‘Dune,’ ‘Power Of The Dog’ Lead Race For BAFTA

March 13, 2022 7:57 am

LONDON (AP) — Sci-fi epic “Dune” and dark western “The Power of the Dog” lead the race as the British Academy Film Awards return Sunday with a live, black-tie ceremony after a pandemic-curtailed event in 2021. Acting nominees Benedict Cumberbatch and Lady Gaga are among the stars expected on the red carpet at London’s Royal Albert Hall before a ceremony hosted by Rebel Wilson. Last year’s event was largely conducted online, with only the hosts and presenters appearing in person.

Man Stabs 2 At NYC’s MoMA And Flees

March 13, 2022 7:56 am

NEW YORK (AP) — A man stabbed two employees multiple times inside the Museum of Modern Art in New York on Saturday afternoon, leaping over a reception desk to attack them after he was denied entrance for previous incidents of disorderly conduct, authorities said. Police said the victims, a 24-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, were in stable condition at Bellevue Hospital later Saturday. Their names weren’t immediately released. People posted on social media that museumgoers ran for the exits in confusion and chaos after the stabbing. John Miller, NYPD deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism, said the man’s membership had been revoked for two separate incidents of disorderly behavior at the museum in recent days. A letter informing the suspect of his expired membership had been sent out Friday, but he came to the museum Saturday saying he intended to see a film there, Miller said. He then became upset and stabbed the museum employees in the back, collar bone and the back of neck, Miller said. They were rushed within minutes to the hospital. Miller said video showed which way the suspect went after leaving the museum. Police shared photos of the attacker late Saturday night, asking for the public’s help finding him.

China COVID Cases On The Rise

March 13, 2022 7:55 am

BEIJING (AP) — The number of new coronavirus cases in an outbreak in China’s northeast tripled Sunday and authorities stepped up anti-disease controls by suspending bus service to Shanghai and ordering residents of another city to stay at home. The case numbers in China’s latest surge of infections are low compared with some other countries. But authorities are enforcing a “zero tolerance” strategy that temporarily shuts down cities to isolate every infected person despite a rising economic cost. The government reported 1,938 new cases on China’s mainland in the 24 hours through midnight Saturday, more than triple the previous day’s total. About three-quarters, or 1,412 cases, were in Jilin province in the northeast, where access to the industrial metropolis of Changchun was suspended on Friday and families were told to stay home after a spate of infections. In Hong Kong, the territory’s government reported 15,789 new cases, down by almost half from Saturday’s total.

War Idles Mills, Energy Costs Soar

March 13, 2022 7:53 am

MILAN (AP) — Italian paper mills that make everything from pizza boxes to furniture packaging ground to a halt as Russia’s war in Ukraine has sent natural gas prices skyrocketing. And it’s not just paper. Italian steel mills, likewise, turned off electric furnaces last week. And fishermen, facing huge spikes in oil prices, stayed in port, mending nets instead of casting them. Nowhere more than in Italy, the European Union’s third-largest economy, is dependence on Russian energy taking a higher toll on industry. Some 40% of electricity is generated from natural gas that largely comes from Russia, compared with roughly one-quarter in Germany, another major importer and the continent’s largest economy. Over the past decade, Italy’s dependence on Russian natural gas has surged from 27% to 43% — a fact lamented by Premier Mario Draghi. It will take at least two years to replace, his energy transition minister says.

Russian Airstrike At Base Kills 35

March 13, 2022 7:52 am

LVIV, Ukraine (AP) — Waves of Russian missiles pounded a military training base close to Ukraine’s western border with NATO member Poland, killing 35 people. The strike followed Russian threats to target foreign weapon shipments that are helping Ukrainian fighters defend their country against Russia’s grinding invasion. More than 30 Russian cruise missiles targeted the sprawling training facility that is less than 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the closest border point with Poland, according to the governor of Ukraine’s western Lviv region. Poland is a key location for routing Western military aid to Ukraine. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Lviv had largely been spared the scale of destruction unfolding further east and become a destination for residents escaping bombarded cities and for many of the nearly 2.6 million refugees who have fled the country.

