McConnell sets up vote on Republican relief plan Pelosi rejectsVideo
WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders hardened their battle lines on additional fiscal stimulus on Tuesday, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi labeling Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s proposal for a slimmed-down package “fraudulent.” The Republican bill, featuring some of the aspects of a $1 trillion proposal they put forth a month...
AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine study paused after one illnessVideo
Late-stage studies of AstraZeneca’s covid-19 vaccine candidate are on temporary hold while the company investigates whether a recipient’s “potentially unexplained” illness is a side effect of the shot. In a statement issued Tuesday evening, the company said its “standard review process triggered a pause to vaccination to allow review of...
Shark kills surfer on Australia’s Gold Coast tourist stripVideo
CANBERRA, Australia — A shark fatally mauled a surfer Tuesday on Australia’s Gold Coast city tourist strip in a rare attack off a beach protected by shark netting, officials said. The man, aged in his 50s, was was brought to shore by fellow surfers and lifeguards at popular Greenmount Beach...
New Stanton mayor Ronald Echard, dead at 68, remembered for civic involvement
When visitors and residents in New Stanton admire the town’s new holiday lights this year, in large part, they’ll have Ron Echard to thank. Echard, who most recently served as mayor, is credited as a driving force behind the planned holiday display — along with his wife, Linda, who serves...
Justice Department seeks to provide Trump defense in lawsuit by columnist who claims he raped her
The Justice Department is seeking to take over the defense of President Donald Trump in a defamation suit brought by advice columnist E. Jean Carroll, who claims Trump raped her two decades ago. In a court filing Tuesday, the Justice Department said Trump was acting “within the scope” of his...
From heat to snow: Rocky Mountains see 60-degree plungeVideo
Summer came to an abrupt halt in parts of the Rocky Mountains on Tuesday as temperatures reaching into the 90s plunged by around 60 degrees in less than 24 hours, with a powerful surge of cold air from Canada unleashing snow and damaging winds in several states. The roller coaster...
House to investigate Louis DeJoy for possible campaign law violationsVideo
WASHINGTON — House Democrats said Tuesday they will investigate whether Postmaster General Louis DeJoy encouraged employees at his former business to contribute to Republican candidates and then reimbursed them in the guise of bonuses, a violation of campaign finance laws. Five people who worked for DeJoy’s former company, New Breed...
Companies working on coronavirus vaccines pledge to put science above politicsVideo
The chief executives of nine drug manufacturers leading the race to produce vaccines against the coronavirus signed a joint pledge Tuesday in an effort to boost public confidence in any vaccines that are ultimately approved by the Food and Drug Administration or similar agencies around the world. The companies said...
Greece to boost military amid tensions with neighbor TurkeyVideo
ATHENS, Greece — Greece will bolster its military with new arms, more personnel and by developing the country’s defense industry, the government said Monday, as a tense standoff with neighboring Turkey has led to concerns of open conflict between the two NATO allies. Ankara is facing off against Greece and...
Trump the environmentalist? President expands ban on new offshore drilling sites in Atlantic
JUPITER, Fla. — President Donald Trump sought to claim the mantle of environmental steward on Tuesday as he announced an expansion of a ban on offshore drilling and highlighted conservation projects in Florida. But his administration has overturned or weakened numerous regulations meant to protect air and water quality and...
Rochester police leaders retire in wake of calls for change
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Top police leaders in New York’s third-largest city are retiring en masse amid criticism of the city’s handling of the suffocation death of Daniel Prude, the mayor of Rochester said Tuesday. La’Ron Singletary, the city’s police chief, is among those retiring, as is Deputy Chief Joseph M....
Chipping in? Trump may put up his own cash on reelection
Washington — President Donald Trump is putting out the word that he is considering spending as much as $100 million of his own fortune on his reelection effort as campaign officials try to buck up key supporters and donors amid daunting polling numbers and other bad news. Trump said Tuesday...
