January 30, 2023 4:08 am
SOUTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man is dead after an incident on I-79 in South Strabane Township. According to a release from the Washington County Coroner’s office, the incident began after a driver got stuck in the median on I-79 near mile marker 40.5 in South Strabane Township at around 4:37 p.m. Sunday. A Pennsylvania state trooper began to help the driver when a second car pulled over near them. The driver of the second vehicle was a man who allegedly began making erratic statements, trying to get the trooper’s attention. The trooper went back to his vehicle to request assistance and then approached the car belonging to the man who was acting erratically. When the trooper reached the man’s vehicle he found him unresponsive and suffering from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The man later died. The southbound lanes of I-79 between exits 41 and 43 and all lanes of Race Track Road were closed for around an hour and a half as police responded to the incident. The Washington County Coroner says a cause and manner of death are pending investigation.
January 30, 2023 2:38 am
A homemade explosive was found at a gas transmission facility in Fallowfield Township, Washington County, last week. State police in Belle Vernon said the device was discovered the morning of Jan. 26, wedged into the door of an industrial gas pipe at the facility at 274 Redds Mill Road. State police Hazardous Device and Explosives Section and FBI safely removed the device, according to a release. State police are investigating
January 29, 2023 8:07 am
TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — A mobile app for migrants to seek asylum in the United States has been overwhelmed since it was introduced this month in one of several major changes to the government’s response to unprecedented migration flows. New appointments are made available daily. But migrants are increasingly frustrated by a variety of error messages. Many can’t log in. Others are hopeful when they get a date, only to be deflated when the screen freezes at final confirmation. The daily ritual resembles a race for concert tickets when online sales begin for a major act.
January 29, 2023 8:06 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities say three people were killed and four others wounded in a shooting at a multi-million dollar short-term rental home in Los Angeles early Saturday. The shooting happened just after 2:30 a.m. in the upscale Beverly Crest neighborhood. Los Angeles police say the three who were killed were in a vehicle. Police Sgt. Bruce Borihahn says investigators don’t have any information on suspects in the shootings. Two people who were shot were taken to the hospital in private vehicles and two were transported by ambulance. Borihahn says two victims are in stable condition and two are listed as critical. This is at least the sixth mass shooting in California this month.
January 29, 2023 8:05 am
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has kicked off his 2024 White House bid with stops Saturday in New Hampshire and South Carolina, The appearances in the early-voting states mark the first campaign events since Trump announced his latest run more than two months ago. Trump tells party leaders in New Hampshire that “we’re starting right here” and he says he’s “more committed now than I ever way.” A sluggish start to a campaign he announced in November has left many questioning his commitment to running again. The opening events come at a critical point as rivals prepare their own expected challenges.
January 29, 2023 8:04 am
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis police chief has disbanded the city’s so-called Scorpion unit after some of its officers beat Black motorist Tyre Nichols to death. The chief on Saturday cited a “cloud of dishonor” from newly released video of the fatal encounter. Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis acted a day after the harrowing video emerged. She said she listened to Nichols’ relatives, community leaders and uninvolved officers in making the decision. The nation and the city are struggling to come to grips with the violence by the officers, who are also Black. The video renewed doubts about why fatal encounters with law enforcement keep happening despite repeated calls for change.
January 29, 2023 8:00 am
PITTSBURGH (WPXI) — Over two dozen demonstrators have gathered in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood in response to the death of Tyre Nichols. The planned protest came less than 24 hours after Memphis police released Tyre Nichols’ arrest video. Local leaders have weighed in on the act of violence. Senator John Fetterman spoke out on social media Friday night and both Pittsburgh mayor Ed Gainey and Senator Bob Casey released statements Saturday morning. The sidewalks off of N. Highland Avenue were lined with sign tables and protesters demanding justice. “In some cases, the police officer who commits these killings is just dismissed from the force and faces no further repercussions and we need to show that this will and has to go to a conviction because we won’t let this be swept under the rug,” said an event organizer who carried signs that said, “stop the war on Black America” and “jail killer cops.” Another local protestor shared his own account of police brutality and said how watching the released footage of Nichols’ tragic encounter with Memphis officers retraumatized him. “I couldn’t sleep all night long because it reminded me of what happened to me in 1956,” said the protestor.
January 29, 2023 3:32 am
A Charleroi man has been sentenced following his conviction for possession of child pornography. Joey Leroy Barton, 52 has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison and 12 years of supervised release for pleading guilty to two counts of receipt of material depicting the exploitation of a minor. Evidence provided to the court indicated that on March 28, 2019 and April 11, 2019 Barton received or attempted to receive digital images depicting sexual exploitation of a minor in Minnesota. Barton contacted the minor on Facebook messenger through November 2019 sending him sexually explicit images of himself and adult pornography. He also began to arrange a meeting with the minor for sexual activity acknowledging the minor’s age and illegality of the act. The United States Attorney commended the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, the Roseville, Minnesota Police Department and the North Strabane Township Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Barton.
January 29, 2023 3:15 am
The Local Share Account Review Committee has made their recommendations for Washington County Commissioners to consider for the latest round of monies received from local gaming money. According to committee chairman Jeff Kotula, $8 million has been divided between 45 projects. Kotula states more than $3.2 million has been dedicated to infrastructure projects such as water and sewage improvements and building and construction projects. Funding for items of interest to the City of Washington are a $700,000 revitalization project and a $50,000 grant to help with the revitalization of the 7th Ward Park. Canonsburg will receive more than $190,000 for façade improvements. Job training is also a category for funding. The Washington Health System will receive $80,00 for education and workforce development and the Trinity High School will receive $90,000 for a rehabilitation aide, an athletic training facility and veterinarian technician. Because of a scheduling quirk, Washington County will not know its total allotment of funding until after March 31. If any additional funding becomes available this year, those monies will be distributed in 2024. According to Kotula, all distributions for this year are complete and no other awards will be granted.
January 28, 2023 3:47 am
HOUSTON (AP) – After being held in detention in Texas for months during his legal fight to remain in the U.S., Afghan soldier Abdul Wasi Safi is now a free man as he works to secure asylum in America. Wasi Safi fled Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S. forces in August 2021, fearing reprisals from the Taliban. He was arrested in September near Eagle Pass, Texas, after crossing the Mexico border. He was freed earlier this week. On Friday, he told reporters in Houston that he looks forward to one day being able to live the American dream
