PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf wants a Democratic state senator to resign over published allegations of inappropriate conduct toward women. The Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday quoted anonymous former campaign and legislative staffers and advisers accusing 56-year-old Sen. Daylin Leach of behavior ranging from highly sexualized jokes and comments to touching they considered inappropriate.
In a statement Sunday, the Democratic governor called Leach “a leader on important policy issues” but says his “conduct cannot be excused.” Leach is now running for Congress in the Philadelphia suburbs. His statement blames the accusations on an unnamed political opponent and denies he’s ever inappropriately touched women. Wolf says there’s a lack of “adequate structure for victims to report this type of behavior.” He’s asking political leaders to “commit to real reform that protects victims.”
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Frustrated by shortcomings it has identified in elder-abuse investigations, Pennsylvania is trying to take a harder line with county agencies that field thousands of complaints a year. The Department of Aging is starting to grade counties on a more aggressive compliance schedule after telling some they had failed to meet regulations and expectations on how complaints must be handled.
According to documents reviewed by The Associated Press, shortcomings identified by state inspectors include failing to show that investigations had started within the timeframe dictated by state law or adequately investigating a complaint and logging the casework. A county now could have as little as four months to improve its performance before it loses the responsibility. Pennsylvania is among many states dealing with fast-rising caseloads and funding that isn’t growing.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Police say a 12-year-old has been arrested in a threat on social media that prompted cancellation of classes at a Cambria County school district. The Upper Yoder Township police department said the juvenile had acknowledged having sent the Twitter message threatening the Westmont Hilltop School District. Chief Donald Hess said late Friday night that the juvenile is in cyber school and doesn’t attend classes in the district. The school district canceled classes Friday because of the threat, the second such closure that week. An earlier threat was deemed not credible. Superintendent Timothy Williams said on the school’s website Saturday that classes would resume Monday “with the suspect now in custody and confirmation from law enforcement that the threat is no longer present.”
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Three years after the Obama administration lowered the allowable limits for miners’ exposure to coal dust, the Trump administration has brought the standards up for review. Federal mining regulators indicated Thursday that they are reconsidering rules meant to protect underground miners from breathing coal and rock dust — the cause of black lung — and diesel exhaust, which can cause cancer. Attorney Tony Oppegard, who represents miners in safety cases, calls it “a bad signal” for miners, adding that the Trump administration is aligned with mine operators who have opposed the stronger regulations. The Mine Safety and Health Administration has asked for public comment on whether standards “could be improved or made more effective or less burdensome by accommodating advances in technology, innovative techniques, or less costly methods.”
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — George Washington and his troops might not be able to make their annual Christmas Day trip across the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. That’s because low water levels make it impossible for re-enactors to navigate their wooden Durham boats. Organizers say a “pretty significant amount” of precipitation must fall to raise the levels in time, adding that where and when any snow or rain occurs are also important factors. The National Weather Service says no major storms appear on the horizon. A final decision on whether to cross the river will likely be made just before Christmas. But the other events planned that day — including Washington’s speech rallying the troops — will still take place even if the crossing is modified or cancelled.
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Features
NEW YORK (AP) — A big name in news is making news — because of allegations of sexual misconduct. MSNBC is confirming a report that a staffer at the news operation complained nearly two decades ago that she was sexually harassed by “Hardball” host Chris Matthews. The woman was paid and left her job after leveling the accusation that Matthews made inappropriate comments about her in front of others. The company declined to identify the comments, other than to say they were juvenile, inappropriate, in poor taste — and not meant as propositions. The MSNBC rep says the matter was reviewed and dealt with in 1999 — and Matthews got “a formal reprimand.”
WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Massachusetts marijuana aficionados have rolled a 100-foot-long (30.48-meter) joint. The effort was led by Boston-based cannabis club and advocacy group Beantown Greentown during an exhibition of pro-marijuana vendors and supporters at the DCU Center in Worcester on Saturday. They perfected a secret rolling technique using 1,000 grams (35.27 ounces) of their own pot trimmings.
The Telegram & Gazette reports that people crowded around to take selfies when the final product was displayed Saturday. Thousands of people attended the exhibition. The newspaper says 55-year-old Denise Fournier, of Gardner, Massachusetts, asked the question on everybody’s mind: “When are you going to light it up?” Massachusetts last year voted to legalize the possession and consumption of marijuana. A Cannabis Control Commission is writing regulations to govern the sale of cannabis.
CINCINNATI (AP) — A macabre “zombie Nativity” scene that’s become an annual tradition of sorts in a suburban Cincinnati neighborhood won’t be displayed next Christmas. Creator Jasen Dixon, a resident of Sycamore Township northeast of Cincinnati, says he will put the Nativity scene in storage or sell it off after this year. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the Nativity features hay, a zombie Mary and a zombie baby Jesus.
It made news worldwide and was met with celebration and scorn when it debuted four years ago. Dixon and Sycamore Township battled in 2015 and 2016 over free speech and zoning issues that resulted in fines and court action. Someone vandalized the display last year by beheading zombie Mary and throwing the zombie baby Jesus into the yard.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Prince Harry has interviewed Barack Obama for a radio program in which the former U.S. president shared his memories of the day he left office and his hopes for the future. Kensington Palace said Sunday the interview was recorded in Toronto in September during the Invictus Games, a sports event for injured military personnel that Harry championed.
The palace said the conversation featured Obama discussing his plans to cultivate the next generation of leadership through the Obama Foundation. The interview was part of Harry’s guest editorship of the BBC’s Today program. In a video clip on the BBC website showing Harry and Obama warming up ahead of the chat, Obama joked: “Do I need a British accent?” The interview will be broadcast on Dec. 27.
NEW YORK (AP) — “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” rocketed to a debut of $220 million at the box office, landing the second-best opening weekend ever in North America and slotting in behind only its predecessor, “The Force Awakens.” The Disney blockbuster is only the fourth film to open above $200 million in North America. Aside from “The Force Awakens,” the others are “The Avengers” and “Jurassic World.”
Good reviews helped it. Rian Johnson’s sequel to “The Force Awakens” has a 93 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences endorsed it too, giving it an A on CinemaScore. The weekend’s only other new wide release came from 20th Century Fox, the film studio that Disney on Thursday acquired as part of its $52.4 billion purchase of its parent company, 21st Century Fox. “Ferdinand” grossed $13.3 million.
WASHINGTON (AP) — LeBron James made a statement with his shoes. James wore one black sneaker and one white sneaker for the first half of his Cleveland Cavaliers’ game at the Washington Wizards on Sunday night — and each had the word “equality” written in gold capital letters on the back. The four-time NBA MVP wore a pair of black shoes with “equality” written on them for Cleveland’s opening game of the season. James changed shoes for the second half.
MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — It’s not unlike a parent buying their kids the latest videogame gear — then urging them to spend more time outside playing. Facebook is trying to tell its users too much social media isn’t good for your health. The social media giant has written a blog post, noting that research shows a connection between increased technology use and increases in teen depression. On the flip side, Facebook says its own research shows that people who interact with close friends online can improve their own well-being.
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