May 24, 2021 3:25 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House and the Kremlin are working to arrange a summit between President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Switzerland in June. National security adviser Jake Sullivan is meeting with his Russian counterpart in the proposed host city of Geneva this week to finalize details. The summit would come at the end of Biden’s first foreign trip as president, a weeklong swing through Europe that includes a stop in the United Kingdom for a summit of the Group of Seven, leaders of the world’s richest nations. He also will visit the Brussels headquarters of NATO.
May 24, 2021 1:10 pm
The Pennsylvania Utility Commission announced a series of four mid June telephonic hearings to gather input on a rate increase request filed by Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania. Columbia Gas is seeking an overall revenue increase of approximately $98 million dollars. Under this proposal the average customer now using 70 therms a month and paying $100.77 would then pay $115.37, a 14.49% increase in rates. The meetings are on June 14 at 1 PM and 6 PM and on Wednesday June 16 at 1 PM and 6 PM. Those that wish to testify or listen need to pre-register. Details are on the PUC website.
May 24, 2021 4:18 am
ORANGE, Calif. (AP) – The family of a 6-year-old California boy who was shot to death by another driver in a road-rage attack announced a $50,000 reward on Sunday for information leading to the arrest of a suspect. The mother of Aiden Leos said she was driving her son to school Friday morning when a white Volkswagen cut her off on State Route 55 in the city of Orange. She said as she continued driving, the suspect vehicle slipped behind her and someone in the car fired a shot. She said the bullet went through the trunk and struck her son. The tearful mother said her son “just didn’t deserve that.”
May 24, 2021 4:17 am
TOKYO (AP) – Japan mobilized military doctors and nurses to give shots to elderly people in Tokyo and Osaka as the government desperately tries to accelerate its vaccination rollout and curb coronavirus infections just two months before hosting the Olympics. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is determined to hold the Olympics and has made an ambitious pledge to finish vaccinating elderly people by the end of July, despite skepticism it’s possible. Worries about public safety while many Japanese remain unvaccinated have prompted growing protests and calls for canceling the Games set to start on July 23. The two mass inoculation centers in Tokyo and Osaka aim to give shots to 15,000 people a day for the next three months.
May 24, 2021 4:16 am
ROME (AP) – Italy’s transport minister is heading to the scene of a cable car disaster that killed 14 people. Witnesses and local authorities say the lead cable apparently snapped and the emergency brake failed to stop the cabin from careening back down the mountain until it pulled off the line and crashed to the ground. The lone survivor is a 5-year-old boy who remains hospitalized in Turin Monday with multiple broken bones. The Israeli foreign ministry identified him as Eitan Biran. His parents, two great-grandparents and his 2-year-old brother were killed. The disaster raised questions anew about the quality and safety of Italy’s transport infrastructure.
May 24, 2021 4:15 am
NEW DELHI (AP) – The COVID-19 death toll in India has passed 300,000 as a devastating surge of new infections appears to be easing in big cities. But the virus isn’t finished with India by any means. As megacities such as Mumbai and New Delhi see some improvement, the virus appears to be taking a ghastly toll in the country’s vast rural areas. A majority of India’s people live in rural areas, where health care is limited. The health ministry on Monday reported 4,454 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing India’s total to 303,720. India has the third most deaths, behind the United States and Brazil. Experts, however, believe the true toll is significantly greater.
May 24, 2021 4:12 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate and payrolls remained virtually the same in April. State figures released Friday show Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point to 7.4%. That was more than a whole point above the national rate of 6.1% in April. In a survey of households, the labor force remained virtually the same, at just below 6.34 million. The state hit a record high labor force of almost 6.6 million just before the pandemic. In a separate survey of employers, payrolls in Pennsylvania slid in April by 4,400, to below 5.67 million. Pennsylvania has regained about 60% of the 1.1 million jobs lost in the pandemic.
May 24, 2021 4:11 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Stephen Zappala Sr., a former chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court being remembered for his distinguished legal career and public service, has died. He was 88. The William Slater II Funeral Service of Pittsburgh said Zappala Sr., died Friday. He served in the Army and attained the rank of first lieutenant before returning to Pittsburgh to begin private law practice. Zappala Sr. then became Allegheny County’s planning director and solicitor before winning a Common Pleas court seat. In 1981, he was elected to the state Supreme Court and became chief justice in 2001 before retiring in December 2002.
May 24, 2021 3:53 am
FINLEYVILLE, Pa. — A Finleyville man has died following an ATV accident in Union Township Saturday night. Dusty Robison, 40, was pronounced dead on the scene just before 9:30 p.m. near 295 Garvin Road. According to officials, Robison was the lone rider of the vehicle, which lost control and came to rest in a ditch. The Monongahela Police Department is investigating the incident. They were assisted by Southeast Regional EMS as well as the Finleyville and Elrama Fire Departments.
May 24, 2021 3:49 am
HOPEWELL TWP. — A Canonsburg man has died after being electrocuted while working on a home in Avella Saturday morning. According to officials, Joseph Bevec, 57, was working as a handyman cleaning gutters at a residence on Brush Run Road. Reports say his aluminum ladder came into contact with a high-voltage power line. The death was ruled an accident. Assisting Pennsylvania State Police on scene were Ambulance and Chair Service, Avella Fire Department, West Middletown Fire Department and West Penn Power. The incident is still under investigation.
