September 26, 2023 4:48 am
About two dozen residents of Pancake turned out Monday evening to a town hall meeting held by South Strabane Township Supervisor Chairman Bracken Burns and Vice Chairman Mark Murphy at Billy Bell Park. At issue are concerns from residents over the sale of the Laboratory Elementary School and parking at Billy Bell Park. Supervisors and staff fielded questions about rumors that the park may be for sale and plans for added parking if the adjacent school is sold. Burns told residents that there is no plan to sell Billy Bell Park and that the township had been working with the buyer of the school to address the park’s need for more parking. Burns also addressed issues about the school. He made it quite clear that the township does not own the school and has no control over Trinity School District who owns it nor who they choose to sell it to. He did say that the township will study development plans to make sure that all township zoning laws are adhered to. Residents raised the issue of possibly having a drug rehab center in the building. Supervisors explained that an entity like that is not allowed in an R-4 district. The most recent buyer indicated that they would like to build 16-20 apartments in the building. Residents are concerned about Section 8 subsidized housing. Residents were informed that federal and state law says that subsidized housing can not be banned. Residents asked why the township did not buy the building for a community center and they were told that funding for that use was not available. The original offer to purchase the school from the Trinity School District was denied by the court. The school is now up for auction on October 17.
September 26, 2023 2:26 am
On Monday, a man from Monongahela accepted an open plea to plead guilty to numerous felony drug and gun possession charges. Markeiz Johnson, 28, had his Carroll home raided by state police in June of 2022. According to police, a search warrant was served and authorities found a handgun, 85 grams of crack, 100 grams of cocaine, 29 stamp bags of heroin and two pounds of marijuana. Johnson is facing 10-20 years in prison for the weapons charges and faces 5-10 years for the drug charges. A pre-sentencing investigation will take place prior to his sentencing, which will be held on December 19th at 10 AM.
September 25, 2023 4:11 pm
(WPXI) – Guests of the InTown Suites on McKnight Road in Ross Township were evacuated just before 9 o’clock Monday morning for what officials say is related to pesticide exposure. Ross Township police say they got a call about several people who were feeling sick with respiratory problems. Police say some rat bait traps were set up right outside the hotel and after those traps got wet from the rain the morning rain, it caused a gas, affecting people inside and outside the hotel. Police say seven people were taken to local hospitals, all with respiratory symptoms. Later, a child was taken by private vehicle to UPMC Children’s Hospital. Hotel management say the building is being ventilated and they hope to have everyone back inside as soon as possible.
September 25, 2023 1:49 pm
UNION CITY, N.J. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey is rejecting calls to resign, saying that nearly half a million dollars in cash found in his home was from personal savings, not from bribes. He predicted on Monday that he would be exonerated in his federal bribery case and would still be “New Jersey’s senior senator.” An indictment alleges Menendez took cash, gold bars and a luxury car in exchange for using his office to influence policy. Democratic Party support for Menendez in the state where he’s held office for nearly five decades has significantly eroded. Menendez has denied wrongdoing and vowed to fight charges that he illegally benefited by using his office to influence prosecutions against his associates and by acting on behalf of Egypt. (Photo: AP)
September 25, 2023 6:46 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has awarded $1.4 billion to projects improving railway safety and boosting rail capacity. Much of the money comes from the 2021 infrastructure law. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Monday “these projects will make American rail safer, more reliable, and more resilient.” Buttigieg says the projects will benefit dozens of communities where railroads are located and strengthen supply chains. The money is funding 70 projects in 35 states and Washington, D.C. Railroad safety has become a concern nationwide since a Norfolk Southern train derailed in Ohio in February and caught fire after spilling hazardous chemicals. The White House says a possible government shutdown would undermine railway safety.
September 25, 2023 6:44 am
The Steelers’ plane from Las Vegas made an emergency landing in Kansas City early Monday morning. The Steelers were flying back from their win in Las Vegas Sunday night. Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten said everyone on board is safe and they are making plans to arrive back in Pittsburgh later today. He posted on social media: “Our team charter plane was unexpectedly diverted to Kansas City early this morning on our way back to Pittsburgh following our game in Las Vegas. Everyone on the plane is safe, and we are making necessary plans to arrive back in Pittsburgh later today.” Reports say the plane made the emergency landing due to an oil pressure failure in one of its engines. The team arrived home safely mid-Monday afternoon.
September 25, 2023 5:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Allies of Speaker Kevin McCarthy are working furiously to shore up support for the latest Republican plan to prevent a government shutdown. McCarthy’s team implored their Republican colleagues Saturday to drop their hardline tactics and work together to approve a conservative spending plan. In public overtures and private calls, they pleaded with a handful of right-flank holdouts to resist further disruptions that have ground the House to a halt. McCarthy is planning to start voting as soon as Tuesday on various bills to keep the government funded before next weekend’s Sept. 30 deadline for a shutdown.
September 25, 2023 5:09 am
(AP) – More Americans believe they’ve personally felt the impact of climate change because of recent extreme weather, including a summer that brought dangerous heat for much of the United States. That’s according to new polling from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. It found about 9 in 10 Americans say they have experienced at least one extreme weather event in the past five years compared to 79% who said that just a few months ago in April. And about three-quarters of those believe climate change is at least partly to blame. One poll respondent who endured Phoenix’s record heat wave this summer said it was the first time she’s felt afraid of the changing climate.
September 25, 2023 5:08 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A tentative deal has been reached to end Hollywood’s writers strike after nearly five months. The Writers Guild of America reached the deal Sunday with an alliance of studios, streaming services and production companies. The guild’s board and members must approve the agreement before the strike officially ends. Hollywood’s actors remain on strike with no deal yet in the works. The writers walked off the job May 2 over issues including the size of staffs on shows, long-term payment for their work and the use of artificial intelligence in scripts. The terms of the new deal were not immediately announced.
September 25, 2023 5:06 am
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – State troopers are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing man they believe could be in danger. Richard William Rhine, 56, was last seen at a house on Bonniebrook Road in Jefferson Township at 9 a.m. on Saturday. He was reported missing just over 7 hours later. Rhine is a white man with blue eyes and brown hair. He is 6 feet tall, 1 inch tall and weighs around 160 pounds. He drives a 2018 Silver Mitsubishi Outlander SUV. The license plate number is LVJ2832. Troopers say the car was spotted on Route 356 near Monroe Road in Sarver at around 10:30 a.m. Rhine could be in the area of the RIDC Industrial Park in Allegheny County. Anyone with information on Rhine’s whereabouts is asked to call Pennsylvania State Police at 724-284-8100.
