March 3, 2021 5:27 pm
Authorities in Allegheny County say several people have been taken into custody following a report of an abduction in Pittsburgh Wednesday afternoon. The reported abduction occurred in the 300 block of Bausman Street around 2:30 p.m. and a heavy police presence responded shortly thereafter to the Days Inn hotel in Pittsburgh’s Banksville neighborhood. A vehicle that was allegedly associated with the abduction was found in the parking lot of a hotel on Banksville Road. SWAT was called out due to the possible hostage situation. Police say no one is hurt and everyone involved is accounted for.
March 3, 2021 4:44 pm
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Detectives are looking at data from the “black box” of Tiger Woods’ SUV to get a clearer picture of what occurred during the Southern California rollover crash last week that seriously injured the golf star. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department says Wednesday that traffic investigators executed a search warrant to retrieve the data from the device from the Genesis SUV that Woods was driving. Deputy Trina Schrader says there was no immediate information regarding what was found in the black box. Woods suffered a serious leg injury when the SUV he was driving went off a Los Angeles County road and rolled over on a downhill stretch.
March 3, 2021 4:18 am
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Texas is lifting a COVID-19 mask mandate that was imposed last summer but has only been lightly enforced. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement Tuesday makes Texas the largest state to do away with a face covering order. The new rule takes effect March 10. The decision comes as governors across the U.S. have eased coronavirus restrictions, despite warnings from health experts that the outbreak is far from over. Texas has seen a sharp plunge in cases and hospitalizations in recent weeks. More than 42,000 people have died from the virus in Texas, trailing only California and New York.
March 3, 2021 4:16 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden says the U.S. expects to take delivery of enough coronavirus vaccine for all adults by the end of May – two months earlier than anticipated. He’s also pushing states to get at least one shot into the arms of teachers by the end of March to hasten school reopenings. Biden has also announced that drugmaker Merck will help produce rival Johnson & Johnson’s newly approved one-shot vaccine. Despite the stepped-up pace of vaccine production, the work of inoculating Americans could extend well into the summer. It depends on both the government’s capacity to deliver doses and Americans’ willingness to roll up their sleeves.
March 3, 2021 4:14 am
HOLTVILLE, Calif. (AP) – The Border Patrol says 13 people killed in a Southern California crash were among more than 40 migrants who entered the U.S. through a hole cut into the border fence with Mexico. Authorities say surveillance video showed a Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Suburban drive through the opening Tuesday. It’s believed they were part of a migrant smuggling operation. The Suburban carried 19 people, and it caught fire after entering the U.S. All escaped the vehicle and were taken into custody. The Expedition crammed with 25 people slammed into a tractor-trailer a short time later. Thirteen were killed, and others were injured.
March 3, 2021 4:13 am
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – A somber New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is apologizing following sexual harassment allegations against him. He said Wednesday he “learned an important lesson” about his own behavior around women, but he said he intended to remain in office. Cuomo said he will “fully cooperate” with the state attorney general’s investigation into sexual harassment allegations. Attorney General Letitia James is in the process of selecting an outside law firm to conduct an investigation into the allegations and produce a report that will be made publicly. Cuomo had avoided public appearances for days as some fellow Democrats call for him to resign.
March 3, 2021 4:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Capitol Police say they have intelligence showing there is a “possible plot” by a militia group to breach the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. The new threat appears to be connected to a far-right conspiracy theory, mainly promoted by supporters of QAnon, that former President Donald Trump will rise again to power on March 4, the presidential inauguration day until 1933. On Wednesday, federal agents were seeking to determine whether there was an increase in the number of hotel rooms being rented in Washington, as well as monitoring flights to the area, car rental reservations and bus charters, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
March 3, 2021 4:11 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House is warning that the U.S. may consider a military response to the rocket attack that hit an air base in western Iraq where American and coalition troops are housed. A U.S. contractor died after at least 10 rockets slammed into the base early Wednesday. Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby says the contractor “suffered a cardiac episode while sheltering” and died shortly afterward. It was the first such attack since the U.S. struck Iran-aligned militia targets along the Iraq-Syria border last week, killing one militiaman. That strike stoked fears of another cycle of tit-for-tat attacks. No one claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s attack.
March 3, 2021 4:09 am
GREENSBURG, Pa. — (WPXI)- Multiple medical helicopters were called to the scene of a crash along Route 119 and Route 22 in Westmoreland County. A woman driving an SUV and a man driving a tractor trailer were flown to area hospitals after their vehicles collided shortly before 6:30 p.m. in Salem Township. Crash investigators said the incident occured when the woman tried to turn onto Route 119 and the truck was heading east. Forbes Road Volunteer Fire Chief Bob Rosatti said the impact spun the SUV around. The truck then crossed through the other lane of traffic, smashed through a guardrail and crashed down a 100 foot embankment. No other details have been released at this time.
March 2, 2021 3:28 pm
DOVER, Del. (AP) – The Boy Scouts of America has submitted a bankruptcy reorganization plan that envisions continued operations of its local troops and national adventure camps but leaves many unanswered questions about resolving tens of thousands of sexual abuse claims by former Boy Scouts. The plan was filed Monday, even though the BSA remains in intense negotiations with insurers over sexual abuse claims and with the official committee representing abuse victims. The BSA says the plan demonstrates progress as it works to compensate abuse victims and address finances so it can continue operating. An attorney for hundreds of former Scouts calls the plan woefully inadequate.
