Western PA News

In supporting the second impeachment of President Trump, California Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters said he was “inciting” his followers, and was “trying to create a Civil War.”

By her own standards, Maxine Waters should be impeached and removed.

On Sunday in Minnesota, Waters, breaking the law by violating curfew (because “she didn’t agree with it”) said that if ex-police officer Derek Chauvin is not found guilty of murdering George Floyd, “We’ve got to get more confrontational.”

There’s been rioting, looting, graffiti — what did Waters mean by “more confrontational?” In Portland, they set fire to an Apple store. They’re trying to take over government buildings.

This isn’t the first time Waters has incited her supporters. In 2018, she told them to harass Trump administration officials. “Let’s make sure we show up wherever we have to show up. And if you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. And you push back on them. And you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere,” she said.

Source: Impeach and remove Maxine Waters

A Chicago dad was seriously injured, and his seven-year-old daughter was killed by gunshots while they were sitting in a drive-thru at a McDonald’s Sunday afternoon.

Source: Chicago McDonald’s drive-thru turns into horror scene after 7-year-old girl shot, father injured | Fox News

PRAGUE — The Czech Republic said on Sunday it had informed NATO and European Union allies about suspected Russian involvement in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion and the matter would be addressed at an E.U. foreign ministers’ meeting on Monday.

The central European country expelled 18 Russian embassy staff on Saturday over the issue and said investigations had linked Russian intelligence to the explosion, which killed two people.

Russia’s Interfax news agency cited Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the Russian upper house’s international affairs committee, on Saturday as saying Prague’s assertions were absurd and Russia’s response should be proportionate.

Meanwhile, another high-profile official, Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Duma’s international affairs committee, said Saturday the grounds for the Czech move “do not stand up to criticism,” adding that the Czech Republic follows “the Russophobic course of the United States” by expelling Russian diplomats, Russian state news agency Tass reported.

Source: Czech Republic expels 18 Russian envoys, accuses Moscow over ammunition depot blast

Three people were pronounced dead at the scene of a shooting in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, according to tweets from Austin-Travis County EMS.

Source: Austin shooting: Three people are dead after apparent ‘domestic situation’ in Austin, Texas – CNN

On Sunday, a police officer shot and killed Daunte Wright, an unarmed Black man, after pulling him over for hanging an air freshener from his rearview mirror. Wright’s death is just the latest instance of police assaulting and killing drivers—specifically, Black men who pose no danger—following a routine traffic stop. Philando Castile, Walter Scott, and Sam DuBose were all shot and killed by police after a traffic stop; none of them posed any danger to the officers who took their lives.

Racism surely plays a role here, but there is another reason so many appalling police shootings involve motorists: Law enforcement officers are taught that routine traffic stops pose extreme danger to their own lives. Courts have seized upon this idea to water down the constitutional rights of drivers, justifying police brutality on the grounds that officers must act quickly to protect themselves against the random violence that always lurks just around the corner.

Source: Daunte Wright and the myth of the dangerous traffic stop.

Bitcoin has had a big week with its price notching fresh all-time highs and major U.S. cryptocurrency company Coinbase landing on the Nasdaq NDAQ +0.1%.

The bitcoin price came within touching distance of $65,000 per bitcoin this week as Coinbase IPO mania sparked a surge of interest in cryptocurrencies. Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency after bitcoin, has also soared, with the ethereum price climbing over $2,500 per ether token for the first time.

As huge bitcoin and ethereum price gains push the combined cryptocurrency market further over $2 trillion, dogecoin—the memecoin that’s been named by Tesla TSLA +0.1% chief executive Elon Musk as his “fav” cryptocurrency—has rocketed higher, adding a staggering 300% over the last week.

Source: Bitcoin And Ethereum Are Being Left In The Dust By Dogecoin As The Memecoin Price Suddenly Rockets—Is $1 Possible?

Pittsburgh Public Schools officials are still rushing to find solutions to a severe shortage of bus drivers and available seats for students.

“We are going to continue to work as much as possible to ensure we’re able to try to get our students back in,” said Minika Jenkins, the district’s chief academic officer. “We will continue to work until we have exhausted all options to get students back into the building.”

