July 4, 2024 5:17 am
FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. (WPXI) — Charges have been filed in a nearly 13-year-old cold case in Fayette County. A letter from Fayette County District Attorney Michael Aubele says Frank Timothy Campbell, 37, of Merrittstown, has been charged in the 2011 murder of Leon Mickens. Mickens was shot in the head in Masontown on Aug. 15, 2011, the night before his 36th birthday. At the time of the crime, Aubele says police spoke with witnesses, gathered evidence and even identified a person of interest, but charges were not filed. Leon’s cousin told Channel 11 four years after the crime that she was worried his killed would go scot-free. Aubele says when he took office in January, he promised the Mickens family that his office would do their best to secure justice for Leon. The charges against Campbell come after a new lieutenant took over the cold case investigation and authorities were able to locate witnesses and evidence, Aubele said. Reportedly police have statements, photographs, and circumstantial items that have “long supported” the charges, but now they have DNA evidence that places Campbell at the scene of the crime. Online court records show Campbell is facing several charges, including criminal homicide and aggravated assault.
July 4, 2024 5:54 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Senate has passed legislation to encourage school districts to effectively ban students’ use of cellphones during the school day. The bill passed 45-5 on Wednesday. It would help school districts pay for locking bags after the district creates a policy requiring students to leave their phones in such bags for the whole school day. The bill now goes to the state House for consideration. Its sponsor, Republican state Sen. Ryan Aument of Lancaster, says he hopes that limits on phone use will result in improvements in students’ mental health and academic performance. Participating school districts must track changes in student mental health, bullying, violence and academic performance.
July 4, 2024 5:25 am
All signs point to big celebrations for Americans this Fourth of July. Travel records are projected to fall as people gather for cookouts, parades and fireworks. Some unique celebrations are also planned. In Down East, Maine, lobster boat races will be held off the rocky coast. In Philadelphia, descendants of the signers of the Declaration of Independence will ring the Liberty Bell. An annual tug-of-war contest is being held in California. And, of course, there’s the annual hot dog eating contest in Coney Island, New York.
July 4, 2024 5:02 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is vowing to keep running for reelection as he rejects pressure from within his Democratic Party to withdraw after a disastrous debate performance raised questions about his readiness. But in an ominous sign, one of his top allies publicly suggested on Wednesday a way that the party might choose someone else. According to a campaign aides, Biden told his staff that “no one is pushing me out” of the race. But there are signs that support for Biden is rapidly eroding among Democrats on Capitol Hill. Rep. Jim Clyburn, a longtime Biden ally, says he’d support a “mini-primary” in the run-up to the Democratic National Convention next month if Biden were to leave the race.
July 4, 2024 6:51 am
Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest is today. The yearly bun fight, which dates back to 1972, sees large crowds of fans in foam hot-dog hats gather in front of the original Nathan’s Famous’ restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn, to cheer on the competitors as they chow down. The contestants are allowed to dunk the dogs in cups of water to soften them up, creating a stomach-churning spectacle. The field has shifted this year as Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, the reigning champion of the contest, will not participate in Thursday’s event after signing a deal with a rival brand. Instead, Chestnut will take his hot dog-downing talents to an army base in Texas for America’s Independence Day. Chestnut, of Indiana, will compete against soldiers in Fort Bliss, in El Paso, in a 5-minute hot dog eating contest. In 2021, Chestnut set the current record of 76 hot dogs, in 10 minutes. With Chestnut out, those vying for second place in Brooklyn in the past might have renewed hope to chomp their way to victory this year. Last year’s second-place winner was Geoffrey Esper from Oxford, Massachusetts, who downed 49 dogs to Chestnut’s 62. Third place went to Australia’s James Webb with 47. Miki Sudo, of Tampa, Florida, holds the women’s record of 48.5 in 10 minutes. Miki won her ninth title at the Nathan’s Famous contest last year with 39.5 hot dogs and buns eaten. Contestants hail from 13 states and several countries. (Photo: AP)
July 4, 2024 5:03 am
WASHINGTON – U.S. job openings rose slightly to 8.1 million in May despite the impact of higher interest rates. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that vacancies were up from a revised 7.9 million in April, the first reading below 8 million since February 2021. Layoffs rose slightly, and the number of Americans quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects — was basically unchanged. The U.S. economy and job market have been remarkably resilient in the face of the Federal Reserve’s campaign to raise interest rates to rein in inflation. The Fed hiked its benchmark rate 11 times in 2022 and 2023, lifting it to a 23-year high.
July 3, 2024 4:57 am
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada (AP) — Hurricane Beryl is roaring across the Caribbean Sea as a powerful Category 4 storm on a path toward Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. At least six people have died after Beryl slammed islands in the southeast Caribbean. A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica and some of the Cayman islands, and a watch was posted for Haiti’s southern coast and the east coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Beryl was losing some of its intensity but was still forecast to be near major-hurricane strength when it passes near or over Jamaica early Wednesday. It had 145-mph winds early Wednesday. People in flood-prone areas of Jamaica were warned to seek safe shelter to ride out the storm overnight and into Wednesday.
July 3, 2024 10:37 am
Canonsburg police are investigating after someone fired a gun in the east end area of the borough. On Monday and Tuesday night, several shots were fired in the area of Franklin and Highland avenues. Police said there was no apparent motive or target. “We are devoting all of our resources into finding the actor or actors as we review video surveillance footage, and follow up on the leads we have generated,” the police chief said in a social media post. Residents are advised to call 911 if they hear anything. Those with home security systems are asked to review the footage and report anything suspicious at 724-745-8020 ext. 519.
July 3, 2024 1:58 am
An assistant district attorney in Washington County is awaiting a preliminary hearing after being arrested for drunk driving. North Strabane Township Police arrested 37-year-old Rachel Anne Wheeler Friday night around ten o’clock after she drove through a red light in the township. Wheeler, who lives in North Strabane, allegedly drove through the red light while traveling north on Route Nineteen at the intersection with Racetrack Road. After being stopped by an officer, Wheeler took a breathalyzer test at the scene and her blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit. She has been charged with misdemeanors for driving under the influence. Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh says he can not comment on the case because it is a personnel matter, however, he did confirm to WJPA that Wheeler submitted her resignation on Tuesday and her case will be prosecuted by the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office.
July 3, 2024 2:27 am
Washington County Commission Chairman Nick Sherman on Tuesday, spoke with WJPA News regarding a lawsuit filed this week against the county’s election board for their decision to not allow ballot-curing in the spring primary election. The suit was filed was filed on behalf of seven voters, the Center for Coalfield Justice and the Washington Branch of the NAACP. They were represented by the ACLU of Pennsylvania, the Public Interest Law Center and Dechert, LLP stating the decision made by the board of elections, that is made up of the three county commissioners, disenfranchised 259 county voters by not allowing the county elections department to contact voters who voted by mail and had correctable errors with their ballots. The decision to not allow curing is a reversal of previous protocol that allowed the department to contact voters about their mistakes and address the errors. The suit alleges that the county violated the voters’ procedural due process rights. Sherman, however, maintains that the elections board followed the strict letter of the law and will continue to do so. He says the lawsuit may actually hurt the surrounding counties that allowed ballot curing, because once the suit goes through the legal system, he’s sure state law will prevail. Sherman added that if people want to see change in the way mail-in ballots are handled, they should contact their legislators because that would need to be done on a state level.
