Pennsylvania to close another prison as inmate ranks shrink
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania is planning to close another prison, as the inmate population continues to decline and prison costs rise, lawmakers and union officials said Wednesday. Prison officials briefed lawmakers and Retreat state prison staff in northeastern Pennsylvania about their plans to close the facility in March, but have not...
Immigrants in U.S. military face new citizenship rule for their children
PHOENIX — The Trump administration on Wednesday introduced new rules that will make it harder for children of some immigrants serving in the military to obtain citizenship. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services released updated guidance Wednesday that appears to mostly affect non-citizen service members but which caused confusion among immigration...
Trump reportedly tells officials he’ll pardon those who break law to build border wallVideo
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has told officials that he would pardon them if they’re convicted of breaking any laws in the rush to complete several hundred miles of border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border ahead of the 2020 election, according to The Washington Post. The Post reports that the...
Video showing armed police officer fleeing naked homicide suspect sparks outrage
A news crew’s video shows an armed police officer being chased by a naked triple-homicide suspect in Virginia and then watching while the perpetrator chokes an innocent bystander. The incident happened Tuesday in Pittsylvania County when the pair emerged while employees for a local news station were staging in the...
Prosecutor: North Carolina student with guns in dorm studied mass shootings
RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina university student arrested with guns and ammunition in his dorm room had studied mass shootings and was making plans to kill his roommate and himself if he didn’t get into a fraternity, a prosecutor said Wednesday. Paul A. Steber, a 19-year-old freshman from Boston...
Trump’s pitch for Doral golf resort to host G-7 draws Democratic probeVideo
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s pitch for his Doral golf resort in Miami as the site for next year’s Group of Seven summit of world leaders will be probed as part of the House Judiciary Committee’s inquiry into potential impeachment articles. “The committee will broaden its ongoing investigation to include...
Unity mail carrier loved trains, Pirates baseball
To his wife, Jerry Gumbita of Unity was a work friend who soon became her loving husband. To his son, he was a happy-go-lucky guy willing to help out anyone. And to his school friends at Saint Vincent Prep School, he was “Speedy Gumbit-y from Marguerite-y.” “He was a fastball...
OxyContin maker negotiating settlement worth a reported $12B
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Purdue Pharma would devote its profits to cleaning up the devastation wrought by opioids, and the controlling Sackler family would be out, under a $10 billion to $12 billion nationwide settlement taking shape at the negotiating table, according to published reports Wednesday. The agreement, if it comes...
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand says she’s ending 2020 presidential bidVideo
WASHINGTON — Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand is dropping out of the presidential race as a campaign that once looked poised to ride strong #MeToo credentials to formidability was instead plagued by low polling and major fundraising struggles. The 52-year-old New York senator said Wednesday that she was suspending her campaign. That...
Overdose awareness event in Greensburg can provide ‘spark of hope’ for addicts, families
A decade ago, Katrin Schall of Youngstown would have had little interest in an event like the Overdose Awareness Day scheduled this weekend in Greensburg. But on Saturday, Schall — who overcame her own drug addiction — will be at St. Clair Park in her capacity as supervisor for Southwestern...
Suits allege abuse, cover-up in Pennsylvania diocese
SCRANTON — Frustrated by the Pennsylvania Legislature, four men are taking advantage of a shifting legal landscape to file suit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton over decades-old allegations of clergy sexual abuse. The plaintiffs, who range in age from 45 to 57, cite a recent Pennsylvania appeals court...
Jet-car speed racer, ‘Mythbusters’ host Jessi Combs dies in Oregon jet-car crashVideo
PORTLAND, Ore. — Jet-car speed racer Jessi Combs, known by fans as the “fastest woman on four wheels,” has died in a crash in Oregon’s Alvord Desert while trying to break a speed record, local authorities said Wednesday. Combs, 39, died Tuesday afternoon while racing in a dry lake bed...
