News Of Western Pennsylvania And The World
A story about the unexpected joy related to traffic cops returning to Italy has Lynn reminiscing. She’s talking about a former Pittsburgh traffic cop who was such a showman, and telling a story about an interaction she had with Johnny Majors. Lynn is also sharing an interesting story of a Vietnam Vet who spent years living in Veterans Stadium.
The suspect in the Boulder, Colo. grocery store shooting that left 10 people dead made his first appearance in court Thursday, in a brief hearing that called for a mental health assessment. Last night, hundreds of people gathered to mourn the victims and support those affected by the senseless gun violence.
Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, is facing 10 counts of murder in the first degree and one count of attempted murder over the horrific attack at a King Soopers supermarket. The victims include a police officer who responded to calls for help. The ages of those who died range from 20 to 65.
Alissa appeared in court alongside his attorney, Kathryn Herold of the Colorado Public Defender’s Office. Alissa wore a white face mask and what looked to be a purple hospital gown. Because of an injury to his leg, the suspected gunman was seated in a wheelchair.
“Our position is that we cannot do anything until we are able to fully assess Mr. Alissa’s mental illness,” Herold told the court as she requested a delay. She did not go into detail about what that illness might be.
Source: Boulder Shooting Suspect Makes First Court Appearance : NPR
House Democrats are expressing alarm that many people who are elderly, disabled or veterans are facing delays in receiving the $1,400 stimulus checks as part of the most recent COVID-19 relief package.
Source: House Democrats express alarm over slow stimulus checks | TheHill
New York State lawmakers struck a deal Wednesday to legalize marijuana, legislative sources said — just hours after Gov. Cuomo called the move “essential” to the state’s social and economic well-being.
The reform measures will be included in the laws that are set to be proposed as part of the state budget due on April 1, the sources said.
The deal would allow New Yorkers over the age of 21 to legally buy and possess up to three ounces of pot for their personal use, with sales by licensed dispensaries to begin as early as December 2022, sources said.
Recreational stoners could even cultivate up to six plants each, or a dozen per household, but a big bummer in the agreement would make them wait to start growing their own until 18 months after the first dispensary opens, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle said.
Source: New York officials reach agreement to legalize marijuana
President Biden will hold his first news conference as commander-in-chief Thursday at 1:15 p.m. EDT in the East Room.
The conference will be streamed on Fox News Channel and Fox News Digital.
Biden’s first press conference comes over two months into the new administration, a delay that raised eyebrows in the media world.
Donald Trump waited 27 days into his presidency to hold a press conference, Barack Obama waited just 20 days before holding one, and George W. Bush waited 33 days before taking questions from the press in a formal setting.
The White House defended Biden, noting he has taken brief questions in informal settings.
Source: Biden Thursday press conference slated for 1:15 pm EDT in the East Room | Fox News
PITTSBURGH — President Joe Biden will be in Pittsburgh next week.
During the visit, Biden will talk about “his economic vision for the future and the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan to Build Back Better for the American people.”
Further information has not yet been made available.
Stay with Channel 11 News and WPXI.com for updates on Biden’s visit.
Source: President Biden coming to Pittsburgh next week – WPXI
A father and two kids were taken to the hospital after dropping from a ski lift in Pennsylvania, according to multiple reports.
Source: Father, 2 kids injured after Pennsylvania ski chair lift plummets to ground
By Rob Owen:
Briana Smith started on the job last week at KDKA-TV, taking over weekend morning anchor duties. She’ll also report some weekdays and serve as a fill-in anchor as needed.
She takes the place of Lisa Washington, who left KDKA in November to become a weeknight evening anchor at WNEP-TV in Scranton.
Bryant Reed previously worked at WECT-TV in Wilmington, N.C. A Charlotte, N.C., native.
Jessica Guay joined KDKA in February from WJAC-TV in Johnstown where she was a morning anchor and reporter.
Source: TV Talk: KDKA-TV adds to its news team | TribLIVE.com
Tax agency says many payments will be sent in the mail. Some Social Security recipients say they’re still waiting.
The tax agency didn’t say how many payments it plans to issue on Wednesday. Last week, the IRS deposited about 90 million checks via direct deposit and mailed another 150,000 checks to people for whom it didn’t have banking information. Earlier this month, IRS and Treasury officials said they planned to send about 100 million payments within the first 10 days of distribution for the third round of stimulus payments, which were authorized under the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.
The latest round of checks will provide relief to millions of people who continue to struggle with income losses a year after the coronavirus pandemic shuttered the U.S. economy. Some people, including those on Social Security or disability, have expressed concern to CBS MoneyWatch that they haven’t yet received their stimulus payments, which amount to $1,400 for each eligible adult and dependent.
