September 27, 2024 4:46 am
(AP) – The death toll from Hurricane Helene has reached at least 35 across four states. Helene has left an enormous path of destruction across Florida and the entire southeastern U.S. The Category 4 hurricane made landfall Thursday in Florida, snapping trees like twigs, tearing apart homes and sending rescue crews on desperate and dangerous missions to save people from floodwaters. The damage extended hundreds of miles to the north, with flooding as far away as North Carolina. According to an Associated Press tally Friday, the deaths occurred in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. (Photo: AP)
September 27, 2024 4:07 pm
The Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission held an open house to introduce their new Recovery Center. The center is located on the ground floor at 90 W. Chestnut Street. Cheryl Andrews is the Executive Director of the WDAC, she says that the purpose of the center is to provide a place to offer resources and support services for those in long term recovery and for those seeking to begin the process of recovery. People will find that the Recovery Center has a laundry area, a shower, and certified specialists to help those in recovery and seeking recovery. A serenity room, a clothes closet for those needing clothing, and a TV area with adjacent kid’s area are more of the amenities available to people. Andrews describes the center as a safe space for those that need one to maintain their recovery. The Center is open Monday thru Friday from 8:30 to 4:30. On Tuesdays the center is open until 7:30 for a recovery meeting. The WDAC has been open since 2002 and they provide prevention, intervention, and treatment related services along with recovery support.
September 27, 2024 2:21 am
A local man will soon learn if he faces first degree murder charges, which could bring a possible death penalty sentence, for his alleged role in the death of his infant son in January 2022. Joshua George of Burgettstown is charged with criminal homicide, three counts of aggravated assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. In court Thursday the prosecution filed written transcripts of witness testimony as they attempt to charge the 33 year old with first degree murder. They contend George was the lone person caring for his 6 month old infant son when the child was found unresponsive in a home on Colony Road in Smith Township in December 2021. The child died a few days later in a Weirton, W. VA hospital and his cause of death was ruled a homicide due to blunt force trauma to the head. Attorneys now have 30 days to file briefs and the judge will then make her decision and determine if there is sufficient evidence to charge George with the most serious of crimes.
September 27, 2024 2:20 am
A South Strabane man is headed to trial for allegedly attempting to kidnap his ex-girlfriend from a Giant Eagle parking lot last May. Jose Zaragoza was in court Thursday to request a jury trial as he faces criminal attempted kidnapping, strangulation, simple assault and harassment charges. Police say Zaragoza and his ex met at the South Strabane Giant Eagle parking lot to discuss an upcoming court case. When the ex-girlfriend arrived, Zaragoza allegedly approached her with duct tape and tried to remove her from her vehicle. After a struggle in which others tried to help he fled in his truck and was arrested several hours later during a traffic stop. His jury trial is set for sometime in February 2025.
September 27, 2024 4:52 am
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams has pleaded not guilty to federal bribery charges and other counts in a case that has roiled the nation’s biggest city after months of investigations, searches and subpoenas. Adams, a Democrat, entered the plea Friday before a packed courtroom gallery in Manhattan, a day after prosecutors revealed charges alleging that he accepted overseas travel and illegal campaign donations from people looking to buy his influence. He is accused of exploiting a years-long relationship with people tied to Turkey, who funded his travel and fueled his run for mayor with donations that helped him qualify for more than $10 million in public campaign funds. Adams says he’s innocent and doesn’t plan to resign.
September 27, 2024 4:50 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as tensions have been rising between the two over how to defend the country in its war against Russia. The GOP presidential nominee is facing accusations from his Democratic opponent Vice President Kamala Harris that he is advocating for surrender. Trump said Zelenskyy asked for the meeting, and the visit is set for about 9:45 a.m. Eastern Time at Trump Tower in New York. The meeting comes less than a day after Harris met with the Ukrainian leader and expressed unwavering support.
September 27, 2024 4:48 am
Almost one year after launching its war on Hamas in Gaza, Israel has turned its focus on Lebanon, significantly ratcheting up the air campaign against its archenemy Hezbollah. Among many in Lebanon, there is fear that Israel’s military operations in Lebanon would follow the same Gaza playbook: Evacuation orders, mass displacement and overwhelming, deadly airstrikes Israel says target weapons and militants. The two conflicts are different, and despite deploying overwhelming air power, Israel has so far largely targeted Hezbollah, although many civilians have also been killed. But in Lebanon, fear and anxiety prevail.
September 26, 2024 2:52 pm
CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Helene has strengthened into a major hurricane as it barrels across the Gulf of Mexico on a path to Florida. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Thursday afternoon that the hurricane is about 195 miles southwest of Tampa and has become a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of at least 111 mph. The huge storm’s center is expected to make landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida’s northwestern coast Thursday evening. Hurricane warnings and flash flood warnings extended far beyond the coast up into south-central Georgia. The governors of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia have all declared emergencies in their states
September 26, 2024 10:52 am
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on federal charges alleging that he took bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources. The indictment unsealed Thursday contends that Adams “compounded his gains” from the illegal contributions by gaming the city’s matching funds program, which provides a generous match for small dollar donations. Prosecutors allege that Adams also “solicited and demanded” bribes, including free and heavily discounted luxury travel benefits from a Turkish official, saying the official was seeking Adams’ help pertaining to regulations of the Turkish consulate in Manhattan. FBI agents seized Adams’ phone early Thursday, hours before the indictment was made public. Adams vowed Wednesday to fight any charges.
September 26, 2024 9:26 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The American economy expanded at a healthy 3% annual pace from April through June, boosted by strong consumer spending and business investment, the government said, leaving its previous estimate unchanged. The nation’s gross domestic product — the nation’s total output of goods and services — picked up sharply in the second quarter from the tepid 1.6% annual rate in the first three months of the year. Consumer spending, the primary driver of the economy, grew last quarter at a 2.8% pace, down slightly from the 2.9% rate the government had previously estimated. The final GDP estimate for the April-June quarter included figures showing that inflation continues to ease, to just above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.
