November 12, 2024 4:51 am
False posts circulating on social media claim that billionaire Elon Musk facilitated alleged election fraud through his internet service provider Starlink, manipulating the vote count, particularly in swing states, through election equipment such as ballot tabulators. Starlink, a subsidiary of Musk’s SpaceX company, uses satellites to offer high-speed internet, even in remote areas. These claims are unfounded. Election officials from multiple swing states told The Associated Press that their voting equipment doesn’t use Starlink and is not even connected to the internet. States across the U.S. have additional security measures to ensure that the count is accurate, according to experts. Election officials and security agencies have reported no significant issues with the 2024 race.
November 12, 2024 4:51 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian medical officials say two Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 14 people, including two children and a woman, most in an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone. One strike late Monday hit a cafeteria in the so-called Muwasi humanitarian zone west of the city of Khan Younis, killing at least 11 people including two children, according to officials at Nasser Hospital, where the casualties were taken. Another strike early Tuesday hit a house in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing three people including a woman, according to al-Awda Hospital, which received the casualties. The strike also wounded 11 others, it said.
November 12, 2024 4:47 am
GREENSBURG, Pa. — (WPXI) – Three students were taken to the hospital following a Veterans Day program at Greensburg Central Catholic High School on Monday. Floors in the gymnasium and the auxiliary gym were resurfaced over the weekend, and the chemicals can have a strong odor that “can be irritating.” A news release from the Diocese of Greensburg said both gyms were ventilated before the Veterans Day program. One of the students felt lightheaded and was taken to a hospital in an ambulance. Two other students were taken to a local hospital by their families.
Classes were immediately dismissed and Tuesday will be a flexible instruction day so additional ventilation can take place. “The health and safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We take any potential health concerns seriously and are working diligently to ensure our school environment remains safe for everyone. Rest assured that we are taking all necessary precautions and following expert guidance in addressing this situation,” a letter from the district said.
November 12, 2024 4:46 am
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI) – Collier Township police are filing charges against the juvenile involved in an incident that caused the Chartiers Valley School District to have all remote learning. Parents had waited most of the day to see if classes would be back in person Tuesday before getting alerted Monday around 7 p.m. that students would be back in the classroom. Chartiers Valley parent Candice Connor says it was around 10 p.m. Sunday when she was notified that all Chartiers Valley schools would be virtual on Monday. “It said there was a credible threat so they were canceling school and that was alarming,” Connor said. The move comes after police say a “credible” threat was made against the school district in addition to Parkway West Career and Technology Center. Both the school district and police haven’t specified exactly what the threat was, what it said or if it was on social media. Investigators said a juvenile was behind the threat, but didn’t say if it was a Chartiers Valley student or not. Monday night, the Bridgeville Police Department released information on its social media page saying that the juvenile was arrested by Bridgeville officers Monday night for separate charges stemming from separate incidents. Chartiers Valley Parents received an email around 7 p.m. Monday letting them know classes would be back in person. The interim superintendent explained the issue was fully resolved and that a juvenile experiencing a crisis was receiving appropriate help and support. That juvenile is being held in a secure juvenile holding facility. There will be extra police officers at all Chartiers Valley School campuses on Tuesday.
November 12, 2024 2:52 am
A hearing was held Tuesday on a request for a preliminary injunction requested by Pennsylvania’s Attorney General. The hearing came after a federal district court granted a motion by the state’s attorney general, for a temporary restraining order that would put on hold, the closing of the Pyrex Glass Plant in Charleroi. The move prevents the owners, Anchor Hocking Holding and its private equity partner from removing equipment and other materials from the plant. The court agreed with the attorney general that “Immediate and irreparable injury will result” from such actions. A spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General confirmed there was a hearing held on the matter and they expect the court to rule on the request by Thursday, November 14th, at five p.m.
November 12, 2024 2:49 am
Peters Township Council voted to approve a $42,500 expenditure to hire the Fitch and Associates company to conduct a study on how to best provide emergency medical services in the community. Ambulance services are now provided by Peters Township Ambulance, sponsored by VFW Post 764. Tom McMurray, Director of Peters Township Ambulance says that the organization has provided ambulance service since 1963. McMurray says that the study will analyze all aspects of the operation and make recommendations on how to proceed in the future. He says that staff at the organization is strong right now but staffing nationwide has been a challenge especially since the Covid-19 pandemic. He pointed to decreasing reimbursements for trips as a concern going forward. McMurray is a member of a four-person committee that is recommending the study. He calls it a proactive step by the township to make sure that emergency medical services are there when they are needed. The other members of the committee were Peters Township Fire Chief Mike McLaughlin, Township Manager Paul Lauer and Assistant Township Manager Kyle Thauvette. The study will commence at the beginning of 2025.
November 12, 2024 2:39 am
A preliminary hearing was held for a former Charleroi couple that has been charged in the October, 2023 death of their 14 month old child. All charges against Brooke Whitehead, 32 and Ryan Whitehead 32, have been held for court. Testimony from a pathologist identified blunt force trauma to the head, torso and extremities as the cause of death. The pathologist detailed multiple skull fractures that led to lacerations of the brain and multiple fractures of the legs and arms that occurred over a period of time. Some of those fractures were healed, others were re-fractures of previous injuries. Police testimony detailed two interviews held with Brooke Whitehead. In the first, she said she was the only adult caring for her children that night. In a subsequent interview, police said she provided four other scenarios of how the child received the injuries that ultimately claimed their life. Defense counsel for Ryan Whitehead asked that the felony charge of child endangerment he faces be dropped because he was out of town working when the incident occurred. The request was denied. Brooke Whitehead faces felony charges of homicide, aggravated assault and child endangerment. All of her charges were held for trial. Detectives found the couple living in the Bellefonte, PA area and had to have them extradited back to Washington County. Both are being held in the Washington County Jail without bond.
November 11, 2024 8:59 am
NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has named former New York congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency as he continues to build out his future administration with loyal supporters. Trump says Zeldin, a Republican who mounted a failed bid for governor of New York in 2022, would “ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards.” The announcement comes after Trump selected longtime adviser Stephen Miller to be deputy chief of policy and named New York Rep. Elise Stefanik as his choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
November 11, 2024 8:57 am
PITTSBURGH – (WPXI) – A Rivers Casino table games dealer is facing charges after she allegedly dealt nearly 200 fraudulent hands of blackjack. Pennsylvania State Police said that between Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, Jamie Smith was overpaying patrons on winning/losing bets, never collected monies from losing bets, removed chips from the float and paid multiple different patrons. Video surveillance showed Smith working for 31 hours and dealing 192 fraudulent hands of the card game, totaling a loss of $21,869, police said. Smith was taken into custody when she arrived for her shift on Nov. 8. She was taken to the Allegheny County Jail.
November 11, 2024 5:16 am
ATLANTA (AP) — A shooting during homecoming weekend at Tuskegee University in Alabama has left one person dead and injured 16 others, a dozen of them by gunfire. Authorities announced an arrest on a weapons charge. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency says Jaquez Myrick was arrested while leaving the scene of the shooting early Sunday and was found with a handgun with a machine gun conversion device. The agency did not accuse him of using the gun in the shooting or provide additional details. The shooting erupted as the historically Black university’s 100th Homecoming Week was winding down. Authorities said an 18-year-old man who died was not a university student but that some of the injured were students. Tuskegee canceled classes Monday.
