September 11, 2025 2:55 am
The trial for a Cecil Township man accused of sexual assault of a child, among other charges, is over and the jury has returned a unanimous verdict of guilty on all counts. Ryan Wolstoncroft, 40, allegedly assaulted an 11 year old boy multiple times in 2020 and 2021 in his home. Testimony began with the victim’s mother who laid out the timeline of events once she was informed by police that her son may be in danger. The victim, currently a minor, explained to the jury how Wolstoncroft acted as his caretaker and friend before assaults began. The victim said everything started with just incidents of tickling, but escalated quickly to groping and then Wolstoncroft groping inside the child’s pants. He told of instances where Wolstoncroft would perform oral sex and try and have the victim reciprocate. The victim said that no amount of him saying to stop ever made Wolstoncroft quit the assaults. The victim testified that he would play video games to escape his feelings and Wolstoncroft would make in game purchases and suggest that he should not tell anyone about the events. The victim’s mother was alerted by police after two Allegheny County men confessed to their mothers that they were assaulted by Wolstoncroft 20 years ago. One of the mothers is a mandated reporter and called police because she felt that the victim might be suffering the same treatment her son suffered. She had those fears because the victim’s family and her family belonged to the same church and she was aware that Wolstoncroft and the victim’s mother at one time were romantically linked. Bail has been revoked and is expected to be sentenced in December, at which time he could face twenty to forty years in prison.
September 10, 2025 5:01 am
OREM, Utah (AP) — Law enforcement officials say the sniper who assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk has not been identified and is believed to have jumped off the roof and fled into a neighborhood after firing one shot. The FBI said Thursday officials have recovered a high-powered rifle from the scene. Kirk was killed with a gunshot from a distant rooftop at the Utah Valley University campus. Police say the shooter appears to be of “college age” and is believed to have blended in on the university campus where Kirk was shot in the latest act of political violence to befall America. Kirk was an ally of President Donald Trump, who praises the Turning Point USA co-founder as “Great, and even Legendary.”
September 11, 2025 5:03 am
DENVER (AP) — A student shot two of his peers Wednesday at a suburban Denver high school before shooting himself and later dying, authorities said. The handgun shooting was reported around 12:30 p.m. at Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colorado, about 30 miles west of Denver. The teens were originally listed in critical condition, St. Anthony CEO Kevin Cullinan said. Their ages were not released. By early evening, one teen was in stable condition with what Dr. Brian Blackwood, the hospital’s trauma director, described as non-life threatening injuries. He declined to provide more details.
September 11, 2025 5:04 am
After Decarlos Brown Jr. was arrested for the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee aboard a North Carolina commuter train, he was quickly sent to a state mental hospital for an evaluation. That’s a sharp contrast from a January arrest, where it took more than six months for a court to order a mental evaluation after Brown told officers that he had been given a human-made substance that controlled him. The January arrest was just one of the missed opportunities in Brown’s criminal history, according to experts. He had cycled through the criminal justice system for more than a decade. He now faces federal and state charges in the Aug. 22 killing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska,
September 11, 2025 4:52 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — U.S. Steel will stop processing steel slabs at its Granite City Works plant in Illinois, three months after Nippon Steel sealed a deal with President Donald Trump to buy the iconic American steelmaker. In a statement, the Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel said Tuesday that it’ll “optimize” its operations by focusing on processing raw steel at facilities in Pennsylvania and Indiana. It’ll end its production work at Granite City Works, likely in November, but it says it’ll keep paying the 800 workers there. They’ll keep their jobs at least until 2027, as a result of a national security agreement between Trump and Nippon Steel that allowed its buyout of U.S. Steel to go forward.
September 11, 2025 12:32 am
Sally’s Sanctuary, the City Mission’s brand new women’s shelter is inching closer to its opening later this month. Tuesday, a ribbon cutting was held to dedicate the Scott and Diane Heeter Family Childcare Center. The room includes the Mary Johns Guthrie Infant and Toddler Room and the Matt’s Maker Space sponsored by EQT. When opened, the new space will replace the current child care center located in the Sally’s House facility. The new area includes Matt’s Maker Space that will allow children of all ages to explore creative and practical outlets. A sewing machine and easy press will teach kids practical skills. Assorted toys will occupy the attention of younger kids. Individual lockers for coat storage were built. Scientific and academic activities decorate the walls. A unique feature to the space is a kid sized bathroom. The toilet is reduced in size and located closer to the ground. A splash sink was shrunk and located closer to the floor as well. This will allow the kids to foster their independence in another fashion. Now they can tend to their own needs because the fixtures are built to accommodate them. Sally’s Sanctuary is anticipated to open in mid October.
September 10, 2025 3:54 pm
OREM, Utah (AP) — Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, has been shot at an event at a Utah college. A suspect is in custody, the college says. “We are confirming that he was shot and we are praying for Charlie,” said Aubrey Laitsch, public relations manager for Turning Point USA. Kirk was attending an event Wednesday at Utah Valley University. Videos posted to social media show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogan “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” A single shot rings out and Kirk can be seen reaching for his neck with his right hand. (Photo: AP)
September 10, 2025 2:44 am
Police in Washington say they have arrested 35-year-old Edwin Davis III, of Washington, in connection with a stabbing Saturday afternoon in the area of Duncan and Hall Avenues. Police say Davis was apprehended in relation to a separate incident. He was wanted, not only in connection with the stabbing, but also for a string of thefts in the area. No information was released on the identity of the victim or his condition. Police posted that they would like to extend a sincere thank you to the community for the tips and information that helped lead to the identification and arrest of Davis.
September 9, 2025 2:42 am
South Strabane Fire officials say they were called out just after three-thirty on Tuesday afternoon for a reported school bus accident in the area of Burkett Lane. Emergency responders, including ambulance and police officials were also called out and say they found a single school bus accident. Authorities say bus #65 from the Trinity School District was occupied with ten students ranging from 4th through 12th grades. One student suffered a minor injury. Students were placed onto another bus – (#71) and continued their routes home. District officials say they have notified parents and guardians. There’s been no word on what caused the crash.
September 10, 2025 5:01 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is granting an unusually quick hearing on whether President Donald Trump has the power under federal law to impose sweeping tariffs. The justices agreed Tuesday to hear the case in November, lightning-fast by the usual standards of the nation’s highest court. The tariffs will stay in place in the meantime. The small businesses and states that challenged the tariffs in court also agreed to the fast timetable. They say Trump illegally used an emergency powers law. The Trump administration argues the law does allow him to regulate imports and tariffs are necessary to strike new trade deals.
