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What to know about candidates Commonwealth, Superior courts

On May 20, Democrats and Republicans will choose their parties’ candidates for a vacancy on Commonwealth Court and on Superior Court. The winners will compete in the November general election.

Pennsylvania’s two intermediate appellate courts have the power to affirm or reverse decisions made in lower courts. Their rulings can be appealed to the state Supreme Court, Pennsylvania’s court of last resort.

Each court serves a distinct role within the commonwealth's legal system.

US convenes Newark airport task force, fast-tracks telecom fix

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration said Monday it was convening an emergency task force and fast-tracking urgent steps to prevent additional telecom outages at the facility overseeing Newark air traffic after three incidents shook public confidence.

Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said the agency was naming an emergency task force including L3Harisand Verizon and other technical experts to look into telecom issues at the facility overseeing Newark Liberty Airport traffic.

Trump’s drug pricing order delivers blow to pharmacy benefit managers

NEW YORK (Reuters) -President Donald Trump on Monday delivered a blow to the private-sector middlemen who negotiate U.S. drug prices in his executive order on drug pricing, saying he would cut them out as he works to bring the U.S. in line with other countries.

The news drove their shares down even as pharmaceutical stocks rose in investor relief about the broad order.

"We’re going to cut out the middlemen and facilitate the direct sale of drugs at the most favored nation price, directly to the American citizen," Trump said during a press conference.

Listeria outbreak linked to recalled prepared foods hospitalizes 10

At least 10 people have been sickened and hospitalized due to a listeria outbreak connected to several ready-to-eat food products that have since been voluntarily recalled, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA said May 10 that it and the CDC, in addition to state and local authorities, are investigating the outbreak linked to prepared foods produced by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC, of San Fernando, California.

Hiker dead, 4 others rescued from Arizona mountains due to 'heat issues,' officials say

A 33-year-old man died and four others were rescued while hiking in an Arizona mountain range, officials said.

First responders arrived at Superstition Mountains around 1 p.m. local time on May 11 after receiving a call about five hikers needing rescue, the Superstition Fire & Medical District said in a social media post.

Alongside the Pinal County Sheriff's Office and Mesa Fire Department, SFMD said crews responded to what it calls a "1st alarm Mountain rescue." SFMD said the hikers needed emergency aid "reportedly due to heat issues."

Dow sees huge surge as US stocks open strong on trade deal with China

U.S. stocks opened sharply higher after the U.S. announced a trade deal with China.

The U.S. and China put a 90-day pause on most of the tariffs the countries had imposed on one another. Effective from Wednesday, the U.S. will temporarily reduce tariffs on China to 30%, down from 145%, and China will reduce tariffs on U.S. goods to 10%, down from 125%.

"This was a larger-than-expected de-escalation...though the negotiation process will likely remain challenging," said Lynn Song, chief economist of greater China at Dutch bank ING.

Acting FEMA administrator replaced after contradicting Trump on abolishing agency

The Trump administration is shaking up the leadership at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a day after the acting administrator said he opposed abolishing the agency, which Trump has suggested.

Cameron Hamilton will no longer be acting FEMA administrator. David Richardson is taking over that job, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, who did not give a reason for the change.

Pressed during a May 7 House committee hearing about eliminating FEMA, Hamilton said he didn't support it.

Woman wanted for fake Houston airport bomb threat allegedly tried to frame ex-lover

Authorities are searching for a woman accused of calling in a bomb threat at a Houston airport to allegedly frame her ex-lover, according to court documents.

Trekalon Price, 25, is being sought for felony reporting a false alarm or reporting an emergency in connection with an incident at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, the charging document obtained by USA TODAY says.

Landmark cryptocurrency bill blocked over concerns about Trump's connections

WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats blocked a bipartisan bill to create a legal framework for cryptocurrency after concerns about President Donald Trump's connections to the industry threw negotiations over the bill into chaos.

The chamber voted 48-49 on May 8, averting a final vote on the legislation. Two Republicans, Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Josh Hawley of Missouri, voted with all present Democrats against it. Hawley told reporters after the vote that he wanted "big tech prohibitions" in the legislation, while Paul raised concerns that regulations could hurt the industry.

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