March 2, 2023 4:18 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Federal authorities say a Pennsylvania man admits packing explosive materials, fuses and a lighter into a suitcase he checked for a commercial flight to Florida. A judge on Thursday has denied bail for 40-year-old Marc Muffley of Lansford. Prosecutors say he fled the Lehigh Valley airport on Monday when he heard his name paged and feared being arrested. During a court hearing Thursday held over videoconference, a defense lawyer suggested the one-time construction worker only wanted to set fireworks off on a Florida beach. But the judge says he knew the items were prohibited on the flight.
March 2, 2023 2:56 am
A persistent water line problem at Washington Park Elementary has led Washington School District to switch to a ‘Flexible Instruction Day’ on Friday. Superintendent George Lammay tells WJPA News the move includes all students from Kindergarten through High School. This will be the third time the district was forced to alter learning schedules because of the water line issue. Lammay says work continues to fix the problem.
March 1, 2023 5:16 pm
(AP) – You can kiss – KISS goodbye. The rockers have announced the final shows of their last tour, saying they plan to hang up their platform boots after two back-to-back shows at Madison Square Garden in New York at the end of this year. The last leg of the band’s 17-date North American tour kicks off in October in Texas and hits California, Washington, Canada, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland and then culminates in their hometown’s famous venue on December first and second. The current version of the band includes founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons.
March 1, 2023 4:26 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The cherry trees in the nation’s capital are confused by Earth’s changing climate, with the iconic blossoms appearing earlier than expected because of the unusually warm winter. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and the National Park Service announced Wednesday that Washington’s 3,700 cherry blossom trees would reach peak bloom this year from March 22-25. That’s several days earlier than observers and experts had expected. As a result of the earlier bloom, the Cherry Blossom Festival is moving up multiple events planned at the Tidal Basin, which is lined by the cherry trees.
March 1, 2023 1:52 pm
(WPXI) – Two people are dead and at least two others are injured in two shooting scenes less than half a mile from each other in McKeesport. Allegheny County dispatchers say police and medics were called to the 3100 block of Versailles Avenue shortly just after 12 p.m. on Wednesday. According to Allegheny County police, a 47-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. McKeesport Area School District confirmed area schools were on lock down, at the recommendation of Allegheny County police. Officers were later called to Crawford Village at around 1 p.m., where three men were found shot. According to Allegheny County police, a 22-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. A 30-year-old man was taken to a hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the chest. An 18-year-old was hospitalized in stable condition with a gunshot wound to the leg. Allegheny County police said that at this time, detectives learned that the two shootings aren’t connected and there is no known threat to the general public. Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call the County Police Tip Line 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
March 1, 2023 9:38 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – When Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro unveils his first budget next week, poor districts that won a landmark school-funding lawsuit want him to propose a significant down payment and a plan to overhaul how the state pays for K-12 education. Lawyers for the districts tell The Associated Press they think $2 billion in additional education funding would be a good start toward billions more the poorest school districts need. One attorney says they also hope Shapiro presents a plan for developing a system that funds schools based on what students need. So far, Shapiro has said little about how he’ll respond to the court decision.
March 1, 2023 8:48 am
Eli Lilly will cut prices for some older insulins later this year and immediately expand a cap on costs insured patients pay when they fill prescriptions. The moves promise critical relief to some people with diabetes who can face thousands of dollars a year in bills for insulin they need to live. áLilly’s changes also come as lawmakers pressure drugmakers to do something about soaring prices. Lilly said it will cut the list price for its most commonly prescribed insulin, Humalog, and for another insulin, Humulin, by 70% in the fourth quarter. The drugmaker didn’t detail the new prices.
March 1, 2023 4:22 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) – The family of the late Kobe Bryant has agreed to settle legal issues surrounding photos of the body of the NBA star and others who were killed in a 2020 helicopter crash. Attorneys say Los Angeles County agreed to pay Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, and their daughters $13.5 million on top of the $15 million that jurors awarded her at a trial in August. County deputies and firefighters had shot photos of the bodies and shared them with others in their departments. A county lawyer said the pictures were part of their job, but Vanessa Bryant’s lawyer said they were shared as “visual gossip.”
March 1, 2023 4:21 am
CHICAGO (AP) – Chicago voters have denied Mayor Lori Lightfoot a second term. Candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will meet in a runoff to succeed her. Tuesday’s election was a rebuke of Lightfoot, who made history as leader of the nation’s third-largest city. She says, “Regardless of tonight’s outcome, we fought the right fights and we put this city on a better path.” Vallas is a former schools CEO backed by the police union. Johnson is a former teacher and county commissioner endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union. They advanced to the April 4 runoff after none of the nine candidates was able to secure over 50% of the vote to win outright.
March 1, 2023 4:20 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Winter hasn’t really felt like winter lately, and the statistics agree. February 2023 was the least snowiest February on record and the fourth warmest February. This winter is also the eighth warmest winter on record and 12th least snowiest winter on record. While warmer winter days are nice for outdoor activities and to give the heater a break, seasonal shifts with climate change could cause major impacts, including record heat and hazardous extreme weather events. 2022 was the sixth hottest year globally on record, and 2023 is expected to be another year of extremes. Last year’s extreme weather events cost the United States $18 billion. Climate change is expected to bring more high heat, severe weather, wildfires, drought, hurricanes, flooding, and poor air quality.
