July 16, 2023 4:47 am
A Washington man who pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to distribute cocaine charge will spend the next seven years in jail. Patrick Ellis, 49 of Washington was convicted in federal court of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. According to court testimony, the FBI and Pennsylvania State Police began an investigation of a drug trafficking organization in November of 2019 of which Ellis was a member. Beginning in April of 2020 the FBI began a wiretap investigation where Ellis was heard discussing the distribution of cocaine. Seized from the organization was cocaine, heroin-fentanyl mixtures, firearms and cash. Agents seized two kilograms of cocaine from Ellis. After the seven year prison term, Ellis will be on four years of supervised release.
July 16, 2023 4:46 am
PennDot is informing drivers that beginning Monday, July 17, lane width restrictions will be going into effect on Rt 88. Those restrictions will occur between the eastbound on/off ramps to Interstate 70 and the westbound on/off ramps of Interstate 70 in Speers Borough. The lanes will be 11.5 feet wide and shifted to the shoulders of the road. Those restrictions are anticipated to continue through early November.
July 15, 2023 5:01 am
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities on Long Island are vowing to continue investigating a string of killings known as the Gilgo Beach murders after charging an architect in the deaths of three of the 11 victims. Rex Heuermann was charged Friday with killing Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello over a decade ago. He is also considered the prime suspect in Maureen Brainard-Barnes’ death. Their bodies were bound and hidden in thick underbrush along a remote beach highway across the bay from where the 59-year-old Heuermann has lived all his life. Heuermann has pleaded not guilty. Investigators have said it’s unlikely just one person killed all of the victims.
July 15, 2023 4:57 am
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Police in North Dakota say one officer has died and two others have been critically injured in a shooting on a busy street in Fargo that also killed the suspect. In a statement issued late Friday night, police say a civilian also was seriously wounded in the shooting before 3 p.m. Friday. Multiple witnesses say a man opened fire on police officers before other officers shot the suspect. The Fargo Police Department and North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley did not provide a possible motive or the identities of the officers and the suspect. Police say more information will be provided at a press conference scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
July 15, 2023 4:53 am
The Mega Millions top prize has grown again to an estimated $640 million after there was no winner of the lottery’s latest giant jackpot. The numbers drawn late Friday night were: 10, 24, 48, 51, 66 and gold Mega Ball 15. The estimated jackpot in the next drawing on Tuesday night would only be distributed to a winner who chooses an annuity paid over 29 years. Nearly all grand prize winners opt to take a cash payout, which for Tuesday’s drawing is an estimated $328 million. Mega Millions says the jackpot is the seventh largest in the game’s history. Despite the long odds of 1 in 302.6 million, players continue to purchase tickets as the size of the grand prize grows.
July 15, 2023 4:45 am
Barchemy is an industrial ingredient supplier whose chocolate that they manufacture is described as “better for you.” Their products are high protein, zero sugar, high fiber and allergen free. They produce coatings and fillings for larger manufacturers that are seeking specialized products to fill very specific requirements. On Friday, Barchemy celebrated the opening of their third manufacturing plant in Donora. This plant will be dedicated to the manufacture of peanut products. The company also celebrated a second event. One year ago on Father’s Day, the main manufacturing plant caught fire. It turned into a five alarm fire before everything was extinguished. Matt Cooper is the President of Barchemy and he indicated that it was a celebration for the employees of Barchemy and their teamwork to not let Barchemy fail because of the fire and their efforts to keep working on the new peanut facility. Cooper states that all employees remained on the payroll and they never missed an order nor lost a client. Contractors that helped rebuild the facility, local officials and government officials were on hand to help celebrate the company and its expansion in Donora.
July 14, 2023 5:20 pm
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (AP) — A Long Island architect has been arrested in connection with three of the long-unsolved killings known as the Gilgo Beach murders. Fifty-nine-year-old Rex Heuermann pleaded not guilty to three murder charges on Friday. He’s lived since childhood across a bay from where the remains of 11 people were found a decade ago. As crime lab investigators searched his home in Massapequa, Heuermann was denied bail in state court in Riverhead. His lawyer entered a not guilty plea, saying Heuermann told him, “I didn’t do this.” Authorities say they matched his DNA from a discarded pizza crust to genetic material found on the women’s remains.
July 14, 2023 10:29 am
Matt Staniszewski promised to fight his termination as Manager of the Borough of Charleroi and on Thursday he responded. According to the Mon Valley Independent, Attorney Timothy R. Berggren filed a complaint in Washington County Court on his behalf. It includes five charges; Breach of contract, Violation of the Sunshine Act, Violation of Loudermill rights, Attorney fees and Local agency appeal. On Wednesday, Borough Council voted unanimously to terminate Staniszewski. The action came one-month after the board has suspended him for ten-days without pay after residents complained about his behavior during meetings. Council also rejected a recommendation from solicitor Sean Logue to provide Staniszewski four-months’ pay and benefits, as well as four-thousand dollars in attorney fees as part of a separation agreement. Staniszewski deferred comment to WJPA News to his attorneys. Berggren has not returned our call for comment. Logue, meanwhile, says council will hire outside legal counsel to handle its representation in the matter.
July 14, 2023 5:14 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new poll finds that only about 1 in 10 U.S. adults give high ratings to the way democracy is working in the United States or how well it represents the interests of most Americans. Majorities of adults say U.S. laws and policies on key issues don’t do a good job of representing what most Americans want, on issues ranging from the economy and government spending to gun policy, immigration and abortion. According to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 53% say Congress is doing a bad job of upholding democratic values, compared with just 16% who say it’s doing a good job.
July 14, 2023 5:13 am
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa judge will consider a request to postpone the state’s new ban on most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, just as Gov. Kim Reynolds is scheduled to sign the measure into law. The split screen on Friday punctuates a years-long battle between abortion advocates and opponents in Iowa. Abortion is currently legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. It would be far more restricted when Reynolds puts pen to paper, unless the judge issues a temporary hold. The legislation prohibits almost all abortions once cardiac activity can be detected, which is usually around six weeks of pregnancy and before many women know they are pregnant.
