August 1, 2023 5:02 am
Washington City Council previewed its Thursday night voting agenda. On Monday the agenda presented was largely a day to day business agenda. On tap will be several hires for public works and promotions in the police department. Equipment purchases using grant monies include body cameras for the police department and hoses, nozzles and intake valves needed by the fire department to outfit its new fire apparatus. Council will entertain the nomination of Carole DeAngelo to be appointed to the Washington Business District Authority. Council will vote on these measures at their voting meeting on August 3.
August 1, 2023 5:00 am
HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – Parents and community members passionately spoke out at the Hempfield Area School board meeting Monday night. Several people voiced concern about a revised book policy that’s been a hot button discussion at the district for more than a year. “Make no mistake, the agenda of the conservative members of the Hempfield school board indeed want to ban books,” one speaker said. Monday’s meeting was the last chance for parents to speak out before a final vote on the proposed new policy in a couple of weeks. The proposed policy would set guidelines to keep books with sexually explicit content off Hempfield’s school library shelves. Materials would not be allowed if they have visual depictions of sexual acts. The policy also specifies a review process for any books challenged by parents in order to get it taken off the shelves. The school board argues they are making sure children have access to books, adding this is not about censoring free speech but about protecting people’s rights. School board members have been revising the book policy over the last year. They claim it has been thoughtfully done and is not about getting rid of a particular topic or author. They’re expected to vote on the proposed regulations on Aug. 14.
August 1, 2023 4:54 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A jury has ended deliberations for the day without reaching a decision on whether the man who killed 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue should be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole. Jurors at the federal courthouse in Pittsburgh met for about seven hours Tuesday before being sent home. Deliberations are expected to resume Wednesday. Gunman Robert Bowers perpetrated the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history when he stormed the Tree of Life synagogue in 2018 and opened fire, killing members of three congregations who had gathered for Sabbath worship and study. Prosecutors say the 50-year-old truck driver deserves a death sentence. Bowers’ lawyers are asking jurors to spare his life.
July 31, 2023 1:47 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Trucking company Yellow Corp. has shut down operations and is headed for a bankruptcy filing, according to the Teamsters Union and multiple media reports. After years of financial struggles, reports of Yellow preparing for bankruptcy emerged last week — as the Nashville, Tennessee-based trucker saw customers leave in large numbers. Yellow shut down operations on Sunday, according to The Wall Street Journal, following the layoffs of hundreds of nonunion employees on Friday. In an announcement early Monday, the Teamsters said that the union received legal notice confirming Yellow was ceasing operations and filing for bankruptcy. The Associated Press reached out to Yellow for comment on Monday. No bankruptcy filings had gone live as of the early morning. (Photo: AP)
July 31, 2023 1:41 pm
(WPXI) – Actor Paul Reubens, best known for portraying his character Pee-wee Herman, has died, according to a statement shared on Monday. He was 70. In a statement posted on his official Instagram page, Reubens shared an apology for not going public with the health struggles he’s faced in the last several years. In the post, his representatives said he had been battling cancer. “Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness,” a caption on the statement read. “Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.” (Photo: ABC)
July 31, 2023 8:46 am
Authorities say a Detroit, Michigan man is in custody, accused of stabbing a passenger on a Greyhound Bus that was traveling on the Parkway East Sunday night around ten-thirty. State Police say 18-year-old Javon Garrett was allegedly harassing other passengers on the bus, when he pulled out a knife and stabbed Cozell McQueen in the neck multiple times. Troopers say the bus driver pulled the bus over near Penn Hills and Garrett was taken into custody. He and McQueen were both taken to an area hospital where McQueen died from his injuries. Garrett suffered injuries to his hand. According to the complaint, passengers told state police Garrett attacked McQueen without any provocation while the two were seated next to each other..
July 31, 2023 5:01 am
MIAMI (AP) — The property manager of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate has made his first court appearance on charges in the classified documents case against the former president. Carlos De Oliveira did not enter a plea Monday because he has not found a Florida-based attorney to represent him. De Oliveira was added last week to the indictment with Trump and the Republican ex-president’s valet, Walt Nauta. De Oliveira faces charges including conspiracy to obstruct justice and lying to investigators. The judge read De Oliveira the charges against him and ordered him to turn over his passport and sign an agreement to pay $100,000 if he doesn’t appear in court. Arraignment is scheduled Aug. 10 in Fort Pierce.
July 31, 2023 4:59 am
ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia prosecutor is expected to seek a grand jury indictment in the coming weeks in her investigation into efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the former president’s 2020 election loss. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis began investigating more than two years ago, shortly after a recording was released of a January 2021 phone call Trump made to Georgia’s secretary of state. Willis has strongly hinted that any indictment would come between July 31 and August 18.
July 31, 2023 4:57 am
PHOENIX (AP) — Parts of the U.S. are continuing to sizzle as July creeps toward setting a record for the hottest month ever recorded. Phoenix led the way Sunday, hitting its 31st consecutive day of at least 110 degrees Fahrenheit, or 43.3 Celsius. The National Weather Service says the temperature climbed to a high of 111 Fahrenheit before the day was through. Some slight relief may be on the way as seasonal thunderstorms could drop temperatures in Phoenix on Monday and Tuesday. Meanwhile in California, a massive wildfire burning out of control in the Mojave National Preserve spread rapidly amid erratic winds. Firefighters to the south reported progress against another major blaze that prompted evacuations.
July 31, 2023 4:55 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s interior minister says Russian missiles have slammed into a central Ukrainian city and killed at least one person and likely trapped others beneath rubble. The minister said Monday that the two missiles struck an apartment building in Kryvyi Rih and destroyed a section of it between the fourth and ninth floors and a university building. Ten people were wounded. Kryvyi Rih is the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and has seldom been targeted by the Kremlin’s forces during the 17-month war. But bombardment with missiles, artillery and drones has been a hallmark of Moscow’s tactics since the full-scale invasion with some aerial attacks hitting civilian areas. Russian officials insist they only aim at legitimate military targets.
