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.
July 16, 2024 5:02 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Severe storms in the Midwest have overtopped a dam in southern Illinois and left the Chicago area cleaning up. Officials say a reservoir dam failed near the Illinois community of Nashville. First responders tried Tuesday to ensure all 300 people in the evacuation zone got out safely. There were no reports of injuries there. National Weather Service employees at a suburban Chicago office had to run for cover late Monday as storms swept through. The service says it is sending teams to check 29 paths of damage in Illinois and Indiana for evidence that tornadoes caused them. A woman in Indiana died after a tree fell on a home.
July 16, 2024 4:58 am
PITTSBURGH — A visually-impaired man was robbed at the Steel Plaza “T” Station Wednesday. Pittsburgh Regional Transit officials said the man, 52, from Dormont, uses a cane for mobility. He is visually impaired but not blind. While at the T Station, the suspect approached the victim and offered to help him with the elevator so he didn’t have to take the stairs. The victim agreed and got into the elevator with the suspect, who then asked if he had any money, officials said. The victim said no, and the suspect took his wallet out of his pants pocket and removed $2. The suspect threw the wallet back at the victim and ran. Officials said the victim described the suspect as possibly being a dark-skinned man wearing a yellow vest.
July 16, 2024 4:53 am
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — (WPXI)- Pennsylvania Turnpike officials have issued a warning about a scam targeting random people. The smishing scam aims to deceive people into sharing their personal financial information to settle outstanding toll amounts. The scam text messages will be from “Pennsylvania Turnpike Toll Services” and will center around urgent requests with the account that would result in additional charges if the overdue balance doe not get settled. Those who receive these messages should not click the link, officials said. Those who receive a fraudulent text can file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
