BREAKING NEWS: ROUTE 168 MIDLAND HEIGHTS HILL IS CLOSED DUE TO A LANDSLIDE. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS MORE…

WEATHER FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19TH, 2019

 

*** FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 8PM THURSDAY ***

TODAY – SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING.
THEN REMAINING CLOUDY DURING THE
AFTERNOON WITH THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH
NEAR 80.

TONIGHT – CLOUDY OVERNIGHT WITH MORE
THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY. LOW – 67.

THURSDAY – AGAIN MORE THUNDERSTORMS. STORMS MAY
CONTAIN STRONG GUSTY WINDS. HIGH – 73.

The Latest: 2 charged in huge cocaine bust at Philly port
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Latest on a large seizure of cocaine from a container ship in Philadelphia (all times local):
6:35 p.m.
Two members of a container ship’s crew face federal drug charges after agents raided their vessel at a Philadelphia port and seized about 33,000 pounds (15,000 kilograms) of cocaine.
Court documents filed Tuesday charge Ivan Durasevic and Fonofaavae Tiasage with conspiracy to possess cocaine aboard a ship subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
An affidavit says the two crew members admitted they helped load cocaine onto the MSC Gayane while it was at sea. Agents say a total of 14 boats approached the vessel on two separate occasions. Crew members allegedly helped transfer bales of cocaine from the boats to the container ship.
An online court docket does not list defense attorneys for the defendants.
Federal prosecutors call it one of the largest cocaine seizures in U.S. history.
___
5:55 p.m.
The owner of a container ship where U.S. law enforcement officials say they found about 33,000 pounds (15,000 kilograms) worth of cocaine says it “takes this matter very seriously.”
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. said Tuesday in a statement that it has a “longstanding history of cooperating” with law enforcement agencies to target drug traffickers.
Federal agents raided the MSC Gayane on Tuesday and seized the cocaine from the Swiss-owned company’s ship.
The U.S. attorney’s office says it’s one of the largest drug busts in American history.
Members of the crew were arrested and face federal charges.
The company says it’s grateful to authorities for “identifying any suspected abuse of its services.”
___
4:10 p.m.
U.S. authorities have seized more than $1 billion worth of cocaine from a ship at a Philadelphia port, calling it one of the largest drug busts in American history.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Philadelphia announced the massive bust on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon. Officials said agents seized about 16.5 tons (15 metric tons) of cocaine from a large ship at the Packer Marine Terminal.
U.S. Attorney William McSwain said in a tweet that so much cocaine “could kill millions — MILLIONS — of people.”
The drug seizure is the latest in a series of large cocaine busts along the East Coast.
Authorities say members of the ship’s crew have been arrested and charged.

NEW YORK (AP) — Comic Jon Stewart used buddy Stephen Colbert’s late-night show to keep pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell over the fund to aid September 11th first responders. Stewart accused McConnell of dithering on the bill. The senator had said earlier Monday that it will get done.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is stepping up its outreach to Congress as tensions escalate in the Middle East. Lawmakers will receive a series of classified and unclassified briefings on Iran from Trump administration officials. That’s according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. McConnell says the risk of a conflict with Iran is real, and he says the administration should work with U.S. allies “to encourage Iran’s leaders to cease their aggression.”

UNDATED (AP) — Medication withheld, cries for help ignored, routine checks neglected: With suicides a problem in many jails across the U.S., an AP/Capital News Service examination raises troubling questions about whether deaths could have been avoided with more training, better technology and fewer broken rules. What are authorities doing to stop these tragedies? Some are adding staff and changing policies, but one expert says jails are unfairly being asked to become mental health and drug treatment centers.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The father of a 6-year-old killed in the 2012 shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School has won a defamation suit against the authors of a book that claimed the shooting never happened. It’s the latest victory for victims’ relatives who have been taking a more aggressive stance against conspiracy theorists. Damages will be decided in October.

WASHINGTON (AP) — As he prepares to formally announce his reelection campaign, President Donald Trump is threatening to remove millions of people who are living in the United States illegally. In a pair of tweets that are likely to energize his base of supporters, he’s warning that the action will begin next week. U.S. officials say immigration officers weren’t aware Trump would publicize sensitive law enforcement plans.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf wants Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled Legislature to authorize the state to join a regional consortium that sets a price and caps on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The Democratic governor’s move is part of his effort to fight climate change in the nation’s No. 3 electric power state. Wolf’s aides have approached key lawmakers in recent days about adding the provision to budget-related legislation that’s expected to pass this month.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka police have apologized for a Father’s Day tweet that encouraged people to turn in dads who have outstanding warrants. The Kansas City Star reports that the tweet sent Sunday says, in part: “Want to give him a Father’s Day he’ll never forget? Call TPD and we’ll help your family make a memory that will last a lifetime.” In a statement Monday, the department says the tweet was sent by someone on its social media team and that it was meant to be lighthearted and humorous but ended up being hurtful. The department says it quickly deleted the tweet. Calling the incident a “learning experience,” the department offered thanks to all who reached out to say how the tweet made them feel.