July 10, 2021 4:55 am
SURFSIDE, Fla. (AP) – The death toll in the Florida condominium collapse has risen to 78 after 14 additional victims were pulled out of the rubble. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced the new number at a Friday news conference, calling it both “staggering” and “heartbreaking.” An additional 62 people are still unaccounted for. On Thursday, Paraguay’s foreign minister said in a radio report that the body of the sister of that country’s first lady was among those found. Several Latin American citizens were reported in the building when it collapsed. Rescue workers now focused on finding remains instead of survivors have pledged to keep up their search for victims until they clear all the debris at the site.
July 10, 2021 4:55 am
PHOENIX (AP) – Authorities say a fiery crash that killed six people and injured five others happened after two vehicles crossed an interstate median to pull over and get help with a flat tire. The two vehicles were hit from behind by a semi-trailer after making a U-turn in a median on Interstate 10 west of Phoenix. The state Department of Public Safety says the July 2 crash split Natisha Moffett’s car in half, and it burst into flames. The 35-year-old Arizona resident and her five children were killed. Her friend and her four children who were traveling in the other vehicle were injured.
July 10, 2021 4:53 am
MIAMI (AP) — Officials say the Miami-Dade County Courthouse will begin undergoing repairs immediately after a review found safety concerns within the building. A joint statement from multiple leaders late Friday says the review was prompted by the collapse of a condo building in Surfside that killed at least 86 people and left 43 people missing. An engineer’s report recommended floors 16 and above be closed to courthouse staff. The leaders decided all courthouse employees would go back to working from home. Employees only recently returned to the building after working remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic. Court operations will proceed in a remote format until the safety concerns are addressed.
July 10, 2021 4:30 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – A Pittsburgh museum is returning to public view a 19th-century diorama that shows lions attacking a camel and its human rider. The curtain around “Lion Attacking a Dromedary” was removed last week, about a year after the Carnegie Museum of Natural History covered up the display in response to complaints about how the courier was depicted. Information is now posted to address the controversy. X-rays have confirmed that the figure contains a human skull and jaw, presenting an ethical problem for the museum. A new sign says the exhibit is popular but reinforces stereotypes.
July 10, 2021 4:25 am
After a forced break because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Whiskey Rebellion Festival is back Saturday, although in a scaled-back way. Co-chair of the festival, Joe Piszczor says the key components of the festival will still be there, like the music, the food and the re-enactments. Piszczor says what is typically a four-day event will now take place almost entirely on Saturday, although the official kick-off was held Friday with a live performance from the Washington Symphony Orchestra. Piszczor says Saturday is the big day with plenty of food, music and live theater. Activities will take place in the Community Pavilion on South Main Street in Washington across from the Observer-Reporter building, The Bradford House and the LeMoyne House on Maiden Street. Freedom Transit will help get you to all the fun. They are hosting their seventh annual Free Fare Day on Saturday, July 10th.
July 10, 2021 4:02 am
MONONGAHELA, Pa. (WPXI) — After heavy rain came through our region, the Monongahela Fire Department pumped more than three feet of water out of their basement Thursday night into Friday morning. For the past few months, the fire department has been dealing with flooding problems because of a broken pipe that sits underneath a nearby railroad track. Aaron Leezer is the chief of the fire department, and says he and the other firefighters are constantly wondering if each storm will bring more flooding. It wasn’t until after midnight that the fire department was able to get all the water pumped out. The problem is underneath the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks that sit between the Mon River and the department. There’s a pipe that needs to be repaired, and it causes all the water to back up — and go down into the department’s basement. State Senator Camera Bartolotta heard about the issue and met with the department and city council to see what can be done. Bartolotta is also reaching out to Norfolk Southern herself. Since the problem is right underneath the railroad tracks, the city needs extra permission to make repairs they need to to stop the flooding.
July 10, 2021 3:57 am
Authorities are searching for a West Virginia man wanted in connection with a shooting in Canonsburg early Wednesday. A warrant has been issued for 48-year-old Reginald Quick of Weirton. Police say they believe Quick shot his ex-girlfriend, Patricia Purvey, once in the back. Authorities say Purvey gave them a false story about how she was wounded, but later recanted her story, telling them she had lied because she was afraid. Purvey, who lives in the 300 block of Ridge Avenue, said Quick appeared in her bedroom and pointed a gun at her, threatening to kill her. She said the gun went off as she pushed his arm away. Purvey drove herself to the hospital with Quick following in his vehicle. He was questioned by police but told them he didn’t see or hear anything.
July 9, 2021 2:50 pm
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Rocker Marilyn Manson surrendered to police in Los Angeles in connection with a 2019 arrest warrant out of New Hampshire where he allegedly assaulted a videographer at a concert. Manson, whose legal name is Brian Hugh Warner, is charged with two misdemeanor counts of simple assault stemming from an alleged incident on Aug. 19, 2019, at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford. Manson was booked and released last week without bail pending a court appearance in New Hampshire. Manson’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday. Los Angeles police confirmed Manson’s surrender.
July 9, 2021 4:18 am
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Texas GOP lawmakers began a hurried attempt Thursday to pass new voting restrictions, among other unfinished business, as they began a packed special session agenda that Democrats say plays to the far right. New voting proposals took center stage Thursday as Texas lawmakers returned to the state capitol for a 30-day special session following Democrats’ May walkout that broke quorum and closed out the regular session. The agenda, which was released by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott early Wednesday, also includes border security, “social media censorship,” and critical race theory, among other priority items.
July 9, 2021 4:17 am
Pfizer says it is about to seek U.S. authorization for a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine, but U.S. health officials say a booster isn’t needed yet. The company said Thursday that another shot could dramatically boost immunity and maybe help ward off the latest worrisome coronavirus mutant. Pfizer says early data from a company trial suggests people’s antibody levels jump after they get a third dose. But the filing doesn’t mean third doses would be rolled out any time soon. Public health officials would have to decide if they’re really needed. And U.S. health officials followed Pfizer’s announcement with a statement saying they want to see more data before authorizing booster shots.
