Pittsburgh diocese hit with lawsuits over child sexual abuse
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Fourteen people who say they were sexually victimized as children by Roman Catholic priests decades ago are filing new lawsuits against the Pittsburgh Diocese.
Among the priests accused in the 12 lawsuits, filed Thursday, are several who weren’t identified in a state grand jury report released in August that named some 300 “predator priests.”
The accusers’ lawyer, Alan Perer, says they are seeking monetary damages and an acknowledgement from the diocese that it bears substantial responsibility for what happened to the accusers as children. Perer says diocese officials knew about instances of abuse, but didn’t report them. The diocese isn’t commenting.
Perer says the plaintiffs are challenging time limits in state law barring lawsuits. He says it’s not fair to prevent his clients from suing when crucial evidence was hidden.

APNewsBreak: Obama’s memoir sells more than 725,000 copies
By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — First day sales for Michelle Obama’s “Becoming” topped 725,000 copies, making it one of the year’s biggest debuts.
Crown Publishing told The Associated Press on Friday that the figures include sales and pre-orders for the former first lady’s memoir include hardcover, audio and e-books editions for the United States and Canada. “Becoming” was released on Tuesday, the same day Mrs. Obama launched a national book tour . Crown also announced that it had raised the book’s print run from 1.8 million copies to 2.6 million. Reviews of the book, which traces Obama’s journey from Chicago’s South Side to the White House, have been positive, with The Washington Post praising its “impressive balance in telling the truth of her challenges while repeatedly acknowledging her lucky life.”
“Becoming” had the biggest opening of any books in 2018 by Crown’s parent company, Penguin Random House. But at least one other book this year, from Simon & Schuster, did start higher: Bob Woodward’s “Fear: Trump in the White House” sold around 900,000 copies after one day.
“Becoming” is well exceeding the pace of previous memoirs by first ladies. In 2003, Hillary Clinton’s “Living History” had first week sales of around 600,000 copies, at a time when audio sales were tiny and e-book sales nonexistent.

THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE ARE OFFERING ASSISTANCE TO BEAVER COUNTY RESIDENTS AFFECTED BY TODAY’S POWER OUTAGES. ACCORDING TO BEAVER COUNTY 9-1-1, THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO EMERGENCY SHELTERS IN PLACE FOR RESIDENTS WITHOUT HEAT OR POWER. AS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION, THE STATE POLICE HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT ITS LOBBY AT THEIR BEAVER BARRACKS ON BRIGHTON ROAD IS AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE THAT NEEDS ASSISTANCE UNTIL A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION CAN BE OBTAINED.

THE HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT’S NEW K-9 OFFICER REPORTED FOR DUTY THIS WEEK. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS MORE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

Local officials say a firefighter will be okay after being rushed to the hospital this morning after part of a tree fell on crews responding to a report of power lines down in Daugherty Township. The crews were called out for a report of power lines down when the tree branch, described as being 12 to 14 feet long, fell. Three firefighters were in the path of that falling branch but only one was seriously hurt. The extent of the firefighter’s injuries is unclear but officials say he will be fine. The victim’s name is not being released. Part of Tyler Lane was closed for a while until Duquesne Light crews were able to respond.

Thousands of people are woke up in the dark on this morning after a winter storm moved through the area. The storm started with freezing rain, which iced over power lines. As the storm progressed, the precipitation changed over to snow, which  brought down trees and power lines across the area. At the storm’s peak, 22,000 West Penn customers were without power. An additional 20,000 Duquesne Light customers were without power as well. Most of the outages were reported in Butler County. However, there were 3,000 customers in Beaver County are also left in the dark. At last check, Duquesne Light reported there are still approximately 3,500 customers still without power in Beaver County. Spokesperson Jerry Bucci provided this information to Beaver County Radio News correspondent Sandy Giordano.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH, 2018

TODAY – GENERALLY CLOUDY. A FEW FLURRIES OR SNOW
SHOWERS POSSIBLE. HIGH – 36.

TONIGHT – CLOUDY SKIES. LOW – 32.

SATURDAY – OVERCAST. HIGH NEAR 40.

SUNDAY – CLOUDY WITH OCCASIONAL SHOWERS FOR THE
AFTERNOON. A FEW FLURRIES OR SNOW
SHOWERS POSSIBLE. HIGH NEAR 40.

A GROUP OF 8TH GRADERS WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE ALIQUIPPA SCHOOL BOARD LAST NIGHT. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO WAS THERE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

A Southwest Airlines flight to Fort Myers, Florida, returned to Pittsburgh shortly after takeoff because of a bird strike, the airline said Wednesday. Flight 1486 landed safely at Pittsburgh International Airport, where it will be removed from service and inspected. The passengers and crew members eventually  boarded a different plane to Fort Meyers.