September 5, 2019 4:49 pm
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newsroom has donated the monetary award for their recent Pulitzer Prize to help rebuild the synagogue where 11 people were killed in a massacre last year. Staffers were honored with the award on April 15 for their coverage of the October shooting that left 11 dead and seven others wounded at the Tree of Life synagogue. Along with receiving one of the country’s highest honors for journalistic achievement, the newsroom was awarded $15,000. The Post-Gazette reports that John Robinson Block, the newspaper’s publisher, suggested donating the monetary prize to the congregation to help repair their bullet-riddled temple. Keith Burris, the newspaper’s executive editor, presented the check to Rabbi Jeffrey Myers and president of the congregation Samuel Schachner on Aug. 29. The synagogue thanked the newspaper in a Facebook post, saying “Pittsburgh is truly home to some amazing neighbors!”
September 5, 2019 8:19 am
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – An Afghan official says the Taliban have detonated a car bomb in front of an Afghan military base that houses members of the country’s special forces and that a small number of international forces also were in the area. The Logar province council chief Haseebullah Stanekzai says the car bomb exploded in front of the gate of the base in Puli Alam, the capital of Logar province, south of Kabul. Governor Anwar Khan Es-Haqzai says four civilians were killed and four others were wounded, adding that this information is preliminary. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The blast comes a few hours after a Taliban suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vehicle at a checkpoint in Kabul, outside a compound where Afghan national security authorities have offices. The Interior Ministry says at least 10 civilians were killed in that attack.
September 5, 2019 7:59 am
WEST ALEXANDER, Pa. – A new American Legion pavilion is at the forefront of the West Alexander Fair. The pavilion was dedicated Wednesday on the fairgrounds property. The Washington County Commissioners, along with the Tourism Promotion Agency and West Alexander Agricultural Association teamed up for the dedication. The group also addressed other improvements at the fairgrounds. The Tourism Promotion Agency awarded a $65,000 capital improvement grant for these upgrades. The 113th West Alexander Fair continues this week until Saturday.
September 5, 2019 7:48 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Authorities say the death of a toddler who reportedly was kidnapped near Pittsburgh last weekend has been ruled a homicide. But a cause of death for Nalani Johnson won’t be determined until officials review the toddler’s medical records and more tests are completed. Johnson, who was to turn 2 this month, was found Tuesday in a park about 37 miles east of Penn Hills, where authorities allege the girl was kidnapped Saturday evening. There were no visible signs of trauma. Sharena Islam Nancy, who authorities say had been romantically involved with the child’s father, remains in custody in Allegheny County. She’s charged with kidnapping of a minor, custodial interference and concealment of the whereabouts of a child, all felonies. No one has been charged in Nalani’s death.
September 5, 2019 3:15 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Within minutes of media outlets identifying the gunman who killed seven people in West Texas, a Twitter account began spreading baseless information linking the shooter to Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke. The groundless conjecture was promoted online by a member of President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign advisory board. The speed of the misinformation – and how far it subsequently spread – again illustrates the eagerness of some to blame such events on political ideologies, regardless of whether the facts support that. It’s also an early indication of just how difficult it will be for campaigns to combat virulent falsehoods ahead of a 2020 presidential campaign that could to be full of them.
September 5, 2019 3:13 am
BEIJING (AP) – China’s Commerce Ministry says talks with the United States on ending their tariff war will take place in early October in Washington, later than previously planned. Thursday’s announcement followed new tariff hikes last weekend by both governments and a report that envoys were struggling to agree on a schedule for the talks, which were to have taken place this month. The Commerce Ministry said the two sides will “conduct conscientious consultations” in mid-September to prepare for the talks.
September 5, 2019 3:12 am
LONDON (AP) – Prime Minister Boris Johnson is looking for new ways to bring about a national election after rebellious British lawmakers rejected his call to trigger a snap poll. The members of Parliament also have moved to block Johnson’s plan to leave the European Union next month without a divorce deal. The twin defeats – two in a day – are evidence that the embattled leader’s plans to lead the U.K. out of the EU are in crisis. Johnson says new elections are the only way out of Britain’s Brexit impasse, but events have spiraled out of his control. He leads a government with no majority in Parliament and may not be able to secure an election that could change that fact. Parliament turned down his motion and the prime minister indicated he would try again, saying an election was the only way forward for the country and urging opposition lawmakers to “reflect overnight and in the course of the next few days.”
September 5, 2019 3:10 am
OCRACOKE, N.C. (AP) – Forecasters say Hurricane Dorian is expected to slowly weaken as it travels near and along the coasts of South and North Carolina. In its 5 p.m. advisory, the National Hurricane Center says Dorian has weakened slightly and remains a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Its eye is located about 45 miles southeast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and is moving northeast at about 10 mph. Forecasters expect Dorian’s eye to pass near or over parts of the North Carolina coast within the next 12 to 24 hours.
September 5, 2019 3:09 am
A precautionary boil water advisory for approximately 490 customers in portions of South Strabane Township has been lifted. The advisory was announced after Pennsylvania American Water experienced a loss in positive water pressure on September 2, 2019, at a water storage tank following a local water main break. Pennsylvania American Water is required to collect two consecutive rounds of samples with negative results before lifting the boil water advisory. A first round of samples collected Tuesday tested negative for contamination and the second round of samples taken Thursday morning also tested negative. This notice applies to South Strabane customers located in the following areas: Crestview Drive
East Beau Street/Eastpointe Drive/Eastwood Lane/Emerald Drive/Floral Hill Drive/Green Crescent Drive/Hilltop Road/Lakeview Drive/Manor Drive/McVehil Drive/Pleasant Hill Drive/Quarry Road/ Stonehenge Drive/Scout Drive/Tara Drive/Woodhill Drive and Woodside Drive.
September 5, 2019 3:08 am
Washington’s Mayor and all Council members have submitted a letter to Governor Wolf seeking the immediate removal of their colleague Matt Staniszewski from his position on City Council in the wake of his fourth arrest for a charge of DUI. “We have to put the public’s best interest first and right now Matt does not possess the judgement to act on matters that affect public policy,” Mayor Putnam said. Putnam submitted the letter along with Washington City Council members Monda Williams, Joe Manning and Ken Westcott. “We just hope that he gets the help he needs,” Putnam added. The three city officials made the request to the Governor’s office as the only way to remove an elected official under Third Class City Code. They also plan to contact State Senator Camera Bartolotta and State Representative Tim O’Neal and request their help in dealing with the Governor’s office. Staniszewski was arrested by Washington City Police on Monday, August 26th after he was found unconscious in a car that was blocking traffic on Wheeling Street near Shaffer Alley. WJPA News spoke with Staniszewski’s attorney Sean Logue who told us that the city’s letter requesting that the Governor remove Staniszewski from office is unconstitutional. He says there is a method for removing a councilman…it’s called an election. Logue vowed to stand by his client and defend his rights and stop what he called the “disenfranchisement” of all the city voters that kept Matt on council for over ten years.
