State Police Urge You To Check Halloween Candy

October 30, 2022 2:56 am

State Police have issued a warning, urging parents and guardians to check children’s candy carefully this Halloween, before allowing them to eat any. They say the candy packaging can look similar to packaging used for edibles infused with THC and other substances that can cause hallucinogenic reactions. Police said they are not aware of any incidents of these products being distributed to children, but are concerned they could be confused with candy and accidentally distributed during trick-or-treating. Anyone coming into possession of these products should contact their local police. Parents should immediately contact 911 for medical assistance if a child unknowingly ingests such products, police said.

Two Teens Arrested In Funeral Shooting

October 30, 2022 2:01 am

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WPXI) — Two teenagers are facing attempted homicide charges after police said they were seen running away from the funeral shooting in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights neighborhood. According to court documents, two Black males can be seen on surveillance video approaching the church on Benton Avenue. Both were holding guns with extended magazines. Court documents said one of the males began shooting toward the front of the church before disappearing off to the side. He reappeared a short time later in the same area. The other male started shooting at a man standing on the sidewalk in front of the church. The man collapsed near a horse and carriage and the shooter began chasing him, still firing the gun. Court documents said the horse also appeared to be struck by gunfire. During the chase, the criminal complaint said multiple people who were outside of the church could be seen limping back into the building. According to court documents, police were able to catch up with the suspects on the McKees Rocks Bridge. Hezekiah Nixon, 16, reportedly ran away from the car back toward McKees Rocks and, while doing so, threw a gun over the bridge and into the river. Shawn Davis, 19, also had a gun, but he dropped it on the roadway. Nixon and Davis were taken into custody after with no further incident, police said. At police headquarters, officers observed that Nixon’s clothing was identical to those worn by the initial shooter. Nixon is charged with one count each of criminal conspiracy attempt homicide and aggravated assault, four counts of aggravated assault, one count of recklessly endangering another person, one count of firearms not to be carried without a license, one count of possession of firearm by a minor, one count of tampering with physical evidence and one count of aggravated cruelty to animal. Davis is charged with one count each of criminal conspiracy attempt homicide and aggravated assault, four counts of aggravated assault, one count of recklessly endangering another person, two counts of firearms not to be carried without a license, two counts of persons not to possess a firearm and one count of aggravated cruelty to animal.

Affirmative Action Under Threat As High Court Hears UNC Case

October 29, 2022 9:32 am

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) – The University of North Carolina was once a bastion of segregation. Today, the school takes account of race to make up for that history and to increase the number of Black students and other underrepresented minorities on campus. Its affirmative action program, using race among many factors to build a diverse student body, is similar to plans in place at other selective public and private institutions. But a Supreme Court that’s twice blessed race-conscious college admissions programs in the past 19 years now seems poised to restrict their use or outlaw them altogether. The court is hearing two such cases on Monday, involving UNC and Harvard. They’re the nation’s oldest public and private universities, respectively.

Suspect In Assault At Pelosi Home Had Posted About QAnon

October 29, 2022 9:27 am

The man accused of breaking into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home and severely beating her husband with a hammer appears to have made racist and often rambling posts online, including some that questioned the results of the 2020 election, defended Donald Trump and echoed QAnon conspiracy theories. David DePape was known in Berkeley, California, as a pro-nudity activist who had picketed naked at protests against local ordinances requiring people to be clothed in public. More recently, online posts under DePape’s name repeated false claims about COVID vaccines, questioned whether climate change is real and displayed an illustration of a zombified Hillary Clinton dining on human flesh.

Russians Said To Be Clearing Ukrainian Region’s Hospitals

October 29, 2022 9:24 am

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukrainian military officials say Russian troops are moving large numbers of sick and wounded comrades from hospitals in southern Ukraine’s Kherson region. Ukraine’s forces are fighting to retake the region, which invading Russia soldiers occupied early in the war. Kremlin-installed authorities in the region previously were reported to have joined civilians in fleeing the city of Kherson. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a nightly video address that the Russians were “dismantling the entire health care system” in Kherson and other illegally annexed regions. Elsewhere on Saturday, at least one Russian ship suffered damage in a major port in Crimea. Ukraine and Russia offered different versions of what happened.

