October 6, 2022 2:28 am
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that it has assessed and collected a $147,250 civil penalty from Rice Drilling B LLC for erosion and sedimentation violations that were documented in 2019 and 2020 at Rice’s Mac well site in Whitely Township, Greene County. On or before January 9, 2019, officials say Rice failed to implement post construction management and erosion and sedimentation best management practices (BMPs) in accordance with its permit for constructing and maintaining the well site. As a result, three slides developed at the well site causing accelerated erosion and soil to go into three separate rain gardens. They say Rice attempted to make repairs but did not fully remediate the issue nor did it fully implement erosion and sedimentation BMPs, resulting in the development of a fourth slide allowing sediment-laden water and soil to move outside of the permitted area. As of January 27, 2021, Rice repaired and stabilized the slides and the well site was otherwise in compliance. Rice has paid a $147,250 civil penalty into the Oil and Gas Program Fund.
October 6, 2022 2:16 am
A Canonsburg man is facing multiple charges following an hours-long stand-off in Canonsburg Tuesday night. Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh says 53-year-old Lance Anthony Stumpf is being held in the Washington County Jail on multiple charges, including making terrorist threats, for threatening police. Walsh says the incident began around seven-thirty when a caller to Washington County 911 said that a man in the home on Ash Street had a shotgun in his mouth and was threatening suicide. Walsh says the caller was able to safely get out of the home and police surrounded the area. Several roads surrounding the home were closed during the incident, including Medical Boulevard where Canonsburg Hospital is located. A spokesperson said Canonsburg Hospital was placed on lock down during the incident, however, as of early Wednesday morning, the lock-down was fully lifted. According to the criminal complaint Stumpf had been threatening to die by suicide and warned he would shoot any officers that approached his home. The complaint said Stumpf is a convicted felon with a prior 302 mental health commitment. The stand-off ended around three o’clock in the morning when Stumpf was taken into custody. Walsh tells WJPA that there were no injuries and once their investigation is complete, more charges could be filed.
October 5, 2022 5:26 pm
(AP) – “Best before” labels are coming under scrutiny as concerns about food waste grow around the world. Manufacturers have used the labels for decades to estimate peak freshness. But “best before” labels have nothing to do with safety, and some worry they encourage consumers to throw away food that’s perfectly fine to eat. Major U.K. chains like Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer recently removed “best before” labels from prepackaged fruit and vegetables. The European Union is expected to announce a revamp to its labeling laws by the end of this year. In the U.S., there’s no similar push to scrap “best before” labels. But there is growing momentum to standardize the language on date labels to help educate buyers about food waste.
October 5, 2022 11:35 am
(WPXI) – A “T” rail car derailed on the Red Line in Dormont Wednesday morning, according to a tweet from Pittsburgh Regional Transit. A bus shuttle opearted between South Hills and Dormont Junction, and a rail shuttle is operated between Dormont Junction and Overbrook. The Blue and Silver lines were not affected. PRT said crews worked to get the rail car back on the tracks and an investigation is underway into what caused the car to derail. There were no injuries reported and service was restored by one-thirty.
October 5, 2022 4:42 am
A Washington man will face a homicide charge for his alleged role in the killing of 19 year old Antonio Martinez of Clarksville, Tennessee in a July shooting that occurred at Jollick Manor. Jamil Carr, 23 faced his preliminary hearing on Wednesday where testimony tied him directly to the shooting of Martinez. Glendale Smith, currently detained in a state prison, testified that he saw Martinez and Carr in an argument that escalated into a fight. Smith said Martinez got the better of Carr and when Carr arose from the ground he fired several shots from a semi-automatic handgun striking Martinez. According to the criminal complaint, Washington Police arrived to find Martinez struggling to breathe. He was transported to Washington Hospital where he died. In addition to the homicide charge, Carr faces a possession of a firearm prohibited charge related to a 2018 aggravated assault guilty plea that forbids him from having a gun. All charges were held for court. Formal arraignment has yet to be scheduled.
October 5, 2022 4:24 am
NEW YORK (AP) – A dramatic family fight has clouded the GOP’s hopes in Georgia’s high-stakes Senate contest. Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker is drawing criticism from his own son as Walker denies a report that he paid for a girlfriend’s abortion. But as the midterm campaign speeds into its final full month, leading Republicans believe the Senate majority remains firmly within their reach. Democratic strategists privately concede that their party’s own shortcomings may not be outweighed by the GOP’s mounting challenges. Democrats have no margin for error as they confront the weight of history, widespread economic concerns and President Joe Biden’s weak standing.
October 5, 2022 4:23 am
ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) – Workers at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant are recounting fears of being abducted and tortured or killed by Russian forces who seized control of the facility and the city of Enerhodar. Ukrainian officials say the Russians sought to intimidate the staff into keeping Europe’s largest nuclear plant running, through beatings and other abuse. but also punish those who express support for Kyiv. The head of Ukraine’s state nuclear company says that among those seized was the plant’s director, who was abducted Friday on his way home from work and released Monday after being forced to make false statements on camera.
October 5, 2022 4:22 am
FORT MYERS, Florida (AP) – President Joe Biden has toured hurricane-ravaged areas of Florida, surveying storm damage by helicopter and bringing a pledge that federal, state and local governments will work as one to help rebuild homes, businesses and lives. Biden says he’s putting politics on mute for now to focus on those in need in and around Fort Myers. He comforted local residents Wednesday, walking among them with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 rival. (Photo: ABC News)
October 5, 2022 4:19 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed laws absorbing four Ukrainian regions into Russia, a move that finalizes the annexation carried out in defiance of international law. Earlier this week, both houses of the Russian parliament ratified treaties making the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions part of Russia. The formalities followed Kremlin-orchestrated “referendums” in the four regions that Ukraine and the West have rejected as a sham.
October 5, 2022 4:15 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A judge has barred enforcement of an executive order signed by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney last week banning guns and deadly weapons from the city’s indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, including parks, basketball courts and pools. Common Pleas Judge Joshua Roberts on Monday ordered Philadelphia “permanently enjoined” from enforcing the order after a legal challenge, citing Pennsylvania state law that prohibits any city or county from passing gun-control measures, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. The Gun Owners of America, on behalf of several state residents, filed a lawsuit immediately after Kenny’s order, the latest attempt by Philadelphia officials to regulate guns inside city limits. Attorneys for the city had cited its role as a property owner managing its facilities, saying that distinguished the order from previous legislation passed by the city council and struck down in court. Andrew Austin, who represents the plaintiffs, said in a statement that he was gratified by the court’s quick action. But he said it was “in large part because the law is so explicit: The city is not allowed to regulate possession of firearms in any manner.” “It is unfortunate that the mayor and city are willing to waste their time and taxpayer money on these type of ‘feel-good’ measures,” Austin said. “This was nothing more than a press release, and would not have — in any way — addressed the crisis of crime in our city.”
