Sanders’ new Medicare-for-all legislation puts spotlight on health care
WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., released a new version of his Medicare-for-all plan Wednesday, putting a spotlight on the debate among 2020 Democratic presidential contenders over the future of America’s health care system. At an event on Capitol Hill, Sanders unveiled his latest version of a single-payer plan, which...
Deputies: Florida man paid for customers’ meals before he was killed
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Authorities say a man who was fatally shot at a Florida Waffle House had been paying for other customers’ meals and handing out money when he was killed. Alachua County Sheriff’s officials told news reporters a female customer apparently got angry when 41-year-old Craig Arttez Brewer didn’t...
Minnesota congresswoman calls Fox host’s comments ‘dangerous incitement’
NEW YORK — Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar said Wednesday that Fox News Channel host Brian Kilmeade is guilty of a “dangerous incitement” for questioning her loyalty to the United States, since she’s been the subject of death threats in the past. Kilmeade said on a “Fox & Friends” segment about...
Trump administration appeals ruling blocking return of asylum seekers
SAN FRANCISCO — The Trump administration Wednesday appealed a judge’s ruling that would block the government from returning asylum seekers to Mexico to await court hearings. The one-sentence appeal filed in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not immediately ask to stop the lower court ruling from going...
Immigrant’s death after detention raises questions for family
LOS ANGELES — A 27-year-old man died in a California hospital after he suffered a brain hemorrhage while detained by U.S. immigration authorities, his wife said Wednesday, demanding to know what caused his injury and whether he received appropriate medical care in custody. Melissa Castro said she was called Feb....
Former Obama White House counsel Gregory Craig expects to face charges
WASHINGTON — Attorneys for former White House counsel Gregory Craig said Wednesday that he expects to face federal charges in the coming days in regard to legal work he did for the Ukrainian government in 2012. The expected indictment — which his attorneys called “a misguided abuse of prosecutorial discretion”...
Amazon, Microsoft finalists for Pentagon contract; ‘potential ethical violations’ noted
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has narrowed the field of potential awardees for its $10 billion cloud computing contract to two companies: Amazon and Microsoft, Defense Department spokeswoman Elissa Smith said Wednesday. The Pentagon separately determined that alleged conflicts of interest on the part of Amazon Web Services did not adversely...
Retired Hempfield Area librarian loved to read
Margaret Rumbaugh served as a librarian at Hempfield Area’s West Point Elementary School and at her church, Charter Oak Church in Unity — an appropriate job for a woman who had a passion for reading. “She loved reading and hated that we (as a society) don’t read as much,” said...
Court papers confirm shooting during vigil for Nipsey Hussle
LOS ANGELES — Two women were wounded by gunfire last week as a crowd scattered during a vigil for Nipsey Hussle hours after the rapper was killed, and police are looking for the shooter, according to court papers obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press. Hundreds of people had gathered to...
Deal with EU could delay Brexit until Halloween
BRUSSELS — European Union leaders and Britain on Thursday agreed to a Brexit extension that will allow the U.K. to delay its EU departure date until Halloween. Leaders of the 27 remaining EU member states met for more than six hours before agreeing after midnight to postpone Brexit until Oct....
Trump signs orders making it harder to block pipelines
CROSBY, Texas — President Trump’s support for shifting more power to states on Wednesday faded next to his affinity for oil and gas production, as he aimed to make it harder for states to block pipelines and other energy projects due to environmental concerns. At the urging of business groups,...
New Jersey principal who went into coma after bone marrow donation diesVideo
WESTFIELD, N.J. — A New Jersey high school principal who had agreed to donate bone marrow to a 14-year-old stranger in France has died, weeks after he lapsed into a coma during the procedure, his family said. Westfield High School Principal Derrick Nelson, 44, told the school’s newspaper that he...