The district last week said it won’t have enough bus seats for everyone, as the number of students returning to buildings gradually increases this month. Officials had predicted a daily shortage of 1,200 seats come May 3, when Support Categories 1 and 2 are to return. Support Category 3 will return April 26, but the district does not expect the seat shortage will pose an issue at that time.

On Friday, district officials said the daily shortage had grown to about 1,300 seats, after more parent surveys were received. The gap in available seating could prevent the district from welcoming back all students for hybrid learning by the end of the academic year, unless some students are able to find alternative ways of getting to school.

Source: Lack of bus drivers remains major problem at Pittsburgh Public Schools | TribLIVE.com

British royal family mourns Queen Elizabeth II’s husband in small service at Windsor.

Source: Live updates: Prince Philip funeral – The Washington Post

Protests erupted in Chicago following the public release of a graphic and grainy bodycam video showing officer Eric Stillman shooting to death 13-year-old Adam Toledo. Footage appears to show the boy holding up empty hands.It was released with other materials two days after Adam’s family was shown the footage, and 17 days after the shooting, which occurred in the early hours of March 29. Adam had been carrying a gun, but dropped it before Stillman shot him.

After a significant drop in mass shootings in the United States during a pandemic-hit 2020, this year has already seen several deadly cases.

Police in Indianapolis say eight people were shot and killed in a shooting late Thursday at a FedEx facility. The shooter also killed himself.

It follows a lull in mass killings during the pandemic in 2020, which had the smallest number of such attacks in more than a decade, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. That database tracks mass killings defined as four or more dead, not including the shooter.

President Joe Biden last week announced a half-dozen executive actions to combat what he called an “epidemic and an international embarrassment” of gun violence in America. But he said much more is needed.

Source: US has been wracked with several mass shootings in 2021

Raul Castro is stepping down as the head of the Communist Party of Cuba, the most powerful position on the island, with few expectations of significant change among Cubans.

It is however, a historic move — Castro and his late brother, Fidel Castro, have been in power since the 1959 revolution.

The Communist Party’s eighth congress will begin Friday when it will certify President Miguel Díaz-Canel as the next party secretary-general and set policy guidelines. Raul Castro had said in 2018 he expected Díaz-Canel to replace him after his retirement in 2021. Díaz-Canel, 60, represents a new generation and is serving the first of two five-year terms as president.

Many analysts believe Castro, who turns 90 in June, will continue to be the most influential figure on the island until his death.

In Cuba, major events are put together during historic celebrations and this year’s congress is no exception. It coincides with the 60th anniversary of the failed, CIA-backed Bay of Pigs invasion.

Castro’s retirement comes as Cuba, one of the last communist run-countries in the world, is facing multiple challenges. Its economy shrank 11 percent in 2020 due to the pandemic, and it’s been grappling with tightened U.S. sanctions and a decline in aid from its ally, Venezuela. The government lacks hard currency to import food and medicine, which means endless lines outside stores when food becomes available, and one meal a day for some families.

The country is also dealing with a spike in Covid-19 cases. Strict lockdowns and measures have kept the numbers of cases and deaths below those of most countries in the region, but they have also tested the patience of many Cubans. Cuba has developed five vaccine candidates and two are in late-stage trials

Source: In Cuba, Raul Castro steps down as head of the Communist Party.

Several House Democrats are set to unveil legislation Thursday to expand the number of justices on the Supreme Court.

Supporters of the proposal plan to hold a news conference on the steps of the Supreme Court building. They include U.S. Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and U.S. Reps. Jerry Nadler and Mondaire Jones, both of New York, and Hank Johnson of Georgia.

Given Democrats’ control of the White House and  Senate, the legislation could allow the party to supersede the court’s current conservative majority by “packing” the Court with liberal justices.

Some Republicans quickly derided the proposal.

Source: Democrats to propose legislation expanding the Supreme Court | Fox News

Police investigating on Thursday morning

JEANNETTE, Pa. —

Police were investigating after a man was shot and killed in Jeannette, Westmoreland County.

The body was found around 2:40 a.m. on the 700 block of Gaskill Avenue.

Police haven’t released the victim’s identity.

No arrests have been announced.

Source: Man shot and killed in Westmoreland County

NATO allies are looking to follow the president’s lead. The Biden administration is set to announce on Thursday a string of long-awaited measures against Russia.

