November 21, 2021 3:56 am
After a week of scrutiny, Fayette County District Attorney Richard Bower on Friday sent a letter to the state Attorney General asking for that office to take over the prosecution of his son in a DUI crash from August, according to our news partners at WPXI. Earlier this week, a special prosecutor appointed by Bower to handle the case withdrew the DUI offenses and substituted Recklessly Endangering Another Person charges at the preliminary hearing for Richard Bower, Jr. The special prosecutor, Uniontown attorney Samuel Davis, also recommended ARD–a probationary diversion program for first-time offenders–for Bower on the endangering charge, which will not carry a license suspension. Since that time, Bower has faced mounting criticism for not turning the case involving his son over to the state Attorney General’s office because of a conflict. According to a letter obtained by WPXI Friday, Bower asked the AG’s office to take over the prosecution of his son, saying he misread the statute relating to conflicts and referrals to the AG’s office. (photo courtesy of WPXI)
November 21, 2021 1:51 am
Pennsylvania State Police in Washington are seeking the public’s help in finding a missing and possibly endangered person. 65-year old George Girdish was last seen at the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, November 16. Girdish is 5’10” and weighs between 150 and 170 pounds. He is described as balding with graying brown hair. He was last seen wearing a camo jacket and grey pants and may have traveled out of the area. If you have any information or have seen Girdish, you are asked to call the State Police at 724-223-5200. (photo provided by PA State Police)
November 20, 2021 4:05 am
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – A 19-year-old Penn State student who had been reported missing probably died after falling 11 stories down a trash chute in her campus apartment building. Justine Gross was reported missing Nov. 11 after not returning to her room the night before. Police say a municipal trash hauler had emptied a dumpster at the base of the chute early Nov. 11 and took the trash to a dump. Officers found her body early Nov. 12. Police believe her death was an accident. Surveillance recordings show the sophomore from New Jersey was alone when she entered a trash room on the 11th floor.
November 20, 2021 4:04 am
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – Police opened fire on protesters and seven people were injured in rioting that erupted in downtown Rotterdam around a demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions. The Dutch city’s mayor called it “an orgy of violence.” He told reporters in the early hours of Saturday morning that “on a number of occasions the police felt it necessary to draw their weapons to defend themselves” as rioters ran rampage through the port city’s central shopping district, setting fires and throwing rocks and fireworks at officers. The mayor did not have details on the injuries. A number of police officers also were injured in the violence and officers arrested dozens of people and expect to arrest more after studying video footage from security cameras.
November 20, 2021 4:02 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. is opening COVID-19 vaccine boosters to all adults, and urging them for anyone 50 and older. The decision Friday seeks to simplify what has been a confusing list of who’s eligible. Now for anyone 18 or older, the only requirement is to be at least six months past their last dose of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two months past the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The government is trying to get ahead of rising coronavirus cases that experts fear could snowball into a winter surge with upcoming holiday travel.
November 20, 2021 4:02 am
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) – Kyle Rittenhouse has been acquitted of all charges after pleading self-defense in the deadly Kenosha, Wisconsin, shootings that became a flashpoint in the nation’s debate over guns, vigilantism and racial injustice. The jury came back with its verdict after close to 3 1/2 days of deliberation. Rittenhouse, 18, could have gotten life in prison if found guilty of the most serious charge against him. He was charged with homicide, attempted homicide and recklessly endangering safety for killing two men and wounding a third with an AR-style semi-automatic rifle. The shootings took place during a night of protests over police violence against Black people in the tumultuous summer of 2020. Rittenhouse is white, as were those he shot. The jury appeared to be overwhelmingly white.
November 20, 2021 4:01 am
BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) – A West Virginia pharmacist already serving a federal prison sentence in a fraud case has been indicted on a state charge in her husband’s death. Raleigh County Prosecutor Benjamin Hatfield says 40-year-old Natalie Cochran of Daniels was indicted by a grand jury Thursday on a first-degree murder charge. Cochran’s husband, Michael Cochran died in February 2019. The prosecutor did not give details about the death but said state police conducted an investigation. Natalie Cochran was sentenced in March to 11 years for pretending to be a government contractor and defrauding investors out of millions of dollars.
November 20, 2021 3:58 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Republicans in the Pennsylvania Senate will pay up to $270,000 over the next six months to have a consulting firm examine the 2020 election with an eye toward developing changes to state election law. The “forensic investigation” is being launched in response to pressure from Republican supporters of former President Donald Trump upset over his 80,000-vote loss in the state. Dubuque, Iowa-based Envoy Sage will be paid out of the Senate Republican leader’s taxpayer-funded leadership account. Democrats say the had no role in picking Envoy Sage and call the review political, unnecessary and costly.
November 20, 2021 3:44 am
Our news partners at WPXI report that the Allegheny County Police Department’s Homicide Unit responded to an incident in McKeesport Friday afternoon after a man was found stabbed. At approximately 3:23 p.m., 911 was notified of a stabbing in the 500 block of Sinclair Street, where first responders found an adult man suffering from a stab wound to the chest. He was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:46 p.m. after medical professionals attempted life saving measures. Homicide detectives are investigating. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the County Police Tip Line 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
November 19, 2021 12:50 pm
(WPXI) – The sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Fenway Sports Group is one step closer to being official. Various media outlets are reporting that the boards of the FSG and the Penguins have approved the sale of the team. The board of the National Hockey League still have to vote. They are awaiting a final approval from the NHL, per a source close to the Penguins. Under the deal, Mario Lemieux would remain a minority owner.
