Western PA News

Elizabeth Forward High School closes school for Monday

The fire started just after 5 a.m. Sunday.

Source: Elizabeth Forward High School closes school for Monday

US tells citizens to leave Russia immediately

The U.S. on Monday issued a top-level advisory telling American citizens to leave Russia immediately and cease travel to the country as Russia’s war against neighboring Ukraine continues, citing risks of harassment and wrongful detention for Americans specifically.

“Do not travel to Russia due to the unpredictable consequences of the unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces, the potential for harassment and the singling out of U.S. citizens for detention by Russian government security officials, the arbitrary enforcement of local law, limited flights into and out of Russia, the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, and the possibility of terrorism,” reads the alert.

Source: US tells citizens to leave Russia immediately

Kansas City officer shot, hurt after Chiefs’ Super Bowl win

A Kansas City police officer has been hit by gunfire and wounded at the department’s headquarters shortly after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl

Source: Kansas City officer shot, hurt after Chiefs’ Super Bowl win

Some Pittsburgh Uber, Lyft drivers temporarily not accepting rides

About 100 Lyft and Uber drivers in the Pittsburgh area stopped accepting rides at 3 p.m. Friday to protest work conditions.

Source: Some Pittsburgh Uber, Lyft drivers temporarily not accepting rides

Wilkinsburg shooting leaves one man dead, county police say

Police and emergency medical services were dispatched to the 100 block of Bryn Mawr Court around 2:49 p.m. on Sunday

Source: Wilkinsburg shooting leaves one man dead, county police say

Mystery surrounds objects shot down by US military

A spate of high-altitude objects have been shot down in North American airspace in recent days.

A balloon was downed off the coast of South Carolina on 4 February after hovering for days over the US. Officials said it originated in China and had been used to monitor sensitive sites.

China denied the object was used for spying and said it was a weather monitoring device that had blown astray. The incident – and the angry exchanges in its aftermath – ratcheted up tensions between Washington and Beijing.

But on Sunday, a defence official said the US had communicated with Beijing about the first object, after receiving no response for several days. It was not immediately clear what was discussed.

Since that first incident, American fighter jets have shot down three further high-altitude objects in as many days.

Source: Mystery surrounds objects shot down by US military

PA Sen. John Fetterman: Latest Medical Update – Patch

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman was taken to the hospital Wednesday after a U.S. Senate event.

Fetterman communications director Joe Calvello said the results of an MRI and other tests eliminated the possibility of a second stroke.

“He is being monitored with an EEG for signs of seizure – so far there are no signs of seizure, but he is still being monitored,” Calvello said in a statement provided to CNN.

Calvello did not indicate when Fetterman might be able to leave George Washington University Hospital.

Shortly before last year’s election, which Fetterman won by defeating celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz, Fetterman’s doctor released the results of an exam amid concerns that Fetterman’s health problems might prevent him from assuming his duties if elected.

Source: PA Sen. John Fetterman: Latest Medical Update

3 Pittsburgh spans in urgent need of work not addressed for months

JULIA FELTON

Pittsburgh officials waited months to address structural problems on three bridges that experts said needed to be addressed within a week, according to a spokeswoman for Mayor Ed Gainey. Gainey released a comprehensive report on the condition of 147 city-maintained bridges in December.

DETAILS

‘Priority zero’
A report released in December on the condition of bridges maintained by the city of Pittsburgh revealed 13 were identified as “priority zero” spans in need of immediate repairs.
Despite repeated requests, the city waited until Tuesday to publicly release a list of those bridges. Needed repairs on the spans have either been completed or in the works. The bridges include:

Bloomfield Bridge, Bloomfield.

Centre Avenue Bridge, over East Busway, Shadyside.

West Carson Street, connecting Esplen and McKees Rocks over Chartiers Creek.

Elizabeth Street Bridge, Hazelwood.

Herron Avenue, connecting Polish Hill and Lawrenceville.

Maple Avenue, northeastern pedestrian ramp at North Charles Street, North Side.

Parking lot bridge at Woodruff Street and Saw Mill Run Boulevard, Beechview.

South Negley Avenue Bridge, Shadyside.

Swinburne Bridge, connecting South Oakland and Greenfield.

Tripoli Street, connecting Madison Avenue and East Street over I-279, North Side.

Ramp Q bridge, connecting Madison Avenue and East Street over I-279, North Side.

Julia Felton is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Julia by email at jfelton@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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Source: 3 Pittsburgh spans in urgent need of work not addressed for months

Police arrest man wanted on child luring charges after SWAT situation in Garfield

A SWAT situation that began in Garfield ended with an arrest on Saturday.

