February 22, 2022 4:12 am
TOKYO (AP) – World leaders are lining up to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin after he ordered his forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. Leaders in Asia and elsewhere on Tuesday voiced strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, along with worries about how a European war could hurt global and local economies and endanger foreign nationals trapped in Ukraine. Some nations publicly signaled a willingness to pursue punishment. Global reactions followed on Monday night’s emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council that was called by Ukraine, the U.S. and six other countries.
February 22, 2022 4:12 am
MOSCOW (AP) – Russian lawmakers authorized President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside the country. That could presage a broader attack on Ukraine. The U.S. is now calling the deployment of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine an invasion. Putin also laid out three conditions to end the crisis that has threatens to plunge Europe back into war. He called for international recognition of Crimea as part of Russia, an end to Ukraine’s NATO membership bid and a halt to weapons shipments there. The West has decried Russia’s annexation of Crimea as a violation of international law and has rejected permanently barring Ukraine from NATO.
February 22, 2022 4:08 am
BETHEL PARK — (WPXI) – Bethel Park police are asking for the public’s help to find a man they say is missing. 47-year-old Jonathan Muse was last seen on Feb. 20 at 10:30 p.m. leaving work in Imperial. He has brown hair and brown eyes, is 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs 180 pounds. Police said he’s possibly wearing a blue flannel, jeans and black shoes. He drives a 2016 gray Mitsubishi Outlander with the Pennsylvania license plate number KCD5821. Anyone with information about Muse’s whereabouts is asked to call the Bethel Park Police Department at 412-833-2000.
February 22, 2022 4:04 am
A Chicago man will face trial for his alleged role in the sale of marijuana and cocaine in Washington. Terrell Jones, 34, requested a jury trial against charges of felony possession of drugs and possession of a firearm. Jones and his accomplice had their Washington home raided after Washington County detectives had a confidential informant purchase drugs from Jones and his accomplice Tommie Holmes. Holmes is in the Washington County Jail awaiting trial on similar charges. Jones is also being held in the Washington County Jail. In a second case a McDonald man will face trial on a multitude of charges spread out over 6 different criminal cases. Fifty-year-old Adam Snatchko of McDonald faces drug possession, reckless endangerment and flight to avoid apprehension charges. These cases date back to January of 2019 through August of 2020. One of the cases involves a car chase after police witnessed Snatchko and several accomplices in suspected drug activity at a Chestnut Street motel. Both men are scheduled for the May trial term.
February 21, 2022 4:59 pm
(AP) – Medina Spirit has been stripped of the victory in last year’s Kentucky Derby and Mandaloun has been declared the winner in a ruling by state racing stewards. The since-deceased Medina Spirit tested positive after the race last May for a steroid, betamethasone, that is legal in Kentucky but banned on race day. Medina Spirit finished half a length ahead of Mandaloun in the race, giving trainer Bob Baffert what was then his seventh Kentucky Derby title. Baffert was subsequently banned for two years by Churchill Downs following the positive test. Monday’s decision by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission makes Medina Spirit the second horse in the 147-year history of the race to be disqualified for a banned substance. (Photo: AP)
February 21, 2022 4:24 am
LONDON (AP) – Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth II has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms. The palace said Sunday the 95-year-old British monarch, who has received three vaccine shots, will continue with light duties and follow all medical guidelines. An infectious disease expert said the queen would likely be given one of several antiviral drugs to treat COVID-19. Both her eldest son Prince Charles and her daughter-in-law Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, also recently contracted COVID-19. áBritain’s longest-reigning monarch, the queen reached the milestone of 70 years on the throne on Feb. 6. Top U.K. politicians, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, issued messages Sunday wishing the queen a speedy recovery.
February 21, 2022 4:23 am
Average daily COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are continuing to fall in the U.S., an indicator that the omicron variant’s hold is weakening across the country. Total confirmed cases reported Saturday barely exceeded 100,000, a sharp downturn from around 800,850 on Jan. 16, according to Johns Hopkins University data. In New York, the number of cases went down by more than 50% over the last two weeks. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Thomas Russo said what’s influencing the decline in Omicron cases is that it has built up some population immunity. Public health experts say they are feeling hopeful. However, many expressed concern that vaccine uptick in the U.S. has still been below expectations.
February 21, 2022 4:22 am
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Defense attorneys in the federal trial for three officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights have rested their cases, paving the way for closing arguments. Thomas Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, rested his case Monday. Lane’s co-defendants, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng, presented their cases last week. Lane testified Monday that he thought Floyd was doing OK while handcuffed, facedown on the street with Officer Derek Chauvin’s knee pressed to his neck, until paramedics arrived and turned the 46-year-old Black man over. Thao and Kueng testified earlier. All three are charged with depriving Floyd of his right to medical care. Kueng and Thao are also accused of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin.
February 21, 2022 4:19 am
MOSCOW (AP) – Russian President President Vladimir Putin has recognized the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine – a move that will severely ratchet up tensions with the West amid fears that his country could invade Ukraine at any moment and use skirmishes as a pretext for an attack. Putin’s announcement comes after a meeting of the presidential Security Council and paves the way for Russia to openly send troops and weapons to the long-running conflict pitting Ukrainian forces against Moscow-backed rebels. The announcement brought swift vows of new sanctions from the United States and the European Union.
February 21, 2022 4:15 am
ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – Fire crews were called to a fire at an industrial site in Robinson Township on Sunday. According to responding crews, a passerby on Route 22 saw smoke billowing out of the huge commercial building after 1:30 this afternoon and called 911. The Midway fire chief says when crews first arrived, there was thick black smoke coming out of nearly every corner of the building. No one was inside the Costy’s Energy Services building when the fire started and there were no injuries. Costy’s is an equipment company that services the fracking industry. Firefighters say the greatest challenge they faced was just getting to the location. “The commercial building was approximately a mile off Steubenville Pike, down a gravel lane,” Midway Volunteer Fire Chief Doug Baird said. “We did have a hydrant near the scene, which we cut through property to get to, and had tanker shuttles from Washington County, Beaver County, Allegheny County and Pittsburgh International Airport.” Crews were able to knock down the majority of the flames down in an hour and a half but crews remained here on scene until about 5:30. We’re told that the fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.
