Western PA News

Route 65 ramp closure starts Monday, detouring drivers through Downtown | TribLIVE

About 14,200 drivers a day will be detoured through Downtown and the North Shore when the ramp from southbound Route 65 to northbound Interstate 279 and Route 28 closes Monday for construction, PennDOT says.

All traffic will be detoured across the Fort Duquesne Bridge and should take the Fort Duquesne Boulevard ramp, turn left at Ninth Street to cross the Rachel Carson Bridge, then turn right onto East General Robinson Street. Drivers continuing to northbound I-279 should take the East Ohio Street ramp to Madison Avenue, then take the I-279 ramp from there. Drivers going to Route 28 can follow signs from East General Robinson Street. Police will be posted at key intersections to assist traffic movement.

Matthew Santoni is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724 836 6660, msantoni@tribweb.com or on Twitter @msantoni.

Source: Route 65 ramp closure starts Monday, detouring drivers through Downtown | TribLIVE

‘Luxury Space Hotel’ to Launch in 2021

Well-heeled space tourists will have a new orbital destination four years from now, if one company’s plans come to fruition.

“Affordable” is a relative term: A 12-day stay aboard Aurora Station will start at $9.5 million. Still, that’s quite a bit less than orbital tourists have paid in the past. From 2001 through 2009, seven private citizens took a total of eight trips to the International Space Station (ISS), paying an estimated $20 million to $40 million each time. (These private missions were brokered by the Virginia-based company Space Adventures and employed Russian Soyuz spacecraft and rockets.)

“We are launching the first-ever affordable luxury space hotel,” said Orion Span founder and CEO Frank Bunger, who unveiled the Aurora Station idea today (April 5) at the Space 2.0 Summit in San Jose, California. [In Pictures: Private Space Stations of the Future]

“There’s been innovation around the architecture to make it more modular and more simple to use and have more automation, so we don’t have to have EVAs [extravehicular activities] or spacewalks,” Bunger said of Aurora Station.

Source: ‘Luxury Space Hotel’ to Launch in 2021

Sheetz hiring 2,500 additional employees

Sheetz will hold open interviews next week for more than 2,500 jobs company-wide.

“Our employees are so important to us,” Stephanie Doliveira, vice president of human resources, said in a news release. “We are deeply committed to investing in our people, rewarding our employees and attracting the best talent for the job whether it’s in the distribution centers, food production facilities, corporate office or one of our store locations.”

Open interviews will be held Wednesday at all Sheetz locations.

Prospective employees can visit https://jobs.sheetz.com.

TRENDING NOW:

Former pro wrestler Johnny Valiant hit, killed by truck on McKnight Road

Shooter identified in Ohio Township slaying

Couple charged for selling drugs out of home with child inside

VIDEO: Chuck E. Cheese Expands ‘Sensory Sensitive Sundays’ At Select Locations

Source: Sheetz hiring 2,500 additional employees

Source: Man Arrested After Small Explosive Device Detonated Inside Ontario Sam’s Club: Police | KTLA

Man Arrested After Bomb Detonated in Ontario California Inside Sam’s Club: Police | KTLA

A man was arrested Thursday after a small explosive device was detonated inside an Ontario Sam’s Club, police said.It is unclear what time the incident was reported, but about 3:40 p.m. the Ontario Police Department tweeted that they responded to a possible fire at 951 North Milken Avenue.

ABC7AT THE SCENE: Cops search a vehicle during the incident

County: East Liberty Dollar Tree has ‘significant mouse infestation’

The Allegheny County Health Department issued a consumer alert for an East Liberty store on Tuesday.

The Dollar Tree at 6009 Penn Ave. was found to have a “significant mouse infestation,” the department said in a report.

The inspector found droppings “too numerous to count” throughout the store, including near cash registers and in one food aisle. The inspector also found packages of food that appeared to have been gnawed.

TRENDING NOW:

Officer-involved shooting reported, suspect taken to hospital

Former pro wrestler Johnny Valiant hit, killed by truck on McKnight Road

Shooter identified in Ohio Township slaying

VIDEO: Couple charged for selling drugs out of home with child inside

Source: County: East Liberty Dollar Tree has ‘significant mouse infestation’

One dead after officer-involved shooting in Lawrence County

Sources tell Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 the shooting was fatal.

While police followed the vehicle, the driver began firing shots through the back windshield of his own car into the police car.

Officials said there was a short pursuit, followed by an exchange of gunfire.