The man barricaded himself inside the house on South Graham Street and SWAT units were called for assistance at around 12:25 p.m.

Source: Police arrest man wanted on child luring charges after SWAT situation in Garfield

February 11, 2023February 11, 2023

US jet shoots down ‘unidentified object’ over northern Canada | CNN Politics

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday that an “unidentified object” had been shot down by a US fighter jet over Canadian airspace on his orders.

“I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. @NORADCommand shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object,” Trudeau said on Twitter.

The object was “cylindrical” and smaller than the suspected Chinese balloon shot down last weekend, Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand said on Saturday evening.

Source: US jet shoots down ‘unidentified object’ over northern Canada | CNN Politics

February 11, 2023

1 person hospitalized after shooting in Mount Oliver

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.

Source.: 1 person hospitalized after shooting in Mount Oliver

February 11, 2023

FBI search of Pence’s home uncovers more documents

Federal authorities found another document with classification markings at the former vice president’s home Friday.

Source: FBI search of Pence’s home uncovers more documents

Pentagon retrieving second ‘car size’ ‘object’ shot down by F22 jets over Alaska

China spy balloon shot down – latest news

The White House says that Joe Biden ordered that a new high-altitude “object” that appeared in the skies above Alaskan waters to be shot down by US fighters.

John Kirby, NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications, told a Friday briefing that the object was floating above US territory at 40,000ft and was a “reasonable threat” to the safety of civilian air traffic.

Bad weather could delay the recovery of the payload with strong winds of up to 35mph in the region.

Debris recovered so far has been taken to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, for analysis.

To date, US intelligence has revealed that the balloon, which spent eight days over US airspace, is “part of a larger Chinese surveillance balloon program” – something which Beijing continues to deny.

Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said that the balloon incident “confirms a pattern of Chinese behaviour” using “different types of intelligence and surveillance platforms” around the world.

Source: Pentagon retrieving second ‘car size’ ‘object’ shot down by F22 jets over Alaska

February 10, 2023

Pittsburgh’s Most Wanted: Chris Schrock

BY RICK EARLE

Schrock is wanted for failing to appear at a court hearing on drug, firearm and resisting arrest charges stemming from a traffic stop in McKeesport in 2018.

According to court documents, obtained by Target 11, Schrock was a no-show at a hearing at the Allegheny County Courthouse in June of 2020, and he’s been on the run ever since.

Schrock is wanted for failing to appear at a court hearing on drug, firearm and resisting arrest charges stemming from a traffic stop in McKeesport in 2018.

Read more about Pittsburgh’s Most Wanted here!

Source: Pittsburgh’s Most Wanted: Chris Schrock

February 10, 2023February 10, 2023

LS Jewelers open for business, Robinson Township police say

Robinson Township police said L.S. Jewelers is open for business after it appeared to suddenly close last month.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the department said the store is currently open for business and anyone who filed complaints can stop by during the posted business hours

Source: LS Jewelers open for business, Robinson Township police say

February 9, 2023

Pennsylvania Democrats take back state House control with three special election wins

The results could have significant ramifications for abortion rights in the state.

Pennsylvania Democrats won a trio of state House special elections Tuesday night, handing them a clear majority.

The victories give Democrats the upper hand in a chamber that has seesawed in control since the November elections, resulting in a bipartisan “independent” speaker arrangement that quickly went sour. But with Tuesday’s wins, the Democratic Party now is in a stronger position to block GOP-led initiatives, including a potential anti-abortion ballot measure.

Democrats won in three districts, according to projections by The Associated Press:

32nd District: Democrat Joe McAndrew defeated Republican Clay Walker. The seat was left vacant after the death in October of Anthony DeLuca, a Democrat who had been in office nearly four decades.

34th District: Democrat Abigail Salisbury defeated Republican Robert Pagane. The previous seat holder, Democrat Summer Lee, resigned after she won election to Congress in November.

35th District: Democrat Matthew Gergely defeated Republican Don Nevills. Democrat Austin Davis resigned after he was elected lieutenant governor in November.

All three districts encompass suburbs of Pittsburgh and other areas of Allegheny County, in the southwestern part of the state. President Joe Biden carried all three districts in the 2020 election by at least 16 percentage points.

Source: Pennsylvania Democrats take back state House control with three special election wins

February 9, 2023

South Side bar owners tell House panel they are suffering from crime

A group of South Side business owners used their time in front of state legislators Wednesday to lambaste previous efforts to curb violence and draw more daytime crowds to the neighborhood, saying the efforts are moot until leaders “let police do their jobs.”

