Police in McDonald are investigating cats that were left in a sealed box. In a social media post Saturday, officers said the box contained a mother cat and kittens. The box was found at the East End Ballfield, where police say a vehicle was seen leaving the area at 6:54 a.m. Thursday. Anyone with information is asked to call 724-926-2105. (Photo: McDonald Police Department)
A vehicle fire disrupted traffic on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Westmoreland County. Emergency crews were called to mile marker 76.4 of westbound I-76 near New Stanton at 4:46 p.m. A Westmoreland County 911 supervisor said a tractor-trailer was reportedly carrying shell casings. The severely burned trailer was on the highway’s shoulder but no injuries were reported. The right lane of westbound I-76 was temporarily blocked while crews removed the trailer.
PITTSBURGH — Two people were injured in an early morning hit-and-run at the Rivers Casino Parking garage. A Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesperson says police, fire and medics responded to the fourth floor of the Rivers Casino parking garage around 4 a.m. for a reported collision into the building. First responders found that a vehicle had crashed through the glass doors by the elevators, injuring a man and a woman. The victims were taken to an area hospital in stable condition. The spokesperson says a Silver Jeep fled the scene. Police were able to obtain license plate information and are investigating.
Heading into the weekend, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to pay the tens of thousands of TSA officers who have been working without pay for over a month during a partial government shutdown. It’s unclear whether the move will translate into shorter wait times for passengers at airport security lines as the budget impasse continues. White House border czar Tom Homan said Sunday that federal immigration officers deployed to assist airports could remain in place until TSA operations return to normal. Major U.S. airports continued to recommend Sunday that passengers arrive several hours early.
TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares are mostly declining, as worries continue about soaring oil prices and the potential for further escalation in the U.S. war with Iran. But shares rose moderately in early Monday trading in France, Germany and Britain. U.S. futures also rose. Benchmarks finished lower in Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul and Hong Kong. Worries have been great in Japan and the rest of Asia about the effective lack of access to the Strait of Hormuz because of the war in Iran, as the region relies greatly on such access for oil shipments. Oil prices climbed. Investors are now bracing for the war to last for some time, which would likely set off inflation in global markets.
President Donald Trump says he is considering sending U.S. forces to seize Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal. He told the Financial Times on Monday the U.S. has “a lot of options” and could stay there for a while. Iran warned it could mine the Persian Gulf if its territory is invaded. The U.S. and Israel kept up attacks on Iran, even as early ceasefire talks show some progress. Iran struck a key water and electrical plant in Kuwait as part of its ongoing campaign targeting the Gulf Arab states. Trump also said Iran agreed to let 20 oil ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
