Cadavers Stolen From Greene County Funeral Home

May 16, 2021 8:04 am

MT. MORRIS, Pa. (WPXI) — A van containing three human cadavers was stolen from the garage of a funeral home in Greene County last week. According to a Pennsylvania State Police report, the incident occurred at Wilbert Funeral Services Inc., 123 Mechanic St., Mount Morris, sometime between May 9 and 10. Police said a suspect entered a secured garage and stole the van, which contained three human cadavers. The van and cadavers were eventually recovered at the Mount Morris truck stop at 106 Gas Company Road, Perry Twp., police said. A suspect has been developed and the investigation is ongoing.

Jury Selected For Vazquez Case

May 16, 2021 4:14 am

GREENSBURG, Pa. (WPXI) — The sexual assault trial for suspended Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez is set to begin Monday morning in Westmoreland County after the jury was picked. The 12 jurors and two alternates were seated Friday. Vazquez, 29, has been in jail since he was arrested in September 2019. He was charged with statutory sexual assault, 10 counts of child pornography and a number of other criminal charges after he was accused of meeting a then-13-year-old girl for sex in 2017. Vazquez has maintained his innocence, and his defense attorney said in March he believed evidence will show his client believed the girl was almost an adult when they had sex. He also faces charges in Florida and Missouri after police said he had a sexual relationship with the girl related to those states.

Sports Card Sales Suspended In Targets Nationwide

May 15, 2021 4:24 am

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Target has suspended in-store sales of sports and Pokemon trading cards, citing safety concerns. While the Minneapolis-based retailer didn’t give a direct reason for the change in its Friday announcement, the Minneapolis Star Tribune says it came after police in Brookfield, Wisconsin, reported that four men had attacked another man over cards on May 7. The newspaper reports that the value of some trading cards has soared, driven in part by people rushing to buy up new cards for resale online. Target says it continues to sell the cards online.

Arraignment Set For Cops Involved In Floyd Killing

May 15, 2021 4:23 am

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Three former Minneapolis police officers who are charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights are scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in July, with a trial date to be determined. Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao are scheduled to be arraigned on civil rights violations on July 14 in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis. They are charged along with Derek Chauvin, who has already been convicted on state counts of murder and manslaughter. It wasn’t immediately clear why Chauvin is not part of this scheduling order, but he has not yet made an initial appearance on the federal charges.

U.S. Joins Global Push Against Online Extremism

May 15, 2021 4:22 am

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – Two years after a white supremacist in New Zealand live streamed the slaughter of 51 Muslim worshippers on Facebook, French President Emmanuel Macron says the internet continues to be be used by terrorists as a weapon to propagate hate. Macron and other leaders from tech giants and governments around the world – including the U.S. for the first time – gathered virtually on Saturday to find better ways to stop extremist violence from spreading online, while also respecting freedom of expression. It’s part of a global effort started by Macron and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after deadly attacks in their countries were streamed or shared on social networks. It also involves tech companies including Google, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon.

Airstrike Kills 7 In Gaza City

May 15, 2021 4:21 am

JERUSALEM (AP) – An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza City has killed at least seven Palestinians. The airstrike early Saturday in the western part of Gaza City recorded the highest number of fatalities in a single hit. The militant group Hamas reported the number is likely to rise as efforts to recover casualties from under the rubble of the house on the edge of Shati refugee camp are still ongoing. There is no immediate update from the Health Ministry. A resident nearby says Israeli warplanes dropped at least three bombs on the three-story house without warning its residents in advance. Shortly afterward, Hamas said it fired a salvo of rockets at southern Israel in response to the airstrike.

4th Of July Shooting Victim Dead Nearly 2 Years Later

May 15, 2021 4:16 am

PITTSBURGH — An Ambridge teen is dead nearly two years after he was shot at a Fourth of July celebration in Pittsburgh. Keyari Wynn, 18, was 16 when he and another teen were shot just one hour after Pittsburgh’s fireworks show in 2019 as crowds were leaving. Police said a fight among a group of kids over previously released rap videos turned violent near the corner of 7th Street and Penn Avenue in the Cultural District. Wynn was shot in the head during the incident. He died Friday at UPMC Children’s Hospital. Investigators said Camerin Caldwell turned himself in to police more than a week after the shooting. Caldwell, 18 at the time, faces two counts of criminal attempt homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of reckless endangerment and firearms violations. Caldwell has a court hearing scheduled for Tuesday. His charges could change now that Wynn died.

Vaccinated Can Largely Ditch Masks

May 15, 2021 1:26 am

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is easing mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings. The new guidance announced Thursday is a major step toward returning to pre-pandemic life. President Joe Biden said, “Today is a great day for America.” The new guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters, but it will help clear the way for reopening workplaces and schools. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky says: “We have all longed for this moment – when we can get back to some sense of normalcy.”

Washington Teen Killed In Motorcycle Crash

May 15, 2021 1:16 am

One person was killed and another injured in a fatal accident early Thursday evening in South Strabane Township. The Washington County Coroner’s Office says nineteen-year-old Caleb Jackson of Washington was killed when his motorcycle collided with a vehicle on East Maiden Street near the Interstate 79 South off-ramp just before six o’clock. A female passenger on his bike, who has not been identified, was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh where she underwent surgery. There has been no word on her condition. There was also no information released on the driver of the other vehicle. State Police are continuing to investigate the crash.  (Photo:  Facebook)

9 Wounded In Rhode Island Shooting

May 14, 2021 4:27 am

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – Police in Rhode Island’s capital said nine people have been wounded in a shooting. Providence Police Chief Col. Hugh T. Clements told reporters Thursday evening that three of the nine were seriously or critically wounded. Clements believed the shooting was the largest in city history. It took place in the southeastern neighborhood of Washington Park just before 7 p.m. No arrests have been made. Clements stressed the investigation was in its early stages. He also said multiple guns were used. Witnesses at the scene said shots were fired outside a home.