Ohio lawmakers pass one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion bans
COLUMBUS — No topic seemed off limits, including tales of back alleys and coat hangers, as abortion-rights supporters in Ohio fought perhaps the last battle over a twice-vetoed heartbeat abortion ban, which Gov. Mike DeWine has said he will sign. After nearly 10 years of fighting, Democrats let loose during...
Former Penn State Pres Graham Spanier ordered to prison – finally – in Sandusky scandal
The long-running criminal court drama over the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal moved to a conclusion Wednesday when a judge ordered Penn State’s former president to finally report to prison in three weeks. Graham Spanier, 70, has been free on bond pending appeals since his 2017 jury conviction for...
Analysis: Israel’s election exposes deep political divisions
By JOSEF FEDERMAN JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s apparent election victory has deepened the fractures in a divided country. Bolstered by his base of religious and working-class voters, Netanyahu can be expected to press ahead with a hard-line agenda that will likely eliminate the last hopes of a two-state...
Senate GOP pushes White House to stop purge at Homeland Security
WASHINGTON – Senate Republicans are pressuring President Donald Trump not to fire any more Homeland Security officials, warning that the department can’t function properly if the White House continues to oust key members of its leadership team. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen left the agency Wednesday after submitting her resignation...
More than money: Taxman cometh for belt buckles, strip club entry and beardsVideo
In 1966, The Beatles complained in “Taxman” about the British government’s penchant for taxation — everything from streets and seats to heat and feet, according to songwriter George Harrison. Tax Day — with the deadline coming Monday — is a good reminder that, in addition to income, just about anything...
Blizzard warnings posted from Colorado to Minnesota
Blizzard warnings were posted from Colorado to Minnesota on Wednesday and wildfires were a concern in New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma as a storm developed that could rival last month’s devastating bomb cyclone. Up to 2½ feet of snow was expected to fall in parts of eastern South Dakota and...
Fight over sexual abuse victims’ lawsuits returns to Pa. Senate
HARRISBURG — Democratic lawmakers are attempting anew to give now-adult victims of child sexual abuse a reprieve from time limits in Pennsylvania law that prohibit them from suing perpetrators and institutions that may have covered it up. Senate Democrats said Wednesday they’re introducing legislation that’s been propelled by child sexual...
AG William Barr: ‘I think spying did occur’ on Trump campaign
WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr declared Wednesday he believes “spying did occur” on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, suggesting the origins of the Russia investigation may have been mishandled and aligning himself with the president at a time when Barr’s independence is under scrutiny. Barr, appearing before a Senate panel,...
Jurors hear 911 calls woman made before officer killed her
MINNEAPOLIS — Jurors in on Wednesday heard the 911 calls a woman made to report a possible sexual assault before she was shot by Minneapolis officer now on trial for murder in her death. The recordings of Justine Ruszczyk Damond’s voice drew an emotional response from her family members in...
U.S. to start warning travelers about kidnapping risk abroad
WASHINGTON — The risk of being kidnapped or taken hostage is being added to the travel advisories issued by the State Department. State Department advisories have until now included warnings about such things as crime, civil unrest or the potential for terrorism. The new “K” indicator for the potential to...
Police: 1 dead, 15 injured in North Carolina gas explosion
DURHAM, N.C. — A gas explosion that partially collapsed a North Carolina building and set it ablaze Wednesday morning killed one person and injured 15 others, police said. Police cars blocked the streets near the explosion and a thick acrid smoked hung over a shopping district near downtown Durham and...
Trump says only 1 person is in charge of immigration: Him
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says there’s only one person in charge of his immigration policy: Him. Asked by reporters Wednesday whether he had considered tapping his influential aide, Stephen Miller, to lead the Department of Homeland Security given Miller’s focus on the issue, Trump was ready with praise —...
Scientists unveil first image of black hole, internet sees a doughnut
Scientist on Wednesday shared the first image of a black hole, but all Twitter could see was a doughnut, or a fantasy overlord. The image of the black hole was captured using eight radio telescopes around the world. The black hole in a galaxy called M87 that is about 53...
