December 4, 2024 1:16 pm
(AP) – The U.S. government has closed its investigation into an E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers after determining there is no longer a safety risk. The outbreak, which was first reported Oct. 22, sickened at least 104 people in 14 states, including 34 who were hospitalized, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. One person in Colorado died and four people developed a potentially life-threatening kidney disease complication. The FDA, which conducted the investigation along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments, linked the outbreak to yellow onions distributed by California-based Taylor Farms and served raw on Quarter Pounders at McDonald’s restaurants in Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming and other states.
December 3, 2024 2:11 pm
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is underscoring his intention to block the purchase of U.S. Steel by Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp., and he’s pledging to use tax incentives and tariffs to strengthen the iconic American steelmaker. Trump said during the campaign that he would “instantaneously” block the deal, and he reiterated that sentiment in a Monday night statement. President Joe Biden also opposes Nippon Steel’s purchase of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel. A secretive U.S. committee is reviewing the transaction for national security concerns, and federal law gives the president the power to block the transaction. Nippon Steel is pledging to invest in U.S. Steel’s factories and strengthen the American steel industry. (Photo: AP)
December 3, 2024 12:28 pm
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government has lifted the martial law he imposed during a tense night of political drama in which troops surrounded parliament and lawmakers voted to reject military rule. Yoon said early Wednesday that his government withdrew military personnel following a bipartisan parliamentary vote rejecting martial law, and the measure was formally lifted during a Cabinet meeting around 4:30 a.m. Yoon declared martial law late Tuesday, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against an opposition that controls the country’s parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea. Less than three hours later, parliament voted to lift the declaration. (Photo: AP)
December 3, 2024 12:20 pm
(WPXI) – An active search is underway for a 64-year-old woman who may have fallen into a sinkhole while looking for her missing cat in Unity Township in Westmoreland County. Emergency crews are searching along Marguerite Road near Monday’s Union Restaurant. Troopers say they received a call around 1 a.m. regarding a family concerned about their grandmother Elizabeth Pollard’s whereabouts. At around 2:50 a.m., troopers found her vehicle parked behind Monday’s Union Restaurant, where they found Pollard’s 5-year-old granddaughter inside. She was unharmed. Near Pollard’s vehicle, troopers noticed a sinkhole. State police said they are performing search and rescue efforts with the assumption she fell down the hole. State police said she could have gone missing as early as five o’clock Monday afternoon when people at Monday’s restaurant saw her looking for her cat, Pepper. Authorities say that area is potentially an old coal mine and crews are bringing in tools to remove water, dirt and debris from the hole so they can better investigate. At this point, there has been no communication with Pollard.
December 2, 2024 9:35 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has declared an “emergency martial law,” accusing the country’s opposition of controlling the parliament and paralyzing the government with anti-state activities. Yoon made the announcement in a televised briefing Tuesday, vowing to “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order.” The move drew immediate opposition from politicians, including the leader of his own conservative party, Han Dong-hoon, who called the decision “wrong” and vowed to “stop it with the people.” Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, called Yoon’s announcement “illegal and unconstitutional.”
December 3, 2024 2:56 am
Washington City Council is set to approve a 1.5 mill tax increase. During the agenda meeting Mayor JoJo Burgess voiced his displeasure with having to raise taxes. He thanked City Clerk Michele Sperl for her efforts this year on collecting fees on vacant properties. According to Burgess, more than $37,000 has been collected this year. Last year only $10,000 was collected and in 2022, Burgess stated that a mere $2000 was collected on those vacant property fees. Burgess also went after business owners. He said that if businesses are not up to date on taxes, their business privilege licenses will not be renewed. He said he is working on other actions so that people who are delinquent in taxes will pay their fair share so that tax increases on residents will be held at a minimum. Council will vote on the measure at their next meeting.
December 3, 2024 4:57 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – After more than a year of negotiations, the union that represents paramedics and emergency medical technicians in the City of Pittsburgh has reached a tentative contract agreement with the city. The details of the agreement have not been released but some of the sticking points have been compensation and time off. The union had been working without a contract for more than year. A couple months ago, medics and EMTs voted down a contract offer, but sources say they have now agreed to the city’s latest offer.
December 3, 2024 4:50 am
RESERVE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – Travelers heading home from the busy Thanksgiving weekend were met with surprisingly smooth airport conditions at Pittsburgh International Airport Monday afternoon. With 194 flights scheduled to take off and land, nearly 35,000 passengers passed through the airport, but lines remained manageable, and many found the experience less stressful than expected. Nathan Harshman, who was flying to Miami, said the airport felt much calmer than anticipated. “I was worried it would be busy, but it hasn’t been busy at all. The lines are moving quickly, and in Miami, it was basically empty, so it was good,” he said. Keith Steuer, heading to Atlanta, also found the experience pleasant. “It’s been perfect. It’s not the chaos that people might expect,” he said. AAA is already anticipating a busy holiday season for travelers in the coming weeks, with Christmas travel expected to bring long lines and crowded parking lots once again.
December 3, 2024 4:56 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Pittsburgh is about to be Thunderstruck! Rock legends AC/DC is hitting the road across the United States for the first time in nine years. As part of their 13-stop “Power Up” tour, the Grammy award-winning rock band will shake Acrisure Stadium all night long on May 8. Tickets go on sale on Friday, Dec. 6 at 1 p.m.
December 3, 2024 3:53 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats reelected Chuck Schumer as party leader on Tuesday as the party moves into a deeply uncertain time, with no real consensus on a strategy as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office. Schumer faced no opposition in the party leadership elections, in which Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin was also re-elected to the No. 2 spot and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar became the new No. 3. Schumer said he was honored to move the party forward “during this crucial period for our country.” But it is a bleak moment for Senate Democrats, who lost four seats and the majority in November’s election. (Photo: AP)
