95.1 The Bee

Officials said on Sunday morning that a tanker truck fire forced the closure of a section of Interstate Highway 95 in northeast Philadelphia after an elevated portion of the roadway collapsed. The Philadelphia Fire Department said in a statement that firefighters responded to the scene near the Cottman Avenue exit in northeast Philadelphia around 6:30 a.m. and were able to get the blaze under control within an hour.

The collapse was caused by a tanker truck fire burning under an on-ramp. Officials told the local station that they are unsure what kind of truck it is and that they have been unable to search for a driver inside. Runoff from fuel or gas lines from the burning truck has also caused explosions underground, with a video posted on social media early Sunday appearing to show plumes of black smoke rising above the highway.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney tweeted to avoid the area and plan for alternate travel routes, and thanked first responders for their work. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro added in a tweet he has been briefed by officials and that first responders and transportation officials were on the scene. and that he and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis were “closely coordinating” with officials in the state, throughout New Jersey and in the federal government.

Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tweeted he was closely monitoring the situation: “I’ve been in touch with [the Federal Highway Administration] and spoke with Gov. Shapiro to offer any assistance that USDOT can provide to help with recovery and reconstruction.” The National Transportation Safety Board was also monitoring the situation and gathering information.

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Houston police confirmed early Sunday that a mass shooting in a parking lot outside a Houston club left at least 6 people injured, with one listed in critical condition.

Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner said at a news conference that the incident took place @2:11 a.m. local time on Sunday in the parking lot of the Tabú nightclub. When officers arrived at the scene, they began to administer aid to victims in the parking lot of the nightclub. Said Finner: “Somebody fired into a crowded parking lot … We had 6 victims here in a shooting. Apparently there was some kind of disturbance in the club that came out into the parking lot … We’re just praying that he’s going to make it Everybody else is in stable condition but we expect them to make it, so just prayers out to the family of the one victim who has just got out of surgery — I hope he’s going to be alright.”

Chief Finner said the victims ages ranged from their late 20s to early 30s, and investigators were examining surveillance footage to try and establish who was behind the shooting. Finner said that noone is in custody at this time, and the number of suspects remains unknown, adding: “Make no mistake about it. We’re going to find out who did it and hold them accountable.”

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A federal grand jury has indicted former President Donald Trump on seven criminal charges in connection with his mishandling of more than 100 classified documents that were discovered last year at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

The new charges make Trump, who was twice-impeached, the first former president to face federal criminal charges. The nature of the charges were first reported by The New York Times, with sources noting that seven charges don’t necessarily mean seven counts, as multiple counts can be associated with each charge.

Trump said on Thursday night that his attorneys were informed that he has been indicted in the special counsel’s investigation into his handling of classified documents. Trump has denied doing anything wrong, rebuffing allegations that he mishandled classified documents by claiming that he had already declassified them. Trump posted his social media platform, Truth Social: “The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax, even though Joe Biden has 1850 Boxes at the University of Delaware, additional Boxes in Chinatown, D.C., with even more Boxes at the University of Pennsylvania, and documents strewn all over his garage floor where he parks his Corvette, and which is “secured” by only a garage door that is paper thin, and open much of the time.” 

Minutes after his post, Trump sent out a fundraising appeal citing the charges, asking supporters to ‘make a contribution to peacefully stand’ with him: “The Biden-appointed Special Counsel has INDICTED me in yet another witch hunt regarding documents that I had the RIGHT to declassify as President of the United States.”   Trump later posted a four-minute video, saying in part: “I’m an innocent person. I did nothing wrong. And we will fight this out just like we’ve been fighting for seven years. It would be wonderful if we could devote our full time to making America great again.”

The White House declined to comment on the Trump indictment. Secret Service officials said its personnel will meet with Trump’s team Friday to begin security and logistics planning related to his court appearance Tuesday afternoon.

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