Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to a crowd at The Moon in Tallahassee, Fla. on the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. (Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is rallying supporters against efforts in Washington and in Republican-led states to restrict abortion on what would have been the 50th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Speaking Sunday in Tallahassee, Florida, Harris invoked fundamental American values such as freedom to make the case for protecting abortion access despite the Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate constitutional protections for it. The White House is trying to show it’s determined to restore abortion rights, even though there’s little chance of progress on that front in Washington. Debates over abortion are playing out today in individual statehouses rather than in the halls of Congress or before the Supreme Court.

X-Golf manager J.W. Park, left, helps Ashley Moreno to check out at X-Golf indoor golf in Glenview, Ill., Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. Tipping fatigue, it seems, is swarming America as more businesses adopt digital payment methods that automatically prompts customers to leave a gratuity. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

NEW YORK (AP) — Across the country, there’s a silent frustration brewing over the ever-presence of tipping. Some fed-up consumers are posting rants on social media complaining about tip requests at drive-thrus, while others say they’re tired of being asked to leave a gratuity for a muffin or a simple cup of coffee at their neighborhood bakery. As more businesses adopt digital payment methods, customers are automatically being prompted to leave a gratuity at places they normally wouldn’t. And some say it has become more frustrating as the price of items has skyrocketed due to inflation, which eased to 6.5% in December but still remains painfully high. For workers, though, the surge in tip requests is a welcome development.

FILE – Plant employees drive 2011 Ford Explorer vehicles off the assembly line at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant in Chicago, Dec. 1, 2010. The U.S. government’s road safety agency has closed a more than six-year investigation into Ford Explorer exhaust odors, determining that the SUVs don’t emit high levels of carbon monoxide and don’t need to be recalled. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government has closed a yearslong investigation into exhaust odors in Ford Explorer passenger cabins, determining that the SUVs don’t have high levels of carbon monoxide and don’t need to be recalled. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it reviewed more than 6,500 consumer complaints and tested SUVs in the field. The probe covered nearly 1.5 million Explorers from the 2011 to 2017 model years and involved complaints of sickness and crashes that involved three deaths and 657 injuries. Many complaints came from police departments. But the agency said Monday that testing showed no Explorers that were sealed under a 2017 Ford service campaign had carbon monoxide levels higher than Environmental Protection Agency limits.

FILE – A pedestrian walks past the New York Stock Exchange in New York City, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/J. David Ake, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are rising as investors grow more convinced the Federal Reserve will keep downshifting the size of its rate hikes and as Wall Street’s most influential companies prepare to report their latest results. The S&P 500 was 1.3% higher Monday. Tech companies were leading the way in a widespread rally. This upcoming week, several big-name companies are scheduled to report their results for the last three months of 2022, including Microsoft and Tesla. Investors are also growing more convinced the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next week by just half the size of its prior hike.

FILE – Richard Barnett, an Arkansas man who was photographed with his feet on a desk in former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office during the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot, arrives at federal court in Washington, Jan. 10, 2023. A jury deliberated for approximately two hours before unanimously convicting Barnett on all eight counts in his indictment, including felony charges of civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Arkansas man who propped his feet up on a desk in then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office during the U.S. Capitol riot has been convicted of joining a mob’s attack on the building two years ago. A jury on Monday unanimously convicted Richard “Bigo” Barnett on all eight counts in his indictment including felony charges of civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding. Barnett lounging at a desk in Pelosi’s office made him one of the most memorable figures from the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, the day when Congress convened a joint session to certify President Joe Biden’s electoral victory. Barnett told reporters that he intends to appeal his conviction, calling it an “injustice.”

FILE – President Joe Biden drives a Cadillac Lyriq through the showroom during a tour at the Detroit Auto Show, Sept. 14, 2022, in Detroit. Biden persuaded Democrats in Congress to provide hundreds of billions of dollars to fight climate change. Now comes another formidable task: enticing Americans to buy millions of electric cars, heat pumps, solar panels and more efficient appliances. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden persuaded Democrats in Congress to provide hundreds of billions of dollars to fight climate change. Now comes another formidable task: enticing Americans to buy millions of electric cars, heat pumps, solar panels and more efficient appliances. Biden faces a public relations challenge that could determine whether the country achieves his ambitious goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. One analyst says the battle will be waged “one household at a time.” Officials hope consumers will respond to tax credits and rebates when they make purchasing decisions — if they are aware of them.

