February 19, 2024 5:13 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The latest in a series of wet winter storms is gaining strength in California. Forecasters warned Monday of possible flooding, hail, strong winds and even brief tornadoes as the system moves south over the next few days. The National Weather Service says the central coast is at risk of “significant flooding.” Up to 5 inches of rain is predicted for many areas. Isolated rain totals of 10 inches are possible in the Santa Lucia and Santa Ynez mountain ranges. Flood watches and warnings have been issued in coastal and mountain areas up and down the state.
February 19, 2024 5:11 am
LONDON (AP) — Julian Assange’s lawyers will begin their final U.K. legal challenge to stop the WikiLeaks founder from being sent to the United States to face spying charges. The 52-year-old has been fighting extradition for more than a decade, including seven years in self-exile in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and the last five years in a high-security prison. It’s his last legal avenue in Britain, set to start Tuesday. If the judges rule against Assange, he can ask the European Court of Human Rights to block his extradition. Supporters worry he could be put on a plane to the U.S. before that happens. Assange has been fighting extradition for more than a decade.
February 19, 2024 5:07 am
BURNSVILLE, Minn. (AP) — A suburban Minneapolis community was in mourning after authorities said two police officers and a firefighter were killed by a heavily armed man who shot at them from inside a home that was filled with children. Officials say the suspect in the shooting also died. The shooting in Burnsville also wounded a third officer. Seven children were inside the home, but officials say the family was able to leave the home safely. Hundreds of people gathered in front of Burnsville City Hall on Sunday night for a candlelit vigil to remember the victims.
February 19, 2024 5:06 am
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Historic hearings have opened at the United Nations’ top court into the legality of Israel’s 57-year occupation of lands sought for a Palestinian state. Palestinian representatives are speaking first as the International Court of Justice started the legal arguments on Monday, following a request by the U.N. General Assembly for a non-binding advisory opinion into Israel’s policies in the occupied territories. The case at the court’s Great Hall of Justice comes against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war but it focuses instead on Israel’s open-ended control of the occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip and annexed east Jerusalem. Judges will likely take months to issue an opinion.
February 19, 2024 5:05 am
UNIONTOWN, Pa. — (WPXI) – A person was hurt in an early morning fire in Fayette County. Fayette County dispatchers say the fire broke out at a home on Vance Street in Uniontown after 3 a.m. “[The] fire was on the first floor, and it was spreading pretty quick to the second floor, spread up through the stairwell and concealed spaces – so it made it challenging to fight,” said Chief Scott Conn of the Uniontown Fire Department. Firefighters also encountered icy conditions surrounding the house, which sits on a slope. “The snow – it was already starting to subside, but it had already laid down a couple inches. Of course, with that slope, it makes it challenging,” Conn said. Chief Conn said one person escaped through a window. Another ran through the flames and out the front door. He was checked out at the scene after getting burned but did not go to the hospital. Firefighters were able to stop the flames from spreading to neighboring houses. The cause is still being investigated, but Conn does not believe it to be suspicious.
February 19, 2024 5:04 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Since he became a force in Republican politics, Donald Trump has figured prominently in U.S. Senate races, shaping which GOP contenders get nominated. But that’s not happening in Pennsylvania. There, the likely Republican nominee, David McCormick, and Trump seem to be ignoring each other. McCormick — an ex-hedge fund CEO — is trying to beat Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, the best-known political name in Pennsylvania. For McCormick, there’s the additional baggage of Trump’s tongue-lashings as Trump worked to defeat McCormick in Pennsylvania’s 2022 Senate primary race. Theirs is a complicated relationship that Democrats say is fraught with danger for McCormick and pollsters say steepens his uphill climb against Casey.
February 19, 2024 5:00 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Pittsburgh Regional Transit reduced service on over 20 bus routes and the ‘T’ Sunday. According to a release PRT issued in January announcing the service adjustments, the reductions are meant to improve service reliability and on-time performance by ensuring the number of drivers needed doesn’t exceed the number of drivers available. PRT said the reduction represents about 1.5% of services. In total, 16 bus routes will see reductions. Most of the routes will be minor trip time adjustments and some frequency changes. In addition, a few midday Blue Line trips were moved to the evening to better align with rider demand. After about 5:20 p.m. on weekdays, the Silver Line now operates only between Washington Junction and Library Station. Riders traveling farther north can connect to the Blue Line at Washington Junction. A complete list of changes is available on the PRT service adjustments web page.
February 19, 2024 4:56 am
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Hundreds of Penn State students have raised more than $16.9 million for pediatric cancer patients in the annual 46-hour dance marathon known as Thon. The total was announced Sunday afternoon at the conclusion of the Penn State Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. It topped last year’s total of just over $15 million. Money raised benefits pediatric cancer patients and their families at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Child cancer survivors and their families also participate along with the dancers, who are helped by thousands of other students in support roles. Officials say the dance marathon has helped more than 4,800 families over more than five decades.
February 19, 2024 1:54 am
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia University suspended a fraternity Tuesday over reported hazing incidents, the school said. The interim suspension of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity prevents it from all recruitment activities along with participating or attending social functions, WVU said in a news release. The suspension will remain in place while an investigation and review process continue. WVU did not provide details of the alleged hazing incidents in the statement. “We take every report of possible misconduct seriously, and many times investigations provide a chance for us to help students make better choices in the future,” said Jill Gibson, director of the WVU Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
February 18, 2024 7:21 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. George Santos is suing late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Santos says Kimmel deceived him into making videos on the Cameo app that were used to ridicule the disgraced New York Republican on air. The lawsuit alleges that Kimmel misrepresented himself to induce Santos to create personalized videos capitalizing on and ridiculing Santos’ “gregarious personality.” The videos were used on Kimmel’s show for a segment called “Will Santos Say It?” A Disney representative listed as a media contact Kimmel’s show didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday. Santos was expelled from the House of Representatives last year. He has pleaded not guilty to numerous criminal charges. (Photo: AP)
