November 20, 2022 8:07 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Elon Musk has reinstated Donald Trump’s account on Twitter, reversing a ban that has kept the former president off the social media site since a pro-Trump mob attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as Congress was poised to certify Joe Biden’s election victory. Musk made the announcement after holding a poll that asked Twitter users to click “yes” or “no” on whether Trump’s account should be reinstated. It is not clear whether Trump would actually return to Twitter. Trump has said in the past that he would not rejoin even if his account was restored. He has been relying on his own, much smaller social media site, Truth Social.
November 20, 2022 8:06 am
BEIJING (AP) — China has announced its first new death from COVID-19 in nearly half a year. Strict new measures are being imposed in Beijing and across the country. The death of the 87-year-old Beijing man was the first reported by the National Health Commission since May 26, bringing the total death toll to 5,227. China has faced hurdles vaccinating its elderly population although the commission did not give details on the man’s status in its report Sunday. That vulnerability is considered one reason why China has mostly kept its borders closed and is sticking with its rigid “zero-COVID” policy despite the impact on daily life and the economy. The policy seeks to wipe out infections through lockdowns, quarantines, case tracing and mass testing.
November 20, 2022 8:05 am
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A shooter opened fire in a gay nightclub late Saturday, killing five people and wounding 18 in the latest mass shooting to befall the country in a year in which anti-gay rhetoric has been amped up among extremists. Lt. Pamela Castro of the Colorado Springs Police Department said police received a report of a shooting at Club Q at 11:57 p.m. Castro said there was one suspect who was injured and being treated. She said it was not immediately clear whether the attacker had been shot by officers. She said the FBI was on the scene and assisting in the case. Club Q is a gay and lesbian nightclub that features a “Drag Diva Drag Show” on Saturdays, according to its website. “Club Q is devastated by the senseless attack on our community,” the club posted on its Facebook page.
November 20, 2022 8:00 am
PITTSBURGH (WPXI) — The cold did not stop people from flocking by the thousands to downtown Pittsburgh for Saturday’s Light Up Night. People and animals of all ages were there to enjoy the vendors, lights and more. The Highmark tree at Stanwix Street and Penn Avenue was lit. It’s a tradition going back decades. It was one of two trees lit Saturday. The Christmas tree outside the City-County Building was turned on just an hour earlier. The evening ended with a concert from rock legend Joan Jett and a 9:30 p.m. fireworks show. The holiday market at Market Square will be open through Dec. 23.
November 20, 2022 3:18 am
Canonsburg, PA – Officials from the Pennsylvania Lottery and Sheetz, a Lottery retailer, today presented a commemorative check to the winner of a recent $3 million holiday-themed Scratch-Off ticket called $3 Million Snow Bank. This holiday ticket is the first $30 ticket to ever join the Lottery’s holiday Scratch-Off lineup of games. The check presentation was held at Sheetz, 2401 Washington Road, Canonsburg, Washington County, where the winning ticket was sold. The store receives a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. The winner, Kim Maurer of Allegheny County, said she was shocked to learn she won this top prize. “I scratched it and said, ‘Wait.’ I looked away and said, ‘Maybe I’m not playing this ticket right,’” said Maurer. “I didn’t know what to do! I went back into the Sheetz and scanned it. It read, ‘You won $3 million, contact the Lottery.’ I scanned it again. I couldn’t breathe!” Maurer said this win comes at a perfect time. “I work a lot. I have two full-time jobs as a retail manager,” said Maurer. “One of the stores where I work is closing soon.” The prize gives Maurer a chance to dream a bit bigger, especially around the holidays. “I already found my dream home and I’m on my way to go look at it now!” said Maurer. “I get excited when I win $100. This is beyond awesome!”
November 20, 2022 3:18 am
Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh announced on Friday that new homicide charges have been filed in connection with the shooting death last month of a Monessen man. Walsh says 29-year-old Keaundre Crews of Charleroi was involved in an altercation at a bar before the shooting, which left 29-year-old Jaisen Irwin dead. Walsh says Crews was arraigned on multiple charges, including homicide, and is being held without bond in the Washington County Jail. Maruissa Larae Spencer is also charged in connection to this case.
November 20, 2022 1:39 am
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI)- A suspect was taken into custody in Jefferson Hills on Friday night. According to police, local and state officers took the suspect, identified later as 42-year-old Thomas Terrill Spell, into custody at the Jefferson Hills Motel, on Route 51 near Lewis Run Road around 8:30 p.m. According to Pennsylvania State Police, Spell walked into the Kwik Fill convenience store on state Route 136 in Eighty Four just before 3:30 p.m., acting like he was going to buy a drink, cigarettes and lottery tickets. Police said the clerk turned his back to get the cigarettes and Spell walked behind the counter, ordering the clerk to open the drawer and remove the money. Spell took the money, cigarettes and lottery tickets and left the gas station, getting into a car and driving off. Police said they checked surveillance footage for a description and vehicle identification. The car was later found at the Jefferson Hills Motel. Spell was inside one of the rooms and turned himself in, police said. Spell is lodged in the Washington County Jail awaiting arraignment.
November 19, 2022 9:48 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Swifties, your girl has spoke on the Ticketmaster meltdown. Taylor Swift posted a story Friday on Instagram expressing her anger and frustration over the hours spent by fans trying to buy tickets for her tour next year. Swift says she and her team asked the platform multiple times if it would be able to handle massive demand. In her words, she says: “We were assured they could.” Of fans who lost out after hours waiting in a digital queue, Swift said she hopes to provide more chances to get together.
November 19, 2022 9:27 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Even with their threadbare House majority, Republicans doubled down this week on using their new power to investigate the Biden administration and in particular the president’s son. But their midterms miss has emboldened a White House that has long prepared for this moment. Republicans secured much smaller margins than anticipated, with Biden aides and Democrats feeling like voters punished the GOP for reliance on conspiracy theories and Donald Trump-fueled lies over the 2020 election. Democrats outside the White House have mobilized to combat what they anticipate will be a steady stream of misinformation from the House.
November 19, 2022 9:24 am
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KHERSON, Ukraine (AP) – Residents of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson can’t escape reminders of the terrifying eight months they spent under Russian occupation: missing people, mines everywhere, a scarcity of electricity and water, and explosions day and night as Russian and Ukrainian forces keep battling. Yet despite these hardships, Kherson residents are expressing a mix of relief, optimism, and even joy – not least because of the freedom they regained a week ago to express themselves at all. People are no longer afraid to leave home, or worried that contact with occupying Russian forces might lead to a prison or torture cell. They are gathering in city squares to recharge phones, collect water, and show gratitude to Ukrainian soldiers.
