Bellwood man charged with kidnapping and assault, state police say
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (WJAC) — State police say a Bellwood man was charged Monday with multiple misdemeanors and felonies including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and kidnapping following a domestic dispute which occurred Friday night.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Pennsylvania State Police, 34-year-old Brett Eugene Gates contacted the victim and requested to come to her residence because he was homeless and it was cold. At the time of the incident, troopers say the victim was protected by an active Protection from Abuse (PFA) order against Gates who is currently on probation for a previous PFA violation and has multiple past violations.
Local business owner shares impact of Coronavirus
HUNTINGDON, Pa. (WJAC) -- Standing Stone Coffee Company in Huntingdon Borough was among the few businesses that did not have to shut down operations because the pandemic, but the business still took a hit.
“Our numbers were cut down to about 20% of our original sales,” said Greg Anderson, Owner of Standing Stone Coffee Co.
Anderson said he adapted his business, adding curbside pickup, delivery and taking online orders.
The wholesale side of his company flatlined, as other businesses in the area stopped buying his products following the shutdown.
Local sportsmen club hosts annual winter shooting challenge
JOHNSTOWN, Pa (WJAC) — A shooting range in Johnstown transformed into the North Pole on Saturday afternoon as people took their shot at shooting a polar bear target.
The Daisytown Sportsmen Club hosted their 19th annual Polar Bear Shoot.
For $1 a shot, people took their chance at hitting a polar bear target the club set up at their gun range.
When the polar bear was hit in the right spot, a target exploded.
Preliminary NTSB report sheds light on fatal Cambria County plane crash
CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa — The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on the plane crash that killed two people in Cambria County on June 17th.
In the report posted on its website, the agency said, the plane “was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. The pilot and a passenger were fatally injured.” It reports the plane took off Saturday morning just after 5, about a 1/2 hour before sunrise.
Teen dead after high-speed chase with troopers in Huntingdon County, state police say
HUNTINGDON COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — State police say a teenager was killed in a high-speed chase with troopers in Huntingdon County over the weekend.
According to state police, just before midnight, troopers tried to pull over a vehicle Friday on State Route 22 for multiple traffic violations.
They say the vehicle was being driven by a 17-year-old who refused to stop and sped away from troopers.
State police say the chase continued onto Hartslog Valley Road and continued for several miles until the vehicle left the road and crashed into an embankment and two trees.
Defense Secretary meets Chinese counterpart amid rising tensions, robotic military tests
WASHINGTON (TND) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with his Chinese counterpart in Singapore for the first time since 2022, as tension in the Pacific continues escalating.
This also comes as videos online show China's military testing out robots mounted with guns.
Washington Insider Armstrong Williams joined The National Desk’s Jan Jeffcoat to discuss the issue.
"It was fascinating that China's foreign leader took them on directly, talking about the United States involvement in the escalation of tensions within Taiwan,” he said.
Juvenile suspect sought in Erie school shooting turns self in
ERIE, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a juvenile suspect being sought in a shooting that injured another student inside a northwestern Pennsylvania high school has turned himself in to police. Erie police said multiple shots were fired just after 9:20 a.m. Tuesday in a hallway at Erie High School. The injured student was said to be in stable condition. Officials said due to the suspect's age, only juvenile counts would be filed.
Mexican national arrested after alleged trafficking victim texted clues to 911, police say
VENTURA, Calif. (TND) — California police announced Thursday they rescued a 17-year-old girl allegedly trafficked into the U.S. by a Mexican national after she texted clues to authorities.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office apprehended Gerardo Cruz, who purportedly helped traffic the girl from Mexico more than two months ago, and charged him with human trafficking, forcible rape, sexual penetration with force, lewd acts upon a child and luring.
The girl texted pleas for help to 911 one night last week and provided officers landmarks to identify where she was, according to the sheriff’s department.
New record for most travelers screened at US airports set ahead of Memorial Day
WASHINGTON (TND) — The summer travel season is officially here as millions of people take to the roads and skies for Memorial Day weekend.
The Transportation Security Administration said Saturday that a new record for most travelers screened in a single day has been set.
On Friday, 2.951 million travelers were screened at airports around the country, surpassing the previous record of 2.908 million on Nov. 26, 2023.
TSA Officers have set a new record for most travelers screened in a single day!
PA court upholds conviction, sentence for man involved in 2017 Somerset Co. double-murder
SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — One of three men involved in a 2017 double murder case in Somerset County has had his conviction and sentence upheld by the state Superior Court.
Samson Washington received a life sentence after being found guilty of 1st degree homicide and criminal conspiracy in the deaths of Damian Staniszewski and James Smith.
Authorities say their bodies were found dumped along Ligonier Pike, in September of 2017.