July 20, 2023 5:02 am
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A tornado has heavily damaged a major Pfizer pharmaceutical plant in North Carolina — the latest in a string of extreme weather events plaguing the U.S. Torrential rains flooded communities in Kentucky while an area from California to South Florida endured more blistering heat on Wednesday. Pfizer reported no serious injuries but authorities said medicine was damaged after a tornado damaged the plant near Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Elsewhere, Phoenix, Arizona, broke an all-time record Wednesday morning for a warm low temperature of 97 degrees. And Kentucky braced under a forecast of more rain after flash floods prompted rescues from homes and vehicles in some waterlogged communities.
July 20, 2023 5:00 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A third night of Russian air attacks pounded Ukraine’s southern cities, including the port city of Odesa, and wounded at least 21 people, Ukrainian officials said Thursday. At least 19 people were injured in the southern city of Mykolaiv in the overnight attack, officials said Thursday. Another two people were injured in the port city of Odesa and buildings were damaged in the city center. The attacks came one day after particularly intense Russian bombardment using drones and missiles that damaged critical port infrastructure in Odesa, and came a few days after President Vladimir Putin pulled Russia out of a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to send grain to countries facing the threat of hunger.
July 20, 2023 4:59 am
Strong storms rolled through Washington County late Thursday night but there are no major problems reported this morning. Washington County 9-1-1 tells WJPA News that some trees and wires did come down and Coal Bluff Road at Route 837 is closed in Union Township. There are also widespread power outages across the county. West Penn Power is reporting more than 560 without service as of 5 a.m. According to their website, they expect to have most of those customers restored by 7 a.m. In Greene County, there are more than 600 customers without power. In Fayette 177. Westmoreland County appears to be the hardest hit with more than 18-hundred customers without power.
July 20, 2023 4:58 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote Thursday on a new ethics code for the Supreme Court, an attempt to respond to recent revelations about justices’ interactions with wealthy donors and others. Republicans are strongly opposed, arguing the ethics bill could “destroy” the high court. The committee’s legislation would impose new ethics rules on the court and a process to enforce them, including new standards for transparency around recusals, gifts and potential conflicts of interest. Democrats first pushed the legislation after reports earlier this year that Justice Clarence Thomas participated in luxury vacations and a real estate deal with a top GOP donor.
July 20, 2023 4:57 am
A winning ticket has been sold in California for the Powerball jackpot worth an estimated $1.08 billion. The winning numbers for Wednesday night’s drawing were 7, 10, 11, 13, 24 and red Powerball 24. The jackpot is the sixth highest in US history. The winner could take the $558.1 lump sum before taxes or get $1.08 billion paid out in yearly increments. The last time someone had won the Powerball jackpot was April 19 for a top prize of nearly $253 million.
July 20, 2023 4:53 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Survivors of the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue attack have testified to the severe physical and emotional injuries they suffered during the deadliest antisemitic massacre in U.S. history. The testimony Wednesday came in the sentencing phase of the trial of Robert Bowers, who was convicted last month of killing 11 worshippers and could face the death penalty. Officer Tim Matson, who was shot in the head and body, spoke of being in a “dark place” emotionally. But he has drawn support from friends and family, as well as inspiration from an unlikely buddy: a resilient weed in his yard. Bowers’ lawyers presented testimony from a clinical psychologist who says Bowers was exposed to extraordinary risk and instability as a child.
July 20, 2023 4:50 am
WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — (WPXI) – Are you ready to go whitewater rafting? The Raging Rapids will return to Kennywood on Thursday. In April, the park announced the ride would be returning this year. Teams worked on the attraction for a few weeks before its return. The ride has a new control system and the boats have been refreshed.
July 20, 2023 4:48 am
Ringgold School District’s Board of Directors approved a contract for digital hall passes in their high school with a vote of 7-2. The hall pass system is from a contract with San Jose based student safety system Securly, for the 2023-2024 school year. Ringgold High School Principal Greg Sarracenia was impressed with the system’s usage with the middle school after coming to Ringgold this past February. “It was something that I could embrace,” said Saracenia. “Our teachers know how many times that student has already been out of out of class throughout the course of the day. So, it allows us to really have that opportunity to monitor students.” The system is primarily for in-school truancy, but also to monitor possible medical issues with the students.
July 19, 2023 5:26 pm
(WPXI) – Emergency crews battled a house fire in Monessen Wednesday afternoon. According to Westmoreland County 911, crews were called to the 500 block of Summit Avenue at 2:17 p.m. Authorities say no people were in the home and no other homes were damaged, but three dogs died in the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Firefighters from Monessen, North Belle Vernon, Carroll Township, Charleroi, Rostraver, and Stockdale, along with Mon Valley EMS, responded to the scene.
July 19, 2023 5:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A target letter sent to Donald Trump suggests that a sprawling Justice Department investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 elections is zeroing in on him. Federal prosecutors have cast a wide net, asking witnesses in recent months about a chaotic White House meeting that included discussion of seizing voting machines and about lawyers’ involvement in plans to block the transfer of power. They’ve also discussed with witnesses schemes by Trump associates to enlist slates of Republican fake electors in battleground states won by Democrat Joe Biden and interviewed state election officials who faced pressure campaigns over the election results.
