Senate panel approves subpoena in Hunter Biden probeVideo
WASHINGTON — A Senate committee has voted to issue a subpoena as part of its investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden’s son, a move that met immediate opposition from Democrats who said the panel should be focused on overseeing the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Senate Homeland...
New York opens the door to small religious gatheringsVideo
NEW YORK — New York will allow religious gatherings of up to 10 people as hospitalization rates continue to decline. More tests and outreach efforts are planned for hard-hit New York City neighborhoods. The Metropolitan Museum of Art could reopen its doors in mid-August. Coronavirus developments in New York: Religious...
Largest yet: $1.3 billion contract for border wall awarded to Trump-preferred firmVideo
PHOENIX — A North Dakota construction company favored by President Donald Trump has received the largest contract to date to build a section of Trump’s signature wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Republican U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota confirmed the $1.3 billion contract for building the 42-mile section of...
Despite risks, Texas pushes for kids to return to normal during pandemicVideo
AUSTIN — After months of home schooling and lost sports seasons, millions of Texas children may get a taste of a somewhat normal summer after all — if their parents go for it. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott this week said child care facilities can reopen immediately and set the...
Supreme Court blocks House from Mueller grand jury material
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday temporarily prevented the House of Representatives from obtaining secret grand jury testimony from special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. The court’s unsigned order keeps previously undisclosed details from the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election out of the hands of Democratic...
Gov. Wolf talking with sports leagues, says it could take until vaccine for Pennsylvania to reach ‘normal’
Gov. Tom Wolf said Wednesday he is talking with professional sports leagues about holding events in Pennsylvania, but he doesn’t believe residents will be completely comfortable going back to pre-pandemic normalcy until there is a coronavirus vaccine. “Ultimately, I think what it’s going to take for everybody to feel safe...
CDC issues detailed reopening guidance after initial rejectionVideo
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a 60-page document that provides detailed suggestions for different phases of reopening workplaces, schools and restaurants, after an earlier draft was rejected by the White House for being too prescriptive. The document, which expands on several tools the agency released last...
Mike Pompeo denies retaliation but won’t explain watchdog ousterVideo
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday adamantly denied that he recommended firing the State Department’s independent watchdog in retaliation for investigations into Pompeo’s conduct as America’s top diplomat. But Pompeo again declined to provide specific reasons for Steve Linick’s dismissal as inspector general. Pompeo took an unusually...
Democrats decry ‘pandemic of pollution’ under Trump’s EPA
WASHINGTON — Democrats on Wednesday blasted the Trump administration’s moves to roll back environmental regulations during the coronavirus crisis, with one senator saying a “pandemic of pollution” has been released. The Environmental Protection Agency has weakened regulations dealing with fuel efficiency and mercury emissions and has allowed companies to determine...
AT&T to drop misleading ‘5G’ marketing for non-5G networks
AT&T says it will stop advertising its wireless network as “5G Evolution” after a division of the Better Business Bureau determined that its language was misleading. The network AT&T branded this way is not, in fact, 5G — a new technology for fast wireless data. While AT&T and other wireless...
Thousands evacuate ‘historic’ mid-Michigan flooding
MIDLAND, Mich. — Floodwaters have overtaken dams and forced the evacuation of about 10,000 people from communities in central Michigan, where the governor warned that Dow Chemical Co.’s hometown could end up under 9 feet of water by Wednesday evening and said the state will investigate the dam operators. Families...
3 barbers ticketed for cutting hair at Michigan CapitolVideo
LANSING, Mich. — Police ticketed three people for cutting hair during a protest outside the Michigan Capitol, where about a dozen barbers and hair stylists defied stay-at-home orders to give free hair cuts Wednesday. About 350 people were attending the demonstration that was organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition to...
