October 3, 2021 4:17 am
SOUTH FAYETTE, Pa. (WPXI) — A proposed toll on the Interstate 79 bridge in South Fayette Township is one that many there feel would be reckless and detrimental to their community. “There’s no doubt motorists will seek to avoid the toll so they will travel through local communities in South Fayette,” said John Barrett, South Fayette Township Manager. Barrett testified in front of the House Transportation Committee in Harrisburg Thursday regarding the P3 project, PennDOT’s plan to toll nine bridges — including the Interstate 79 bridge in the South Fayette and Bridgeville area. Yet Barrett is opposed, saying that this may cause congestion because drivers trying to get around the toll will clog up neighborhood streets, especially during busy commutes. He also said the plans to install the toll could be as early as 2023 before other roads need to be fixed that drivers would use to avoid the toll. PennDOT has said the suggested tolls will help with transportation funding in the state, the bridges being considered are fairly large and were chosen based o the ability to make repairs within two to four years. Barrett is worried about the impact to the economics of his community. The bridge projects and associated tolling will be looked at over the next year before any final decisions are made.
October 3, 2021 4:13 am
PITTSBURGH (WPXI) — A homicide suspect who was barricaded inside a Pittsburgh home Friday afternoon and was firing a gun at SWAT personnel and officers outside is dead. The suspect was identified as Khalil Singletary, 25, who was wanted for a deadly shooting in Beltzhoover on Sept. 22. According to police, U.S. Marshals received information that Singletary was inside a home in the area of Bedford Avenue and Manilla Street in the Hill District. After officers sent tear gas into the home, police said Singletary fired shots. Five officers returned fire and Singletary was later found dead inside the house. The goal was to bring him out alive, Director of the Department of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich had said. In 2015, Singletary was charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm and drug charges. The situation started in the Hill District section of the city around 12:30 p.m. at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Manilla Street. Bedford Avenue was closed to traffic and people were asked to avoid the area.
October 3, 2021 1:39 am
COKEBURG, Pa. — A family escaped a house fire near Cokeburg early Saturday morning. According to reports, no one was injured when a fire broke out on 23 Maple Street in North Bethlehem Township around 2:00 a.m. The Cokeburg Fire Department was joined by Bentleyville, Marianna, Lone Pine and Richeyville Fire Departments on scene. It took crews nearly four hours to put out the fire. Officials say there is no word on what caused the blaze.
October 2, 2021 4:28 am
HOUSTON (AP) – Authorities say a former student of a Houston public charter school shot and wounded the campus principal before quickly surrendering to police. The shooting happened at about 11:45 a.m. Friday at YES Prep Southwest Secondary, a charter school that serves students in sixth through 12th grades. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said the 25-year-old man shot through the school’s door. The school later said Principal Eric Espinoza was taken to a hospital after being grazed by a bullet in the back. He was expected to be released Friday. The school says no students were hurt. Authorities have not released name of the suspected shooter. Finner says authorities are investigating whether he and the principal had any past interactions.
October 2, 2021 4:27 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden has pledged on Capitol Hill to “get it done” as Democrats strain to rescue a scaled back version of his $3.5 trillion government overhaul and salvage a related public works bill. But it’s not getting done soon: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told colleagues in a letter that “more time is needed.” Biden huddled privately Friday with House Democrats after days of frantic negotiations with no deal. Biden is also planning to visit American cities next week to make his case. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia wants to scale back the big bill to $1.5 trillion. That’s too meager for progressive lawmakers.
October 2, 2021 4:25 am
American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and JetBlue will require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. That’s happening as the Biden administration steps up pressure on airlines to adopt vaccine mandates. A key White House adviser talked about the matter with the CEOs of American, Delta and Southwest, according to people familiar with the situation. United Airlines already requires employees to be vaccinated, and United says it could terminate more than 300 employees who have refused to get the shots. Delta says it will require vaccination or weekly testing. Delta and Southwest haven’t said how they will comply with President Joe Biden’s vaccination mandate.
October 2, 2021 4:24 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – California will become the first U.S. state to require COVID-19 vaccinations for children to attend public and private schools in person under a mandate that could effect millions of students. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday announced that the coronavirus shot will be added to 10 other immunizations already required for school kids, including those for measles and mumps. The requirement is expected to be phased in next year after the U.S. government grants final approval for vaccinations for various age groups. The mandate eventually will affect more than 6.7 million public and private school students. It also could push other states to follow.
October 2, 2021 4:22 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea says it has test-fired a new anti-aircraft missile. It is its fourth weapons launch in recent weeks, which experts say is part of a strategy to win sanctions relief and other concessions. South Korea, Japan and the United States typically confirm North Korean ballistic missile launches, but did not immediately do so for Thursday’s launch. That could indicate the weapon may have been a different kind. Diplomacy aimed at getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear arsenal has largely been deadlocked since early 2019.
October 2, 2021 4:05 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. — (WPXI)- The COVID-19 pandemic brought foot traffic at the Washington County courthouse to a minimum for months. With court cases resuming, however, it’s almost back to business as usual. According to officials, when there’s jury duty, there can be upwards of 600 people coming through the front doors. There are now new security measures when getting in the door, including new bins and screening procedures. “Our deputies are in charge of screening and greeting, enforcing the mask mandates, providing directions at a time when all facets of business at the courthouse have increased drastically this year,” said Sheriff Samuel Romano. “We’re always trying to tweak and train. We have reevaluated the way we do screenings. If there is a better way to do it, we are all for it. We take the security at the courthouse very seriously.” Officials said deputies went through a metal detector refresher course and they often turn people away who refuse to take off items or through the metal detector.
October 2, 2021 2:23 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – The Rolling Stones will be playing at Heinz Field on Monday night, but before the show, the rock band will host a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic for concertgoers. The clinic, offering the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the stadium’s Main Concourse West. Unvaccinated concertgoers will be able to get their first vaccine dose. Their second dose will be scheduled with Giant Eagle at that time. Vaccinated concertgoers will be offered the booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine, as long as they meet the eligibility guidance set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In order to get a shot, photo identification and a medical insurance card will be required.
