December 25, 2022 9:08 am
VATICAN CITY (AP) — In the splendor of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis was presiding over Christmas Eve Mass. During his homily Saturday evening, the pontiff hailed Jesus’ birth in a stable and admonished people against being “ravenous” for power and wealth. He decried war, poverty, injustice and greedy consumerism. Francis encouraged people not to let Christmas pass without doing something good. The pope said there was a “danger” that people forget the real meaning of the holiday. Some 7,000 Romans, tourists and pilgrims attended the Mass. On Sunday, Francis was set to deliver a Christmas blessing and read a message traditionally about the world’s trouble spots from the basilica’s balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square.
December 25, 2022 9:07 am
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — The biblical town of Bethlehem is marking what is shaping up to be a merry Christmas. Thousands of visitors have descended upon the traditional birthplace of Jesus as it rebounds from the coronavirus pandemic. Tourism is the economic lifeblood of this town in the occupied West Bank, and for the past two years, the pandemic kept international visitors away. This year, visitors are back, hotels are full and local shopkeepers have reported a brisk business in the runup to the holiday. The Palestinian tourism minister, Rula Maayah, says this year will be “very much different” than last year. She says pilgrims “from all over the world” are joining the celebrations.
December 25, 2022 9:07 am
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) — Police say five people have been arrested in a fatal shooting at Minnesota’s Mall of America that sent the sprawling commercial center into lockdown on one of the final days of the holiday shopping season. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges announced the arrests at a Saturday evening news conference. He said those arrested are two 18-year-olds and three 17-year-olds, all male. They will all face murder charges. The newspaper says police believe one of the 18-year-olds was the shooter, though another suspect may have also fired a weapon. A sixth suspect is still being sought.
December 25, 2022 9:06 am
BEIJING (AP) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has defended what he says is his country’s position of impartiality on the war in Ukraine and signaled that China would deepen ties with Russia in the coming year. Wang on Sunday also blamed America for the deterioration in relations between the world’s two largest economies, saying that China has “firmly rejected the United States’ erroneous China policy.” China’s refusal to condemn the invasion of Ukraine and join others in imposing sanctions on Russia has further frayed ties and fueled an emerging divide with much of Europe. Wang said that China would “deepen strategic mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation” with Russia. Warships from the two countries held joint naval drills in the East China Sea last week.
December 25, 2022 9:05 am
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Millions of people are hunkering down in a deep freeze overnight and early morning to ride out the frigid storm that has killed at least 18 people across the country. The Arctic blast has trapped some residents inside homes with heaping snow drifts and knocked out power to scores of homes and businesses. The scope of the storm has been nearly unprecedented, stretching from the Great Lakes near Canada to the Rio Grande along the border with Mexico. The National Weather Service says about 60% of the U.S. population has faced some sort of winter weather advisory or warning, and temperatures plummeted drastically below normal from east of the Rocky Mountains to the Appalachians.
December 25, 2022 9:04 am
SMITH TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Emergency crews were called to the scene of a gas tank explosion endangering multiple buildings and a gas line along Point Pleasant Road around 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning. The Slovan Fire Department arrived first confirming the large working fire. The Washington County HazMat Team along with Mount Pleasant Township, Midway, Jefferson Township, McDonald and Hanover Township Fire Crews were called to the scene.
December 25, 2022 8:58 am
NORTH STRABANE, Pa. — Fire crews were busy Christmas Eve battling a fire along McClelland Road in North Strabane. Officials say the fire broke out just before 7:00 p.m. Saturday night. Responders on scene say smoke and flames were showing from the roof of the one-story home. North Strabane worked with crews from Canonsburg, Peters Township and the City of Washington for a couple of hours before the incident was under control. There is no word on any injuries or cause of that fire.
December 25, 2022 8:52 am
DERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPXI) — It was a tragic scene in Derry Township on Christmas Eve after an elderly woman died in a house fire. Several Westmoreland County fire departments were dispatched to Pizza Barn Road in Derry Township on Saturday evening after reports of a person trapped inside the home. Investigators have not released the name of the woman who died. Officials told Channel 11 her husband was able to escape from the house. First responders battled the elements and circumstances in single-digit temperatures and less-than-ideal conditions. The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal is investigating what caused the fire. Officials say the marshal’s efforts are focused on the kitchen area.
December 25, 2022 4:29 am
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WPXI)— A public visitation for Franco Harris will be held at Acrisure Stadium next week. According to Tatalovich Funeral Home, the public is welcome to pay their final respects to Harris at Acrisure Stadium’s PNC Champions Club at Gate A, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Stadium parking lots are scheduled to open at 11 a.m. for the visitation. Anyone wishing to commemorate Harris is asked to make memorial contributions to The Pittsburgh Promise or Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation in lieu of flowers. Harris was 72-years-old at the time of his death late Tuesday night, just days ahead of the 50th Anniversary of the Immaculate Reception and jersey retirement ceremony at halftime of the Steelers game against the Raiders.
December 25, 2022 4:11 am
WASHINGTON, PA. — For a third year in a row, the Washington County Sheriffs Office had another successful drive for TOYS FOR JOY. The office was able to provide Christmas gifts to 110 children throughout the county. The team filled and shopped for every wish list provided according to a post on social media. They wrapped and distributed the gifts to either the school or the residence. They also donated toys and needed items to the Women’s Shelter and Domestic violence office. Some were sponsored children from the Washington Salvation Army wish list. The office also had great collaboration and community partnership with the Lemonye Center who shopped and provided toys for two of the children. We cannot thank our generous sponsors enough for helping make Christmas brighter for these families. Sheriff Tony Andronas has seen a need in the community and has doubled the efforts this year to provide to more families in Washington County. (Photo: Washington Co. Sheriffs Dept. Facebook Page)
