FILE – Director James Cameron walks in Purmamarca, Jujuy province, Argentina, on June 8, 2023. Cameron says the search operation for a deep-sea tourist sub turned into a “nightmarish charade” that prolonged the agony of the families of the passengers. Cameron told the BBC in an interview broadcast on Friday June 23, 2023 that he “felt in my bones” that the Titan submersible had been lost soon after he heard it had lost contact with the surface during its descent to the wreckage of the ocean liner at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. (AP Photo/Javier Corbalan, File)

LONDON (AP) — “Titanic” director James Cameron says the search operation for a deep-sea tourist sub turned into a “nightmarish charade” that prolonged the agony of the families of the passengers. Cameron told the BBC that he felt “in my bones” that the Titan submersible had been lost soon after he heard it had lost contact with the surface during its descent to the wreckage of the ocean liner. He said the focus in the media over the next few days about the submersible having 96 hours of oxygen supply and about banging noises heard — were “a cruel, slow turn of the screw.” Cameron has made more than 30 dives to the wreckage of the Titanic.

The U.S. Coast Guard says a missing submersible imploded near the wreckage of the Titanic, killing all five people on board. Coast Guard officials said during a news conference Thursday that they’ve notified the families of the crew of the Titan, which had been missing for several days. OceanGate Expeditions is the company that owned and operated the vessel. The company issued a statement expressing its sorrow and lauding the passengers as adventurers with a “deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans.” A senior U.S. military official says a Navy acoustic system detected an “anomaly” Sunday that was likely the Titan’s fatal implosion.

(Pittsburgh, PA) A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh has returned an Indictment following a five-month Title III wiretap investigation targeting a drug trafficking organization operating in the Pittsburgh area. The Indictment charges a total of 24 individuals residing in Pittsburgh with  violations of federal drug and firearm laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. 

The nine-count Indictment names the following 24 individuals as the defendants: 

– LAMONT BELL, 54, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– DELANO BROWN, 36, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– ANDRE CAIN, 46, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– MARVIN COATES, 49, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– ANTHONY COKER, 46, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– MARK COOK, 55, of Clairton, Pennsylvania. 

– ROBERT FIELDS, 29, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– MARVIN GRIMMIT, 68, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  

– TYRON HARRISON, 30, formerly of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– BRIAN HORTON, 22, formerly of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– ERIC HOWARD, 35, of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. 

– WILLIAM JONES, 28, formerly of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– MICAH LATIMER, 22, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– ANTHONY LEE, 43, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– WILLIAM LEWIS, 45, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– SHAWN NORWOOD, 32, of South Park, Pennsylvania. 

– EDWIN PEOPLES, 44, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– ERIC PEOPLES, 46, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– DAMON PETERS, 19, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– KEVIN RUCKER, 52, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– MAURICE SMITH, 28, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– JAMONE WATSON, 28, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– ROY WOOD, 47, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

– SEAN WOODY, 32, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

According to the Indictment, from July 2022 until June 2023, Rucker was a large-scale  distributor of cocaine in the Pittsburgh area, and supplied several individuals, including Coker,  with substantial quantities of cocaine. Coker, in turn, supplied several other Pittsburgh-area drug  traffickers, many of whom were members and associates of the “Drizzy Gang” street gang.  Members and associates of this gang trafficked firearms and narcotics in Pittsburgh’s Hill  District, operating an open-air drug market on Watson Street.  

Specifically, from July 2022 through June 2023, Rucker, Cain, Lewis, Bell, Coker, Woody,  Latimer, Brown, Lee, Watson, Cook, Eric Peoples, Edwin Peoples, Fields, Coates, Wood,  Norwood, and Grimmitt allegedly conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute  cocaine and/or crack cocaine, Schedule II controlled substances. Additionally, between March  2023 and May 23, 2023, Jones, Watson, Peters, and Brown allegedly conspired to possess with  intent to distribute fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. In a third alleged conspiracy,  between February 2023 and June 2023, Howard and Brown conspired to possess with intent to  distribute fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. Lastly, Latimer, Smith, Lee, Jones,  Harrison, and Horton allegedly possessed firearms and ammunition despite being prohibited as a  result of prior felony convictions.  

On June 22, 2023, a 25th defendant was charged by criminal complaint. According to the  charging documents, John Johnson, age 46, has been charged with drug trafficking and firearms  offenses following execution of a search warrant at his residence and the resulting recovery of suspected cocaine and a loaded firearm.  

“This office is committed to protecting the residents of Western Pennsylvania from those  whose violent and destructive actions jeopardize the safety and well-being of our communities,”  said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “Together with our trusted law enforcement partners at the FBI, DEA,  and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, we will continue our effort to hold accountable the most  dangerous offenders through effective enforcement of federal drug and firearm laws.” 

