April 14, 2024 7:00 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – An investigation is underway after 26 barges broke loose on the Ohio River. Pittsburgh Public Safety says police, fire and EMS responded to a report of barges breaking loose and floating uncontrolled down the Ohio River around 11:25 p.m. Police say 26 barges broke loose, 23 of which were loaded with dry cargo. None of the barges had hazardous materials on board. So far, no injuries have been reported, but Peggy’s Mariana sustained “extensive damage.” Of the barges that broke loose, 11 are pinned against the bank by Brunot Island and are being held by a tugboat. The other 14 continued down the river, and six of those have gone over the Emsworth Dam. The barges are owned or operated by Campbell Transportation Company, which is just downstream of the West End Bridge. The loose barges shut down the McKees Rock Bridge and West End Bridge, and also stopped trail traffic to Brunot Island.
April 13, 2024 5:35 am
SYDNEY (AP) — Police in Sydney say a man stabbed five people to death at a busy shopping center before he was fatally shot, leaving multiple people including a small child injured. Police say the suspect attacked nine people at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction, which is in the city’s eastern suburbs, before a police inspector shot him after he turned and raised a knife. Assistant Police Commissioner Anthony Cooke said he believed that the suspect acted alone, and there was no continuing threat. He said officials didn’t know who the offender was and an investigation was just beginning. Cooke said the police inspector was alone when she confronted the suspect and engaged him soon after her arrival on the scene, “saving a range of people’s lives.”
April 13, 2024 5:02 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — U.S. Steel shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the firm’s sale to Nippon Steel of Japan for $14.1 billion in cash, voicing unequivocal support for a combination that has drawn opposition from the Biden administration on economic and national security grounds. More than 98% of the shares voted Friday at a special investor meeting approved the takeover, according to a preliminary count of ballots announced by U.S. Steel. The deal has raised concerns about what the sale could mean for unionized workers, supply chains and U.S. national security, and is opposed by President Joe Biden.
April 13, 2024 5:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is headed to his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, to talk about who he believes should be paying more in taxes and who should be paying less. Biden’s campaign says the speech will be Tuesday, the day after Tax Day. The campaign said Friday the speech will drive home a simple question: “Do you think the tax code should work for rich people or for the middle class?” The Democratic president is working to convince voters ahead of the November election he’s their best choice even as as inflation persists and Americans feel the sting in their pocketbooks. Biden usually releases his tax returns on or around Tax Day.
April 13, 2024 5:03 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is holding a rally in northeast Pennsylvania, his last before his criminal hush money trial begins next week. The presumptive Republican nominee and former president is scheduled to speak Saturday at the Schnecksville Fire Hall in Lehigh County. It will be Trump’s third visit this year to a vital swing state, one that could decide who wins this year’s presidential race. He also plans to attend a fundraiser in nearby Bucks County before the event. Pennsylvania is a critical battleground in the rematch between Trump and Biden, with both candidates expected to visit the state frequently through November.
April 12, 2024 1:38 am
A severe storm system that moved through the area Thursday night dumped several inches of water on most parts of Washington County. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning that is in effect until 12:30 p.m Friday. There are reports of evacuations and water rescues. Washington County 9-1-1 dispatchers say flooding issues and road closures are widespread throughout the County but Canton Township was especially hard-hit. Washington Estates Mobile Home Park on Henderson Avenue saw heavy flooding and there were reports of evacuations. Washington County Public Safety Director Gerry Coleman tells WJPA News that buses were used to take residents to a shelter at the Canton Township Volunteer Fire Department building. Coleman says they will return today to access the damage that he called “significant”. There were several swift water rescues including some in the City of Washington after motorists tried to drive through flooded roadways. Many area school districts also cancelled in person classes for Friday and instead opted for remote instruction or Flexible Instruction Days. Late Friday morning the City of Washington issued an emergency proclamation declaring a State of Emergency, which will last five days, unless extended by city council. PennDot has issued an update on road closures;
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- Route 50 (Millers Run Road) between Route 980 and Muse-Bishop Road in Cecil Township.
