Thursday, August 30, 2018

Google And Bing

Google and Bing both have black box algorithms that help rank news, though their content guidelines are largely similar. How do search engines decide how to rank news-related results? It's a top-of-mind question since President Donald Trump accused Google on Tuesday of prioritizing negative coverage from left-leaning outlets, an indictment that appeared to be based on an unscientific report by a conservative news site. Google also denied it uses political bias in search results. Google is by far the most popular search engine in the United States, with 86 percent market share, according to StatCounter. But there is an alternative: Microsoft's Bing.

Source: How Google and Bing choose news stories for search

Facebook Beta

Keeping up with friends is faster than ever. Facebook has a new Facebook Beta. Click source below if you dare to try it. We think the old one is alright but that's just our opinion.

Source: Facebook beta | ⚡TC

Inmate allegedly assaults guard

Two Allegheny County Jail correction officers were injured in a fight with an inmate Wednesday afternoon, a prison official said.

One officer was removing an inmate from handcuffs just after 4 p.m. when the inmate became aggressive, Deputy Warden Jason Beasom said.

The man hit the officer in an eye, Beasom said.

Source: Inmate allegedly assaults guard at Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh | TribLIVE

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

New Menu Items

Chick-fil-A added five new menu items to its repertoire in hopes that the new adjustments may make the frenetic back-to-school season a little easier. According to a Monday news release, the new items include 30-count nuggets, Waffle Potato Chips, an “improved” fruit cup, plus two new catering menu options: a Grilled Chicken Bundle and a Spicy Grilled Chicken Sub sandwich. >> Read more trending news

Source: Chick-fil-A adds 5 new menu items | WPXI

Parents claim children's youth football league deceived them | WPXI

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. - Parents in West Mifflin are claiming they were deceived by their children's youth football league.

They paid the nearly $200 enrollment fee, but they've since learned their kids aren't allowed to compete. The parents told Channel 11 it's because the league lied about a player's age.

Source: Parents claim children's youth football league deceived them | WPXI TRENDING NOW:

Clinton server reportedly hacked

A Chinese state-owned company reportedly hacked former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s email server, then inserted code that forwarded them a copy of virtually every email she sent or received after that -- a revelation President Trump is demanding be investigated.

Source: Chinese company reportedly hacked Clinton's server, got copy of every email in real-time | Fox News

17 People Made Ill in Four States and One Dead in New York from Empire Kosher Chicken Salmonella Outbreak

Seventeen people in four states have come down with salmonella-related illnesses from kosher chicken, and one person in New York has died, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said Wednesday.

Source: 17 People Made Ill in Four States and One Dead in New York from Empire Kosher Chicken Salmonella Outbreak - NBC New York

Michael Goodwin: America is being scandalized by four enormous events – Trump is just one of them | Fox News

Not so long ago, editors and reporters dreaded the dog days of August because news took a vacation. Now the news never stops. The first scandalizing event is Donald Trump — his candidacy, his election and his presidency. And, on some days to some people, his existence. Next is the conduct of the mainstream media, which has abandoned all standards of fairness and continues to embarrass itself with overt bias against the president. Another scandalizing event is the behavior of some federal agencies. The Justice Department, the FBI and the CIA took liberties that were morally offensive, and possibly illegal, The fourth scandalizing event is the reaction of Democrats to Trump. Led by Hillary Clinton, the party has thrashed about like wounded animals caught in a steel trap. The grief does not seem limited to three, five, seven or 10 stages. It’s endless.

Source: Michael Goodwin: America is being scandalized by four enormous events – Trump is just one of them | Fox News

FISA Warrants

A Republican congressman touched off a firestorm Tuesday after claiming on Twitter that his office had information suggesting the FBI leaked information to the press and used the resulting articles to help obtain surveillance warrants.

Source: GOP rep touches off firestorm with claim FBI leaked info, used stories to get FISA warrants | Fox News

Teens Views Of News

His tweets can be seen as jokes, but his negative feelings about the press are shared by many young people.

Trumps views have affected teens

Source: Trump Has Changed How Teens View the News - The Atlantic

Worldwide Gun Deaths At 250,000

A recent study has found that gun deaths worldwide total about 250,000 yearly and the United States is among just six countries that make up half of those fatalities.

