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7 killed in explosion at chocolate factory in Pennsylvania identified

March 29, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WEST READING, Pa.) — The cause of a deadly fire is under investigation after seven people were killed and several others injured in an explosion at a chocolate factory in Pennsylvania, police and city officials said.

The explosion occurred Friday evening at the RM Palmer Company in West Reading, located about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia. It caused destruction to one building nearby and damaged another. Images of the scene showed smoke and flames billowing from the factory.

One person had been found alive overnight in the rubble, giving first responders hope that more survivors would be rescued, though two additional bodies were recovered from the rubble at the site of the factory Sunday night, West Reading Police Chief Wayne Holben said at a press conference.

Tower Heath said earlier its hospital in West Reading initially received 10 patients from the explosion.

The victims killed in the incident ranged in age from 30 to 63 and were all from Pennsylvania.

They were identified by the Berks County Coroner’s Office as Michael Breedy, 62, of Marion Township; Diana Cedeno, 44, of Reading; Domingo Cruz, 60, of Reading; Susan Halvonik, 63, of Upper Providence Township; Judith Lopez-Moran, 55, of Reading; Xiorky Nunez, 30, of Reading, and Amy Sandoe, 49, of Ephrata.

“Forensic medical examinations are continuing to determine the cause and manner of death for all victims,” the coroner’s office said.

An investigation to determine the official cause of the fire will be conducted, officials said.

“In the initial incident report from Berks County to PEMA, a reference to a gas leak was included. It is really important to note that incident reports from counties are a snapshot in time of the understanding of the incident at the time the report was made,” Ruth A. Miller, PEMA’s communications director, said in a statement.

The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday said it’s launching a safety investigation looking into the natural gas explosion and fire.

West Reading Mayor Samantha Kaag issued an emergency declaration Saturday to access more resources for emergency responders on the scene.

Kaag, a former volunteer firefighter, called the incident “pretty scary,” adding that it was so strong it pushed a building back 4 feet. The mayor said the factory building was “pretty leveled” and crews will “probably” be working through the weekend to clear the debris.

In a statement Saturday, RM Palmer said it is “devastated by the tragic events.”

“We have lost close friends and colleagues, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all who have been impacted,” the company said. “We are sincerely grateful for the extraordinary efforts of all of the first responders and for the support of our Reading community, which has been home to our business for more than 70 years.”

The company said it will continue to coordinate with local and national agencies to assist in the recovery process. It added that it has been unable to get in touch with the families of impacted employees at the time due to downed communication systems but “will be providing additional information and making contact with employees, impacted families, and the community as soon as possible.”

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was on site Saturday surveying the damage and “to pledge our support as the community recovers,” he tweeted.

A woman who lives next to the chocolate factory has filed a lawsuit accusing the company of negligence that led to the fatal explosion.

RM Palmer did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment about the lawsuit.

Senate votes to repeal decades-old measures that authorized Iraq, Gulf wars

March 29, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The Senate on Wednesday voted to repeal two congressional authorizations from decades ago allowing the use of military force against Iraq, a country then falsely accused of stockpiling chemical and nuclear weapons and now a U.S. security partner in the Gulf region.

The measure passed the Democrat-led Senate in a bipartisan 66-30 vote and now heads to the Republican-controlled House.

The 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force took effect under former Presidents George H. W. Bush and his son, George W. Bush, respectively. Both AUMFs authorized force against Iraq.

A third, broader AUMF approved by Congress 2001 was not incorporated into the latest repeal effort because supporters say it is still needed to combat al-Qaeda, the Taliban, ISIS and related terror operations.

Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a longtime advocate of repeal, said in a statement the Senate action would help Congress reassert its power to declare war as spelled out in the Constitution.

“Passing this bill is an important step to prevent any president from abusing these AUMFs, reaffirm our partnership with the Iraqi government, and pay tribute to the service members who served in Iraq and their families,” Kaine said.