The suspect was shot and later pronounced dead at the hospital. Officials said two Pennsylvania State Police officers and a New Wilmington police officer were involved in the shooting.

Officials said the suspect had ammunition “mainly used to penetrate body armor” and multiple weapons with high-capacity rounds.

The suspect’s identity has not yet been released.

Source: One dead after officer-involved shooting in Lawrence County

2018 Atlantic hurricane season will be slightly above-average, researchers say

Colorado State University hurricane researchers are out with their forecast for the season ahead

The Atlantic hurricane season will be slightly above-average this year, Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane researchers predicted Thursday. The researchers cited a “relatively low likelihood of significant El Niño” conditions as a main factor.

In total, the team believes there will be 14 named storms. Hurricane researchers predict seven of the storms will become hurricanes and three will reach “major hurricane strength with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or greater.”

They explained why El Niño patterns are likely to make a difference.

“El Niño tends to increase upper-level westerly winds across the Caribbean into the tropical Atlantic, tearing apart hurricanes as they try to form,” the researchers said.

CSU hurricane researchers believe this season’s activity will be about 135 percent of the average season. For reference, last year’s hurricane activity — which included one major storm after another — was nearly two and a half times greater than average.

The team forms their forecasts by using 60 years of data, referencing sea surface temperatures, vertical wind shear levels, sea level pressures, El Niño conditions and other factors. They plan to provide updates on May 31, July 2 and Aug. 2.

The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

Source: 2018 Atlantic hurricane season will be slightly above-average, researchers say

Landfall probability

The report also includes the probability of major hurricanes making landfall:

63 percent for the entire U.S. coastline (average for the last century is 52 percent)
39 percent for the U.S. East Coast, including the Florida peninsula (average for the last century is 31 percent)
38 percent for the Gulf Coast from the Florida panhandle westward to Brownsville (average for the last century is 30 percent)
52 percent for the Caribbean (average for the last century is 42 percent)

The forecast team also tracks the likelihood of tropical storm-force, hurricane-force and major hurricane-force winds occurring at specific locations along the coastal United States, the Caribbean and Central America through its Landfall Probability website.

A Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake Hit Los Angeles, California Today: The Strongest In Years

Trevor Nace , CONTRIBUTOR Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck off the coast of southern California today, the strongest one to hit the area in several years. The United States Geological Survey puts the earthquake epicenter 17 miles southwest of Santa Cruz Island off southern California.

The earthquake struck today, on April 5th at 12:29 PM local time at a depth of 10 kilometers. Even though the earthquake struck off the coast of California, shaking was felt as far away as Bakersfield, Palmdale and the city of Orange over 100 miles away. The quake’s epicenter was 85 miles west of Los Angeles and 41 miles southwest of Ventura. Thankfully, the shaking subsided just as quickly as it came, lasting roughly 10 seconds.

View image on Twitter

USGS

✔@USGS

Did You Feel the M5.3 EQ that just took place off the Channel Islands, CA? Please let us know here: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ci37908735#dyfi …

3:44 PM – Apr 5, 2018

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Winning $200K Cash 5 ticket sold in Cranberry | TribLIVE

A winning Pennsylvania Lottery Cash 5 ticket for Wednesday’s drawing was sold in Cranberry.

The winning ticket matched all five balls drawn, 01-15-24-30-36, to win $200,000.

Shop ‘N Save, 1197 Freedom Road, earns a $500 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

Winners can be identified only after prizes are claimed and tickets validated. The ticket holder should sign the ticket, call the lottery at 717-702-8146 and file a claim at the nearest Lottery office.

Source: Winning $200K Cash 5 ticket sold in Cranberry | TribLIVE

Route 30 westbound in East Pittsburgh closed indefinitely – WTAE

Here is the posted detour:

All westbound Route 30 traffic will turn left onto Navy-Marine Corps Way

Right onto East Pittsburgh-McKeesport Boulevard

Rright onto Braddock Avenue toward East Pittsburgh/Turtle Creek

Turn left onto Electric Avenue and follow it back to westbound Route 30.

Eastbound Route 30 will remain one lane in the area. It was restricted on March 1 when the dip developed and westbound was reduced to a single lane last week.

The closure came after a new landslide occurred next to the the dip going downhill toward Electric Avenue. The area is just west of the Westinghouse Bridge

Source: Route 30 westbound in East Pittsburgh closed indefinitely

Wind causes tree to crash into house -WPXI

LOWER BURRELL, Pa. – A Lower Burrell family says they experienced a true miracle after winds brought a massive tree down onto their house, narrowly missing one of the people who lives inside. They believe their house was spared from further problems.