Source: Worldwide gun deaths reach 250,000 yearly; US ranks high

Gender Neutral Questions On Quiz Show

The questions on University Challenge should be posed in a 'gender neutral' way, says the show's producer. Female contestants have repeatedly spoken of online abuse and objectification after their appearances. All-male teams and all-male finals - such as last year's contest between Balliol College Oxford and Wolfson College Cambridge - have been criticised by the likes of historian and broadcaster Mary Beard.

Source: University Challenge to pose 'gender neutral questions' - BBC News

Newlyweds Died On Way To Honeymoon

A pair of Utah newlyweds, married for 15 days, were driving on their honeymoon when they died from a rollover crash in Washington state on Sunday, reports said. The accident occured on the Interstate-82 about 6 miles east of Prosser, Wash., and just west of Washington’s Tri-City area, KSL.com reported.

In an August Facebook post, Moffat celebrated their union. “Stephen and I, in joyful disbelief, united our lives together and became husband and wife,” she wrote in the post. "I can’t tell you how much I love this man." "For now our marriage is until death do us part," Moffat wrote.

Source: Utah newlyweds killed in accident on their way to honeymoon | Fox News

California Eliminates Bail For Suspects

Suspects awaiting trial in California will now have their bail eliminated, according to a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday. Suspects looking at serious, violent felonies won’t be eligible for release prior to trial but the majority of suspects arrested for nonviolent misdemeanors will be let go within 12 hours of being booked, according to the legislation.

The bill gives officials 24 hours to determine whether other suspects should be released before trial. That time can be extended by 12 hours if necessary. “Today, California reforms its bail system so that rich and poor alike are treated fairly,” Brown said in a statement, according to The Sacramento Bee. Brown's signature gives the state's Judicial Council, the policy-making body for California's courts, broad authority to reshape pretrial detention policies.

Source: California to become first state eliminating bail for suspects awaiting trial

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Trump will be winner tonight

Washington (CNN)For all of Donald Trump's struggles in his first 19 months as President, there's one thing he's proven particularly adept at: Picking winners in contested GOP primaries.

That run of winners is likely to continue on Tuesday night when voters go to the polls in Arizona and Florida.

The most obvious example of Trump's power within the party is in the Florida governor's race, where, late last year, he tweeted favorably about the candidacy of Rep. Ron DeSantis, who was seen as a heavy underdog to state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam in the primary.

Source: Donald Trump is going to be a big winner tonight - CNNPolitics

Derry man charged with fleeing DUI checkpoint in Latrobe | TribLIVE

Latrobe police say Alex M. Luther, 24, was arrested at his home on East Fourth Street early Saturday after they discovered his white Ford Edge crashed into a tree at the corner of Route 982 and East Harrison Avenue in Latrobe.

Officer Robert Derk alleges Luther avoided the DUI stop by driving the wrong way down Truman Avenue and eluded police along city streets, while reaching speeds of 89 miles per hour. Derk said patrol cars backed off due to safety concerns but, within eight minutes, found Luther’s wrecked, abandoned vehicle several blocks away.

Source: Derry man charged with fleeing DUI checkpoint in Latrobe | TribLIVE

Mystery Woman In Texas

The barefoot woman had vanished by the time the Texas householder answered the door.
Police are searching for a mystery woman - wearing what looked like broken wrist restraints - who was filmed ringing a doorbell in Texas.
The night-caller, apparently barefoot and semi-clothed, was captured on a surveillance camera approaching a home in Montgomery County. By the time the householder answered, she was gone. The resident reviewed the security footage and sent it to police. Montgomery County Sheriff is looking into the "suspicious incident".

Skip Facebook post by Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

Report

End of Facebook post by Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

The unidentified resident of the home in the community of Sunrise Ranch - 60 miles (96km) north of Houston - told police the doorbell rang at around 03:20am local time.

Source: Texas police search for mystery woman ringing doorbell - BBC News

2019 GMC Sierra

The 2019 GMC Sierra is basically the luxury-branded version of the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado, offering number of fun tech goodies that the Chevy doesn’t. But as fun as those are, it’s really the styling of the off-road model, the AT4, that makes the Sierra stand out.

Source: The 2019 GMC Sierra Is A Better-Looking Silverado With Useful High-Tech Features

US - Mexico Trade Agreement

The S&P and Nasdaq each set records, and auto stocks got a lift.

The deal would rewrite parts of NAFTA, the three-country trade deal. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said he expects Canada to sign on.

