January 28, 2020 4:11 am
PLUM, Pa. (AP) – A Pittsburgh-area school district has closed all schools Monday following a potential threat of violence received over the weekend. Plum Borough police say the “non-specific” potential threat against Plum School District came Sunday from an online system for reporting anonymous tips run by the state attorney general’s office. Police say the decision to close all district schools was made “in an abundance of caution.” Police chief Lanny Conley told the Tribune-Review that it was a “generalized threat to shoot up the school.” The district was closed after a threat in 2018. Six threats in spring 2017 resulted in charges against several students.
January 28, 2020 4:10 am
BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) – A judge is flatly rejecting Jerry Sandusky’s latest request to have his 30- to 60-year child molestation sentence reduced. A judge said Tuesday that she purposely fashioned the prison term to have an impact on the former Penn State assistant football coach. She noted Sandusky continues to maintain his innocence. And the judge said it appeared Sandusky would have access to children if he were to leave prison. His lawyers say he plans further appeals. The 76-year-old Sandusky participated by phone but said very little. His defense attorney argued that grievances and misconduct that Sandusky has been involved in while in prison were relatively minor.
January 28, 2020 4:08 am
The agenda was brief but quite productive in Peters Township as council began Monday night with a conditional use public hearing regarding a proposed office warehouse development along Venetia Road. A proposal for as many as three 4000 square foot buildings is being proposed for storage and work space for small business owners that need office space and storage for materials. Discussion then moved to an eyesore that township residents have complained about for years. Township Manager Paul Lauer explained that the township will enter into a settlement agreement with Ed and Susan Courtney regarding the demolition of one of their buildings at the St. Petersburg Center on Valleybrook Road. The Courtneys appealed a common pleas court decision to commonwealth court. That appeal resulted in a decision giving the Courtneys 60 days to demolish the building and remove all remaining debris. Lauer states that progress is being made and he does not expect any issue going forward. Council also approved the purchase of a new police vehicle. Council budgeted $44,000 dollars for a vehicle that will be assigned to the chief of police. Cars will be rotated and the oldest one sold.
January 28, 2020 4:07 am
MONESSEN, Pa. — (WPXI) – A Monessen police officer is under fire after controversial posts on Facebook. It started with the officer taking to social media to ask, “Who was Kobe Bryant?” The comments and images that followed have many people in the community questioning the officer’s judgement. Multiple images of fiery explosions and police officers dancing — Neighbors said the responses were inappropriate and insensitive. The police chief said he is aware of the posts and the officer’s union is involved, but no disciplinary action has been taken at this time. According to our news partners at Channel 11, some in the community said they’ve lost trust in the officer and comments they said they found racially insensitive.
January 28, 2020 1:55 am
Here’s what you can expect – courtesy of our news partners at WPXI:
What days will the trial be in session: The trial will run six days a week, Monday through Saturday, until it is finished.
Here is the schedule:
Wednesday, Jan. 29: Possible vote on witnesses
What channel will show the trial: Broadcast networks and cable news channels will be airing the trial live
How did we get here: On Dec. 18, after nearly three months of hearings and investigation, the House passed two articles of impeachment against Trump stemming from a phone conversation he had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The articles claim Trump abused his power as president and obstructed Congress from investigating his alleged abuse of power. Trump, House investigators said, tried to solicit foreign interference in the 2020 election by having Zelensky push an investigation into his likely 2020 political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. The articles of impeachment claim that Trump withheld vital military aid and a White House meeting with Zelensky until he was promised the investigation into Biden and his son Hunter would take place. He also wanted an investigation into a conspiracy theory that suggests that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 U.S. election, House Democrats claim. The impeachment inquiry that led to the articles of impeachment was triggered by a whistleblower who reported the gist of a phone conversation that took place on July 25 between Trump and Zelensky where Trump allegedly pressured Zelensky for the investigation. (Photo: CNN)
January 27, 2020 4:43 pm
West Virginia State Police say a small plane went down along the Taylor/Marion County line just before one o’clock Monday afternoon. Agencies from both counties are on the ground along with the Grafton Fire Department. There is no information about the number of passengers or injuries, if any.
January 27, 2020 11:52 am
SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (AP) – The fire chief in Scottsboro, Alabama says at least eight people were killed in an explosive fire that consumed at least 35 vessels along the Tennessee River. Authorities say all eight people known to be missing are confirmed dead, and “that number could go up,” because they don’t know how many were on boats that sank. At least seven people were sent to hospitals suffering from exposure to the water or flames. The fire quickly consumed the dock as people were sleeping, cutting off their escape routes and raining debris into the water. (Photo: CNN)
January 27, 2020 10:34 am
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – A U.S. official says that a mystery crash in eastern Afghanistan was a U.S. military plane. The official spoke on background to provide details not publicly released, adding that the military aircraft crashed in the Ghazni province and an investigation of its causes was ongoing. Video from the crash site circulating on social media appeared to suggest the aircraft was a U.S. Air Force electronic surveillance plane. The Taliban control much of the province and all of the area of the crash site. Monday’s plane crash is not expected to derail U.S.-Taliban peace talks if it turns out to have been an accident.
January 27, 2020 9:56 am
(WPXI) – A Peters Township man is in stable condition after he was struck while trying to cross Route 19 near its intersection with McMurray Road just after 7 a.m. Monday. According to Peters Township Police Chief Doug Grimes, the 83-year-old man was walking toward the BP gas station on Route 19. He was struck by a car when he stepped off the median into the northbound lane. Grimes said he was transported via ambulance to Allegheny General Hospital. He did not comment on the extent of his injuries. Grimes identified the driver only as a woman, whom he said attempted to avoid hitting the pedestrian. The driver remained at the scene, and Grimes said there is no reason to believe she will be charged. Castle Shannon and Jefferson Hills police departments assisted Peters Township police with reconstructing the accident. A pile of clothing and a cane were visible in the roadway while police conducted their investigation. Police had northbound lanes of Route 19 closed until shortly after 9:30 a.m.
January 27, 2020 6:50 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. – We’re getting a better idea which Sundays hunting will be allowed. The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissions has given its preliminary approval for three Sunday hunting dates. Those dates include Nov. 15, for archery deer hunting, Nov. 22 for bear hunting during firearms season, and Nov. 29 for deer hunting during the firearms season. Sunday hunting would require a landowner’s written permission. The hunting and trapping seasons will be finalized during the game commission’s next meeting in early April.
