Gunmen Kill At Least Forty In Moscow Concert Hall

March 22, 2024 2:56 pm

(AP) – Russia’s Federal Security Service says 40 people were killed and more than 100 were wounded in an attack at a Moscow concert hall. The attack, which Russian authorities are investigating as terrorism, is the deadliest in Russia in recent years. The venue is still on fire and the death toll may rise. Several gunmen burst into the concert hall on the edge of Moscow and sprayed visitors with automatic gunfire, killing and wounding dozens and starting a massive blaze. Russian media reports that the venue’s roof is collapsing. The attack comes days after President Vladimir Putin cemented his grip on the country in a highly orchestrated electoral landslide.

Motion Filed To Oust House Speaker Mike Johnson

March 22, 2024 2:55 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson is at risk of being ousted. Hard-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia filed a motion to vacate on Friday during a House vote on a $1.2 trillion package to keep government open. Greene says it’s a “warning” to the Louisiana lawmaker. It’s the same political dynamic that removed the last Republican speaker, Kevin McCarthy, months ago. McCarthy’s was the first such ouster of a speaker after far-right conservatives revolted over his compromise with Democrats to prevent a federal shutdown. The House is scheduled to leave town for a spring recess. It’s doubtful any vote on Johnson’s removal would be imminent. Johnson’s spokesman says he’s “focused on governing.”

Charges Pending In Motorcycle Crash

March 23, 2024 1:23 am

NORTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – A 19-year-old Washington County man is in the ICU after a driver made an illegal left turn, striking his motorcycle. The accident happened around 7:30 a.m. on March 13 as Jeffrey Chickis was on the way to work on Morganza Road. North Strabane Township police say a driver crossed the double yellow line and illegally turned left onto Curry Hill Road. Chickis has two broken arms, broken wrists, a broken nose, a pelvis broken in three places and brain bleeds. Trauma doctors say Jeffrey’s helmet saved his life. North Strabane police are investigating the crash and charges are pending. Investigators tell our news partners at WPXI that the driver’s left turn was illegal and that other drivers also illegally turned into the Sewer Plant property. Jeffrey’s family is hoping anyone who witnessed the accident last Wednesday morning, or who stopped to help, will come forward. Jeff said he appreciated the police officer who told him the helmet he bought his son for Christmas saved his life.

City Mission Lands LSA Grant For Women’s Shelter

March 22, 2024 2:15 am

Washington County Commissioners put to rest an issue that has had county residents in an uproar by adopting a recommendation to grant LSA funding for a homeless women’s shelter. In February, the Local Share Account Committee recommended 50 projects to be funded with $8.7 million of a possible $9.2 million. Notably absent from the list was a Washington City Mission request for $500,000 for a homeless women’s shelter. The recommendation for $8.7 million in grant allocations and the carryover of $500,000 to next year was adopted by commissioners. Community outcry and accusations of political influence caused the commissioners to adopt a measure to have the LSA committee reconvene to consider the allocation of the remaining $500,000 to all projects denied funding. The LSA Committee met Wednesday and considered only the City Mission project and unanimously approved the measure to fund the City Mission’s request. Commissioners unanimously approved the recommendation and the City Mission will receive their women’s shelter funding. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman says that commissioners have met and will continue to meet with the LSA Committee to refine the process for grant allocations. He disagrees with Commissioner Larry Maggi who says that the recent events have given the selection process a “black eye.” Sherman did say that he was happy that the City Mission received their grant allocation.

Investigation Continues Into Devastating Fire

March 22, 2024 4:56 am

JEANNETTE, Pa. — Jeannette Police Chief Derek Manley says investigators are treating Wednesday’s devastating fire as arson until they can safely rule it out. He said that is standard procedure for a fire of this magnitude. “The way we’re handling it is as an arson until we determine otherwise just because of the nature of what occurred, we don’t want to be lackadaisical and not cover our bases if it turns out to be one,” Manley said. “We won’t know that until we get the report from the fire marshal.” The fire Wednesday tore through one home along Guy Street, killing a dad and four of his kids. That fire also destroyed the house next door. The mother and two other children were able to escape the blaze.

Chamber Hosts Municipal Leaders For Panel Discussion

March 23, 2024 1:51 am

Township Managers from five area municipalities gathered Friday for a panel discussion that was put on by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Chartiers Twp. hosted the event and their manager Jodi Noble led the panel discussion on a broad range of topics. South Franklin Twp. Manager Tyler Linck says they are welcoming a new housing development that will bring 62 new homes there. Mt. Pleasant Twp. Manager Darla Protch spoke on community cooperation and the prospect of police force regionalization between her township and three other townships. Cecil Twp. Manager Don Gennuso said that their township is now going through their book of ordinances to make sure that they represent the needs of their residents both residentially and commercially. Andy Walz from North Strabane Township and Paul Lauer from Peters Twp. both spoke of expanded recreation projects that are ongoing in their townships. Noble also had her input to the discussion. She suggested a formal summit of business leaders and municipalities to discuss what the changing economy demands and how municipalities may best address those changes.

Some Pennsylvania Polling Places Being Moved

March 22, 2024 5:18 pm

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Some of Pennsylvania’s most populous counties are relocating polling places out of synagogues because next month’s primary election falls on the first day of Passover. The primary election is April 23. In Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, election officials relocated 16 polling places from synagogues and a Jewish community center. Polling locations were also shifted in the Philadelphia area where the city and its four “collar” counties together have about 200,000 Jewish households. Proposals to change this year’s primary date to avoid the Passover conflict and become more relevant to the presidential contest were debated last year but died in the Legislature.

Pennsylvania To Receive Money To Clean Up Mine Sites

March 22, 2024 2:23 am

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Biden administration has announced up to $475 million in federal funding for clean energy projects on current or former mine land sites. The U.S. Department of Energy announced Thursday that the projects will be in five states. They include the political battleground states of Pennsylvania, Arizona and Nevada. Kentucky and West Virginia are also benefiting. They are solidly Republican and have been hit hard by the downturn in the coal sector. The projects will involve solar power, geothermal energy, hydroelectricity and batteries. The administration says the clean energy projects will strengthen the country’s energy security while helping ensure mining communities continue playing a role in the energy economy.

Congress Unveils $1.2 Trillion Plan To Avert Shutdown

March 22, 2024 5:03 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers have introduced a $1.2 trillion spending package that sets the stage for avoiding a partial government shutdown for several key federal agencies this weekend. The bill unveiled Thursday comes nearly six months into the current budget year and would allow Congress to complete its work in funding the government through September. Democrats were able to swat back scores of policy mandates and some of the steeper budget cuts that House Republicans were seeking to impose on nondefense programs. Among the policy wins that House Speaker Mike Johnson is highlighting for Republicans is a nearly 24% increase in detention beds for migrants awaiting their immigration proceedings or removal from the country.

Blinken Arrives In Israel For Talks

March 22, 2024 5:01 am

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel, on the final stop in his sixth urgent trip to the region since the start of the war. Blinken says he will share alternatives to Israel’s planned ground assault into the southern Gaza town of Rafah during his talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his War Cabinet. Later Friday, the United Nations Security Council will vote on a U.S.-sponsored resolution declaring “the imperative of an immediate and sustained cease-fire.” It also emphasizes the urgent need for aid in Gaza. The World Health Organization says so little food has been allowed in that up to 60% of children under 5 are now malnourished.