The agreement would require that 75% of the parts in any car sold in North America be produced in the United States or Mexico to be exempt from tariffs. The existing threshold is 62.5%.

Source: US-Mexico trade agreement sends markets to record highs

Hopewell: Gun Found Near Bus Stop

Police are investigating after a gun was found near a bus stop on the first day of school in the Hopewell School District. Someone out for a walk Tuesday morning found the loaded weapon along Yale Drive near the corner with Webb Street, police confirmed. The person who found the weapon never touched it and immediately called police.

Source: HOPEWELL GUN: Loaded gun found near bus stop on first day of school | WPXI TRENDING NOW:

Flushing With Ice

Ice Pigging Truck[/caption] Ice pigging is a technique that is effective in removing particles and sediment from main line walls. Ice slurry is injected and pumped through a section of main to “scrub” it, removing all loose particles and debris.

Source: Flushing with Ice | Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County [embed]https://youtu.be/w11RFRa13N0[/embed]

Friday, June 1, 2018

Universal's "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" should bring in a healthy $140 million to $150 million in its opening weekend.

Source: ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ to Roar With $140 Million U.S. Debut

Cyclist in Croydon armed with huge ‘zombie knife’ smashes driver’s window in shocking ‘road rage’ row after near miss

THIS is the moment a cyclist armed with an enormous ‘zombie knife’ tries to smash the window of a car in an apparent road rage row. The driver was forced to run for his life as the cycl…

Source: Cyclist in Croydon armed with huge ‘zombie knife’ smashes driver’s window in shocking ‘road rage’ row after near miss

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Arnold Palmer, the Magnetic Face of Golf in the ’60s, Dies at 87 – The New York Times wpanews at Western PA News - 4 minutes ago Palmer, who won seven major titles, captivated fans with his ferocious swing and fearless attitude, helping to inspire an American golf boom. From 1958 through 1964, Palmer was the charismatic face of professional golf and one of its dominant players. In those seven seasons, he won seven major titles: four Masters, one United States Open […]

Biggest news you missed this weekend

Editors, USA TODAYPublished 5:36 p.m. ET March 12, 2017 | Updated 1 hour ago

Across the aisle, uproar over Preet Bharara's firing

Condemnation over President Trump's decision to fire U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara came fast and furious on Saturday, from both sides of the aisle. Bharara refused the administration's request to resign along with 45 other U.S. attorneys across the nation and was summarily fired, sending shockwaves across New York, where the prosecutor was known to crusade against corruption in state and local governments. "I did not resign," Bharara tweeted Saturday. "Moments ago I was fired. Being the US Attorney in SDNY (Southern District of New York) will forever be the greatest honor of my professional life." The firing reversed a promise from President Trump, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Friday, stating the president had initiated a call to him in November "and assured me he wanted Mr. Bharara to continue to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District." Schumer also noted that by asking for the immediate resignations of the remaining US attorneys before their replacements have been confirmed, "the President is interrupting ongoing cases and investigations and hindering the administration of justice."

Preet Bharara, the high-profile Manhattan federal prosecutor, said he was fired from his role as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York on Saturday.

Time

Health secretary Price disputes idea that many will lose coverage under GOP bill

Trump administration officials mounted a strong defense of the Republican health care bill Sunday, insisting that it will increase coverage, reduce costs and leave no one worse off. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price defined success on NBC's Meet the Press as "more people covered than are covered right now, and at an average cost that is less. And I believe we can firmly do that with the plan that we've laid out there." The rosy forecast soon will come up against the Congressional Budget Office's estimate of the Republican bill's impact, expected as early as Monday — that is likely to predict millions of people will lose health insurance coverage under the plan. Price on Sunday rejected one estimate of 15 million people losing coverage.

At South by Southwest: A car that lets you snooze, a 'Shark Tank' star's attack and more

Autonomous cars don’t come more cozy than the NIO Eve. The vehicle's five-passenger interior and lounge-like feel drew steady crowds this weekend at SXSW Interactive, which once again invited technologists from major automakers and brash startups alike to lay out their roadmaps for the future of mobility. Meanwhile, Shark Tank investor Chris Sacca brought beers for an hour-long ramble where he blasted the Trump administration, elitist app ideas and sexist tech company culture. And at the first film keynote speech at SXSW on Saturday, Transparent creator Jill Soloway took on gender norms in a big way in what she called a "thought experiment."

