December 31, 2023 6:49 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has launched a fresh drone assault on Ukraine after promising that strikes on the Russian border city of Belgorod “would not go unpunished”. The Ukrainian Air Force said Sunday that it had shot down 21 of 49 drones launched by Russian forces overnight. Twenty-eight people were wounded in the attack on the eastern city of Kharkiv, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said Sunday. The attacks came after shelling in the Russian city of Belgorod Saturday killed 24 people. A further 108 people were wounded, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said Sunday, making it one of the deadliest attacks on Russian soil since the start of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine 22 months ago.
December 31, 2023 6:46 am
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois will usher in 320 new laws on New Year’s Day. The production or purchase of a semi-automatic weapon will be prohibited, and employers will be required to allow paid vacation for any reason. Other laws include a prohibition on libraries banning books, bans on videoconferencing while driving and vaping in indoor public spaces. Police won’t be able to pull over motorists for having items hanging from their rearview mirrors but they will be able to use surveillance drones at public events. One law that took effect in 2019 but is still impacting workers is an increase in the minimum wage. It increases to $14 an hour on Jan. 1 for non-tipped workers and will reach $15 in a year.
December 31, 2023 3:51 am
A Canonsburg couple that were acting as caretakers to a four year old child will face trial for child endangerment. Jessica Powell, 30 and Maceo Williams, 46 had aggravated assault simple assault charges dismissed at their preliminary hearing. According to police they were called by Williams reporting that the child was in need of stitches. The child was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital where they received 25 stitches. Doctors indicated that the incident was consistent with child abuse. Both were formally arraigned on Friday.
December 31, 2023 3:50 am
A Washington County man will face trial for an automobile accident that occurred in North Strabane Township back in November. Ricardo Martinez, 26, is charged by North Strabane Township Police with aggravated assault by vehicle, DUI, accidents involving death or injury while DUI, reckless endangerment and several summary offenses. Police indicate that Martinez was driving at a high rate of speed when he crashed into a vehicle driven by Frank Hervol at the intersection of Latimer and View Avenues on November 4. Both men were flown to Pittsburgh hospitals with serious injuries. Martinez was arraigned on the charges on Friday.
December 30, 2023 4:45 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A chaotic year for the House is coming to a close with more Democrats than Republicans deciding to leave the chamber. It’s a disparity that could have major ramifications in next year’s elections. A few more retirements can be expected after the holidays when lawmakers have had a chance to spend time with families and as filing deadlines approach. Many of the Democrats not seeking another term in the House are running for higher office, but their exodus could give Republicans better chances to win competitive seats. Meanwhile, Republicans are generally leaving seats that Republicans will be highly favored to retake.
December 30, 2023 4:43 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli warplanes have struck two urban refugee camps in central Gaza. Saturday’s bombardment came hours after the Biden administration approved a new emergency weapons sale to Israel. The approval that bypassed Congress was granted despite international cease-fire calls over mounting civilian deaths, hunger and mass displacement in the enclave. Meanwhile, aid officials say condition in Gaza have only worsened a week after a U.N. Security Council call for the unhindered delivery of aid across the besieged territory. The World Health Organization says the spread of diseases including respiratory infections and diarrhea is intensifying amid repeated mass displacement.
December 30, 2023 4:40 am
Russian officials say 32 Ukrainian drones were detected over Russia, a day after Moscow’s 18-hour aerial barrage of Ukraine killed at least 30 civilians. Drones were seen in the skies over Russia’s Moscow, Bryansk, Oryol, and Kursk regions, the country’s defense ministry said in a statement. It did not report any casualties and said that all of the drones had been destroyed by air defenses. Moscow’s forces launched 122 missiles and dozens of drones across Ukraine Friday, an onslaught described by one air force official as the biggest aerial barrage of the war.
December 30, 2023 1:40 am
(WPXI) A Lancaster man is behind bars, accused of firing a shotgun several times into a box truck at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe and leading police on a chase across Westmoreland County and into Indiana County on Friday. According to police, Tyler Mieczkowski, 22, is now being held at the Westmoreland County Jail after being denied bail. The driver of the box truck, who was at the airport to make a delivery, was not hurt. Officers immediately notified State Police and surrounding agencies that the suspect, now identified as Mieczkowski, took off in a dark-colored Dodge Charger. Within minutes, officers tracked down Mieczkowski and attempted to stop him. The chase went through Latrobe and Derry in Westmoreland County and into Blairsville in Indiana County, where police stopped Mieczkowski’s Charger, causing it to crash using spike strips. Investigators say it’s still unclear if Mieczkowski and the victim knew each other but they do believe it was a targeted attack. Mieczkowski is facing multiple charges, including attempted homicide and aggravated assault.
December 30, 2023 1:12 am
(WPXI) – The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office says two teachers from Nicely Elementary School face 21 charges each – for how they reportedly used unauthorized and inappropriate restraint procedures on 3 students who were under their care. The DA’s office says 34-year-old Brooke Stanko and 58-year-old Teri Kepchia are now charged with Endangering the Welfare of Children, Simple Assault, Failure to Report and False imprisonment of a minor. The DA’s office says the crimes happened between September and October OF this year. Officials have yet to release specific details of what the two did, but Greensburg/Salem School District Superintendent Kenneth Bissell sent out A letter to parents a week ago – expressing his frustration and disappointment.
December 29, 2023 5:13 pm
(WPXI) – An Allegheny County movie theater is still open after being slapped with a consumer alert from the County Health Department over shocking findings by a health inspector. The report – from a visit to Waterworks Cinemas on Dec. 26 – shows the inspector found recently dead mice behind a movie screen and multiple older dead mice in various rooms throughout the theater. The report also states there were “Fruit flies too numerous to count under all the drink towers” – in addition to rodent droppings near drink machines and throughout the facility, and hot dogs stored at an unsafe temperature. the theater is set to be reinspected by the health department on Jan. 5th.
