June 5, 2023 4:56 am
AMWELL TOWNSHIP, Pa. – (WPXI) – A Scenery Hill man is dead after the motorcycle he was driving crashed into the side of a semi-truck in Amwell Township. According to the Washington County Office of the Coroner, Joseph Smetanka Jr., 60, was driving his motorcycle on Route 40 when he crashed into a tractor trailer that was turning left into the westbound lane on Route 40 near 10 Anderson Drive. The crash happened at around 9:39 p.m. Saturday. Smetanka was pronounced dead about an hour after the crash. He wasn’t wearing a helmet. The crash is being investigated by Pennsylvania State Police.
June 4, 2023 9:17 am
NEW YORK (AP) — In his first week on the campaign trail as a presidential candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis repeatedly hit his chief rival, Donald Trump, from the right. DeSantis told a conservative radio host, “This is a different guy than 2015, 2016.” Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly attacked DeSantis from the left, suggesting Florida’s new six-week abortion ban is “too harsh” and arguing DeSantis’ votes to cut Social Security and Medicare in Congress will make him unelectable in a general election. The attacks underscore the underlying early dynamic of the race: As DeSantis tries to win over GOP primary voters and chip away at Trump’s commanding lead, Trump is trying to pivot to the general election.
June 4, 2023 9:11 am
Washington County 9-1-1 officials have confirmed that an accident on Route 40 near Anderson Drive was fatal. Emergency crews were dispatched at 9:39 Saturday evening to a motorcycle accident. The motorcycle and a gas well transport truck collided with the motorcycle and rider ending up underneath the truck. The coroner was called to the scene. It is not clear whether the rider was male or female. No further details are available.
June 4, 2023 9:06 am
Washington County 9-1-1 reports that an early Sunday morning accident on Interstate 79 North damaged approximately 120 feet of guardrail. The incident occurred at about 3:00 am at mile marker 40.5 near the Meadowlands exit. An ambulance was dispatched but the victim fled on foot. No other details are available.
June 4, 2023 6:30 am
SINGAPORE (AP) — American Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin says Washington would not stand for any “coercion and bullying” of its allies and partners by China, while assuring Beijing that the United States remains committed to maintaining the status quo on Taiwan and would prefer dialogue over conflict. Speaking Saturday at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, an annual forum bringing together top defense officials, diplomats and leaders, Austin lobbied for support for Washington’s vision of a “free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific” as the best course to counter increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region. A senior Chinese official accused Austin of making false accusations against China and says the U.S. is “deceiving and exploiting” Asia-Pacific nations to advance its own self-interests.
June 4, 2023 6:27 am
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas has become the most populous state to ban gender-affirming care for minors. Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation on Friday instituting the prohibition. Texas joins at least 18 other states that have enacted similar bans. Every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, opposes the bans and supports the medical care for youth when administered appropriately. Lawsuits have been filed in several states where bans have been enacted this year. Last year, Abbott became the first governor to order the investigation of families who were receiving care. The investigations were later halted by a Texas judge.
June 4, 2023 6:23 am
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) — Officials in Canada’s Atlantic Coast province Nova Scotia said a wildfire that forced thousands of residents from their homes over the past week is now largely contained because of rain. The fire is about 85% contained and official say it is unlikely to grow due to a combination of firefighting efforts and long-awaited rain. The blaze that broke out Sunday in the Halifax area raced through a number of subdivisions, consuming about 200 structures — including 151 homes — and forcing the evacuation of more than 16,000 people. Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Deputy Fire Chief Dave Meldrum says rain has brought relief,
June 4, 2023 5:41 am
SOUTH FAYETTE TOWNSHIP, Pa. —(WPXI)- The South Fayette Township community came together to help kids who are facing unimaginable challenges. The South Fayette Glow Run was held at the South Fayette Stadium on Old Oakdale Road on Saturday evening. The event is a major fundraiser to benefit kids who are fighting cancer. “This is one of our biggest fundraiser events of the year for our South Fayette mini-thon,” said Tyler Smith, director of the Glow Run Race. “This raises tens of thousands of dollars every year.” Runners at the event could choose between a one-mile run or a 5K. All proceeds were put towards childhood cancer research and assistance.
June 4, 2023 5:36 am
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Bills safety Damar Hamlin kicked off a multicity tour at his home stadium on Saturday to distribute medical equipment and promote techniques that saved his life in January. Hamlin handed out automated external defibrillators for close to 50 youth sports and community organizations on the Bills’ field at Highmark Stadium at the event launching his Chasing M’s Foundation CPR Tour. The launch event included free CPR training for more than 1,000 people. Additional stops on Hamlin’s tour are planned for New York City, Pittsburgh, where Hamlin attended college, and Cincinnati, where six months ago Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and was resuscitated on the field during a game.
June 4, 2023 5:02 am
A South Strabane Township man has finalized his case of alleged child luring. On Friday, Jan Ondra, 70 appeared in common pleas court and pleaded no contest to an amended charge of corruption of minors. Ondra was accused of child luring when he approached a child in East Bethlehem Township in 2019 telling them to “get in the van and I will take you home to your Daddy.” Ondra had been free on bond in this case when he was accused of approaching three other children in North Strabane Township several months later. Because of that, Ondra had his bond revoked. Later, Ondra had been freed from jail while appeals of his East Bethlehem Township case went all the way to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. In exchange for Ondra’s guilty plea, he was sentenced to time served to 23 months in jail. Ondra had been in jail for 114 days. He will spend the remainder of the 23 month sentence on parole.
