August 20, 2024 5:02 am
FINDLAY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – Transportation Security Administration officers caught a man with a loaded gun in his carry-on bag at Pittsburgh International Airport’s main security checkpoint. TSA said the gun was intercepted on Sunday, Aug. 18. A man from Commodore, Indiana County, had a .38 caliber firearm loaded with six bullets in his bag, which was also packed with a gun magazine that had six more bullets. When TSA officers detected the firearm, the checkpoint lane came to a halt until the police responded and removed the carry-on bag from the X-ray machine. “We are seeing way too many guns show up at our checkpoints,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “If you own a firearm, do not bring it to a checkpoint. If you must travel with your gun, the proper way to do it is to make sure it’s unloaded, packed in a hard-sided locked case and taken to the airline check-in counter. The airline will ensure it is transported in the belly of the aircraft.” TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Civil penalties for bringing a weapon into a checkpoint can reach up to $15,000, depending on the specific weapon and the circumstances.
August 20, 2024 5:05 am
CHICAGO (AP) — President Joe Biden has delivered his valedictory address to the Democratic National Convention, saying, “I gave my best to you.” He basked in a long ovation that reflected the energy released by his decision to cede the stage to Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden received a hero’s welcome weeks after many in his party were pressuring him to drop his bid for reelection. The opening night of the convention in Chicago was designed as a handoff from the incumbent to his hand-picked successor — albeit four years before he intended for her to follow him. A visibly emotional Biden was greeted by a more than four-minute-long ovation and chants of “Thank you Joe.”
August 20, 2024 5:08 am
Barack Obama is returning to the Democratic National Convention stage two decades after his memorable debut. His job is different this time. In 2004, Obama was a young state senator from Illinois stumping for nominee John Kerry and introducing himself to the nation. That speech came months before his election to the U.S. Senate and catapulted him on a course to the presidency barely four years later. This time, Obama is the 63-year-old elder statesman eight years removed from serving two terms as the nation’s first Black president. And he will be making the case for another historic figure: Vice President Kamala Harris. Democrats say they expect Obama to balance aggressive attacks on Republican Donald Trump while boosting Harris.
August 20, 2024 5:09 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Dozens of protesters broke through a security fence near the site of the Democratic National Convention on its opening day as thousands took to the streets to voice their opposition to the war in Gaza. Families with babies in strollers, students, elected leaders and others holding signs and flags joined the march on Monday to the United Center, where the convention is being held, to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. As the larger group marched peacefully, a few dozen who broke away tore down pieces of the security fence. Several protesters who had managed to get through the fence were detained and handcuffed by officers.
August 20, 2024 2:12 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. won’t testify in defense of his effort to appear on Pennsylvania’s presidential ballot. That’s after he showed up late Tuesday to a court hearing in Pennsylvania where Democratic activists are trying to bar him from the ballot in the battleground state. Kennedy’s lawyer blamed a canceled flight from Boston to Philadelphia. Lawyers for the challengers say Kennedy’s candidacy paperwork states a fake home address and falls short of the signature-gathering requirement applied by state law to third-party candidates. Kennedy’s campaign dismisses the challenge as “frivolous.” Should Kennedy appear on Pennsylvania’s ballot, he could siphon support from Republican nominee Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. (Photo: AP)
August 20, 2024 5:32 pm
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois will soon become just the fifth state in the nation to prohibit corporal punishment in all schools. Legislation that Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law this month bans physical punishment in private schools while reiterating a prohibition on the practice in public schools, first implemented 30 years ago. The law takes effect in January. Illinois will join New Jersey, Iowa, Maryland and New York in prohibiting paddling, spanking or hitting in all its schools. Chicago Democratic Rep. Margaret Croke was inspired to take up the issue after the American Association of Pediatrics’ updated call to end the practice. Seventeen U.S. states allow some sort of corporal punishment in all schools.
August 20, 2024 5:10 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says it has recovered the bodies of six hostages taken in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that started the war in Gaza. The operation came as U.S. and Arab mediators try to advance an agreement to halt the fighting and release scores of other militant-held captives. The military announced the recovery on Tuesday, without saying when or how the six died. Hamas says some captives have been killed and wounded in Israeli airstrikes. The recovery is a blow to Hamas, which hopes to exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting cease-fire. But it was also likely to increase pressure on Israel’s government to reach a deal to release dozens of hostages who are still believed to be alive.
August 19, 2024 9:42 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Giant Eagle is selling its GetGo convenience store sites, the company announced Monday. The business has entered an agreement to sell the stores to Couche-Tard, an international leader in the convenience store and fuel industry. “For Giant Eagle, this transition enables us to focus greater resources to enhance and grow our core supermarket and pharmacy businesses. The sale will strengthen Giant Eagle, better enabling us to prioritize investments and resources, further bolstering our position as a leading regional grocer and pharmacy with a well-known brand that delivers value for customers and Team Members,” the company said. Couche-Tard and Giant Eagle have agreed to keep and partner together on the myPerks loyalty program across Giant Eagle and GetGo locations, while exploring opportunities to expand the program to unlock even more value and discounts for our customers. Couche-Tard intends to retain all GetGo store, operations and support employees. The sale is expected to close in 2025.
August 19, 2024 4:46 am
CHARLEROI, Pa. — A man was stabbed in Charleroi Sunday. Washington County dispatchers said emergency crews were called to the 500 block of Washington Avenue at 7:05 p.m. First responders found a man who had been stabbed in the back. The victim was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital, dispatchers said. There’s currently no word on his condition. Dispatchers also said that the suspect was taken into custody.
August 19, 2024 5:17 am
GREENE COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI) – According to Greene County Regional Police Chief Will DeForte, the man police believe is tied to a drug cartel is now in custody. A stolen motorcycle led police to Jimmy Butterfield’s home in Morris Township. There police found stolen bikes, a sawed-off shotgun, an assault rife and a pound of meth they believe came from a drug lab across the southern United States border. Butterfield was taken into custody after a two-week search. He was taken into custody by the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department in West Virginia. Police Chief DeForte said that deputies had to smash a window out of Butterfield’s truck because there was some mild resistance. The police chief also shared that they have engaged in two high-speed pursuits involving this fugitive over the last several days.