Their roof is destroyed. Branches and parts of the tree are strewn across their house and front yard. A gutter is torn off and their chimney has moved out of place.

The Negleys say they are waiting on a tree removal service to take down what’s left of the tree. Insurance adjusters are set to come out Thursday to assess the damage, which the family says is in the thousands of dollars.

Source: Wind causes tree to crash into house

TRENDING NOW:

Source: CIA Operative Says Ted Kennedy Didn’t Know Mary Jo Kopechne Was in the Car at Chappaquiddick | TMZ.com

CIA Operative Says Ted Kennedy Didn’t Know Mary Jo Kopechne Was in the Car at Chappaquiddick | TMZ.com

Ted Kennedy didn’t abandon Mary Jo Kopechne when his car plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island.

We’ve been asked not to use the CIA person’s name, but he worked for the agency for decades. He says back in 1969, Kennedy was romantically involved with the wife of a very powerful politician, and if word got out about the affair Kennedy was afraid it would ruin his career.

The operative says the night of the accident Kennedy and some of his buddies were all drunk and drove to a party on the Island. They went there because the politician’s wife was at the party and Kennedy wanted to hook up with her. Mary Jo Kopechne was at the party … she and Kennedy were acquaintances but not romantically involved.

According to the operative, Mary Jo was drunk, said she had a headache, got up and said she was going into one of the bedrooms to lie down.

At some point later in the evening, Kennedy and the politician’s wife wanted “some alone time” and didn’t want to do anything in front of the group, so they got in the car and drove … eventually plunging off the bridge into the water. They both swam to shore safely. The operative says both were not injured.

The operative says unbeknownst to either Kennedy or the politician’s wife, Mary Jo apparently was unable to sleep in the house because of the noise, so she went into the back seat of the car where she fell asleep … which is where she died. At least one person at the party knew Mary Jo had gone into one of the cars and told authorities that after the accident.

Woman finds spider in McDonald’s chicken sandwich | Fox News

Classical singer Ciara Harvie was eating at a McDonald’s in Edinburgh, Scotland, when she discovered the dead spider.

A spokeswoman for McDonald’s said in a statement to the Mirror:

“We are sorry to hear about this customer’s experience. Food quality and safety are of the utmost importance to us and we place great emphasis on quality control, following rigorous standards in order to avoid any imperfections. At the time, we apologized to the customer and provided her with a replacement McChicken Sandwich. We have since spoken again with the customer to apologize once more and offer another replacement meal, which was declined.”

Source: Woman finds spider in McDonald’s chicken sandwich | Fox News

NYPD cops shoot, kill bipolar black man with metal pipe in NYC – NY Daily News

Authorities are investigating a police-involved shooting in Brooklyn.

A bipolar Brooklyn man waving a metal object at passersby was fatally shot by police Wednesday when cops responding to 911 calls for a man with a gun said he “took a two-handed shooting stance” and pointed at them.

The man, identified by family members as Saheed Vassell, 34, was a Jamaica-born welder and the father of a teenage boy.

Police said they were responding to three 911 calls that came in around 4:40 p.m. about a black man wearing a brown jacket waving what people thought was a silver gun on the corner of Utica Ave. and Montgomery St., NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan said at a press conference.

When the officers got to the street corner, Vassell turned to face them, aiming the object at them, Monahan said.

Source: NYPD cops shoot, kill bipolar black man with metal pipe in NYC – NY Daily News

State Police Probe Explosive Device Found In Derry Twp. « CBS Pittsburgh

State Police in Westmoreland County are looking for the person who left an apparent explosive device in a Derry Township man’s yard.

DERRY TOWNSHIP (KDKA) — State Police in Westmoreland County are looking for the person who left an apparent explosive device in a Derry Township man’s yard.

Police were called to Longview Court around 2:45 p.m. Monday afternoon for a caller who reported that “there appeared to a pipe in his yard that he thought might be rigged up as a bomb.”

Troop A Public Information Officers@PSPTroopAPIO

PSP Greensburg received a report of a suspicious device located in the yard at 568 Longview Court Derry Twp. As a precaution a “bomb squad” was called. Currently the device is contained and no one else needs evacuated. We will provide additional information tomorrow morning.

8:48 PM – Apr 2, 2018

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According to state police, the trooper who responded to the scene, took some photos of the device from a safe distance, which were then analyzed and then the call went out for the bomb squad to respond.

