Flash floods, slides in eastern Indonesia kill at least 50
JAYAPURA, Indonesia — A disaster official said days of torrential downpours have triggered flash floods and mudslides in mountainside villages in Indonesia’s easternmost province, killing at least 50 people and injuring 59 others. National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the disasters in Papua province’s Jayapura district submerged...
Claridge postmaster served his country in war and peace
Charles Ocepek served in the Army during World War II and worked as the postmaster for his hometown of Claridge in Penn Township. “He served his country in times of war and served his country in times of peace,” said his son, Karl Ocepek of Downington. Charles Ocepek of Claridge...
Rescues, evacuations as floodwaters breach levees in Midwest
OMAHA, Neb. — Authorities were using boats and large vehicles on Saturday to rescue and evacuate residents in parts of the Midwest where a recent deluge of rainwater and snowmelt was sent pouring over frozen ground, overwhelming creeks and rivers, and killing at least one person. Rescue efforts in eastern...
Apple Watch may spot heart problem but more research needed
A huge study suggests the Apple Watch can detect a worrisome irregular heartbeat at least sometimes — but experts say more work is needed to tell if using wearable technology to screen for heart problems really helps. More than 419,000 Apple Watch users signed up for the unusual study, making...
When gunman advanced on New Zealand mosque, 1 man ran at him
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — When the gunman advanced toward the mosque, killing those in his path, Abdul Aziz didn’t hide. Instead, he picked up the first thing he could find, a credit card machine, and ran outside screaming “Come here!” Aziz, 48, is being hailed as a hero for preventing...
US eases land restrictions meant to protect bird in West
BILLINGS, Mont. — The Trump administration on Friday finalized changes to sweeping federal land use plans for the West, easing restrictions on energy companies and other industries in a way officials said would still protect a struggling bird species. The changes by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management will guide...
Disease may be killing California desert bighorn sheep
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A new survey has found a sharp decline in desert bighorn sheep in Southern California, and biologists suspect the cause is a disease contracted from domestic animals. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says a survey earlier this month counted 60 bighorns in the Mount San...
Trump claims not ‘really’ a rise in white nationalism after racist kills dozens of Muslims in New Zealand
A racist gunman had only hours earlier killed dozens of Muslims in New Zealand and hate crimes in the U.S. have been on the rise since he took office — but President Donald Trump shrugged Friday when asked if he considers white nationalism a growing problem. “I don’t really,” the...
Sen. Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign staff will join a union
Employees on Sen. Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign are joining a labor union, officials announced Friday, a historic move that comes amid a Democratic primary featuring intense competition for working-class voters. All campaign employees below the rank of deputy director will be represented by the United Food & Commercial Workers Local...
ACLU seeks to block fetal heartbeat measure in Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Abortion-rights defenders opened a new legal fight against Kentucky on Friday to try to block one of the country’s most restrictive abortion measures, which would mostly ban the procedure once a fetal heartbeat is detected. Hours after Kentucky’s Republican-dominated legislature passed the so-called fetal heartbeat bill, the...
Montana shootings leave 1 dead, trooper and 2 others wounded
MISSOULA, Mont. — A Montana Highway Patrol trooper who was investigating a shooting that killed one person and injured two others was himself shot and critically injured Friday after finding the suspect’s vehicle, officials said. Authorities later arrested a 29-year-old suspect. Trooper Wade Palmer, 35, was among the officers searching...
Gore: US getting close to political shift on climate change
ATLANTA — Former Vice President Al Gore believes the U.S. is nearing a political tipping point, with the 2020 Democratic presidential field offering voters the chance to replace President Donald Trump with someone “committed heart and soul” to combating climate change. Gore, who emerged as a leading climate activist after...
West Newton man enjoyed sharing his passions
Although Stephen Fanala worked for 45 years in the steel industry, it was his avocations that defined him. Mr. Fanala loved to fly, and he loved to teach others about hunting and trapping. “These were not just hobbies for him — these were lifelong passions of his,” said his daughter,...
Calls for former Steeler Lynn Swann to leave USC amid college admissions scandal
Pittsburgh Steelers great Lynn Swann is facing calls to resign as the University of Southern California’s athletic director in the wake of the national college admissions scandal that has entangled four USC athletic department employees. The employees — Swann not among them — are accused of accepting $2 million in...
Cases of the mumps at Temple University increases to 46
PHILADELPHIA — Health officials say there are at least 46 cases of the mumps at Temple University and three others from surrounding counties, the most cases in the city since 2010. That’s up from 16 cases reported last week. The Department of Public Health for Philadelphia said Friday it recommends...
Pennsylvania Lottery celebrates 47 years since first drawing
It started as a 50-cent weekly game offering a chance at a $50,000 top prize, with occasional chances to become a millionaire. Forty-seven years since the first Pennsylvania Lottery drawing was held, the Lottery pays out billions each year and rakes in billions more, with proceeds benefiting older Pennsylvanians, according...
51 women sue USOC for failing to stop Nassar abuse
DENVER — Fifty-one women are suing the U.S. Olympic Committee, its board members and a number of former high-ranking officials for failing to prevent their abuse at the hands of imprisoned sports doctor Larry Nassar. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in federal court in Denver, details abuse dating to the late...
Trump issues first veto after rebuke of border order
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump issued the first veto of his presidency on Friday, overruling Congress to protect his emergency declaration for border wall funding. Flanked by law enforcement officials as well as the parents of children killed by people in the country illegally, Trump maintained that he is not...
Greyhound won’t let U.S. drop migrants in depots
PHOENIX — Greyhound Lines Inc. is no longer allowing U.S. authorities to drop off immigrant families inside bus stations, forcing those who have been released from custody to wait outside until they have a ticket. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed to The Associated Press on Friday that it had...
Penn State Extension Agronomy Guide is farmer’s ‘bible’
The biennial Penn State Extension Agronomy Guide has become a bible of sorts for farmers. The 2019-2020 edition is now available for purchase in print ($35) or as a digital download ($15), according to Penn State Extension. A bundle that includes both versions can be purchased for $45. The 478-page...
Britain’s long, complicated divorce from Europe
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s love-hate relationship with the rest of Europe goes back decades, but the Brexit crisis gripping it today stems from a dramatic January 2013 speech by Prime Minister David Cameron in which he promised an “in or out” referendum. The vote would be to determine whether Britons...
American Airlines suspends flights to Venezuela
FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines is stopping flights to Venezuela because of safety concerns after the pilots’ union told its members to refuse to work the flights. American was the last major U.S. carrier to fly to the troubled country. It flew daily to Caracas and Maracaibo from Miami....
Native American tribe, 3 governments planning 400th Pilgrim anniversary
BOSTON — Native American tribal leaders are teaming up somewhat hesitantly with the U.S., British and Dutch governments on next year’s commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrim landing. Events are planned in all three countries next year to reflect on the Pilgrims’ arrival in 1620 to what is...
Former HUD contract specialist pleads guilty in bribery scheme
WASHINGTON — A former contract specialist for the U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency has pleaded guilty in a federal bribery scheme that involved giving private information on contracts to a Maryland business in exchange for more than $38,000 in money, travel and hotels, and tickets to Washington Redskins and...
Feds: Penn State should not be permitted to trademark ‘Happy Valley’
Penn State officials are decidedly unhappy after the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office declined a request to trademark the “Happy Valley” nickname for university merchandise. “Happy Valley” is a longtime nickname for the State College area. However, it was that precise geographical association that factored into the office’s decision to...
