February 18, 2025 5:05 am
TORONTO (AP) — A Delta Air Lines plane has flipped upon arrival at Toronto’s Pearson Airport and ended up on its roof, injuring 18 people. The airport’s chief executive says all 80 people on board survived and those hurt had relatively minor injuries. The flight from Minneapolis attempted to land on a dry runway at around 2:15 p.m. Monday in Toronto. Wind gusts of up to 40 mph were blowing snow at the time. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Video from the scene shows the Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR upside down on the snowy tarmac as emergency workers hosed it down. The plane was somewhat obscured by snow from a winter storm that hit Toronto over the weekend.
February 18, 2025 5:04 am
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — The top diplomats from Russia and the U.S. met in Saudi Arabia to discuss improving ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. Tuesday’s talks represented a rapid and major change in American foreign policy under President Donald Trump. No Ukrainian officials were present at the meeting. It came as the beleaguered country is slowly but steadily losing ground against more numerous Russian troops in a grinding war that began nearly three years ago. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country won’t accept any outcome from this week’s talks if Kyiv doesn’t take part. European allies have also expressed concerns they are being sidelined. Beyond Ukraine, the meeting has been expected to focus on thawing relations between Russia and the U.S.
February 18, 2025 5:02 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is seeking access to troves of sensitive taxpayer data at the IRS. That’s according to two people familiar with the inner workings of the plan who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. If successful, Musk and his group would have access to millions of tightly controlled files that include taxpayer information, bank records and other sensitive records. The people who spoke to The Associated Press and requested anonymity said DOGE is specifically seeking access to an IRS system, that enables employees “to have instantaneous visual access to certain taxpayer accounts.” Advocates fear that the potential unlawful release of taxpayer records could be used to maliciously target Americans.
February 18, 2025 5:00 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Social Security Administration’s acting commissioner has stepped down from her role at the agency over Department of Government Efficiency requests to access Social Security recipient information. That’s according to two people familiar with the official’s departure who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Acting Commissioner Michelle King’s departure from the agency —after more than 30 years of service — was initiated after King refused to provide Department of Government Efficiency staffers at the Social Security Administration with access to sensitive information, the people said.
February 18, 2025 4:58 am
(AP) – Southwest Airlines is eliminating 1,750 jobs, or 15% of its corporate workforce, in the first major layoffs in the company’s 53-year history. The Dallas-based airline said Monday that the job cuts would be focused almost entirely on “corporate overhead and leadership positions,” including senior leadership and directors. Eleven senior leadership positions, representing 15% of the company’s senior management committee, are also being eliminated. Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said the job cuts are part of a plan by the airline to slash costs and transform the company into a “leaner, faster, and more agile organization in a statement.
February 18, 2025 4:54 am
The Bentworth School district sent a letter to parents and guardians in the district Monday informing them of ‘a potential student threat’. In the letter, the district says the situation was reported around 5 p.m. through the Safe2Say system and State Police were immediately notified. A thorough investigation was conducted and police informed the district that ‘the matter has been fully resolved and determined to be not credible’. The district says its own investigation will continue and they will follow their student discipline policy. No other details were released. Superintendent Scott Martin thanked the student and their family for bringing “this concerning information to our attention so quickly”.
February 18, 2025 4:07 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Justice Department lawyers and New York City Mayor Eric Adams are set to face a federal judge who is signaling that he’s unlikely to rubber stamp their request to drop corruption charges weeks before an April trial. Judge Dale E. Ho scheduled Wednesday’s afternoon hearing after three government lawyers from Washington made the dismissal request on Friday. Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor resigned after she refused an order to do so. Ho already indicated the hearing was unlikely to resolve the issue when he wrote in an order Tuesday that one subject on the agenda will be a discussion of “procedure for resolution of the motion.”
February 18, 2025 1:57 am
EIGHTY FOUR, Pa. – (WPXI) – The Washington Area Humane Society said it’s looking to find new homes for its animals as the shelter is at full capacity. Its executive director said that in the past month, they’ve taken in around 17 puppies. Nine of them were surrendered by someone facing eviction. Six of the puppies were found in a cardboard box along Chestnut Street. Some have already been adopted. You can view the shelter’s available animals online or in person during viewing hours. If you are interested in viewing in person, you must submit an application first. The shelter said all of the animals it adopts out are spay/neutered, up-to-date on vaccines, tested (Lyme, Heartworm, FIV/FELV, Giardia), microchipped and flea and tick treated.
February 18, 2025 12:55 am
A standing room only crowd of more than 50 people packed a courtroom to hear the sentencing of a Greek Orthodox priest that pleaded guilty to stealing funds from the All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in North Strabane Township. Fr. George Athanasiou, 38, a preist at the church received a sentence of 5 years probation with one year on electronic home monitoring. He has already paid $155,000 in restitution to the church. Rev. Fr. Dimitrios Kyritsis was pleased with all the court took into account for the sentencing and said everyone is in a process of healing and particularly prayed for Fr. Athanasiou’s personal mental and spiritual health. Athanasiou said that he is looking forward to his healing from a gambling addiction and wants to help the community at large with gambling addictions. In addition to his probation and restitution, Athanasiou was ordered to perform 300 hours of community service.
February 17, 2025 3:51 pm
A badly injured child is among 19 people who were injured when a Delta Airlines plane flipped upon arrival at Toronto’s Pearson Airport. The airport confirmed on X that an “incident” occurred Monday with the Delta flight from Minneapolis and that all 80 passengers and crew are accounted for. Video from the scene shows the Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR upside down on the snowy tarmac as emergency workers hose it down. The plane was somewhat obscured by snow from a winter storm that hit Toronto over the weekend. Ornge air ambulance says it is transporting one pediatric patient to Toronto’s SickKids hospital and two adults with critical injuries to other hospitals in the city.