Source: State Police Probe Explosive Device Found In Derry Twp. « CBS Pittsburgh

Bomb Squad Probes Suspicious Package Outside PNC Park « CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Police and the bomb squad investigated a possible suspicious package outside of PNC Park during the Pittsburgh Pirates game Wednesday evening.

Pittsburgh Police cordoned off the area at the corner of Federal Street and W. General Robinson, near the Roberto Clemente Bridge, around 6 p.m.

Source: Bomb Squad Probes Suspicious Package Outside PNC Park « CBS Pittsburgh

Trump to deploy National Guard to southern border | TheHill

President Trump will sign an order to deploy National Guard troops to the U.S. southern border, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced Wednesday.

Speaking at the White House, Nielsen framed the move as a way to toughen an immigration system that “rewards bad behavior,” including illegal drug smuggling and border crossings.

“It’s time to act,” Nielsen told reporters, adding that the deployments could begin “immediately.”

Nielsen did not share key details about the operation, including how many troops will be sent to the border, the length of the deployment or its cost.

Source: Trump to deploy National Guard to southern border | TheHill

Peduto Introduces ‘Safe Leave’ Policy For Abuse, Assault Victims « CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The City of Pittsburgh is about to join the ranks of other major American cities and offer paid safe leave for employees.

That leave would be for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault, among other things. Organizations that advocate for victims of domestic abuse say the policy is long overdue.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL EXECUTIVE ORDER

Stephanie Fox, a victim, says it’s definitely a step in the right direction, but more is needed.

“I’ve been stabbed with a screwdriver. I have cigarette burns all over me. I’ve had my teeth knocked out and my jaw redone. I have a bullet in the back of my leg,” she said.

Fox says she was in an abusive relationship for 14 years and lost half as many jobs because she couldn’t go to work.

Source: Peduto Introduces ‘Safe Leave’ Policy For Abuse, Assault Victims « CBS Pittsburgh

Plane crashes near Florida airport leaving at least two people dead | Fox News

At least two people were killed after a plane crashed Wednesday near the Daytona Beach International Airport.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported the aircraft belonged to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and had just lifted for takeoff from Daytona Beach International Airport during a training flight when it crashed.

Source: Plane crashes near Florida airport leaving at least two people dead | Fox News

MLK assassination: How Walter Cronkite covered the April 4, 1968 tragedy

On April 4, 1968, Walter Cronkite, then-anchor of the “CBS Evening News,” went on air with a detailed report on the shooting and the nation’s reaction to the tragedy

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was standing on the balcony of the old Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, when he was shot dead 50 years ago today. King, an iconic pastor who led non-violent protests against racial inequality in the civil rights movement, later died at a hospital. He was 39.

That night, Walter Cronkite — then-anchor of the “CBS Evening News” — went on air with a detailed report on the shooting and the nation’s reaction to the tragedy.

The April 4, 1968 broadcast

“Dr. Martin Luther King, the apostle of non-violence in the civil rights movement, has been shot to death in Memphis, Tennessee,” Cronkite said. “Police have issued an all-points bulletin for a well-dressed, young white man seen running from the scene. Officers also reportedly chased and fired on a radio-equipped car containing two white men.”

“Dr. King was standing on the balcony of a second-floor hotel room tonight when, according to a companion, a shot was fired from across the street. In the friend’s words, the bullet exploded in his face,” Cronkite reported.

Source: MLK assassination: How Walter Cronkite covered the April 4, 1968 tragedy

Cops charge girl with bringing pocket knife to Indiana Co. high school | TribLIVE

Officials learned of the knife at 12:40 p.m. at Penns Manor High School in Cherryhill Township, in eastern Indiana County. Police said the knife was confiscated without incident.

The girl, whose age was not provided by police, is being charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds. The charge will be handled through juvenile court.

Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-837-5374, rsignorini@tribweb.com or via Twitter @byrenatta.

Source: Cops charge girl with bringing pocket knife to Indiana Co. high school | TribLIVE

BREAKING: At least one dead in shopping centre fire — emergency services scrambled

Smoke is pouring out of the “Perseus for Children” shopping centre on Semenovskaya Street.According to Russian media, the top four floors of the centre are ablaze.

At least one person is reported to have died in the fire.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations says that the man was an employee of the shopping centre.

TRAPPED: There may be dozens stuck on the upper floors of the Perseus for Children mall

He died in an ambulance on the way to hospital.Five firefighters were injured tackling the blaze.

