Two Men Shot & Killed In Uniontown Bar

March 8, 2023 1:49 pm

(WPXI) – The two men who were killed inside a Uniontown bar early Wednesday morning have been identified. Authorities say 32-year-old Darrell Gregg and 28-year-old Tommy Stargell, Jr. were shot around 12:30 at the Sails Inn on North Gallatin Avenue.  “It looks like they were all together and some type of altercation – we haven’t determined what that is yet – broke out and we do believe there was two guns involved,” said Uniontown Police Lt. Thomas Kolencik. “We don’t know if one shooter caused both of the deceased or if there was more than one shooter. One shooter did leave after the incident and police say they have issued an arrest warrant for Jamie Holland.  They say he is facing multiple charges, including criminal homicide and aggravated assault.

Fox Chair Testifies 2020 Election Was Free & Fair

March 8, 2023 12:21 pm

NEW YORK (AP) — Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch said under oath that he believes the 2020 presidential election was free, fair and not stolen, according to court filings released Tuesday. The filings are from a voting machine company’s defamation lawsuit over Fox News’ coverage of former President Donald Trump’s false election fraud claims. In sworn questioning in January by lawyers for Dominion Voting Systems, Murdoch was asked, “Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was free and fair?” He replied “Yes.” Dominion is suing Fox News for $1.6 billion, saying the network crippled the company’s business by broadcasting false claims from Trump’s lawyers that Dominion had changed votes in the 2020 election.  (Photo:  ABC)

Passengers Team Up To Restrain Man On Flight

March 8, 2023 4:23 am

BOSTON (AP) — A passenger who helped restrain a threatening man on a weekend flight from Los Angeles to Boston says the entire chaotic episode was over within seconds thanks to teamwork. Federal authorities say the man tried to open an airliner’s emergency exit and then tried to stab a flight attendant. Speaking Tuesday, passenger Simik Ghookasian says he heard the suspect make loud threats. Ghookasian says he was among five or six passengers who piled onto the suspect and took a modified metal spoon from him. The suspect is expected to appear in court later this week after being arrested Sunday, when the plane landed in Boston.

Survivors Of Deadly Mexico Abduction Returned To U.S.

March 8, 2023 4:22 am

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — Officials say two survivors of a deadly abduction in Mexico are back on U.S. soil. They were brought to a hospital in Brownsville, Texas, on Tuesday. Two other Americans were killed after the group got caught in a drug cartel shootout last week. Officials say the group was on a road trip to Mexico for one of them to get cosmetic surgery. The Americans were hauled away in a truck. The region’s governor said Mexican authorities frantically searched as the cartel moved them around. They were eventually found Tuesday in a remote area near the Gulf coast in a wood shack.

FBI Tested By Attacks, Politically Explosive Investigations

March 8, 2023 4:19 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI finds itself in a challenging moment as it conducts simultaneous investigations involving classified documents held by former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. The dual inquiries are both overseen by Justice Department special counsels and are unfolding in a hyper-partisan environment as election season nears and as Republicans use their new House majority to investigate the FBI and attack its credibility. In an interview with The Associated Press this week, FBI Director Christopher Wray acknowledged that it was a tough time for the FBI. But he downplayed the impact that the “noise” had on the FBI’s day-to-day work, on morale or on its relationship to other law enforcement agencies.

Norfolk Southern Worker Killed In Ohio

March 8, 2023 4:17 am

CLEVELAND — (WPXI) – A Norfolk Southern employee was killed after a train hit a dump truck in Ohio Tuesday. The accident happened on a rail line that runs through the Cleveland area at around 1 a.m. A spokesperson for Cleveland-Cliffs, part of the area the rail line runs through, says the accident is “being controlled by Cleveland police and Norfolk Southern.” The victim was identified by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office as Louis Shuster, 46. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. This is the third Norfolk Southern incident in Ohio in just over a month.

Crowded Field In The May Primary

March 8, 2023 4:11 am

Tuesday at 4:30 pm was the deadline for candidates for elected offices in Washington County to file petitions to appear on the ballot for the upcoming primary election on May 16. Melanie Ostrander, Director of Elections in Washington County called “Monday and Tuesday very busy days in the office.” A review of prospects for county wide offices show contested races on the republican ticket in five of the seven races. In the republican race for county commissioner, incumbent Nick Sherman will be joined by Bruce Bandel, Ashley Duff, Electra Janis, Kevin Redford and Sonia Stopperich Sulc. On the democratic side, incumbent commissioner Larry Maggi is joined by Cindy Fisher and Randy Barli. In county row office races, register of wills, clerk of courts, prothonotary and coroner are all seeing contested races on the republican side. The races for district attorney and treasurer both have single candidates for the republican ticket. Democratic candidates for row offices are all running unopposed. The democratic slot for coroner is vacant. Beginning on Wednesday, a seven day period begins for the public to request to review petitions. Immediately after, a challenge period will be held for anyone to challenge a candidates petitions and have those challenges reviewed by a common pleas judge.

For a complete listing of the 2023 primary candidates, visit the Washington County Elections Office, here

Shapiro’s First Budget Stresses Schools, Prudence

March 8, 2023 4:09 am

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro is proposing a hefty an increase in aid to Pennsylvania’s schools in his first budget he’s delivering to the Legislature. But the Democrat’s administration also emphasized prudence Tuesday, saying a massive cash surplus will dwindle over time. The administration also faces demands for more money for schools, highways and social services. Shapiro addressed a joint session of the House and Senate, promising to repay voters’ trust by showing that “government can be a positive, productive force for good.” Spending would rise by 6% while Shapiro is proposing no increases in income or sales taxes. But Republican lawmakers caution that Shapiro is deficit spending.

Lawmaker Quits In Wake Of Sexual Harassment Claims

March 8, 2023 2:24 am

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania state lawmaker is quitting the Legislature, a week after a union lobbyist accused him by name of having sexually harassed her four years ago. Democratic Rep. Mike Zabel of Delaware County said in the letter sent Wednesday to Democratic Speaker Joanna McClinton that his resignation will take effect March 16. That leaves enough time for her to order that the vacancy be filled during the May primary. Zabel says the toll from the scandal has been too great for his family and has been detrimental to his well-being. He said he’s seeking treatment of an undisclosed nature.  (Photo:  AP)

NTSB Launching Investigation Into Norfolk Southern

March 7, 2023 4:53 pm

(WPXI) – The National Transportation Safety Board announced Tuesday that they’re launching a special investigation into Norfolk Southern’s organization and safety culture. “Given the number and significance of recent Norfolk Southern accidents, the NTSB also urges the company to take immediate action today to review and assess its safety practices, with the input of employees and others, and implement necessary changes to improve safety,” the NTSB said in a media release. Since Dec. 2021, the NTSB has launched five investigations involving Norfolk Southern incidents, with one of those being in Pennsylvania and three being in Ohio. On Feb. 3, 50 cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, just under an hour drive from Pittsburgh. The train was carrying vinyl chloride in some of the cars and burned for days before a controlled release was executed.