May 31, 2021 4:38 am
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – Several hundred people in New Zealand have been evacuated from their homes after heavy rain caused widespread flooding in the Canterbury region. Some of those forced to leave their homes recounted dramatic helicopter rescues. Authorities declared a state of emergency after some places received as much as 40 centimeters (16 inches) of rain over the weekend and into Monday. The military helped evacuate more than 50 people including several overnight in an NH-90 military helicopter. Forecasters warned of possible heavy rain through Monday evening before conditions improved.
May 31, 2021 4:37 am
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) – Vietnam plans to test all 9 million people in its largest city for the coronavirus and imposed more restrictions to deal with a growing COVID-19 outbreak. People in Ho Chi Minh city for the next two weeks are only allowed to leave home for necessary activities and public gatherings of more than 10 people are banned. The city earlier shut down non-essential business. Vietnam News said the city authority is planning to test its entire population with a testing capacity of 100,000 samples a day. The state newspaper also said police had filed a case against the couple who head a Protestant church mission for “spreading dangerous infectious diseases” through poor health protocols at the premises.
May 31, 2021 4:37 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Johnson & Johnson is asking for Supreme Court review of a $2 billion verdict in favor of women who claim they developed ovarian cancer from using the company’s talc products. The case features an array of high-profile attorneys, some in unusual alliances, including former independent counsel Kenneth Starr, who is representing the women who sued Johnson & Johnson. The nation’s largest business groups are backing the company, and a justice’s father also makes an appearance because of his long association with the trade group for cosmetics and personal care products. The court could say as soon as Tuesday whether it will get involved.
May 31, 2021 4:36 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea says the U.S. allowing South Korea to build more powerful missiles was an example of the U.S.’s hostile policy against the North and could lead to instability. It’s North Korea’s first response to the summit between President Joe Biden and South Korea’s leader. At the summit, the U.S. ended decades-long restrictions that capped South Korea’s missile development. The accusation that U.S. policy is hostile to North Korea matters because it said it won’t return to talks as long as U.S. hostility persists. But the latest statement was still attributed to a commentator, not a government body, suggesting North Korea may still want to leave room for potential diplomacy.
May 31, 2021 4:35 am
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – A restrictive voting bill in Texas that was on the verge of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk has failed to pass Sunday night after Democrats walked out of the House chamber before a midnight deadline. Abbott swiftly said he would call a special session to try passing a voting bill again but did not say when. The bill known as Senate Bill 7 would have imposed a raft of election changes that eliminate drive-thru voting, empower partisan poll watchers and impose new requirements in order to cast a ballot by mail in Texas, which already has some of toughest voting laws in the nation.
May 31, 2021 4:34 am
KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) – A man has been arrested in Texas, accused of plotting to carry out a mass shooting at a Walmart. The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release Sunday that 28-year-old Coleman Thomas Blevins is charged with making a terroristic threat. Investigators say they intercepted a message from Blevins on Thursday indicating he was “preparing to proceed with a mass shooting,” and that the threat included Walmart. Blevins was arrested Friday. Authorities searched his home and found firearms, ammunition, and more, including what officials called “radical ideology paraphernalia” such as books, flags and handwritten documents. Jail records didn’t list an attorney who could comment on Blevins’ behalf.
May 31, 2021 4:29 am
PITTSBURGH — It’s been well over a year into this pandemic and businesses that have had to shut down and then work under several limitations are now finally able to go to full capacity. Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration announced that after midnight May 31, businesses, events and venues can go back to normal, except for the mask requirement for anyone who is not fully vaccinated. Wolf added that it’s important for people to get the COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. Requirements such as testing and reporting new cases will remain in place for hospitals and long-term care facilities. Maintaining requirements for hospitals and long-term care facilities will allow Pennsylvania to continue to closely monitor COVID-19 spread while lifting other restrictions.
May 31, 2021 4:24 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – A fight between multiple people at a western Pennsylvania mall culminated in gunfire, forcing stores to lock down and shoppers to evacuate. Law enforcement officials say two young men were arrested in connection with the shooting at the Ross Park Mall in Ross Township on Saturday. No one was injured. Ross Township Police Detective Sergeant Brian Kohlhepp says authorities recovered three guns from the two suspects. Police say five or six people were involved in the fight. It took several hours for everyone in the mall to be evacuated.
May 31, 2021 1:31 am
MCDONALD, Pa. — Area police are looking for a missing McDonald man. According to the McDonald Borough Police are searching for 58-year-old John Terrell. The man was reported missing Friday morning and was last seen wearing blue jeans and blue tennis shoes. The african american male stands at 5’9″ and weighs 215 pounds with brown eyes. Police say he is known to suffer from alcoholism and he is also known to frequent the Panhandle Trail in the area. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Terrell are asked to call McDonald Borough Police at 724-926-2105.
May 31, 2021 1:21 am
DONORA, Pa. — A Washington County man is dead and another is in jail following a shooting at a residence late Friday night. According to Coroner Tim Warco, 26-year-old Dakota Johnson was shot at a home on 3rd Street in Donora around 11:45 p.m. Johnson was transported to the Monongahela Valley Hospital emergency department, where he was pronounced dead at roughly 2:30 Saturday morning. The cause and manner of Johnson’s death is still pending. According to police reports, 24-year-old Tionya Gaston was shot multiple times during the altercation and was also taken to the hospital for treatment. Javonne Crawford, 22, was taken into custody for the shooting and is charged with criminal homicide and attempted criminal homicide. This shooting is under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police. Donora, Carroll Township, Charleroi, and Ringgold School District Police Departments all responded to the scene.
