July 1, 2024 4:52 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A temporary official is to be appointed to run the court system in one Pennsylvania county because the clerk and deputies have suddenly departed. Two officials quit and one was fired Friday on the eve of a contempt of court proceeding concerning performance by the office. PennLive.com reports that the staff had been warned to do better after months of chaos that included people being picked up on bench warrants that were supposed to be voided. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court says the “unprecedented leadership void” in the Dauphin County clerk of courts office prompted it to declare a “judicial emergency.”
July 1, 2024 3:29 am
Borough officials in Charleroi are alerting residents that construction activities will begin on the traffic island on 5th Street that runs between McKean Avenue and the Chamber Plaza parking area. Beginning today, crews will start dismantling that island. Charleroi Public Works employees will be removing curbs, concrete, old sign posts and utility boxes. They will also be working with the Authority of the Borough of Charleroi to bring a man hole entrance to ground level. The estimate to complete the project is five days. That does not include the 4th of July holiday. Borough officials hope to re-open the street each day at 3:00 PM to limit people’s inconvenience when trying to access the Chamber Plaza parking lot.
July 1, 2024 2:50 am
(WPXI) – A teenager from Monessen was sentenced to eight to 25 years in prison in the deadly shooting of his best friend in 2022. Terry Newton, now 17, pleaded guilty in April to voluntary manslaughter to shooting and killing Amari Altomore, 16. The shooting happened in Newton’s bedroom. Newton left the home after the shooting and wasn’t able to be located for several weeks, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli said in a release. The gun was never found. Newton was also sentenced to one year of supervised release following his prison sentence and will have to pay restitution
June 30, 2024 6:05 am
PARIS (AP) — Voters across mainland France are casting ballots in the first round of an exceptional parliamentary election. The two-round vote could put France’s government in the hands of far-right parties for the first time since the Nazi era. The outcome could impact European financial markets, Western support for Ukraine and how France’s nuclear arsenal is managed. Many French voters are frustrated about inflation and economic concerns. And they see President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership as out-of-touch. Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration National Rally party has tapped and fueled that discontent and dominated all preelection opinion polls. A new coalition on the left is also posing a challenge to the moderate Macron.
June 30, 2024 6:01 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S., European and Arab mediators are pressing to keep stepped-up cross-border attacks between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants from spiraling into a wider Middle East war that the world has feared for months. Hopes are lagging for a cease-fire in Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza that would calm attacks by Hezbollah and other Iranian-allied militias. With that in mind, American and European diplomats are warning Hezbollah about taking on the military might of Israel. Escalating strikes between Israel and Hezbollah appeared to at least level off this past week. But a former U.S. diplomat in the Middle East says Israelis still seem to be arranging themselves for “an entirely different magnitude of conflict.”
June 30, 2024 5:58 am
NEW YORK (AP) — A sense of deep concern is growing among some Democratic officials that leaders inside Joe Biden’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee are not taking seriously enough the impact of the president’s troubling debate performance. DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison did not acknowledge Biden’s weak showing or the avalanche of criticism that followed during a Saturday afternoon call with dozens of DNC members from across the country. Instead, the chief Biden ally offered a rosy assessment of the president’s path forward. Participants described the call as a one-sided conversation that ignored pervasive fears among the committee’s rank and file about Biden’s ability to win in November. The chat function was disabled and there were no questions allowed during the call.
June 30, 2024 5:55 am
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Beryl has grown into a hurricane in the Atlantic and is forecast to strengthen into a major storm as it nears the Caribbean. A hurricane warning has been issued for Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Barbados’ meteorological service says the storm’s center is forecast to pass just south of the island. Late Saturday, Beryl was centered about 595 miles east-southeast of Barbados and its maximum sustained winds has risen to 85 mph. It was moving west at 20 mph. Thousands of people are in Barbados for the Twenty20 World Cup cricket final, with India beating South Africa on Saturday.
June 30, 2024 5:46 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI)-The City of Pittsburgh and Mayor Ed Gainey announced the death of Gus Kalaris on Saturday. For decades, Gus has been serving ice balls and popcorn at the Gus & YiaYia’s Cart on the city’s North Side. This year was the 90th year for the popular ice ball stand that Gus’ parents opened in 1934, and he took over in 1951. “Without a doubt Gus touched the hearts and lives of Pittsburghers and tourists who flocked to the cart each year,” the city’s post reads. “Join us in sending support and condolences to his family and loved ones as they grieve this loss. May his memory live on, providing peace to all who knew and loved him.” The news of Gus Kalaris’ death hit people in Pittsburgh hard. “Gus had a caring heart. He didn’t care who you were or where you were from. He was welcoming to everybody,” said Michael Spanos. Spanos worked alongside Gus for 25 years and said he was passionate about his job and the Pittsburgh community. “This was his life and he loved to do it. He loved to talk to people and he loved to make people smile,” Spanos said. “It’s just remarkable the amount of people that are coming past, even screaming out the cars their condolences. We can’t thank everybody enough.” The support from the community is a testament to who Gus was, how loved he was and the countless lives he has touched over the decades. “It shows us how we can also be better people and be kind to everyone and do what we can to help out,” said Spanos. The staff say they plan on keeping the cart going throughout the summer and then re-evaluating in the winter.
June 30, 2024 5:43 am
A former substitute teacher at Seton LaSalle High School was found guilty of corruption of minors and indecent assault on Wednesday. According to court documents, Damon Gall, 25 of Canonsburg was found guilty in a non-jury trial. He avoided conviction of institutional sexual assault of a minor and indecent assault of a person less than 16 as those charges were withdrawn. Gall was accused of inappropriately touching a female student and forcing her to inappropriately touch him in a classroom with a closed door in December of 2023. Gall is scheduled for a Sex Offense Court Review Hearing on September 18. Gall was sentenced to five years of probation on the corruption of minors charge and two years of probation on the indecent assault charge. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for the next 25 years.
June 30, 2024 5:08 am
PARIS (AP) — French voters face a decisive choice on July 7 in the runoff of snap parliamentary elections that could see the country’s first far-right government since the World War II Nazi occupation — or no majority emerging at all. Official results suggest the far-right National Rally stands a good chance of winning a majority in the lower house of parliament for the first time. In the first round, the National Rally arrived ahead with an estimated one-third of the votes. Yet the outcome remains uncertain amid the complex voting system and political tactics. If the National Rally or another political force than his centrist alliance gets a majority, Macron will be forced to appoint a prime minister belonging to that new majority.
