February 7, 2023 4:08 am
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) – Authorities in Ohio say air monitoring hasn’t detected dangerous levels of fumes in communities where crews released and burned toxic chemicals from a derailed train. But they said Tuesday that Ohio and Pennsylvania residents living close to the wreckage still aren’t being allowed in their homes. The fire from the controlled release of the chemicals on Monday is no longer burning. Environmental officials say they want to ensure the air is safe before lifting the evacuation order. Residents in East Palestine were ordered to leave because of the risk of death from toxic fumes from five derailed tanker cars.
February 7, 2023 4:03 am
Cecil Township held their regular meeting on Monday night and scheduled a public hearing on a large development. The developers for Cool Valley, a mixed use residential, office and retail development similar to Southpointe and adjacent to it, asked for a public hearing. Cindy Fisher, Supervisor Chairwoman indicated that the developer T&R Properties came before the board last fall with an illustrative plan that needed additional work. They were sent back to complete the work and have now requested a public hearing to be scheduled. That hearing will take place on February 15, 2023 at 7:00 PM. The public is encouraged to attend and present their thoughts and concerns about the project to the board of supervisors.
February 7, 2023 2:37 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – The federal government’s pandemic-era prohibition against kicking people off Medicaid is ending, meaning that hundreds of thousands of people in Pennsylvania face losing free health insurance. Many people who stand to lose Medicaid coverage have no idea that the changes are coming. That’s according to advocacy organizations who do outreach to the poor. Enforcing the eligibility rules will be a massive bureaucratic task for the new administration of Gov. Josh Shapiro. All told, state caseworkers must resume enforcing eligibility rules April 1 for more than 3.6 million people who are on Medicaid. Those who are no longer eligible – or who didn’t submit information – will be guided to low-cost programs.
February 7, 2023 2:01 am
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has ordered United States and commonwealth flags on all commonwealth facilities, public buildings, and grounds across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to fly at half-staff immediately in honor of McKeesport Officer-Patrolman Sean Sluganski, who died in the line of duty on Monday. The flags shall be lowered to half-staff until sunset on the date of interment, which has not yet been announced. All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate in this tribute. Meanwhile, charges have been filed against the man accused of shooting and killing one police officer and injuring another in a shooting in McKeesport on Monday. The fallen McKeesport officer has been identified as Sean Sluganski (pictured). The injured officer has been identified as Chuck Thomas. Officials said the officers responded to Wilson Street for the incident involving a man going through a mental health crisis. According to officials, the suspect walked to the 1300 block of Grandview Avenue and was met by the officers where he turned and began firing. The officers returned fire when they were both hit and the suspect kept walking. The suspect turned the corner to the intersection of Versailles Avenue and Patterson Street and was met by a third officer. The two exchanged gunfire and the suspect was hit. Both officers shot were McKeesport police officers. One officer died at the hospital and the other was critically wounded and flown to a Pittsburgh trauma center. The suspect was hospitalized and is in stable condition. Sluganski was 32 years old and joined the McKeesport police department in Jan. 2020 and was promoted to full time in Jan. 2021. He previously worked at the Charleroi Regional Police department. Thomas has been with the McKeesport police department for four years. He was discharged from the hospital Monday night. The suspect has been identified as Johnathan Morris, 31. Morris is charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, assaulting a law enforcement officer and criminal attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.
February 6, 2023 1:26 pm
(WPXI) – A huge police presence is on the scene after one police officer was killed and another was injured after a shooting in McKeesport. Authorities say the officers were responding to a domestic situation involving an unstable man when he opened fire at the officers. Officials said the officers responded to Wilson Street for the incident involving a man going through a mental health crisis. According to officials, the suspect walked away from police when they tried talking with him. Police were told by a relative that the suspect was possibly carrying a gun. The suspect walked to the 1300 block of Grandview Avenue and was met by the officers where he turned and began firing. The officers returned fire when they were both hit and the suspect kept walking. The suspect turned the corner to the intersection of Versailles Avenue and Patterson Street and was met by a third officer. The two exchanged gunfire and the suspect was hit. Both officers shot were McKeesport police officers. One officer died at the hospital and the other was critically wounded and life flighted to a Pittsburgh trauma center where he is in stable condition.
February 6, 2023 10:25 am
A person with a gun was taken into custody after a basketball game at Mars Area High School Friday night. “Adams Township Police and Mars Area School District’s School Police Officers responded immediately to this incident and apprehended the individual with the weapon,” Mars Area Superintendent Mark Gross said in a statement on the district website. Gross noted that the individual was not a Mars student and that the investigation is ongoing. The boys varsity basketball team had just lost a close game to South Fayette when the incident took place. Players and coaches from both teams briefly sheltered in place inside the building’s lower level after it was reported that someone with a weapon was in the parking lot, the Trib reported. There were no injuries related to the incident, Gross said.
February 6, 2023 4:21 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – A person was found shot in the head inside a car in Pittsburgh’s North Side. According to Pittsburgh police, first responders were called to the 600 block of Chautauqua Street just before 1:15 p.m. for reports of a male found unresponsive inside of a car. Police said the victim was shot in the head. The victim was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Pittsburgh police say the victim later died in the hospital. There are no suspect descriptions at this time and the investigation is ongoing.
February 6, 2023 4:16 am
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) – Crews in Ohio began releasing toxic chemicals from five cars of a derailed train near the Pennsylvania state line on Monday afternoon to reduce the threat of an explosion. Flames and black smoke billowed high into the sky from the derailment site Monday afternoon. The Ohio Emergency Management Agency confirmed the controlled release was underway. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine earlier ordered residents near the site to evacuate. DeWine said residents need to leave the area because of the risk of death or serious injury. Officials believe most, if not all of the people, ordered to leave had already left before officials issued the warning.
February 6, 2023 4:12 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Harry Styles won album of the year at the Grammy Awards, taking home the top honor on a night that Beyoncé dominated and became the ceremony’s most decorated artist. Beyoncé won her 32nd award Sunday, breaking a 26-year-old record. But as in years past, the album of the year honor eluded her. Styles took home three awards Sunday. Still, Beyoncé stands alone on her Grammy throne, surpassing surpassed the late composer Georg Solti with her 32nd career win. She thanked her husband Jay-Z and her family for supporting her. Bad Bunny opened the Grammy Awards with a festive, high-energy performance that brought many of the audience including Taylor Swift who rose to her feet and danced near her table.
February 6, 2023 4:10 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of Democrats now think one term is plenty for President Joe Biden, despite his insistence that he plans to seek reelection in 2024. That’s according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. It shows just 37% of Democrats say they want Biden to seek a second term, down from 52% in the weeks before last year’s midterm elections. While Biden has trumpeted his legislative victories and ability to govern, the poll suggests relatively few U.S. adults give him high marks on either.