Tom Brady & Wife Gisele Announce Their Divorce

October 29, 2022 8:42 am

(AP) – Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen have announced their divorce. The superstars who respectively reached the pinnacles of fashion and football each posted statements to Instagram on Friday saying they had finalized the end of their 13-year marriage. The announcement landed in the midst of Brady’s 23rd NFL season and just months after the seven-time Super Bowl champion changed his mind about retirement. Brady had long expressed a desire to spend more time with Bundchen and his three children, but later said he had “unfinished business” with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  (Photo:  ABC News)

Rock ‘N’ Roll Pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis Dead

October 29, 2022 8:20 am

(AP) – The un-tamable and often outrageous rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis has died at 87. Spokesperson Zach Furman said Lewis died Friday morning at his home in Memphis, Tennessee. Of all the greats to emerge in the 1950s after Elvis Presley, no one personified every parent’s fear of the dangers of rock ‘n roll more than Lewis, with his leering tenor and cocky sneer. His talent, energy and ego collided into piano-pumping perfection on hits like “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” Lewis’ infamous private life included a marriage to his 13-year-old cousin who later alleged physical and mental cruelty.

Powerball Reaches $825 Million

October 29, 2022 6:29 am

The Powerball jackpot keeps on growing. The Pennsylvania Lottery Commission says that tonight’s Powerball lottery drawing is now worth $825 million. If someone wins tonight, it will be the second largest Powerball prize in its 30 year history and the fifth largest jackpot in U.S. history. Should no one win tonight’s drawing, Monday’s drawing could be worth an estimated one billion dollars.

Suspects Arrested In Church Shooting

October 29, 2022 4:07 am

PITTSBURGH –(WPXI)- Two people that are suspected of being involved in the shooting outside a funeral in Brighton Heights were arrested after an incident on the McKees Rocks Bridge, a law enforcement source tells WJPA news partner WPXI. Initial reports said a weapon was thrown from a car on the bridge. The bridge was closed so police could conduct an investigation, but it has since reopened. The suspects were pulled over in a Hyundai Elantra. In the meantime, Pittsburgh Police believe Friday’s shooting outside of Destiny of Faith Church was the result of an ongoing dispute. A law enforcement source tells WPXI police have video of multiple people pulling out guns after initial shots were fired. Mayor Ed Gainey pleaded with the public not to retaliate in response. “Don’t retaliate, communicate. Don’t go out there and take it upon yourself, because we never get justice that way,” said Gainey. Channel 11 also spoke with Joseph Glassbrenner of the Brighton Heights Citizens Federation, whose purpose is to promote the advancement of neighborhood improvements and safety in this community. Glassbrenner says the pastor of the Destiny of Faith Church regularly goes to their meetings, and they meet in the basement of another church just a few blocks from where the shooting happened. “if it is retaliation, these things strike more fear, because what if there is more retaliation for what happened today? That could be an ongoing process if it isn’t taken care of,” said Glassbrenner. Although police have yet to release the ages of the suspects, Glassbrenner is demanding future action from elected officials. “They know and have acknowledged the fact that this violence is being done by teens,” said Glassbrenner. “We have asked for an interest and investment in some of the recreation centers. There is nowhere for the teens to be at nights and summertime.”

Chamber Directors Recognized For Service

October 29, 2022 4:00 am

Local Chamber of Commerce Directors were recognized recently for their years of dedicated service to their organizations. The Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals held their 2022 PACP Chamber & Leadership Conference in Gettysburg this past week. During the conference Melody Longstreth of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce was recognized for her 30 years of service. Also recognized was Brian Schill for 10 years of service to the Peters Township Chamber of Commerce.