November 15, 2019 4:23 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The second open House impeachment hearing is over. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch testified for about five hours on Friday, telling investigators about her ouster in May at President Donald Trump’s direction and how she felt as she found out that he had criticized her in a July phone call with Ukraine’s president. She also said it was “intimidating” as Trump went after her again on Twitter as she testified. Democrats are investigating Trump’s dealings with Ukraine and a shadow foreign policy there led by his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. They said that Yovanovitch’s ouster set the stage for the president’s appeals to Ukraine’s leader to investigate Democrats. The House Intelligence Committee will hear from eight more impeachment witnesses next week.
November 15, 2019 4:14 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – A jury has decided that a man they convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting death of a Pennsylvania police officer should get the death penalty. The jury reached the unanimous verdict Thursday against 31-year-old Rahmael Sal Holt. Holt was convicted Tuesday in the November 2017 slaying of New Kensington officer Brian Shaw. Prosecutors contend Holt was an armed drug dealer who had planned to rob the driver of the SUV that Shaw attempted to stop in Old Kensington in Westmoreland County on the night of the shooting. Holt has maintained that he wasn’t the person who fired. The death penalty remains legal in 29 U.S. states, although four of those states, including Pennsylvania, have a moratorium on executions.
November 15, 2019 4:12 am
BETHEL PARK, Pa. – (WPXI)- A man is charged in the disappearance of a Bethel Park woman who hasn’t been seen since Sept. 15. The family of Jaime Feden, 33, contacted police Thursday night to report her missing. Feden is 4 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs 75 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. John Chapman, 39, is in custody and facing several charges, including kidnapping. Channel 11 obtained the criminal complaint that said Chapman drove Feden to Las Vegas in late September, telling her they were taking a trip. At some point around September 25, according to court paperwork, Chapman convinced her to drive into the desert for a photo shoot. He allegedly told police he bound Feden’s hands and feet with zip ties and tied her to a signpost. Chapman also allegedly duct taped her mouth and nose, causing her to suffocate and die, according to police. A criminal complaint says Chapman then removed the tape, the zip ties and Feden’s clothing and left her near the signpost in Nevada before driving back to Bethel Park. Allegheny County detectives have since contacted authorities in Las Vegas, who confirmed they found a woman’s body matching many of Feden’s physical characteristics. Detectives said they will be working with authorities in Nevada to positively identify the woman’s remains.
November 15, 2019 2:56 am
WHEELING, W.Va. (AP) – A West Virginia school district has settled a lawsuit with a man who says he was sexually abused by a teacher and fathered four of her children. The Intelligencer reports Ohio County Schools settled with Christopher Birch on Thursday. The April lawsuit said Bridge Street Middle School science teacher Elizabeth Harbert began grooming Birch when he was 13 years old. It said the pair had their first child when Birch was a junior in high school. Judge Jason Cuomo dismissed most of the lawsuit because a statute of limitation expired but Birch was still able to sue for the negligent hiring of Harbert. Birch’s lawyer says the settlement agreements are confidential. Herbert pleaded guilty in August to third-degree sexual assault and was sentenced to one to five years in prison.
November 15, 2019 2:49 am
Police are investigating a robbery at Kay Jewelers at Tanger Outlets in South Strabane Township Wednesday night. Police say a person called 911 to report a robbery. Police say the robbery occurred just before eight o’clock when two men entered the store armed with hammers, ordered everyone inside to the ground, and immediately began smashing showcases with hammers and removing jewelry. Police say the business was open at the time of the robbery and two employees were assisting seven customers, including three children ages seven and under. No employees or customers were injured during the robbery. The total dollar amount stolen is not yet available. The suspects were described as a B/M, approximately 6’3 wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a B/M, approximately 5’6, wearing a gray sweatshirt. Responding Officers used witness descriptions and surveillance footage to track a suspects vehicle to the Hyatt Hotel parking lot. Police say they were able to locate vehicle and discovered that it had been reported stolen to the Robinson Township Police Department earlier that evening. (Photo: WPXI)
November 14, 2019 5:20 pm
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) – Ford is recalling over 168,000 F-150 pickup trucks in North America to fix an electrical problem that could cause engine stalling or fires. The recall covers certain trucks from the 2019 and 2020 model years built starting June 24 until Oct. 1. Ford says the positive battery terminal fastener may not be properly secured. That can cause systems such as power braking or steering assist and instrument panel displays to malfunction. Engines could stall, and there could be electrical shorts causing smoke or possibly a fire. Ford says it’s not aware of any fires, crashes or injuries. Dealers will inspect the battery cable joint and remove excess adhesive that may cause the problem. Then they’ll reassemble and tighten it. Owners will be notified starting the week of Nov. 25.
November 14, 2019 4:51 pm
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Republican Gov. Matt Bevin says he will not contest results showing Democrat Andy Beshear winning the Kentucky governor’s race. Bevin made the dramatic announcement Thursday at the state Capitol on the same day election officials across Kentucky double-checked vote totals. Last week’s election results showed Bevin trailing Beshear by more than 5,000 votes of more than 1.4 million cast, for a lead of less than 0.4 percentage points. Bevin tried to nationalize his race for reelection, touting his close ties to President Donald Trump. Beshear kept his focus on state issues like education, health care and pensions. Bevin faced a growing chorus of state Republicans urging him to accept the results of the recanvass unless he can point to evidence of substantial voter fraud. Beshear had already declared victory and has been preparing to become governor in December. (Photo: CNN)
November 14, 2019 3:30 pm
ROME (AP) – Italy’s government declared a state of emergency Thursday in flood-ravaged Venice, seeking to release funds to repair the historic lagoon city after it was damaged by the highest tide in 50 years. A cabinet meeting approved a special decree that included 20 million euros ($21.7 million) in immediate financial aid aimed at helping the city recover. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte described the flooding as “a blow to the heart of our country,” after spending Wednesday night in Venice, where world-famous monuments, homes and businesses were hit hard by the exceptional flooding. Venice’s mayor said the damage is estimated at “hundreds of millions of euros.” Mayor Luigi Brugnaro blamed climate change for the “dramatic situation” in the historical city and called for the speedy completion of the city’s long-delayed Moses flood defense project. The water levels reached 1.87 meters (over 6 feet, 1 inch) above sea level Tuesday, the second highest level ever recorded in the city and just 7 centimeters (2 1/2 inches) lower than the historic 1966 flood. Another wave of exceptionally high water followed Wednesday. The exceptional flooding was caused by southerly winds that pushed a high tide, exacerbated by a full moon, into the city. Although the waters have fallen from the peak reached late Tuesday, St Mark’s Square remained partially flooded on Thursday and a new peak water level is expected for Friday morning.
November 14, 2019 3:15 pm
PITTSBURGH (WPXI) – Rahmael Holt has been sentenced to death for the murder of New Kensington Officer Brian Shaw. Holt’s sentencing phase began Wednesday morning after he was found guilty of murdering New Kensington Officer Brian Shaw. Holt was found guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and two firearms violations.
November 14, 2019 11:48 am
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (AP) – Authorities say a second victim of a Los Angeles area high school shooting has died. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva says a 14-year-old boy died at a hospital. Earlier, a 16-year-old girl died from the shooting at Saugus High School in the city of Santa Clarita. Authorities say a student gunman shot five students and then himself around 7:30 a.m. in a school quad. His .45-caliber handgun was found with no bullets remaining when it was recovered. The three surviving victims remain hospitalized. The shooter is in grave condition. (Photo: CNN)
