March 8, 2022 4:01 am
A status hearing was held in the case against Christie Harr, 43 of Monessen. She is facing several felony animal cruelty charges relating to charges of her hoarding and mistreating animals in properties that she owned in Donora and Monessen. The issues of concern from the defense were that the humane officer involved in the search in Monessen was not a certified Westmoreland County humane officer. Issues with the search warrants in both Washington County and Westmoreland County were too vague, and the search warrant that was served by the Humane Society of the United States was not authorized by the Westmoreland County District Attorney. Testimony was offered by Washington Area Humane Society and the Pennsylvania State Police who helped the Washington Area Humane Society conduct a search and seizure of the two properties owned by Harr. No decisions on the defense concerns were made. Washington County Judge Brandon Neuman scheduled another pretrial conference for May 6.
March 7, 2022 12:27 pm
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – An Amtrak engineer has been acquitted of charges related to a high-speed derailment that left eight people dead and hundreds injured in Philadelphia in 2015. The jury cleared 38-year-old engineer Brandon Bostian of causing a catastrophe, involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment. He had been charged once for each injury and death. Bostian’s lawyer describes him as having a perfect work record until he was distracted by people throwing rocks in the area just before the crash. The train was going more than 100 mph on a 50 mph curve when the train derailed. Amtrak had earlier settled the civil litigation for $265 million.
March 7, 2022 12:20 pm
NEW YORK (AP) – The average price of regular gasoline has broken the $4 per gallon mark in the U.S. – the first time that has happened since 2008. AAA reports during the first full week of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the price of regular rose by nearly 41 cents a gallon. And, industry insiders suggest as the conflict continues, the pain at the pump will become even more intense. In a statement, Patrick De Hann, chief petroleum analyst for GasBuddy says, “Americans should prepare to pay more for gas than they ever have before.” The all-time high for average gasoline prices was set in July 17, 2008 at $4.10 per gallon.
March 7, 2022 10:36 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Public transit systems straining to win back riders after being crushed by the COVID-19 pandemic are getting a $3.7 billion boost to stay afloat and invest in electric buses. It’s part of several initiatives being announced Monday by the Biden administration to promote green-friendly transit as workers begin returning to offices. The Transportation Department says it’s awarding $2.2 billion in coronavirus relief funding to 35 transit agencies in 18 states. The money would be used to prop up day-to-day operations hurt by lost revenue from reduced ridership. Another $1.5 billion in grants will be made available under President Joe Biden’s infrastructure law to purchase low-emission buses and build bus facilities.
March 7, 2022 10:32 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The Supreme Court says it will not take up the sexual assault case against comedian Bill Cosby. The announcement Monday leaves in place a decision by Pennsylvania’s highest court to throw out his conviction and set him free from prison. The high court declined prosecutors’ request to hear the case and reinstate Cosby’s conviction. A Cosby spokesperson thanked the justices and criticized the prosecutor and judge in the case. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court last year threw out Cosby’s conviction. It said the prosecutor was bound by his predecessor’s agreement not to charge Cosby. The Supreme Court did not say anything in rejecting the case.
March 7, 2022 8:13 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s Democratic Party committee members backed U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb by 2 to 1 in an endorsement vote over Lt. Gov. John Fetterman in the primary race for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat. In two months, they’ll find out if their party feels differently about nominating a mold-breaking candidate. Not only did Fetterman come from the party’s progressive wing, but he’s irreverent, blunt, 6 feet 8, tattooed and goateed, and most often seen wearing shorts. Fetterman leads in campaign cash and is the only candidate to have run statewide before. But Democrats say the Jan. 6 insurrection stiffened their resolve to vote for the candidate who is most electable.
March 7, 2022 7:23 am
The Allegheny County Medical Examiners Office has ruled the death of a woman injured in the December fire at the Thomas Campbell Apartments, accidental. Her cause of death was determined to be smoke inhalation and thermal burns. 78 year old Frances Venen died at a Pittsburgh hospital three days after the December 23 blaze at the South Strabane Township complex. She was among six people taken to area hospitals for treatment. Some 100 people were evacuated after the fire broke out in the kitchen of one of the units.
March 7, 2022 4:19 am
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say multiple people have been wounded in a shooting outside an Iowa high school. KCCI-TV reports that Sgt. Paul Parizek said suspects have been detained in the Monday afternoon shooting on the grounds of East High School in Des Moines. Police said three teens are in critical condition. The school is locked down and residents are asked to stay clear. Streets around the school have been shut down. Police said they do not believe there is a continued threat to the public.
March 7, 2022 4:17 am
BANGKOK (AP) – The death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 6 million. The tragic number confirmed Monday is believed to be a vast undercount and shows that the pandemic in its third year is far from done. It’s also a reminder of the unrelenting nature of the pandemic even as people are shedding masks, travel is resuming and businesses are reopening around the globe. The last million deaths of the tally compiled by Johns Hopkins University were recorded over the last four months. That’s slightly slower than the previous million, but highlights that many countries are still struggling with the coronavirus. Overall, some 450 million cases of COVID-19 have been recorded.
March 7, 2022 4:16 am
TOKYO (AP) – The price of oil has jumped more than $12 a barrel and shares are sharply lower as the conflict in Ukraine deepens amid mounting calls for harsher sanctions against Russia. Brent crude oil surged above $130 a barrel. Benchmark U.S. crude was up $10 at more than $125 a barrel. The surge followed a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukrainian statehood was imperiled as Russian forces battered strategic locations. A temporary cease-fire in two Ukrainian cities failed – and both sides blamed each other. Libya’s national oil company said an armed group shut down two crucial oil fields.