Source: IRS says more stimulus checks will land on March 24 – CBS News
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Multiple people were killed Monday when a gunman opened fire at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado. One person has been taken into custody in connection with the shooting, and officials said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Many of the details surrounding the shooting remain unclear. Police Commander Kerry Yamaguchi did not say how many people were killed in the shooting, noting that officials are still processing the crime scene, but said one of the victims is a Boulder police officer.
Yamaguchi said the person of interest was injured and is being treated at the hospital. Helicopter footage from CBS Denver captured authorities escorting a shirtless man in handcuffs who appeared to have a bleeding leg from the scene, but Yamaguchi would not confirm if that man is the person of interest. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as several loud bangs went off in the grocery store. One man said that he first thought someone had dropped something inside the store — but by the third shot, he said, everyone started running.
Source: Multiple people killed in shooting at supermarket in Boulder, Colorado – CBS News
A forthcoming government report will detail a number of “difficult to explain” UFO sightings, former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said in a recent report.
Source: Upcoming Pentagon report will detail ‘difficult to explain’ UFO
It remains unknown when all students will return.
But teachers and staff are scheduled to return to classrooms on Monday.
Source: Pittsburgh Public Schools teachers and staff return to the classroom on Monday
German researchers have uncovered marine life along the Antarctic seafloor for the first time in decades after a massive iceberg calved from the Antarctic Ice Sheet last month.
Source: Scientists discover Antarctic marine life trapped under ice for half a century | Fox News
CBS News projects that Republican Julia Letlow will win the special election for Louisiana’s 5th district, taking over the would-be seat of her late husband, Luke Letlow, who died of COVID-19 complications days before he could be sworn in.
She will be the first Republican woman to represent Louisiana in Congress, and will boost the number of Republican women currently serving in the house to a record 31.
“This is an incredible moment and it is truly hard to put into words,” Letlow said in a statement Saturday night. “What was born out of the terrible tragedy of losing my husband, Luke, has become my mission in his honor to carry the torch and serve the good people of Louisiana’s 5th District. I am humbled that you would entrust me with the honor of your vote and the privilege to serve you in Congress. A simple thank you doesn’t fully encapsulate the depth of my gratitude.”
(CNN)As the number of unaccompanied children in Border Patrol custody ballooned this month, President Joe Biden‘s team raced to find more places to house them, leaving thousands of children stuck in jail-like facilities for longer than the 72 hours allowed under the law.
But the process of scouring government sites for adequate shelters was taking too long for Biden, who is now staring down a problem threatening to spiral out of control.“He was disappointed that we hadn’t gotten answers from other agencies faster or that (the facilities) wouldn’t be ready for children faster,” said a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to offer a candid assessment of the response. “He made it pretty clear that there were times when he didn’t think we were moving fast enough.”
Maxine Gillis, a 79-year-old woman who was reported missing early on Friday morning, was found dead in the 2200 block of William Penn Highway in Wilkinsburg just after noon on Friday.
READ MORE:Hundreds Rally And March Through Oakland To Protest Against Hate Directed At Asian Community
Police had reported Gillis missing Friday morning and said that she was supposed to be dropped off at a family member’s home in the 2100 block of Park Hill Drive. While she was dropped off by taxi around 1:00 a.m., she never arrived at the home.
MORE NEWS:West Virginia Extends Tax Deadline To May 17
Allegheny County Police are investigating.
Source: Missing 79-Year-Old Maxine Gillis Found Dead In Wilkinsburg – CBS Pittsburgh
By: KDKA-TV News Staff
ELIZABETH, Pa. (KDKA) — Hundreds of people have shown up for a license to carry and medicine dropoff event at the Forward Township Municipal Building.
KDKA crews observed 226 people showed up between the hours of 8 and 10 a.m.
People are also asked to bring a completed application, a valid PA driver’s license or ID and $20 cash.
The agencies are also hosting Project D.U.M.P. and people can drop off unused or expired medications. The agencies say that glass bottles, liquids, syringes, inhalers/insulin and creams will not be accepted.
Source: Hundreds Show Up For License To Carry Event In Allegheny County – CBS Pittsburgh
A 21-year-old woman was killed and seven people injured in a shooting sparked by a fight at a Dallas nightclub early Saturday.
The fight between two groups at the Pryme Night Club started around 1:30 a.m., Dallas police said. Someone in one of the groups pulled out a gun and opened fire, hitting six people, The Associated Press reported.
A local reporter on the scene said the cops ran into a “chaotic scene” and applied tourniquets to the victims before they were sent to the hospital.
The injured were taken from the nightclub to area hospital, where Daisy Navarrete, 21, was pronounced dead. The wounded ranged from stable to critical condition.
Police said the shooter, a man in his 20s, ran away from the scene. Social media posts showed blocked off streets around the club as cops searched for the shooter.
The investigation is ongoing.
