February 11, 2023 4:35 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. military fighter jet has shot down an unknown object flying off the northern coast of Alaska. That’s according to White House officials Friday. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says the object was flying at about 40,000 feet and posed a “reasonable threat” to the safety of civilian flights. Kirby says President Joe Biden ordered the military to down the object, which the spokesman described as roughly the size of a small car. That’s much smaller than the massive suspected Chinese spy balloon downed by Air Force fighter jets Saturday off the coast of South Carolina.
February 11, 2023 4:33 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for former President Donald Trump have in recent months turned over to federal investigators additional documents with classified markings as well as a laptop belonging to a Trump aide. That’s according to a person familiar with the situation, who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday night. The lawyers also provided investigators with an empty folder with classified markings, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
February 11, 2023 4:32 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has called for parents to elect and fire school principals. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has banned instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. And Nikki Haley, the former United Nations ambassador who is expected to announce her White House bid next week, is among the cadre of contenders who have taken aim at critical race theory. In the opening stages of the Republican presidential primary, lessons for school children are emerging as a critical flashpoint.
February 11, 2023 4:31 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The subpoena to former Vice President Mike Pence is a milestone moment in a Justice Department special counsel investigation. But that doesn’t guarantee he’s going to be testifying before a grand jury anytime soon. Pence is the latest former Trump administration official to be subpoenaed as part of the investigation into efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. But he’s also the highest-ranking official known to have been summoned and the action, sets the stage for a potential clash over executive privilege that could test or at least delay the Justice Department’s ability to get from Pence the testimony it believes it needs.
February 11, 2023 4:28 am
MCKEESPORT, Pa. — Funeral arrangements for fallen McKeesport Police Officer Sean Sluganski have been announced. Sluganski’s family will receive friends at John F. Slater Funeral Home on Sunday, Feb. 12 from noon to 8 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 13 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held for Sluganski at St. Albert the Great, Blessed Trinity Parish on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at noon. Anyone wishing to attend the funeral Mass is asked to meet at the church. The procession is expected to impact traffic in the area. According to a traffic advisory, a large contingent of officers and police vehicles will come into the South Hills starting around 7 a.m. Tuesday. The procession route from the funeral home to the cemetery will go through McKeesport, starting on Brownsville Road. The procession will continue on to Route 51 South to Lebanon Church Road and across the Mansfield Bridge. The procession will then make a left onto W 5th into McKeesport and make a right onto Walnut, a left on Eden Park Boulevard and a left onto E 5th. The procession will return from McKeesport the same way and continue down Lebanon Church Road to Jefferson Memorial Cemetery. Road closures and significant delays are expected between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday. Those needing to travel the above roads during those times should take an alternate route.
February 11, 2023 4:26 am
Pennsylvania U.S. Senator John Fetterman has been released from the hospital. Fetterman’s communication director Joe Calvello released a statement on Friday saying: “Senator John Fetterman was discharged from The George Washington University Hospital. In addition to the CT, CTA, and MRI tests ruling out a stroke, his EEG test results came back normal, with no evidence of seizures. John is looking forward to spending some time with his family and returning to the Senate on Monday.” Fetterman was taken to the hospital earlier this week after feeling lightheaded. Several tests were run on him and the possibility of a new stroke was ruled out on Thursday. He suffered his first stroke last May.
February 11, 2023 4:24 am
PITTSBURGH (WPXI) — Multiple Uber and Lyft drivers across the Pittsburgh region are on strike from 3 p.m. Friday to 3 p.m. Sunday. In recent months, the challenges have been piling up according to the drivers. As their own costs add up for frequently filling their tanks and safely maintaining their vehicles, the drivers say they have simultaneously noticed that they’re earning less. The drivers say the rideshare companies recently changed the way in which drivers earn fees. Months ago, drivers had a “rate card” system, where their earnings were easily calculated based on their journeys. Now, they claim the apps changed, and they are provided “upfront pricing” where drivers are immediately told how much they will earn on any single ride. But, the drivers claim, they can’t figure out the new calculations, and have estimated they’re earning 25 percent less than they had previously with the “rate cards.” The drivers said that they’re also fighting for improved safety measures.
February 11, 2023 4:15 am
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. (WPXI) — One person was taken to a hospital after a shooting in Mount Oliver on Friday night. According to Allegheny County 911, emergency crews were called to the scene at 9:40 p.m. The shooting took place in the area of Hays Avenue and Holzer Street. Allegheny County police said the victim was shot in the leg and is expected to survive. The investigation is ongoing.
February 11, 2023 1:41 am
A Laurel Highlands School District teacher was arrested after an investigation into an alleged months-long inappropriate relationship with a student. Fayette County District Attorney Richard Bower announced the arrest of Ashley Thurby Kolesar at a news conference Friday. Kolesar is facing three felony charges following a state police investigation into her alleged relationship with a 17-year-old boy in which they exchanged more than 6,500 text messages from September of last year through January of this year. At the center of the investigation is a conversation that Kolesar had with another student. Bower said Kolesar recorded a conversation without the student’s knowledge and sent it to the 17-year-old, violating wiretapping laws. She is facing charges of intercept communications, disclose intercepted communications and criminal use of a communication facility.
February 10, 2023 3:44 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – A U.S. military fighter jet has shot down an unknown object flying off the coast of Alaska. That’s according to White House officials Friday. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says the object was flying at about 40,000 feet and posed a “reasonable threat” to the safety of civilian flights. Kirby says President Joe Biden ordered the military to down the object, which the spokesman described as roughly the size of a small car. The development comes after the U.S. shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon on Saturday.
