WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has ousted the Pentagon’s top policy official who had certified last year that Ukraine had made enough anti-corruption progress to justify releasing congressionally authorized aid. The Trump administration’s delay in releasing that aid was central to the president’s impeachment by the House on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate voted to acquit the president. But in the wake of the Senate trial, an emboldened Trump has gone after officials he has perceived as being disloyal. John Rood, the undersecretary of defense for policy, is the latest official to be purged.

UNDATED (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has been endorsed by a Texas congresswoman who was an impeachment manager in President Donald Trump’s Senate trial. Biden is looking ahead to the critical Super Tuesday primary slate with the endorsement of Democratic Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Houston. Garcia is the sixth Congressional Hispanic Caucus member and 43rd member of the House to back Biden publicly. Both marks lead the Democratic presidential field. Yet Biden still stands at a perilous point in his candidacy after disappointing finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire. The former vice president looks to rebound in Saturday’s Nevada caucuses, the first nominating contest to prominently feature Hispanic voters.

The first major test of billionaire Mike Bloomberg’s presidential campaign plays out in the city of high rollers when he faces questions and sharp elbows on a debate stage for the first time. Bloomberg is a last-minute qualifier for the Democratic debate in Las Vegas on Wednesday night. Bloomberg joins Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren. All Bloomberg’s rivals are debate veterans at this point, which may put the former New York mayor at a disadvantage. The swift rise of Bloomberg’s self-funded campaign has landed him in the top tier of hopefuls, though he won’t appear on ballots until the Super Tuesday primaries on March 3.

(Photos of Midland Council listening to residents and Evaluation Resources Rep.,
taken by Sandy Giordano)

Midland Borough’s financial situation was addressed at a public meeting last night. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano was there. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

An overnight crash has led to the closure of a major road in Center Township. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — A former Lancaster County mail carrier has accused the Untied States Postal Service of violating his rights by requiring him to work Sundays. Gerald Groff filed a lawsuit Friday against the federal agency, claiming he was let go from his position after refusing to work Sundays for religious reasons. The federal lawsuit claims the evangelical Christian worked “flexibly” to accommodate his convictions by offering to pick up holiday, evening and Saturday hours. A statement from Groff’s defense states the agency began enforcing a no-exceptions Sunday policy on him and “needlessly disciplined him” before he was eventually let go. A USPS spokeswoman says that the agency does not generally comment on pending litigation.

There are few contested primaries here in Pennsylvania…but state legislators are drawing challengers. Republican State Representative Jim Marshall, for example, who is seeking his eighth two-year term, has no primary challenger…but he does have a Democratic opponent. The deadline to file nominating petitions to appear on the April 28th primary ballot was Tuesday.

Sources say President Trump’s campaign team is exploring a campaign trip to Beaver County this spring. They’re looking into the possibility of coming in late March or early April. Community College of Beaver County confirms that the Trump campaign has reached out to them about the availability of the Golden Dome, the college’s athletic and recreational center, which can accommodate 3,000 to 5,000 people. CCBC has given the Trump campaign several dates in early April when the Dome is available and is awaiting word back from the campaign on if and when an event will be scheduled. President Trump toured the Shell cracker plant this summer, touting the administration’s role in energy development and claiming Democrats have abandoned Beaver County values. President Trump won Beaver County by 18.5 points in 2016. Vice President Mike Pence visited Beaver County in December.

Police blocked off a neighborhood in Aliquippa for hours during a SWAT standoff situation. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has the story. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

WEATHER FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY, FEB. 19TH, 2020

 

 

TODAY – MOSTLY CLOUDY THIS MORNING. THEN SUNSHINE
FOR THE AFTERNOON. HIGH – 38.

TONIGHT – MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW – 23.

THURSDAY – MORNING CLOUDS FOLLOWED BY SOME
AFTERNOON SUNSHINE. HIGH NEAR 30.