Kaine said he urged the House, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy, to swiftly pass the legislation and send it to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature. Kaine’s Republican co-sponsor, Indiana Sen. Todd Young, called for quick action by the House as well.

“A broad and diverse coalition in the House supports this legislation, and I am hopeful the bill will receive prompt consideration,” Young said in a statement.

Previous attempts to retract or amend the authorizations failed in recent years, including a 2021 bill to repeal the 2002 AUMF approved by the then-Democratic-controlled House but which stalled when it reached the Senate.

In the current debate, some senators expressed concerns the new repeal attempt could be seen as a sign of U.S. weakness by international foes such as Iran. But the legislation has found a broad support in the House across party lines and McCarthy has indicated support for the measure.

The legislation “has a good chance of getting through committee and getting to the floor,” the California Republican recently said at a GOP retreat in Orlando.

Biden came out in support of repeal earlier in March, noting that no ongoing military activities rely on the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs.

“President Biden remains committed to working with the Congress to ensure that outdated authorizations for the use of military force are replaced with a narrow and specific framework more appropriate to protecting Americans from modern terrorist threats,” the White House said in a statement just before the Senate held a test vote March 16.

IAVA, a large Iraq war veterans’ group, welcomed the resolution, too, saying Congress should not allow a president to have “unchecked” authority over troop deployments.

“Congress has shirked its responsibility to our troops and their families for too long by leaving open-ended authorizations of military force in place. It’s past time to change that,” IAVA CEO Allison Jaslow said in. statement about the Senate vote.

Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak and other tech leaders warn ‘out-of-control’ AI poses ‘profound risks’

March 29, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Artificial intelligence-driven language models have garnered millions of users in recent months, instantly whipping up viral sensations like a biblical verse about how to remove a peanut butter sandwich from a VCR.

However, the AI-enhanced chat bots pose significant dangers that far outweigh the benefits, according to a group of tech leaders, including entrepreneur Elon Musk, who signed an open letter on Wednesday calling for a six-month pause in the development of AI systems and a major expansion of government oversight.

“AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity,” the letter said.

“Recent months have seen AI labs locked in an out-of-control race to develop and deploy ever more powerful digital minds that no one – not even their creators – can understand, predict, or reliably control,” the letter added.

Earlier this month, artificial intelligence company OpenAI released the latest version of ChatGPT, the AI-powered language model that became an internet sensation late last year.

GPT-4, the latest model, can understand images as input, meaning it can look at a photo and give the user general information about the image; and it can write code in all major programming languages, among other advances.

The open letter released on Wednesday calls on AI labs to immediately pause the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4.

In addition to Musk, prominent figures signed onto the letter include Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak, former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang and Marc Rotenberg, the president of the nonprofit Center for AI and Digital Policy.

In all, the letter features more than 1,000 signees, including professors, tech executives and scientists.

The letter arrives roughly a month after Microsoft released a newly AI-enhanced version of its search engine Bing for some users.

Microsoft declined to comment on the letter. Open AI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ABC News.

Describing conversations with the chatbot that lasted as long as two hours, some journalists and researchers warned that the AI could potentially persuade a user to commit harmful deeds or steer him or her toward misinformation.

In a series of blog posts, Microsoft acknowledged unexpected results and placed limits on the tool.

“We’ve updated the service several times in response to user feedback, and per our blog are addressing many of the concerns being raised, to include the questions about long-running conversations,” a Microsoft spokesperson previously told ABC News.

In January, Microsoft announced it was investing $10 billion in OpenAI, the artificial intelligence firm that developed Chat GPT.

The move deepened a longstanding relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI, which began with a $1 billion investment four years ago.

The open letter called on AI developers to work with policymakers to improve oversight of artificial intelligence technology, and called on the industry to shift its priorities as it works to enhance AI.

“AI research and development should be refocused on making today’s powerful, state-of-the-art systems more accurate, safe, interpretable, transparent, robust, aligned, trustworthy, and loyal,” the letter said.