“Violent groups don’t belong in our community,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in  Charge Mike Nordwall. “We will continue to do everything we can to ensure the public can live  free of fear, violence, and intimidation. These arrests are the direct result of the hard work and  dedication of the FBI’s Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force and our partners in their efforts  to combat gang members who distribute dangerous drugs like heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl in our  communities.” 

“Today’s announcement deals a significant blow to a drug trafficking organization that has  dealt misery and pain throughout the communities of Western Pennsylvania. The DEA and our  law enforcement partners are committed to safeguarding the health and safety of our communities  and to keeping Americans safe from the menace of drugs and the violence associated with their  distribution,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Keith Hart, who is the head of DEA  operations across Western Pennsylvania. “I commend the extreme hard work of the members of  the DEA and our partners in making our communities safer.”  

“With this indictment, several communities are breathing a little more easily today,  reassured that the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and our federal law enforcement partners are 

consistently committed to disassembling criminal networks and inhibiting drug and gun pipelines  which hurt children and families,” said Pittsburgh Police Chief Larry Scirotto. “We will continue  to work closely with our local and federal partners and community members to prevent violent  crime, because everyone deserves to live in secure and thriving neighborhoods.” 

For Rucker, Cain, and Coker, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less  than 10 years in prison and up to life, a fine of no greater than $10,000,000.00, a term of supervised  release of at least five years, or a combination thereof. For Lewis and Woody, the law provides  for a maximum total sentence of not less than 5 years in prison and up to 40 years in prison, a fine  of no greater than $5,000,000, a term of supervised release of at least four years, or a combination  thereof. For Bell, Latimer, Brown, Lee, Watson, Cook, Eric Peoples, Edwin Peoples, Fields,  Coates, Wood, Norwood, Grimmitt, Jones, Peters, and Howard the law provides for a maximum  total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of no greater than $1,000,000, a term of supervised  release of at least three years, or a combination thereof. As to the firearms charges for Latimer,  Smith, Lee, Jones, Harrison, and Horton, the law provides for a maximum sentence of 15 years, a  fine of no greater than $250,000, and a term of supervised release of three years. For Johnson, the  firearm charge carries a maximum total sentence of not less than 5 years in prison up to life, a term  of supervised release of not less than three years, a fine of up to $1,500,000, or a combination  thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based  upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine C. Jordan and Douglas C. Maloney are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Pittsburgh  Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. FBI Pittsburgh’s Safe Streets Task Force comprises investigators from the FBI, Pittsburgh Bureau of  Police, Allegheny County Sheriff’s office, PA Attorney General’s Office, Penn Hills Police  Department, and Allegheny County Probation and Parole. 

This prosecution is a result of two Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force  (OCDETF) investigations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug  traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten  communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven,  multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement  agencies against criminal networks.  

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published June 23, 2023 12:26 P.M.

(Ambridge, PA) Ambridge Area residents won’t be paying more  in school tax for 2023-2024.  The $54,617,806 was adopted Wednesday night, and the millage remains at 83.4709.

Story by Sandy Giordano- Beaver County Radio. Published June 23, 2023 12:24 P.M.

(Center Township, PA) The board voted 5-4 for the $42,997,288 budget, representing a tax increase of 3.43 mills.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published June 23, 2023 12:22 P.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Board members voted 6-1 Wednesday night to adopt the 2023-24 budget with president Tina Price -Genes voting no. Board members Leon Seaburn  and Tor Durham Flannigan absent.

HARRISBURG – Seeking to improve the availability of critical care to sexual assault victims, the Pennsylvania Senate unanimously approved Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr.’s (R-47) Senate Bill 414 by a vote of 50-0.

This legislation would expand the existing Penn State University SAFE-T Program; allow hospitals to establish individual Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs at their facility; and require the Department of Health to publish a comprehensive list of each SANE care-providing hospital on its website by county.

“Pennsylvania is seeing an extreme shortage in SANEs within its healthcare facilities and this shortage greatly impacts the ability for these facilities to ensure sexual assault survivors are treated in a thorough and efficient manner,” said Vogel. “My bill is designed to alleviate some of the issues these survivors are being faced with after already enduring such a violent experience.”

According to Penn State’s SAFE-T System, when survivors try to seek help at a hospital with limited or no trained SANE teams, there is a likely hood of either being turned away to another hospital or the risk of receiving inappropriate or substandard care which could result in forensic evidence being of poor quality or lost all together which can potentially cause secondary victimization.

Vogel added, “Research has shown that trauma-informed, person-centered care delivered by SANEs results in improved psychological well-being of sexual assault survivors; increased quality of medical care; and positive impacts on prosecutorial outcomes pertaining to sexual assault survivors. I want to thank my colleagues for their support of this vital piece of legislation.”

