June 5, 2023 5:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The pilot of the business jet that flew over Washington and crashed in Virginia appeared to be slumped over and unresponsive, the fighter jet pilots reported, according to two US officials briefed on the matter. The officials were not authorized to discuss details of the military operation and spoke on condition of anonymity. Authorities say four people were killed in the crash in a remote part of Virginia Sunday. The identities of the four people weren’t immediately released. Federal investigators say it will take a few days to solve the mystery of why the plane veered off course and slammed into a mountain.
June 5, 2023 5:06 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian officials say their forces thwarted large Ukrainian attacks in two provinces of Ukraine illegally annexed by Moscow. Ukraine didn’t confirm the attacks, making it unclear whether they marked the start of an anticipated counteroffensive. Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a rare early morning video released Monday that its forces pushed back a “large scale” assault Sunday at five points in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk province. A ministry spokesman said 250 Ukrainian personnel were killed. A Moscow-installed official in southeast Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia province says Kyiv’s forces also attempted to breach Russian defenses there but were repelled after advancing less than a quarter-mile. The Ukrainian military suggested the Russian reports were part of a misinformation campaign.
June 5, 2023 5:03 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Authorities say a state trooper shot and killed a man whose vehicle struck two troopers as law enforcement tried to get control of an illegal early morning street racing gathering on a Philadelphia interstate. State police say troopers were called to I-95 in the Penn’s Landing area shortly before 3:30 a.m. Sunday where “numerous vehicles and pedestrians” were illegally blocking the highway. One vehicle didn’t stop and struck two troopers, and a trooper shot and killed the 18-year-old driver. State police and the city’s district attorney are investigating. Officials say the street racing gathering was one of several that took place in the city overnight.
June 5, 2023 4:59 am
MENALLEN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – A man died after the car he was driving lost control and crashed into a gas station sign in Menallen Township, Fayette County. According to Pennsylvania State Police, the crash happened near 7902 National Pike at 10:40 p.m. Saturday. The 28-year-old driver was traveling west on Route 40 when he sped through the intersection at Northgate Highway. The car left the westbound lane onto the raised median in the center of the road, officials said. The car lost control and merged into the eastbound lane while still going west. It went off the roadway and hit the Kwik Fill sign, where the car came to a final stop. The driver was unrestrained and had to be extricated from the car. He was taken to Uniontown Hospital in critical condition where he later died.
June 5, 2023 4:56 am
AMWELL TOWNSHIP, Pa. – (WPXI) – A Scenery Hill man is dead after the motorcycle he was driving crashed into the side of a semi-truck in Amwell Township. According to the Washington County Office of the Coroner, Joseph Smetanka Jr., 60, was driving his motorcycle on Route 40 when he crashed into a tractor trailer that was turning left into the westbound lane on Route 40 near 10 Anderson Drive. The crash happened at around 9:39 p.m. Saturday. Smetanka was pronounced dead about an hour after the crash. He wasn’t wearing a helmet. The crash is being investigated by Pennsylvania State Police.
June 4, 2023 9:17 am
NEW YORK (AP) — In his first week on the campaign trail as a presidential candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis repeatedly hit his chief rival, Donald Trump, from the right. DeSantis told a conservative radio host, “This is a different guy than 2015, 2016.” Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly attacked DeSantis from the left, suggesting Florida’s new six-week abortion ban is “too harsh” and arguing DeSantis’ votes to cut Social Security and Medicare in Congress will make him unelectable in a general election. The attacks underscore the underlying early dynamic of the race: As DeSantis tries to win over GOP primary voters and chip away at Trump’s commanding lead, Trump is trying to pivot to the general election.
June 4, 2023 9:11 am
Washington County 9-1-1 officials have confirmed that an accident on Route 40 near Anderson Drive was fatal. Emergency crews were dispatched at 9:39 Saturday evening to a motorcycle accident. The motorcycle and a gas well transport truck collided with the motorcycle and rider ending up underneath the truck. The coroner was called to the scene. It is not clear whether the rider was male or female. No further details are available.
June 4, 2023 9:06 am
Washington County 9-1-1 reports that an early Sunday morning accident on Interstate 79 North damaged approximately 120 feet of guardrail. The incident occurred at about 3:00 am at mile marker 40.5 near the Meadowlands exit. An ambulance was dispatched but the victim fled on foot. No other details are available.
June 4, 2023 6:30 am
SINGAPORE (AP) — American Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin says Washington would not stand for any “coercion and bullying” of its allies and partners by China, while assuring Beijing that the United States remains committed to maintaining the status quo on Taiwan and would prefer dialogue over conflict. Speaking Saturday at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, an annual forum bringing together top defense officials, diplomats and leaders, Austin lobbied for support for Washington’s vision of a “free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific” as the best course to counter increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region. A senior Chinese official accused Austin of making false accusations against China and says the U.S. is “deceiving and exploiting” Asia-Pacific nations to advance its own self-interests.
June 4, 2023 6:27 am
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas has become the most populous state to ban gender-affirming care for minors. Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation on Friday instituting the prohibition. Texas joins at least 18 other states that have enacted similar bans. Every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, opposes the bans and supports the medical care for youth when administered appropriately. Lawsuits have been filed in several states where bans have been enacted this year. Last year, Abbott became the first governor to order the investigation of families who were receiving care. The investigations were later halted by a Texas judge.
