February 19, 2025 5:00 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – A teenager was shot in Downtown Pittsburgh Wednesday afternoon. An Allegheny County 911 dispatcher said police were sent to the 400 block of Smithfield Street just after 4 p.m. Public safety officials confirmed the shooting and said it was initially reported by an officer driving in the area who heard a gunshot and immediately apprehended a suspect seen holding a gun. The victim, a 17-year-old boy who was shot in the abdomen, was shot on the sidewalk across the street from the Burlington then ran around the corner and hid behind a dumpster. Pittsburgh and Port Authority police rendered aid until medics arrived. He’s been taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition. The shooting suspect, identified as a 21-year-old man, is being questioned at police headquarters.
February 19, 2025 5:41 pm
(WPXI) – A male was shot in Downtown Pittsburgh Wednesday afternoon. An Allegheny County 911 dispatcher said police were sent to the 400 block of Smithfield Street just after 4 p.m. Public safety officials confirmed the shooting and said it was initially reported by an officer driving in the area who heard a gunshot and immediately apprehended a suspect seen holding a gun. The victim, who was shot in the abdomen, ran around the corner from the shooting scene, where Pittsburgh and Port Authority police rendered aid until medics arrived. He’s been taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition. Police didn’t immediately know the age of the victim. The shooting suspect, identified as a 21-year-old man, is being questioned at police headquarters. “We’re just really fortunate that we have our Downtown Public Safety Center right here, close by, and they’re constantly on patrol and were able to take action right away,” said public safety official Cara Cruz.
February 19, 2025 5:37 pm
(AP) – A midair collision involving two small planes in southern Arizona has killed two people. Federal air-safety investigators said each plane had two people aboard when they collided near Marana Regional Airport on the outskirts of Tucson. National Transportation Safety Board says one plane landed uneventfully. The other hit the ground near a runway and caught fire. The deadly collision comes more than a week a plane crash in Scottsdale killed a pilot of a private jet owned by Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil. It also followed four major aviation disasters that have occurred in North America in the last month.
February 19, 2025 9:54 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of living in a Russian-made “disinformation space.” The pointed comments risk further souring relations with Washington as the American leader pushes for an end to the war. Zelenskyy said he “would like Trump’s team to be more truthful” in his first response to a series of striking claims the U.S. president made the previous day. That included Trump suggesting that Kyiv was to blame for the war. Russia invaded on Feb. 24, 2022. The comments from Trump and Zelenskyy were a remarkable back-and-forth between leaders of two countries that have been staunch allies. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would like to meet with Trump, a day after senior American and Russian officials held talks.
February 19, 2025 4:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is going further than ever before to enforce his decisions. While orders were sometimes softened or even ignored during his first term, this time he’s unwilling to let things slide. The White House summarizes Trump’s approach with the mantra “promises made, promises kept.” Administration officials also say Trump is entitled to impose his vision on the government that he was elected to lead. Others see something darker and more menacing for the country, and they accuse Trump of hollowing out institutions that have defied him in the past.
February 19, 2025 4:03 am
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The latest in a repeated pattern of winter storms is taking direct aim at the East Coast where heavy snow and some ice is forecast in several states. The storm that dropped snow in the Midwest promised to bring more misery to some places just starting to clean up from deadly weekend floods. The National Weather Service says up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snow is possible along the Atlantic Coast in Virginia, and significant ice accumulations are forecast in eastern North Carolina. Weekend storms that pummeled the eastern U.S. killed at least 17 people, including 14 in Kentucky, where a half-foot or more of snow was expected.
February 19, 2025 3:59 am
ROME (AP) — The Vatican says Pope Francis slept peacefully and ate breakfast after developing pneumonia in both his lungs. An early update Wednesday came from the Vatican spokesman. The Vatican said late Tuesday that Francis’ respiratory infection also involves asthmatic bronchitis, which required the use of cortisone antibiotic treatment. “Laboratory tests, chest X-ray, and the Holy Father’s clinical condition continue to present a complex picture,” the Vatican said. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a late update that the pope is in good spirits and is grateful for the prayers for his recovery,
February 19, 2025 3:55 am
A robbery suspect in Cecil Township was arrested shortly after the crime occurred. Cecil Township Police were dispatched to the Marathon Oil station on Millers Run Road shortly after 8:00 o’clock Tuesday night. The suspect left on foot and was captured two hours later. The unidentified suspect is being processed at the Washington County Jail and is awaiting preliminary arraignment. Assisting Cecil Township in the pursuit was the South Strabane Township K-9 Unit, the McDonald Police Thermal Drone Unit, Sheriff’s Department and Canonsburg and North Strabane Township police departments.
February 19, 2025 3:28 am
PITTSBURGH —(WPXI)- A Butler County native who was imprisoned in Russia for more than three years is back in Pittsburgh. Police and airport officials said Marc Fogel landed at Pittsburgh International Airport late Tuesday afternoon. Fogel’s family also confirmed he’s back in Pittsburgh, saying that he’s happy to be back and is adjusting. His return comes just days after completing the “medical phase” of the State Department’s transition protocol, according to a statement issued on Saturday. He was in Texas undergoing medical evaluations. Fogel, a Butler County native, had been serving a 14-year sentence in a Russian penal colony for having a small amount of medical marijuana prescribed by a doctor for chronic back issues. He was teaching in Russia when he was detained at an airport in 2021. Fogel returned to the U.S. on Feb. 11 after being released from prison in exchange for Alexander Vinnik, according to the Associated Press. Sasha Phillips, the Fogel family attorney, issued a statement requesting privacy for Marc. “After an extended period of being held hostage, Marc has finally returned to Pittsburgh, but his journey to recovery is only just beginning. He has been strongly advised to limit public exposure as he embarks on the slow and challenging process of healing from the harrowing trauma experienced by him and his loved ones,” the statement reads in part. Fogel’s Saturday statement read in part, “I cannot wait to rejoin our community but this will take a bit of time and I ask for some patience in replying to you all. I look forward to reaching out to all of you in due time.”
February 18, 2025 12:55 am
A standing room only crowd of more than 50 people packed a courtroom to hear the sentencing of a Greek Orthodox priest that pleaded guilty to stealing funds from the All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in North Strabane Township. Fr. George Athanasiou, 38, a preist at the church received a sentence of 5 years probation with one year on electronic home monitoring. He has already paid $155,000 in restitution to the church. Rev. Fr. Dimitrios Kyritsis was pleased with all the court took into account for the sentencing and said everyone is in a process of healing and particularly prayed for Fr. Athanasiou’s personal mental and spiritual health. Athanasiou said that he is looking forward to his healing from a gambling addiction and wants to help the community at large with gambling addictions. In addition to his probation and restitution, Athanasiou was ordered to perform 300 hours of community service.
