May 20, 2024 6:13 pm
JERUSALEM (AP) — The chief prosecutor of the world’s top war crimes court is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Karim Khan of the International Criminal Court on Monday accused Netanyahu, his defense minister, and three Hamas leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel. The announcement was a symbolic blow that deepened Israel’s isolation over the war in Gaza. Israeli leaders condemned the move as disgraceful and antisemitic. Hamas also rejected the accusations. A panel of judges will consider the prosecutor’s evidence and decide whether to issue the arrest warrants and allow a case to proceed.
May 20, 2024 6:10 pm
The Center for Coalfield Justice (CCJ) issued a statement Monday afternoon, saying they are deeply concerned about the chemical fire that broke out at the Omnis Bailey Plant, located on the CONSOL Energy property in Greene County. They say the fire has necessitated an extended response from local and regional fire crews and first responders, raising significant environmental and public health concerns. CCJ officials say CONSOL and Omnis Bailey have not shared information with the public, leading to understandable speculation, since first responders don’t know exactly which chemicals they’re battling and being exposed to. They say they are alarmed by the fire at the Bailey Omni Plant and the potential dangers it poses to the surrounding communities and their primary concern is the health and safety of the workers, residents, and first responders in Washington and Greene Counties. They are urging immediate and transparent communication from CONSOL Energy and Omnis Bailey about the nature and extent of the hazardous materials involved and the steps being taken to mitigate any environmental impact.
May 20, 2024 5:00 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI)- The recent tornadoes in or near western Pennsylvania are now the most on record by the National Weather Service Pittsburgh in May. According to NWS Pittsburgh, there have been 14 confirmed tornadoes this month in its county warning area. That surpasses the 11 tornadoes from the 1985 outbreak for the most on record in May. During the 1985 tornado outbreak, 43 tornadoes tore through Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Canada, leaving a path of death and destruction that still ranks as one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history. Of those tornadoes, 23 touched down in Pennsylvania, 11 of which were in the NWS Pittsburgh region. It’s still the largest single-day tornado outbreak in Pennsylvania history. Eighty-nine people lost their lives, 75 of those were in the Keystone State. There were more than a thousand injuries and $600 million in damage. Throughout the last several weeks, severe storms have produced tornadoes that touched down in the Pittsburgh region, including an EF-2 tornado in Washington County, a high-end EF-2 tornado in West Virginia near the border with Pennsylvania and the first tornado within the Pittsburgh city limits since 1998. Many of the tornadoes were on the stronger side for this region. Significant damage has been reported from these 14 tornadoes. There have only been minor injuries. On average, Pennsylvania averages six tornadoes a year. The state’s peak tornado season is in June.
May 20, 2024 5:03 am
NORTH VERSAILLES, Pa. — A man is dead after a van and motorcycle crash in North Versailles. Allegheny County dispatchers say first responders were called to the intersection of Lincoln Highway and Clyde Avenue at around 9:31 p.m. Allegheny County Police say both vehicles were traveling westbound on Lincoln Highway. The van was making a left-hand turn onto Clyde Avenue and was hit by the motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle was taken to a local hospital where he later died. The driver of the van was not injured. This is the second fatal motorcycle crash to happen in North Versailles on Sunday.
May 19, 2024 2:27 am
The City of Washington Fire Department dedicated their new engine with a traditional “push” ceremony. The tradition commemorates times when fire companies used horses to transport water to fires and when finished, the fire apparatus was “pushed back” into the garage. Fire Chief Chris Richer commented on the appreciation he had with the city to actively upgrade the city’s aging fleet. The truck is a 2023 Pierce Saber Pumper. It has a 1000 gallon water tank and a pump capable of pumping 1500 gallons per minute. The truck was funded entirely by grants. The price of the truck was purchased as a demonstrator model which was priced at approximately $680,000, saving taxpayers more than $250,000. The engine is the second apparatus delivered in the last three years.
May 20, 2024 12:39 pm
Gov. Josh Shapiro and other state officials announced the launch of Pennsylvania’s new state tourism brand and summer travel marketing campaign on Monday. The campaign is called Pennsylvania: The Great American Getaway and is meant to encourage more people to visit the Commonwealth. Officials are promoting the state as a “premier weekend getaway destination,” highlighting the close driving proximity to hubs on the East Coast — like New York City, Baltimore and Washington D.C. — and boasting the towns throughout that have world-class dining options, renowned historical sites, outdoor recreation, and top tier sports teams. Shapiro says all of those experiences can be had in a single weekend by nearly 72 million people who live within a four-hour drive of the state. “More people deserve the chance to come here and experience the magic of Pennsylvania for themselves,” Shapiro said. Pennsylvania is the Great American Getaway, and my Administration is making tourism a top priority for the first time in more than a decade – it is a central part of our economic development strategy and my new budget calls for an $18 million increase for tourism and business marketing. This new brand and funding will help us grow small businesses, support our communities, and create opportunity for more Pennsylvanians.” To promote this brand, VISIT PA launched a marketing campaign titled “Your Great American Getaway Starts Here” which runs in nearby regional markets until August. Travelers will also see the brands at sports games, concerts, festivals, and transit stations across Pennsylvania and New York throughout the summer.
May 20, 2024 5:08 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s foreign minister and several other officials have been found dead after their helicopter crashed in a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest. State media announced the deaths after the crash site was found on Monday, after hours of searching. The crash comes as the Middle East remains unsettled by the Israel-Hamas war, during which Raisi under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei launched an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel last month. Under Raisi, Iran enriched uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. Meanwhile, Iran has faced years of protests against its Shiite theocracy over its ailing economy and women’s rights – making the moment that much more sensitive for the country.
May 20, 2024 5:12 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike has killed 27 people in central Gaza, mostly women and children, and fighting again rages across the north. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces criticism from the two other members of his War Cabinet over the war that is now in its eighth month. Popular centrist War Cabinet member Benny Gantz has threatened to leave the government if a plan for Gaza, including a postwar vision, isn’t created by June 8. U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has met with Netanyahu to discuss a plan for Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel and help the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza.
May 20, 2024 6:13 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s lawyers have pressed the judge overseeing his hush money trial to stop the case from going to the jury and throw out the charges. The defense request came Monday after prosecutors concluded their presentation of evidence. Judge Juan M. Merchan did not immediately rule on the request. It was made at the end of a busy day that included the judge briefly kicking reporters out of the courtroom after he admonishing a defense witness for his behavior on the witness stand. The trial will resume Tuesday with more testimony from Robert Costello, who Trump’s lawyers called to the stand to attack the credibility of prosecutors’ star witness, Michael Cohen.
May 19, 2024 5:11 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s hush money trial is heading into the final stretch, with prosecutors’ last and star witness expected back on the stand for more grilling before the former president’s lawyers get their chance to put on a case. The landmark trial will kick back off Monday in Manhattan with more defense cross-examination of former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. Cohen’s pivotal testimony directly tied Trump to the alleged hush money scheme. Defense lawyers are trying to paint Cohen as a serial fabulist who is on a revenge campaign against the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing.
