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WJPA News Archive

Pence Ends Campaign For White House

October 29, 2023 8:06 am

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence is dropping his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, ending his campaign for the White House after struggling to raise money and gain traction in the polls. He made the announcement in Las Vegas on Saturday at the annual gathering of the Republican Jewish Coalition. Pence said, “It’s become clear to me: This is not my time.” Pence becomes the first major candidate to leave a race that has been dominated by his former boss-turned-rival, Donald Trump. Pence did not immediately endorse any of his rivals, but continued to echo language he has used to criticize Trump.

Maine Gunman Had Mental Health Issues

October 29, 2023 8:05 am

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — The residents of Lewiston, Maine, are embarking on a path to healing after a man suspected of killing 18 people earlier this week was found dead. Authorities say the body of 40-year-old Robert Card of Bowdoin was found late Friday at a recycling center. Police teams had searched the facility twice before eventually finding Card’s body. The worst mass shooting in the state’s history occurred on Wednesday night, when Card allegedly opened fire at a bowling alley and then a bar and killed 18 people. Another 13 were injured. Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck said Saturday that Card died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Internet, Phone Service Returning After Gaza Attack

October 29, 2023 8:05 am

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Two days after cellular and internet service abruptly vanished for most of Gaza amid a heavy Israeli bombardment, the crowded enclave was coming back online as communications systems were gradually being restored. That’s a welcome development for Gaza following a communications blackout that began late Friday as Israel expanded ground operations and launched intense airstrikes that illuminated the night sky with furious orange flashes. A rare few Palestinians with international SIM cards or satellite phones took it upon themselves to get the news out. By Sunday morning, though, phone and internet communications had been restored to many people in Gaza.

A Xi-Biden Meeting Would Not Be ‘Smooth-Sailing’

October 29, 2023 8:04 am

BEIJING (AP) — China’s foreign minister says the road to an expected meeting between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden would not be “smooth-sailing.” In a meeting between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Biden, together with the latter’s top aides, both sides agreed to work toward a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a summit in San Francisco in November. In an statement released by China’s foreign ministry on Sunday summarizing the discussion, Wang said that they could not rely on “autopilot” to make the meeting happen. Wang’s three-day visit to Washington came at a time when tensions between the two countries remain high over trade tensions and other issues.

‘Friends’ Star Matthew Perry Dead At 54

October 29, 2023 8:03 am

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Matthew Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing in the hit series “Friends,” has died. He was 54. The Emmy-nominated actor was found dead of an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Times and celebrity website TMZ, which was the first to report the news. Both outlets cited unnamed sources confirming Perry’s death. His publicists and other representatives did not immediately return messages seeking comment. Perry’s 10 seasons on “Friends” made him one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors, starring opposite Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer as a friend group in New York.

Crews Take Out Overnight Fire

October 29, 2023 8:00 am

NOTTINGHAM TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Multiple fire crews were called to the scene of a housefire Saturday night in Washington County. The call came in just before midnight along Yohe Street in Nottingham Township. Valley Inn crews responded with North Strabane, Finleyville and Bentleyville Fire Departments. Tri-Community EMS was first on scene and reported smoke showing from the residence. Reports say one victim had to be hospitalized with severe burns. Officials called in the Washington County HazMat Team to dispose of lithium-ion batteries that caught fire in the house.

Ceremony Remembers Tree Of Life Tragedy

October 29, 2023 3:30 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) — In one sense, there was a feeling of closure as survivors marked five years since the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. They joined with hundreds of others for an outdoor commemoration of the 11 people who were killed at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. It was the first commemoration since the killer was convicted and sentenced to death after a long-stalled legal process. But it also came less than three weeks after Hamas attacks killed more than 1,400 in Israel. And it was two days after the latest mass shooting in the United States claimed 18 lives in Maine.

DA Rejects Coroner’s Recommendation To File Charges

October 29, 2023 2:56 am

Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh held a press conference Friday to address the findings of Washington County Coroner Tim Warco’s inquest findings. Warco convened an inquest into the officer involved shooting of Eduardo Hoover, Jr. that occurred on April 2. Walsh, flanked by approximately 10 law enforcement officers, defiantly stood behind his May 5 determination that Mt. Pleasant Police Officer Tyler Evans was justified in firing his weapon into the cab of Hoover’s truck striking him in the head and neck and killing him after Hoover rammed his truck into Evans’ police cruiser. Walsh called the inquest theatrics and overreach from the coroner. He credited Pennsylvania State Police for a thorough and excellent investigation into the matter. Walsh recited the details of the car chase and placed the blame for the incident on Hoover’s shoulders. Walsh stated that Hoover knew that his license was suspended, that he was already intoxicated, he could have stopped the car chase himself by pulling over or, once he was blocked in, obeyed officer commands to exit his vehicle. Walsh will not turn the investigation over to the Attorney General. He did state that the Attorney General has the authority to look into any matter at any time. Coroner Tim Warco says he plans to send his recommendation to the State Attorney General’s Office and ask that the case be reviewed.

Agreement Reached For Biden-Xi Talks

October 28, 2023 4:20 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to meet on the sidelines of next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco. That’s according to a U.S. official familiar with the planning. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the two sides worked out an agreement in principle to hold a meeting during the summit. The agreement was worked out as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Friday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan. The official added that two sides have not worked out details on the exact day of the meeting, venue and other logistics.

Maine Mass Killing Suspect Found Dead

October 28, 2023 4:18 am

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — The man wanted in the mass shooting at a bowling alley and bar that killed 18 people and wounded 13 has been found dead, bringing an end to a search that put the entire state of Maine on edge for the last two days. Authorities say Robert Card was found dead Friday in Lisbon Falls, Maine. Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck says Card was found at 7:45 p.m. near the Androscoggin River of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. He declined to provide a specific address. Card was a trained firearms instructor who recently had been treated for mental health issues.