ABC News’ Victor Ordonez contributed reporting.

US wants Israeli ‘consensus’ on judicial overhaul, White House says, after Biden, Netanyahu exchange

March 29, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. would like to see any decision on judicial overhaul in Israel in “keeping with a consensus” and based on the “broadest possible base of public support,” White House spokesperson John Kirby said Wednesday.

Kirby sent the message at the daily briefing amid questions on a rare public disagreement between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Netanyahu’s controversial plan to overhaul his nation’s judiciary.

“The good thing about a deep friendship is that you can be that candid with one another,” Kirby told reporters about the close allies.

Netanyahu’s proposals, which opponents say amount to a power grab to give his government more oversight of the court system, prompted mass protests that brought Israel to a standstill.

The prime minister announced Monday a pause to the legislation to allow parties to negotiate, and to avoid a “civil war,” he said, but he vowed to implement the changes one way or another.

Netanyahu’s plan has sparked unease among Biden and other top U.S. officials.

Vice President Kamala Harris, asked about Israel while traveling in Ghana on Wednesday, said “we are all watching it.”

Biden told reporters on Tuesday that he was “very concerned” about the situation and said it was his hope Netanyahu “walks away” from his proposal.

“They cannot continue on this road, and I’ve sort of made that clear,” Biden said, adding he would not invite Netanyahu to the White House in the near future.

Netanyahu shot back that while the alliance between the U.S. and Israel is strong, “Israel is an independent country that makes its decisions according to the will of its citizens and not based on external pressures, including our best friends.”

The tensions between the two leaders coincided with the White House’s second Summit for Democracy happening this week with 120 countries.

Biden asserted democracies were becoming stronger, not weaker, as he spoke at the summit on Wednesday.

“The work of democracy is never finished, it’s never laid down,” the president said. “We have to continually renew our commitment, continually strengthen our institutions, root out corruption where we find it, seek to build consensus and redirect political violence.”

Netanyahu also addressed the summit in video remarks, in which he said the debate over his judicial proposal is an example of how to “ensure a proper democracy.”

“We have to move from protest to agreement, and that’s where I want to get,” Netanyahu said, adding that he believed a “balance can be achieved.”

The prime minister also took a moment to address the U.S.-Israel relationship, describing it as “unshakeable.”

Kirby said Wednesday there was “a lot to like” about Netanyahu’s remarks.

“He talked about searching for compromise, he talked about working towards building consensus here with respect to these these potential judicial reforms, he talked about how unshakable he knows the relationship is between the United States and Israel and he talked about his great respect for President Biden and that’s a respect President Biden shares as well,” Kirby said.

ABC News’ Ben Gittleson, Molly Nagle and William Gretsky contributed to this report.

Santa Fe DA stepping down from prosecuting Alec Baldwin’s on-set ‘Rust’ shooting

March 29, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(SANTA FE, N.M.) — Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies is stepping away from prosecuting the fatal on-set “Rust” shooting, her office announced Wednesday.

The move comes after state Rep. Andrea Reeb announced she would be stepping down as special prosecutor in the case as well.

In their place, Carmack-Altwies appointed long-time New Mexico attorneys Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis to serve as special prosecutors in the case over the fatal October 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, her office said. Actor Alec Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter for Hutchins’ death.

“My responsibility to the people of the First Judicial District is greater than any one case, which is why I have chosen to appoint a special prosecutor in the ‘Rust’ case,” Carmack-Altwies said in a statement. “Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis will unflinchingly pursue justice in the death of Halyna Hutchins on behalf of the people of First Judicial District.”

With the appointment of the new special prosecutors, Carmack-Altwies will step aside from prosecuting the case, “allowing her to focus on the broader public safety needs in New Mexico’s First Judicial District,” Heather Brewer, a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office, said in a statement.

There will be no further comment on the case at this time, Brewer said.

