December 25, 2019 2:24 am
CLAIRTON, Pa. — For the fifth straight day, air pollution in the Mon Valley reached unhealthy levels in the Clairton area, violating federal air quality standards. Clean Water Action renewed warnings to residents about the health threat from the air pollution from U.S. Steel. It is likely pollution levels on Christmas Day will also be unhealthy without action by U.S. to reduce emissions. Myron Arnowitt, Pennsylvania Director for Clean Water Action says this lengthy period of unhealthy air represents a real danger to residents in the Mon Valley and is degrading air quality throughout the region. The group is concerned that neither U.S. Steel nor the Allegheny County Health Department has taken any actions to address the situation claiming; “We cannot control the weather. But we can control how much pollution we put into the air.”
December 24, 2019 4:16 pm
CHICAGO (AP) – Dense fog has caused flight delays and some cancellations at Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway international airports early on Christmas Eve during one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season. The Federal Aviation Administration briefly grounded flights at both airports until about 8 a.m. Tuesday and eased those restrictions as the fog cleared. By mid morning, nearly 50 flights had been canceled at O’Hare, and more than 70 flights canceled at Midway, split evenly between arrivals and departures.
December 24, 2019 4:16 pm
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) – President Donald Trump has called members of the military to share greetings ahead of the Christmas holiday. Trump spoke by video conference with service members from his private club in Florida, where is he is on a more than two-week vacation. Trump has been largely out of the spotlight since delivering a speech to conservative students in nearby West Palm Beach on Saturday, spending his days golfing on his private course and greeting the well-heeled members of his clubs.áTrump was asked what he’d bought his wife, first lady Melania Trump, for Christmas. He said he’d bought her a “beautiful card,” but was “still working on a Christmas present.”
December 24, 2019 1:25 pm
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WPXI) — A Baltimore man was arrested early Tuesday morning after police said he caused a disturbance and bit two officers at the Amtrak station in downtown Pittsburgh. Officers went to the station on Liberty Avenue around 2:45 a.m. when Deandre McCrary, 39, became irate after asking an Amtrak employee for a cigarette and the employee didn’t have any, police said. Police said the man yelled at a ticket seller, punched a window that was separating them and then angrily paced the lobby while talking to himself. Officers told the man he had to leave the station, but he refused, according to police. When the officers began to escort him outside, the man resisted. During the struggle, he allegedly bit two officers. Police said they tased the man and eventually took him into custody. McCrary was taken to the Allegheny County Jail and charged with aggravated assault, trespassing and resisting arrest. The two officers who were bitten were treated at UPMC Mercy and released.
December 24, 2019 4:22 am
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he is not ruling out witnesses in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial – but indicated he was in no hurry to seek new testimony either. McConnell tells “Fox and Friends” that he wants the Senate to adopt rules like those used in the 1999 Clinton impeachment trial, in which a few witnesses were only called after both sides presented their cases. But Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, in a letter to all senators, argues that the circumstances in the Trump trial are different from that of Clinton. He was impeached after a lengthy independent counsel investigation in which witnesses had already testified numerous times under oath.
December 24, 2019 4:21 am
BEIRUT (AP) – Syrian government forces are pressing ahead with a new military assault on the country’s last rebel stronghold. The offensive has triggered a mass exodus of civilians fleeing to safer areas near the Turkish border in recent weeks. Under the cover of airstrikes and heavy shelling Monday,áSyrian troops pushed deeper into the northwestern province of Idlib. The stronghold is dominated by al-Qaida-linked militants. It’s also home to 3 million civilians and the U.N. has warned of the growing risk of a humanitarian catastrophe as residents flee the fighting. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called late Monday for an immediate halt to the hostilities.
December 24, 2019 4:20 am
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – The Afghan defense ministry says at least seven soldiers were killed when their checkpoint came under attack by the “enemy” in northern Balkh province. The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the attack. The ministry says six other members of the security forces – three soldiers and three intelligence agents – were wounded in the Tuesday morning attack in the district of Dawlat Abad. The Taliban now control about half of Afghanistan and continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, as well as government officials.
December 24, 2019 4:19 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – A new satellite image of a factory where North Korea makes military equipment used to launch long-range missiles shows the construction of a new structure. The release of several new images from Planet Labs comes amid concern that North Korea could launch a rocket or missile as it seeks concessions in stalled nuclear negotiations with the United States. North Korea has warned that what “Christmas gift” it gives the U.S. depends on what action Washington takes. One new satellite image shows the March 16 Factory near Pyongyang where North Korea manufactures trucks used as mobile launchers for its long-range missiles.
December 24, 2019 4:15 am
POTTERY ADDITION, Ohio — (WPXI) – A hunter who fell 30 feet down an abandoned Ohio mine shaft was fortunate he had his cell phone with him and could call for help immediately, rescuers said. Frank Dawson, of Washington, Pennsylvania, was hunting in woods Saturday in eastern Ohio when he fell into the grass-covered shaft, ending up waist-deep in cold water, the Herald-Star in Steubenville reported. Dawson was able to give rescuers good directions and they found him easily about 300 yards from his vehicle, said Rob Herrington, leader of the Jefferson County Urban Search and Rescue. Rescuers used a harness and pulley system to pull out Dawson’s loaded gun and then Dawson, who was not injured. The rescue took about 25 minutes. Herrington planned to alert property owners about filling that well and another one found nearby.
December 24, 2019 4:12 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Police said a huge fight broke out at The Flats on Carson Street in Pittsburgh’s South Side early Tuesday morning. officer allegedly witnessed patrons attacking security guards, and they say at one point, a man was seen attacking a female security guard. According to the criminal complaint, the officer tased that man. The fight grew even bigger. Police said at least two women hit a security guard in the face. One of the women is accused of attacking a police officer who tried to break it up. Police said the women forcefully pulled her arms away several times. They said she refused to walk down the steps when the officer ordered her to. The officer is talking about 24-year-old Raechelle Price. Police said when they walked her out of the bar in handcuffs, Madalyn Como, 22, intervened. An officer tried to move her out of the way, but said she refused and hit the officer in the leg. Price is charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. Como is charged with aggravated assault, obstructing the administration of law enforcement, and disorderly conduct. Police are investigating and more there could be more charges filed.
