WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr is leveling blistering criticism at how the Russia investigation was conducted. He says it was based on a “bogus narrative” that the Trump campaign might have conspired with Russia during the 2016 election. Barr spoke to NBC News after the release of a Justice Department inspector general report that found problems with the FBI’s investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, but also concluded there was a proper basis for opening the probe. Barr said he disagreed with the inspector general that the FBI had enough information to open the probe and particularly to use surveillance on a former Trump campaign aide.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Judiciary Committee is expected to debate and vote on the two articles of impeachment later this week. The articles, one charging President Donald Trump with abuse of power and the other charging him with obstruction of Congress, would be considered separately. The committee’s vote would send the impeachment articles to the House floor for a vote by Christmas. Next would come a Senate trial, likely in 2020. Senators would act as jurors and select House members to act as prosecutors, or impeachment managers. If the Senate approves an article of impeachment with a two-thirds vote of “guilty,” the president is convicted and removed from office. If articles are rejected, the president is acquitted.
Charles “Ace” Heberling, the influential WPIAL administrator passed away on Monday. Beaver County Radio News intern Alex D’Itri has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Alex’s report…
En route to a “Keep America Great” rally in Hershey, Vice President Mike Pence stopped over in Rochester to address a couple hundred local veterans, supporters, and dignitaries at the VFW on Virginia Avenue.
The VP made no mincing of his feelings that President Donald Trump has been the best president in regards to dealing with veterans, troops, and Americans alike, insisting that his continued tenure in office will be a strong step in that direction:
Pence also made several mentions of the recent successes of the troops overseas, including claiming ISIS’ last section of land and taking down the world’s Number One terrorist:
Furthermore, the Vice President reminded the crowd that not only is the U.S. Military at the biggest and strongest its ever been, but that it will be expanding soon into a new branch:
Towards the end of the speech, Pence moved slightly away from the usual bullet-point speech and drew on his own personal experiences to show his gratitude towards the veterans and their situation:
And he concluded by insisting that the President’s re-election is paramount to their continued prosperity and the country’s:
Several local dignitaries were at the event to see Pence and greet the veterans, including County Commissioner Dan Camp, Sheriff Tony Guy, Beaver County DA David Lozier, Congressional candidate Sean Parnell, and State Representatives Jim Marshall and Josh Kail.
To see more from Vice President Pence’s visit to Rochester, take a look at the photos below:
UNDATED (AP) — A Pennsylvania appeals court has rejected Bill Cosby’s bid to overturn his sexual assault conviction. The ruling Tuesday is being closely watched as Cosby was the first celebrity tried and convicted in the #MeToo era. Defense lawyers say the trial judge improperly allowed five other accusers to testify. But the state Superior Court says the testimony is lawful and shows Cosby had a pattern of drugging and molesting women. The 82-year-old Cosby is serving a 3- to 10-year prison term for the 2004 encounter at his suburban Philadelphia home. He can now ask the state Supreme Court to consider his appeal.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court could soon determine the future of the state’s Megan’s Law sex offender registry. Justices will hear two cases challenging the registry’s constitutionality in early 2020. This comes after portions of the law were overturned 1999, 2003 and 2017. Each time, state legislators quickly introduced an adjusted version of the registry that complied with the Supreme Court’s ruling. The court already heard three cases in the fall and will hear two more in early 2020. That’s around the same time the justices are expected to rule on the earlier cases.
Two more Democratic presidential contenders have committed to participating in a public education forum Saturday in Pittsburgh, bringing the total to 11. U-S Senators Michael Bennet of Colorado and Corey Booker of New Jersey have joined six other Democratic presidential candidates who are expected to attend the event. A coalition of progress groups is organizing the Public Education Forum 2020: Equity and Justice for All. The event starts at 10 A-M at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.
The Center for Disease Control and the Food and Drug administration are investigating a multi-state E.coli outbreak thought to be caused by a salad kit. The likely source of the outbreak is the “Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kit,” officials believe. The CDC says you should avoid the salads with an expiration date of Dec. 7 or earlier. No one has died, but eight people have gotten sick. Three people were hospitalized and one person suffered kidney failure. Health officials haven’t determined whether these illnesses are tied to a problem with romaine lettuce from California that sickened more than 100 people.
Troubles continue this week at Ellwood City Medical Center, where laid off workers reported Monday they were unable to successfully file for unemployment benefits because of a paperwork issue. Meanwhile, the hospital’s top local leader has resigned. Beverly Annarumo, who has been medical center CEO since 2017, departed Monday. The hospital has had its emergency room and inpatient services closed by the health department since November 27th. Both residents and officials fear that there will be no Ellwood City Medical Center after this year.
(Photo of new board members with Supt. Dr. Michelle Miller, taken by Sandy Giordano)
One Hopewell School Board member resigns…two new ones are sworn in. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano was at last night’s school board meeting. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…
