July 4, 2024 5:22 am
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Beryl ripped off roofs in Jamaica, jumbled fishing boats in Barbados and damaged or destroyed 95% of homes on a pair of islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines before rumbling toward the Cayman Islands and taking aim at Mexico’s Caribbean coast with at least seven dead in its wake. What had been the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic has weakened slightly but remained a major hurricane. Its eye was forecast to pass just south of the Cayman Islands overnight. Mexico’s popular Caribbean coast prepared shelters, evacuated some small outlying coastal communities and even moved sea turtle eggs off beaches threatened by storm surge.
July 4, 2024 5:17 am
FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. (WPXI) — Charges have been filed in a nearly 13-year-old cold case in Fayette County. A letter from Fayette County District Attorney Michael Aubele says Frank Timothy Campbell, 37, of Merrittstown, has been charged in the 2011 murder of Leon Mickens. Mickens was shot in the head in Masontown on Aug. 15, 2011, the night before his 36th birthday. At the time of the crime, Aubele says police spoke with witnesses, gathered evidence and even identified a person of interest, but charges were not filed. Leon’s cousin told Channel 11 four years after the crime that she was worried his killed would go scot-free. Aubele says when he took office in January, he promised the Mickens family that his office would do their best to secure justice for Leon. The charges against Campbell come after a new lieutenant took over the cold case investigation and authorities were able to locate witnesses and evidence, Aubele said. Reportedly police have statements, photographs, and circumstantial items that have “long supported” the charges, but now they have DNA evidence that places Campbell at the scene of the crime. Online court records show Campbell is facing several charges, including criminal homicide and aggravated assault.
July 4, 2024 5:03 am
WASHINGTON – U.S. job openings rose slightly to 8.1 million in May despite the impact of higher interest rates. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that vacancies were up from a revised 7.9 million in April, the first reading below 8 million since February 2021. Layoffs rose slightly, and the number of Americans quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects — was basically unchanged. The U.S. economy and job market have been remarkably resilient in the face of the Federal Reserve’s campaign to raise interest rates to rein in inflation. The Fed hiked its benchmark rate 11 times in 2022 and 2023, lifting it to a 23-year high.
July 4, 2024 5:02 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is vowing to keep running for reelection as he rejects pressure from within his Democratic Party to withdraw after a disastrous debate performance raised questions about his readiness. But in an ominous sign, one of his top allies publicly suggested on Wednesday a way that the party might choose someone else. According to a campaign aides, Biden told his staff that “no one is pushing me out” of the race. But there are signs that support for Biden is rapidly eroding among Democrats on Capitol Hill. Rep. Jim Clyburn, a longtime Biden ally, says he’d support a “mini-primary” in the run-up to the Democratic National Convention next month if Biden were to leave the race.
July 3, 2024 10:37 am
Canonsburg police are investigating after someone fired a gun in the east end area of the borough. On Monday and Tuesday night, several shots were fired in the area of Franklin and Highland avenues. Police said there was no apparent motive or target. “We are devoting all of our resources into finding the actor or actors as we review video surveillance footage, and follow up on the leads we have generated,” the police chief said in a social media post. Residents are advised to call 911 if they hear anything. Those with home security systems are asked to review the footage and report anything suspicious at 724-745-8020 ext. 519.
July 3, 2024 5:01 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — General Motors will pay nearly $146 million in penalties to the federal government because 5.9 million of its older vehicles don’t comply with emissions and fuel economy standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement Wednesday that certain GM vehicles from the 2012 through 2018 model years didn’t comply with federal fuel economy requirements. The fine comes after the Environmental Protection Agency said its testing showed the GM pickup trucks and SUVs emit over 10% more carbon dioxide on average than GM’s initial compliance testing claimed. GM says it complied with all regulations in pollution and mileage certification of its vehicles.
July 3, 2024 4:59 am
(AP) – The U.S. government will pay the vaccine maker Moderna $176 million to accelerate development of a pandemic influenza vaccine. The vaccine could be used to treat bird flu in people as cases in dairy cows continue to mount across the country. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday it is funding the development of a vaccine based on the same mRNA technology that allowed the rapid development and rollout of vaccines to protect against COVID-19. The H5N1 bird flu virus was detected earlier this year in dairy cows and has spread to more than 135 herds in 12 states and has infected three people. Federal officials say the risk to the public remains low.
July 3, 2024 4:57 am
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada (AP) — Hurricane Beryl is roaring across the Caribbean Sea as a powerful Category 4 storm on a path toward Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. At least six people have died after Beryl slammed islands in the southeast Caribbean. A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica and some of the Cayman islands, and a watch was posted for Haiti’s southern coast and the east coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Beryl was losing some of its intensity but was still forecast to be near major-hurricane strength when it passes near or over Jamaica early Wednesday. It had 145-mph winds early Wednesday. People in flood-prone areas of Jamaica were warned to seek safe shelter to ride out the storm overnight and into Wednesday.
July 3, 2024 4:49 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) -Six tornadoes touched down throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania during last week’s storms, the National Weather Service confirmed. The NWS confirmed Tuesday that the sixth tornado, categorized as an EF-1, touched down near the Mellon Plan neighborhood of Monroeville. It swept through parts of Wall, Pitcairn and south Monroeville. A large number of trees snapped or uprooted due to the tornado, some of which fell on power lines and caused the poles to snap. There was also some fence damage, and siding removed from homes. The tornado briefly retreated north toward Kelvington Park before dissipating, the NWS said.
July 3, 2024 4:44 am
FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI) – A firefighter was hurt while battling a house fire in Fayette County on Tuesday evening. The fire broke out in a house along Yaugher Hollow Road in North Union Township around 6:30 p.m. The firefighter was taken to a local hospital with a hand or arm injury. No other injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