- Route 221 between Highland Ridge Drive in Buffalo Township and Verner Lane in South Franklin Township.
- Route 221 (Green Valley Road) between Route 40 West and Pleasant Valley Road in Buffalo Township.
- Route 221 between Route 231 (Claysville Road) and Oak Ridge Road in Blaine Township.
- Route 917 between Almond Road and Hetherington Road in Somerset Township.
- Route 3001 (Brush Run Road/Lake Road) between Route 40 (National Pike) and Ealy Road in Donegal Township.
- Route 231 between Route 18 (Prosperity Pike) and Enon Church Road in East Finley Township.
- Route 1010 (Georgetown Road) between Spring Avenue in Cecil Township and Buckeye Street in Peters Township.
- Route 2019 (Almond Road) between Route 917 (Main Street) and Wherry Road in Somerset Township.
- Route 3008 (Jolly School Road/Lagonda Road) between Route 221 (South Bridge Road) in Buffalo Township and Mounts Road in South Franklin Township.
- Route 3026 (Enon Church Road) between Route 231 (East Finley Drive) and Route 3032 (Valley Church Road) in East Finley Township.
- Route 4022 (Armstrong Drive/Weirich Avenue/Pleasant Valley Road/West Wylie Avenue) between Gorby Road/Reese Road and McKee Road in Buffalo Township.
- Route 4039 (Pleasant Road/Southview Road) between Route 50 (Millers Run Road) and Pleasant Street in Mount Pleasant Township.
April 12, 2024 4:56 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. — (WPXI) – Members of Washington VFW reached out to our news partners at Channel 11 for help, after their former secretary/treasurer is accused of stealing nearly $12,000 from the post. Police charged Frank McVicker with felony theft charges in September, and there is a warrant out for his arrest. The VFW began looking into McVicker after the bank called with concerns about ATM withdrawals. VFW officers tell Channel 11 they didn’t even know the card existed. Washington City Police say McVicker used it to buy Delta plane tickets, items from Home Depot and Lowes, jewelry and vehicle registration transactions in his name totaling $11,878 in unauthorized charges. Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh says there’s been a warrant out for McVicker’s arrest since September, but police haven’t been able to track him down. Investigators say he could be in Florida.
April 12, 2024 2:39 am
The Washington County Board of Elections says it has taken steps to make it easier for the public to view and access the Primary Election returns. Board members say their aim is to ensure transparency and integrity, and to instill confidence in residents that county elections are conducted freely and fairly. On election night, the public can watch the results being returned from the poll workers via a live feed of security cameras displayed on large televisions in the public meeting room. The room is located on the ground floor of the Crossroads Center at 95 W Beau Street in Washington. Access to the building will be from the Franklin Street entrance. In addition, one authorized representative per candidate on the ballot and one authorized representative per political party on the ballot will be allowed to view the return of the results via predetermined and marked areas inside the Elections Office. To gain access, a letter on candidate letterhead or political party letterhead must be presented, identifying the representative as authorized to view the election returns. (Photo: AP)
April 12, 2024 4:59 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — O.J. Simpson died without having paid the lion’s share of the $33.5 million judgment a civil jury awarded to the families of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The panel found Simpson liable in a wrongful death lawsuit in 1997. Now, his money is likely to go into the court probate process. And the Goldman and Brown families could be at the front of the line to get paid a piece of whatever Simpson left behind. If he had any meaningful assets at all, his four children will have to let a court look at them before they can receive it.
April 12, 2024 5:02 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A new poll from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that more than half of U.S. adults think Joe Biden’s presidency has hurt the country on cost of living and immigration. Meanwhile, nearly half think Donald Trump’s presidency hurt the country on voting rights and election security, relations with foreign countries, abortion laws and climate change. The poll numbers also show Americans generally think that in the White House, both did more harm than good. Meanwhile, when asked which president did more to help people like them, roughly one-third say Donald Trump and about one-quarter say Joe Biden. Yet roughly 30% of adults said neither Biden nor Trump benefitted them.
