January 2, 2023 3:30 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WPXI) — The Pennsylvania Turnpike’s “Toll by Plate” electronic method is designed to make life easier for drivers, turnpike workers, and the Commonwealth as a whole. But millions of dollars in uncollected tolls caused lawmakers to take action. Drivers are supposed to get an invoice in the mail after they pass through a toll area, and a camera takes a picture of their license plate. But Turnpike officials said people aren’t paying up, so now, they’re cracking down. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission now has more authority to crack down on thousands of drivers who don’t pay: repeat offenders, specifically those who owe $250 or more, which is a lower amount than the previous $500 threshold, or those who owe at least four tolls – previously set at six. In a press release, Turnpike officials said while most drivers do the right thing and pay on time, this new law allows the state to hold those accountable who intentionally cheat the system. The Turnpike estimates that 25,000 additional vehicle registrations would qualify for suspension due to unpaid toll invoices, which are also turned into a collection agency after 60 days. Lawmakers in support of the bill believe that this is a step in the right direction to continuing to maintain the Turnpike and keep people safe. The commission plans to start notifying drivers this month.
February 20, 2022 1:34 am
The parents of a baby whose body was found hidden in the wall of a home in Charleroi could face the death penalty. Twenty-five-year-old Kylie Wilt and 27-year-old Alan Hollis are facing 17 identical charges for the death and concealment of their infant son Archer. Felony counts of Criminal homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide and aggravated assault lead the laundry list of charges that both face. The two will be tried together. During their arraignment on Friday, the district attorney announced that he had filed notice of aggravating factors and announced said the commonwealth will be seeking the death penalty. Hollis, who is being held in SCI Pine Grove on unrelated charges, appeared at the arraignment via video and Wilt appeared in person. Wilt is being held in the Washington County Jail without bond. No trial date has been set.
March 27, 2021 4:20 am
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) – Kenosha police say 55 people are facing charges related to violent demonstrations after the police shooting of Jacob Blake last summer. Kenosha Officer Rusten Sheskey shot Blake seven times in August, leaving him paralyzed. Blake, who is Black, was holding a pocket knife. The shooting spurred several nights of violent protests. Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis said Friday that 49 adults and six minors are facing charges. The tally does not include charges against Kyle Rittenhouse, an Illinois teenager accused of shooting and killing two protesters and injuring a third. Sheskey has not been charged in Blake’s shooting, but Blake has filed a civil lawsuit accusing him of using excessive force.
May 28, 2020 8:45 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Roughly 2.1 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, a sign that companies are still slashing jobs in the face of a deep recession even as more businesses reopen and rehire some laid-off employees. About 41 million people have now applied for aid since the virus outbreak intensified in March, though not all of them are still unemployed. The Labor Department’s report Thursday includes a count of all the people now receiving unemployment aid: 21 million. That is a rough measure of the number of unemployed Americans. áThe national jobless rate was 14.7% in April, the highest since the Great Depression.
August 8, 2019 4:53 pm
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – The latest mass shootings in the United States have triggered three countries to warn their citizens about the risks of traveling there. It’s a sharp reversal from when America took a leading role in calling out the world’s most dangerous places. Venezuela, Uruguay and Japan issued warnings following the deaths of 31 people over the weekend in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas. At least one of the warnings was laced with a dose of political payback. Without directly naming President Donald Trump, the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro blamed the surge in violence on speeches from Washington that featured racial discrimination and “hatred against immigrants.” Maduro is presiding over the worst economic crisis in Venezuelan history amid a political battle with the White House.
September 22, 2024 5:56 am
ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, Pa. —(WPXI)- A police officer was hit by a man suspected of driving drunk in Robinson Township. According to court documents, police officers were responding to an accident at the 4300 block of Campbells Run Road when a Ford Expedition came at them at a high rate of speed. Police say the area was clearly closed with a fully marked patrol vehicle with activated light being used in all directions. The Ford was coming towards Kieners Lane from Baldwin Road when it hit a police officer’s vehicle. The officer who was hit reported initially that he was okay but was later taken to a hospital to be further evaluated. Court documents say the driver was Joseph E. Price, 54, from Carnegie. Officers say they smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from the car. Police said they took Price to the ground after asking him to get out of his car and he refused. He was placed into handcuffs. Price allegedly told police he had been drinking for most of the day while at a golf outing. He could not tell officers where he lived when they asked. A small vile of white powder was found in Ford. Police said Price told them it was cocaine when they asked him. Price faces an aggravated assault by vehicle charge, a charge of recklessly endangering another person, a charge of driving other the influence and several other driving charges.
November 23, 2023 4:13 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Beloved cartoon characters like Snoopy and SpongeBob SquarePants are taking to the skies above New York City in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade, marking its 97th year, starts Thursday on Manhattan’s upper west side and makes its way alongside Central Park in front of big crowds before ending up in front of Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street. At street level, more than two dozen floats will go by, interspersed with marching bands from around the country. Among the big names performing is Cher, who just released her first Christmas album.
January 2, 2023 3:28 am
BENTLEYVILLE, Pa. — Multiple emergency crews responded to a tractor-trailer rollover crash in Somerset Township early Monday morning. Reports say a truck rolled in the eastbound lanes between the two Bentleyville exit ramps just around 12:45 a.m. The driver of the truck was reportedly trapped at first, but managed to get out of the vehicle before crews arrived. The driver was treated by EMS on scene. Bentleyville Fire-Rescue and the Ellsworth Fire Department worked to clear that incident along with PennDOT and a towing company. (Photo: Bentleyville Fire-Rescue Facebook Page)
February 20, 2022 1:34 am
A bridge with a history of low clearance incidents is set to be replaced this Spring. PennDot opened a virtual plans display for the Maple Drive Bridge (Route 2027) spanning over Interstate 70 in Speers. The current structure has a height of just 14.3 feet from the highway, and the new bridge will be set at 16.5 feet to help taller vehicles pass below. Improvements will also be made to the interchange with the interstate. During construction, a single lane of traffic will be maintained southbound on the bridge, with detours in place for northbound traffic, utilizing both I-70 and the Charleroi Exit. There will be some nighttime interstate closures and a full weekend closure of Maple Drive during the project, which is set to start in April and last until mid-November of this year. Plans are displayed on the PennDot District 12 website until Monday, February 21st.
March 27, 2021 4:20 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard is becoming the House’s first African American sergeant-at-arms. Maj. Gen. William Walker will lead House security measures as Congress is still dealing with the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and figuring out how to keep lawmakers safe. Walker was closely involved with the security that day as he sent troops to back up overwhelmed Capitol Police. He will replace Paul Irving, who resigned immediately after the insurrection. Walker’s appointment comes as the House is ramping up its investigations into the insurrection on Jan. 6.