ABC News’ Vera Dryman contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Sperm donor in the Netherlands fathers more than 500 children, foundation says

March 29, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(DEN HAAG, Netherlands) — A 41-year-old man allegedly fathered more than 500 children in the Netherlands, according to the Donorkind Foundation, an organization that helps children born via sperm donations who are looking for their origins.

Donorkind, which is based in Den Haag, Netherlands, confirmed in a statement that a generous “serial donor” would have given his sperm nationally and internationally.

A lawsuit brought by the mother of one of his children is now asking a Dutch court to help prevent the man from donating in the future.

According to the Dutch medical guidelines, a donor can only father 25 children to avoid possible incest and psychological problems. But it’s not considered a criminal offense to go over.

The donor, who Dutch media identified as “Jonathan M.,” was already excluded in 2017 from donating via the Dutch Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (NVOG). At that time, he already fathered 102 babies from 11 different clinics, officials said. But it did not stop “Jonathan,” who is said to be a musician to carry on his genetic contributions both online and internationally.

Ties van der Meer, chairman of Donorkind, who was also conceived by a sperm donation, told ABC News that his foundation received multiple phone calls from more than 30 mothers this week.

“They were calling from all over the world,” he said. “They were all very worried wondering if their child would be coming from the same donor.”

“Jonathan M.” never mentioned the real number of children he truly had to the Fertility clinics or to the mothers, van der Meer said, adding that he’s in regular touch with some of the mothers of Jonathan’s 500 kids.

The Donorkind president confirmed to abc news that “Jonathan M.” even sees few of his children.

“It needs to be flagged and to be fought. I can imagine how traumatic it can be,” said Ines M., a 38-year-old who had a baby with an anonymous donor 2 years ago from the Netherlands. Her daughter will have the option to meet with her donor when she turns 16.

Donorkind Foundation says it’s now fighting against keeping donors anonymous, as “it makes very complicated to control the number of children for each of them.”

According to van der Meer, “anonymity” goes against the right of the child: “I speak with children now adults who live in constant fears. They are afraid of having a relationship with their group siblings without knowing it”.

Donorkind Foundation is also asking the Netherlands to destroy any of the samples “Jonathan M.” has stored, except those to be used by women who already had a baby via his donation and would like to give a sibling to their child.

In the Netherlands, private or public clinics pay between $10 to $20 per sperm donation.

Pope Francis taken to hospital with respiratory infection

March 29, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(ROME) — Pope Francis has been diagnosed with a respiratory infection, according to the Vatican Press Office.

He was taken to The Gemelli University Hospital in Rome, where he will be required to stay for several days to receive “appropriate medical treatment,” the press office said.

“In recent days Pope Francis complained of some respiratory difficulties and this afternoon he went to [Policlinico A.] the Gemelli [hospital]l for some medical checks,” the statement read. “The outcome of these showed a respiratory infection (excluding Covid 19 infection) that will require several days of appropriate hospital medical treatment.”

It is unknown what type of respiratory infection the pope has or what type of care he will need.

This marks the first time Pope Francis has gone to the hospital since he underwent surgery to have part of his colon removed in July 2021.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Nashville shooting timeline: How the massacre unfolded at the Covenant School

March 29, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) — Three children and three adults were killed in a mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday.

The alleged shooter, who was identified by police as 28-year-old Nashville resident Audrey Elizabeth Hale, was killed by officers.

Here is the timeline of what took place, according to investigators. All times are local.

9:53 a.m.: The suspect’s vehicle is seen on surveillance cameras arriving at the school and parking in the parking lot.

9:57 a.m.: The suspect sends a message on Instagram to a former basketball friend from middle school, where the suspect stated, “I am planning to die today.”

10:10 a.m.: The suspect is seen in surveillance footage shooting through the front door and entering the building.

10:13 a.m.: Nashville Police receive the first call of an active shooter inside Covenant School.

10:21 a.m.: The first responding officers arrived on campus, law enforcement officials said.

10:23 a.m.: The first officers enter the school, according to investigators. Police body-worn camera footage shows officers going room-to-room looking for the shooter, clearing classrooms and speeding past at least one body in a hallway.

