The National Weather Service reports a confirmed tornado touched down overnight in northern Hancock County, West Virginia, and moved toward western Beaver County near Harshaville, Hanover Township. At this time, there are no reports of injuries. Washington County 9-1-1 tells WJPA that there are no weather related issues this morning in Washington County.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republican lawmakers are advancing a $3 billion tax cut, their newly unveiled counterproposal to a budget proposal from Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as each side offers a competing vision for how to use a massive cash surplus. The legislation cutting taxes on income and electric service passed the Republican-controlled Senate on a 36-14 vote Tuesday. Republicans said it would be the largest tax cut in the state’s history. In the coming weeks, budget negotiations could revolve around Shapiro’s bid to boost spending by $3 billion, versus the Republican counterproposal to cut taxes by $3 billion. Democrats warn that the Senate GOP’s tax bill won’t pass in the Democratic-controlled House.
NEW YORK — (WPXI) Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was mentioned Tuesday during Stormy Daniels’ testimony in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial, NBC News reports. Daniels testified under oath about the sexual encounter she says she had with Trump in 2006 and the alleged $130,000 deal to keep it a secret, made just days before the 2016 election. NBC News reports that in court, Trump’s bodyguard reached out to Daniels the day after their alleged encounter to meet him at a hotel bar. Daniels testified that when she arrived, Trump was with Roethlisberger. This is not the first time Roethlisberger has been connected to Daniels. NBC Sports reports that in her 2018 book, Daniels wrote that the day after her alleged encounter with Trump, he asked Roethlisberger to walk her to her hotel room. Daniels wrote that Roethlisberger requested a “good night kiss” and stayed outside her room for several minutes before leaving.
(WPXI) – The man accused of trying to shoot a local pastor during a sermon is now charged in the homicide of a family member. Twentyh-six-year-od Bernard Polite was charged with criminal homicide Tuesday afternoon. The Allegheny County Police Department in a press release said Bernard is charged in the death of 56 year old Derek Polite, his cousin. This new charge comes two days after he was arrested for allegedly trying to shoot a pastor who was giving a sermon at a church in North Braddock. The disturbing moment was captured on the church’s live stream of the service. Hours after Bernard was taken into custody, Derek Polite was found dead around 8:15 p.m. Sunday at a home on the 500 block of Stokes Avenue in North Braddock. Police say Derek was found dead when his family went to check on him after learning of the attempted shooting at the church. In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, police said there was no evidence of any kind of altercation between the two men and it appears Derek was shot once as he was walking upstairs.
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump squirmed and scowled, shook his head and muttered as Stormy Daniels described the unexpected sex she says they had in a hotel nearly two decades ago. It was a story Daniels has told before. This time, Trump had no choice but to sit and listen. Years in the making, the in-person showdown between the former president and the porn actor happened Tuesday in a New York courtroom that has been the stage for Trump’s hush money trial. Trump denies her claims and has pleaded not guilty in the case. Trump is charged with falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to Daniels to keep quiet.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S. That’s according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. The shipment was supposed to consist of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, according to the official, with the focus of U.S. concern being the larger explosives and how they could be used in a dense urban setting. More than 1 million civilians are sheltering in Rafah after evacuating other parts of Gaza amid Israel’s war on Hamas, which came after the militant group’s deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says it has reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza. The key terminal for the entry of humanitarian aid was closed over the weekend after a Hamas rocket attack killed four Israeli soldiers nearby. An Israeli tank brigade seized the nearby Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt early Tuesday, and it remained closed. But that limited incursion does not appear to be the start of the full-scale invasion of the crowded southern city that Israel has repeatedly promised. The looming operation threatens to widen a rift between Israel and its main backer, the United States. Israel has linked the decision over launching a full-scale offensive to ongoing talks over a cease-fire and hostage release.
DALLAS (AP) — The decision by Boy Scouts of America to rebrand after 114 years and become Scouting America marks another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change. With flagging membership numbers, the Texas-based organization is leaning into a more inclusive message as it emerges from a long stretch of turmoil that includes bankruptcy and a flood of sexual abuse claims. The change was announced Tuesday at the Boy Scout’s national meeting in Florida but won’t take effect until February.
