November 4, 2021 2:46 am
(WPXI) – A man accused of killing a postal worker, who was his former neighbor, in Collier Township could face the death penalty. Eric Kortz, 53, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of murdering an employee of the United States and using a firearm to do so, Acting United States Attorney Stephen Kaufman announced Thursday. According to investigators, Kortz, of Sheraden, confessed to shooting and killing 58-year-old Louis Vignone while he was in his mail truck on his route on Oct. 7. They said Kortz told them he believed Vignone poisoned his family when they were neighbors. If convicted, Kortz faces a maximum sentence of death. He could also receive a term of life imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, or both.
November 3, 2021 4:12 am
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) – A friend of Kyle Rittenhouse testified that the Illinois teen was “freaking out” and “really scared” in the moments after he shot three people during street protests against racial justice, and that Rittenhouse told him he had to do it because “people were trying to hurt him.” Dominick Black said Tuesday he was stunned when Rittenhouse called him seconds after the first shooting to say he had just shot someone. He was the first witness after opening statements at Rittenhouse’s murder trial cast him in sharply different lights. Testimony is expected to continue on Wednesday.
November 3, 2021 4:09 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in a gun rights case that could lead to more guns on the streets of New York and Los Angeles. The case also could threaten restrictions on guns in subways, airports, bars, churches, schools and other places where people gather. The case the justices are hearing Wednesday could dramatically increase the number of people eligible to carry firearms as they go about their daily lives. The case centers on New York’s restrictive gun permit law and the right to carry a gun outside the home for self-defense.
November 3, 2021 4:08 am
(AP) – School children take the spotlight this week as the U.S. enters a new phase in COVID-19 vaccination aimed at curbing deaths, hospitalizations and more than a year of disrupted education. With authorities promising enough vaccine to protect the nation’s 28 million kids ages 5-11, pediatricians’ offices, pharmacies, hospitals and schools were poised to begin the shots after the final OK late Tuesday. Many locations planned mass vaccination events in coming days. The vaccine – one-third the dose for teens and adults – requires two shots three weeks apart. Children who get vaccinated before Thanksgiving will be fully covered by Christmas.
November 3, 2021 4:06 am
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) – New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and Republican Jack Ciattarelli were virtually deadlocked early Wednesday after a campaign centered on the incumbent’s progressive policies and handling of the pandemic. The Associated Press has not declared a winner in the race as votes from Tuesday’s election were still being tallied. Incomplete returns showed Ciattarelli and the first-term governor were separated by about 1,200 votes out of more than 2.3 million cast. A Ciattarelli win would send a jolt through state and national politics, though a win by Murphy for a second consecutive term as a Democrat would break historic trends in the state.
November 3, 2021 4:05 am
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Republican former business executive Glenn Youngkin has won Virginia’s governor’s race, a major political turnabout in a state that had been trending increasingly blue. The win has alarmed national Democrats already nervous about holding their party’s narrow control of Congress in next year’s midterm elections. The party was looking at potentially more bad news in New Jersey where incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy was in a tight reelection race. The 54-year-old Youngkin, a political newcomer, beat Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who served as governor from 2014 to 2018. President Joe Biden won Virginia by a comfortable 10 percentage points last year, and New Jersey by 15.
November 3, 2021 4:03 am
WORTH TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A 31-year-old man who was the driver and a 14-year-old girl were killed in a school bus crash on Interstate 79 Tuesday afternoon, according to the Butler County deputy coroner. Multiple medical helicopters were requested and several students were flown to a Pittsburgh hospital after a truck and a school bus collided near the intersection of I-79 and Route 422 in Muddy Creek Township, Butler County. According to state police troopers, the crash happened at the 96.6 mile marker along the interstate. A tractor trailer and school bus both traveling in the northbound lanes collided. “Severe to moderate injuries” were reported onboard the school bus. Students on the bus were taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital by medical helicopter and ambulance. An official with UPMC said five teens were taken to children’s hospital and were being treated for non-life threatening injuries. Troopers said the students on the bus were from Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Beaver County. A school official said Tuesday evening that the students were heading home from school for the day when the crash occurred. (Photo: WPXI)
November 3, 2021 12:46 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania voters made their choices Tuesday to fill open seats statewide. In Pittsburgh, Democrat Ed Gainey became the first Black mayor of Pennsylvania’s second-most populous city, shouting to a crowd of cheering supporters a message of unity and that they were “one city, one Pittsburgh.” Gainey beat retired police officer Tony Moreno for the position. He gave his victory speech as of 10:15 p.m. Moreno gave a concession speech on social media and said he does not plan to run for office again. Moreno ran as a Democrat in the primary, but lost to Gainey.
