May 15, 2023 4:15 am
WAYNESBURG, Pa. — (WPXI) – In a 28-page complaint filed with the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court, the Greene County Solicitor said the county district attorney is guilty of “official oppression.” He said the DA has a history of using his office to charge his political opponents with crimes. In the complaint, Robert Eugene Grimm said as Greene County Solicitor, he was involved in several investigations into district attorney David Russo’s alleged criminal acts and misbehavior. Those investigations include the arrest of several county 911 employees on “felony process” crimes without probable cause, his creation of a SWAT team without proper credentials, insurance, equipment, and training, his prosecution of a former county detective despite a direct conflict of interest, the alleged firing an assistant prosecutor because of their age, and more. Because of this, Grimm said he lived in fear of being arrested by the Greene County detectives — at the direction of district attorney David Russo — for more than 18 months. He said his fear came true on April 4, 2023. That’s when Grimm was charged with 16 misdemeanor charges. Those charges stemmed from complaints by several Republican candidates over how Greene County’s election office picked the order of candidate names on the upcoming primary election ballot. They first did that on March 15, but it was tossed out because they did not publish the date in two local newspapers. They did the selection again about a week later. Several candidates protested that selection, including Russo, and refused to draw a number when called. Allegedly, a decision was made to put those candidates on the bottom of the ballot. That’s where Russo’s name is on Tuesday’s Republican primary ballot for his re-election bid. The case was turned over to the state Attorney General’s office, which announced Wednesday that all of the charges against Grimm were withdrawn after their own investigation. Grimm initially resigned as Greene County Solicitor when charges were filed. The complaint from Grimm outlines other allegations of misconduct as well.
May 14, 2023 8:05 am
BERLIN (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country’s planned counteroffensive is is designed to liberate areas occupied by Russia, not to attack Russian territory. Speaking at a news conference Sunday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s goal is to free the territories within its internationally recognized borders. Zelenskyy was welcomed with military honors by Scholz on his first visit to Germany since Russia invaded Ukraine. Zelenskyy is holding talks with German leaders about further arms deliveries to help his country fend off the Russian invasion and rebuild what’s been destroyed by more than a year of devastating conflict. Scholz told Zelenskyy that Germany will support Ukraine “for as long as necessary.”
May 14, 2023 8:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Three weeks since launching his reelection campaign, President Joe Biden is confronting a sweeping set of problems in his day job that defy easy solutions and are not entirely within his control. If, as his advisers believe, the single best thing Biden can do for his reelection prospects is to govern well, then the coming weeks can pose a near-existential test of his path to a second term. He’s facing a showdown with Congress over the debt limit, chaos at the border as pandemic restrictions ease, and a pivotal foreign trip meant to sustain support for Ukraine and contain a more assertive China in the Indo-Pacific.
May 14, 2023 8:03 am
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is seeking to weaken former President Donald Trump’s grip on the Republican Party as he courts voters in battleground Iowa. Both prospects for the GOP presidential nomination were to hold events in the state Saturday, but a tornado warning prompted Trump to cancel his. DeSantis is expected to announce his 2024 presidential campaign any day. He briefly flipped burgers and pork chops at a picnic fundraiser in Sioux Center that drew hundreds of conservatives. At the podium, DeSantis highlighted his willingness to embrace conservative cultural fights and sprinkled his remarks with indirect jabs at Trump.
May 14, 2023 8:02 am
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — A fragile cease-fire between Israeli forces and militants in the Gaza Strip appears to be holding after a five-day clash that killed 33 Palestinians and two people in Israel. As the truce took hold Sunday, in Gaza, residents surveyed the latest damage caused to their surroundings, with gaping holes left in the apartments serving as hideouts for the six senior Islamic Jihad members killed during this round. Israel lifted most restrictions on residents in southern Israel which had borne the brunt of the rocket fire. The fighting was the latest in a long series of battles between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza since the Islamic militant group Hamas seized control of the seaside territory in 2007.
May 14, 2023 8:01 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Thanks to recent advances in artificial intelligence, tools that can create lifelike photos, video and audio are now cheap and readily available. AI experts and political scientists say these new programs will have significant implications for next year’s U.S. elections, as campaigns will be able to create targeted emails, texts and videos quickly and effectively. But these tools could also be used to mislead voters, impersonate candidates and undermine trust in elections. When combined with the powerful algorithms of social media, political misinformation generated using AI has the potential to spread farther and faster than ever before.
May 14, 2023 4:42 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. — One person was injured following a motorcycle accident in the City of Washington Friday night. According to reports, a man crashed into a building along the 500 block of Jefferson Avenue just before 9:00 p.m. Reports on scene say the victim was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident and he was taken to an area hospital for his injuries. There is no word on his condition or identity at this time. No other vehicles were reportedly involved in this incident.
May 14, 2023 4:33 am
MT. PLEASANT TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Officials responded to an incident involving a deceased bald eagle in Mt. Pleasant Township late this week. Police say the eagle death occurred in the area of Waterdam Road near Beachnut Road. Specific details regarding the situation were not released, but authorities are asking for the public’s help to identify the owner and operator of a car that was allegedly involved. If you have any information relating to the vehicle pictured or this incident in that area that occurred around 12:30 pm Friday please call 1-833-PGC-HUNT. You can remain anonymous. Police say if you live on Waterdam Road, Wabash Avenue, Main Street, or Millers Run Road and have security cameras please check them for this vehicle. If you have footage please contact the department or the above listed number. The Pennsylvania Game Commission continues to investigate the situation. (Photo: Mt. Pleasant Township Police Facebook Page)
May 14, 2023 4:03 am
Democrats and Republicans head to the polls Tuesday for Pennsylvania’s primary election. Although it’s considered an “off year,” many races will determine who will run in the November general election, including state Supreme Court, Commonwealth Court and Superior Court, and local races including city councils and school board seats. Pennsylvania is a closed primary, meaning only those who are registered members of a political party may vote the ballot of that political party. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If it’s your first time voting at a new location, you must bring one of the approved forms of identification. WJPA will have complete election results coverage beginning at 8 p.m.
May 14, 2023 2:21 am
ELRAMA, Pa. – When the old Duquesne Light Elrama Power Station was partially imploded last November, Elrama Volunteer Fire Chief Lenny Bailey said local first responders had no idea it was going to happen. “Pretty much whoever, the property owner, the demolition crew, they could’ve posted signs,” Bailey said. “That was totally on them.” This time, they were told well in advance. The implosion, or at least – part of the implosion – took place at 9:30 Friday morning. However, a second implosion took place Friday evening, after a section failed to come down during the morning event. Our news partners at Channel-11 spoke with Brian Baumann, the President of B&B Wrecking, the company handling the implosion of the former plant. He said they wanted to make sure the communication with local departments this time around was clear.” This time around, I contacted the fire and the police to make sure there was not a lack of communication if you will. Baumann said they also had crews remove all of the asbestos from the building so it was not released into the air. How long that dust lasts in the air, Baumann said, is really all dependent on the wind.