Here's a look at what's happened at SXSW, and what's to come.

Sunday marks National Girl Scout Day, which is observed annually on March 12 in honor of the group’s founder Juliette Gordon Low, who organized the first troop meeting on March 12, 1912.

>> Read more trending news

There were 18 girls at the first meeting in Savannah, Georgia. Low created the group so girls could take part in service projects, enrichment programs, outdoor activities and adventures, according to the Girl Scouts.

More than 100 years later, the group has grown from that original 18 to more than 2.5 million strong.

“Today we continue the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place,” the organization said in its mission statement on its website Girlscouts.org.

>> Need something to lift your spirits? Read more uplifting news

“Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to do something amazing,” according to the site.

The Girl Scout motto, which was published in the 1947 Girl Scout Handbook, is still relevant today: “Be prepared.”

That means, "A Girl Scout is ready to help out wherever she is needed. Willingness to serve is not enough; you must know how to do the job well, even in an emergency."

© 2017 Cox Media Group.

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won’t be back.

He said Sunday that he is not interested in running for the U.S. Senate, after rumors bubbled last week that he was considering a campaign for the seat held by Dianne Feinstein.

“I'm deeply flattered by all of the people who have approached me about running for Senate, but my mission right now is to bring sanity to Washington through redistricting reform like we passed here in California,” Schwarzenegger wrote on his Facebook page early Sunday morning.

Redistricting reform – or changing how districts are drawn for members of Congress and state legislatures to avoid gerrymandering – is a normally dry subject that Schwarzenegger has been trying to draw increased attention to in recent weeks. He has also been sparring with President Trump.

“Gerrymandering has completely broken our political system and I believe my best platform to help repair it is from the outside, by campaigning for independent redistricting commissions,” Schwarzenegger wrote. “Thank you for your kind messages and all of the support and I hope you'll join me in my battle against gerrymandering with the same enthusiasm.”

The rumors about a potential Senate run went into overdrive last week after a report in Politico cited anonymous GOP insiders who said Schwarzenegger was mulling a run, potentially as an independent.

National Girl Scout Day honors group's start more than 100 years ago

by: Shelby Lin Erdman, Cox Media Group National Content Desk Updated: Mar 12, 2017 - 10:58 AM

Girl Scout Cookie season is underway. Troops are out selling their iconic cookies in neighborhoods and at stores across the country. It’s an annual tradition for the troops, who raise most of their money selling the sought-after treats.

Sunday marks National Girl Scout Day, which is observed annually on March 12 in honor of the group’s founder Juliette Gordon Low, who organized the first troop meeting on March 12, 1912.

>> Read more trending news

There were 18 girls at the first meeting in Savannah, Georgia. Low created the group so girls could take part in service projects, enrichment programs, outdoor activities and adventures, according to the Girl Scouts.

More than 100 years later, the group has grown from that original 18 to more than 2.5 million strong.

“Today we continue the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place,” the organization said in its mission statement on its website Girlscouts.org.

>> Need something to lift your spirits? Read more uplifting news

“Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to do something amazing,” according to the site.

The Girl Scout motto, which was published in the 1947 Girl Scout Handbook, is still relevant today: “Be prepared.”

That means, "A Girl Scout is ready to help out wherever she is needed. Willingness to serve is not enough; you must know how to do the job well, even in an emergency."

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Ten dead and 15 injured

Toronto van: Ten dead and 15 injured as pedestrians are hit

Media caption"Anybody in his way, he would hit": Witnesses recall Toronto van incident

Ten people have been killed and 15 injured after a man drove a van into pedestrians in Toronto, police said.

The suspect has been named by police as Alek Minassian, 25.

A man was arrested several streets away following a tense standoff with officers on the street.

Bystander videos appeared to show the driver pointing an object at the officers, who could be heard shouting at him to get down. The man was then detained without any shots being fired.

Toronto deputy police chief Peter Yuen asked for witnesses to come forward and said there would be "a long investigation". He said separate hotlines had been set up for victims' families and for witnesses.

City police chief Mark Saunders told a news conference that the incident appeared to be deliberate but the motive was still unknown. He said Alek Minassian, from the Toronto suburb of Richmond Hill, was not previously known to them.

Canadian public safety minister Ralph Goodale, in a tweet thanking the emergency services, referred to the incident as a "horrific attack".

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43873804

Western Pennsylvania News

Translate