PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — A man is in custody after he allegedly attacked three other people with a sword inside the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh in the early morning hours of July 4.

According to the criminal complaint provided to KDKA-TV, police were called to the hotel just after 1 a.m. for reports of a person bleeding and screaming in the hallway.

Once they arrived, they learned that the attack occurred in a room on the fifth floor. They observed blood on the floor and wall of the fifth floor near the room where the attack occurred.

They spoke with the victim who said that the suspect, Jake O’Leary of South Carolina, was in town with three other people for the Anthrocon 2024.

One of the victims told police that they, along with two others, were invited to come to town early and join O’Leary in his hotel room until their room was ready.

As they all went to bed, O’Leary, according to victims, yelled something to the effect of “Allah does not approve” and came back brandishing a sword. He began to swing the sword at the other occupants of the room, causing bodily harm.

One victim suffered a severe cut that split her right pinky finger to her ring finger, which was over an inch, and she also suffered tissue damage down to the bone. That victim was able to transport herself to the hospital.

O’Leary was transported to the hospital to be observed by a doctor and after he was cleared, he was taken to the Allegheny County Jail. He now faces a charge of aggravated assault.

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Pennsylvania’s Senate on Wednesday approved a bill to encourage school districts to start a pilot program that effectively bans students’ use of cellphones during the school day in an effort to improve their mental health and academic performance.

The bill, which passed 45-5, would authorize grants to school districts to buy locking bags after the district creates a policy requiring students to leave their phones in such bags for the whole school day. It now goes to the state House for consideration.

The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Sen. Ryan Aument of Lancaster, said he hopes that limits on phone use will result in improvements in students’ mental health and academic performance.

“Kids spend so much time on social media and using their smartphones that it’s taking a toll on them mentally, emotionally and academically. Smartphone restrictions have proved successful in reversing these trends,” Aument said.

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania bars and restaurants soon will likely be able to offer patrons longer happy hours and combo meals that include alcoholic beverages.

Legislation that has passed the House and Senate would nearly double the weekly limit for happy hours from 14 to 24 hours. The bill, now awaiting Gov. Josh Shapiro’s signature, also would allow bars and restaurants to provide discounts on as many as two daily food and drink combination specials.

Additionally, it would permit the cost of up to two drinks to be included in the admission price for parties establishments sponsor for sporting and other special events.

Further changes would include making permanent the expanded outdoor seating that originated during the pandemic and allow employees to work in multiple licensed liquor establishments.

The provisions, included in the bill sponsored by Rep. Matt Gergely, D-Allegheny, is designed to assist bars and eateries still attempting to financially recover from the pandemic and aid them with overcoming persistent staffing challenges.

The bill was applauded by the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association.

“It’s well known that happy hours are used to pull customers into establishments through special drink offerings,” Chuck Moran, the industry organization’s executive director, said in a statement.

“By increasing the total hours per week, we’re hopeful that through creative marketing each establishment will be able to use this tool to attract more patrons.”