HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s governor is back in the United States after an unannounced trip to Israel that mixed personal travel with state business. Wolf’s office said the second-term Democrat returned Thursday. A spokesman says Gov. Tom Wolf and his wife, first lady Frances Wolf, spent three days at the end of their trip engaged in cultural and civic exchange programs and economic development efforts. His office said the trip wasn’t announced until it was over for security reasons.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 17TH, 2020

TODAY – SNOW SHOWERS THIS MORNING. PEEKS OF
SUNSHINE LATER. HIGH – 31.

TONIGHT – CLOUDY. SNOW LIKELY. SOME SLEET OR
FREEZING RAIN POSSIBLE. 1 TO 3 INCHES OF
SNOW EXPECTED. LOW – 26.

SATURDAY – SNOW DURING THE MORNING WILL GIVE WAY
TO RAIN DURING THE AFTERNOON. SOME
MIXED WINTER PRECIPITATION POSSIBLE.
SNOW ACCUMULATING ANOTHER 1 TO 3
INCHES. HIGH – 44.

SUNDAY – OVERCAST. A FEW FLURRIES OR SNOW SHOWERS
POSSIBLE. HIGH – 24.

It’s one sweet day for Mariah Carey. The pop diva, who has co-written 18 of her 19 No. 1 hit songs, will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Joining Carey for the 2020 class are the Neptunes, who are the duo of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo; former Eurythmics members Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart; the Isley Brothers; Rick Nowels; William “Mickey” Stephenson; and Steve Miller. The acts officially will be inducted at the Songwriters Hall’s 51st annual Induction and Awards Dinner on June 11 in New York City.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress opened the impeachment of President Donald Trump on Thursday, with House Democrats reading the formal charges from the well of the U.S. Senate. Later Chief Justice John Roberts, who is to preside at the trial, will administer the oath to senators who will serve as jurors and swear to deliver “impartial justice.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said new evidence reinforces the need for senators to call witnesses. She warned them not to become “all the president’s henchmen.” The full trial will begin next week.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has overwhelmingly approved a new North American trade pact that rewrites the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico. Passage of the measure gives President Donald Trump a major policy victory before senators turns their full attention to his impeachment trial. The measure goes to Trump for his signature. It would replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement, known as NAFTA. It tore down most trade barriers and triggered a surge in trade. But Trump and other critics blamed NAFTA for encouraging U.S. companies to move their manufacturing plants south of the border to take advantage of low-wage Mexican laborers.

Elizabeth Warren accused Bernie Sanders of calling her a liar before a national television audience during a tense, post-debate exchange in which she refused to shake his outstretched hand. That’s according to audio released Wednesday by CNN, which aired the debate. The two have been feuding since Monday, when Warren said that, during a private meeting in 2018, he disagreed with her that a woman could win the presidency. They clashed during Tuesday’s debate in Iowa, and Warren refused to shake Sanders’ hand afterward. Audio reveals Warren said, “I think you called me a liar on national TV,” and Sanders responded, “Let’s not do it right now.”

BREAKING NEWS:  The Beaver County annual Snow Shovel Riding Contest has been cancelled for 2020. The event was re-scheduled for this Saturday, January 18th after being postponed from last Saturday due to unfavorable weather conditions, but alas, it just was not meant to be this year. Beaver County’s Director of Recreation, Tim Ishman, says they’ll be aiming for the first two weekends in February in 2021 and are hoping for better conditions next year.