September 16, 2022 3:15 am
BROWNSVILLE, Pa. (WPXI)– Dozens of parents and community members sat in on Thursday’s Brownsville School Board meeting. Many of them sought answers about the alleged misuse of funds involving a former school board member and booster clubs in the district. The resignation of the board member in question was accepted at Thursday’s meeting, but they previously served as the board’s head of finance. Board members say the former member acted without consent from the board and should not have had any official dealings with the booster clubs. Matt Morgan is president of Brownsville Midget Football. He said the member approached his organization, but they only shared basic information. It’s unclear how much money was taken or how many clubs were affected. Board members say they cannot force booster clubs to open their books, but they can assist. The board did pass two motions Thursday. One establishes a committee of booster club officials to talk about this issue. The other starts the ball rolling on a potential district-wide audit covering the last five years.
September 16, 2022 3:11 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. — Thursday’s School Board meeting for the Trinity Area School District was quick but it did include good news for teachers and administrators. The board adopted a new five year contract with the Trinity Area Education Association. The contract is effective July 1, 2022 and will run through June 30, 2027. Teachers had been working under an extension of their old contract. According to Superintendent Dr. Michael Lucas, teachers will receive modest increases in pay throughout the contract and will be contributing more to their health care benefits. Lucas went on to say that it was a pleasure to be able to work with the union to get the contract accomplished.
September 16, 2022 1:21 am
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Railroad workers secured a deal that will deliver 24% raises and $5,000 bonuses over five years, but it will also address some of their concerns about strict attendance rules and time off. The deal that’s retroactive to 2020 will give railroaders the biggest raises they’ve seen in more than four decades with 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses over five years. But the concessions related to working conditions may prove more important. Railroad workers will now be able to take unpaid days off for doctor’s appointments without being penalized. The 12 unions that had been bargaining with the nation’s biggest railroads represent some 115,000 workers. A rail strike could have been devastating to the economy. (Photo: AP)
September 16, 2022 1:14 am
A Charleroi man faces trial on several felony assault charges involving minors. James Heinzelman-McIvor, 18 had his preliminary hearing on Thursday and his public defender had six felony and two misdemeanor charges held for court without a hearing. Heinzelman-McIvor is charged with rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child and incest of a minor among others. According to the criminal complaint, a minor victim contacted police and stated that they were raped by HeInzelman-McIvor in 2019 when they were 11 or 12 years old and that additional inappropriate actions continued beyond that. The complaint further states that Heinzelman-McIvor waived his rights and confessed to police during an interview. Heinzelman-McIvor is free on $100,000 bond, he will be arraigned on October 27.
September 15, 2022 3:27 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s not just rocket fuel propelling America’s first moonshot after a half-century lull. Rivalry with China’s space program is helping drive NASA’s effort to get back into space in a big way. That’s as both nations push to put people back on the moon and establish the first lunar bases. American intelligence, military and political leaders make clear they see a host of strategic challenges to the U.S. in China’s space program, in an echo of the U.S.-Soviet rivalry that prompted the 1960s’ race to the moon. China is quickly matching U.S. civil and military space accomplishments and notching new ones of its own. NASA, the United States’ civilian space agency, is awaiting a new launch date this month or in October for its Artemis 1 uncrewed test moonshot.
September 15, 2022 3:25 am
EDGARTOWN, Mass. (AP) – Republican governors are escalating their practice of sending migrants without advance warning to Democratic strongholds including a wealthy summer enclave in Massachusetts and the home of Vice President Kamala Harris. They are taunting leaders of immigrant-friendly “sanctuary” cities and highlighting their opposition to Biden administration border policies. The governors of Texas and Arizona have sent thousands of migrants on buses to New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., in recent months. But the latest surprise moves – which included two flights to Martha’s Vineyard Wednesday paid for by Florida’s governor – were derided by critics as inhumane political theater.
September 15, 2022 3:24 am
BEIJING (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and leaders from India and Central Asian nations are headed to Uzbekistan for a summit of a security group seen by Beijing and Moscow as a counterweight to U.S. influence. The meeting of the eight-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization comes at a time when Putin is isolated internationally following his invasion of Ukraine. Beijing’s relations with Washington, Europe, Japan and India are strained by disputes over technology, security and territory. A Russian official said Putin and Xi were due to hold a one-on-one meeting and discuss Ukraine.
September 15, 2022 3:23 am
CHICAGO (AP) — A federal jury in Chicago convicted R. Kelly on Wednesday of producing child pornography and enticing girls for sex after a monthlong trial in his hometown. It’s another legal blow to a singer who was once one of the world’s biggest R&B stars. Prosecutors won convictions on six of the 13 counts against him, with many of the convictions carrying long mandatory sentences. But the government lost the marquee count — that Kelly and his then-business manager successfully rigged his state child pornography trial in 2008. Both of Kelly’s co-defendants, including longtime business manager Derrel McDavid, were acquitted of all charges.
September 15, 2022 3:19 am
UPPER ST. CLAIR, Pa. (WPXI) — Peters Township resident Khang Nguyen waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday, nearly three months after his infant son died. Nguyen is out on bond after police say he left his 3-month-old son, Kayden, in a hot car for more than six hours in June. It was one of the hottest days of the summer. Nguyen’s defense attorney Bill Difenderfer waived the hearing. Nguyen owns Envy Nail Salon in Upper Saint Clair, and police say he left Kayden in that parking lot when he went into work. The father wasn’t charged until August, when Kayden’s medical examiner report came back. Now, he awaits a trial.
September 15, 2022 3:13 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. — A Westmoreland County man pleaded guilty to two felony charges for his role in a burglary in West Pike Run Township one year ago. George Weightman, 43 of Youngwood will spend two to four years in state prison on burglary and criminal trespass charges. Weightman was caught on a trail camera as he broke into a Laurel Road home and stole multiple firearms, accessories and 1800 rounds of ammunition. Weightman will have to make restitution in the amount of $9,385 to the victim. Weightman will remain jailed in the Westmoreland County Jail as he is facing many other charges there.
