December 23, 2024 5:01 am
MONROEVILLE, Pa. — (WPXI) – The Monroeville Police Chief says a large police presence at the Monroeville Mall stemmed from a 911 call about a dispute between two people that quickly escalated to fears of an active shooter. Police responded to the mall just before 3 p.m. Sunday. The mall was put into lockdown, but that lockdown was lifted around 4 p.m. Chief Doug Cole says the initial 911 call was about a dispute between two people and one person possibly having a gun. While police were en route, they started getting reports of shots fired. The people involved in the alleged fight, which Cole said happened outside of a bathroom, were not found when police arrived. “Our information was very sketchy,” Cole said. “It continued to evolve, and we could never find anyone that was ever shot or even any physical evidence that a gunshot had even gone off. It appears at this time this was totally a mistake.” Cell phone video showed the chaotic moments as officers with their guns out raced through the mall’s food court shouting, “Everyone down,” as they looked for who they thought was an active shooter. Many shoppers evacuated others hid in stores.
December 23, 2024 4:56 am
SOMERSET COUNTY — (WPXI) – A state trooper was hit by a vehicle in Somerset County. Somerset County District Attorney Molly Metzgar said the trooper was trying to help a disabled vehicle on Route 31 westbound when they were hit on Saturday. According to reports, the trooper suffered injuries to their head, leg and pelvis but has been released from the hospital. “This is a stark reminder of the dangers that our first responders face on a daily basis. I encourage everyone to life the trooper and his family up in their thoughts and prayers,” Metzgar said. Officials said the trooper still has “a long way to go” before returning to duty.
December 23, 2024 4:55 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Capitol buildings are almost always an imposing presence. The seat of government, they tend to be elegant and stately. Visitors to Pennsylvania’s Capitol are drawn to its priceless artwork, polished marble and intricate carvings. But there’s another treasure there: 273 antique clocks that were part of its original design. Every week, in a throwback to a time before wristwatches and cellphones, clock winders roam the halls — ensuring the century-plus-old timekeepers keep ticking. Pennsylvania’s Capitol was crafted by architect Joseph M. Huston, who won its design competition in 1901. The Capitol and the clocks are Huston’s legacy. They draw thousands of visitors every year to where state lawmakers convene.
December 22, 2024 8:09 am
(AP) – Amazon delivery drivers and Starbucks baristas are on strike in a handful of U.S. cities as they seek to exert pressure on the two major companies to recognize them as unionized employees or to meet demands for an inaugural labor contract. Strikes during busy periods like the holidays can help unions exercise leverage during negotiations or garner support from sympathetic consumers. One expert says he thinks workers at both companies are “desperate” to make progress before President-elect Donald Trump can appoint a Republican majority to the National Labor Relations Board. Workers at Starbucks, Amazon and some other prominent consumer brands are fighting for their first contracts after several locations voted to unionize. (Photo: AP)
December 22, 2024 8:06 am
MAGDEBURG, Germany (AP) — German authorities say they received tipoffs last year about the suspect in a car attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg as more details emerged about the five people killed. Authorities have identified the suspect as a Saudi doctor who arrived in Germany in 2006. Police haven’t publicly named the suspect, but several German news outlets identified him as Taleb A., withholding his last name in line with privacy laws. He was reportedly a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy. Authorities say he does not fit the usual profile of perpetrators of extremist attacks. The man described himself as an ex-Muslim who was highly critical of Islam.
December 22, 2024 8:05 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military says two U.S. Navy pilots have been shot down over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident. Both pilots were recovered alive, with one suffering minor injuries in the incident on Sunday. The incident came as the U.S. military conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels, though the U.S. military’s Central Command did not elaborate on what their mission was at the time. “The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18, which was flying off the USS Harry S. Truman,” Central Command said in a statement.
December 22, 2024 7:31 am
(WPXI) – Check your tickets! Someone in Pennsylvania won big in Friday’s Mega Millions drawing. While the jackpot is still rolling, someone in Pennsylvania matched all five winning numbers drawn Friday night— 2-20-51-56-67, but not the Mega Ball, 19, to win $1 million. The Megaplier was 2X. Three other Pennsylvania Mega Millions players matched four of five numbers drawn, winning $10,000. The Mega Millions jackpot is estimated to be worth $944 million for the next drawing on Christmas Eve. The Mega Millions odds are 1 in 302.6 million. Winners can choose an annuity with annual payments over 29 years, but most winners take the cash option.
December 22, 2024 7:27 am
WASHINGTON — A Washington County man is going to prison after pleading guilty to assaulting officers with a weapon during the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan 6, 2021. The United States Attorney’s Office said Joshua Lee Atwood, 31, of Burgettstown was sentenced to four years in prison with three years of supervised release. He will also pay $2,000 in restitution. Atwood was arrested by the FBI in April. Authorities said he climbed into the Capitol through a broken window and entered the Senate room to join the mob outside of the Tunnel entrance inside the building at 4:51 p.m. on that day. They reported he picked up a wooden pole and used it to strike at the riot shields of officers in the police line. Police said he hit an officer’s helmet with that pole before throwing it at them. Atwood reportedly used pepper spray against police until the canister was empty. Police said he also threw a baseball bat, a plastic bottle, a metal scaffolding pipe and a heavy black speaker at the group of officers. The metal pipe hit an officer in the head and neck. In the 47 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,572 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 590 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing. (Photo: WPXI)
December 22, 2024 7:00 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has rushed through final passage of a bipartisan plan to fund federal operations and prevent a government shutdown. It now goes to President Joe Biden, who is expected to quickly sign it into law. The House passed the package late Friday in an overwhelming vote. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pushed into the night to finish early Saturday, just after the midnight deadline. The bill would temporarily fund federal operations and disaster aid, but drops President-elect Donald Trump’s demands for a debt limit increase into the new year. Speaker Mike Johnson had insisted Congress would “meet our obligations” and not allow federal operations to shutter ahead of the Christmas holiday season. He also said Trump is happy with the outcome.
December 22, 2024 7:00 am
One person was taken to a local hospital early Saturday morning for treatment of smoke inhalation, after fire broke out at a residence at 54 West Maiden Street in Washington. The building is located directly across the street from Washington City Hall. Authorities say the blaze, which was reported around four o’clock, displaced several residents and the Red Cross was called out to provide a warming station. There’s been no word on what caused the fire.