Senate Bill 414 now goes to the House for consideration.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) are recognizing National Pollinator Week with updates on pollinator plantings around the state.

Roadside pollinator plantings, led by PennDOT, PA Turnpike and other partner organizations are taking place around Pennsylvania. PennDOT has overseen more than 40 acres of pilot pollinator plantings with an additional 25 acres of habitat in progress. Areas targeted for pollinator-specific plantings are continually monitored by maintenance teams for the presence of invasive species and weeds as well as healthy growth and pollinator activity.

In addition to plantings, PennDOT seed mixture updates took effect earlier this year. Seed mix updates removed notable non-native and invasive plants and added pollinator-friendly plants such as black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia hirta), ox-eye sunflowers (Heliopsis helianthoides) and common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).

“The degradation and loss of pollinator habitats is a risk to those affected species as well as pollinator dependent crops across the state,” said PennDOT Executive Deputy Secretary Cheryl Moon-Sirianni. “We invite every Pennsylvanian to join us in their own gardens, or with PennDOT through the Adopt and Beautify program.”

The PA Turnpike has piloted five pollinator habitats across the state. Within those locations there are 19 different plots for a total of over 10 acres which utilize a variety of seed mixes and management practices. These plots include many of PennDOT’s seed mixes of 16 different native plants. The seeds include an array of native wildflowers like lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata), mint plants like anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), herbaceous perennials like milkweed species (Asclepias sp.) and wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), as well as the flowering plant foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis).

“Pollinator habitats provide an array of colors and fragrance,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “But more importantly these natural gardens, comprised of native plants, promote, protect and preserve pollinating animals.”

PennDOT’s Pollinator Habitat Plan, adopted in 2019, is operated in partnership with other federal and state agencies, private and community organizations, to create naturalized gardens and meadows planted with pollinator-friendly plant species at designated sites. Highway rights-of-way have been recognized nationally as lands that have potential to provide habitats for pollinators and support corridor connectivity for pollinators.

In November 2022, Act 112 established the Pollinator Habitat Program Fund to be supported in-part by purchases of the new Pollinator license plate PennDOT announced earlier this year. The fund will create naturalized gardens and meadows planted with pollinator-friendly species of flowering plants specifically for bees, butterflies, beetles, and other insects which may have been adversely affected by the loss of their native habitat. Sixty-five percent of the proceeds from the license plate will be deposited into the Pollinator Habitat Program Fund.

The Pollinator license plate is now available for passenger cars or trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds. Applicants for the Pollinator license plate must submit a completed Form MV-911, “Application for Special Fund Registration Plate.” More information, including eligibility requirements and image of license plates, is available on the Registration Plates page on PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website.

National Pollinator Week is recognized internationally during the last full week in June as an opportunity to spread awareness about the importance of pollinator species to the eco-system and promote native pollinator gardens.

Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, increased pesticide use and introduced diseases are threatening pollinators around the world. Native pollinator-positive plants are a critical link in Pennsylvania’s eco-system providing habitat for pollinators like butterflies, bees and hummingbirds to support crops and local biodiversity.

If you’re interested in taking part in Pollinator Week, please consider planting native pollinator-friendly plants. Additionally, interested citizens can apply to the PennDOT Adopt and Beautify and Keystone Pollinator Habitat programs to get involved locally.

To learn more about the PA Turnpike’s pollinator gardens and other sustainable initiatives click here: Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Releases 2022 Sustainability Report (paturnpike.com)

Subscribe to statewide PennDOT news and traffic alerts at www.penndot.gov/news or choose a region under “Regional Offices.” Information about the state’s infrastructure and results the department is delivering for Pennsylvanians can be found at www.penndot.gov/results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.

FILE – Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., on April 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Amid the rising numbers of teachers leaving the field in Pennsylvania, a measure that would give student teachers a stipend while they’re in the classroom for their degree passed the state House of Representatives on Thursday. The legislation seeks to remove the barriers for prospective teachers, as their work in the classroom currently goes unpaid as they finish their education. The program would award student teachers in Pennsylvania a minimum grant of $10,000. It now goes on to the state Senate.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials say firefighters who responded to February’s fiery train derailment in Ohio struggled to immediately identify the hazardous chemicals the train was hauling due to poor communication from the railroad. The National Transportation Safety Board is holding a rare field hearing in East Palestine on the Norfolk Southern derailment. The fire chiefs whose departments were first on scene said Thursday that firefighters need more hazardous materials training. Officials involved in the response defended their decision to release toxic vinyl chloride from five tank cars and burn it because they believed it was their only option to keep them from exploding.