November 26, 2021 4:15 am
MOSCOW (AP) – Russian officials say 52 miners and rescuers have died after a devastating blast in a Siberian coal mine about 250 meters (820 feet) underground. Hours after a methane gas explosion and fire filled the mine with toxic fumes, rescuers found 14 bodies but then were forced to halt the search for 38 others because of a buildup of methane and a high concentration of carbon monoxide gas. The state Tass and RIA-Novosti news agencies cited emergency officials as saying that there was no chance of finding any more survivors. The Interfax news agency cited a representative of the regional administration who also put the death toll from Thursday’s fire at 52, while 239 were rescued.
November 26, 2021 4:14 am
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) – The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude 6.1 earthquake has hit northwest Myanmar near India’s border but there is a low likelihood of casualties and damage. It said the earthquake occurred early Friday at a depth of 32.8 kilometers (20.4 miles) near Hakha city, the capital of Chin state, sending tremors that spread across the border to towns and cities in India and Bangladesh. The agency says recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses, but predicted the current quake exposed little or no population and areas to such risk.
November 26, 2021 4:13 am
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) – Five U.S. lawmakers have met with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen during a surprise one-day visit intended to reaffirm the United States’ support for the self-governing island. The bi-partisan group of lawmakers from the U.S. House of Representatives touched down in Taiwan on Thursday night and were planning to meet with senior leaders including Tsai. No further details were provided about their itinerary. The visit comes as tensions between Taiwan and China have risen to their highest level in decades. Representatives Mark Takano, D-Calif., Nancy Mace, R-S.C., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Colin Allred, D-Texas., and Sara Jacobs, D-Calif. are all part of the visiting delegation. The visit comes just a few weeks after a group of six Republican lawmakers visited the island.
November 26, 2021 4:09 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Retailers are expected to usher in the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season Friday with bigger crowds than last year in a closer step toward normalcy. But the fallout from the pandemic continues to weigh on businesses and shoppers’ minds. Buoyed by solid hiring, healthy pay gains and substantial savings, customers are returning to stores and splurging on all types of items. But the spike has also resulted in limited selection across the board as suppliers and retailers have been caught flat-footed. Shortages of shipping containers and truckers have helped to delay deliveries, while inflation continues to creep. The combination of higher prices and lack of inventory could make for a less festive mood.
November 26, 2021 4:04 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Joseph Traynor, affectionately called Joe or Joey, had plans for Thanksgiving evening. The 44-year-old was set to meet with his best friend, South Side bar owner, Ray Bennett. “Everyone thought we were brothers,” said Bennett. “You could recognize his voice anywhere you went. He would be here probably right now. In fact, that’s what we were planning on doing.” Unfortunately, Bennett would be one of the last people to see Traynor alive. Early Saturday morning, a fire was reported at an apartment above Dunbar’s Place on East Carson Street. When firefighters arrived, they found flames coming from the second floor. During a search, they found Traynor inside his third-floor apartment. Traynor was taken to the hospital but died a day later. The cause of the fire is still under investigation but Bennett tells our news partners at Channel 11 that while authorities continue to look into what happened, he’s taking on a new mission. “The biggest thing I’m trying to promote is making sure everyone has smoke detectors in their apartment. That’s the biggest thing,” said Bennett.
November 26, 2021 1:11 am
It will be a happy Thanksgiving for many families throughout Washington County thanks to the community and its support of our 2000 Turkeys campaign. The total collected as of Wednesday morning was $189,859. 2000 Turkeys board member and Canonsburg Mayor Dave Rhome says that is the second highest total every collected and nearly double our annual goal of $100,000. All funds collected will help put a turkey dinner on the table for families served by Washington County’s food pantry network. That includes 13 community food pantries and a dozen senior high-rises that work in partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. On Tuesday, Range Resources held a one-hour telethon that was streamed live for one-hour on their Facebook page and raised more than $34,000 in donations. Range Resources then matched $20,000 of those funds putting the grand total for the event at more than $54,000. Donations of any amount are still being taken and can be sent to; 2000 Turkeys, P.O. Box 2000, Washington, Pa. 15301.
November 25, 2021 4:31 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Attorney General Merrick Garland is directing U.S. attorneys across the nation to swiftly prioritize prosecution of federal crimes that happen on commercial flights. The directive comes as federal officials face a historic number of investigations into passenger behavior. The Federal Aviation Administration said earlier this month that it had launched 950 investigations into passenger behavior on flights this year. Garland’s memo, issued Wednesday, emphasizes the Justice Department is committed to aggressively prosecuting violent passengers who assault crew members or endanger the safety of other passengers. So far this year the FAA has reported dozens of incidents of unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible criminal prosecution.
November 25, 2021 4:29 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A doctor’s report says the polyp removed from President Joe Biden’s colon last week was a benign, slow-growing but potentially pre-cancerous lesion that required no further action. The president’s physician, Dr. Kevin C. O’Connor, says in a memo released Wednesday that the polyp was similar to one removed from Biden in 2008. O’Connor recommended routine surveillance that normally calls for another colonoscopy in seven to 10 years. The website of the Mayo Clinic says most colon polyps are harmless but adds that the best prevention for colon cancer is regular screening for and removal of polyps.
November 25, 2021 4:28 am
DALLAS (AP) – Millions of Americans are loading up their cars or piling onto planes, determined to reclaim Thanksgiving traditions that were put on pause last year by the pandemic. The number of air travelers this week is expected to approach or even exceed pre-pandemic levels. Auto club AAA predicts that 48.3 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the holiday period, an increase of nearly 4 million over last year despite sharply higher gasoline prices. Many feel emboldened by the fact that nearly 200 million Americans are now fully vaccinated. But it also means brushing aside concerns about a resurgent virus at a time when the U.S. is now averaging nearly 100,000 new infections a day.
November 25, 2021 4:22 am
KILBUCK TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPXI)— Ohio Township police said they were initially called to a home on Old Camp Horne Road in Allegheny County Wednesday for domestic violence. When officers started arriving at the scene, they quickly learned it was a ploy to lure them to the house, however. Police said a man in his 50s came out of the home with a machete in one hand and a gun aimed at them in the other. He then ran back inside the home. From there, police said they backed off and called in a SWAT team. Negotiators worked for the next three and a half hours to get the man out. He eventually came out and was taken into custody without any problems. The name of the suspect or any charges he might be facing have not yet been released. He was taken to the Allegheny County Jail.
