority of the White House again. He called it “liberating” Thursday...
Ohio to spend $50 million on 2M home coronavirus tests
COLUMBUS — Ohio will use $50 million in federal pandemic aid dollars to buy 2 million at-home rapid coronavirus tests to help local health departments respond faster to testing needs, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday. The governor also said the state’s 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. pandemic curfew, due to...
Priest punished for going to Trump rally before Capitol riot
LIMA, Ohio — An Orthodox priest in Ohio said he was suspended for attending President Donald Trump’s rally near the White House three weeks ago before a mob of supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Father Mark Hodges said he was told by a church leader that he was “guilty by...
Congress poised for quick action on Biden’s Pentagon nominee Lloyd Austin
WASHINGTON — The Democratic-controlled Congress easily passed legislation Thursday required to confirm retired Gen. Lloyd Austin as President Joe Biden’s secretary of defense, brushing aside concerns that his retirement occurred inside the seven-year window that safeguards civilian leadership of the military. It would be the first measure to be signed...
Biden signs burst of coronavirus orders, vows ‘Help is on the way’Video
WASHINGTON — With a burst of executive orders, President Joe Biden served notice Thursday that America’s war on covid-19 is under new command, promising an anxious nation progress to reduce infections and lift the siege it has endured for nearly a year. At the same time, he tried to manage...
Biden cleans house at Voice of America after revolt over Trump changes
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has moved quickly to remove a number of senior officials aligned with former President Donald Trump from the Voice of America and the agency that oversees all U.S.-funded international broadcasting. The actions address fears that the U.S. Agency for Global Media was being turned into...
Montana appliance store owner charged in U.S. Capitol breach
HELENA, Mont. — A Montana appliance store owner and supporter of former President Donald Trump was charged Thursday in connection with the breach of the U.S. Capitol while Congress was certifying the Electoral College vote. Videos taken inside the Capitol and social media posts led to the arrest of Henry...
Police in Pa. investigate shots fired into Democratic Party office
NORRISTOWN — Police are investigating after gunshots were apparently fired through the front window of a Democratic Party office in a suburban Philadelphia county, officials said. No one was reported injured. The city of Norristown said the executive director of the Montgomery County Democratic Party discovered the bullet holes in...
Pennsylvania tops 20,000 covid deaths
Pennsylvania on Thursday added 260 coronavirus deaths, bringing its total number of deaths to 20,128 since the pandemic began in March. The state becomes the seventh to top 20,000 deaths. California has the most covid deaths (34,433), followed by New York (33,415), Texas (32,844), Florida (24,965), New Jersey (20,664) and...
Dog spends days outside Turkish hospital waiting for owner
A devoted dog has spent days waiting outside a hospital in northern Turkey where her sick owner was receiving treatment. The pet, Boncuk, which means bead, followed the ambulance that transported her owner, Cemal Senturk, to hospital in the Black Sea city of Trabzon on Jan. 14. She then made...
As covid crisis deepens, opioid crisis continues in the background
As President Joe Biden settles into office amid the coronavirus pandemic, nonprofits and organizations battling drug addiction are urging the new administration not to lose sight of the national opioid crisis that predates covid-19 and has not slowed. “At the same time the coronavirus death toll grows, there is another...
Judge denies request to delay cop’s trial in Floyd’s death
MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota judge said he won’t reconsider his decision to hold a March trial for the former Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on George Floyd’s neck for several minutes even though the Black man said he couldn’t breathe, according to a ruling made public Thursday. Hennepin County Judge...
Study: Antibody drug may help prevent virus
INDIANAPOLIS — Drugmaker Eli Lilly said Thursday its antibody drug can prevent covid-19 illness in residents and staff of nursing homes and other long-term care locations. It’s the first major study to show such a treatment may prevent illness in a group that has been devastated by the pandemic. Residents...
Buttigieg aims for ‘generational’ change at Transportation DepartmentVideo
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s nominee for secretary of transportation, Pete Buttigieg, is pledging to carry out the administration’s ambitious agenda to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, calling it a “generational opportunity” to create new jobs, fight economic inequality and stem climate change. “We need to build our economy back, better...
Pope moves Down syndrome MD-advocate closer to sainthood
ROME — The French doctor who discovered the genetic basis of Down syndrome but spent his career advocating against abortion as a result of prenatal diagnosis has taken his first major step to possible sainthood. Pope Francis on Thursday approved the “heroic virtues” of Dr. Jerome Lejeune, who lived from...
Vermont bill would ban guns in government buildings, hospitals
MONTPELIER, Vt. — A state Senate committee is considering a bill that would ban the possession of guns in government buildings, hospitals and child care centers, following the siege of the U.S. Capitol earlier this month. The Senate Judiciary Committee heard nearly three hours of testimony Wednesday, the Bennington Banner...
World leaders laud U.S. return to climate fight under Biden
BERLIN — World leaders breathed an audible sigh of relief that the United States under President Joe Biden is rejoining the global effort to curb climate change, a cause that his predecessor had shunned. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron were among those welcoming Biden’s decision...
Keystone XL pipeline halted as Biden revokes permit
TORONTO — Construction on the long disputed Keystone XL oil pipeline halted Wednesday as incoming U.S. President Joe Biden revoked its permit on his first day in office. The 1,700-mile pipeline was planned to carry roughly 800,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta to the Texas Gulf Coast, passing...
Warm Up This Winter with Fun, Socially-Distanced Events at the National Aviary
The holidays are behind us, grey skies are above us, and spring isn’t coming anytime soon. Isn’t it time you treat yourself to a tropical getaway? But, if a tropical getaway isn’t in the cards this year, you can go on a Tropical Retreat right here in Pittsburgh. Tucked away...
China hopes for cooperation, better relations under Biden
BEIJING — China on Thursday expressed hope the Biden administration will improve prospects for people of both countries and give a boost to relations after an especially rocky patch, while getting in a few final digs at former Trump officials. “I think after this very difficult and extraordinary time, both...
Amazon offers assist with U.S. covid vaccine distribution
SEATTLE — Amazon is offering its colossal operations network and advanced technologies to assist President Joe Biden in his vow to get 100 million covid-19 vaccinations to Americans in his first 100 days in office. “We are prepared to leverage our operations, information technology, and communications capabilities and expertise to...
Nearly 70K chickens perish in fire at Pennsylvania farm
SHARLESVILLE — Nearly 70,000 chickens perished early Thursday as fire swept through several buildings at a Pennsylvania farm. Firefighters were faced with flames and thick smoke when they arrived at A&L Farms in Berks County. A fire official told WFMZ-TV two buildings were burned to the ground and an egg...
Biden puts forth virus strategy, requires mask use to travel
WASHINGTON — As the U.S. enters “what may well be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus,” President Joe Biden is putting forth a national covid-19 strategy to ramp up vaccinations and testing, reopen schools and businesses and increase the use of masks — including a requirement that they...