“No matter what kind of marketing plan you guys want to do, it will not work if there are shootings and violence on the South Side,” said Rich Cupka, owner of South Side’s Cupka’s Café, Cupka’s II, and Cup Ka Joe.

The House Democratic Policy Committee heard from South Side business owners, community organizations and public safety officials during a two-hour policy hearing Wednesday at the American Serbian Club.

Mr. Cupka said dozens of meetings over recent years with South Side business owners, residents, and local politicians have resulted in little help for the neighborhood, specifically the entertainment district that is East Carson Street.

Source: South Side bar owners tell House panel they are suffering from crime

Ukraine claims more than 1,000 Russia troops killed in single day

Ukraine has reported that more than 1,000 Russian troops were killed on Monday alone as the war between the neighboring countries approaches its first anniversary on Feb 24th.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said in a Telegram post that 1,030 Russian personnel were killed in fighting, raising the total throughout the conflict to just more than 133,000. Ukrainian forces also destroyed 14 tanks and 28 armored personnel vehicles, officials said.

Source: Ukraine claims more than 1,000 Russia troops killed in single day

Sarah Huckabee Sanders: “Time for new generation of Republican leadership”

Sanders attempted to draw a sharp generational contrast between Biden and the “new generation of Republican leadership.”

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-Ark.) delivered the Republican response to President Biden’s State of the Union on Tuesday night, ridiculing the president’s policies and leadership.

The big picture: Sanders, who served as the White House press secretary for two years during former President Trump’s administration, aimed to draw a sharp generational contrast between Biden and the “new generation of Republican leadership.”

Driving the news: “At 40, I’m the youngest governor in the country. At 80, he’s the oldest president in American history,” Sanders said.

She went on to claim that Biden is “unfit to serve as commander in chief” and that his “weakness puts our nation and the world at risk.”

“It’s time for a new generation of Republican leadership,” she continued, adding that the party will be the “change makers” for the American people.

Sanders said the dividing line in the country is no longer between right or left, but between “normal and crazy.”

Zoom in: Attacking the Democratic Party’s economic policies, she said, “In the radical left’s America, Washington taxes you and lights your hard-earned money on fire, but you get crushed with high gas prices, empty grocery shelves.”

“And while you reap the consequences of their failures, the Biden administration seems more interested in woke fantasies than the hard reality Americans face every day,” she continued.

Sanders claimed Democrats want to strip Americans’ freedom of speech and attacked the “woke fantasies” of the Biden administration, claiming “children are taught to hate one another on account of their race.”

Sanders said that the GOP wants an America “where strong families thrive in safe communities, where jobs are abundant, and paychecks are rising.”

Earlier Tuesday, President Biden focused on unity during his State of the Union address. He focused on manufacturing jobs and took credit for emerging through the pandemic.

Biden also promised to work with Republicans in the new Congress.

“I promised to be the president for all Americans. We’ll fund your projects. And I’ll see you at the groundbreaking,” he said.

Source: Sarah Huckabee Sanders: “Time for new generation of Republican leadership”

Source: Turkey and Syria earthquake: death toll passes 11,000 as anger grows over official response – latest updates

Turkey and Syria earthquake: death toll passes 11,000 as anger grows over official response – latest updates

Number of people killed in Turkey and Syria expected to keep rising as anger grows in Turkey over slow response from authorities

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced that the death toll from Monday’s quake has reached 8,754. Combined with the 2,470 known deaths in Syria, that brings the total official death toll to 11,224.

The World Health Organization has suggested the final toll could rise as high as 20,000. A similar-sized earthquake in the region in 1999 killed at least 17,000 people.

Reuters reports that, speaking to reporters in the Kahramanmaraş province near the epicentre of the earthquake, with constant ambulance sirens in the background, Erdoğan said there had been problems with roads and airports but that everything would get better by the day.

He also said citizens should only heed communication from authorities and ignore “provocateurs,” as thousands of people complain about the lack of resources and slow response by officials. Turkish police have detained several people over their social media posts about the earthquake.

Source: United Flight Out of San Diego Forced to Land After Passenger’s External Battery Catches Fire

United Flight Out of San Diego Forced to Land After Passenger’s External Battery Catches Fire

A New Jersey-bound United Airlines flight was turned around shortly after taking off in San Diego Tuesday morning after a first-class passenger’s external battery pack caught fire and injured at least four people, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue.

Man found shot in chest in East McKeesport

A man was hospitalized after police found him shot in East McKeesport Tuesday afternoon.

According to Allegheny County police, the shooting happened at around 12:45 p.m. in the 700 block of Broadway Avenue.

Police found man who was shot in the chest at the scene.

Source: Man found shot in chest in East McKeesport

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