January 16, 2022 8:11 am
COLLEYVILLE, Texas (AP) — Four hostages are safe and their captor is dead after an hourslong standoff that began when the man took over services at a Texas synagogue where he could be heard ranting on a livestream and demanding the release of a Pakistani neuroscientist who was convicted of trying to kill U.S. Army officers in Afghanistan. One hostage held Saturday at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville was released during the standoff; three others got out about 9 p.m. when an FBI SWAT team entered the building, authorities said. The hostage taker was killed and FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt DeSarno said a team would investigate “the shooting incident.” Video from Dallas TV station WFAA shows people running out a door of the synagogue, and then a man holding a gun opening the same door just seconds later, before he turns around and closes the door. Moments later, several rounds of gunfire can be heard, followed by the sound of an explosion. FBI and police spokeswomen declined to answer questions about who shot the man. DeSarno said the hostage taker was specifically focused on an issue not directly connected to the Jewish community, and there was no immediate indication that the man was part of any broader plan. But DeSarno said the agency’s investigation “will have global reach.” It wasn’t clear why the attacker chose the synagogue.
January 16, 2022 8:05 am
CLAIRTON, Pa. (WPXI) — A woman was found with a gunshot wound at around 2:21 a.m. in Clairton, the Allegheny County Police Department said. Crews responded to the 700 block of Reed Street where the adult woman was found and evidence of the shooting was located. The victim was transported to an area hospital and is expected to survive, according to police. ACPD detectives are investigating the scene. Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call the County Police Tip Line 1-833-ALL-TIPS.
January 16, 2022 8:02 am
KITTANNING, Pa. (WPXI) — Nothing is left of the old furniture store on Orr Avenue in Kittanning that was being used for storage. The front of the building collapsed onto the street, and cinder blocks were scattered everywhere after a major fire ripped through the building early Saturday morning. The two apartment buildings on each side are also a total loss. Fortunately, everyone made it out safely. The extreme heat caused significant damage to several cars and houses. Firefighters from Armstrong, Butler and Allegheny Counties helped to put out the fire. Chief Kline said they had challenges with the water supply and the cold. The state police fire marshal is now investigating how this fire started. (Photo: WPXI)
January 16, 2022 2:18 am
Winter Storm Izzy is expected to dump accumulating snow on the area Sunday night and Monday, prompting a winter storm warning from Sunday afternoon at one through Monday afternoon. A storm system entering the Pacific Northwest will dive southeast and end up along the gulf coast over the weekend. The storm will quickly drive northeast into the mid-Atlantic and Appalachians, bringing snow into the region Sunday afternoon and Sunday night. Southwestern Pennsylvania could see 8 to 12 inches of snow according to the National Weather Service. In the meantime, local municipalities are preparing for the onslaught. In the city of Washington, the head of the street department, Joe Pintola says their crews, which had been dealing with a COVID outbreak, are back to full force. He says crews have been pre-treating the streets with brine and if and when the snow falls, they’ll be ready to go. In Canonsburg, Mayor Dave Rhome says their crews are also ready and he is encouraging all residents to move their cars off the streets so road crews will be able to more easily remove the snow. Rhome is also asking residents who may have a fire hydrant in front of or near their homes, to shovel the snow around it so it can be easily accessible should firefighters need to use it. Meanwhile in neighboring Peters Township, officials have declared a Snow Emergency, meaning no cars are allowed to be parked on township streets and residents are asked to avoid travel if possible during the weather event. (Graphic courtesy of NWS Pittsburgh Facebook Page)
January 15, 2022 4:27 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) – A judge has ruled that two alleged gang members charged in the robbery and killing of an off-duty Los Angeles police officer will remain in federal custody without bail. Officer Fernando Arroyos was fatally shot at about 9:15 p.m. Monday in an unincorporated area of south Los Angeles County that is in the territory of the Florencia 13 gang. The suspects allegedly targeted him because of two silver chains around his neck. Prosecutors have filed federal charges against three alleged gang members and one associate. Two of the defendants are scheduled to return to court later this month, while the alleged gang associate is expected to be in court on Tuesday. The fourth defendant is in the hospital.
January 15, 2022 4:25 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea on Saturday said it test launched ballistic missiles from a train in what was seen as an apparent retaliation against fresh sanctions imposed by the Biden administration. The report by the North state media came a day after South Korea’s military said it detected the North firing two missiles into the sea in its third weapons launch this month. The launch came hours after Pyongyang’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement berating the United States for imposing new sanctions over the North’s previous tests and warned of stronger and more explicit action if Washington maintains its “confrontational stance.”
January 15, 2022 4:25 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Biden administration has named a career CIA official to coordinate the intelligence community’s response to election threats from Russia, China and other adversaries. Jeffrey Wichman was named election threats executive by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. According to Haines’ spokeswoman, Nicole de Haay, Wichman has served at the CIA for more than 30 years in top counterintelligence and cyber roles. The appointment comes amid stalled efforts to create a new intelligence center preventing foreign interference in American democracy.
January 15, 2022 4:24 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The founder and leader of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group will remain in jail until a court hearing next Thursday. Stewart Rhodes made his initial court appearance in Plano, Texas, on Friday, a day after his arrest on charges he plotted with others to attack the U.S. Capitol to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. The seditious conspiracy charges against Rhodes and 10 other Oath Keepers members or associates are the first to be levied in connection with the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
January 15, 2022 3:24 am
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A Wisconsin judge is poised to decide whether a Milwaukee man accused of plowing his SUV through a suburban Christmas parade, killing six people and injuring dozens more, will stand trial. Darrell Brooks Jr. is scheduled to appear in Waukesha County court for a preliminary hearing Friday. Such hearings to decide if the defendant can be held for trial are essentially a formality. Prosecutors allege Brooks drove his SUV through a Christmas parade in the city of Waukesha on Nov. 21. He faces scores of charges, including six homicide counts. Brooks would face mandatory life in prison if he’s convicted on one of the homicide counts.
January 15, 2022 1:46 am
ROSTRAVER TOWNSHIP, PA — Multiple cats have died following a fire at the Angels Journey Home Rescue on Route 51 in Westmoreland County Friday morning. Crews were called to the scene of a fully-involved structure fire around 3:45 a.m. The Rostraver Fire Department was able to rescue a woman who runs the shelter and additionally lives on site. The American Red Cross is assisting her with the aftermath of the fire. Webster, Collinsburg and Sutersville Fire Department along with Rostraver Police and West Newton Emergency Services all responded to the scene. (Photo: Rostraver Central Fire Department Facebook Page)
