October 15, 2023 4:00 am
Three people will face attempted homicide charges for their alleged roles in a July 23 drive by shooting on Perry Como Street in Canonsburg. Dillon Britt, 31 of Canonsburg, Brett Carroll, 30 of Washington and Jessica Chatman-Carroll, 34 of Houston jointly had preliminary hearings on Friday. Testimony was highlighted by Chatman-Carroll’s testimony where she admitted to voluntarily driving Britt and Carroll to the location of the shooting. She said she was shown a snap chat message that indicted that Eric Ellis made threats that included children. Those threats involving children made up her mind to participate. She described the incident as it was depicted in a surveillance video played in court. Under cross examination, she stated that she was not represented by an attorney nor did she make any deal with law enforcement officials. Her only reason for testifying is because of the threats made about children. Chatman-Carroll is free on $100,000 unsecured bond. Britt and Carroll remain in the Washington County jail unable to post $350,000 monetary bond each.
October 14, 2023 4:42 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans have chosen firebrand Rep. Jim Jordan as their new nominee for House speaker, putting the gavel within reach of the staunch ally of GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump. Electing Jordan, a founding member of the Freedom Caucus, to the powerful position second in line to the presidency would move the GOP’s far right into a central seat of U.S. power. Jordan, of Ohio, will now try to unite colleagues from the deeply divided House GOP majority ahead of a public vote on the floor, possibly next week. Republicans split 124-81 in Friday’s private vote, though a second secret ballot nudged his tally higher.
October 14, 2023 4:39 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ethical concerns are casting a shadow over President Joe Biden as he seeks reelection amid ongoing investigations into his son Hunter Biden and a presidential impeachment inquiry. A new poll shows that 35% of U.S. adults believe the president himself has done something illegal. An additional 33% say they think the president behaved unethically, but not illegally. And 30% say Biden did nothing wrong. The results of the survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reflect both a vast political divide and skepticism about the morality of government leaders.
October 14, 2023 4:37 am
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin has benefited from waiting to reveal where he stood as the swing vote in a chamber closely divided between Democrats and Republicans. He’s taken the same approach when it comes to the next phase of his political career. The moderate Democrat has teased possible retirement, a run for reelection to the Senate or even a presidential campaign in 2024 — possibly as an independent candidate. During a multi-day trip to West Virginia’s state capital this week, the 76-year-old expressed growing frustration with the polarized U.S. two-party system. He said unless it changes, the system “will be the downfall of our country.”
October 14, 2023 4:33 am
and stages brief ground incursions
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinians are scrambling to flee northern Gaza after Israel’s military told about 1 million people to leave for the southern part of the besieged territory. Israel carried out some limited ground operations ahead of an expected wider land offensive against Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers following their attack into southern Israel a week ago. The unprecedented evacuation order applies to almost half of Gaza’s population, including everyone in Gaza City. Israel renewed calls on social media and in leaflets dropped from the air for some 1 million people to relocate on Saturday. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes. The U.N. and aid groups had said such a rapid exodus would cause untold human suffering.
October 14, 2023 4:11 am
PITTSBURGH -(WPXI)- Pittsburgh’s plastic bag ban goes into effect Saturday, Oct. 14. It was originally scheduled for April but was pushed back to give retailers extra time to get ready. City officials say the change is about preserving the environment. “We’re letting our customers know that tonight will be the last night they get the blue bag,” Cindi Donaldson said. She’s the manager of a Kuhn’s Markets location in Pittsburgh’s Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood. The plastic bags will be replaced with brown paper bags. They aren’t free. Shoppers will have to pay 10 cents apiece for them. They are also encouraged to use their own reusable bags. Donaldson says her store has a unique problem. “The bad thing for our store is a lot of the customers walk. So, it’s like, their grocery shopping is now going to be limited to maybe one bag in both arms. Or, if they’re really hefty, two bags.” Retailers will have the ability to empty any leftover bag stock until the end of the year. There are two Kuhn’s locations in Pittsburgh. Donaldson says they are both making the switch Saturday and will send any unused bags to stores outside the city. “If they go someplace else because of the plastic bags, that’s kind of hard. I would hate to lose business. Let’s put it that way,” Donaldson said. The paper bag fee does not apply to WIC or SNAP recipients.
October 14, 2023 4:08 am
Governor Josh Shapiro has announced that all United States flags and all Commonwealth flags will be flown at half staff on all Commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds. This is to honor Philadelphia Police Officer Richard Mendez who was killed in the line of duty on October 12. The honor will last until sunset on the date of interment. That date has not been announced. All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate.
October 13, 2023 3:21 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans have chosen Jim Jordan as their new nominee for House speaker during internal party voting. Friday’s vote puts the staunch ally of Donald Trump within reach of the speaker’s gavel. The Ohio congressman now must secure support from the rest of his colleagues ahead of a House floor vote. That could push into next week. Jordan is the hard-line chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He emerged after Majority Leader Steve Scalise abruptly ended his bid when it became clear holdouts refused to back him. Frustrated Republicans have been searching desperately to try to replace ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
October 13, 2023 12:52 pm
(WPXI) – A man is facing charges after police say he sex trafficked three girls in a Monroeville motel. According to the criminal complaint, officials were conducting surveillance on a room at the Rodeway Inn in Monroeville on May 9th. Two males were seen going in and out of the room. Officers decided to knock on the door due to suspicious activity and found two women, ages 21 and 22, and a 16-year-old girl. Investigators found condoms, wipes and pregnancy tests in the room, to which the two women said they were involved in prostitution at the motel. According to the complaint, the victims also told the officers that they would send a man, identified as Donte Lashawn Cole, images of themselves to be posted in online advertisements. The pictures would be used in advertisements on common websites used by traffickers and prostitutes to offer sex acts in exchange for money. Cole is facing 19 charges, including corrupt organization, trafficking in individuals, involuntary servitude, dealing in the proceeds of illegal activity and criminal use of communication facility.
October 13, 2023 5:02 am
(AP) – Less than a month before Hamas fighters blew through Israel’s “Iron Wall” in an attack that would leave more than 1,200 Israelis dead, they practiced in a very public dress rehearsal. A two-minute propaganda video posted to social media by Hamas on Sept. 12 shows fighters using explosives to blast through a replica of the border gate, sweep in and then move building by building through a reconstruction of an Israeli town, firing weapons at human-shaped paper targets. While Israel was clearly caught flatfooted by Hamas’ ability to breach its Gaza defenses, the group appears to have hidden its extensive preparations for the deadly assault in plain sight.
