March 18, 2024 5:17 am
President Vladimir Putin is basking in a victory early that was never in doubt, as officials said he won reelection with an overwhelming number of votes. After facing only token challengers and harshly suppressing opposition voices, Putin was set to extend his nearly quarter-century rule for six more years. Even with little margin for protest, Russians crowded outside polling stations at noon on Sunday, apparently heeding an opposition call to express their displeasure with the president. Putin hailed the overwhelming early results early Monday as an indication of “trust” and “hope” in him. Critics saw them as another reflection of the preordained nature of the election.
March 18, 2024 5:15 am
Israeli forces have launched another raid on the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, accusing Hamas militants of using it as a base. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, said the army had launched a “high-precision operation” in parts of the medical complex. He said senior Hamas militants had regrouped there and were directing attacks from the compound, without providing evidence. The military said militants had opened fire from within the hospital. Gaza’s Health Ministry said the army attacked the hospital early Monday, directing gun and missile fire at a building used for specialized surgeries. It says a fire broke out at the hospital’s gate.
March 18, 2024 5:13 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters, days after the end of the South Korean-U.S. military drills that the North views as an invasion rehearsal. The launches were North Korea’s first known missile testing activities in about a month. Japan, South Korea and the U.S. condemned the launches as threats to regional peace. Observers say the missiles’ fight distances indicate they are weapons targeting major facilities in South Korea, such as its military headquarters in the central region. The U.S. and South Korea recently concluded 11 days of joint drills that involved computer simulations and a variety of field exercises.
March 18, 2024 4:17 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Fabric and crafts retailer Joann has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, as consumers continue to cut back on discretionary spending and pandemic-era hobbies. The Hudson, Ohio-based company said that it expected to emerge from bankruptcy as early as the end of next month. Following this process, Joann will likley become privately-owned by certain lenders and industry parties, the company added — meaning its shares would no longer be listed on stock exchanges. Joann’s more than 800 stores and its website will continue to operate normally during the bankruptcy process, the company said, pointing to a deal it had struck with most of its shareholders for financial support.
March 17, 2024 7:20 am
(AP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to extend his near-quarter-century rule for six more years in a vote that follows a relentless Kremlin crackdown on dissent. The three-day presidential election that wraps up Sunday has taken place in a tightly controlled environment where no public criticism of Putin and his war in Ukraine is allowed. Putin’s fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic penal colony last month and other critics are either in jail or in exile. The 71-year-old Russian leader faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties, who have refrained from any criticism of his 24-year rule or his invasion of Ukraine.
March 17, 2024 7:22 am
CAIRO (AP) — Stalled talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war are expected to resume in earnest in Qatar as soon as Sunday. That’s according to two Egyptian officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Hamas has given mediators a new proposal for a three-stage plan that would end the fighting. Israel is sending negotiators to Qatar for the new talks. Warnings are growing about Israel’s planned military attack on Rafah in southern Gaza where more than half of the territory’s population now shelters. And thousands have rallied in Tel Aviv to protest against the government.
March 17, 2024 7:14 am
PITTSBURGH (WPXI) – The color green painted the streets, rooftops and sidewalks of Pittsburgh. The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade drew thousands who lined nearly a mile and a half from the Strip District to Downtown. “Something about the bag pipers. They send the chill up and down my spine, there’s about seven in the parade,” said Ron Connor. Connor’s family found the perfect spot for what’s become a tradition. “How many people in the family? About 30, 30 people in the family, 30 year tradition,” said Connor. Pittsburgh police and public works beefed up their presence to keep everyone safe with crowd control. The parade is an opportunity for the public to meet local leaders and law enforcement officials. “Our police force, Allegheny County, we have the horses, we have the bicycles. We have everything here today so that people get to interact with their police and know who they are,” said Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato. Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is recognized as one of the largest in the country. The party doesn’t end with the parade. It continues all around the city.
March 17, 2024 7:12 am
ROSTRAVER TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPXI) – A woman died in a crash on I-70 Saturday morning. Westmoreland County 911 says fire, police and EMS units and the coroner were called to mile marker 44.9 on I-70 in Rostraver Township at around 8:11 a.m. Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson said Tori L. Demo, 25, was driving a Toyota Camry and was rear-ended by a pick-up truck. She was pronounced dead at the scene. State police said Demo’s car caught fire after it was hit. I-70 in the area of mile 45 was closed for a period of time in both directions because of the crash.
March 16, 2024 10:40 am
ROSTRAVER TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Westmoreland County coroner was called to a crash on I-70 Saturday morning. Westmoreland County 911 says fire, police and EMS units were called to the scene on I-70 in Rostraver Township. The Rostraver Central Fire Department on Facebook said I-70 in the area of mile 45 was closed in both directions because of the “serious accident.” Officials are asking to public to use alternate routes. No other details are currently available.
March 16, 2024 1:00 am
A Washington man had his preliminary hearing Friday and he is facing several felony charges. Alan Gubanish, 35 had drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communications facility charges held for court without a hearing. According to the criminal complaint, City of Washington Police were called to a North Franklin St. apartment on February 9 to investigate a person found deceased. The victim, identified as Casey Cole was found to have a suspected bag of heroin marked “Fed Ex” in her mouth and other narcotics located at the scene. Interviews of callers at the scene indicated that Cole admitted to purchasing the drugs via CashApp from Gubanish. Police obtained possession of Cole’s cell phone and extracted data corroborating what witnesses told them. Stamp bags recovered at Cole’s home tested positive for xylazine and methamphetamine. Gubanish will be formally arraigned on April 25. He remains in the Washington County Jail on $100,000 bond.
