February 23, 2023 10:00 am
The number of Americans filing for jobless aid fell last week as the labor market remains resilient in the face of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate increases meant to cool the economy. Applications for unemployment benefits in the U.S. for the week ending Feb. 18 fell by 3,000 last week to 192,000, from 195,000 the previous week. It’s the sixth straight week claims were under 200,000. Applications for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for the number layoffs in the U.S. About 1.65 million people were receiving jobless aid the week that ended Feb. 11, a decrease of 37,000 from the week before.
February 23, 2023 9:58 am
CHICAGO (AP) – R. Kelly has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for child pornography and enticement in Chicago, but he will serve 19 of those years at the same time as his New York sentence. U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber (LY’-nen-web-er) ordered Kelly to serve one year in prison after he is finished serving 30 years in New York for racketeering. That means Kelly, who is 56, could be eligible for release around the age of 80. Kelly only spoke briefly to the judge regarding court documents. His lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, says she advised Kelly not to speak as he continues to appeal his convictions.
February 23, 2023 4:10 am
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – A brutal winter storm that trapped drivers on icy roads, blacked out hundreds of thousands of homes, grounded airplanes and closed schools across much of the country is now poised to slam California. The National Weather Service says damaging winds, heavy mountain snow and dangerous waves are possible Thursday. A rare blizzard warning has been issued for Southern California mountains. Meanwhile, a coast-to-coast weather pattern that’s pummeled states from Arizona to Michigan is expected to continue and spread to the East Coast later in the week. In Wyoming, motorists were stranded in cars on windy, snowy highways. The weather also contributed to electrical problems, with more than 579,000 customers without power Wednesday night in Michigan alone.
February 23, 2023 4:08 am
Authorities say a central Florida television journalist and a little girl were fatally shot near the scene of a fatal shooting from earlier in the day. Orange County Sheriff John Mina said during a news conference Wednesday that they’ve detained 19-year-old Keith Melvin Moses (pictured) who they believe is responsible for both shootings in the Orlando-area neighborhood. Besides the Spectrum News 13 journalist and the 9-year-old girl, a TV crewmember and the girl’s mother were wounded during the second shooting. Mina said they don’t immediately have a motive for any of the shootings.
February 23, 2023 3:55 am
INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — An Avella man was killed in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon in Independence Township. The Washington County Coroners Office says 58 year old Edward King was pronounced dead at the scene just after 5 p.m. He was the lone occupant of a vehicle traveling eastbound when it collided with another vehicle near the 400 block of Washington Pike. He was not wearing a seatbelt. Three other people were reportedly injured in the other vehicle. A woman and two children, reportedly a baby and an 8-year old suffered what are believed to be minor injuries. There is no word on their identities or conditions. State Police are investigating.
February 22, 2023 5:18 pm
(AP) – Draft U.S. rules would allow soy, oat, almond and other drinks that bill themselves as “milk” to keep using the name. The Food and Drug Administration says plant-based beverages don’t pretend to be from dairy animals and U.S. consumers aren’t confused by the difference. Dairy producers have called for the FDA to crack down on the use of the term milk. The rules released Wednesday also call for voluntary extra nutrition labels that note when the drinks have lower levels of nutrients than dairy milk. In recent years, the number of plant-based drinks has exploded to include dozens of varieties, including cashew, coconut and hemp. (Photo: ABC)
February 22, 2023 3:18 pm
DUQUESNE, Pa. (AP) – Authorities say a western Pennsylvania police officer and a suspect were both taken to hospitals after being wounded in an exchange of gunfire. Allegheny County police say the Duquesne officer responded to a report of gunshots shortly before 12:30 a.m. Wednesday and “was immediately met by gunfire before exiting his vehicle.” Police say the officer was wounded in a foot and the suspect in a leg in an exchange of gunfire. Both were taken to hospitals in stable condition. Police say the 28-year-old suspect will face charges including attempted homicide and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. The man accused of shooting the officer is Shyheim Cortez Berry, 28, of Duquesne.
February 22, 2023 9:57 am
VENETIA, Pa. — (WPXI) – A teenager from Washington County will be appearing on NBC’s Wheel of Fortune. Justin Mattes, from Venetia, will be on the program’s Teen Week tonight. Mattes is a big fan of Pittsburgh sports and does community service through his local Boy Scouts of America troop. At school, Mattes is part of Youth Ministry, plays trumpet in the school band and is in the drama club. Mattes has reportedly been watching Wheel of Fortune with his family since he was born and he played the Wheel of Fortune board game with his older siblings growing up. His mom encouraged him to apply for Teen Week when she saw they were wanting teen participants. If Mattes wins any money during his appearance, he said he wants to save for college and go on a trip with his family, but he’s just proud to be selected as a contestant. Catch Mattes on Wheel of Fortune on Channel 11 at 7 p.m.
February 22, 2023 6:36 am
A motorcycle crash early Wednesday morning in South Strabane Township. Washington County 9-1-1 dispatchers tell WJPA News it happened just before 2 a.m in the 18-hundred block of N. Main Street. We are told the motorcycle left the roadway, went over a hillside and struck a tree. The victim was flown by medical helicopter to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. There is no word on the identity or condition of the victim. No other vehicles were involved.
February 22, 2023 4:34 am
Washington County Commissioners Larry Maggi and Nick Sherman both say they were suprised by Commisioner’s Chairwoman Diana Irey-Vaughan’s announcement Tuesday that she would not seek re-election. Irey-Vaughan, a Republican, has served as a commissioner in the county for 28 years. Longtime Democratic Commissioner Larry Maggi called Irey-Vaughan a “great leader” who “worked for the people”. He has worked with her for more than two decades and despite being from different political parties says the always “worked well together” and “she will be missed”. Fellow Republican Nick Sherman also says he was suprised by her decision not to run. Sherman called it “a sad day for Washington County” and says Irey-Vaughan was “a staple in Washington County. Irey-Vaughan issued a statement Tuesday announcing that she would not seek re-election saying “the time has now come for another to embrace this calling. To those who may feel drawn to answer this call, I encourage you, and I thank you”.
