July 30, 2023 7:43 am
PHOENIX (AP) — A historic heat wave that has blasted the U.S. Southwest throughout July is showing signs of abating with late-arriving monsoon rains. Forecasters expect that by Monday, people in metro Phoenix will begin seeing high temperatures under 110 degrees for the first time in a month. But the National Weather Service says the high temperature in the desert city Saturday has still climbed past 110 for the 30th straight day. Chances of cooling monsoon thunderstorms are expected to increase Sunday. But wet weather also can bring damaging winds and flash flooding. Temperatures are also expected to ease in Las Vegas; Albuquerque, New Mexico, and even Death Valley, California.
July 30, 2023 7:42 am
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China has accused the United States of turning Taiwan into an “ammunition depot” after the White House announced a $345 million military aid package for Taipei. Taiwan said Sunday it tracked six Chinese navy ships in waters off its shores. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office issued a statement late Saturday opposing the military aid to the self-ruled island, which China claims as its own territory. Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, said no amount of military spending will shake China’s “firm will to realize the reunification of our motherland.” China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949, and Taiwan has never been governed by China’s ruling Communist Party.
July 30, 2023 7:40 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Drastic changes in consumer demands are driving labor unrest in diverse industries upended by technology. Hollywood actors and writers and UPS delivery drivers are among workers fighting for better pay and working conditions. And they want consumers to understand what it takes to meet rising expectations for speed and convenience. The central issues are that workers are overworked and underpaid. Screenwriters say they are expected to create scripts for the streaming era faster for less pay. UPS drivers say forced overtime got out of hand as online shopping accelerated and delivery exploded. Workers are pushing back against forced overtime, punishing schedules or company reliance on lower-paid part-time or contract forces.
July 30, 2023 7:39 am
July 30, 2023 7:38 am
NEW YORK (AP) — At a moment of growing legal peril, Donald Trump on Saturday ramped up his calls for his GOP rivals to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. At a rally in Pennsylvania, he also threatened to primary Republican members of Congress who fail to focus on investigating Democratic President Joe Biden and urged them to halt Ukrainian military aid unless the White House cooperates with investigations into Biden and his family. The comments came two days after federal prosecutors unveiled new criminal charges against the former president and GOP frontrunner as part of the case that accuses him of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago club.
July 30, 2023 7:37 am
PERRYOPOLIS, Pa. (WPXI)— A man is facing charges after allegedly trying to lure multiple juveniles into his truck at a local park. According to Pennsylvania state police, a boy and girl were playing at Whitsett Park when they were approached by Antonio Steadman, from Perryopolis. The juveniles didn’t know Steadman but he allegedly called the girl over to his vehicle by name while she was carrying the boy. He then asked them to get into his truck. State police said Steadman appeared highly intoxicated and dropped a beer can out of his truck. He also didn’t have a shirt on. A truck matching the description of Steadman’s was found a street over during an area canvass. State police said troopers tried to stop the truck but it drove away. It was eventually stopped. According to officials, Steadman was “clearly intoxicated.” The victims positively identified Steadman as the person who attempted to get them into his truck, state police said. Steadman reportedly threatened to kill multiple troopers and offered $50,000 if he was released instead of arrested. Steadman is charged with two counts of luring a child into a motor vehicle, one count of second degree felony and one count of first degree misdemeanor, one count of third degree felony bribery in official matters, four counts of first degree misdemeanor terroristic threats, one count of misdemeanor DUI, one count of third degree misdemeanor disorderly conduct, public intoxication and related traffic offenses.
July 30, 2023 4:22 am
The Mega Millions jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.05 billion after no one took home the $940 million top prize. The numbers drawn Friday night in the nationwide lottery were: 5, 10, 28, 52, 63 and the gold ball 18. Mega Millions says the new potential jackpot is the fourth-largest in the history of the game and the fifth over $1 billion. No one has won the jackpot since April 18. The $1.05 billion prize would be for a sole winner choosing to be paid through an annuity over 30 years. Jackpot winners almost always opt for a lump sum payment, which for the next drawing Tuesday night would be an estimated $527.9 million. The odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 302.6 million.
July 30, 2023 3:53 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – A federal trial for a man who fatally shot 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue is approaching its conclusion as the defense makes its case that mental illness spurred the United States’ deadliest antisemitic attack. Lawyers for Robert Bowers are trying to persuade a federal jury to spare his life. A defense psychiatrist who met with Bowers testified Friday that Bowers has schizophrenia and acted out of a delusion that Jews were trying to cause a genocide of white people. Bowers’ relatives also testified, with his aunt saying he had a difficult childhood.
July 30, 2023 3:43 am
ALLEGHENY COUNTY -(WPXI)- A 17-year-old boy is dead after being found in the Monongahela River. Allegheny County dispatchers said the search for the boy began near the Mansfield Bridge at around 8:15 p.m. Friday night. Crews were staged across the river at the 200 block of Washington Avenue in Dravosburg. The Glassport police chief said the boy, later identified by the Medical Examiner’s Office as Benjerman T.N. Coleman, was swimming and fishing with other people when he went under the water and did not resurface. Coleman was pronounced dead at around 1:45 a.m. The people around him quickly called 911. The chief said the river is about 15-20 feet deep. Investigators said Glassport emergency crews were leading the investigation.
July 30, 2023 3:33 am
COLLIER TOWNSHIP, Pa. -(WPXI)- A woman was shot outside of a Texas Roadhouse in Collier Township. Allegheny County dispatchers say police and medics were called to the restaurant on Washington Pike at 3:50 p.m. on Friday. Restaurant employees say the business was not impacted and confirmed that the incident happened in the parking lot, not inside the building.The victim was taken to a hospital. “We pulled up and there were four or five police cars on scene,” said Carmela Weaver of Kennedy Township. The gunfire erupted as many people were making their way inside the restaurant to eat. “There was a lot of blood and when we got here there were two sandals, like flip flops,” said Rich Mitoch, a Texas Roadhouse patron. “I asked the policeman if I could go inside, he says, ‘Yeah.’” Weaver is thankful no one else was hurt. She said she and her family were on their way to Texas Roadhouse for dinner and got there just after the shooting happened. “Your daily activities, or things you do for regular enjoyment with your family, especially with a one-year old – take for granted that you’re going to be safe and that’s not always the case,” she said. The woman who was shot is expected to recover. Police are not yet releasing her name or the suspect’s name.
