June 5, 2024 2:46 am
(WPXI) – Nearly 200 people have been displaced by a fire at Second Avenue Commons in Pittsburgh’s Bluff neighborhood. Smoke was seen billowing from the homeless shelter at 700 2nd Avenue just after 1 p.m. Tuesday. Fire officials on the scene said an air conditioning unit on the roof caught fire, causing heavy damage to the roof and walls. The fire was considered a three-alarm due to being at a high-rise building. No one had to be rescued from the building, but several people were taken to the hospital from the scene, fire officials said. Four firefighters were hurt and three of them were transported. Two civilians who were outside the building were also taken to the hospital for heat-related symptoms. All utilities have been shut off in the building, meaning 180 residents have been displaced. Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said residents are being taken to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center as an emergency protocol, as it can accommodate the amount of people impacted and there are no conflicting events being held. Several agencies are working to aid the people displaced, including the Department of Human Services and Community Kitchen Pittsburgh. Those who wish to donate to the victims can do so at the convention center, Innamorato said.
June 5, 2024 5:10 am
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Hunter Biden’s ex-wife and a former girlfriend testified in his gun trial about finding his crack pipes and other drug paraphernalia. In other developments Wednesday, jurors saw photos of the president’s son bare-chested in a bubble bath and heard about his visit to a strip club. As the first lady sat in the front row, the courtroom grew quiet when Kathleen Buhle, who was married to Hunter for 20 years, walked in. She testified that she discovered her husband was using drugs when she found a crack pipe in an ashtray on their porch in 2015. The trial is about whether he lied on a gun purchase form in 2018 when he said he wasn’t using drugs.
June 5, 2024 5:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is trying to address a major liability for his reelection campaign by taking executive action to significantly restrict asylum. But it’s unclear whether his efforts will be enough to change the minds of voters who have increasingly voiced alarm over his handling of the border. Former President Donald Trump and his campaign have seized on the issue. Biden has shifted far to the right on immigration issues since his winning campaign four years ago. Many Democrats acknowledge Biden now faces a wholly different political reality. But some in his party have accused him of betraying Democratic priorities.
June 5, 2024 5:08 am
BEIRUT (AP) — The Lebanese army said Wednesday that at least one gunman attempted to attack on the U.S. Embassy near Beirut. The Lebanese military in a statement said that soldiers shot an assailant, who they only described as a Syrian national. The gunman was wounded and taken to a hospital. Local media reported that there was a gunfight for almost half an hour by the U.S. diplomatic mission in a suburb north of Beirut. The U.S. Embassy said the morning attack by the embassy’s entrance did not cause any casualties among their staff, and that Lebanese troops and embassy security mobilized quickly.
June 5, 2024 12:19 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Online marketplace behemoth eBay said it plans to no longer accept American Express, citing what the company says are “unacceptably high fees” and that customers have other payment options to shop online. It’s a notable blow to American Express, whose customers are often the most attractive among merchants and spend the most money per month on their cards. But it’s not the first time merchants have voiced opposition to AmEx’s business practices by walking away, most notably warehouse chain Costco nearly a decade ago.
June 4, 2024 1:53 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says he’s restricting asylum to help “gain control” of the U.S.-Mexico border. The American Civil Liberties Union says it’ll sue over Biden’s plan to enact immediate significant restrictions on migrants seeking asylum at the border. Biden signed the proclamation Tuesday as the White House tries to neutralize immigration as a political liability before November’s elections. Biden’s order would bar migrants from being granted asylum when U.S. officials deem the southern border to be overwhelmed. The Democratic president has contemplated unilateral action for months, especially after Republican lawmakers rejected a bipartisan security deal at the behest of presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. Trump says Biden has surrendered the southern border. (Photo: AP)
June 4, 2024 4:42 am
The agenda meeting for Washington City Council was very succinct. All items discussed were general day to day business items. Council did hear from City Administrator Donn Henderson on his thoughts on updating the city’s comprehensive plan. According to Henderson, the plan has not been updated since its adoption approximately 12 years ago. The plan studies the city and tries to direct council on programs that need to be addressed. It also demonstrates what went well over the past decade. Henderson is looking to contact the Department of Community and Economic Development to access grants that would offset the cost of the study and formation of the plan. According to Henderson that cost could run more than $100,000 without grant funding. In conjunction with the comprehensive plan, Henderson suggested that council could consider a housing opportunity plan that would study the city’s housing inventory. It would look for methods of creating more home ownership opportunities and look for ways to help current owners maintain and upgrade their current homes. In city business, council will look to approve the payoff of the city’s $1 million Tax Anticipation Note. The note is taken out to allow the city to operate day to day until municipal taxes are collected. Council will meet on Thursday June 6, for its voting meeting.
June 4, 2024 1:15 am
Washington Police are searching for the man who robbed the Washington Financial Bank at 98 East Wylie Avenue Monday morning around nine-thirty. Police say the man, described as having an olive complexion, walked into the bank and handed a teller a note demanding money. Police say he made a vague threat but did not brandish a weapon. They say he fled on foot. There were no injuries and no information was given on the amount of money taken. Police are asking for anyone with information to call them at 724-233-4226 or message their Facebook page.
June 4, 2024 6:28 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Protests at the University of Pittsburgh have ended in what officials are calling a peaceful ending to a long few days. Protesters were calling for the university to sever any ties with Israel or companies promoting the Israel-Hamas War. The Pittsburgh police chief told Channel 11 that the mayor and his team were able to speak with “willing and trusted participants” inside the encampment on Monday night. A short time later, protestors vacated the encampment. It came just hours after protesters clashed with police. A Pitt police officer was pulled to the ground when protestors pulled down fencing. A protestor who cut their head during the incident was taken to a local hospital. A Pitt spokesperson said the exterior of the Cathedral of Learning was vandalized during the demonstration and the city made the decision to step in overnight.
June 3, 2024 4:50 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania lawmakers are returning to session to begin a four-week countdown to the state government’s new fiscal year. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican lawmakers have competing visions for how to use the massive surplus. Shapiro has floated an admittedly “ambitious” $48.3 billion budget plan that would highlight boosting public-school funding. Republicans have said the governor’s plan would put the state on course to drain its $14 billion surplus. Instead, they passed a $3 billion tax-cutting plan that Democrats say would have a similar effect. This month might also feature debates over competing plans to boost college enrollment and affordability in Pennsylvania.
