January 3, 2023 4:24 am
STROUDSBURG, Pa. (AP) – A criminology graduate student charged in the slayings of four University of Idaho students has waived his right to an extradition hearing in Pennsylvania so he can be taken more quickly to Idaho to stand trial. Twenty-eight-year-old Bryan Kohberger was arrested on first-degree murder charges early Friday by state police at his parents’ home in eastern Pennsylvania and appeared in court there Tuesday. His attorney says the Washington State University criminology graduate student is eager to be exonerated and should be presumed innocent. Kohberger’s family expressed sympathy for the victims’ families but vowed to support him.
January 3, 2023 4:23 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is preparing to step up its attacks on Ukraine using Iranian-made exploding drones. Moscow is looking for ways to keep up the pressure on Kyiv after months of battlefield setbacks for the Kremlin’s war strategy. Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address late Monday that Ukraine has information Russia is planning a prolonged attack by exploding drones. He said the goal is to break Ukraine’s resistance by “exhausting our people, (our) air defense, our energy” more than 10 months after Russia invaded its neighbor. Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to shore up confidence in Moscow’s flawed war effort which in recent months has been dented by a Ukrainian counteroffensive backed by Western-supplied weapons.
January 3, 2023 4:23 am
ROME (AP) – Longtime Associated Press Vatican correspondent Victor L. Simpson recalls the graciousness of Pope Benedict XVI. He says Benedict always seemed ready to offer a handshake or a comment appropriate for the occasion. But Simpson says Benedict would stand his ground and often would not back down, whatever the outside pressure He also seemed almost oblivious to the storms he would create, such as when he gave a speech in 2008 aimed at promoting tolerance among religions but ended up provoking anger – and even some violence – in the Islamic community. Simpson covered the Vatican for over 30 years for the AP before his retirement.
January 3, 2023 4:22 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Republican leader Kevin McCarthy is falling far short in voting to become House speaker. House Republicans fell into a tangle on the opening day of the new Congress, refusing to elect McCarthy by more than a dozen votes in two rounds. McCarthy is fighting to become speaker as his party takes slim control of the chamber. The mood was tense as voting by all House members left McCarthy well short of the majority he needed. McCarthy was battling right-flank conservatives who refuse to give him their votes. The showdown was in stark contrast to the other side of the U.S. Capitol, where Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell was set to become the longest-serving party leader. Democrat Chuck Schumer will remain majority leader.
January 3, 2023 4:19 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – The community is reacting after former Central Catholic and Pitt football player Damar Hamlin collapsed during Monday Night Football. Hamlin, a McKees Rocks native who now plays for the Buffalo Bills, collapsed after being tackled during the Bills vs. Bengals game. Hamlin stood up before falling to the ground. CPR was then administered on the field. According to the most recent update from the NFL, 24-year-old Hamlin is in critical condition. Many took to social media to send prayers to Hamlin, his family and the Bills during this time. Football fans took to Hamlin’s GoFundMe, in support of Dama’s “The Chasing M’s Foundation” which serves as a vehicle to bring lasting impact to his community. The foundation supports toy drives, back-to-school drives, kids camps, and more. Over four-million-dollars has been raised so far.
January 3, 2023 3:18 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. — PennDOT is set to close the ramps for Exit 40 in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 on Tuesday, January 3rd. Officials say the Charleroi/Allenport Interchange will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. depending on the weather and operational issues. The closures will be in place to allow railroad crews to perform maintenance on the bridge that carries the tracks over the on/off ramps. A posted detour will be in place. To access Route 88, vehicles will use the Speers Exit (39) to Twilight Hollow Road, then will utilize First Street to Route 88. For those trying to get to I-70 West from Route 88, traffic can take First Street to Twilight Hollow Road, then on to Interstate 70.
January 3, 2023 2:38 am
Washington County Coroner Tim Warco announced on Tuesday that he plans to run for reelection. Warco, a long-time Democrat, will be running for reelection in the May Primary, as a Republican. Warco was first elected as the county’s coroner in 1992. Warco says that during his time in office he has supervised the investigation of more than 43-thousand deaths, has ordered and overseen nearly four-thousand autopsies, and through the Coroner’s Task Force on Roadway Safety, has investigated and helped resolve nearly 135 unsafe traffic and road conditions.
January 3, 2023 2:22 am
BRACKENRIDGE, Pa. — (WPXI) – The Brackenridge police chief was killed and another officer is injured after shots were fired in downtown Brackenridge on Monday. The incident prompted a heavy police presence as investigators searched for the suspect. Sources confirmed that the suspect was shot and killed by police after a chase in the city of Pittsburgh. Police said they first encountered Aaron Swan during a traffic stop Sunday night, which he allegedly fled. Monday morning, Harrison Township police engaged in a vehicle pursuit with Swan, and he fled on foot. At around 2 p.m. on Monday, officers encountered Swan near the border of Brackenridge and Tarentum in a foot pursuit. The chase lasted for several hours through different neighborhoods before two separate shootings, one in the 800 block of Third Street and another on Brackenridge Avenue. Officers were shot in both shootings. The Brackenridge police chief, Justin McIntire, was shot in the head and killed. The surviving officer was shot in the leg, and is listed in stable condition. McIntire was sworn in as Brackenridge’s police chief on Jan. 2, 2019.
January 2, 2023 4:26 pm
(WPXI) – While searching for a missing 18-year-old, Allegheny County police discovered human remains along the Montour Trail. According to Allegheny County police, detectives were conducting a search in relation to the missing person investigation of Dorian Serrano when the remains were found. According to police, Serrano was last seen by his family on June 14, 2022 in Clairton. The remains were taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office for identification, according to police. Police didn’t say if the remains found were Serrano or connected to him. Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call the Allegheny County Police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS (1-833-255-8477); callers can remain anonymous. The department can also be reached via its social media sites.
January 2, 2023 4:00 pm
NEW YORK (AP) – Tennis great Martina Navratilova says she has been diagnosed with throat cancer and breast cancer. The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion and member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame said in a statement released Monday that her prognosis is good and she will start treatment this month. The 66-year-old Navratilova said she noticed an enlarged lymph node in her neck while attending the season-ending WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, in November, and a biopsy showed early stage throat cancer. While Navratilova was undergoing tests on her throat, the unrelated breast cancer was discovered.
