November 12, 2024 2:49 am
Peters Township Council voted to approve a $42,500 expenditure to hire the Fitch and Associates company to conduct a study on how to best provide emergency medical services in the community. Ambulance services are now provided by Peters Township Ambulance, sponsored by VFW Post 764. Tom McMurray, Director of Peters Township Ambulance says that the organization has provided ambulance service since 1963. McMurray says that the study will analyze all aspects of the operation and make recommendations on how to proceed in the future. He says that staff at the organization is strong right now but staffing nationwide has been a challenge especially since the Covid-19 pandemic. He pointed to decreasing reimbursements for trips as a concern going forward. McMurray is a member of a four-person committee that is recommending the study. He calls it a proactive step by the township to make sure that emergency medical services are there when they are needed. The other members of the committee were Peters Township Fire Chief Mike McLaughlin, Township Manager Paul Lauer and Assistant Township Manager Kyle Thauvette. The study will commence at the beginning of 2025.
November 12, 2024 4:46 am
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI) – Collier Township police are filing charges against the juvenile involved in an incident that caused the Chartiers Valley School District to have all remote learning. Parents had waited most of the day to see if classes would be back in person Tuesday before getting alerted Monday around 7 p.m. that students would be back in the classroom. Chartiers Valley parent Candice Connor says it was around 10 p.m. Sunday when she was notified that all Chartiers Valley schools would be virtual on Monday. “It said there was a credible threat so they were canceling school and that was alarming,” Connor said. The move comes after police say a “credible” threat was made against the school district in addition to Parkway West Career and Technology Center. Both the school district and police haven’t specified exactly what the threat was, what it said or if it was on social media. Investigators said a juvenile was behind the threat, but didn’t say if it was a Chartiers Valley student or not. Monday night, the Bridgeville Police Department released information on its social media page saying that the juvenile was arrested by Bridgeville officers Monday night for separate charges stemming from separate incidents. Chartiers Valley Parents received an email around 7 p.m. Monday letting them know classes would be back in person. The interim superintendent explained the issue was fully resolved and that a juvenile experiencing a crisis was receiving appropriate help and support. That juvenile is being held in a secure juvenile holding facility. There will be extra police officers at all Chartiers Valley School campuses on Tuesday.
November 12, 2024 4:47 am
GREENSBURG, Pa. — (WPXI) – Three students were taken to the hospital following a Veterans Day program at Greensburg Central Catholic High School on Monday. Floors in the gymnasium and the auxiliary gym were resurfaced over the weekend, and the chemicals can have a strong odor that “can be irritating.” A news release from the Diocese of Greensburg said both gyms were ventilated before the Veterans Day program. One of the students felt lightheaded and was taken to a hospital in an ambulance. Two other students were taken to a local hospital by their families.
Classes were immediately dismissed and Tuesday will be a flexible instruction day so additional ventilation can take place. “The health and safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We take any potential health concerns seriously and are working diligently to ensure our school environment remains safe for everyone. Rest assured that we are taking all necessary precautions and following expert guidance in addressing this situation,” a letter from the district said.
November 12, 2024 4:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress returns to a changed Washington. Lawmakers are back in town this week for the start of what’s called the “lame duck,” the eight-week sprint to finish up this session before the new one begins in January. President-elect Donald Trump’s hard-right agenda is quickly taking shape, and he has eager GOP allies in Congress. The Senate flipped to Republicans, and even with control of the House still undecided as ballots are being counted, Republicans are eyeing a full sweep of power on Capitol Hill. House and Senate Republicans will hold their leadership elections this week. Democrats vow to be a check on the White House but are also sorting out what went wrong.
November 12, 2024 4:55 am
PHOENIX (AP) — Democrat Ruben Gallego has been elected Arizona’s first Latino U.S. senator. Gallego defeated Republican Kari Lake. Both parties targeted the closely watched race in their quest for a congressional majority. Gallego’s victory continues a string of Democratic successes in a state that was reliably Republican until Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. Arizona voters had rejected Trump-endorsed candidates in every election since, but the president-elect won the state over Democrat Kamala Harris this year. Gallego is five-term House member and an Iraq War veteran with a compelling up-by-the-bootstraps life story that he featured prominently in his public appearances and ads. He will replace independent and former Democrat Kyrsten Sinema.
November 12, 2024 4:51 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian medical officials say two Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 14 people, including two children and a woman, most in an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone. One strike late Monday hit a cafeteria in the so-called Muwasi humanitarian zone west of the city of Khan Younis, killing at least 11 people including two children, according to officials at Nasser Hospital, where the casualties were taken. Another strike early Tuesday hit a house in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing three people including a woman, according to al-Awda Hospital, which received the casualties. The strike also wounded 11 others, it said.
November 12, 2024 4:54 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says it has ratified a major defense treaty with Russia stipulating mutual military aid. Russia last week completed the ratification process of the treaty that is considered both countries’ biggest defense deal since the end of the Cold War. North Korea said the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty will take effect when both sides exchange documents on the ratification. The treaty requires them to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance if either is attacked. Details have not been disclosed, but some observers speculate the ratification could signal North Korea could formally enter the Russia-Ukraine war. The U.S., South Korea and Ukraine say North Korea has sent thousands of troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.
November 11, 2024 8:59 am
NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has named former New York congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency as he continues to build out his future administration with loyal supporters. Trump says Zeldin, a Republican who mounted a failed bid for governor of New York in 2022, would “ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards.” The announcement comes after Trump selected longtime adviser Stephen Miller to be deputy chief of policy and named New York Rep. Elise Stefanik as his choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
November 11, 2024 5:08 am
A South Strabane Township firefighter who was injured battling a large brush fire in Amwell Township is now back home with his family and recovering. In a release, South Strabane Township Fire Chief Jordan Cramer says they were dispatched to assist in battling the fire Friday afternoon. Cramer says the firefighter was injured by a falling tree. He was knocked unconscious and suffered injuries to the head, neck and face. He was then flown from the scene. Cramer says after undergoing testing and imaging it was determined that, while severe, the firefighter’s injuries are not life-threatening. Cramer is reminding all residents to burn responsibly. Over the past two weeks, several firefighters have been injured due to fires ignited by negligence, carelessness or potentially malicious actions.
November 11, 2024 8:57 am
PITTSBURGH – (WPXI) – A Rivers Casino table games dealer is facing charges after she allegedly dealt nearly 200 fraudulent hands of blackjack. Pennsylvania State Police said that between Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, Jamie Smith was overpaying patrons on winning/losing bets, never collected monies from losing bets, removed chips from the float and paid multiple different patrons. Video surveillance showed Smith working for 31 hours and dealing 192 fraudulent hands of the card game, totaling a loss of $21,869, police said. Smith was taken into custody when she arrived for her shift on Nov. 8. She was taken to the Allegheny County Jail.
