December 13, 2024 9:47 am
A multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 79 Friday morning injured several people and closed the highway in both directions in Amwell Township for several hours, but both lanes were re-opened just after twelve-thirty. The accident happened just after eight o’clock between the Amity/Lone Pine and Laboratory exits. Authorities say a car traveling south crossed the median and went into the northbound lanes, striking another vehicle head-on. A third vehicle was also involved and one person was ejected. Four individuals were taken to area hospitals but there’s been no word on the extent of those injuries. One person was also reportedly treated at the scene and another refused treatment. (Photo: WPXI)
December 13, 2024 5:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot even though the bureau did prepare for the possibility of violence on Jan. 6, 2021, according to a watchdog report. It also says no undercover FBI employees were present that day and none of the bureau’s informants was authorized to participate. The report Thursday from the Justice Department inspector general’s office knocks down a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events of Jan. 6, when rioters determined to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss stormed the building in a violent clash with police.
December 13, 2024 5:05 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia fired 93 missiles and almost 200 drones in Friday’s bombardments. He says it is one of the heaviest bombardments of the country’s energy sector since Russia’s full-scale invasion almost three years ago. He says Ukrainian defenses shot down 81 missiles, including 11 cruise missiles that were intercepted by F-16 warplanes provided by Western allies earlier this year. Zelenskyy renewed his plea for international unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin. But uncertainty surrounds how the war might unfold next year. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the war and has thrown into doubt whether vital U.S. military support for Kyiv will continue.
December 13, 2024 5:03 am
CLAIRTON, Pa. — (WPXI) – Hundreds of people gathered at the Clairton plant Thursday to show their support for the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel in Japan. Steelworkers, community members and local elected leaders filled the crowd, chanting and holding signs saying best deal for U.S. Steel. “I think Nippon Steel is going to bring a lot of money to Mon Valley. It desperately needs a lot technology they promise to bring to Mon Valley,” U.S. Steelworker Charles Clark said. The sale might come down to whether or not the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. deems it a national security concern. Both President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump have expressed the desire to block the sale. So has the United Steelworkers union. Thursday, Lt. Governor Austin Davis shared this message to leaders in Washington D.C. “What i will say is that leaders in Washington, if they’re not for this deal, they need to save what they’re for and what they think the future of steel making in western Pennsylvania and in this country looks like. I think they owe that to the people of western Pennsylvania. This region has often felt forgotten or left behind, it should not feel forgotten because the election is over. Folks have a commitment in Washington to the future of the Mon Valley in the future of steel making,” Davis said. Some steelworkers tell us what they fear most if the sale doesn’t happen. “Layoffs, closure, finding another job, you know,” steelworker Keith Skidmore said.
December 13, 2024 4:57 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Police say the man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not a client of the medical insurer and may have targeted it because of its size and influence. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told NBC New York in an interview that investigators have uncovered evidence that Luigi Mangione had prior knowledge UnitedHealthcare was holding its annual investor conference in New York City. Mangione did mention the company in a note found in his possession when he was detained by police in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday after being spotted at a McDonald’s. Mangione remains jailed without bail in Pennsylvania. His lawyer there says he hasn’t seen any evidence yet linking him to the crime.
December 13, 2024 2:43 am
A Washington man was sentenced on his guilty plea for child pornography charges on Thursday. Trevor Korba, 23 pleaded guilty to two felony charges of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to 6-23 months in the Washington County Jail on one charge. On the second charge he will serve two years’ probation once the first sentence is complete. Korba was arrested after State Police searched his home and found a cell phone with 20 files of child pornography in April of 2023. Immediately after the hearing, a pre-trial services hearing was held on additional charges of child pornography and criminal use of a communications device. The new offenses allegedly occurred in November. Korba’s defense attorney, Sean Logue characterized the situation as complex and is looking to review files to be able to come to a just agreement. Korba will remain in jail on those new charges on $500,000 bond. He will be arraigned on those charges on January 23rd.
December 12, 2024 2:27 pm
(AP) – The head of the Federal Aviation Administration says he will step down next month to let President-elect Donald Trump name his choice to lead the agency. Mike Whitaker announced his pending resignation in a message to FAA employees on Thursday. Since taking the helm at the FAA in October 2023, Whitaker has dealt with challenges that include a surge in close calls between planes, a shortage of air traffic controllers and antiquated equipment. He has led a tougher enforcement policy against Boeing since a panel blew off a jetliner in January.
December 12, 2024 12:24 pm
(WPXI) – There was no bomb threat made onboard a Spirit Airlines plane at Pittsburgh International Airport Thursday. Allegheny County police said they were requested to investigate a “security issue” onboard a Spirit flight that was scheduled to depart PIT for Tampa. The issue was reported to be a bomb threat. County police determined no threat was made and the situation was deemed not criminal in nature. Spokesperson for the Allegheny County Airport Authority Bob Kerlik said no injuries were reported and airport operations are unaffected.
December 12, 2024 9:47 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Twenty-two vehicles were involved in a pileup crash on the Boulevard of the Allies ramp to Oakland Thursday morning. The crash happened around 6:20 a.m. Our crews driving by could see the ramp going to Forbes Avenue blocked off by emergency vehicles. Pittsburgh Public Safety officials said five people had to be taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Several vehicles had to be towed. A public safety spokesperson said the exact cause is not known at this time but is believed to be weather-related. Icy roads were reported across the area Thursday morning.
December 12, 2024 5:20 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump says he’s picking Kari Lake as director of Voice of America, installing a staunch loyalist who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor and a Senate seat to head the congressionally funded broadcaster that provides independent news reporting around the world. Lake took a hard line against illegal immigration in both her campaigns. Also Wednesday, Trump announced Leandro Rizzuto as his choice to be the U.S. ambassador to the Washington-based Organization of American States, and said he wanted Florida personal injury attorney Dan Newlin to be U.S. ambassador to Colombia. Physician and donor Peter Lamelas is his pick for U.S. ambassador to Argentina.
