July 17, 2019 4:17 am
CLEVELAND (AP) – Newly public federal data shows how drug companies increased shipments of opioid painkillers across the U.S. as a national addiction crisis accelerated from 2006 to 2012. The data reported Tuesday by The Washington Post shows that companies distributed 8.4 billion hydrocodone and oxycodone pills to commercial pharmacies in 2006 and 12.6 billion in 2012. Over that seven-year period, 76 billion bills were distributed in all and prescription opioids contributed to more than 100,000 deaths in the U.S. The data was released as part of lawsuits by local governments seeking to hold drug companies accountable for the crisis. The Post and HD Media, which owns newspapers in West Virginia, sued for the information. It has not yet been released to the public or other media outlets.
July 17, 2019 4:16 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Immigrant advocates are suing the Trump administration over its move to end asylum protections for most migrants who cross the southern U.S. border. The American Civil Liberties Union, Southern Poverty Law Center and Center for Constitutional Rights sued Tuesday in federal court in Northern California. The Trump administration proposal would prevent most migrants from seeking protection as refugees if they have passed through another country first. It targets the tens of thousands of Central American families who cross into the U.S. through Mexico. But it would also affect people from Africa, Asia and South America who also seek refuge at the southern border. Immigrant advocates say the plan is illegal because it circumvents the process Congress has established for asylum.
July 17, 2019 4:14 am
NEW YORK (AP) – A lawyer says New York Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo (pan-tuh-LAY’-oh) is “gratified” that the Justice Department carefully reviewed his case rather than what he calls the “lies and inaccuracies” surrounding it. The government announced Tuesday that it had decided not to bring civil rights charges against Pantaleo in connection with Eric Garner’s 2014 death.
Attorney Stuart London says Pantaleo used techniques approved by the New York Police Department while arresting Garner, who died after uttering “I can’t breathe.” London added that a loss of life is “always a tragedy.” Meanwhile, a chant of “No justice, no peace!” erupted as Garner’s family and their supporters gathered outside City Hall. Cousin Michael Garner stressed that the family has the “utmost respect” for law enforcement when it is “applied fairly.” However, he said officers who were “there and did nothing” should be fired.
July 17, 2019 4:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – House Democrats have issued a remarkable rebuke against President Donald Trump, passing a resolution condemning what they called Trump’s “racist comments” aimed at four liberal congresswomen of color. Four moderate Republicans joined Democrats in Tuesday night’s 240-187 vote in spite of lobbying by Trump and Republican leaders trying to keep the vote along party lines. GOP leaders insist Trump’s comments were not racist and accused Democrats of political game-playing. Trump himself continued to claim that his exhortations against the congresswomen were not racist and repeated his challenge that they leave the U.S. if they aren’t happy. He originally urged the women to return to their home countries, though three of them are native-born Americans and all are citizens.
July 17, 2019 4:10 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike will be going up 6% next year for both E-ZPass users and cash customers. Turnpike officials announced Tuesday that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission had approved the increase slated to start Jan. 5 on all sections and extensions except for three “cashless” toll facilities in western Pennsylvania. Officials said the increase is needed to meet escalating debt service costs and to maintain aging roads. Officials said the most common toll for a passenger vehicle next year will increase from $1.40 to $1.50 for E-ZPass customers and from $2.30 to $2.50 for cash customers. The most common tractor-trailer toll will rise from $3.70 to $4.00 for E-ZPass and from $16.30 to $17.30 for cash. Three western Pennsylvania highways will see increases Oct. 27.
July 17, 2019 4:09 am
WILKINSBURG, Pa. (AP) – Two people have been sentenced to decades in prison after pleading guilty in the slaying of a young mother near Pittsburgh that authorities said was part of a scheme to rob her of her tax refund. Dane Taylor was sentenced to 30 to 60 years and Laya Whitley to 20 to 50 years after both pleaded guilty Tuesday to third-degree murder, robbery, and conspiracy.
Authorities said 27-year-old Keiauna Davis was carrying $3,000 cash when she was killed in February 2018 in Wilkinsburg. Prosecutors alleged that Whitley, a co-worker, conspired with Taylor to rob her. Twenty-three-year-old Whitley also pleaded to evidence-tampering and criminal use of a phone. Twenty-two-year-old Taylor also pleaded to a firearms crime. Whitley apologized, saying “This is not what I intended to happen.” A third defendant awaits trial.
July 17, 2019 4:07 am
FORT HILL, Pa. – (WPXI) – The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh confirmed to Channel 11 that a 15-year-old boy died after a fall at a wilderness camp in Somerset County. YMCA officials said early Monday afternoon, the teen boy, identified Tuesday as Nathan Kanczes, was attending Teen Wilderness Camp through YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee Spencer in Beaver County. Campers from that location were on an outing near YMCA Deer Valley Camp in Fort Hill, which is in Somerset County. It was near the Deer Valley Camp where the teen was critically injured. Kanczes was airlifted to Conemaugh Meyersdale Medical Center where he died. “It was horrifying. I yelled for my husband ‘Oh my God, you have to come see this'”, said Leslie Truver. Truver attended the wilderness camp herself along with her older children, and one of her kids was at the camp when the incident occurred. Officials from the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh were on site, and staff from both Deer Valley Camp and Camp Kon-O-Kwee Spencer are working with authorities in their investigation. “We are devastated by this tragic loss and our hearts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time,” the YMCA said in a statement.
July 17, 2019 3:22 am
John Sadvary had his preliminary hearing Tuesday in front of District Magistrate Larry Hopkins. The 39-year-old Sadvary is accused of attempted homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide among other charges relating to an April 18 assault of Troy Harris at the Charleroi Slovak Club. The charges and docket were sealed by Judge John DiSalle and when the hearing began, five other defendants were brought out to have similar charges brought against them. Harris was president of the Pagan Motorcycle Club. He left the Pagans to join a rival group and witness testimony suggested that retaliation may have been in store. Sadvary and the five other defendants were held for trial on all charges brought against them. A bail hearing in front of Judge John DiSalle is scheduled for Thursday.
July 16, 2019 4:54 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says President Donald Trump is “not a racist” after Trump tweeted over the weekend that four congresswomen of color should return to their native countries. All of the congresswomen are American citizens. McConnell said at a news conference Tuesday that political rhetoric has gotten “way, way overheated across the political spectrum.” He pointed to Democratic comments, saying “we’ve seen the far left throw accusations of racism at everyone.” He also took a mild swipe at Trump, saying everyone “from the president to the speaker to the freshmen members of the House” should take a lesson from the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who said he attacked ideas, not people. Pressed by reporters as to whether he thought the president is a racist, McConnell said: “the president is not a racist.”
July 16, 2019 4:53 pm
CHICAGO (AP) – A federal judge has ordered R&B singer R. Kelly held in a Chicago jail without bond on sex crime charges. U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber handed down the ruling Tuesday after Kelly was arrested last week and charged in Chicago and New York with sex crimes including having sex with minors and trying to cover it up. Kelly, wearing an orange jumpsuit and shackled at the ankles, did not speak except to say “yes sir” when the judge asked if he understood the charges. His attorney, Steve Greenberg, submitted a not guilty plea. Prosecutors argued that Kelly would be an extreme risk if released, especially to minors, and that he might flee.
