May 22, 2024 4:54 am
North Strabane Township Supervisors held a public hearing Tuesday to consider a conditional use application for garden apartments in the Concord Green Development off W. McMurray Road. The proposal calls for the Alpha Development Group to build a single building containing 48 one and two bedroom apartments on a 4.6 acre parcel of land. An earlier proposal had 74 apartments proposed, but that was withdrawn. The developer went item by item proving compliance with the zoning ordinance. Noted during the hearing was a 2010 development plan that called for two buildings containing 24 apartments each. A subsequent plan called for 26 townhomes to be built on the lot. The original 2001 master plan allowed for 48 apartments to be built. The developer expressed his interest in being a good neighbor offering to alter his plan to satisfy current residents comments. Public comment concerns pointed to increased traffic in the neighborhood and onto an already overcrowded W. McMurray Rd. Comment also called into question the compatibility of the rental apartment building in a neighborhood of owned homes. Concerns were also raised about how well the apartments and surrounding area would be cared for. It was asked if renters would take the same pride in their apartments as homeowners take in their homes. The meeting was continued for additional study. No date was given for the next meeting.
May 22, 2024 2:20 am
(WPXI) – Pittsburgh will host the 2026 NFL Draft. Steelers spokesperson Burt Lauten confirmed that the city was awarded the 2026 NFL Draft. “The NFL Draft is one of the biggest, most-anticipated sporting events of the year, and we’re thrilled to partner with the Pittsburgh Steelers and VisitPITTSBURGH for our 2026 event,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “We have a unique opportunity to spotlight this wonderful community on a global stage, benefiting Pittsburgh’s economy and entertaining football fans from all markets. We know this pride of Pennsylvania will shine bright in 2026.” The NFL decided where the draft would be held in 2026 during the Spring League Meeting in Nashville. Ahead of this announcement, Channel 11 spoke with city officials to find out what the draft would look like, including where the stage and other activities would be. Their vision has Downtown as the central backdrop of the main stage that would be placed on the North Shore near Acrisure Stadium. The full layout has not yet been revealed, but it’s expected to include Downtown, Point State Park, the Central Business District and the Strip District ancillary events, along with Acrisure Stadium and the North Shore. The officials also think the weekend-long event that could bring upwards of 300,000 people to the city will be a major economic boost. The process for Pittsburgh to secure rights to host the draft began years ago, with the Steelers having ongoing conversations with the NFL about bringing a “mega football event” to the city.
May 22, 2024 2:17 am
The Board of Governors for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education unanimously selected Dr. Jon Anderson on Wednesday to serve as the next president of Pennsylvania Western University. His appointment to PennWest’s top leadership role takes effect July 1, 2024. Anderson will succeed Dr. Lorraine “Laurie” Bernotsky, who has served as PennWest’s interim president since 2023. Anderson is currently provost and vice president for academic affairs at Southern Utah University (SUU), a regional institution with more than 15,000 students. Prior to joining SUU, he was provost and vice president for academic affairs at Middle Georgia State University, which has five physical campuses and online program offerings. He also spent 10 years in various administrative positions, including deputy provost and associate vice president, at the University of West Georgia. “Dr. Anderson impressed the Board of Governors with his focus on student success, his commitment to shared governance, and his experience with integrating academic and student support systems across multi-campus institutions,” said Board of Governors Chair Cynthia Shapira. “At this pivotal moment for PennWest, we believe that Dr. Anderson is the committed, collaborative and strategic leader this university needs.” He and his wife, Kristy, have seven children and seven granddaughters. Their youngest son, Bryce, will accompany them on their move to western Pennsylvania. “I am grateful for the opportunity to put down roots in western Pennsylvania and help to shape the future of PennWest,” Anderson said. “The role of a regional university is to serve students and elevate communities — and PennWest lives that mission every day. I am honored to be part of its story.
May 21, 2024 5:55 pm
PHOENIX (AP) — Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani pleaded not guilty Tuesday to nine felony charges stemming from his role in an effort to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss in Arizona to Joe Biden. Giuliani appeared remotely for the arraignment that was held in a Phoenix courtroom. His trial is scheduled for Oct. 17, about 3 weeks before the U.S. election. His plea follows a not guilty plea by former Arizona Republican Party chair Kelli Ward for the same charges. Ward and nine other people were arraigned in a Phoenix courtroom on conspiracy, forgery and fraud charges. The Tuesday arraignments were the second held in the case. (Photo: AP)
May 21, 2024 5:53 pm
CAIRO (AP) — The United Nations says it has suspended food distribution in the southern Gaza city of Rafah due to lack of supplies and insecurity. It also said no aid trucks entered via a pier set up by the U.S. for sea deliveries for the past two days. The U.N. has not specified how many people remain in Rafah after the Israeli military launched an intensified assault there on May 6, but they appear to number several hundred thousand. Abeer Etefa, a spokesperson for the U.N’s World Food Program, warned that “humanitarian operations in Gaza are near collapse.” She said that if food and other supplies don’t resume entering Gaza in “in massive quantities, famine-like conditions will spread.”
May 21, 2024 5:10 am
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge has blocked the Biden administration from enforcing a new rule in Texas that would require firearms dealers to run background checks on buyers at gun shows or other places outside brick-and-mortar stores. The decision by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk came before the rule had been set to take effect Monday. The order also prevents the federal government from enforcing the rule against several gun-rights groups, including Gun Owners of America. The requirement is the Biden administration’s latest effort to curtail gun violence. It aims to close a loophole that has allowed unlicensed dealers to sell tens of thousands of guns every year without checking that the potential buyer is not legally prohibited from having a firearm.
May 21, 2024 5:09 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — As Donald Trump makes a comeback bid to return to power, Republicans in Congress have become even more likely to cast doubts on President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. A new report from States United Action, a group that targets election deniers, says nearly one-third of the lawmakers in Congress supported in some way Trump’s bid to overturn the 2020 presidential results. Several more are running for election this year to the House and Senate. Lizzie Ullmer of States United Action says the public should have a “real healthy dose of concern.” It’s not happening just in Congress. Prominent election deniers also now run the Republican National Committee.
May 21, 2024 5:07 am
France and Belgium have released statements supporting the world’s top war crimes court’s request for arrest warrants for leaders of Israel and Hamas, after Israel and the United States both harshly condemned the effort. International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan announced his intention to seek warrants for both Israeli and Hamas leaders, whom he accused of war crimes. His announcement came the same day Israel said it would expand operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah in its effort to crush Hamas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces raided a militant stronghold Tuesday in the occupied West Bank, killing at least seven and wounding several.
May 21, 2024 5:06 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s lawyers have rested their defense without the former president taking the witness stand in his New York hush money trial. The jury was sent home Tuesday until May 28, when closing arguments are expected. Trump did not stop to speak as he left the courthouse and ignored a question about why he wasn’t testifying.. Prosecutors have accused Trump of a scheme to bury negative stories to fend off damage to his 2016 presidential campaign and then falsifying internal business records to cover it up. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
May 21, 2024 4:59 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Red Lobster’s filing for bankruptcy could impact customers’ ability to use their gift cards and rewards points, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry. The seafood chain filed for bankruptcy on Monday, days after announcing the closures of several locations, including one in Erie. Henry advises people with gift cards, rewards points or coupons to use them “sooner than later.” If you have an issue redeeming rewards or using gift cards or a coupon, you can call the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555.
