July 17, 2024 4:44 am
The trial lasted five days but it took jurors just over one hour to decide the fate of Scott Edmonds, the North Strabane Township physical therapist who was accused of killing his 49 year old wife Louise Weis-Edmonds in March of 2014. The jury returned a guilty verdict of first degree murder to Edmonds along with a guilty verdict on a tampering with evidence charge. Edmonds had his bond immediately revoked and he was led from the courtroom in handcuffs. After a presentencing investigation is completed, Edmonds will be sentenced in 90 days. District Attorney Jason Walsh was pleased with the verdict. Edmonds and his attorney vowed to appeal the verdict. Louise Weis-Edmonds’ brother Martin and sister in law Elizabeth both thanked law enforcement and the jury for their efforts to bring closure to the more than 10 year old case.
July 16, 2024 5:48 pm
DENVER (AP) — Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Davis says he was “humiliated” after being unjustly handcuffed and removed from a United Airlines flight over the weekend. Davis said Monday on Instagram that he had tapped a flight attendant on the arm prompting the employee to shout “don’t hit me” and hurry toward the front of the plane. Davis says when the flight landed, law-enforcement boarded, put Davis in handcuffs and removed him from the flight. Law enforcement later apologized and released Davis. United Airlines said it has removed the flight attendant from duty while the incident is being reviewed. (Photo: AP)
July 16, 2024 5:36 pm
On the final day of testimony in the Scott Edmonds murder trial, the defense called one additional expert witness and presented Scott Edmonds as a witness in his own defense. Arthur W. Yung of Abington, PA was presented as an expert to testify regarding blood stain pattern analysis and other photographic evidence presented. The bulk of the day’s testimony came from Edmonds himself. He described for the jury his version of the events that transpired when Edmonds’ wife Louise Weis-Edmonds was found by police being cradled by Edmonds in a pool of her own blood. He detailed his displeasure of his wife constantly tending to her elderly mother. He spoke of her heavy drinking. He explained his version of how male voices from his personal phone number called a patient of his and confessed to the killing of his wife. That same number also reported the shooting to county 9-1-1. He said that he testified in his own defense to tell the actual story and as an effort to bring closure to his wife’s family. He stated as for him, “he could not give a s—“. Closing arguments for the defense pointed to expert witness findings opposite of prosecution findings. Prosecutor arguments asked jurors to use common sense based on all of their expert testimony and the lack of logic in Edmonds’ testimony. The jury is currently deliberating.
July 16, 2024 4:12 pm
(WPXI) – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) Safety Division concluded its investigation into the August 2023 deadly house explosion in Plum. On August 12, 2023, a house on Rustic Ridge Drive exploded, killing six people and injuring others, as well as destroying three homes and damaging at least a dozen more. Tuesday, the PUC Safety Division concluded that there was no evidence that linked public utility jurisdictional assets to the cause of the explosion and fire. “While the PUC’s portion of the investigation has concluded, the Commission recognizes and deeply appreciates the profound level of concern this incident has generated within the community and our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this tragic event. The PUC remains steadfast in our commitment to public safety and our Safety Division experts are available as a resource to the Allegheny County Fire Marshal and other investigators who continue examining the cause of the Rustic Ridge Drive incident,” the report said.
July 16, 2024 2:13 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon Prime Day is here. And experts are reminding consumers to be wary of scams. Deceptions such as phony emails from people impersonating online retailers like Amazon are nothing new. But the Better Business Bureau says phishing attempts increase amid the heavy spending seen during significant sales events. Amazon’s two days of discounts for Prime members start on Tuesday. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to watch out for lookalike websites, too-good-to-be-true social media ads, and unsolicited emails or calls. A spokesperson for the organization that because Prime Day is a huge moment on the retail calendar, “it represents an enormous opportunity for a scammer, con artist or even just an unethical business or organization.”
July 16, 2024 2:12 pm
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Republican National Convention is resuming with a focus on immigration. The issue is central to former President Donald Trump’s political brand that helped endear him to the GOP base when he began his first campaign in 2015. Tuesday’s primetime program also includes remarks from two of Trump’s top GOP primary rivals, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Their planned remarks are the latest signal the party is solidifying its fight to take on President Joe Biden in November.
July 16, 2024 2:10 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Sen. Bob Menendez has been convicted of all charges at his corruption trial, including accepting bribes of gold and cash from three New Jersey businessmen and acting as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government. His two codefendants also were found guilty. Prosecutors said the Democrat abused his power to protect allies from criminal investigations and enrich associates, including his wife. They also said he took bribes for helping Egypt access military aid worth millions of dollars. Menendez insisted the cash and gold were legally earned and that he was only doing his job. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says he should resign. (Photo: AP)
July 16, 2024 5:09 am
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ohio Sen. JD Vance is supposed to help Donald Trump win the Midwest this fall. But almost immediately after he was announced as Trump’s vice presidential pick on Monday, one thing became clear: Vance, a 39-year-old Republican with less than two years in Congress, is barely known among many Republicans even in the swing states Trump hopes he’ll deliver. Trump’s team has less than four months to strengthen Vance’s profile. Already, a collection of political foes — Democrats and Republicans — is working to fill the information void with a series of attacks seizing on Vance’s inexperience in government, his nationalist views and his history of condemning Trump himself.
July 16, 2024 5:08 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — After almost 30 months of war with Russia, Ukraine’s difficulties on the battlefield are mounting even as its vital support from the United States is increasingly at the mercy of changing political winds. A six-month delay in military assistance from the U.S., the biggest single contributor to Ukraine, opened the door for a push on the front line by the Kremlin’s forces. Ukrainian troops are now laboring to check the gains by Russia’s bigger and better-equipped army. The next two or three months will likely be the hardest this year for Ukraine, says Michael Kofman of the Carnegie Endowment. Lurking in the background is another nagging worry: How long will the Western political and military support critical for Ukraine’s fight endure?
July 16, 2024 5:06 am
LAS VEGAS (AP) — President Joe Biden has returned to the campaign trail for the first time since the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, continuing his call to calm the divisive rhetoric on both sides. But Biden also argued Tuesday that doing so “doesn’t mean we should stop telling the truth” as he tore into his Republican rival. Biden spoke at the NAACP convention in Las Vegas, aiming to showcase his administration’s support for Black voters who are a tentpole of the Democratic coalition. He’ll also participate in an interview with BET. It’s all counterprogramming to Trump and the Republican National Convention under way in Milwaukee.
