December 5, 2023 5:08 am
CALIFORNIA BOROUGH, Pa. — PennWest California has issued an alert after a woman was reportedly assaulted off-campus early Sunday morning. The assault happened along Route 88 between Vulcan Village and Wood Street. The woman reported to police that there were two male suspects involved, both wearing face masks. Police are reminding individuals to be vigilant and not to walk alone at night, especially in low-lit areas. Anyone with information should call university police at 724-938-4299 or California Borough police by dialing 911.
December 5, 2023 5:03 am
BELLE VERNON, Pa. — (WPXI) – A family of five has been forced out of their home and had to say goodbye to multiple pets after their chimney collapsed in on itself Saturday evening. “I was just in complete shock,” said Jaclyn Broyles. Broyles is a family friend of Kandie and Lewis Stiltner. She couldn’t believe it when she heard about their chimney crashing through their living room.“They’re still in shock,” she said. Broyles told our news partners at Channel 11 that only the 13-year-old son was in the home out of the family of five. He was not hurt. The chimney fell into the living room onto a couch where the Stiltners’ four dogs were lying. Three of the dogs died from their injuries. The family is not able to stay at their home. For the time being, they’re staying with relatives. There’s no word on what caused the chimney to collapse.
December 5, 2023 4:55 am
For the first time in forty years, the Peters Township School Board met without the services of Thomas McMurray. Along with McMurray, three other former board members departed and four brand new directors were sworn in. Alexanra Binsse, Jason Camilletti, Kathleen Chaudhari, and Alex O’Neill join incumbent director Rolf Briegel as members of the school board. The school board quickly reorganized appointing Rebecca Bowman as President and Rolf Briegel, Vice President. Bowman attended the meeting remotely and refrained from appointing committee chairs until she can get a better grasp of each of the new board member’s qualifications. Briegel ran as part of the Republican group that now holds a majority on the board. Briegel says that the priorities of the board will be similar to the past board. Children come first and curricula will be reviewed but changes are unlikely. Briegel understands the challenge of keeping Peters Township as one of the premier school districts not just regionally, but statewide and nationally as well. He credits the teachers and administrators for the success of the students and is certain that the new school board as the same focus on students and support for teachers.
December 5, 2023 2:37 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro is labeling a demonstration outside of an Israeli-owned restaurant “antisemitic” after protesters marched against the bombardment of Gaza. The protest on Sunday called for a complete end to the siege, and “an end to the U.S[.] complicity with Israel,” according to a Facebook post. A video of protesters outside of the Israeli-style restaurant Goldie Falafel chanted “Goldie, Goldie, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide,” garnering backlash from the Democratic governor. Shapiro says he has been in touch with the restaurant owner to make sure he and his staff know that the governor will support them. (Photo: AP)
December 4, 2023 4:54 pm
MIAMI (AP) — The Justice Department says a former American diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to Bolivia has been charged with serving as a covert agent for Cuba’s intelligence services since at least 1981. Newly unsealed court papers allege that Manuel Rocha engaged in “clandestine activity” on Cuba’s behalf for decades, including by meeting with Cuban intelligence operatives. The complaint was filed in federal court in Miami, and includes charges of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government and other crimes. He appeared in court Monday afternoon and will remain held until a bond hearing Wednesday.
December 4, 2023 3:54 pm
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia police say a man who had tried to steal merchandise from a department store returned 15 minutes later and stabbed two security guards, killing one and injuring the other. The attack at the Macy’s store occurred shortly after 11 a.m. Monday. Police say store security guards saw the man attempting to steal some hats and took back the merchandise. Police say when the man returned he stabbed a 30-year-old male guard in the neck and a 23-year-old guard in the face and arm when he tried to help his colleague. The stabbing suspect fled the store after the attack but was later captured at a train station in the city.
December 4, 2023 7:18 am
The Washington School District has moved to a ‘Flexible Instruction Day’ for Monday. Superintendent George Lammay tells WJPA News that a boiler issue at the high school is behind the move. He says officials were concerned that they might not be able to heat the building throughout the day. The ‘FID’ day is for all students in the district.
December 4, 2023 5:19 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is hearing arguments over a nationwide settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma that would shield members of the Sackler family who own the company from civil lawsuits over the toll of opioids. The agreement hammered out with state and local governments and victims would provide billions of dollars to combat the opioid epidemic. The Sacklers would contribute up to $6 billion and give up ownership, and the company would emerge from bankruptcy as a different entity, with its profits used for treatment and prevention. But the justices put the settlement on hold during the summer, in response to objections from the Biden administration. Arguments take place Monday.
December 4, 2023 5:17 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military says three commercial ships in the Red Sea were struck by ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen, and a U.S. warship shot down three drones in self-defense during the hourslong assault. The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility. The attacks marked an escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war as multiple vessels found themselves in the crosshairs of a single Houthi assault for the first time in the conflict. U.S. Central Command says the attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security.
December 4, 2023 5:16 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is sending Congress an urgent warning about the need to approve tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance to Ukraine, saying Kyiv’s effort to defend itself from Russia’s invasion may grind to a halt without it. Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young says the U.S. will run out of funding to send weapons and assistance to Ukraine by the end of the year. She says that would “kneecap” Ukraine on the battlefield. She adds that the U.S. already has run out of money it has used to prop up Ukraine’s economy, and “if Ukraine’s economy collapses, they will not be able to keep fighting, full stop.”
