The New Castle News is reporting police in New York City have arrested a Wampum man wanted in Lawrence County for reported sexual assault of a 2-year-old boy and child pornography dissemination. The Pennsylvania State Police computer crimes unit filed charges Wednesday against 20 year old Thomas Berly Hyatt-Baney of Old Route 18, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Hyatt-Baney faces a number of charges including indecent assault of a person younger than 13, and eight counts of child pornography. He’s being held in Manhattan and is awaiting extradition back to New Castle
A person is believed to be dead after falling from a bridge onto the Butler-Freeport Community Trail in Buffalo Township. Butler County first responders were first called to the scene just before 8 a.m. yesterday morning for reports of a person falling from the Route 28 bridge onto the trail below. Later in the morning, the Butler County Coroner was called to the scene. No further information has been released at this time.
Pittsburgh International Airport is hosting their annual abandoned property auction next month. Belongings left at the airport will be put up for bids on October seventh at the Heavy Equipment Building on Cargo Road. This year, ten abandoned cars will be sold, as will items like laptops, jewelry, and video game consoles.
– Governor Josh Shapiro says he’s looking into state reimbursement rates for autism care. The governor says his administration is scrutinizing agencies that care for people with autism and other intellectual disabilities. He announced the review in recent video address to the National Association of Direct Support Professionals, which was meeting in Pittsburgh. The governor told the group that state funding is inadequate, given the costs and demand for service. As a first step, he says his administrators will update data used to set rates for home- and community-based care providers.
On Thursday, Norfolk Southern announced a nearly $4.3 million investment into drinking water infrastructure in East Palestine. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency continues testing the water for contamination following February’s train derailment. So far, the EPA says no issues have been found. WKBN-TV reports Construction has already begun beside the current wastewater plant.
The City of Pittsburgh is getting grants through the U.S. Department of Energy. The millions in funding will go toward clean energy initiatives. City planners will work with Duquesne Light and the Green Building Alliance to put together “smart energy districts”. The areas will be see infrastructure improvements like solar power systems and electric vehicle chargers.
A tanker truck crash on the Pennsylvania turnpike yesterday afternoon is expected to keep traffic snarled until early this morning. The tanker truck went off the toll road at the New Stanton exit in Westmoreland County. The crash sent one person to the hospital and closed westbound lanes between New Stanton and Breezewood. The cleanup meant a 100-mile detour for some drivers.
A new study from Penn State indicates the spotted lanternfly may not be as damaging to trees as earlier believed. The lanternfly has overtaken most of Pennsylvania. They’re native to China and were first discovered in Berks County several years ago. The Penn State study suggests lanternflies actually have no long-term effects on forests or ornamental trees. The study says most trees recover and grow in subsequent years.
Residents in Farrell will see a change in their sewer bill in January as the city is planning on moving to a flat rate for customers. The Sharon Herald reports the flat rate for individual accounts will be between $35 and $37. The flat rate is going to be an average of individual usage. The move will happen in three phases over three years. In Phase 1, residents will move to a flat rate. in Phase 2, businesses will go to the flat rate. Industry will move to the flat rate in Phase 3. Phase 1 will start with the January bill.
A Westmoreland County man already in prison on charges of sexually assaulting a minor now faces new charges. The inmate — 19-year-old Christopher Fraser — is in jail for allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. Wednesday, he was arraigned on new charges, including child rape, statutory sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault. He was denied bail. Fraser’s preliminary hearing is set for Monday.