300 and counting: Push by feds to arrest in U.S. protests
WASHINGTON — In a private call with federal prosecutors across the country, Attorney General William Barr’s message was clear: aggressively go after demonstrators who cause violence. Barr pushed his U.S. attorneys to bring federal charges whenever they could, keeping a grip on cases even if a defendant could be tried...
Japan’s new prime minister begins 1st full day, vows to push reforms
TOKYO — Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga started his first full day in office Thursday with a resolve to push forward popular reforms. “I’m determined to work hard for the people and get results so we can live up to their expectations,” Suga told reporters as he walked into...
Real ID issuance resumes in Pa.; deadline next yearVideo
After being on hold for six months, PennDOT is once again issuing Real IDs. State officials first began issuing the cards in March 2019 but temporarily halted them this spring as Driver License Centers were closed throughout the state in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic....
Ohio teen admits pushing log, striking and killing woman
LOGAN, Ohio — A teenager has admitted helping to push a log off a cliff that struck and killed a married mother of four who was taking photographs at an Ohio state park. Jaden Churchheus, 17, pleaded guilty Wednesday to involuntary manslaughter in the death of 44-year-old Victoria Schafer. Under...
Centre County announces 3rd positive West Nile Virus sample of the season
Centre County has collected its third positive sample of West Nile Virus this season, officials announced Wednesday. The Centre County Planning and Community Development Office and state Department of Environmental Protection Vector Management reported that a mosquito sample recently collected in College Township tested positive for WNV — the leading...
Police: Kentucky man traveled to Illinois with dismembered body in suitcases after homicideVideo
MARKHAM, Ill. — A man visiting relatives in suburban Chicago from Kentucky has been arrested when a woman’s remains were found in several bags of luggage. Police said Melvin Martin Jr., 30, was being charged as a fugitive fleeing prosecution and faces an extradition hearing back to Kentucky, WLS-TV reported....
U.S. charges 5 Chinese citizens in global hacking campaign
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has charged five Chinese citizens with hacks targeting more than 100 companies and institutions in the United States and abroad, including social media and video game companies as well as universities and telecommunications providers, officials said Wednesday. The five defendants remain fugitives, but prosecutors say...
AG William Barr pushes ‘sedition’ charges against racial justice protesters
Attorney General Bill Barr reportedly wants to charge racial justice protesters with sedition, a harsh move that would dramatically raise the stakes in the Trump administration’s crackdown on dissent. Barr ordered federal prosecutors on a recent conference call to consider charging demonstrators with trying to overthrow the government, not just...
Democrats accuse Pompeo, allies of cover-up over inspector general firing
WASHINGTON — House Democrats on Wednesday detailed their suspicions that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a small group of loyalists orchestrated the firing of the agency’s inspector general, as he was investigating Pompeo’s personal conduct, and then attempted a cover-up. The House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing with three top...
USW lights up iconic Pittsburgh landmarks with Biden-Harris message without permission
Corey Barsky was more than a little miffed Tuesday night when he saw a giant Biden-Harris logo projected on the façade of the towering Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh’s Oakland campus. Barsky, who is vice chair of the Pitt College Republicans, said the projection that included the...
CoGo’s to become Coen Markets as part of rebranding
People accustomed to buying gas and coffee at one of the 38 CoGo’s locations in the region will soon see a new logo, as Canonsburg-based Coen Markets Inc. moves forward with rebranding its stores. The gas will carry the Amoco brand and the stores will be known as Coen Markets....
Downed power lines sparked 13 Oregon firesVideo
SALEM, Ore. — A fire incident report says downed power lines sparked at least 13 fires during a period of strong wind last week between two Oregon communities that were devastated by flames. The report from the Northwest Interagency Fire Coordination Center that was written last Thursday says the fires...
Lancaster County prosecutors respond to outrage over ‘exorbitantly high’ $1M bail set for protestersVideo
The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office is trying to set the record straight after outrage erupted over the $1 million bail set for a number of people protesting Sunday night in Lancaster. Criminal justice advocates and politicians took issue with bail set for seven of the 13 protesters accused of...
Michael Caputo, controversial HHS official installed by White House, taking medical leave of absence
WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday that Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Michael Caputo will take a 60-day medical leave of absence, following a torrid five-month stint that included efforts to downplay the covid-19 pandemic. Caputo’s tenure was capped by a livestreamed Facebook video echoing...
Top Pa. Republican’s campaign sues journalists over public records costs
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter. HARRISBURG — The campaign committee of the state Senate’s top Republican is suing a publication of LNP Media Group and...
Pennsylvania reports 776 coronavirus cases, 28 deaths
Pennsylvania on Wednesday added 776 new coronavirus cases as well as 28 deaths to its totals. The cases bring the state’s total to 146,990 positive cases and 7,903 deaths, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The health department said that 173,390 tests were administered over the last...
Vermont governor vetoes global warming solutions act
MONTPELIER, Vt. — Republican Gov. Phil Scott has vetoed a bill that would have required Vermont to meet certain greenhouse gas emissions targets in the coming years and allowed the state to be sued if it didn’t. Scott said in his veto letter on Tuesday evening that he “shares the...
U.S. introduces broad vaccine plan — but no quick rolloutVideo
WASHINGTON — The government outlined a sweeping plan Wednesday to make vaccines for covid-19 available for free to all Americans when proven safe and effective, though a top public health official made clear that widespread vaccination of millions of Americans couldn’t come until well into next year. In a report...
Trump denies downplaying virus, casts doubt on mask usageVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Fielding compelling questions about voters’ real-world problems, President Donald Trump denied during a televised town hall that he had played down the threat of the coronavirus earlier this year, although there is an audio recording of him stating he did just that. Trump, in what could well be...
Hurricane Sally unleashes flooding, hundreds rescuedVideo
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Hurricane Sally lumbered ashore near the Florida-Alabama line Wednesday with 105 mph wind and rain measured in feet, not inches, swamping homes and forcing the rescue of hundreds of people as it pushed inland for what could be a slow and disastrous drenching across the Deep South....
Penn State adds more than 450 covid-19 cases since Friday, as in-person instruction continues
Penn State’s total number of covid-19 cases at University Park increased by 458 on Tuesday, boosting the total number of positives to 1,146. According to data from the university’s dashboard, 100 students tested positive between Friday and Monday while another 358 students tested positive from pending results that were updated...
CNBC host Jim Cramer apologizes for calling Pelosi ‘Crazy Nancy’ during interviewVideo
Perhaps no one wanted to put the toothpaste in the tube more than Jim Cramer. Cramer, a co-host on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street,” was interviewing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday and quickly acknowledged his error. “What deal can we have, Crazy Nancy?” Cramer asked during the interview, questioning...
Police leaders pressed Rochester officials to keep Prude video secret
Rochester police commanders urged city officials to hold off on publicly releasing body camera footage of Daniel Prude’s suffocation death because they feared violent blowback if the video came out during nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd, newly released emails show. Deputy Chief Mark Simmons cited the...
State House votes to bar shutting down churches in disasters
HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House on Tuesday passed a bill that would prevent governors from applying their disease control powers to shut down gatherings at churches or other houses of worship. The chamber voted 149 to 53 for the proposal, which the Democratic leader called a solution in search of...
America’s reputation takes hit over coronavirus response, survey finds
LONDON — The international reputation of the United States has declined further in the wake of its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, according to new research Tuesday from the Pew Research Center. In some of the 13 countries surveyed, favorable views of the U.S. have fallen to record lows. Pew...
