June 25, 2023 7:10 am
COLUMBUS, Mont. (AP) — A bridge that crosses the Yellowstone River in Montana collapsed, plunging a freight train carrying hot asphalt and molten sulfur into the rushing water below. No injuries were reported. Officials shut down drinking water intakes downstream while they evaluated the danger from the accident Saturday morning. Railroad crews were at the scene near the town of Columbus, about 40 miles west of Billings. The river was swollen with recent heavy rains although it is unclear whether that contributed to the bridge collapse. The Yellowstone saw record flooding in 2022 that caused extensive damage to Yellowstone National Park and adjacent towns in Montana.
June 25, 2023 7:09 am
The greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power has fizzled out after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow agreed to go into exile and sounded the retreat. The brief revolt exposed vulnerabilities among Russian government forces, with Wagner Group soldiers able to move with armored vehicles into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and advance toward Moscow. Under the deal announced Saturday by the Kremlin, Wagner Group’s leader will go to neighboring Belarus, which has supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped, and the Russian government said it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part.
June 25, 2023 7:07 am
NEW SEWICKLEY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPXI)— Two women are dead after a shooting in Beaver County. Dispatchers say emergency crews were called to the 400 block of Klein Road in New Sewickley Township at around 2:02 p.m. on Saturday. The New Sewickley Township Police Department said when they arrived on the scene they found a man with a gun who was barricaded. Beaver County 911 said SWAT units were called to the scene. The man was found inside the house and was taken into custody. Police say two women were also found dead inside the house. A third woman was found but she was uninjured. The DA said the suspect is Benjamin D. Selby, 43. Selby is facing two counts of criminal homicide and one count of kidnapping for ransom. Selby is being held at the Beaver County Jail.
June 25, 2023 7:05 am
PITTSBURGH (WPXI) — Pittsburgh Police are looking for two missing 12-year-old twin brothers. Authorities say Kam and Karter Winesickle were last seen after they left their home on Stanhope Street on Saturday at around 5 p.m. The boys tend to spend time in Sheraden. Police consider them to be endangered because of their age. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 412-323-7800 or to call 911.
June 25, 2023 7:03 am
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPXI)— A communication issue at the Pittsburgh International Airport led to some issues for fliers. A spokesperson for the airport said the issue was in the air traffic control tower. The Pittsburgh International Airport was able to resolve the probe after working with the Federal Aviation Administration. The issue was fixed at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday night. Some Southwest Airlines flights also had changed operations at the airport due to the company experiencing an unrelated technical issue, the spokesperson said.
June 25, 2023 3:32 am
Watchful Shepherd USA is an organization founded for the purpose of protecting children from family abuse. The national non-profit agency located in Peters Township is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Claudine Femiani is the President of the Board of Directors and Co-Founder with her late husband Joseph. Femiani relates that when growing up, her husband Joe was poor and suffered regular beatings. Joe vowed to try and do something to give children their rights to safety. According to Femiani, in 1992 they saw a news report about two sisters from Lubbock, Texas that witnessed their sister’s murder at the hand of their step-mother and after 20 years went to authorities to report the atrocities. Femiani says that was the moment that Watchful Shepherd was born. The organization places in-home devices monitored by authorities to dispatch help whenever the device is activated. They also now have a wearable device that when activated can track the exact location of the wearer or caregiver if that child’s well being is in danger. Watchful Shepherd USA works nationwide with child protective agencies in the placement of their devices. Watchful Shepherd takes pride in the fact that there have been no reported cases of child abuse in homes where a Watchful Shepherd unit has been implemented. If you happen to witness child abuse and need immediate help, contact the Childline tipline at 1-800-932-0131.
June 24, 2023 4:32 am
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has signed a sweeping executive order to protect anyone involved with a legally obtained abortion from prosecution. The Democratic governor said Friday she will continue to fight for access to safe and legal abortions. The order bans local prosecutors from bringing abortion-related charges and state agencies from assisting in any criminal investigations. In addition, Arizona will not honor any extradition requests for people wanted for assisting, providing or seeking an abortion. Only Attorney General Kris Mayes, also a Democrat, will be able to oversee abortion-related prosecutions. Abortions are currently allowed in Arizona in the first 15 weeks of pregnancy under a 2022 law.
June 24, 2023 4:30 am
Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation Saturday and vowed to defend the country and its people from an armed rebellion declared by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. Putin said the mutiny amounted to “a deadly threat to our statehood” and vowed “tough actions” in response. “All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment,” Putin said. He said an armed rebellion at a time like this is a blow to Russia and to its people.
June 24, 2023 4:26 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says he supports the idea of expunging the two impeachments of Donald Trump. McCarthy’s remarks Friday come as two Trump congressional allies — Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Elise Stefanik of New York — introduce proposals to remove the historic charges. No impeached president has ever had the charges against him expunged. It shows the pressure McCarthy is under from his right flank. The former president was impeached by the House on abuse of power charges in 2019 over pressuring Ukraine’s president to dig up dirt on Joe Biden, and in 2021 over the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. He was acquitted both times in the Senate.
June 24, 2023 3:43 am
PITTSBURGH —(WPXI)- After a year-long investigation, 24 people have been indicted for federal drug charges. Investigators say that some of those people who were indicted were operating an open-air drug market in the Hill District. According to our news partner WPXI, on Thursday, agents raided a home in Perry South. Friday, federal investigators revealed that several of the 24 suspected drug dealers recently indicted were running an open-air drug market along Watson Street in the Hill District. Agents say they were selling guns and drugs, including crack cocaine and fentanyl. Investigators also found multiple kilos of cocaine, illegal guns, and thousands of dollars in cash. “This week’s arrests represent a continuation to dismantle drug trafficking organizations throughout western PA,” said Eric Olshan, a US attorney. “When drug traffickers operate with impunity in our communities, ordinary citizens suffer.” Federal agents say of the 24 people indicted, several of them were involved with the “Drizzy Gang,” a well-known gang in the Hill District. “Some of our neighborhoods suffer daily from gang and gun violence,” said Mike Nordwall, an FBI special agent. “We know the individuals charged here terrorized the uptown and hill district communities.” Agents believe those indicted are involved with other violent crimes throughout the area. “Those arrested this week are members associated with the neighborhood-based gang responsible for extremely violent acts including shootings, robberies, and illegal gun trafficking,” Nordwall said. The FBI is still looking for two suspects, Mark Cook and Marvin Coates. This was not only a federal investigation, investigators said tell us that state and local authorities were helping too.
