June 8, 2023 5:04 am
NEW YORK (AP) — With weather systems expected to hardly budge, the smoky blanket billowing across the U.S. and Canada from wildfires in Quebec and Nova Scotia should persist into Thursday and possibly the weekend. That means at least another day, or more, of a dystopian-style detour that’s chased players from ballfields, actors from Broadway stages, delayed thousands of flights, and sparked a resurgence in mask wearing and remote work — all while raising concerns about the health effects of prolonged exposure to such bad air. U.S. National Weather Service meteorologist Bryan Ramsey says the weather system that’s driving the great Canadian-American smoke out “will probably be hanging around at least for the next few days.”
June 8, 2023 5:01 am
NORTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – Inside Southwood Psychiatric Hospital in North Strabane, Washington County is where police say staff member Tamika Jones pushed a young patient to the ground before allegedly kicking the boy in the head. The alleged incident happened in April, according to the police report, but charges were just filed against Jones this week. District Attorney Jason Walsh says the physical encounter was all caught on surveillance video. “There is video evidence that is, in my opinion, horrific, in regard to the way this child was struck by this individual,” Walsh said. “The defendant basically kicks this child in the head. It’s a horrific event.” According to the criminal complaint, the incident was reported to Hospital Director Kacey Kramer, who watched the video and suspended Jones that day. The police report states that Jones told officers she was stepping in to help a coworker who was assaulted by the young patient. But that coworker told investigators, “There was no apparent reason for doing such actions to the juvenile.” Jones is now charged with felony aggravated assault and felony child endangerment, among other charges. “It’s absolutely horrible. That’s why the charges reflect the severity of the crime,” explained Walsh. Jones was arraigned Tuesday and released. She’s due back in court on July 18.
June 8, 2023 2:17 am
A Florida man had his case waived to court during the preliminary hearing on Wednesday. Robert Baker, 49 is charged with numerous counts of harassment, unlawful use of a computer and disruption of services going back to April of 2023. According to police, Baker sent between 100 and 160 pages of documents to government officials, in particular law enforcement offices. A formal arraignment is pending.
June 7, 2023 5:43 pm
ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Mike Pence has opened his presidential bid with an unusually forceful denunciation of former President Donald Trump over Jan. 6, Trump’s temperament and abortion. Pence told an audience in a Des Moines, Iowa, suburb on Wednesday, “Anyone who puts themselves over the Constitution should never be president of the United States, and anyone who asks someone else to put them over the Constitution should never be president again.” And he accused Trump of abandoning conservative principles, particularly on abortion. Pence is the first vice president in modern history to challenge his former running mate. Trump leads the GOP 2024 presidential field in early polls. (Photo: AP)
June 7, 2023 5:21 pm
According to a Facebook post, Cretan Gyros in Washington will be closed until further notice because of a fire at the family’s home. The post said that the family’s house burnt down around 2:30 Wednesday morning. No one was injured but they are asking for everyone’s patience as they try to return to normal operations. Cretan Gyros is located at 180 Brownson Avenue.
June 7, 2023 3:32 pm
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has declared a Code Red for the entire commonwealth due to smoke from Canada’s wildfires. Due to smoke from the wildfires, the air quality is expected to be in or near the “unhealthy” range. For today, northerly winds will bring more waves of wildfire smoke into the region. Canada’s wildfires are being fueled by dry conditions with breezy winds, which will increase the chances of periods of elevated concentrations of air pollutants. They recommend limiting time outdoors and avoiding strenuous activity. Keep an eye on people with breathing issues. Similar conditions may continue Thursday, as the northerly flow of wind is expected to keep the smoke from the fires in the direction of Allegheny County. Gov. Shapiro issued the following statement on Twitter: “My team and I have been monitoring this situation over the past 24 hours. Smoke is affecting the entire Commonwealth. “Children, older people, and people with asthma or a respiratory illness should avoid going outdoors today as much as possible, and we should all avoid strenuous outdoor activity.” (Photo: WPXI)
June 7, 2023 2:16 pm
(AP) – Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, known to millions as wrestling’s “Iron Sheik,” died Wednesday, according to Wrestling News. “Today, we gather with heavy hearts to bid farewell to a true legend, a force of nature, and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling. It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of The Iron Sheik, but we also take solace in knowing that he departed this world peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that will endure for generations to come,” a statement on his social media page read. According to the WWE, Vaziri, 81, “became WWE Champion the day after Christmas in 1983 when he defeated Bob Backlund at Madison Square Garden.” “The victory was a controversial one,” the website reports, “as Backlund’s manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel after Backlund refused to submit.” The Iron Sheik, who was born in Iran and was an amateur wrestler there, held the title for just under a month before losing the championship to Hollywood Hogan (eventually Hulk Hogan) on Jan. 23, 1984. (Photo: ABC)
June 7, 2023 10:36 am
Wednesday’s game between the New Jersey Jackals and the Washington Wild Things has been postponed due to air quality issues from Canada wildfires. New Jersey’s Hinchliffe Stadium is owned by Paterson’s school system, which banned outdoor activities today due to the wildfires and air quality issues and warnings that exist across most of the eastern seaboard. The game is scheduled to be made up tomorrow as part of a doubleheader, which is scheduled to start at 4:35 p.m.
June 7, 2023 5:08 am
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Police say a gunman who opened fire minutes after a high school graduation in Richmond, Virginia, targeted an 18-year-old graduate he had a long-running dispute with. Eighteen-year-old Shawn Jackson and his father, Lorenzo Smith, were both killed Tuesday in the shooting. The gunfire sent hundreds fleeing in panic outside the state capital’s city-owned Altria Theater after the graduation ceremony for Huguenot High School. Five other people were wounded. Richmond Interim Police Chief Rick Edwards says the shooting suspect, 19-year-old Amari Pollard, knew Jackson. He said the two had been embroiled in a dispute for more than a year. Edwards said the nature of the dispute is still being investigated.
June 7, 2023 5:07 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors are using a grand jury in Florida as part of their investigation into the possible mishandling of classified documents at former President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach property. That’s according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. The grand jury is in addition to a separate panel that has been meeting in Washington for months to consider charges against Trump over the retention of hundreds of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and potential obstruction of government efforts to reclaim the records. A spokesman for special counsel Jack Smith declined to comment.