West Virginia state senator charged with prostitution
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia state Sen. Mike Maroney has been charged with soliciting a prostitute. The Republican lawmaker turned himself in and was arraigned Wednesday morning, a Marshall County court clerk said. He has pleaded not guilty and paid a $4,500 bond. Maroney exchanged text messages to discuss prices...
McDonald’s offering harassment training to all U.S. workers
McDonald’s is introducing a new training program for its U.S. employees after dozens of workers complained of sexual harassment. The Chicago-based company says its 2,000 U.S. franchisees have committed to provide the training to 850,000 employees. The online and in-person training will begin in October. It will educate workers about...
26 killed in fiery attack on bar in southern Mexico
MEXICO CITY — An attack on a bar in Mexico’s Gulf coast city of Coatzacoalcos killed 26 people and injured about a dozen, officials said Wednesday, and they said it was apparently overseen by a man who had been recently arrested but released. “The criminals went in, closed the doors,...
Manhunt ends with capture of naked man in family’s slaying
KEELING, Va. — Police in Virginia apprehended a naked 18-year-old after an intense manhunt in the slayings of two women and a child. Authorities said Matthew Thomas Bernard is charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor indicated he’s related to the victims. Police warned of...
Police: Man gets truck stolen while robbing store across the street
Karma is best served instantly. The Kennewick Police Department in Washington state posted a story to Facebook about just such an incident that happened Sunday. According to the police, William Kelley, 42, called to report someone stole his 1992 Chevy pickup truck. Turns out he had left his keys on...
Epstein accuser says Prince Andrew should ‘come clean’
LONDON — An alleged victim of Jeffrey Epstein who claims she was also delivered to Britain’s Prince Andrew for paid sex as a teenager has challenged the British royal to speak up, saying: “He knows exactly what he’s done and I hope he comes clean about it.” The jet-setting middle...
Hurricane Dorian moves away from Puerto Rico, with Florida now in its sightsVideo
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Hurricane Dorian caused limited damage in the northern Caribbean as it left the region Wednesday night, setting its sights on the U.S. mainland as it threatened to grow into a dangerous Category 3 storm. Power outages and flooding were reported across the U.S. Virgin Islands,...
Defense: Man who mounted Pa. blast furnace has mental health issues
ALLENTOWN — A defense attorney says a man who climbed atop the rusting blast furnace at a former eastern Pennsylvania steel mill last month, prompting evacuation of an arts and entertainment venue now at the site, has mental health issues. The (Allentown) Morning Call reports that defense attorney Rory Driscole...
U.K.’s Johnson moves to suspend Parliament ahead of Brexit
LONDON — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson maneuvered Wednesday to give his political opponents even less time to block a no-deal Brexit before the Oct. 31 withdrawal deadline, winning Queen Elizabeth II’s approval to suspend Parliament. His critics were outraged. Though Johnson previously had refused to rule out such a...
The week’s best images from AP: Aug. 17-23
Here’s your look at highlights from the weekly AP photo report, a gallery featuring a mix of front-page photography, the odd image you might have missed and lasting moments our editors think you should see. This week’s gallery includes twins participating in a tango world championship in Argentina; a robot...
Pinterest to direct vaccine-related searches to health orgs
NEW YORK — Pinterest says it will try to combat misinformation about vaccines by showing only information from health organizations when people search. Social media sites have been trying to combat the spread of misinformation about vaccines. Pinterest previously tried blocking all searches for vaccines with mixed results. Now it...
Survey finds new auto technology can annoy drivers
A survey shows that alerts from new driver assist systems are so annoying that some motorists are turning the features off. The 2019 J.D. Power Tech Experience study also found that frustrated drivers may avoid the systems in future vehicle purchases. J.D. Power says the findings are a major concern...
Is a 3-D printed gun free speech? This isn’t your 1791 right to arms
NEW YORK — It’s a question of who’s violating the U.S. Constitution when it comes to print-at-home guns — the federal agency accused of recklessly deregulating the weapons or the states that claim they’re a threat to public safety. A federal judge could provide an answer any day now —...