State reports 143 more coronavirus deaths, 746 additional cases
Pennsylvania on Wednesday reported 143 more covid-19 deaths and 746 additional cases, bringing the state’s total number of cases to just over 64,400 , state officials said. There have been 4,767 people who have died from the virus, which has been reported in all of the state’s 67 counties. More...
Pennsylvania doles out $51 million to child care centers to help with reopening
More than $50 million from Pennsylvania’s first round of federal coronavirus aid will go to nearly 7,000 child care centers across the state, Gov. Tom Wolf said Wednesday. Wolf said reopening the state will require “robust and healthy” child care. Of the money, which is part of CARES Act funding...
Trump congratulates daughter Tiffany on finishing law school
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is celebrating a new addition to his immediate family: a lawyer. His youngest daughter, Tiffany Trump, recently graduated from Georgetown Law School. “Just what I need is a lawyer in the family. Proud of you Tiff!” Trump said Wednesday in a congratulatory tweet. Tiffany, 26,...
Pennsylvania joins pilot program allowing SNAP users to buy groceries online
Pennsylvania will participate in a pilot program allowing recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to purchase their groceries online through participating retailers. “Many people have been purchasing groceries online to facilitate social distancing, but SNAP recipients were not able to do so due to federal restrictions on...
Apple, Google release technology for pandemic apps
Apple and Google on Wednesday released long-awaited smartphone technology to automatically notify people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus. The companies said 22 countries and several U.S. states are already planning to build voluntary phone apps using their software. It relies on Bluetooth wireless technology to detect...
Somerset County will try again for hiking trail project
Somerset County will take another swing at developing a section of hiking trail at Somerset Lake this summer. Somerset County commissioners — at the project engineer’s recommendation — rejected four bids to carve out a half-mile of trail alongside the lake, because each of them exceeded the project’s budget, Somerset...
Police say 14 kidnapped health workers freed in Mexico City
MEXICO CITY — Officials in Mexico City say they have rescued 14 health workers who had been kidnapped in order to demand money from their families. The city prosecutor’s office said in a communique late Tuesday that the health workers were located in two hotels in the Tacubaya district when...
German farmer jailed for drowning wife in liquid manure
BERLIN — A 55-year-old farmer in Germany has been convicted of drowning his wife in liquid manure in 2018, after a court dismissed his claim that she fell into a slurry pit by accident. German news agency dpa reported that the Augsburg regional court on Wednesday sentenced the defendant to...
U.S. arrests 2 men accused of aiding escape of ex-Nissan boss from Japan
BOSTON — Two Americans accused of helping aid former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn flee Japan while awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges were arrested Wednesday, the Justice Department said. Justice Department spokeswoman Nicole Navas said Michael Taylor, 59, and Peter Taylor, 27, were arrested by the U.S. Marshals...
Body found on L.A. beach identified as WWE pro Shad Gaspard
LOS ANGELES — The body of former World Wrestling Entertainment pro Shad Gaspard was found early Wednesday on Los Angeles’ Venice Beach, where he was caught in a rip current last weekend, police said. Patrol officers were flagged down around 1:25 a.m. by a person reporting that a body had...
Trump threatens funds for states easing voting in pandemicVideo
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to hold up federal funds for two election battleground states that are trying to make it easier and safer to vote during the coronavirus pandemic. The president’s tweets targeting Michigan and Nevada marked an escalation in his campaign against voting by mail,...
Israel court orders Netanyahu to appear for opening of trialVideo
JERUSALEM — An Israeli court on Wednesday ordered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to appear for the opening of his criminal trial in Jerusalem on Sunday. Netanyahu’s attorneys had asked the court for an exemption from appearing for the opening of proceedings. The court rejected the request, saying the accused appearing...
Uncertain future rattles Italy’s famed restaurantsVideo
ROME — Italy’s restaurants and pizzerias, for foodies the world over a key reason to visit, are facing an existential threat. Those that didn’t fold after 10 weeks of a strict coronavirus lockdown are emerging to find that new social distancing requirements might yet drive them out of business. While...
