UNIONTOWN, Pa. (WPXI) — A local Walmart was evacuated on Saturday due to a bomb threat. A Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson confirmed that troopers are investigating the incident at the Walmart in Uniontown. The spokesperson said troopers were ensuring there was no ongoing threat to the store or its patrons before it reopened. The store did reopen around 1:30 p.m.,
BELLE VERNON, Pa. —(WPXI)- A video recorded inside a Belle Vernon Walmart, reportedly taken right before Christmas, shows a man walking up to a woman while video recording and asking her questions and saying racial epithets to her. While the man hasn’t been charged with a crime yet, Augusta “Queenie” Goll says she’s filed a police report about the incident. According to Goll, he used the “N” word and used other racial slurs toward her. Goll said she immediately left the store and began to post to Facebook about the incident. She said that it was not until after the new year that she found out that the man posted his video to his social media account. She filed a police report with Rostraver Township Police who then forwarded the case to State Police. They say that there are similar complaints about him over multiple jurisdictions. Goll says the man came by her Charleroi business on Thursday, writing her an apology note. She says while the incident has left her scared, she’s also grateful to the community and complete strangers for having her back. “I want to publicly say thank you. All type of people, black, white, Indian, everybody. Young, old, everybody. In times of something like this, they stand for the right, they stand by you.”
Pennsylvania Western University leaders say they are adapting to modern learning experiences and responding to workforce needs as the state university prepares to cut dozens of degree programs, minors, concentrations and certificates. According to reports, the plan would affect forty-three bachelor’s degree majors (down from 47) 23 master’s degree programs (down from 27) 40 minors (down from 74) 37 undergraduate certificates (up from 19). Some minors would shift to certificates. The university intends to sunset six undergraduate programs, four graduate programs and 34 minors. PennWest would also end nine bachelor’s degree programs on specific campuses. Any student currently enrolled in an impacted program would be able to complete their degree at their home campus, the university has said. PennWest plans to share updated curriculum information in late spring.
A jury has returned a verdict for Brett Ours, who was charged with attempted homicide after police say he beat another man inside the Aliquippa VFW last January. The beating of Preston Coleman lasted 30 to 40 minutes and was captured on surveillance video that was shown in court. Later on in the trial, Ours took the stand in his own defense, where he accepted responsibility for his actions but denied trying to kill Coleman. The Beaver County District Attorney says jurors stayed to deliberate and returned a verdict on Friday, announcing that they had found Ours not guilty of attempted murder. He was found guilty on charges of aggravated assault, strangulation, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of instruments of a crime and three counts of simple assault. Two others, Ireland and Ronald Brown, are expected to face trial for charges related to Coleman’s assault later. No date has been set for his sentencing. (Photo: WPXI)
HOUSTON (AP) — A blast of winter weather has brought snowfall and subfreezing wind chills across the Midwest and East Coast as well as near-freezing temperatures in parts of the South, including Florida. The National Weather Service said Saturday that below-average temperatures were forecast for the Central and Eastern U.S. this weekend into early next week. In northeastern Ohio sudden bursts of heavy snow and gusty winds created whiteout conditions. Tallahassee, Florida, and parts of central Georgia may see some snowfall as well. (Photo: AP)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A U.S. judge has ruled federal officers in Minneapolis-area immigration operation can’t detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who aren’t obstructing authorities, including when these people are observing the agents. U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez ruled Friday in a case filed in December on behalf of six Minnesota activists. Thousands of people have been observing the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol officers enforcing the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area since early December. Government attorneys have argued the officers have been acting within their legal authority to enforce immigration laws and protect themselves.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Abigail Spanberger has become Virginia’s first female governor after centuries of men holding the state’s top office. The Democrat was inaugurated around noon Saturday outside the state Capitol. Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears to succeed Gov. Glenn Youngkin, also a Republican. It marks a new chapter as Democrats pull the levers of power in Virginia while Republican Donald Trump sits in the White House in neighboring Washington. Two other Democrats are also being sworn in. Ghazala F. Hashmi, the first Muslim woman to serve in statewide office in the U.S., is the new lieutenant governor. Jay Jones is the first Black person elected attorney general in Virginia.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for supporting Iranian protesters. In a speech on Saturday, Khamenei accused Trump of encouraging unrest and labeled him a “criminal.” He said the protests, which began on December 28, resulted in thousands of deaths. Trump had recently praised Iran for canceling planned executions, signaling a possible shift away from military action. Iran has returned to an uneasy calm after the protests, with authorities briefly restoring limited internet access. Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi’s call for further protests has not gained traction.