10:24 a.m.: A team of five officers arrived on the second level and followed the sound of gunfire toward the shooter, according to police body-worn camera footage.

10:25 a.m.: Two officers engaged the suspect, and the suspect is reported down, according to law enforcement officials.

10:27 a.m.: The suspected shooter is declared dead, investigators said.

Nashville school shooting updates: Governor says now’s not time to talk legislation

March 29, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has called for prayers in the wake of Monday’s deadly mass shooting at a Nashville elementary school, while noting that “there will be a time to talk about the legislation.”

“I am calling on the people of Tennessee to pray. For the families of victims, for the Covenant family, for those courageous officers, for the family of the shooter, for those who are hurting and angry and confused,” Lee, a Republican, said in a video address on Tuesday evening. “Prayer is the first thing we should do, but it’s not the only thing.”

A shooter gunned down three children and three adults at the Covenant School in Tennessee’s capital city on Monday morning. Responding officers shot and killed the suspect — identified as Audrey Hale, 28, of Nashville — about 14 minutes after the initial 911 call came in, according to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.

“Law enforcement officials and educators across our state have been working for years, especially in the last year, to strengthen the safety of schools. That work was not in vain — the courage and swift response by the teachers, officers and this community without a doubt prevented further tragedy,” Lee said in his video address. “There will be a time to talk about the legislation and budget proposals we’ve brought forward this year. And clearly there’s more work to do.”

“But on this day after the tragedy, I want to speak to that which rises above all else,” he added. “The battle is not against flesh and blood, it’s not against people. The struggle is against evil itself.”

A candlelit vigil will be held in Nashville Wednesday evening in honor of the victims of the shooting. First lady Jill Biden is scheduled to attend, the White House said.

Police have identified the slain children as 9-year-old students Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney and Hallie Scruggs. The adult victims were identified as 61-year-old custodian Mike Hill, 60-year-old head of school Katherine Koonce and 61-year-old substitute teacher Cynthia Peak.

In his video address, the Tennessee governor revealed that his wife, Maria, has been friends with Peak and Koonce “for decades.”

“Cindy was supposed to come over to have dinner with Maria last night after she filled in as a substitute teacher yesterday at Covenant,” Lee said.

The Covenant School, a private Christian school for children in preschool through sixth grade, has about 209 students and 40 to 50 staff members. It does not have a school resource officer, according to police.

In a statement released Monday night, the Covenant School said its community “is heartbroken.”

“We are grieving tremendous loss and are in shock coming out of the terror that shattered our church and school,” the school said. “We are focused on loving our students, our families, our faculty and staff and beginning the process of healing.”

The suspect was a former student and Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake told reporters on Tuesday that it appears that, while the school was likely targeted, “students were randomly targeted.”

Drake had told reporters on Monday that Hale was female and identified as transgender but didn’t immediately provide more details. A police spokesperson later told ABC News that the suspect was assigned female at birth but pointed to a social media account linked to Hale that included the use of the pronouns he/him.

The suspect was armed with two assault-style rifles, a handgun and “significant ammunition” at the time of the attack, police said. Investigators have since searched Hale’s home in Nashville, where they seized “a sawed-off shotgun, a second shotgun and other evidence,” according to police.

Drake said the suspect had legally purchased seven guns from five different local stores and hid some of those weapons at home. Hale was under a “doctor’s care for an emotional disorder,” the police chief said, and Hale’s parents “were under the impression that was when she sold the one weapon” they believed Hale owned.

Hale also had a detailed map of the school as well as “writings and a book we consider to be like a manifesto,” Drake told ABC News in an interview Tuesday on “Good Morning America.”

“We have not been able to determine a motive as of yet,” the police chief said. “The investigation is very much still ongoing.”