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks after taking the oath of office to become Pennsylvania’s 48th governor, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro says he’ll keep in place a ban on executive-branch employees receiving gifts of influence that is stricter than state law, but relax some provisions under his predecessor. Under Shapiro’s new executive order signed Friday, the roughly 80,000 executive-branch employees are banned from soliciting or accepting anything above minimal value from people seeking to influence them, such as lobbyists or government contractors. But Shapiro’s order allows employees to accept smaller items of hospitality or thanks without paying for it, such as an infrequent meal, bottle of water, cup of coffee, plaque or mug. That relaxes a stricter ban put in place in 2015 by former Gov. Tom Wolf.

HARRISBURG – In working to develop public policies to address Pennsylvania’s most critical issues and open the discussion on the caucus’ goals, House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) today set the vision of the Republican Policy Committee and announced 14 of his colleagues will serve as deputy chairs for the 2023-24 Legislative Session.

Kail said in order to properly address the diverse challenges across the Commonwealth, the Policy Committee will be an incubator of solutions that positively impact all Pennsylvanians.

“The Policy Committee will use our ability as problem solvers to find real market driven solutions because we care about this Commonwealth and her successes,” said Kail. “I am proud to have this incredible team and I know they will do a fantastic job in learning from industry experts, small businesses, families and our constituents on how we can put Pennsylvania in a position to thrive.”

The new deputy Policy Committee chairs include:

• Rep. Torren Ecker (R-Cumberland/Adams), Vice Chair.
• Rep. Kristin Marcell (R-Bucks).
• Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny/Washington).
• Rep. Mike Jones (R-York).
• Rep. Craig Staats (R-Bucks).
• Rep. Abby Major (R-Armstrong/Westmoreland).
• Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana).
• Rep. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland).
• Rep. David Rowe (R-Snyder/Juniata/Mifflin/Union).
• Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Bradford/ Tioga).
• Rep. Rob Mercuri (R-Allegheny).
• Rep. Jim Rigby (R-Cambria/Somerset).
• Rep. Parke Wentling (R-Mercer).
• Rep. Ann Flood (R-Northampton).

The House Republican Policy Committee conducts hearings and roundtable discussions about important statewide and regional issues that matter most to Pennsylvania citizens; gathers testimony and information from key stakeholders; and works within the House Republican Caucus to develop policies to address those issues.

The Policy Committee also works in tandem with the Republican leader to examine and refine critical pieces of legislation in advance of floor consideration.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published January 23, 2023 9:00 A.M.

(Beaver Falls, PA) The Beaver County Humane Society is offering a reward of $500 for information in regards to a puppy found in the woods Thursday.  The puppy was weak and malnourished when it was found and brought to the humane society. It is unclear how long the puppy had been a stray.  Anyone with information is asked to contact the Beaver County Humane Society at 724-775-5801 ext. 110.

A burned police car sits on the street following a violent protest, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Atlanta, in the wake of the death of an environmental activist killed after authorities said the 26-year-old shot a state trooper. (AP Photo/Alex Slitz)

ATLANTA (AP) — A protest turned violent in downtown Atlanta in the wake of the killing of an environmental activist by authorities. Officials say a 26-year-old shot and wounded a state trooper. Masked activists dressed in all black threw rocks and lit fireworks in front of a skyscraper that houses the Atlanta Police Foundation on Saturday evening. They lit a police cruiser on fire and vandalized other buildings with anti-police graffiti. Authorities say they made six arrests, and halted the violence. The activist, who went by Tortuguita, was killed Wednesday as authorities cleared protesters from the site of a planned public safety training center. Authorities say the trooper fired in self-defense, but activists question that account.
3 people who were arrested in the protest are said to be Pittsburgh residents Spencer Liberto, Matthew Macar and Sarah Wasilewski