Girl, 8, among 10 dead in Chicago’s holiday weekend gunfireVideo
CHICAGO — An 8-year-old girl shot in the back was among 10 people killed in gunfire over the Labor Day weekend, police said Tuesday, marking the latest deadly holiday weekend in Chicago. More than 50 people were shot from Friday until just before midnight Tuesday during a year where violent...
Bill would give Black WWII medic posthumous Medal of Honor
Waverly B. Woodson Jr., a Black army medic who saved dozens of wounded troops on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day despite being severely wounded himself, deserves the Medal of Honor, said members of Congress on Tuesday as they announced legislation to posthumously award it to him. Cpl. Woodson nearly...
Pennsylvania reports 496 new coronavirus cases, 11 new deaths
Pennsylvania on Tuesday reported 496 new coronavirus cases and 11 additional deaths — deaths that occurred in April but were only reported now. That brings the total cases to 140,359 and the total number of covid-19 deaths in Pennsylvania to 7,791. The state Department of Health said 147,207 tests were...
Southwest Pennsylvania again takes center stage in presidential campaigns this week
Pennsylvania’s importance in the Nov. 3 election is apparent again this week in a series of stops planned in the Pittsburgh region by the Trump and Biden campaigns. Former Vice President Joe Biden stopped in Harrisburg on Monday for Labor Day. The week will ramp up Wednesday with Vice President...
Census Bureau stops layoffs for door knockers after order
ORLANDO, Fla. — Two days after a federal judge ordered the U.S. Census Bureau to stop winding down 2020 census operations for the time being, the statistical agency said Tuesday in court papers that it’s refraining from laying off some census takers and it’s restoring some quality-control steps. The Census...
Mitch McConnell: Senate to vote on ‘targeted’ virus aid
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, under pressure from GOP senators in tough reelection races, said Tuesday the Senate would vote on a trimmed-down Republican coronavirus relief package, though it has a slim chance of passage in the face of Democrats’ insistence for more sweeping aid. “The Senate Republican...
Gov. Wolf expands indoor dining capacity to 50%
Pennsylvania restaurants can increase their indoor dining capacity to 50% later this month, Gov. Tom Wolf said Tuesday. The increase — double the 25% limit that has been in place since July — can begin Sept. 21, according to Wolf’s announcement. He said restaurants must complete a self-certification process showing...
In battleground states, absentee ballot rejections could triple
ATLANTA — Thousands of absentee ballots get rejected in every presidential election. This year, that problem could be much worse and potentially pivotal in hotly contested battleground states. With the coronavirus creating a surge in mail-in balloting and postal delays reported across the country, the number of rejected ballots in...
Trump open to inquiry into Louis DeJoy and campaign contributions
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says he’s open to an investigation of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy following published reports that former employees of DeJoy, a major donor to Trump and other Republicans, said they felt pressured to make campaign contributions to GOP candidates. The president also said Monday that DeJoy...
Trump questions Pentagon leaders’ motives
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Monday that top Defense Department leaders want to keep waging wars in order to keep defense contractors “happy.” Trump continues to fight allegations that he made offensive comments about fallen U.S. service-members, including calling World War I dead at an American military cemetery in...
Coroner: 3 killed, including boy, 14, in Pennsylvania Turnpike crash
BERWYN — A two-vehicle crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike killed three people, including a teenager, during the weekend, authorities said. State police said the crash occurred at about 11 a.m. Saturday in the eastbound lanes of the turnpike in Tredyffrin Township between Route 29 and the Downingtown exit. The Chester...
Philippine leader pardons U.S. Marine in transgender killingVideo
MANILA — The Philippine president pardoned a U.S. Marine on Monday in a surprise move that will free him from imprisonment in the killing of a transgender Filipino woman that sparked anger in the former American colony. President Rodrigo Duterte said he decided to pardon Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton...
Trump supporters rally near Portland and at Oregon CapitolVideo
SALEM, Ore. — Hundreds of people gathered Monday afternoon in a small town south of Portland for a pro-President Donald Trump vehicle rally — just over a week after a member of a far-right group was fatally shot after a Trump caravan went through Oregon’s largest city. Later, pro-Trump supporters...
