August 16, 2024 12:18 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Jack Russell, the lead singer of the bluesy ’80s metal band Great White whose hits included “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and “Rock Me” and was fronting the band the night 100 people died in a 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island, has died. He was 63. Russell was leading his band during a show at The Station nightclub in Rhode Island when the band’s pyrotechnics sparked a fast-moving blaze that caused a bottleneck as fans tried to flee. The fire killed 100 people, including the band’s guitarist and injured more than 200 others. A statement posted Thursday on his Instagram page said Russell’s “unshakable contribution to rock and roll where his legacy will forever thrive.” (Photo: AP)
August 15, 2024 5:02 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The long investigation into the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry has led to a sweeping indictment that pulled in five people who prosecutors say contributed to his ketamine overdose. Prosecutors say they include a doctor and a street dealer who both gave Perry large amounts of the powerful anesthetic. Perry’s assistant and an acquaintance of the actor have already pleaded guilty to helping him get ketmaine Prosecutors say Perry turned to Dr. Salvador Plasencia to give him more ketamine than his regular doctors would allow and turned to a woman they say call a major street dealer, Jasveen Sangha, to get even more. Both pleaded not guilty Thursday.
August 15, 2024 11:38 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A prosecutor says five people have been charged in connection with Matthew Perry’s death, including the actor’s assistant and two doctors. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada announced the charges Thursday, saying the doctors supplied Perry with a large amount of ketamine and even wondered in a text message how much the former “Friends” star would be willing to pay. Perry’s assistant, who authorities say injected the actor with ketamine on the day he died, found Perry face down in his hot tub on Oct. 28. Paramedics who were called immediately declared him dead. His autopsy, released in December, found that the amount of ketamine in his blood was in the range used for general anesthesia during surgery. (Photo: AP)
August 15, 2024 2:41 am
MONONGAHELA, Pa. — (WPXI) – A man is in custody after an hours-long SWAT situation in Monongahela on Wednesday. Police tried to arrest the suspect, Emmanuel Houghton, 19, at multiple scenes in the area. Houghton is a suspect in multiple crimes in Allegheny County, including a homicide. He surrendered to police around 7:30 p.m., nearly 12 hours after the situation began. A Washington County dispatcher says police and SWAT were originally sent to a scene at 3rd Street and Chess Street, where an armed man was reportedly barricaded inside. The dispatcher said this incident began at 8:30 a.m. with a pursuit that went through several communities. The man reportedly fired shots at police, but it’s unclear at this time where it happened. Law enforcement searched several buildings but didn’t appear to find anyone. They towed away a black car with its window shot out which was reported stolen. Another SWAT situation began just before 4 p.m. around the corner from the original house. Police confirmed the suspect was inside a house along Third Street, where he eventually surrendered to police.
August 15, 2024 2:29 am
A former Washington City Councilman and former Charleroi Borough Manager has been arrested in Allegheny County on multiple charges including DUI/unsafe driving, exceeding the speed limit and reckless driving. Police say 47-year-old Matt Staniszewski was arrested on July 30th for the incidents that allegedly occurred in Collier Township, where police say his blood alcohol count was .16%. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for September 16th in front of District Magisterial Judge Maureen McGraw-Desmet. Staniszewski is free on twenty-five-thousand-dollars bond.
August 15, 2024 4:50 am
HERSHEY, Pa. (AP) — A new study says Pennsylvania drivers get pulled over and are cited by state police at roughly comparable rates no matter their race or ethnicity. The information about 450,000 vehicle stops in 2023 was made public on Wednesday. Researchers also say trooper decisions about how to enforce the law after they stop someone are most strongly based on legal factors and not the drivers’ or troopers’ identifying characteristics. Experts say the findings may be the result of increasing scrutiny and supervision in the field. State police in Pennsylvania have changed how they train troopers and have prioritized treating people equally.
August 15, 2024 3:56 pm
(WPXI) – The Pittsburgh region was back in the political spotlight Wednesday as JD Vance made a campaign stop in Lower Burrell Wednesday morning. The invite-only event at VFW Post 92 was for local veterans and was not open to the public. Secret Service was on site since our crews arrived around 4 a.m. and canvassed the entire building before anyone was allowed inside. Vance spoke about the honor and sacrifice of military members and how we, as a country, need to prioritize the 300,000 homeless veterans nationwide. He said that includes getting veterans the healthcare choices they need. He also talked about policy and how he believes a Trump-Vance administration could help the economy rebound. “We’ve got 300,000 veterans who are homeless in this country right now. Let’s take care of them first,” Vance said. “I think we ought to be giving veterans more choice in their healthcare, and if we do, that’s how we stay faithful in the promises he made to them.” Much of what he said resonated with local veterans, including the commander of VFW Post 92, Lee Johnson. “The benefit part is the biggest thing we need to get straightened out, and he’s gonna touch on that, and I think the benefits and the better care,” Johnson said. This weekend, Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Governor Tim Walz, will kick off their bus tour in Pittsburgh on Sunday, ahead of the Democratic National Convention
August 15, 2024 4:53 am
TOA BAJA, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hurricane Ernesto has dropped torrential rain on Puerto Rico and knocked out power for nearly half of all customers in the U.S. territory. It was gaining strength as it moved over open water toward Bermuda. Heavy flooding was reported in Puerto Rico, and power and communication were knocked out around the region. Ernesto was a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 85 mph early Thursday. It could become a major hurricane with Category 3 strength Friday. Ernesto is expected to pass near Bermuda on Saturday.
August 14, 2024 4:55 am
BEDMINSTER, N.J. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has invited reporters to his New Jersey golf club for his second news conference in as many weeks. Trump will meet the press Thursday as he steps up his criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris for not holding a news conference or sitting down for interviews since President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign and endorsed her to replace him. The vice president has barely engaged with reporters since becoming the Democratic nominee, though she travels with journalists aboard Air Force Two and sometimes answers shouted questions while boarding or leaving the plane for campaign stops.
August 15, 2024 4:57 am
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — International mediators are set to hold a new round of talks aimed at halting the war in Gaza and securing the release of scores of hostages. A potential deal is seen as the best hope of heading off an even larger regional conflict. The United States, Qatar and Egypt are set to meet with an Israeli delegation in Qatar on Thursday as the Palestinian death toll from the 10-month-old war nears 40,000, according to local health authorities. Hamas has not said whether it will participate, accusing Israel of adding new demands to an evolving proposal that had U.S. and international support, and to which the militant group had agreed in principle.
