September 28, 2023 5:06 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has finalized an agreement to expand passenger rail service. The agreement with Norfolk Southern will expand passenger rail service on the Amtrak line in Western Pennsylvania. Right now, the service travels roundtrip between New York City and Pittsburgh once a day. Once the agreement goes into effect, services will be increased to twice a day. The state will invest more than $200 million in infrastructure to support the expansion. Norfolk Southern will construct and maintain the infrastructure and safety improvement. According to a news release, PennDOT has applied for federal grant funding to help pay for the expansion. “We look forward to working with PennDOT and Norfolk Southern on this expansion of Amtrak service in the Commonwealth,” said Amtrak Vice President of State Supported Services Ray Lang.
September 28, 2023 5:00 am
OHIO TOWNSHIP, Pa. – (WPXI) – Two people were killed in a fiery head-on crash on Interstate 79 early Thursday. The crash happened in a construction zone between the Mount Nebo Road and Emsworth/Sewickley exits around 12:20 a.m. Three vehicles were involved, according to state police. A tractor-trailer traveling south crossed the median and struck a vehicle head-on, pushing both vehicles into an embankment. The trailer of the truck struck a second vehicle traveling northbound. Both vehicles involved in the head-on collision became fully engulfed in flames and both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. The other occupants were treated and taken to local hospitals. The extent of their injuries was not released. Both directions of I-79 were closed for hours. (Photo: WPXI)
September 28, 2023 4:56 am
The awareness group MAD-FACTS, Moms And Dads-Family Awareness of Cancer Threat Spike continued their monthly gatherings on Wednesday night. The group was formed to rally support to put pressure on lawmakers and health organizations to recognize the dangers of fracking activities and their relationship to the development of cancer and other health related difficulties. The Pennsylvania chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility presented a slide show on Radioactivity and Health. The presentation centered on the Radioactive Emissions Study headed by Wayne State University and UPMC. The study focused on radiation emissions at sites that stretched from west to east across Pennsylvania testing air, water and soil for radiation. What was found was that radiation levels were rather consistent across all test sites. Those radiation levels were well above medically acceptable levels for exposure but well within legal limits set by regulators. Tammy Murphy is the Advocacy Director for PSR, her feeling is that more study is needed for low, slow exposure to radiation. It could be possible that that exposure is worst of all because a body is never away from the source of radiation and never has a chance to recover. She also stated that governmental regulatory agencies that one would think would be involved for protection are not there. The EPA, NRC, OSHA and others are not permitted to act against the fracking industry as defined by the “Haliburton Loophole”. Murphy stated that “it is incredible that this lack of protection is even happening in our society.” MAD-FACTS will meet again on October 26.
September 27, 2023 3:43 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey will address his Democratic colleagues on Thursday as calls grow for Menendez to resign over federal bribery charges. Schumer hasn’t said that Menendez should step down, although more than half of the Democrats in the Senate have done so. Menendez pleaded not guilty Wednesday in New York to federal charges alleging he accepted bribes in exchange for exerting his political influence to secretly advance Egyptian interests and do favors for local businessmen. Menendez’s wife and two businessmen named in the indictment also pleaded not guilty. Menendez was released on a $100,000 bond. His wife, Nadine, and the other co-defendants were also freed pending trial. (Photo: AP)
September 27, 2023 5:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is starkly divided over very different paths to preventing a federal shutdown. The Senate is charging ahead with a bipartisan package to temporarily fund the government and bolster Ukraine aid and U.S. disaster funds. Meanwhile, the House is slogging through a longshot effort to pass various funding bills with no real chance of finishing by Saturday’s deadline. With days remaining before a federal closure, the stakes are rising. A shutdown would furlough millions of federal employees, leave the military without pay, disrupt air travel and cut off vital safety net services. The White House says it’s up to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to keep the budget deal he made with President Joe Biden.
September 27, 2023 5:02 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The strike by Hollywood screenwriters is over. Leaders of the writers union declared their nearly five-month-old strike over Tuesday after board members approved a contract agreement with studios. The governing boards of the eastern and western branches of the Writers Guild of America both voted to accept the deal, and afterward declared that the strike would be over and writers would be free to work starting at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. The vote came after numerous writers joined striking actors on picket lines. The writers deal brought renewed optimism to the pickets. There are currently no negotiations set between the actors and the alliance of studios, streaming services and producers.
September 27, 2023 5:02 am
NEW YORK (AP) — A judge has ruled that Donald Trump committed fraud for years while building the real estate empire that catapulted him to fame and the White House. Judge Arthur Engoron, ruling in a civil lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general, found that the former president and his company deceived banks, insurers and others by massively overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing financing. Engoron’s ruling resolves the key claim in Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit, but six others remain. James is seeking $250 million in penalties and a ban on Trump doing business in New York, his home state.
September 27, 2023 5:00 am
DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 3.4 million vehicles in the U.S. and telling owners to park them outside due to the risk of engine compartment fires. The recalls cover multiple models from the 2010 through 2019 model years including Hyundai’s Santa Fe SUV and Kia’s Sorrento SUV. Documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators say the anti-lock brake control module can leak fluid and cause an electrical short. That can touch off a fire while the vehicles are parked or being driven. Dealers will replace the anti-lock brake fuse at no cost to owners, but owners won’t be notified by mail until November.
September 27, 2023 4:57 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Police and witnesses say groups of teenagers swarmed into stores in Philadelphia’s Central City on Tuesday night, stuffing plastic bags with merchandise and fleeing, although police made several arrests. Police say an Apple store was one of those hit, but fleeing teenagers dropped iPhones and a pile of iPads. Eyewitness video and news reports showed mobs of masked youngster in hoodies at that store, Lululemon and Foot Locker, where a guard reportedly was assaulted. Police say some arrests were made. No injuries were immediately reported.
September 27, 2023 4:55 am
Township Supervisors in North Strabane township had seven different development applications and plans up for approval Tuesday night. Two of them took time to work through. The Brownlee Farms conditional use application was narrowly approved 3-2 after lengthy discussion over structures and other improvements being prohibited in a green space area. A preliminary and final simple subdivision application in the Laurel Landings development was tabled due to questions of lot size of one lot in the proposed subdivision. Supervisors did approve two stop signs in the Greenwood Village development. One sign will be at the 90 degree bend on Greenwood Drive and the other at the intersection of Greenwood Drive and Victoria Court. Supervisors also scheduled Halloween for October 31 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM.
