December 24, 2023 8:17 am
EL PASO, Texas, (ABC) – The Dixie Chicks’ founding member, Laura Lynch, died in a car crash Friday night in Hudspeth County, Texas. A woman was killed and another person was injured in a head-on crash Friday night along U.S. 62 in Hudspeth County, according to KTSM. The Texas Department of Public Safety identified the woman as Laura Lynch. Lynch’s cousin, Michael Lynch, confirmed that she died in the crash. Lynch’s former bandmates released a statement on social media that was obtained by Rolling Stone. “We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Chicks,” the statement read, according to Rolling Stone. “We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and traveling together. Laura was a bright light … her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band. Laura had a gift for design, a love of all things Texas and was instrumental in the early success of the band. Her undeniable talents helped propel us beyond busking on street corners to stages all across Texas and the mid-West.” Lynch co-founded the music group alongside Robin Lynn Macy, Martie Erwin, and Emily Erwin in 1989. She began as an upright bassist for the band and later took on the role of lead vocalist. The group’s first album “Thank Heavens for Dale Evans” was released in 1990. The group released two more albums with Lynch — “Little Ol’ Cowgirl” in 1992 and “Shouldn’t a Told You That” in 1993. Lynch left the group in 1993 and was replaced by singer and guitarist Natalie Maines. (Photo: ABC)
December 24, 2023 7:55 am
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Israeli military says 14 soldiers have been killed in combat in the Gaza Strip over the weekend. It was some of the bloodiest days of battle since the start of Israel’s ground offensive in late October and a sign that Hamas is still putting up a fight. The mounting death toll among troops announced Sunday is likely to play an important factor in Israeli public support for the war and the country’s stated goals of crushing Hamas and releasing the remaining hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting, “The war exacts a very heavy price from us but we have no choice but to continue fighting.” The head of the U.N. refugee agency reiterated calls for a cease-fire.
December 24, 2023 7:49 am
(WPXI) – Two people were killed in a house fire in Washington County early Sunday morning. The fire started around 5 a.m. along McKean Avenue in Donora. At least three homes were damaged in the fire, and several people were displaced. Washington County Coroner Tim Warco said the one of the people killed in the fire, who he identifies as Tracy Honabarger, 41, had become trapped in the home. She was pronounced dead at an area hospital. No information has been released about the second victim. Around a dozen agencies responded to the fire. The blaze remains under investigation by the Donora Police Department. This is the second fire on McKean Avenue in less than two weeks. On Dec. 14, a fire destroyed an old apartment building blocks away.
December 24, 2023 5:00 am
One person was shot and flown to a Pittsburgh hospital early Saturday morning following a police chase. Washington County 9-1-1 dispatchers tell WJPA news it began with officers being called to the Main Street Tavern in the 200-block of Main Street in Monongahela just after 1 a.m. When officers arrived a chase ensued but ended a short time later in Forward Township in Allegheny County. Dispatchers say a suspect was shot when that chase ended and was then flown by medical helicopter from the scene. No other details are currently available including the identity or condition of the person shot. Police continue to investigate.
December 24, 2023 5:00 am
BENTLEYVILLE, Pa. — (WPXI) – A man is behind bars after leading police on a chase through Bentleyville on Wednesday. According to the criminal complaint, police saw a silver sedan driving at a high rate of speed in the 500 block of Main Street at around 5:30 p.m. The complaint said the sedan took off and turned left on Oak Street upon seeing a patrol car following. The car then turned onto Bertram Street, where police decided to terminate the pursuit because of the residents in the area having small children who play outside. Later on, the police chief saw the suspect vehicle, a silver Kia Soul with an Arizona license plate, and pulled it over on Mary Street at Coal Center Road. The chief ran the plate and found it didn’t belong to any car, the complaint said. The driver, Shane Conner, told police he was suspended, didn’t have insurance and the car wasn’t registered. Police found that Conner had been convicted of driving while suspended six times and had six warrants. Conner is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, disorderly conduct, driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked, reckless driving, careless driving and various other charges regarding the car not being registered and not having insurance. He is last reported held in the Washington County Jail.
December 23, 2023 5:03 am
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) — Some American senior citizens have a new companion to help them combat loneliness: a robot. ElliQ is a tabletop device that uses artificial intelligence to conduct humanlike conversations with its owners. Its creators have designed the device for senior citizens who live alone. Created by an Israeli company, ElliQ is being distributed throughout New York and in some Florida, Michigan, Nevada and Washington counties. Users say the robot is a friendly and intelligent companion. However, one university psychologist worries the device will keep some seniors from seeking out human contact. Social service workers distributing ElliQ agree that human interaction is best but not always available for seniors.
December 23, 2023 5:01 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of prices fell last month, another sign that inflation is easing and that consumers should expect to see lower interest rates in 2024. Friday’s report from the Commerce Department showed that U.S. consumer prices slid 0.1% last month from October and rose 2.6% from November 2022. The month-over-month drop was the largest since April 2020 when the economy was reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. The numbers show somewhat more progress against inflation than economists had expected. Inflation is steadily moving down to the Fed’s year-over-year target of 2% and appears to be clearing the way for Fed rate cuts in 2024.
December 23, 2023 4:59 am
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court has overturned Republican-drawn legislative maps and ordered that new ones be created. The ruling Friday is a huge win for Democrats who have been in the minority under the GOP maps. The court ruled 4-3 in favor of ordering new district boundary lines before the 2024 election. Republicans have built large majorities under the maps they first enacted in 2011. Democrats argued that the maps were unconstitutional because the district boundaries were not contiguous. The case is one of more than two dozen legal fights over redistricting happening across the country.
December 23, 2023 4:58 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says it will not immediately take up a plea by special counsel Jack Smith to rule on whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted for his actions to overturn the 2020 election results. The court revealed its decision Friday. The issue will now be decided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which has signaled it will act quickly to decide the case. Special counsel Jack Smith had cautioned that even a rapid appellate decision might not get to the Supreme Court in time for review and final word before the court’s traditional summer break.
December 23, 2023 4:54 am
SHAMONG, N.J. (AP) — New details are emerging about the fatal crash of a Philadelphia TV news helicopter earlier this week. The National Transportation Safety Board says WPVI’s Chopper 6 was returning to its base at Northeast Philadelphia Airport Tuesday night when something caused it to crash into Wharton State Forest in New Jersey’s Washington Township. Investigator Todd Gunther (pictured) says the chopper hit the trees at high speed, broke apart and caught fire. Killed in the crash were the pilot, 67-year-old Monroe Smith of Glenside, Pennsylvania, and a photographer, 45-year-old Christopher Dougherty of Oreland, Pennsylvania. They were returning from photographing Christmas light displays near Atlantic City.