Video from the school’s surveillance cameras shows the suspect arriving in a vehicle and parking in the parking lot at 9:54 a.m. ET. Minutes later, the suspect is seen shooting through a door on the side of the school and entering the building. Hale allegedly went from the first floor to the second floor, firing multiple shots, according to police.

Police received a 911 call about an active shooter at the school at 10:13 a.m. ET. As officers responded to the scene, the suspect fired on police cars from a second-floor window, police said.

Video from two of the responding officers’ body-worn cameras shows them entering the school, following the sound of gunfire to the second floor and finding the suspect in a lobby area near a window. After an officer shouts “reloading,” officers Rex Engelbert, a four-year veteran, and Michael Collazo, a nine-year veteran, both fire at the suspect.

President Joe Biden and other Democrats have once again called on Congress to take action on gun legislation, including passing a nationwide ban on assault weapons. Meanwhile, Republicans have once again slammed Democrats for trying to exploit a tragedy for political purposes.

An ABC News/Washington Post poll conducted in September 2019 found 89% of Americans support universal background checks and 86% support red flag laws. The poll found broad bipartisan support, as well; mandatory background checks and red flag laws won support from at least eight in 10 Republicans and conservatives, and as many or more of all others.

Another ABC News/Washington Post poll released in February found the public more divided over assault weapons with 47% supporting such a ban and 51% opposing it — reflecting a nine-point drop in support since 2019.

ABC News’ Libby Cathey, Alex Faul, Matt Foster, Ben Gittleson, James Hill, Doug Lantz, Molly Nagle, Darren Reynolds, John Santucci and Emily Shapiro contributed to this report.

‘Nothing to hide,’ Pence says as he weighs appeal of Trump probe order

March 29, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Former Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday he’s weighing how to proceed after a federal judge ruled one day earlier he must testify to a grand jury investigating efforts by former President Donald Trump to overturn the 2020 election.

Pence, who is considering running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, said he’s unsure whether he’ll appeal the order for him to reveal more details about his conversations with Trump while vowing he has “nothing to hide” about Jan. 6.

“I’m limited in what I can say about grand jury proceedings, but I am pleased that the judge recognized that the Constitution speech and protection clause applies to my work as vice president,” Pence said in Iowa. “I’m serving as president of the Senate on January 6. We’re currently talking to our counsel about the balance of that decision and determining the way forward, but I have nothing to hide.”

“Again, I’m pleased that federal judge recognizes that constitutional protection applies to me as vice president, but now we’ll evaluate the best way forward and make our intentions known in the days,” he added.

Pence told reporters he will discuss whether to appeal the ruling when he meets with his attorneys in Washington, D.C., later this week.

“Again, I have nothing to hide. I believe we did our duty under the Constitution on Jan. 6. And I truly do believe that preserving the constitutional protections enshrined in the speech and debate clause was very important,” he repeated. “I’m pleased that the federal judge recognized and agreed with our argument that that provision does apply to us reviewing how he sorted that out, but at the end of the day, we’ll obey the law. Right now, we’re evaluating what the proper course is moving forward.”

On Tuesday, D.C. Chief Judge James Boasberg rejected Trump’s claim of executive privilege to prevent Pence from testifying, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

The judge also issued a ruling that narrowly upheld parts of a separate legal challenge brought by Pence’s attorneys, who have argued the former vice president should be exempt from providing records or answering certain questions that align with his duties as president of the Senate overseeing the formal certification of the election on Jan. 6, 2021.

The judge ordered Pence to provide answers to special counsel Jack Smith on any questions that implicate any illegal acts on Trump’s part, according to sources.

Pence’s team had argued that such communications could run afoul of the speech and debate clause that shields members of Congress from legal proceedings specifically related to their work.

The rulings came just four days after his and Pence’s lawyers appeared at the district court to argue their challenge to Smith’s subpoena.

Pence has previously vowed to fight the subpoena all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary, most recently telling ABC Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl, “We’re going to respect the decisions of the court, and that may take us to the highest court in the land.”

ABC News’ Katherine Faulders contributed to this report.

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