(New Brighton, Pa.) The New Brighton Area Police Department is issuing a fraud alert to warn citizens of reports that New Brighton Borough telephone numbers have been used recently as part of a telephone spoofing scam targeting individuals in the area. Spoofing is the deliberate falsifying of information transmitted to a caller ID display to disguise an identity.

The warning was sent out via e-mail and social media outlets warning residents that the
perpetrators of the scam represent themselves as employees of the New Brighton Area Police Department or a New Brighton Borough Wmployee. They alter caller ID systems to make it appear that the call is coming from a local number (724-843-xxxx) and attempt to obtain or verify personally identifiable information. Individuals receiving phone calls from these numbers should not provide any personal information.

New Brighton Police Department is asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this telephone spoofing scam to call the New Brighton Area Police Department at (724) 846-2277.

(Etna, Pa.)  According to Pa. State Police, a man in a pickup truck drove south in the northbound lanes of Route 28 from Fox Chapel to Etna hitting several cars. The driver finally crashed as he was exiting the highway on the Etna ramp in Sharpsburg.

State Troopers say the man was taken to the hospital to be evaluated and they believe the he was under the influence of alcohol.

The Driver is now facing charges of reckless driving and additional charges may be added after toxicology reports come back.

(Baden, Pa.) A garbage truck crashed into a home shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday on Berry Street in Baden. The truck slid down a hill and went through a railing before hitting a house.

A family of five was sleeping inside the home when the truck crashed into the living room. No one was hurt in the accident.

Crews pulled the truck out of the house just after 8 a.m.

(Darlington, Pa.) 37 year old Janine Young of Beaver is accused of sexually assaulting a 15 year old boy. Pa State Troopers are reporting that Young allegedly sexually assaulted the boy numerous times between October of of last year and earlier this month.

She faces charges including statutory sexual assault, indecent assault and corruption of minors

Young faces a preliminary hearing later this month.

(MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa.) It was a tense moment yesterday for 77 passengers on A Delta Air Lines flight that slid off a runway at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Flight 2231 heading to Atlanta slid off a taxiway shortly before 6:30 p.m.

Crews are working to remove the plane, an airport spokesperson said Thursday morning, and there is no impact to operations at the airport.

The plane involved was a Boeing 717.

Heavy snow showers were pushing through the region Wednesday evening, but it is not clear at this point if weather was a factor in the incident.

No injuries were reported as all 77 passengers were assisted off the plane by first responders and bused back to the terminal.

Statewide judges get party endorsement to run for high court
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s two major political parties have endorsed statewide appellate court judges to run in this year’s election for an open state Supreme Court seat. In state party committee meetings over the weekend, Republicans endorsed Kevin Brobson, the president judge of the Commonwealth Court. Democrats endorsed Superior Court Judge Maria McLaughlin. The seat is open because Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Saylor is retiring. Brobson, 50, of Harrisburg, was first elected in 2009. He spent 13 years at a law firm before getting elected. McLaughlin, 54, of Philadelphia, was a prosecutor for 19 years in Philadelphia before becoming a judge in Philadelphia and getting elected to Superior Court in 2017.

Budget deficit totals record $735.7 billion through January
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government’s budget deficit hit $735.7 billion through the first four months of the budget year — an all-time high for the period. The shortfall accumulated as a pandemic-triggered recession cut into tax revenues while spending on COVID relief measures sent outlays soaring. The Treasury Department reported Wednesday that the deficit for the budget year that began Oct. 1 is 89% higher than the $389.2 billion deficit run up in the same period a year ago. Last year’s deficit through January had not yet been impacted by the pandemic which hit in February.