February 16, 2022 4:06 am
North Strabane Township Supervisors had a busy night of meetings on Tuesday. Starting off, supervisors reopened a public hearing that began on January 18. That hearing concerned a 5 acre, 24 unit expansion to the Greenwood Village development. In a previous public hearing residents had concerns about traffic on Garden Street and sight line difficulties as Garden intersected Rt. 980. Also at issue were traffic concerns as Locust Avenue intersected Rt. 19. The developer of the plan did a new traffic study as directed by the township. Residents were not happy as only an in depth study was done on the intersection of Garden Street and Rt. 980. Residents were not happy with the times selected to do the study either. Supervisors asked the developer to do another study but they refused. They stated that the study performed was exactly what the supervisors requested and it was. Residents complained about the possibility of accidents on Garden Street due to its very thin nature and cars parked along the road. Supervisors closed the meeting and will have 45 days to approve the conditional use application that was applied for. Supervisors then denied a text change to a zoning ordinance citing too little information as to the effects it would have on other zones. They then conducted their non legislative meeting. Committee reports from public works indicate an increase in paving materials costs. Supervisors will meet for their voting meeting on February 22.
February 16, 2022 4:05 am
An Avella man pleaded guilty to multiple counts of arson and risking a catastrophe on Tuesday. James Checco, 29 was charged with setting an awning on fire at the Stefkovich Funeral Home in Independence Twp. and setting his uncle’s car and Independence Twp. home on fire as well. Checco pleaded guilty to four arson, one risking a catastrophe and one reckless burning charges, all felonies. Checco will receive a sentence of 5-10 years in a state correctional facility and will make restitution to two insurance companies and the Stefkovich Funeral home for a total amount of $310,759.32.
February 15, 2022 1:51 pm
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Attorneys for the family of a cinematographer shot and killed on the set of the film “Rust” say they’re suing Alec Baldwin and the movie’s producers for wrongful death. Lawyers for Halyna Hutchins’ family announced a lawsuit filed in the name of Hutchins’ husband, Matthew Hutchins, and their son at a Los Angeles news conference Tuesday. At least three other lawsuits have been filed over the shooting, but this is the first directly tied to one of the two people shot. Baldwin was pointing a gun at Hutchins during setup for filming in New Mexico on Oct. 21 when it went off, killing Hutchins and wounding the director, Joel Souza. (Photo: AP)
February 15, 2022 10:57 am
The families of nine victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting have agreed to a settlement of a lawsuit against the maker of the rifle used to kill 20 first graders and six educators in 2012. The families and a survivor of the shooting sued Remington over how it marketed the AR-15-style rifle used in the shooting and alleged the company targeted younger, at-risk males in its advertising. Remington had denied the allegations. A news conference was planned later Tuesday morning some of the plaintiffs.
February 15, 2022 4:31 am
Peters Township Council spent most of their night looking at two presentations. One of them was a presentation on the development of an apartment complex at the intersection of Waterdam and Galley Roads. The second presentation was a traffic study prompted by a number of accidents on Johnston Road. Patrick Byrne from the developer Al. Neyer explained that they would like to develop a 10 acre site with roughly 250 apartments. To do that they would need relief from an ordinance that limits multifamily housing units to no more than 36 apartments per structure. Al. Neyer feels that the limitation would not fit the type of Class A development that they are looking to build. Council was split 4-3 on the initial feeling toward the development. Councilmen Robert Lewis, Gary Stiegel and Frank Arcuri felt that buildings holding 50 or more apartments are too large and imposing. Traffic Engineer Michael Mudry delivered his presentation on Johnston Road accidents stating that 15 accidents occurred on the road in the last 5 years, 12 of them in a concentrated stretch. He proposed upgrades to signage, possible street lights flexible reflective delineator posts and pavement markings. Mudry states that most of the accidents occur in an area that has a curve in the road that can catch drivers by surprise when they enter that curve.
February 15, 2022 4:09 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The accounting firm that prepared former President Donald Trump’s annual financial statements says the documents, used to secure lucrative loans and burnish Trump’s image as a wealthy businessman, “should no longer be relied upon” after investigators said they found evidence he and his company regularly misstated the value of assets. Mazars USA LLP disclosed its findings and cut ties with the Trump Organization in a letter on Feb. 9, just weeks after New York Attorney General Letitia James said her office uncovered evidence Trump and the company used “fraudulent or misleading” valuations of its golf clubs, skyscrapers and other property to get loans and tax benefits. The firm says it is also cutting ties with Trump.
February 15, 2022 4:06 am
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Federal prosecutors have rested their case against three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights. The prosecution rested Monday after nearly three weeks of testimony from bystanders, doctors, police officers and others. J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao are accused of depriving Floyd of medical care while the Black man was handcuffed, facedown as Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee onto Floyd’s neck. Kueng and Thao are also accused of failing to intervene to stop the May 2020 killing that triggered protests worldwide. Thao and Kueng told the judge Monday that they plan to testify. An attorney for Lane said earlier that his client would testify, but now says they’ll discuss it further.
February 15, 2022 4:03 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. Senate is considering a resolution in support of Ukraine’s independence while stopping short of legislation to impose sanctions on Russia. Senators are eager to respond to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression but deferential to the White House’s strategy to avert a crisis in Europe. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan briefed Senate leadership Monday afternoon. President Joe Biden and Western leaders are working to persuade Putin not to invade Ukraine. Senators say the Biden administration is able to impose devastating sanctions on Russia with or without congressional action.
February 15, 2022 4:03 am
MOSCOW (AP) – Russia says that some units participating in military exercises will begin returning to their bases. That adds to glimmers of hope that the Kremlin may not be planning to invade Ukraine imminently. But officials gave no details on the pullback. The announcement Tuesday came after Russia’s foreign minister indicated the country was ready to keep talking about the security grievances that led to the Ukraine crisis. That changed the tenor after weeks of rising tensions. Still, Western officials continued to warn that an invasion could come at any moment and said some forces and military hardware were moving toward the border. It wasn’t immediately clear where exactly the troops that the Russian Defense Ministry said were pulling back were deployed or how many were leaving.
February 15, 2022 4:00 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A state court is stopping a Philadelphia ordinance that requires gun owners to tell police when a firearm has been lost or stolen. A three-judge Commonwealth Court panel on Monday issued a permanent injunction, saying the Uniform Firearms Act preempts city ordinances. One of the judges says the decision is legally correct but warns it also puts people’s lives at risk. Philadelphia Police had sought a $2,000 fine against a man charged with violating the reporting mandate. The judges cited a 1996 state Supreme Court decision that said assault weapons restrictions in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh weren’t allowed, saying the Legislature alone can regulate guns. A city spokesman said the decision will be appealed.