Two are being treated for heatstroke and another for smoke inhalation.

A man who escaped the fire said: “I was there with family.

Source: BREAKING: At least one dead in shopping centre fire — emergency services scrambled

‘Roseanne’ Ratings Climb, Hit 25 Million Viewers With Time-Shifting Record

Adam Rose/ABC

‘Roseanne’

The comedy’s first telecast after a 20-year break also hits an obscene 7.3 rating in the key demo.

Roseanne’s ratings riches keep climbing, hitting a record haul for Nielsen’s live-plus-3 ratings growth.The new totals for the Mar. 27 premiere have the ABC comedy totaling 25 million viewers and a massive 7.3 rating among adults 18-49. Looking at just the audience, the 6.6 million viewer add-on from the premiere night is a time-shifting record. And that doesn’t even include the additional 4.3 million viewers who tuned into an encore telecast on Sunday night — or the growth it will see from Hulu and ABC streaming.

Source: ‘Roseanne’ Ratings Climb, Hit 25 Million Viewers With Time-Shifting Record

Dispatch: Officer-involved shooting in Miamisburg | Ohio

MIAMISBURG, Ohio (WDTN) – An armed robbery suspect is in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries after he was shot by police in Miamisburg Tuesday.

Police say investigators from Dearborn County, Indiana contacted law enforcement in Dayton about a man they believed was involved in an armed robbery in Indiana.

Officials tracked the man to the Red Roof Inn on Byers Road near State Route 725 Tuesday evening.

Police say they were working on a plan to take the man into custody when he unexpectedly walked out of his room.

According to authorities, when he saw officers, he started running.

Police say they opened fire when the man pulled out a gun and pointed it at officers.

Police describe the suspect as a 38-year-old man from Dayton. They say at this time, they are not releasing his name.

Officials say this is an ongoing investigation.

Source: Dispatch: Officer-involved shooting in Miamisburg | Ohio

Suspect In YouTube Shooting Angry That Her Videos Had Been ‘De-Monitized’

Police say a female suspect, identified as Nasim Aghdam, 39, died at the scene of the shooting. A San Francisco hospital received three wounded people from the incident, a spokesman says.

Updated at 3:40 a.m. ET on Wednesday

A photo provided by the San Bruno Police Department shows Nasim Aghdam. Law enforcement officials have identified Aghdam as the person who opened fire with a handgun, on Tuesday at YouTube headquarters in San Bruno, Calif.

AP

A woman with an apparent grudge against YouTube for what she claimed was censoring and “de-monitizing” her videos, opened fire at the video-sharing service’s San Bruno, Calif., headquarters, wounding several people before fatally shooting herself, according to police.

Police Chief Ed Barberini said the attack was carried out with a handgun and that it was being investigated as a domestic dispute.

Later, law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Nasim Najafi Aghdam, 39; however The San Jose Mercury News listed her age as 38.

The San Bruno Police Department is investigating a motive for this shooting. At this
time there is no evidence that the shooter knew the victims of this shooting or that
individuals were specifically targeted.
Anyone with any information related to this crime is urged to contact the San Bruno Police
Department at (650) 616-7100 or by email: sbpdtipline@sanbruno.ca.gov. Information
can be left anonymously.

Source: Suspect In YouTube Shooting Angry That Her Videos Had Been ‘De-Monitized’

4 Marines feared dead in helicopter crash near US-Mexico border | Fox News

A U.S. Marine Corps helicopter crashed Tuesday — killing its four crew members — during exercises along the U.S.-Mexico border near Plaster City, Calif., military officials said.

“We are currently still responding to what we have confirmed as a single helicopter incident,” said a Facebook post from the nearby Naval Air Facility El Centro.

The naval facility sent fire and security units as well as other helicopters to the scene of the crash, KYMA-TV reported.

Source: 4 Marines feared dead in helicopter crash near US-Mexico border | Fox News

Source: Jeannette leads Westmoreland in overdose deaths, officials look to reverse trend | TribLIVE

Jeannette leads Westmoreland in overdose deaths, officials look to reverse trend | TribLIVE

The city had 21 fatal overdoses last year, surpassing the county’s largest municipality, Hempfield Township, which had 19. Yet Hempfield has more than 41,300 residents, more than quadruple Jeannette’s 9,300.

“When you look at the populations … it is amazing. Usually it’s Hempfield, Derry and Unity townships with the higher populations that have had the most,” Coroner Ken Bacha said.