Chipotle Mexican Grill Says Trump Administration’s Threatened Tariffs Could Hurt Profits

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on scheduled talks between the U.S. and Mexico: Restaurant chain Chiptole Mexican Grill says the Trump administration’s threatened tariffs on Mexican products could add $15 million to its costs in 2019.

Chipotle Chief Financial Officer Jack Hartung said Monday the tariffs would reduce profit margins for the fast food company, which sells burritos and tacos and claims to use 450,000 avocados per day.

Under the Trump administration’s plan, tariffs would start at 5% on June 10 and rise to 25% in October. President Donald Trump says he will impose the tariffs as a way to force the Mexican government to block mostly Central American migrants from crossing into the U.S.

Hartung says if the tariffs become permanent Chipotle would offset them through cost-cutting efforts or modest price increases, such as a nickel per burrito.

Chipotle uses avocados and other produce grown in Mexico. The chain operates 2,500 restaurants in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Former Auxiliary Bishop Of Pittsburgh Faces Backlash On Twitter For Comments On LGBTQ Pride Month

The former auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh and current bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, is facing backlash on social media after he tweeted that Catholics should not support or attend LGBTQ Pride Month events. The tweet from Thomas Tobin read as follows:

“A reminder that Catholics should not support or attend LGBTQ “Pride Month” events held in June. They promote a culture and encourage activities that are contrary to Catholic faith and morals. They are especially harmful for children.”

Actress Mia Farrow was among 60,000 people who replied on Twitter, calling the bishop’s comments “pure ignorance & bigotry.” Farrow and many others who criticized the tweet also referred to the sex abuse of children by clergy.

On Sunday, Tobin defended the tweet saying it was his obligation to teach the faith “clearly and compassionately, even on very difficult and sensitive issues..and he says he has received widespread support for his words.

Critics are calling on Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik to condemn Bishop Tobin’s words. But so far, there has been no response from Zubik.

Did Trump Fistbump The Queen?

LONDON (AP) — Did President Donald Trump fistbump Queen Elizabeth II when they shook hands at Buckingham Palace?

News photographs made it look as if he did, prompting some to claim on Twitter that the president was not showing the proper respect for Britain’s monarch, but really it was just a slightly awkward handshake.

Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, says that what looked like a fistbump was really just an unusually firm handshake.

Little said Monday that it was simply an odd camera angle and that it was just a robust handshake. He says that sometimes when people shake the queen’s hand, they treat her like porcelain china, but this wasn’t that.

He says some people just shake the tips of the queen’s fingers out of deference.

Little says Trump did follow proper protocol by not offering the queen his hand to shake but waiting instead for her to offer her hand.

Democratic Lawmakers In PA Want State To Provide Grants To Protect Houses Of Worship From Hate Crimes

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic lawmakers in Pennsylvania want the state to provide millions of dollars in grants to protect houses of worship from hate crimes in the wake of October’s deadly mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa said Monday that forthcoming legislation seeks $10 million in grants. The grants could go toward security improvements for faith-based organizations or to protect community events that support tolerance, respect and understanding.

Former PA Gymnastics Coach Pleads Guilty To Sexually Assaulting Teenage Girl

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A former Pennsylvania gymnastics coach has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teenage girl. Forty-eight-year-old Keith Callen of Sarver pleaded guilty Monday to aggravated indecent assault, sexual assault by a sports official and other offenses. Allegheny County prosecutors say Callen began molesting a 14-year-old gymnast in 2013. Authorities say the assaults continued for nearly two years. Prosecutors agreed to a prison sentence of two to four years in exchange for the plea.

Trump Slams London Mayor: ‘Stone Cold Loser’

Donald Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Monday, calling him a “stone-cold loser” after the mayor criticized the British government for inviting the U.S. president for a state visit. On Monday, Trump arrived in Britain with his wife Melania for a three day visit, and he had already blasted Khan before his plane touched down. In a second tweet, Trump compared Khan New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination to oppose Trump in next year’s election. He said – quote – Khan “reminds me very much of our very dumb and incompetent Mayor of NYC, de Blasio, who has also done a terrible job – only half his height,”

Biden Declares LGBTQ Rights His No. 1 Legislative Priority

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden declared Saturday that the Equality Act would be his top legislative priority, an effort to enshrine LGBTQ protections into the nation’s labor and civil rights laws. The former vice president shared his hopes of signing the legislation as part of a keynote address to hundreds of activists at the Human Rights Campaign’s annual Ohio gala on the first day of Pride Month. In a half-hour at the lectern, his remarks ranged from emotional tributes to his audience and their personal endurance to condemnations of President Donald Trump.

PA State Police Investigating Aliquippa Incident Involving Alleged Assault

THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AN INCIDENT INVOLVING AN ALLEGED ASSAULT. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS DETAILS. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

MTA Celebrates Ground-Breaking Of Thorn Run Interchange Improvement Project In Moon Township

The Moon Transportation Authority (MTA) celebrated the ground-breaking of the Thorn Run Interchange Improvement Project in Moon Township on Friday. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

Hundreds Of Students Graduate From BCCTC

HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS GRADUATED FROM THE BEAVER COUNTY CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER OVER THE WEEKEND. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO WAS THERE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…