December 19, 2023 2:53 am
Washington Police are searching for the shooter who injured a man Sunday morning at the Family Dollar store along Highland Avenue. Police Chief Dan Rush says 25 year old Nahzier Muhammad of Washington suffered a gunshot wound to the leg around 10:30 a.m. He was transported from the scene but there is no word on his condition. Rush says the shooter has only been identified as a black male. Another man, 26 year old Ross Goldstone of North Carolina and formerly of Washington has been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery , aggravated assault and hindering apprehension. He is last reported in the Washington County Jail. Police are searching for his gray, Dodge Avenger which was used by the shooter to flee the scene. Police say the investigation is on-going and anyone with information is asked to contact the City of Washington Criminal Investigations Section at 724-223-4226. Callers can remain anonymous.
December 19, 2023 2:42 am
A Washington County priest facing more than 200 charges of theft, forgery, bad checks and unauthorized withdrawals from ATMs faced his preliminary hearing on Monday and waived all charges to court. Father George Athanasiou, 34 of the All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Canonsburg was arrested in November after church leaders noticed discrepancies in church ledgers and asked police to investigate. Approximately $117,000 has been identified as missing so far. Athanasiou is free on $250,000 unsecured bond. He will be formally arraigned on January 25.
December 19, 2023 2:31 am
The preliminary hearing for April Sloane has been moved. The 43 year old Washington County Controller was originally scheduled to appear before District Judge Michael Manfredi Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. The hearing has now been moved to Central Court at the Washington County Courthouse on January 16 at 1 p.m before Magisterial District Judge James Saieva. Sloane is charged with two felony counts of aggravated cruelty and a misdemeanor count of neglecting to provide veterinary care to her dog. The animal was found in the garage of Sloane’s home on December 6. Officials say the animal had been dead since November 27.
December 18, 2023 1:42 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — The promise of self-checkout has meant that customers can avoid long lines by scanning and bagging their own items, workers can be freed of doing those monotonous tasks themselves and retailers can save on labor costs. But it has also meant customers griping about clunky technology, workers having to stand around and monitor both humans and machines, and retailers contending with theft. Now, self-checkout faces a reckoning of sorts just as retailers are in the midst of their busiest time of the year. This past fall, Walmart removed self-checkout kiosks in three stores in Albuquerque, New Mexico. To reduce wait times, Target is now limiting the number of items to 10 that shoppers can scan in a handful of stores nationwide.
December 18, 2023 1:39 pm
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples. The Vatican issued a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it. The document from the Vatican’s doctrine office was released Monday. It elaborates on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals and published in October. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if they didn’t confuse the ritual with the sacrament of marriage.
December 18, 2023 6:59 am
PITTSBURGH – Japan’s largest steelmaker, Nippon Steel Corporation, is planning to purchase U.S. Steel. A press release issued on BusinessWire says NSC plans to acquire U.S. Steel for $55 per share, for a total of nearly $15 billion. The release says this acquisition was unanimously approved by the board of directors for both NSC and U.S. Steel. It’s expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2024. U.S. Steel will reportedly retain its name, brand and headquarters in Pittsburgh. The deal will also honor collective bargaining agreements with the United Steelworkers Union. NSC says this transaction will “enhance its world-leading manufacturing and technology capabilities” and allow the company to expand geographically for the benefit of stakeholders. We look forward to collaborating closely with the U. S. Steel team to bring together the best of our companies and move forward together as the ‘Best Steelmaker with World-Leading Capabilities,'” his statement said in part.
December 18, 2023 5:11 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea says North Korea has fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into the sea in a resumption of its weapons testing activities. Monday’s launch is the North’s second weapons firing in less than a day. It comes as North Korea vows retaliatory steps against the U.S. and South Korea for their decision to boost their nuclear deterrence plans. South Korea’s military says North Korea launched what appeared to be a long-range ballistic missile from its capital region Monday morning. North Korea’s Defense Ministry called its rivals’ decision to include nuclear operation scenarios in their joint drills an open threat to potentially use nuclear weapons against the North.
December 18, 2023 5:09 am
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to press Israel to wind down major combat operations in Gaza on a visit to the region Monday. It is the latest test of whether the U.S. can leverage its unwavering support for the offensive to blunt its devastating impact on Palestinian civilians. France, the U.K. and Germany joined global calls for a cease-fire over the weekend, and Israeli protesters have demanded the government relaunch talks with Hamas on releasing more hostages after three were mistakenly killed by Israeli troops. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israel will keep fighting until it removes Hamas from power, crushes its still-formidable military capabilities and returns the dozens of hostages still held by the group after its Oct. 7 attack.
December 18, 2023 5:07 am
GEORGETOWN, S.C. (AP) — A late-year storm has unleashed heavy rain and gusty winds as it barrels up the East Coast. The storm has flooded streets, forced water rescues and caused the cancellation of holiday celebrations. In the waterfront community of Georgetown, South Carolina, authorities say dozens of rescues occurred after motorists were stranded by floodwaters. The town is situated between Charleston and Myrtle Beach. Media outlets are reporting water rescues on Kiawah and Seabrook islands. The tide gauge at Charleston, South Carolina, peaked at the city’s highest nontropical tide on record. The storm dumped up to five inches of rain across Florida.
December 18, 2023 5:03 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Lake effect snow showers will bring potential snow impacts to our area from Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning with Winter Weather Alerts in our area. A Winter Storm Warning for the ridges of Fayette & Westmoreland counties and the mountains including Somerset, Garrett, Preston, and Tucker counties from 1 p.m. Monday through 10 a.m. Tuesday. A Winter Weather Advisory for Venango, Clarion, Forest and the ridges of Indiana County from 1 p.m. Monday through 10 a.m. Tuesday. Lake effect showers will begin to develop Monday bringing rain showers that will mix with snow showers as temperatures fall Monday afternoon. Snow showers are expected Monday afternoon and evening into Tuesday morning. A quick burst of snow will rapidly change visibility and coat roads making travel difficult. Snowfall locally could be a coating up to 2 inches with 2-3 inches possible around I-80 and north. The ridges and the mountains could see between 3-5 inches of snowfall with isolated higher amounts possible in Garrett and Preston counties.
