January 2, 2023 3:43 am
CHRISTIANSTED, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) — President Joe Biden and top administration officials are opening a new year of divided government by fanning out across the country later this week to talk about how the economy is benefiting from his work with Democrats and Republicans. As part of the effort, the White House says Biden and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell will make a rare joint appearance in McConnell’s home state of Kentucky on Wednesday. The leaders will highlight nearly $1 trillion in infrastructure spending that lawmakers approved on a bipartisan basis in 2021. More than $1 billion of that money will be used to build a new bridge over the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Covington, Kentucky.
January 2, 2023 3:42 am
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Ten guards and four inmates were killed early Sunday when gunmen in armored vehicles attacked a state prison in Ciudad Juarez across the border from El Paso, Texas. The Chihuahua state prosecutor’s office said in a statement that around 7 a.m. various armored vehicles arrived at the prison and gunmen opened fire on guards. In addition to those killed, 13 people were wounded and at least 24 inmates escaped. Mexican soldiers and state police regained control of the prison later Sunday. The state prosecutor’s office said its personnel were investigating. In August, a riot inside the same state prison spread to the streets of Juarez in violence that left 11 people dead.
January 2, 2023 3:41 am
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Governor Kathy Hochul was sworn in for her first elected term on Sunday, making history as the first woman elected to the position in the state. The Democrat, launching her term as the 57th governor of New York, said her goals were to increase public safety and to make the state more affordable. After she took the oath of office at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, Hochul said “right now there are some fights we have to take on… First we must and will make our streets safer.” She also called for making the state more affordable, citing the high cost of living.
January 2, 2023 3:40 am
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Evacuation warnings were in place in rural Northern California on New Year’s Day after a powerful storm brought drenching rain or heavy snowfall to much of the state, breaching levees, snarling traffic and closing major highways. Major flooding occurred in agricultural areas south of Sacramento, where rivers swelled and floods inundated dozens of cars along State Route 99. Residents of one low-lying community were ordered to leave, and others were told to prepare to leave before roadways are cut off by rising water. More than 4 feet of snow fell in the Sierra. It was the first of several storms expected to roll across California over the span of a week.
January 2, 2023 3:39 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian officials say Russia deployed multiple drones overnight to attack parts of Ukraine and dozens were shot down. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Monday that 40 exploding drones had “headed for Kyiv” overnight according to air defense forces. He said all of them were destroyed. Energy infrastructure facilities in the capital were damaged and an explosion occurred in one district. But the causes were not clear. An official said a “critical infrastructure object” and residential buildings were hit in the outlying Kyiv region. Seven drones were shot down over the southern Mykolaiv region and three more were shot down in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region.
January 2, 2023 3:37 am
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s body is lying in state as thousands of people lined up across St. Peter’s Square hours before dawn on Monday to pay their respects. The doors of St. Peter’s Basilica opened for viewing by the public at just past 9 a.m. when the first faithful entered. Public viewing lasts for 10 hours on Monday in St. Peter’s Basilica. Twelve hours of viewing are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday before Thursday morning’s funeral which will be led by Pope Francis in the square.
January 2, 2023 3:32 am
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WPXI) — A male was hospitalized after his car crashed and caught fire in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood Sunday morning. According to Pittsburgh police, emergency crews were called to the 4100 block of East Carson Street for reports of a car into a building just before 2 a.m. Police said when crews arrived, the car was almost fully engulfed in flames. The building and Duquesne Light poles received damage from the blaze. The male driver was found with a serious write injury and was taken to a local hospital in stable condition. According to police, there was an initial concern that there were other people in the car, but the victim’s family confirmed he was the only person inside. The vehicle was towed from the scene and the cause of the crash will be investigated.
January 2, 2023 3:30 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WPXI) — The Pennsylvania Turnpike’s “Toll by Plate” electronic method is designed to make life easier for drivers, turnpike workers, and the Commonwealth as a whole. But millions of dollars in uncollected tolls caused lawmakers to take action. Drivers are supposed to get an invoice in the mail after they pass through a toll area, and a camera takes a picture of their license plate. But Turnpike officials said people aren’t paying up, so now, they’re cracking down. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission now has more authority to crack down on thousands of drivers who don’t pay: repeat offenders, specifically those who owe $250 or more, which is a lower amount than the previous $500 threshold, or those who owe at least four tolls – previously set at six. In a press release, Turnpike officials said while most drivers do the right thing and pay on time, this new law allows the state to hold those accountable who intentionally cheat the system. The Turnpike estimates that 25,000 additional vehicle registrations would qualify for suspension due to unpaid toll invoices, which are also turned into a collection agency after 60 days. Lawmakers in support of the bill believe that this is a step in the right direction to continuing to maintain the Turnpike and keep people safe. The commission plans to start notifying drivers this month.
January 2, 2023 3:28 am
BENTLEYVILLE, Pa. — Multiple emergency crews responded to a tractor-trailer rollover crash in Somerset Township early Monday morning. Reports say a truck rolled in the eastbound lanes between the two Bentleyville exit ramps just around 12:45 a.m. The driver of the truck was reportedly trapped at first, but managed to get out of the vehicle before crews arrived. The driver was treated by EMS on scene. Bentleyville Fire-Rescue and the Ellsworth Fire Department worked to clear that incident along with PennDOT and a towing company. (Photo: Bentleyville Fire-Rescue Facebook Page)
January 2, 2023 3:22 am
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will hold a special mass commemorating the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who died Saturday at the age of 95. A mass with Bishop Larry J. Kulick was held at 11:45 Monday morning at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg. Bishop David Zubik of the Diocese of Pittsburgh says a mass will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Saint Paul Cathedral, Pittsburgh, the same day that Pope Benedict will be laid to rest at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Zubik highlighted the former pope’s historic decision to resign when he could no longer fulfill his duties to the best of his ability. “The way that he has lived quietly, in a brotherly friendship with his successor, Pope Francis, is a model for all Catholics to follow as we continue to journey together in service to Jesus and His church,” he said. (Photo: WPXI)
