February 19, 2023 8:05 am
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State University is set to return to classes on Monday amid pressure from some in the community to further delay the return. Two of professor Marco Díaz-Muñoz’s students died in the Feb. 13 mass shooting on campus after the gunman entered his classroom and began shooting. While Díaz-Muñoz is still processing what happened that night, he said in an interview with The Associated Press that he plans to return next week to teach because he needs “to help my students pick up the pieces.” In an email sent out Friday, university officials said all students would be given the option of credit/no credit this semester and asked teachers to be flexible with assignments going forward.
February 19, 2023 8:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A year ago, President Joe Biden braced for the worst as Russia massed troops in preparation to invade Ukraine. But as Russia’s invasion reaches the one-year mark, the capital of Kyiv still stands and Ukraine has exceeded even its own expectations. A U.S.-led alliance has helped to equip Ukrainian forces while keeping the government in Kyiv afloat with direct assistance. For Biden, Ukraine was an unexpected crisis. But it fits squarely into his larger foreign policy outlook that America and its allies are in a generational struggle to demonstrate that liberal democracies such as the United States can out-deliver autocracies.
February 19, 2023 8:03 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says its latest intercontinental ballistic missile test was meant to further bolster its “fatal” nuclear attack capability and threatened additional powerful steps over upcoming drills between the U.S. and South Korea. The United States responded to Saturday’s missile launch by flying long-range supersonic bombers for separate joint exercises with South Korean and Japanese warplanes. Analysts say the missile test signals Kim Jong Un is using the rivals’ drills as chance to expand North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. North Korea’s official news agency says the launch of the Hwasong-15 missile on Saturday was organized “suddenly” without prior notice at Kim’s direct order.
February 19, 2023 8:00 am
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) — The president of Norfolk Southern made a visit to East Palestine, Ohio, on Saturday following criticism from residents and political leaders about the company’s response to the fiery derailment of a freight train carrying toxic materials earlier this month. Fox Business reports that company president and CEO Alan Shaw told reporters Saturday he was there “to support the community” but declined further comment. Gov. Mike DeWine earlier said Shaw needed to go to East Palestine and answer questions after company officials skipped a Wednesday public meeting, saying they were worried about physical threats. The company has vowed to ensure that residents and the environment “not only recover but thrive.”
February 19, 2023 7:59 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Officials in Pennsylvania say a Temple University police officer has been fatally shot near campus in Philadelphia while chasing a robbery suspect. Temple says in a statement that the alleged robbery took place at a nearby convenience store, and the officer was pronounced dead at the university hospital Saturday. The statement says the university is heartbroken. It is not identifying the officer at this time out of respect for family and friends. The Temple University Police Association say details of the shooting are still incomplete, but he was killed in the line of duty. WPFI-TV reports that the officer was shot in the head, and there were no immediate arrests.
February 19, 2023 3:45 am
Burgettstown (WPXI) – The father of a Moon club basketball player is facing charges after video shows him allegedly jumping on a coach’s back and assaulting the coach during a game. Our news partners at WPXI have learned the parent of the player, Scott McMullen, is also a football coach for North Allegheny School District. At this point, McMullen is still an assistant football coach at North Allegheny, but he is facing serious charges including strangulation, simple assault and harassment. Court documents filed Friday revealed McMullen is charged with several offenses because of a brawl at a kids’ basketball game this week. On Monday, Pittsburgh Basketball Club hosted the game at Burgettstown vs. Moon. The match-up was between fifth graders, but one parent said it was anything but kid friendly. In a video, you can see a Moon player wearing red and a Burgettstown player in white begin to scuffle. The two players then fall to the ground. That’s when the Burgettstown coach intervened. Then a man, now identified as McMullen, comes from the stands, grabs the coach by the neck and then punches him in the face. The league has now banned McCullen from future games and suspended his son for one year. North Allegheny School District would only say they’re gathering more information and will follow district policies. “We are gathering more information and we will follow district policies to address any concerns,” said North Allegheny School District on behalf of Dr. Melissa Friez, Superintendent of Schools. McMullen’s attorney, Phil DiLucente, argued he was just protecting his son. The North Allegheny School District has not made any disciplinary recommendations for McMullen. A preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Gary Havelka has not been scheduled yet.
February 19, 2023 3:29 am
Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh announced Friday that he presented Peters Township Police with a check for $2,171.81, which is a shared amount of forfeited assets obtained during the investigation and prosecution of those individuals trafficking illegal narcotics in Washington County. Funds provided under the Equitable Sharing Agreement between the DA’s office and local law enforcement allow for the illegal proceeds from narcotics trafficking to be utilized by local law enforcement agencies for training, equipment, and other specified uses under the state’s Drug Forfeiture Act in order to continue to protect and serve their communities.
February 19, 2023 1:11 am
(WPXI) – The cousin of the mother and daughter found shot to death in Swissvale on Wednesday has been charged with criminal homicide in connection to the shooting. Swissvale police were requested to help medics get into a barricaded apartment in the 7800 block of Sailor Place at around 10:13 a.m. Wednesday. Once on scene, first responders found a woman and female child dead from gunshot wounds. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the woman as 39-year-old Megan Campbell and her daughter as 7-year-old Lyla Campbell. Early Saturday morning, Allegheny County police obtained an arrest warrant for Kareef Easington, the victims’ cousin. He is charged with two counts of criminal homicide and tampering with evidence in the shooting. Easington is described as a Black male, 5’10” tall, and weighing 180 pounds. Detectives have information that Easington fled to Homestead initially, but he also has family in New Jersey and a connection in Jamaica. Anyone who knows Easington’s whereabouts is urged to call 911. (Photo: Allegheny County Police)
February 18, 2023 8:14 am
One person is dead, and two others were flown from the scene of a wrong way crash in the east bound lanes of Interstate 376 in Beaver County last night. 60 year old Lorie Thomas of Aliquippa died at the scene. The highway was shut down between the Monaca and Aliquippa exits. Pennsylvania State Police have identified the wrong way driver as 42 year old Michael Pucci of Sewickley. He was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of the highway when he struck one vehicle and then struck Thomas’ vehicle a short distance further down the road. Thomas was a passenger in the third vehicle; both Pucci and the driver of Thomas’ vehicle were flown to UPMC hospital. State Police reports indicate that an open container of alcohol was found on the drivers side of Pucci’s vehicle.
February 18, 2023 4:10 am
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Decisions to shoot down multiple unidentified objects in American and Canadian airspace has put a spotlight on amateur balloonists who say their creations pose no threat. Over the last three weeks, U.S. President Joe Biden has ordered fighter jets to down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the South Carolina coast, as well as smaller objects over Alaska and Lake Huron. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ordered another object shot down over the Yukon. Biden said Wednesday that the smaller objects were most likely balloons. Tom Medlin is the owner of the Amateur Radio Roundtable. He says he has been in contact with an Illinois club that believes the Yukon object was one of their balloons. (Photo: AP)
