November 29, 2024 5:01 am
Workers at one of Ukraine’s thermal power plants struggle to repair damage and keep electricity flowing as Russia continues its campaign of attacks targeting the country’s power grid. In the latest large-scale strike, damage to the energy infrastructure caused power disruption for more that a million Ukrainians. Despite the ongoing risks, workers at a power plant operated by Ukraine’s biggest private energy operator, say they feel compelled to do their best to keep the lights on and heat homes through the winter months. “Who’ll do it, if not us?” said Oleksandr, head of the Production Management Department.
November 29, 2024 5:00 am
PARIS (AP) — After more than five years of frenetic reconstruction work, Notre Dame Cathedral has showed its new self to the world Friday. Rebuilt soaring ceilings and creamy good-as-new stonework have erased somber memories of its devastating fire in 2019. Images broadcast live of a site visit by French President Emmanuel Macron showed the inside of the iconic cathedral as worshippers might have experienced it back in medieval times. Gaping holes that the blaze tore into the vaulted ceilings, leaving charred piles of debris, are gone, now filled in with new stonework. Macron entered via the cathedral’s giant and intricately carved front doors and stared up at the ceilings in wonder.
November 29, 2024 2:00 am
A huge thank you to Washington County! Our 2000 Turkeys campaign has surpassed its goal and has raised more than $204,000. This is the 40th year of the program that puts a complete Thanksgiving day meal on the table of needy families throughout the county. Earlier this year, it was projected that the goal would be around $188,000 to help some of the 16-thousand residents who are considered ‘food insecure’. Donations are still being accepted. If you would like to donate, you can send a check to; 2000 Turkeys P.O. Box 2000 Washington, Pa. 15301 or go to Range Resources Facebook Page and click on the link for the Pittsburgh Food Bank.
November 28, 2024 4:34 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Three American citizens imprisoned for years by China have been released. That word comes Wednesday from the White House and it’s a rare diplomatic agreement with Beijing in the final months of the Biden administration. The three are Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung. Each had been designated by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained. Swidan had been facing a death sentence on drug charges while Li and Leung were imprisoned on espionage charges. The White House says the men will soon “return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years.” China also announced Thursday that the U.S. had returned four people to China, including three citizens it said had been held for “political purposes.”
November 28, 2024 4:25 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has conducted what officials called a “massive” missile and drone attack against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The assault added to fears that the Kremlin aims to cripple Ukraine’s power generation capacity before winter. Ukraine’s energy minister says attacks on energy facilities were happening all across the country on Thursday. He says emergency power outages are being implemented nationwide. Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia is stockpiling cruise and ballistic missiles, presumably for another pre-winter aerial campaign against Ukraine’s power grid. Ukrainian officials have in the past accused Russia of “weaponizing winter.” Around half of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been destroyed during the war with Russia, and rolling electricity blackouts are common.
November 28, 2024 4:27 am
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — In the remotest reaches of Alaska, there’s no relying on DoorDash to have Thanksgiving dinner delivered. But some residents living well off the grid nevertheless have turkeys this holiday, thanks to the Alaska Turkey Bomb. For the third straight year, a resident named Esther Keim has been dropping frozen turkeys from an airplane to those who can’t simply run out to the grocery store. She launched her turkey delivery mission a few years back after she found out a family of three had only one squirrel to split for Thanksgiving. She planned to drop 32 turkeys this year and more in years to come.
November 28, 2024 4:31 am
NEW YORK (AP) — A century after the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the annual holiday tradition kicks off Thursday in New York City with new Spider-Man and Minnie Mouse balloons, zoo and pasta-themed floats, performances from Jennifer Hudson and Idina Menzel, and more. This year’s parade features 17 giant, helium-filled character balloons, 22 floats, 15 novelty and heritage inflatables, 11 marching bands, 700 clowns, 10 performance groups, award-winning singers and actors, and the WNBA champion New York Liberty. The parade begins at 8:30 a.m. on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ends 2.5 miles away around noon at Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street, which serves as a stage and backdrop for performances.
November 28, 2024 1:00 am
A California Borough man is facing felony aggravated assault and other charges after State Police say a one-year old baby in his care suffered severe injuries. State Police were called to 24 year old Lyndon Henderson’s Third Street apartment last weekend. The child’s mother told police that she had left her son in Henderson’s care. Henderson claimed the child fell off the couch but appeared to be fine. The child was transported to UPMC Children’s Hospital. Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh says the baby was on a ventilator. Henderson was arraigned and is being held in the Washington County Jail without bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 11.
November 27, 2024 2:48 am
North Strabane Supervisors unanimously approved a preliminary budget for 2025 at their legislative meeting. No tax increase is in store for residents as the approved balanced budget totals $22,662,084. That number was reduced by more than $250,000 from last week’s agenda meeting, as the line item for the Majestic Hills sewage repair was lessened through monies received from grants and lawsuits. The spending plan has two big construction projects, the completion of the public safety building on Rt. 19 and the renovation of the former Lighthouse Electric building that will become the new municipal complex. As for infrastructure, the Vandale Bridge is also slated to be replaced next year. Supervisors will formally adopt the budget at their December 17 legislative meeting.
November 27, 2024 4:46 am
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI) – Allegheny County Council members want to cut $70 million from County Executive Sara Innamorato’s $1.2 billion budget proposal to lower the property tax increase residents will likely see next year. Previously, County Executive Innamorato proposed a 46% tax increase. The council is suggesting a 28.5% increase instead. For homeowners who own a home assessed at the county’s median value of $110,000, council’s increase would increase property tax by an extra $11.25 per month. Innamorato’s proposal included an increase of about $15 per month. Council’s new suggestion includes $70 million in cuts. The county’s Human Services Department could see the biggest reduction. Channel 11 was sent the following statement: “The County Executive put forward an honest budget in October, one that was only a 3% increase in spending over 2024 but was serious in addressing the significant, structural financial challenges the County faces. We will now review the amendments and budget as passed by committee tonight. While we believe the Council-proposed 1.35 mill increase is going to fall short of what the County ultimately needs, we will work hard to negotiate with Council leadership in hopes of finding agreement on a budget that will deliver core services, critical programs, and avoid layoffs,” said Communications Director Abigail Gardner. Council is set to vote on the proposal on Dec. 3. It needs the support of 10 out of 15 members in order to pass.
