January 1, 2025 3:47 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania court says the secretary of state has the authority to direct counties not to allow “unauthorized third party access” to voting machines or risk having those machines decertified and unable to be deployed for elections. In a 6-1 decision on Tuesday, the Commonwealth Court also ruled that the Department of State doesn’t have to reimburse counties when they decertify machines. It was a defeat for Fulton County in a dispute that arose after two Republican county commissioners permitted Wake Technology Services Inc. to examine and obtain data from Dominion voting machines in 2021.
January 1, 2025 3:43 am
BRADDOCK, Pa.—(WPXI)-The mayors of seven Pittsburgh communities sat down with Channel 11 on Tuesday to voice their concerns over a potential deal between U.S. Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel, fearing the economic consequences for their towns if the agreement falls through. “We’ve been down this road before,” said Markus Adams, mayor of East Pittsburgh, referring to the impact on the region when Westinghouse shut down years ago. “East Pittsburgh has never recovered from it.” The Edgar Thomson Plant, a key facility for U.S. Steel, was built at the heart of these communities. Local leaders worry that a failure to reach a deal could lead to plant closures or downsizing, devastating the already struggling area. “For every steel worker’s job it’s estimated that five to seven jobs are created by the work there. That’s the restaurants, hotels, the welders, the fabricators, it’s imperative we continue to fight for this,” said Chris Kelly who’s the mayor of West Mifflin. Mayors from nearly two dozen communities who are part of the newly formed Mayor’s Charitable Fund sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to consider the jobs and economic stability the steel industry provides. “That’s what I would tell him, Mr. President these are your people don’t put them out of work,” Kelly said. The main opposition to the sale comes from the United Steelworkers Union and politicians who want the company to remain domestically owned. “Our union has been calling for strict government scrutiny of the sale since it was announced. Now it’s up to President Biden to determine the best path forward,” said USW International President David McCall. The U.S. government’s committee on foreign investments has referred the decision to President Biden, who now has until Tuesday to approve or reject the deal. The mayors are hoping Biden will back their communities and prevent further economic decline. “We are here to resolve and save our communities,” said Cletus Lee, mayor of North Braddock. As the deadline approaches, the mayors are urging the president to act in the best interest of local workers and families. “If the Mon Valley falls, the rest of us fall,” said Coletta Perry, mayor of Crafton.
January 1, 2025 2:47 am
A Washington County family was on vacation in New Orleans and were unfortunate victims of the New Year’s Eve incident where a man drove his truck through the celebrating crowd and killed 15 people and injured more than 30 others. Heaven Sensky Kirsch said that her father was one of the injured in the violent crash. Jeremi Sensky, 51 of Canonsburg underwent surgery for several hours in an effort to repair his two broken legs. Sensky is paralyzed and uses a wheelchair. According to his daughter, he was struck by the truck and ejected from his wheelchair. Heaven Sensky Kirsch describes several hours of worry and search for her father. She and her mother were able to locate him in a nearby hospital trauma unit. Heaven describes Jeremi as “alive, full of life, resilient and he continues to live vibrantly.” The Sensky Family is extremely grateful for the outpouring of concern for Jeremi and the rest of the family. (Photo Courtesy of Sensky Family)
January 1, 2025 2:45 am
Additional expert testimony was provided in the Smith Township infant death case of Oliver George. His father Joshua George is charged with homicide, aggravated assault and child endangerment in the December 2021 case where George is accused of assaulting the infant then delivering him to his maternal grandparents for babysitting. The defense asked that testimony be reopened to allow autopsy information from forensic pathologist Dr. Todd Luckacevic to be entered on the record. The defense wanted his testimony because they felt that it would tighten the timeline of events and benefit their defendant. Questions over why Luckacevic did not testify earlier were introduced. When county detectives were called to testify, they indicated that they had great difficulty locating Luckasevic after he retired from his position with the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. When they did locate him, he still exhibited reluctance in testifying, suggesting that others in Allegheny County testify on his behalf. Ultimately, he did appear for a September 26 hearing but was not called for his testimony. The judge will schedule further hearings for briefs seven days after transcripts of this hearing are filed. Joshua George faces the death penalty if he is convicted of homicide.
December 31, 2024 5:33 pm
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — From Sydney to Mumbai to Nairobi, communities around the world have begun welcoming 2025 with spectacular light shows, embraces and ice plunges. Auckland became the first major city to celebrate. Countries in the South Pacific Ocean are the first to ring in the New Year, with midnight in New Zealand striking 18 hours before the ball drop in Times Square in New York. Conflict muted acknowledgements of the new year in places like the Middle East, Sudan and Ukraine. American Samoa will be among the last to welcome 2025, a full 24 hours after New Zealand. (Photo: AP)
December 31, 2024 5:27 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has imposed sanctions on two groups linked to Russian and Iranian disinformation campaigns targeting this year’s election. Treasury officials announced the actions Tuesday, saying the two groups sought to spread false claims designed to stoke political tension and undermine the candidates ahead of November’s vote. Officials say the Russian organization worked with Russian military intelligence and used artificial intelligence to create fake videos about American candidates. The Iranian group is accused of working at the direction of Iran’s military to spread disinformation aimed at inciting voters. Both countries have rejected accusations that they sought to meddle with the election.
December 31, 2024 4:53 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says the United States will send nearly $2.5 billion more in weapons to Ukraine. Biden’s administration is working quickly to spend all the money it has available to help Kyiv fight off Russia before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in three weeks. The package announced Monday includes $1.25 billion in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the military to pull existing stock from its shelves and gets weapons to the battlefield faster. The deal also puts more long-term weapons packages on contract through a separate Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which pays for longer-term weapons deliveries. Biden said all longer-term funds have now been spent and pledged to use the remaining drawdown money before leaving office.
December 31, 2024 4:52 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A team of U.S. investigators including representatives from Boeing have examined the site of a plane crash that killed 179 people in South Korea. Authorities meanwhile are conducting safety inspections on all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by the country’s airlines. All but two of the 181 people aboard the Boeing 737-800 operated by budget airline Jeju Air died in Sunday’s crash. The plane was seen having an engine trouble and preliminary examinations also say the pilots received a bird strike warning from the ground control center and issued a distress signal as well. But many experts say the landing gear issue was likely the main cause of the crash.
December 31, 2024 4:48 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – There’s been an uptick in Norovirus cases, an extremely contagious stomach bug. Channel 11 spoke with an AHN doctor about who’s at risk and how to protect yourself from the virus. “It’s all over the schools. It’s everywhere,” a local parent said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there’s been a nationwide increase of the illness, commonly known as the stomach flu. Dr. Brian Lamb with Allegheny Health Network said the surge is due to the holidays and a lot of people gathering inside because it’s cold. “We tend to see outbreaks like this on cruise ships all the time, we see it in prisons and daycares, we see it in dorms. Anywhere where people are in a very close contact with each other,” Dr. Lamb said. Dr. Lamb said common symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, body ache, headache, and fever. People of all ages can get it. There’s no treatment so Dr. Lamb encourages those who are infected to stay hydrated. He said the best way to protect yourself is washing your hands.
December 30, 2024 2:44 pm
(AP) – Funeral arrangements for former President Jimmy Carter have been announced. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter died Sunday, coming up on two years after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Here’s the latest. President Joe Biden has scheduled a state funeral in Washington for former President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 9th. Biden also declared Jan. 9th as a National Day of Mourning across the U.S. Carter, the longest-lived former president, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100. Biden also ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days from Sunday. (Photo: AP)
