May 3, 2022 4:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A federal jury has convicted a New York Police Department veteran of assaulting an officer during the U.S. Capitol riot, rejecting his claim he was defending himself when he tackled the officer and grabbed his gas mask. Thomas Webster showed no reaction to Monday’s verdict. Webster was the first Capitol riot defendant to be tried on an assault charge and the first to present a jury with a self-defense argument. Webster testified he was trying to protect himself from a “rogue cop” who punched him in the face. Webster accused the Metropolitan Police Department officer of instigating the confrontation. The officer denied punching Webster, who’ll be sentenced in September.
May 3, 2022 4:04 am
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Ohio Republicans will vote Tuesday in one of the most contentious and closely watched Senate primaries in the nation. Author and venture capitalist JD Vance is seen as the GOP front-runner in the race to replace retiring Sen. Rob Portman after receiving former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. The winner is likely to face 10-term Democratic congressman Tim Ryan in what is expected to be a brutal November for Democrats. Incumbent Republican Gov. Mike DeWine appears well positioned to secure his party’s nomination for another term. In Indiana, more than a dozen state House members are trying to fend off Republican challenges from the right.
May 3, 2022 4:03 am
ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) – A senior U.S. official is warning that Russia plans to annex much of eastern Ukraine later this month. Michael Carpenter is U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He said the U.S. believes the Kremlin also will recognize the southern city of Kherson as an independent republic. He said the United States and its allies would not recognize either move. Meanwhile, the Mariupol steel mill that has become the city’s last stronghold of resistance came under renewed assault Monday, a day after the first evacuation of civilians from the plant. Buses and ambulances carrying more than 100 civilians from the rubble-strewn steelworks were making slow progress toward Ukrainian-controlled Zaporizhzhia.
May 3, 2022 4:01 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A draft opinion suggests the U.S. Supreme Court could be poised to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion nationwide. That’s according to a Politico report released Monday. A decision to overrule Roe would lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states and could have huge ramifications for this year’s elections. But it’s unclear if the draft represents the court’s final word on the matter – opinions often change in ways big and small in the drafting process. A Supreme Court spokeswoman said the court had no comment. The Associated Press could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the draft, which if verified marks a shocking revelation of the high court’s secretive deliberation process.
May 3, 2022 3:58 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The caretakers of the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh have big plans to transform the site of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. They announced plans on Tuesday for a center that will combat antisemitism and other forms of hate. The synagogue has been closed since Oct. 27, 2018. That’s when a gunman killed 11 worshippers from three congregations. The restoration project is being developed by architect Daniel Libeskind, who also oversaw planning for redevelopment of the World Trade Center site after 9/11. The Tree of Life plans include a restored sanctuary and new space for a memorial to the victims and a museum.
May 3, 2022 3:55 am
Canonsburg Borough Council spent a great portion of their agenda meeting Monday night discussing parking within the borough once again. Business owners are frustrated with the seemingly negative nature that parking has taken. Mayor David Rhome spoke on behalf of the Parking Committee and put forth some ideas that council will consider. Some of the changes suggested are modifications in enforcement hours, a change in price for short term parking in lots and a pilot program that would modify parking enforcement on weekends. Council has approved the consideration of the changes for next week’s meeting. Final details on each idea will be ironed out by the end of this week. Rhome states that council is working hard to make parking fair and equitable to residents, business owners and customers alike. It is a difficult balance to strike but council is working hard to achieve that goal. He pointed to the recently approved 90 space parking lot that will be built on North Central Avenue as an example of progress being made on the lack of parking in the borough. Rhome cautioned that any change to the parking ordinance that may be approved next week, must go through certain procedures before they become official.
May 3, 2022 2:52 am
An East Washington man accused of leading police on a chase along Route 19 will face trial. William Meadows, 21 is accused of trying to force a woman into a car in front of the Drivers License Center before police arrived and he led them on a chase causing several accidents. Meadows is facing felony charges of attempted flight from and officer, possession of firearms prohibited and accidents involving personal injury among others. Witness testimony at his preliminary hearing stated that several times Meadows was witnessed by employees of the Drivers License Center arguing with and trying to force a female into a car before she was able to enter and call police for help. Police testified that upon their arrival Meadows took off in his car and tried to escape and caused several collisions along Route 19. After the collisions, Meadows fled on foot before he was apprehended by South Strabane Township police. Upon apprehension, Meadows told police he had a gun. Meadows may not possess a gun due to previous felony convictions. The judge held all charges for court. Meadows is confined to the Washington County jail without bond. He will be formally arraigned on June 30th.
May 2, 2022 5:25 pm
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – A fired Philadelphia police officer has been charged with murder in the shooting of a fleeing 12-year-old boy. Prosecutors said Monday that the was on the boy was on the ground and unarmed. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced first- and third-degree murder charges against former Officer Edsaul Mendoza in the fatal shooting of Thomas “T.J.” Siderio on March 1 after police say the youth fired a shot at an unmarked police car and injured a plainclothes officer. Officials released new details including that Siderio was no longer armed and was on the ground when Mendoza shot him. There was no immediate comment from representatives for Mendoza.
May 2, 2022 1:40 pm
FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) – Authorities are searching for an “extremely dangerous” murder suspect who escaped from an Alabama jail and the official they believe may have helped him to escape. The inmate, Casey Cole White, 38, was scheduled for trial next month on a capital murder charge. Vicky White, the assistant director of corrections at the Lauderdale County jail, told coworkers she was taking the inmate to the courthouse for a mental health evaluation. But authorities later determined that no such evaluation was scheduled. The Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said Monday that they had issued an arrest warrant for Vicky White on charges of permitting or allowing an escape.
May 2, 2022 1:23 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – A federal jury has convicted a New York Police Department veteran of assaulting an officer during the U.S. Capitol riot, rejecting his claim he was defending himself when he tackled the officer and grabbed his gas mask. Thomas Webster showed no reaction to Monday’s verdict. Webster was the first Capitol riot defendant to be tried on an assault charge and the first to present a jury with a self-defense argument. Webster testified he was trying to protect himself from a “rogue cop” who punched him in the face. Webster accused the Metropolitan Police Department officer of instigating the confrontation. The officer denied punching Webster, who’ll be sentenced in September.
