January 29, 2024 4:47 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Two men accused of racing on a public highway in western Pennsylvania have been ordered to stand trial on charges in a crash involving a school van that left a teenage girl dead. Three other students and two adults were also injured in the Sept. 20 crash in Dravosburg. An Allegheny County judge on Friday upheld all 15 counts against 43-year-old William Soliday II, including homicide. She dismissed the only felony charge against 37-year-old Andrew Voigt and a charge of failing to stop and render aid, but held for court other charges including reckless endangering. Defense attorneys say there is no evidence that their clients were racing.
January 29, 2024 4:43 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s state Supreme Court says a lower court must hear a challenge to the constitutionality of a decades-old state law that limits the use of state Medicaid dollars to cover the cost of abortions. Monday’s 3-2 decision overturns the lower court’s ruling and puts aside an earlier state Supreme Court decision. The high court’s majority said Monday that prior court decisions did not fully consider the breadth of state constitutional protections against discrimination. The lawsuit brought by Planned Parenthood and other operators of abortion clinics says the law unconstitutionally discriminates against poor women. Abortion is legal in Pennsylvania under state law through 23 weeks of pregnancy.
January 28, 2024 6:26 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s security service says employees from an arms firm conspired with defense ministry officials to embezzle almost $40 million earmarked to buy mortar shells for the war with Russi. The SBU said late Saturday that five people have been charged and the money has been recovered. The investigation comes as Kyiv clamps down on corruption in an attempt to speed up its membership in the European Union and NATO. Officials from both blocs have demanded widespread anti-graft reforms before Kyiv can join them.
January 28, 2024 6:22 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. negotiators are making progress on a potential agreement in which Israel would pause military operations against Hamas in Gaza for two months in exchange for the release of more than 100 hostages who were captured in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. That’s according to two senior administration officials who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks. The yet-to-be sealed deal would play out over two phases. In the first phase, fighting would stop to allow for the remaining women, elderly and wounded hostages to be released by Hamas. Israel and Hamas would then aim to work out details during the first 30 days of the pause for a second phase in which Israeli soldiers and civilian men would be released.
January 28, 2024 6:19 am
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) — President Joe Biden is bidding to salvage a border deal in Congress that also would unlock money for Ukraine. He’s offering fresh assurances that he would be willing to close the U.S.-Mexico border if lawmakers would only send him a bill to sign. Biden is also trying disarm GOP criticism of his handling of migration at the border. He said at a political event in South Carolina on Saturday that he would shut down the border ’“right now” if Congress passed the proposed deal. The framework hasn’t been formally agreed to by Senate Democrats and Republicans and would face an uncertain future in the GOP-controlled House.
January 28, 2024 6:16 am
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has praised Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for defying the Biden administration over immigration. Texas has restricted U.S. Border Patrol entry to remove razor wire in a popular corridor for migrants illegally entering the U.S. Trump is visiting Las Vegas as he is marching toward securing the Republican presidential nomination. He says Texas should be given full support in its measures to deter migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump has largely avoided talking about a verdict delivered Friday in a defamation case. He has been ordered to pay an additional $83.3 million to a columnist he called a liar for accusing him of sexual assault.
January 28, 2024 6:07 am
WHITEHALL, Pa. — (WPXI)-An air fryer is blamed for a fire in a Whitehall home late Friday night. “I never had any issues, so it’s kind of interesting to see it randomly just decide to blow up on me last night,” said homeowner Courtney Bradley. Bradley said he was watching television when he heard a loud pop from his kitchen. “At first, I wasn’t sure if it was a firework or something going on outside, but then I saw smoke coming out of my kitchen and realized my air fryer had actually blown up,” he said. Bradley said the air fryer wasn’t on but was plugged into an outlet. He quickly woke up his 5-year-old son, ran outside, and called 911. “I can honestly say that this is the first time that I’ve seen an air fryer on fire, but from what I’ve heard, it’s not uncommon,” said Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Pearson, Whitehall Fire Company. In 2023, in Chippewa Township, an air fryer caught fire and damaged a home. The family told firefighters the appliance hadn’t been used in two days but was plugged in when it caught fire. Firefighters say these appliances use a lot of electricity, especially during the initial heating cycle. “I think the best thing to do is have a dedicated circuit for your air fryer,” Pearson said. “If it’s plugged in, don’t have anything else in that outlet. When you’re not using it, almost certainly do not have it plugged in.” “I usually had that plugged in or my coffee maker, and now I’m not going to keep anything plugged in at this time,” Bradley said. “It was definitely a moment, I would definitely say that. However, I’m just happy to be here and safe, and my son is safe.” The Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating how the fire started.
January 28, 2024 5:37 am
A Charleroi man has pleaded guilty to federal drug and firearms charges. United States Attorney Eric Olshan announced Friday that 28 year old Rashawn Ford pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of that crime on January 25. In a plea hearing in March of 2021, admissions made said that Pennslyvania State Police made a traffic stop of Ford in Westmoreland County and found packaged heroin and fentanyl along with the handgun. A subsequent search of a hotel room that Ford was staying in yielded fentanyl, heroin, a loaded handgun and $8,600. Ford will be sentenced on May 20. He faces 5-40 years in prison and a $5 million fine on the drug charge, 5 years to life and an $8 million fine on the firearms charge.
January 28, 2024 4:59 am
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — President Joe Biden says the U.S. “shall respond” after a drone strike by an Iran-backed group killed three American troops in Jordan and injured dozens more near the Syrian border. Biden’s national security team briefed him as he traveled Sunday in South Carolina. Appearing at a church banquet hall, he said the U.S. had a “tough day last night in the Middle East” and that “we shall respond.” He also asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of the slain service members. They are the first U.S. fatalities after months of strikes by such groups against American forces across the Middle East amid the Israel-Hamas war.
January 28, 2024 3:53 am
Washington County Commissioners, on Friday, provided an update to the ongoing investigation and system reclamation due to a cyber attack to its computer system that was discovered on January 24 causing most of the county’s computers to be shut down. In a written statement, Public Affairs Director Patrick Geho says the investigation by county IT and an outside forensics firm continue their analysis, recovery and remediation efforts. The investigation includes several federal agencies. Work continues to restore the crippled government functions and the county appreciates the patience and support from county residents. Because of the system outage, the jury reporting line is not in service. Any juror summoned for Monday, January 29 is not required to report, your service is complete and no further action is needed. Any juror summoned for Thursday, February 1 is required to report as instructed. Any summoned juror who has questions can call Court Administration at 724-228-6974 or 724-228-6797.
