March 19, 2024 5:16 am
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Six former Mississippi law enforcement officers who pleaded guilty to a long list of state and federal charges for torturing two Black men will be sentenced by a federal judge starting Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Tom Lee will sentence two defendants each day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Each faces the potential of decades behind bars. The former law officers have admitted to subjecting Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker to numerous acts of racially motivated torture. In a January 2023 episode, the group of six burst into a Rankin County home without a warrant and assaulted the men with stun guns, a sex toy and other objects.
March 19, 2024 5:12 am
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A new report says famine is imminent in northern Gaza, where 70% of the remaining population is experiencing catastrophic hunger. It says a further escalation of the war could push around half of Gaza’s total population to the brink of starvation. The report came from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, an initiative set up by U.N. agencies, aid groups and others to determine the severity of food insecurity. Israel faces mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and to open more crossings. Israeli forces, meanwhile, launched another raid on the Gaza Strip’s largest hospital, saying it killed a Hamas commander who was hiding there.
March 18, 2024 4:23 pm
(AP) – The CEO of United Airlines is trying to reassure travelers that the airline is safe despite a series of recent incidents ranging from a panel falling off a plane to an engine fire. CEO Scott Kirby said Monday that United will review safety training for all employees. Kirby says the airline was already planning an extra day of training for pilots starting in May and changes in training curriculum for new mechanics. In a message to customers, Kirby says the recent incidents are reminders of the importance of safety. He says the flight issues are all unrelated, but they have grabbed United’s attention. (Photo: AP)
March 18, 2024 3:45 pm
(WPXI) – A player is facing charges alongside two Rivers Casino employees after what investigators are calling a “complex cheating conspiracy” that took place at a Roulette table. Robin Schnepp, a table games dealer, and supervisor Anthony Laush helped at least two players cheat on several occasions and win thousands of dollars. State police said the casino lost more than $10,000 because of the cheating. Investigators were tipped off by an anonymous letter sent to Rivers Casino earlier this year about Interblock Roulette, which requires the dealer to manually spin the ball in the opposite direction of the wheel. When that does not happen, sensors do not identify that the wheel has been spun, allowing players to continue to place bets, even after the ball lands on a number and the outcome has been determined. State police said on more than one occasion, surveillance video shows Schnepp spinning the roulette ball incorrectly, and a man and a woman increasing their bets after the ball landed. Laush then comes over and validates the spin, with both players each walking away with more than $2,000 in fraudulent winnings. Laush is also accused of loading fraudulent comps onto that same man’s account. One of the players, Jack Daniel Mars III, is also facing charges in the incident. State police are trying to identify one other person in the theft by deception. Anyone with information is asked to call 412-770-9107.
March 17, 2024 5:11 am
PITTSBURGH — Make sure you have the heavier coat as you get going on Monday. Clouds will increase through the morning hours, isolated snow showers are possible at times, highs will be in the upper 30s near 40 degrees. Scattered snow showers will become more numerous late Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning. A coating is possible in many areas with an inch or two possible in the mountains and north along I-80. Tuesday morning will be another cold start with wind chills in the teens once again. A few isolated snow showers mixing with rain showers are possible Tuesday afternoon, still very chilly highs around 40 degrees. Windy Wednesday and highs will stay in the 40s for the remainder of the work week.
March 18, 2024 5:08 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – A 3-year-old was hit by a police motorcycle after the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Downtown Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh police said the girl was hit at Stanwix Street and Boulevard of the Allies just before 1:30 p.m. Witnesses said the child jumped out of her stroller and into the bike’s path. Police said the girl had some bruises, but she was alert and oriented when medics arrived. She was taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital in stable condition to be evaluated for any other injuries. Witnesses said the officer was in shock and distraught. In the video, the officer is seen driving down the street past the stage and bleachers where witnesses said the girl was in her stroller moments before jumping out into the bike’s path. Boulevard of the Allies between Market Street and Stanwix Street was closed while the Collision Investigation Unit was on scene, police said. The investigation is ongoing.
March 18, 2024 5:03 am
LEVITTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a man faces murder charges in Pennsylvania and carjacking and weapons charges in New Jersey after allegedly killing three family members and evading law enforcement for hours as police mobilized in two states. Court documents indicate that 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr. has been charged in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with three counts of first- and second-degree murder, aggravated assault, robbery and other charges. In New Jersey, the attorney general says Gordon is charged with first-degree carjacking and weapons offenses. The shootings on Saturday forced the cancellation of a St. Patrick’s Day parade and shut down a Sesame Street-themed amusement park.
March 18, 2024 4:26 pm
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A badly decomposed body of a child has been found inside a duffel bag by crews who were cleaning a site in west Philadelphia. The body was found Monday morning in the city’s Mantua neighborhood by workers with the Community Life Improvement Program. Police say it wasn’t immediately clear how the child died, how long the body had been at the site or how it ended up there. Officials also did not describe where the discovery was made. The child apparently was between 2 to 4 years old, but its gender has not yet been determined. An investigation is ongoing.
March 18, 2024 5:17 am
President Vladimir Putin is basking in a victory early that was never in doubt, as officials said he won reelection with an overwhelming number of votes. After facing only token challengers and harshly suppressing opposition voices, Putin was set to extend his nearly quarter-century rule for six more years. Even with little margin for protest, Russians crowded outside polling stations at noon on Sunday, apparently heeding an opposition call to express their displeasure with the president. Putin hailed the overwhelming early results early Monday as an indication of “trust” and “hope” in him. Critics saw them as another reflection of the preordained nature of the election.
March 18, 2024 5:15 am
Israeli forces have launched another raid on the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, accusing Hamas militants of using it as a base. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, said the army had launched a “high-precision operation” in parts of the medical complex. He said senior Hamas militants had regrouped there and were directing attacks from the compound, without providing evidence. The military said militants had opened fire from within the hospital. Gaza’s Health Ministry said the army attacked the hospital early Monday, directing gun and missile fire at a building used for specialized surgeries. It says a fire broke out at the hospital’s gate.
