Western PA News

Punxsutawney Phil popped his head out at Gobbler’s Knob on Thursday, Feb. 2, predicting six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow.

Source: Groundhog Day 2023 prediction: Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, meaning 6 more weeks of winter

Almost exactly one year after the Fern Hollow Bridge’s stunning collapse, yet another of Pittsburgh’s crumbling overpasses had to be shut down to vehicle traffic on Wednesday as city officials scrambled to avert the catastrophic failure of a key piece of public infrastructure.

The Charles Anderson Memorial Bridge, an 85-year-old span that carries the heavily traveled Boulevard of the Allies over a ravine in Oakland, needs immediate repairs before it can safely carry vehicles again, Mayor Ed Gainey said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

Repairs will take at least four months, according to the city’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, forcing the estimated 21,200 cars, trucks and buses that use the bridge every day to find another way across or around Panther Hollow, the steep valley crossed by the bridge. The bridge remains open to pedestrians and cyclists, as does the Junction Hollow Trail below.

Source: Pittsburgh closes Charles Anderson Bridge in Oakland to vehicles after inspection shows it needs repairs

PITTSBURGH —

Three people were injured in a hit-and-run in Pittsburgh’s Homewood North neighborhood on Wednesday morning.

The hit-and-run happened around 2:50 a.m. Wednesday near the intersection of Frankstown Avenue and Oakwood Street.

Suspect vehicle later found in Wilkinsburg

Source: Three people injured in hit-and-run in Pittsburgh

Around 12 p.m., officers responded to the Target near 178th Street and West Center Road and worked to clear the store, Omaha police said.

Omaha police officers shot and killed a suspected active shooter at a Target on Tuesday.

Source: Omaha police investigate shooting at Target

New Mexico prosecutors said Baldwin should be held criminally responsible for the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

By David K. Li, Diana Dasrath and Andrew Blankstein

New Mexico prosecutors on Tuesday charged Alec Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter, accusing the actor of skipping “required firearms training” and creating “a climate of recklessness” on the set of “Rust.”

Baldwin and “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed were both charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with their alleged roles in the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced.

“Rust” assistant director David Halls was also charged with negligent use of a deadly weapon and has already agreed to plead no contest, according to Carmack-Altwies.

Prosecutors have evidence showing that Baldwin “was not present for required firearms training prior to the commencement of filming,” special investigator Robert Shilling wrote in a probable cause statement.

Source: Alec Baldwin is formally charged with involuntary manslaughter in the ‘Rust’ shooting

The three personnel were found to have violated multiple department policies and protocols, the Memphis Fire Department said Monday.

Source: 3 Memphis EMTs fired for their response to the fatal police beating of Tyre Nichols

More than 70 schools had delayed their start time as of Tuesday morning

A complete list of school closings and delays can be found here.

Source: Dozens of school delays announced as a burst of winter weather hits Pittsburgh overnight

A motion-activated camera near Boulder contained a surprise for officials monitoring wildlife activity

Selfie mania in wild beauty spots is definitely a thing – but this camera hog had no real idea what she was doing.

When a curious bear stumbled upon a wildlife motion-activated camera near Boulder, Colorado, she ended up triggering hundreds of “selfies”, officials have said.

California family discovers five bears hibernating in crawlspace under home

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Coyotes, beavers, mountain lions, black bears, all kinds of birds and many other creatures inhabit the landscape outside town, and Boulder’s open space and mountain parks department – which states its function as preserving and protecting the natural environment and land resources – set out to monitor them.

But they were amazed when they checked one camera out of many they have placed across thousands of acres and found that out of 580 images on it about 400 were of one bear, NBC News reported.

Source: Bear goes selfie-crazy by snapping 400 pictures on Colorado wildlife camera

At least one person was killed and two wounded in a shooting in Baltimore on Saturday, police said.

Authorities responded near the intersection of Pennsylvania and Laurens Ave. after 6 p.m. Saturday evening and found two adult males and one adult female shot, according to Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison.

Police believe a gunman or multiple gunmen opened fire but do not know if the intended targets were people in a vehicle or individuals who were on the sidewalk.

One of the adult males, a 43-year-old driver, was pronounced dead at an area hospital, according to Baltimore police. The adult female, 23, and the other adult male, 65, are listed in stable condition.

Two male children, ages two months and three years, were also injured in a car accident that resulted from the shooting, the Baltimore Police Department said in an updated news release on Sunday. Harrison had initially said a two-year-old child was among the shooting victims, but that was incorrect.

“After medical treatment, doctors determined that the children did not sustain gunshot wound injuries. Both victims sustained head trauma and lacerations, as a result of the vehicle collision that occurred when the driver was shot,” the release said.

The 3-year-old is in stable condition and the 2-month-old is listed in “critical, but stable condition,” police said.

Police have not released any information about a potential suspect or suspects in the shooting.

At a news conference Saturday night, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott gave an impassioned plea to community members to come forward with any information.

Source: Shooting in Baltimore kills 1 and wounds 2 others | CNN

DePape, 42, called a reporter from the Oakland-based KTVU news outlet on Friday.

DePape, 42, called KTVU reporter Amber Lee from San Francisco County jail in California, where he is being held on charges of attempted murder and elder abuse. He has pleaded not guilty.

DePape’s call to Lee, the news outlet said, was unexpected. He did not allow Lee to challenge his statements, or ask follow-up questions.

During the call, DePape said he wanted to “apologize” for not going further in the attack.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t get more of them. It’s my own fault. No one else is to blame. I should have come better prepared,” he said, according to KTVU.

Source: Alleged Pelosi attacker DePape calls news outlet from jail, makes ‘chilling and bizarre’ remarks

Over two dozen demonstrators gathered in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood in response to the death of Tyre Nichols.

Source: PHOTOS: Over 2 dozen demonstrators gather in Pittsburgh in response to Tyre Nichols’ death

Pittsburgh police responded around 1 a.m. Saturday after a Shotspotter alert. Officers found shell casings in the area as well as a firearm near Shamokin Street.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.

This is a developing story. Stay with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 for updates. Download the WTAE mobile app to stay connected with breaking news.

Source: South Side Slopes shooting sends one to the hospital

 

CINDY LENNEX SAYS HER SON LEAVES BEHIND FOUR KIDS.

SHE SAID HE WAS MISSING FOR 4 DAYS BEFORE HE WAS FOUND SHOT IN PITTSBURGH’S ELLIOTT NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN SHE HEARD THAT SOMEONE WAS FOUND IN THAT WOODED AREA OF SHE KNEW IMMEDIATELY IT WAS HER SON TODAY POLICE INFORMED HER KENNETH’S DEATH WAS RULED A HOMICIDE AND POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR HIS KILLER.

The mother of a man who authorities say was found dead in a wooded area of Pittsburgh’s Elliott neighborhood is asking anyone with information to call police.

Source: ‘I want to know who did this to my son’: Missing man found shot dead in Pittsburgh