Source: Biden Says It Is ‘Time for America’s Troops to Come Home’ From Afghanistan – The New York Times

South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem made her position on the migrant crisis at the southern border clear Wednesday, telling the Biden administration she will not allow any undocumented migrants to be relocated to her state.

“South Dakota won’t be taking any illegal immigrants that the Biden Administration wants to relocate,” Noem said on Twitter. “My message to illegal immigrants…call me when you’re an American.”

HARRIS TO TRAVEL TO GUATEMALA, MEXICO AMID CRITICISM OVER BORDER CRISIS

Noem’s tweet echoes the sentiment of other Republican governors, including South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, who issued an executive order Monday, barring federal officials from placing or housing unaccompanied migrant children.

Source: SD Gov. Noem says state won’t take undocumented migrants Biden administration wants to relocate | Fox News

By WPXI.com News Staff and Liz Kilmer, WPXI-TV

PITTSBURGH — Family members are mourning the loss of a 15-year-old sophomore, who was killed in Lincoln-Lemington on Tuesday night.

Pittsburgh police responded to a ShotSpotter alert on Montezuma Street shortly after 9 PM on Tuesday, and discovered Donangelo Castaphney shot to death on Olivant Street.

“I’m really shocked, I’m astonished, I’m devastated, I’m hurt that he had to leave this earth at that young, innocent, lovely age,” said Quenesia Castaphney-White, the victim’s cousin.

Castaphney-White told Channel 11 that she watched the young boy grow up, and served as a caretaker for him when he was younger and his parents were at work.“

In our family, this has never happened, not one time, not one Castaphney died from a gunshot,” she said. “We have a faith-believing family and we believe he’s present with the Lord and he’s okay, but we’re here still living here in hell, it’s like living in hell.”

Source: ‘Gifted’ sophomore killed in shooting in Pittsburgh – WPXI

The former Minnesota police officer who shot and killed Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, during a traffic stop was charged Wednesday with second-degree manslaughter, a prosecutor said.

Washington County Attorney Pete Orput charged Kim Potter, a 26-year veteran of the Brooklyn Center Police Department, in the shooting Sunday that has inflamed racial tensions in this city just miles from where George Floyd died during a police arrest last May.

Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter resigned after the death of Daunte Wright at a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb.

Source: Daunte Wright: Kim Potter to be charged with manslaughter in Minnesota

Two men have been arrested in connection with the 1996 disappearance of Kristin Smart, authorities said Tuesday. Paul Flores, 44, was taken into custody and charged with murder. No bail has been set.

His father, Ruben Flores, 80, was also arrested Tuesday and booked on suspicion of accessory and faces a $250,000 bail.

Investigators have not yet discovered Smart’s body but they remain hopeful, said Sheriff Ian Parkinson of San Luis Obispo County. “I believe we will find Kristin,” he said. “We will continue to focus on finding her remains regardless of any court action.”

On May 24, 1996, Smart was 19 when she disappeared while returning to a dorm at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Flores, who had been considered a prime suspect, was also a student at the school.

Source: Paul and Ruben Flores arrested in 1996 disappearance of Kristin Smart – CBS News

US envoy John Kerry will hold talks in Shanghai ahead of a climate summit hosted by President Biden.

After a major diplomatic row at the UN, both sides hope to co-operate over plans to drastically cut emissions.

The US wants China to cease building coal-fired power stations and to stop financing coal ventures abroad.

China wants the US to give more cash to developing countries to obtain clean technology and adapt to climate change.

It also wants Washington to announce deep cuts in emissions.

Speaking to CNN, Mr Kerry said China’s co-operation was “absolutely critical” to battle the climate crisis.

Source: US envoy John Kerry woos China over climate – BBC News

By Yuliya Talmazan, Charlene Gubash and Arata Yamamoto

A mammoth cargo ship that blocked the Suez Canal last month is being held in the waterway as authorities pursue a $916 million compensation claim against its owner, according to the vessel’s insurer.

The UK Club, an insurer for the Ever Given, said in a statement Tuesday that the ship’s Japanese owners received a claim from the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), which runs the canal, on April 7. The claim includes $300 million for “loss of reputation.”

The company said a “generous offer” was made to the SCA to settle their claim on Monday, without elaborating on the sum.

“We are disappointed by the SCA’s subsequent decision to arrest the vessel today,” the company’s statement added.

Source: Dislodged Suez Canal cargo ship Ever Given held amid $916 million claim