Pennsylvanian ends congressional run
PHILADELPHIA -- A Pennsylvania state senator who was the subject of allegations that he behaved inappropriately toward female employees and campaign aides has announced he is ending his stalled congressional bid.
Sen. Daylin Leach, a lawyer and a Democratic state lawmaker since 2003, had announced in December that he would "step back" from his campaign after the allegations were published by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
In a Facebook post Saturday night, Leach cited attacks on his family but also said "how unappealing Congress has become." He said he would instead remain in the state Senate.
"I typically do not back down from a challenge, but the more these individuals direct attacks at my family -- including my children -- the more we, as a family asked, 'Is this worth it?' and 'What's the big payoff?'" Leach wrote.
Leach has been among the Legislature's most prominent liberals, leading the fight for the legalization of same-sex marriage and medical marijuana. He also ran unsuccessfully for another congressional seat in 2014.
Some Democrats, including Gov. Tom Wolf, called for him to step down after the Inquirer's story quoted former party, campaign and legislative aides, some anonymously, accusing him of behavior ranging from making sexualized jokes and comments to touching they considered inappropriate.
Leach has said he will cooperate with state Senate leaders to address the allegations and said it is "heartbreaking" to him that he made someone feel uncomfortable or disrespected.
Ryan reassures GOP of November wins
WAUKESHA, Wis. -- House Speaker Paul Ryan says he's confident Republicans will triumph at the polls in November, while at the same time acknowledging that midterm elections are often tough for the president's party.
Ryan delivered an upbeat message to Waukesha County Republicans Saturday night and said of the GOP nationally, "We're going to win." He cited Republican successes under Donald Trump, including tax cuts, regulatory changes and approval of a slate of new federal judges, the Journal Sentinel reported.
Ryan noted that midterm elections are often tough for the president's party and said Democrats "are going to try and psych all of us out, so that we can say, 'Oh, gosh, midterm elections are so hard.'" Ryan is facing a Democratic challenge from Racine County iron worker Randy Bryce.
Ryan said Republicans would work hard, change laws and win, drawing sustained applause from the audience. But Democrats in Washington are increasingly optimistic that they can win 24 GOP-held seats to take back the majority in the House.
The Wisconsin Republican also discussed the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., but made no mention of whether Congress will take up legislation. Ryan said, "we're all still praying and grieving; our hearts are still kind of sunk" because of the shooting.
Pittsburgh slide leaves ruin, darkness
PITTSBURGH -- A landslide in a Pittsburgh neighborhood has destroyed a house, forced the closure of a road and knocked out electricity to adjacent neighborhoods.
The city says the landslide in the Duquesne Heights neighborhood worsened Sunday afternoon, pouring over a retaining wall and closing a section of roadway.
Officials say a house that was evacuated Friday evening "is now destroyed." The city says the owners were able to retrieve some essential belongings on Saturday.
The slide, which borders the West End neighborhood, also crossed a street and knocked out utility poles, causing power failures in southern and western parts of the city.
The mayor's office is contacting the governor and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency for assistance.
Trump weighing parade's date, expense
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump is considering Veterans Day for a military parade but says he'll scrap the idea if it can't be done at a "reasonable cost."
Trump wasn't asked to define "reasonable cost" during a telephone interview Saturday night with Fox News Channel host Jeanine Pirro. But White House budget director Mick Mulvaney recently told Congress that a parade could cost between $10 million and $30 million.
Trump says officials are discussing Veterans Day in November as the likely date for the Pennsylvania Avenue parade, although he likes July 4.
But the president says a parade would be "something great" for the country's spirit.
Trump got the idea for having a military parade after he attended France's Bastille Day celebration last year in Paris.
Some lawmakers have panned the idea.
A Section on 02/26/2018