April 29, 2025 5:08 am
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Italian cardinal at the heart of the Vatican’s “trial of the century” announced Tuesday he was withdrawing from participating in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope. Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s status has dominated discussions in the days after Pope Francis’ death amid questions about whether he would participate in the conclave to elect his successor. After his 2020 downfall, Becciu had said he would not participate in any future conclave. But in recent days he had asserted he had a right to enter the Sistine Chapel with other cardinals on May 7. On Tuesday, the 76-year-old Italian issued a statement through his lawyers that said he had “decided to obey” the will of Pope Francis.
April 28, 2025 4:50 am
Belle Vernon, Pa. — (WPXI) – Three people from Fayette County are facing charges on accusations that they misappropriated more than $500,000 from an elderly woman. State Police filed the charges against Todd Reppert, Ty Reppert and Laura Reppert, all of Belle Vernon. The agency says an investigation into financial misconduct involving Donna Reppert, Todd Reppert’s mother, began in 2019, shortly after Todd assumed the role of Power of Attorney. Investigators say “evidence indicates” that Todd, his son Ty and wife Laura used the authority for personal gain. They allege that between January 2019 and January 2023, the trio misappropriated more than $500,000. State police say funds were diverted for things like paying bills, buying a BMW, acquiring real estate and online gambling, “despite having no legal authorization to access or use these funds for their own benefit.” Todd, Ty and Laura are all facing several charges, including financial exploitation of an elder, theft and conspiracy. Online court documents show Ty and Laura are out on bond, but Todd is being held in the Fayette County Prison on $200,000 cash bail. PSP says the investigation is ongoing.
April 27, 2025 12:30 pm
Washington County 911 has confirmed to WJPA News that one man was shot around noon Monday, in the 100 block of West Walnut Street in Washington. The shooting occurred near JFK Catholic Elementary School and the facility was put on lock-down till further notice. We also spoke with official at Washington High School who tell us they were not ordered to lock-down, but, Superintendent George Lammay says they are not letting anyone in or out of the building till further notice. Dispatchers say police were called after five or six shots were heard. They found one man down and he is currently being airlifted to a Pittsburgh hospital. Police are searching for the shooter. (Photo: WPXI)
April 28, 2025 4:57 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Thick smoke was pouring from a house fire in Pittsburgh on Sunday morning. Allegheny County 911 officials say first responders were called to a fire on Dawson Street near Frazier Street around 8:30 a.m. in the city’s South Oakland area. A second-alarm response was called just before 9 a.m., firefighters say. Fire erupted from the roof of the house moments after homeowner Tara Lewis said her husband saw the flames quickly crawl up the wall from the second floor. Heavy smoke filled the neighborhood as firefighters raced to save what they could and protect neighboring homes. Investigators said the fire started after a spontaneous combustion of construction materials inside the house. Lewis’ husband told Channel 11 he’s done a lot of renovation work to their home of 30 years and stored chemicals like paint thinner, rags and paint cans upstairs. The house is now condemned but the family said they do plan on rebuilding and eventually moving back in. The fire was contained to one house. No injuries were reported. The American Red Cross is helping provide resources to the displaced family.
April 27, 2025 4:52 am
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The U.S. coal industry has been in a steep decline for decades, and President Donald Trump’s administration has proposed several changes that would affect it. He’s issued executive orders to allow mining on federal land. He’s used his emergency authority to allow some older coal-fired power plants set for retirement to keep producing electricity to meet rising demand. Trump has granted nearly 70 older coal-fired power plants a two-year exemption from federal requirements to reduce toxic chemical emissions. And Trump’s government efficiency team plans to terminate the leases of 34 offices within the Mine Safety and Health Administration, which enforces mine safety laws.
April 28, 2025 5:05 am
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican says the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis will begin on May 7. The date was chief on the agenda of cardinals holding informal meetings Monday to work out church business following the April 21 death of Pope Francis. They held off on announcing the opening of the conclave until after his funeral on Saturday. The Vatican said more than 180 participated in the fifth informal meeting in Rome. A smaller group of 135, known as the College of Cardinals, is eligible to elect a new pope.
April 28, 2025 5:04 am
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Murder charges have been filed against a suspect in a weekend car ramming attack that killed 11 people at a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver. Hundreds attended vigils Sunday across the city for the victims and the Canadian prime minister visited the site on the eve of a federal election. Prosecutors have charged a 30-year-old man with eight counts of second degree murder and say more charges are possible. Investigators have ruled out terrorism and say he has a history of mental health issues. Those killed were between the ages of 5 and 65. Dozens were injured when a man driving an SUV struck people attending the Lapu Lapu Day festival on Saturday.
April 28, 2025 5:06 am
TORONTO (AP) — Canadians are set to decide whether to extend the Liberal Party’s decade in power or instead hand control to the Conservatives. They’ll pick either Prime Minister Mark Carney or opposition leader Pierre Poilievre to lead the way forward, but Monday’s election is also a referendum of sorts on a non-Canadian: Donald Trump. Until the American president won a second term and began threatening Canada’s economy and sovereignty, even suggesting the country should become the 51st state, the Liberals looked headed for defeat. But Trump’s truculence has infuriated many Canadians and led to a tightening of the race. Whichever candidate becomes prime minister will face big challenges, including a trade war and resetting of Canada’s relationship with the United States.
April 28, 2025 5:01 am
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republican members of Congress have gone to great lengths to avoid public meetings with their constituents over their two-week Easter recess. Nationwide, Republicans hosted only a handful of in-person town halls during the congressional break. The most vulnerable House Republicans were especially shielded from public view. Some didn’t answer their office phones for days. None of them, a collection of swing-district conservatives from across states like Colorado, California, Iowa and Pennsylvania, hosted in-person events that were open to the public. Just one planned a telephone town hall. Others favored smaller invitation-only gatherings with local officials promoted only after they were over.
April 27, 2025 5:07 am
China’s leaders have shrugged off the potential impact from U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war, saying they have the tools needed to protect jobs and limit damage from higher tariffs on Chinese exports. Several senior officials of different government ministries sought to shore up confidence with promises of support for companies and the unemployed, easier lending conditions and other policies to counter the impact of combined tariffs of up to 145% on U.S. imports from China. The briefing Monday followed a meeting of China’s powerful Politburo last week that analysts said had focused on ways to counter slowing exports due to higher costs in the all-important U.S. market.
