May 3, 2022 3:58 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The caretakers of the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh have big plans to transform the site of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. They announced plans on Tuesday for a center that will combat antisemitism and other forms of hate. The synagogue has been closed since Oct. 27, 2018. That’s when a gunman killed 11 worshippers from three congregations. The restoration project is being developed by architect Daniel Libeskind, who also oversaw planning for redevelopment of the World Trade Center site after 9/11. The Tree of Life plans include a restored sanctuary and new space for a memorial to the victims and a museum.
May 3, 2022 3:55 am
Canonsburg Borough Council spent a great portion of their agenda meeting Monday night discussing parking within the borough once again. Business owners are frustrated with the seemingly negative nature that parking has taken. Mayor David Rhome spoke on behalf of the Parking Committee and put forth some ideas that council will consider. Some of the changes suggested are modifications in enforcement hours, a change in price for short term parking in lots and a pilot program that would modify parking enforcement on weekends. Council has approved the consideration of the changes for next week’s meeting. Final details on each idea will be ironed out by the end of this week. Rhome states that council is working hard to make parking fair and equitable to residents, business owners and customers alike. It is a difficult balance to strike but council is working hard to achieve that goal. He pointed to the recently approved 90 space parking lot that will be built on North Central Avenue as an example of progress being made on the lack of parking in the borough. Rhome cautioned that any change to the parking ordinance that may be approved next week, must go through certain procedures before they become official.
May 3, 2022 2:52 am
An East Washington man accused of leading police on a chase along Route 19 will face trial. William Meadows, 21 is accused of trying to force a woman into a car in front of the Drivers License Center before police arrived and he led them on a chase causing several accidents. Meadows is facing felony charges of attempted flight from and officer, possession of firearms prohibited and accidents involving personal injury among others. Witness testimony at his preliminary hearing stated that several times Meadows was witnessed by employees of the Drivers License Center arguing with and trying to force a female into a car before she was able to enter and call police for help. Police testified that upon their arrival Meadows took off in his car and tried to escape and caused several collisions along Route 19. After the collisions, Meadows fled on foot before he was apprehended by South Strabane Township police. Upon apprehension, Meadows told police he had a gun. Meadows may not possess a gun due to previous felony convictions. The judge held all charges for court. Meadows is confined to the Washington County jail without bond. He will be formally arraigned on June 30th.
May 2, 2022 5:25 pm
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – A fired Philadelphia police officer has been charged with murder in the shooting of a fleeing 12-year-old boy. Prosecutors said Monday that the was on the boy was on the ground and unarmed. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced first- and third-degree murder charges against former Officer Edsaul Mendoza in the fatal shooting of Thomas “T.J.” Siderio on March 1 after police say the youth fired a shot at an unmarked police car and injured a plainclothes officer. Officials released new details including that Siderio was no longer armed and was on the ground when Mendoza shot him. There was no immediate comment from representatives for Mendoza.
May 2, 2022 1:40 pm
FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) – Authorities are searching for an “extremely dangerous” murder suspect who escaped from an Alabama jail and the official they believe may have helped him to escape. The inmate, Casey Cole White, 38, was scheduled for trial next month on a capital murder charge. Vicky White, the assistant director of corrections at the Lauderdale County jail, told coworkers she was taking the inmate to the courthouse for a mental health evaluation. But authorities later determined that no such evaluation was scheduled. The Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said Monday that they had issued an arrest warrant for Vicky White on charges of permitting or allowing an escape.
May 2, 2022 1:23 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – A federal jury has convicted a New York Police Department veteran of assaulting an officer during the U.S. Capitol riot, rejecting his claim he was defending himself when he tackled the officer and grabbed his gas mask. Thomas Webster showed no reaction to Monday’s verdict. Webster was the first Capitol riot defendant to be tried on an assault charge and the first to present a jury with a self-defense argument. Webster testified he was trying to protect himself from a “rogue cop” who punched him in the face. Webster accused the Metropolitan Police Department officer of instigating the confrontation. The officer denied punching Webster, who’ll be sentenced in September.
May 2, 2022 4:27 am
BERLIN (AP) – Germany says it’s making progress on weaning itself off Russian fossil fuels and expects to be fully independent of Russian crude oil imports by late summer. Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck says Europe’s largest economy has reduced its share of Russian energy imports to 12% for oil, 8% for coal and 35% for natural gas. He said that means increased costs for the economy and for consumers. But Habeck says the moves “are necessary if we no longer want to be blackmailed by Russia.” Russia last week decided to cut off gas exports to Poland and Bulgaria. The German announcement comes as the European Union considers an embargo on Russian oil. The bloc has already banned Russian coal imports, starting in August.
May 2, 2022 4:26 am
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – The tornado that damaged more than more than 1,000 buildings in south-central Kansas generated winds up to 165 mph and carved a path of destruction nearly 13 miles long. The National Weather Service said the tornado that caused extensive damage Friday mostly in the Wichita suburb of Andover and injured several people rated an EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale it uses to assess tornadoes. Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said that at least 300 to 400 buildings were destroyed by the storm as part of a total of 1,074 buildings that were damaged. The Weather Service said the tornado was on the ground for 21 minutes Friday evening.
May 2, 2022 4:22 am
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – New Zealand has begun welcoming back tourists from the U.S., Canada, Britain, Japan and more than 50 other countries for the first time in more than two years after dropping most of its remaining pandemic border restrictions. The country has long been renowned for its breathtaking scenery and adventure tourism offerings such as bungy jumping and jet-boating. Before the spread of COVID-19, more than 3 million tourists visited each year, accounting for more than 5% of the economy. But international tourism stopped altogether in early 2020 after New Zealand imposed some of the world’s toughest border restrictions. The real test of how much the tourism industry rebounds will come during the Southern Hemisphere summer several months away.
May 2, 2022 4:21 am
ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) – The evacuation has begun for civilians holed up at a steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol after nearly two months under siege by Russian forces. Local officials said people sheltering elsewhere in the city would also be allowed out on Monday. Video posted by Ukrainian forces showed elderly women and mothers with small children being helped to climb over a steep pile of rubble from the sprawling Azovstal steel plant and eventually onto a bus. Ukraine’s president said more than 100 civilians were expected to arrive in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia on Monday. Fighters inside the plant called for the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian fighters as well.
