NEW YORK (AP) — A jury has started deliberations in the rape trial of Harvey Weinstein. The jury is weighing the evidence Tuesday after often-emotional testimony from multiple women who accused him of sexual assault. Weinstein is charged with raping a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performed oral sex on another woman in 2006. Other accusers testified as part of the prosecution’s effort to show he used the same tactics to victimize many women over the years. Weinstein maintains any sexual conduct was consensual.

NEW YORK (AP) — Asian-American businesses in major U.S. cities are seeing a remarkable decline in customers amid fears about the viral outbreak that originated in China. City and health officials are trying to stanch the financial bleeding through information campaigns and personal visits to shops and restaurants. They emphasize that with just 15 cases diagnosed in the entire country there is no reason to avoid them. Some business owners have seen their customer traffic cut by more than half and are anxiously waiting for things to return to normal.

The city of Aliquippa is looking to hire police officers and firefighters. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The deadline is approaching for candidates for president of the United States and for state attorney general, treasurer and auditor general to file paperwork to make Pennsylvania’s April 28 primary ballot. Some have already filed ahead of Tuesday’s 5 p.m. close-of-business deadline. Filing for the Democratic presidential primary are California billionaire Tom Steyer, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and former Vice President Joe Biden. President Donald Trump has filed for the Republican primary.

A Pittsburgh grandmother is accused of giving a marijuana cigarette to her 11 and 12-year-old grandsons on New Year’s Eve. Charges against 47-year-old Tonika Averytt were filed Monday. The criminal complaint said both boys were given the marijuana cigarette, which they both smoked and inhaled, while at a home on Memory Lane in Pittsburgh’s Bedford Dwellings neighborhood to celebrate New Year’s Eve with family. Police said a video found on social media showed the boy inhaling from the cigarette and in the background, a female, later identified as Averytt, allegedly tells them, “I mean it, don’t have no cameras or nothing. I’m not playing.” Police said Averytt later admitted to investigators that she gave the boys the marijuana cigarette and said she told them ‘no cameras’ because she knew if it was on camera she could possibly face charges. Averytt is charged with corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Authorities have charged two men in the strangulation homicide of a woman whose body was found in a McKeesport park last year. Allegheny County police say the pair, who are already incarcerated, are charged in the death of 43-year-old Tameka Dallas, whose body was found Sept. 12 in a wooded area of Renziehausen Park. The suspects are charged with homicide, robbery of a motor vehicle, evidence-tampering and abuse of a corpse.

An Amber Alert issued for a 16-year-old boy was canceled after police say the teenager was found halfway across the state. Police said the person the teenager was with is in custody after the two were found in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Police say the incident is tied to a deadly shooting in Connellsville where 52-year-old William Stewart was killed. Homicide charges have been filed in Stewart’s death. 37-year-old Marjorie Ann Jay and 31-year-old Keith Bradshaw, are both charged with homicide following the overnight shooting. Police said the 16-year-old is not considered a suspect in the case.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, 2020

 

 

TODAY – A STEADY RAIN THIS MORNING. SHOWERS
CONTINUING THIS AFTERNOON. HIGH – 52.

TONIGHT – PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW – 25.

WEDNESDAY – PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH – 35.

An overturned truck on the Pennsylvania Turnpike has led to restrictions in the westbound lanes this morning, Tuesday February 18, 2020. At this time it’s not known if there are any injuries.

The crash was reported a little before 4:30 a.m. near milepost 11 in Big Beaver. Stay tuned to Beaver County Radio for updates on this developing story.