April 23, 2024 4:54 am
(AP) – Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press appear to show a new compound of tents being built near Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip as the Israeli military continues to signal it plans an offensive targeting the city of Rafah. This tent construction is near Khan Younis, which has been targeted by repeated Israeli military operations over recent weeks, but Israel has said it plans to evacuate civilians from Rafah during an anticipated offensive on the southern city, where hundreds of thousands of people have taken refuge during the war, now in its seventh month. On Monday, a failed rocket strike was launched at a base housing U.S.-led coalition forces in Syria, a U.S. defense official said.
April 23, 2024 3:55 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — What began last week when students at a New York Ivy League school refused to end their protest against Israel’s war with Hamas has turned into a much larger movement. Students across the nation set up encampments, occupied buildings and ignored demands to leave Tuesday. Protests against Israel’s war with Hamas had been bubbling for months but kicked into a higher gear after more than 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators who had camped out on Columbia University’s upper Manhattan campus were arrested last week. Dozens more protesters have been arrested at other campuses since, and many now face charges of trespassing or disorderly conduct.
April 23, 2024 3:57 pm
DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department is paying a $138.7 million to settle more than 100 claims that it badly mishandled allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016. It was a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue preying on victims before his arrest. Nassar worked at Michigan State University and at USA Gymnastics. He’s serving decades in prison for assaulting female athletes, including Olympians. For more than a year, FBI agents in Indianapolis and Los Angeles had knowledge of allegations against Nassar but apparently took no action. (Photo: AP)
April 23, 2024 4:57 am
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Life-saving medication and equipment is dwindling or altogether absent at hospitals and clinics across Haiti’s capital as brutal gangs tighten their grip on Port-au-Prince and beyond. They have blocked roads, forced the closure of the main international airport in early March and paralyzed operations at the country’s largest seaport, where containers filled with key supplies remain stuck. Dr. Rachel Lavigne of Doctors Without Borders says that “everything is crashing.” Haiti’s health system has long been fragile, but it’s now nearing total collapse after gangs launched coordinated attacks on Feb. 29, targeting critical state infrastructure in the capital and beyond.
April 23, 2024 4:55 am
PARIS (AP) — At least 5 people have died while crossing the English Channel, according to French media, hours after the U.K. approved the migrant deportation bill. The Voix du Nord newspaper said the bodies were discovered at the Wimereaux beach in northern France on Tuesday. This came only hours after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s latest effort to send some migrants on a one-way ticket to Rwanda finally won approval from Parliament. Human rights groups have described the legislation as inhumane and cruel. The U.K. government plans to deport some of those who enter the country illegally as a deterrent to migrants trying to claim asylum once they reach Britain.
April 22, 2024 4:54 am
WHARTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – The Fayette County coroner said the driver of a vehicle that was involved in a crash that killed five people had drugs in his system. The coroner said that the toxicology report on Harold Nibert, 55, showed positive results for cocaine use at the time of the crash. Nibert was driving the vehicle that crossed the double yellow line on Route 40 near New Meador Run Drive and hit a tractor-trailer head-on in Wharton Township on March 26. He and the four other people in the vehicle, including a 7-month-old baby, were killed in the crash. All of the victims were from Delaware, Ohio.
April 22, 2024 4:50 am
LUZERNE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – A mobile home in Fayette County sustained heavy damage after a fire on Sunday. Fayette County dispatchers say firefighters were called to the 400 block of 2nd Street in Luzerne Township at around 6:00 p.m. Investigators say no one was injured. Witnesses say a dog was inside but was rescued by firefighters. Neighbors say two adults and two children live inside the home but they were not there when flames broke out. The fire marshal has been called in to investigate.
April 22, 2024 4:57 am
WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — Charges against seven people who were accused of trespassing at the abandoned Century III Mall have been dropped. Jared Chambers, 23, of Canonsburg; Nathaniel Riley, 19, of Brentwood; Noah Joseph, 22, of Pittsburgh; Heather Mason, 21, of Pittsburgh; Austin Seik, 25, of Hookstown; Caden Desimone, 18, of Elizabeth; and Lucas Gonzalez, 21, of Pittsburgh all had preliminary hearings on Friday. The seven suspects were all charged with criminal trespassing/breaking into a structure and criminal mischief in March. Those charges were dropped at the preliminary hearings. At the time charges were filed, court documents said they had been in the mall to take pictures of the property. Crews have been working to demolish the parking deck of the Century III Mall since March. West Mifflin Police have posted signs telling people to stay out of the mall and encourage everyone to avoid the area.
April 22, 2024 4:48 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Three lucky people who purchased Powerball tickets in Pennsylvania came away as winners in Saturday’s drawing. According to the Pennsylvania Lottery, three tickets sold in the state won $50,000 by matching four of the five numbers and the Powerball. Two of those winning tickets used Double Play. The winning numbers drawn Saturday were 4, 35, 41, 44, 58 and the red Powerball was 25. The Double Play winning numbers were 25, 28, 36, 38, 68 and the red Powerball was 23.
April 22, 2024 5:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has approved a $95 billion package of foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies after months of turmoil on Capitol Hill. Congressional leaders pushed aside opposition from hard-right conservatives to complete the bill in a rare Saturday session. The whole package will go to the Senate, which could pass it as soon as Tuesday. Speaker Mike Johnson has put his job on the line and relied on Democratic support every step of the process. The four bills, to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel, Indo-Pacific allies and a measure dealing with TikTok were all overwhelmingly approved. President Joe Biden has promised to sign the package.
