December 7, 2024 3:57 am
(AP) – A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok as soon as next month, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law – which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court.
December 7, 2024 3:54 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday’s killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. (Photo: AP)
December 7, 2024 3:51 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean lawmakers have begun meeting to vote on whether to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived attempt to impose martial law, as protests grew nationwide calling for his removal. They gathered in the National Assembly on Saturday, hours after Yoon issued a public apology over the move, saying he won’t shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promising not to make another attempt to impose martial law. In a brief televised address, Yoon said he would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country’s political turmoil, “including matters related to my term in office.”
December 7, 2024 3:48 am
PARIS (AP) — France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral is formally reopening its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019. The five-year restoration is widely seen as a boost for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline, and a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. World leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers will gather on Saturday evening for the celebrations under the cathedral’s soaring arches. First lady Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William and President-elect Donald Trump will join Macron and nearly 50 other heads of state and government — 1,500 guests in all — for the ceremony. (Photo: AP)
December 7, 2024 3:44 am
East Washington Borough will be holding its second annual Light Up Night on Saturday. The event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at Nicholas Cumer Park on Thayer Street. Attractions include a viewing of the movie “Elf”along with the Royal Princess Engagements. Children may visit with Santa Claus and decorate an ornament to take home. Free hot chocolate and cookies will be available to everyone. The Hogfather’s Food Truck and the “Coffin Bean” trailer pulled by a Christmas hearse will also be there. Visitors are asked to bring an ornament to decorate the community holiday tree. Donations may also be made to Toys for Tots. The tree lighting ceremony will begin at 8 p.m.
December 7, 2024 3:43 am
UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPXI) – Elizabeth Pollard, the woman who fell into a sinkhole while looking for her cat, has been found dead after a 4-day search, state police confirm. Crews returned to the abandoned coal mine in Unity Township Friday and drilled holes in the ground to send cameras and drones down into the mine. Pollard went missing around 5 p.m. on Monday while searching for her missing cat near Monday’s Union Restaurant. At around 2:50 a.m. Tuesday, troopers found her vehicle parked behind Monday’s Union Restaurant, where they found Pollard’s 5-year-old granddaughter inside. She was unharmed.
December 7, 2024 3:43 am
South Strabane Township Police responded to a two vehicle accident on East Beau Street on Thursday night. According to 9-1-1 dispatchers, two vehicles collided at the intersection of East Beau Street and Eastpointe Drive just after eight-thirty. One person was killed in the accident, a second person was transported to a hospital. According to Washington County Coroner Tim Warco, The victim who died is identified as 65-year-old James Johnson of Eighty Four. Warco said Johnson’s vehicle was traveling east on Beau Street when it collided with another vehicle travelling west. Johnson was not wearing a seat belt. The cause and manner of death are pending autopsy. The name of the other victim is unknown at this point. East Beau Street was closed for approximately two and a half hours.
December 7, 2024 3:42 am
MCKEES ROCKS, Pa. (WPXI) — A man died after he was shot in McKees Rocks Friday night. Allegheny County dispatchers said crews were called to the 1000 block of 2nd Street near Broadway Avenue at 9:21 p.m. First responders found a man who had been shot multiple times. He was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call the Allegheny County Police Tip Line 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
December 7, 2024 3:40 am
UPPER SAINT CLAIR, Pa. (WPXI) — Four SWAT team officers have been cleared of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a man during a mental health crisis in Upper Saint Clair. Chris Shepherd, 48, had a history of mental health calls when his mom called for help in January. Upper Saint Clair police had responded multiple times to the home in recent months, but in this incident he had a knife. “That’s a knife. It’s a kitchen knife,” said District Attorney Stephen Zappala in a news conference on Friday. “The significance is this is no longer a mental health matter, it is now a police matter.” Zappala said the SWAT team was called in when officers saw a knife in the corner of a boarded up door in the front of the home. Multiple rounds of pepper balls were fired into the home during the four-hour standoff. When Shephard exited the home, Zappala said he could be seen with a knife in one hand and a lamp in the other hand, running down the driveway. Zappala said the Upper St Clair Police Department handled everything correctly. He said the SWAT team could have handled the situation differently, and some ‘failures’ happened. But ultimately, he said no crime was committed by police. Shepherd’s family filed a civil lawsuit. They said they tried multiple times to get Christopher the help he needed leading up to the fatal shooting.
December 6, 2024 4:31 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck in California’s so-called “earthquake country.” According to the U.S. Geological Survey on Thursday, at least 5.3 million people in California and Oregon were under a tsunami warning after the earthquake struck. It was felt as far south as San Francisco, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by multiple smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. The temblor was the most powerful to hit California since a 7.1-magnitude quake hit Ridgecrest in 2019. The epicenter of the shaker occurred where three tectonic plates meet.
