First Lady Doctor Jill Biden is touting the significant investments in Pennsylvania infrastructure that were supported by her husband. Biden mentioned the nine-billion dollars contributed to improvements in the state during a visit to Pittsburgh International Airport yesterday. The visit was part of a tour of five cities designated by the Biden White House as “workforce hubs;” cities that are seeing job creation through public and private development and innovative career training.
The former director of the Grove City Library is facing a number of charges for allegedly stealing money. WFMJ-TV reports former director Amy Gallagher allegedly stole about $26,000 from the library. Gallagher is facing six counts of forgery, four counts of theft by unlawful taking and 10 counts of tampering with records. The charges of forgery and theft by unlawful taking are felonies. The offense date listed is November 27, 2020. Gallagher has a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 26th.
A Beaver County man was one of seven people that have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material. 26 year old Karlin Jones of Beaver Falls is accused of conspiring to hack into Snapchat accounts for the purpose of removing explicit images and videos depicting the victim account holders. After obtaining the explicit material, the co-defendants would then share the images and videos with each other and others online unbeknownst to the victim account holders. The law provides up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.
State Police in Lawrence County report a two vehicle accident on route 422 in Taylor Township. According to police, 21 year old Thomas McConnell of Pulaski was eastbound on route 422 when he struck a car from behind operated by 56 year old Jo Ann Kuhn of New Castle. Kuhn then traveled off the roadway into a wooded area and overturned. Kuhn was taken to UPMC Jameson Hospital for treatment.
– Some residents near the site of the toxic train derailment in East Palestine,Ohio are participating in a long-term study on possible chemical exposure. Roughly 75 people in the area are wearing wristbands this week that are made to detect and measure specific hydrocarbons associated with fires and burning. Another portion of the study includes a survey that is open to nearby residents in Lawrence and Beaver counties. The University of Kentucky Center for Appalachian Research is collecting the data.
Grand jurors have indicted a man accused of shooting and killing a bald eagle in Washington County. The Pennsylvania Game Commission reports the bird was found dead in May in a field near Waterdam and Miller Roads. Rodney Thomas of Canonsburg has been charged with violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. If convicted, he faces the possibility of a year in prison and a fine of up to five-thousand dollars.
Pennsylvanians who drive on toll roads will see higher prices next year. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced yesterday that it has approved a five-percent toll increase, which will go into effect on January 7th of next year. The commission says it had to raise toll rates to provide PennDOT with funding for transit systems across the state.
A Mercer County woman has been convicted for her role in the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Rachel Powell, often referred to as the ‘Bullhorn Lady’ or the ‘Pink Hat Lady,’ was found guilty yesterday on charges in connection with the 2021 riot. Prosecutors have said Powell played a lead role in the insurrection. Sentencing will take place later this year.
Tonight’s Powerball drawing has an estimated jackpot of 1-billion dollars. Meanwhile, no one won the jackpot with last night’s Mega Millions drawing taking the estimated top prize for that game’s next pull on Friday to 720-million dollars.