Pittsburgh Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day

March 13, 2022 7:48 am

PITTSBURGH (WPXI) — When it comes to St. Patrick’s Day, Pittsburgh has a bit of a reputation to live up to. The city is ranked as one of the top places to celebrate the holiday. On Saturday, bargoers and business owners on East Carson Street in the South Side did not disappoint. It was a sea of green up and down the block, with some patrons coming out at 10 o’clock this morning to kick off festivities. Snow and cold temps did not slow them down either. Business owners told Channel 11 that there were several official outings and countless bar crawls planned long before the weather became a factor.

Nurse Practitioner Arrested For Assault

March 13, 2022 5:09 am

FINLEYVILLE, Pa. (WPXI) — Police arrested a local nurse practitioner accused of assaulting a former patient at a Washington County grocery store. Allegheny Health Network nurse practitioner Timothy Hohman is facing several charges including harassment, terroristic threats and simple assault after court documents detailed an aggressive incident involving Hohman and a former patient at a Finleyville Giant Eagle in early March. Security cameras from inside the store show Hohman entering the same checkout aisle as his former patient and aggressively confronting him. Court paperwork states when the victim tried to leave the store, Hohman followed him to the parking lot. That was where cameras caught Hohman chasing the victim and eventually pushing him. According to police, the victim fell backward with such force that he hit his head on the bumper of a nearby pickup truck. Police say the victim then got up and hit Hohman in self-defense. The victim told police Hohman also threatened him with a gun.  AHN told Channel 11 it is aware of the situation and Hohman is suspended pending the outcome of the investigation and legal proceedings. Hohman told police the victim spat on him during this incident, but police say the video never showed that happening. Hohman therefore faces a charge of making a false report. The nurse practitioner is being held on a $30K straight bond in the Washington County Jail.

“Spring Forward” This Weekend

March 13, 2022 1:30 am

If you are a fan of more light in the afternoon, take heart; your time is coming. Daylight saving time, that is.  On Sunday March 13 at 2 a.m., most of America will “spring forward” as clocks are set up an hour for the beginning of daylight saving time.  With each time change comes a debate among states on the wisdom of twice-a-year time changes (we “fall back” in November).  In the last three years, 13 states have enacted legislation to provide for year-round daylight saving time if Congress were to allow such a change and, in some cases, if surrounding states enact the same legislation. Full-time DST is not currently allowed by federal law and would require an act of Congress to make a change.  The American Red Cross is also reminding you that with the time change should come the testing of smoke alarms.  They say working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half.

Winter Storms Cause Headaches On The Road

March 13, 2022 1:03 am

PITTSBURGH —  Another blast of Winter has arrived in Washington County and the surrounding area. Periods of moderate to heavy snow took place into Saturday morning making travel hazardous. Accidents across the listening area had first responders busy through the morning hours. Steady snow tapered to snow showers on Saturday. Winds picked up through the day as well, bringing blowing and drifting snow back onto treated surfaces. Overall, some parts of Washington County saw 7-8 inches of snow locally from the system.  (Photo: Claysville Volunteer Fire Department Facebook)

Sheriff Deputy Fired After Placing Knee Into Neck

March 12, 2022 5:11 am

PLYMOUTH, N.C. (AP) – A North Carolina sheriff’s deputy has been fired after he was captured on video putting his knee on a Black man’s neck, and a state agency is looking into the incident. Washington County Manager Curtis Potter told WITN that Deputy Aaron Edwards was no longer working for the sheriff’s office as of Tuesday. Sheriff Johnny Barnes said the deputy was fired after an internal investigation and a review of body camera and security footage. Barnes said state investigators have been called in to look into whether criminal charges should be brought. The family of the man provided video last week showing him being arrested on a charge of marijuana possession.