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)
January 15, 2022 1:44 am
A North Strabane Township man accused in a New Year’s Eve incident at Frankie I’s restaurant had his preliminary hearing continued on Friday. Dee Frazee, 27 is facing charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and propulsion of missiles into oncoming vehicles. Frazee’s attorney was just hired two days ago and asked the judge for a one week continuance so he could gather information. Despite the strong objections from the district attorney the judge granted the continuance. The next hearing is tentatively scheduled for January 21st.
January 15, 2022 1:35 am
A Virginia truck driver on trial for striking and killing a man who was working on his disabled truck on Interstate 70 awaits a verdict. Hosea Holcomb, 28 of Emporium, Virginia took the stand in his defense in his non jury trial on Friday. After his attorney played 90 minutes of Pennsylvania State Police interview footage of Holcomb as he was pulled over on I-70 and later at the police barracks, Holcomb gave his story of how events played out in January of 2021 and why he made decisions that he did. Holcomb testified that he did not realize that he struck and killed John Isenberg of Ohio as he worked on his disabled tractor trailer. He testified that he thought he had a close call with the disabled vehicle. Video footage played during the three day trial showed Holcomb driving in a state of what seemed to be extreme sleepiness, despite just finishing a 45 minute power nap minutes earlier. Footage of him twice using an expletive phrase and making a sign of the cross on his chest were explained by him saying he was grateful that, as he perceived the situation, he survived a close call. Judge Gary Gilman has taken the testimony under advisement and will have a decision in the coming weeks.
January 15, 2022 1:20 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House says the federal website where Americans can request free COVID-19 tests will begin accepting orders on Wednesday. The announcement on Friday comes as the administration looks to address nationwide shortages, but supplies will be limited to just four free tests per home. Americans shouldn’t expect a rapid turn-around on the orders and Americans will have to plan ahead and request the tests well before they meet federal guidelines for when to use a test. The White House said “tests will typically ship within 7-12 days of ordering” through the United States Postal Service, which reports shipping times of 1-3 days for its first class package service in the continental United States.
January 14, 2022 5:28 pm
MEXICO CITY (AP) – Mexico wants to improve children’s diets, so it seized 380,000 boxes of Corn Flakes, Special K and other Kellogg’s cereal, claiming the boxes had cartoon drawings on them. While Cornflakes are clearly not the worst thing Mexican children eat, recently enacted laws prohibit food companies from using marketing tactics that might appeal to children, like cartoons or mascots. Mexico’s consumer protection agency also claimed Friday the cereal boxes did not clearly state nutritional values like calories, fats, salt or sugar, or didn’t have the warning signs for levels of those ingredients that are considered excessive. Kellogg’s did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
January 14, 2022 3:23 am
MOSCOW (AP) – A senior Russian diplomat has refused to rule out a Russian military deployment to Cuba and Venezuela if tensions with the United States over Ukraine and NATO’s expansion in Eastern Europe mount. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in televised remarks on Thursday that he couldn’t confirm or exclude the possibility of Russia sending military assets to Latin America if the U.S. and its allies don’t curtail their activities on Russia’s doorstep. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan dismissed the statement as “bluster.” Russia held talks with the U.S. and NATO this week amid a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine that the West fears might be a prelude to an invasion.