Source: One killed, five wounded in Dallas nightclub shooting
TOKYO — Japan on Saturday experienced a strong earthquake that shook buildings in the capital, Tokyo, and caused a tsunami advisory for the country’s northeast coast. There were no immediate reports of damage.
The U.S. Geological Survey put the strength at magnitude 7.0. The shaking started just before 6:10 p.m.
USGS said the quake was centered 6.7 miles east of Ishinomaki at a depth of 33.5 miles. That’s off the coast of Miyagi prefecture, in the country’s rugged northeast, which was heavily damaged during the huge earthquake and tsunami of 2011.
The tsunami advisory was issued for Miyagi prefecture. Officials there said there were no immediate reports of damage.
Source: 7.0 magnitude earthquake hits Japan
Multiple fire departments from central Westmoreland County responded to a fire that damaged four apartments Friday afternoon in Greensburg, according to 911 dispatchers.
“We had a lot of damage,” Greensburg Fire Chief Tom Bell said. “The homeowners are both alive and we got two cats out as well.”
The call initially came in as a tree on electric utility wires near a residence on Grant Street. West Penn Power crews were called, but it developed into a fire about 2:30 p.m., according to a dispatch supervisor.
Source: No injuries in Greensburg apartment fire on Grant Street | TribLIVE.com
Two people are in the hospital after a shooting in Stowe Township on Friday afternoon.
Allegheny County police responded to a notification of a shooting on the 800 block of 8th Street at about 3:15 p.m.
When they arrived at the scene, they found an adult male who was shot in the leg and a juvenile male with a minor injury to his arm.
Both were taken to a local hospital and are expected to recover from their injuries.
There was no other information immediately available.
Source: Stowe Twp. shooting sends 2 to hospital | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The aide, Alyssa McGrath, accused Gov. Andrew Cuomo of ogling her body, remarking on her looks, and making suggestive comments to her and another woman in his office.
Source: Cuomo Faces New Claims of Sexual Harassment From Current Aide – The New York Times
As crossings along the southern border surge to near-record levels, the Biden administration is considering flying migrants to states near the Canadian border, according to a report.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requested the plane support from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Friday after 1,000 migrant families and unaccompanied minors crossed the Rio Grande into South Texas Friday morning, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials told The Washington Post. Border agents still have another 1,000 migrants they were unable to process last night, according to communications reviewed by the Post.The backups at CBP are exacerbated by the nearly 4,500 unaccompanied children being held in detention centers and tent sites at the border, many beyond the legal three-day limit.
The Biden administration contends that the situation at the border is a “challenge,” not a “crisis.”
Five White House staffers have been fired because of their past use of drugs, including marijuana, press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday.
Marijuana has become a delicate issue for President Joe Biden’s administration because 15 states and Washington, D.C., allow for recreational usage, despite a federal prohibition. The administration has tried not to automatically penalize potential staffers for legal behavior in their communities by developing a more flexible policy, Psaki said in a statement to The Associated Press.
Source: 5 White House staffers lose jobs over drugs, marijuana use
The 78-year-old commander-in-chief had his hand on the railing when he tripped twice before falling over the third time as he flew up the stairs of the idling aircraft at Joint Base Andrews.
After recovering, Biden appeared to take a moment to dust off his knee before finally making his way to the top. He then gave a salute before ducking into the cabin to take off for Georgia.
Source: Biden keeps falling up the stairs as he boards Air Force One
The state’s new COVID-19 cases topped 3,000 again Thursday for the third consecutive day, with 3,136 additional cases reported in the Department of Health update.
Richland Family Health Center, Johnstown Housing Authority and the 1889 Jefferson Center or Population Health joined forces for a vaccine clinic at Garden Terrace Apartments, 730 Bloom St., and Loughner Plaza, 51 Akers St. The Cambria/Somerset COVID-19 Task Force outreach inoculated about 150 people, health center CEO William Kurtycz said.
Source: Pair of Johnstown clinics pick up vaccine pace | Coronavirus | tribdem.com
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said Joe Biden has squandered U.S. national wealth by giving $1,400 dollar stimulus checks to illegal aliens. Democrat media attempted to fact check or censor Cruz by saying illegals couldn’t get stimulus checks because they do not have a social security number.
However, immigration officials refuted Democrat falsehoods that said many illegals who have overstayed their visas actually do possess social security numbers and are in fact eligible for IRS payments.
CRUZ/DURBIN: Sen. @tedcruz calls out Sen. Dick Durbin for failing to apologize for calling him a liar on the issue of $1400 checks being sent to undocumented immigrants. pic.twitter.com/QAVZTgRXQo
— Forbes (@Forbes) March 18, 2021
Source: Sen. Cruz: Illegals do get stimulus checks, Democrats are wrong | One America News Network
