UPDATE: Trump Blasts Christian Magazine that Called for His Removal

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is blasting a prominent Christian magazine that published an editorial arguing that he should be removed from office. The essay in Christianity Today cited what it called Trump’s “blackened moral record.” Trump tweeted that the publication would prefer a radical left nonbeliever who “wants to take your religion & your guns.” The magazine was founded by the late Billy Graham. Some of Trump’s strongest evangelical supporters, including Graham’s son, rallied to his side and against the publication. Their pushback underscored Trump’s hold on the evangelical voting bloc that helped propel him into office.

Party Again Ups Stakes for 7th Democratic Candidate Debate

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Democratic National Committee is again upping polling and fundraising requirements for presidential hopefuls to qualify for the campaign’s seventh debate in January. It will be the first in a series of four in the earliest-voting states. Qualifiers must either receive 5% in at least four national or early-state surveys approved by the party, or 7% in two early-state polls. They’ll also have to meet donation and fundraising thresholds. Some candidates have argued the stiffening requirements have made the debate stage less diverse. Party officials say candidates knew well in advance the stakes would increase as the first votes draw closer.

Police: 3-year-old Boy Shoots Sleeping Father in Buttocks

UNDATED (AP) — Authorities say a 3-year-old boy shot his sleeping father in the buttocks with a gun he found in their Pennsylvania home. The shooting occurred around 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Erie. Authorities say the child found a loaded, small-caliber handgun and fired it at his 26-year-old father. The dad was being treated at a hospital for wounds that are not considered life-threatening. Authorities say it’s not clear how the child found the handgun. Two other children were in the house at the time but were not injured.

Evangelical Magazine Christianity Today: Trump Must Go

Christianity Today, a major evangelical Christian magazine founded by the late Rev. Billy Graham says President Donald Trump should be removed from office. The magazine’s editorial, written by editor-in-chief Mark Galli Thursday, envisions a message to those evangelical Christians who have remained stalwart Trump backers “in spite of his blackened moral record.” “Remember who you are and whom you serve,” Galli’s editorial states. The editorial takes no position about whether Trump should be removed from office through a Senate conviction or a defeat at the ballot box next year, calling that a matter of “prudential judgment.”

Wolf Administration Warns About Scam Charities

This holiday season the Wolf administration would like to remind residents to keep an eye out for fake charities that may be trying to take advantage of the your generosity. Beaver County radio news intern Alex D’Itri has the report…

Aliquippa Man Accused of Exposing Himself Inside Local Panera Bread

An Aliquippa man is accused of exposing himself at a local Panera Bread. On Tuesday, police in Robinson Township charged Christopher Caffarelli of Alliquippa with indecent exposure and open lewdness after they say he more than exposed himself to a woman inside the restaurant at the Settlers Ridge shopping center. It happened about 4 p.m. According to the criminal complaint, the woman says the man kept staring at her and even tried talking to her while performing a lewd act. What the suspect didn’t know was “she took a video of him with her phone and gave it to police after calling 911. The man fled to a nearby store after police arrived on the scene. Acting on the woman’s description, police spotted the suspect hurrying to his car and took him into custody.

Police: Parents Left Newborn, Toddler Locked Inside Car in Freezing Weather While They Were Shopping

A couple was charged with endangering the welfare of their two children after police say they went shopping and left their newborn and 1-year-old locked inside a car in the parking lot while it was below freezing. It happened Sunday at the IKEA in Robinson Township around 2 p.m. A customer called 911 after spotting two very young children all alone in a car. According to the criminal complaint, “the engine was off, the heat was off and the doors were locked.” Inside the locked car was a “newborn wearing a heavy winter coat beside him was a 15 month old wearing a coat,” according to the criminal complaint. Police say the parents claimed “they left the children alone for 15 minutes”. But when investigators checked store security cameras, they said it wasn’t true. Police said they left the children in their for 56 minutes. Police said the children were not taken from their parents, but CYF is investigating the incident.

Alleged Cocaine Trafficking Ring Busted at Pittsburgh International Airport

An alleged cocaine trafficking ring was busted in a parking area at Pittsburgh International Airport, according to federal court documents. Pennsylvania State Police were tipped off to the operation in November, leading to the arrests of four men and one woman in a short-term parking garage at the airport in Moon Township. Authorities say fourteen blocks of suspected cocaine worth $1.4 million were discovered. Authorities had watched the suspects for hours, following two suspicious vehicles from a hotel and a storage facility in Monroeville to the airport. Officials say the five suspects were arrested while they were transferring luggage between the vehicles. Investigators said the suspects, all of whom are facing federal charges, conspired to sell the drugs through western Pennsylvania from October up until the time of their arrests in November. According to the FBI, the suspects are originally from Mexico. Two of them had been living in Arizona and three were in the United States on visas.