November 3, 2021 12:18 am
Two years ago, Washington County Republicans took control of the County Commission and four row offices. Tuesday night, they swept the three remaining row offices with resounding victories.
County Controller: April Sloane over Ben Bright – 29,414 to 19,748
Recorder of Deeds: Carrie Perrell over Debbie Bardella – 26,898 to 22,470
County Sheriff: Tony Andronas over Lou Reda – 28,225 to 21,585
Jesse Pettit was elected to a 10-year term on the Court of Common Pleas, replacing retired President Judge Katherine Emery.
Current Judge Gary Gilman won a retention vote for another 10-year term on the bench by a margin of 25,595 to 16,543.
Democrat Kelly Stewart won the only contested Magisterial District Judge race, beating Republican challenger Pat Puskarich, 1,548 to 1,468, to replace the retiring Bob Redlinger at the beginning of the year.
By a 70/30 margin, the Washington County Government Study Commission referendum was rejected by voters. The final vote was 33,623 to 14,198 against the study. Commissioners Diana Irey-Vaughan and Larry Maggi both supported the study proposal and were joined by a group called “Bipartisan Committee to Support Government Study.” But the Washington County Republican Party, touting the “home rule” wording in the referendum, drew parallels to Allegheny County and led to the question’s defeat.
November 3, 2021 12:17 am
Contested races only, race & winner(s) in bold:
Washington City Council (vote for 2): (D) Andrew Callan 994, (D) Joseph DeThomas 858, (R) Dheaven Kelley 852
Bentleyville Mayor: (R) Tim Jansante 334, (D) Dominic Sicchitano 245
Bentleyville Council (vote for 4): (R) Joseph Pigeon III 351, (D) Timothy Miller 269, (R) Jason Cole 252, (D) Thomas Brown 250, (R) Kara Shaw-Dearth 249, (D) Stanley Glowaski 243, (D) Robert Paul 235
Burgettstown Council: (R) James Smith II 169, (D) Anna Marie Quader 83
California Council (vote for 4): (D) Patsy Alfano 402, (D) Jon Bittner 381, (D) Edwin Chip Glab 343, (R) John Frank 340, (R) Frank Stetar 339
Centerville Mayor: (D) Dylan Lamp 377, (R) Dave Sethman 283 (Note: 223 write-in votes were cast)
Charleroi Council (vote for 4): (D/R) Joseph Smith 250, (D/R) Paul Pivovarnik 244, (R) Larry Celaschi 232, (D) Jeannine Motycki 229, (D/R) Cathy Diess 211
Deemston Council (vote for 3): (R) Jody Lohr 145, (D/R) Tracey Lee Gilpin 124, (D) Shannon Sweany 123, (R) Brad Arbes 67, (D) Lindsay Kozlowski 60
Donora Mayor: (R) Don Pavelko 491, (D) Jim McDonough 394
East Washington Mayor: (R) Matthew Boice 255, (D) Kristopher LaGreca
Houston Mayor: (R) James Stubenbordt 178, (L) Demo Agoris 46
Houston Council (vote for 4): (R) Nick Galbraith 159, (D) Larry Scears 153, (D) Robert Ward 149, (R) Paul Hatalsky 122, (L) Roberta DeWalt 76
McDonald Council (vote for 3): (R) Michael Bish 182, (R) Jodi Robertson 181, (D) Raymond Miller 165, (D) James Patrick Powell 136
Speers Council (vote for 4): (D) Curtis Rice 212, (R) Lori Spina 192, (R) Sally Jo Barcelona 164, (D) Kerry McCorkle Jr. 160, (R) Jeremy Hepple 153, (D) Denise Decooman 125
Stockdale Council (vote for 4): (R) Adam Wilkinson 64, (D) Sherri Martin (59, (D) Lou Furlong 51, (D) Bill Furlong 48, (D) Mickey Messina 36
West Brownsville Council (vote for 4): (R) Irvin Patrick Toth 118, (D) Mark Randy Tobak 114, (R) Debby King 109, (D) Von Braddock 106, (D) Daniel Krilosky, (R) Kevin Klamorich Jr.
