March 13, 2022 1:30 am
If you are a fan of more light in the afternoon, take heart; your time is coming. Daylight saving time, that is. On Sunday March 13 at 2 a.m., most of America will “spring forward” as clocks are set up an hour for the beginning of daylight saving time. With each time change comes a debate among states on the wisdom of twice-a-year time changes (we “fall back” in November). In the last three years, 13 states have enacted legislation to provide for year-round daylight saving time if Congress were to allow such a change and, in some cases, if surrounding states enact the same legislation. Full-time DST is not currently allowed by federal law and would require an act of Congress to make a change. The American Red Cross is also reminding you that with the time change should come the testing of smoke alarms. They say working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half.
March 13, 2022 1:03 am
PITTSBURGH — Another blast of Winter has arrived in Washington County and the surrounding area. Periods of moderate to heavy snow took place into Saturday morning making travel hazardous. Accidents across the listening area had first responders busy through the morning hours. Steady snow tapered to snow showers on Saturday. Winds picked up through the day as well, bringing blowing and drifting snow back onto treated surfaces. Overall, some parts of Washington County saw 7-8 inches of snow locally from the system. (Photo: Claysville Volunteer Fire Department Facebook)
March 12, 2022 5:11 am
PLYMOUTH, N.C. (AP) – A North Carolina sheriff’s deputy has been fired after he was captured on video putting his knee on a Black man’s neck, and a state agency is looking into the incident. Washington County Manager Curtis Potter told WITN that Deputy Aaron Edwards was no longer working for the sheriff’s office as of Tuesday. Sheriff Johnny Barnes said the deputy was fired after an internal investigation and a review of body camera and security footage. Barnes said state investigators have been called in to look into whether criminal charges should be brought. The family of the man provided video last week showing him being arrested on a charge of marijuana possession.
March 12, 2022 4:46 am
ATLANTA (AP) – Republicans pushed a bill through the Georgia House on Friday that would abolish the requirement for a a background check and license to carry a handgun in public. The vote moves Georgia a step closer to the “constitutional carry” that Gov. Brian Kemp and other Republicans have promised to deliver in an election year. The bill moves to the Senate for more debate. The Senate last month passed a similar measure. Republicans say the measure is needed to allow people to more easily protect themselves from crime. Democrats say it would fuel gun deaths by encouraging more guns, increase crime, and put police officers’ lives in danger.
March 12, 2022 4:16 am
NEW YORK (AP) – A judge says former President Donald Trump’s moves aimed at delaying a rape accuser’s defamation claims from reaching trial are in bad faith and so far succeeding. The federal judge in New York denied an effort by Trump’s lawyers to countersue advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. She wrote in a 2019 book that Trump raped her in the 1990s in a Manhattan store. Trump denied it and questioned Carroll’s motivations. The judge noted in a ruling released Friday that Carroll is in her late 70s and that her claims could have been decided long ago. A lawyer for Carroll says she “could not agree more.”
March 12, 2022 4:14 am
HOUSTON (AP) – A grand jury has declined to indict Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson following a police investigation sparked by lawsuits from 22 women who have accused him of harassment and sexual assault. The grand jury’s decision Friday came about a year after the women first filed their suits. They say they were harassed and assaulted during massage appointments. Watson has denied the accusations. Watson said Friday he was grateful for the grand jury’s decision. Houston police began investigating in April 2021 after a criminal complaint was filed. Prosecutors say they presented evidence to the grand jury for over six hours Friday related to nine criminal complaints. They declined to say what possible charges were presented.
March 12, 2022 4:13 am
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Ohio prosecutors have announced that a grand jury declined to charge the police officer who fatally shot 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant last year. Bryant was killed in April by Columbus police officer Nicholas Reardon as she swung a knife at another young woman. Bryant was Black and Reardon is white. Police were responding to a 911 call made from Bryant’s foster home about a group of girls threatening to stab members of the household. Bryant was shot four times and died from those injuries. Tim Merkle and Gary Shroyer were the special prosecutors on the case. They said Friday no charges were brought after a full review.
March 12, 2022 4:12 am
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of kidnapping the mayor of a city, calling the abduction “a new stage of terror.” Russian forces expanded their offensive into western Ukraine, hitting two towns. New satellite images appear to show Russian artillery firing on residential areas between Russian forces and the capital. Meanwhile, Russia’s baseless claims that the U.S. is conducting “biological activities” in Ukraine persist. At a meeting of the U.N. Security Council, the U.S. said Russia was lying and spreading disinformation. The war has forced more than 2.5 million people to flee Ukraine as others seek refuge in basements, subway stations and underground shelters.
March 12, 2022 4:11 am
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) – U.S. soldiers are continuing to deploy to Europe, joining thousands already sent overseas to support NATO allies amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Troops from the 87th Division Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Division Sustainment Brigade gathered Friday at Hunter Airfield in Savannah, Georgia and departed on a chartered flight. The soldiers are in addition to the estimated 3,800 soldiers from the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division who deployed recently from nearby Fort Stewart. A division commander said that soldiers are being told to prepare for about six months overseas. The Pentagon has ordered roughly 12,000 total service members from various U.S. bases to Europe.
March 12, 2022 1:42 am
Rain, sleet or snow, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Pittsburgh will go on. Despite a decent amount of snow in the forecast for Saturday, Pittsburgh Public Safety officials say they are expecting a robust turnout for the city’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade – after two years of cancelled or subdued celebrations. THE parade is also anticipated to generate post-parade festivities in the city’s South Side, downtown and North Shore. Police say they will be out in full force, monitoring the crowds for underage drinking, public intoxication, and drinking and driving. People are also being reminded that alcohol consumption is illegal in unlicensed public spaces, and open container laws will be strictly enforced. (Photo: WPXI)
