July 4, 2026 2:59 am
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Gaining freedom from the heat will be a challenge this Independence Day in the eastern U.S., and it’s already starting ahead of the holiday weekend. The National Weather Service says dangerous, record-breaking heat will continue across much of the central and eastern United States including here in Washington County and will continue along the East Coast through the weekend. In Washington County, an extreme heat warning that was to expire on Friday has now been extended to eight o’clock Saturday night. With humidity making it feel hotter than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, sweat will be dampening spirits at many celebrations marking 250 years of American independence. In Philadelphia, officials shortened the route of a Thursday morning parade, canceled an afternoon all-American Block Party, and pushed back the start times of an evening picnic and concert at Independence Mall. Locally, the Main Street Farmer’s Market was cancelled on Thursday, but the festivities are on as scheduled in Canonsburg for Saturday, including the annual parade. Meanwhile, cooling centers are open in our area. For the complete list, click on this link: Click Here.
July 4, 2026 3:35 am
Washington Mayor JoJo Burgess reminds city residents that a noise ordinance goes into effect at 10:00 PM every day. This is especially important to remember with the upcoming Fourth of July celebrations. Residents are encouraged to contact law enforcement or the mayor if there are disruptions, including fireworks, after that time. Mayor Burgess also addressed the new fireworks stories in the area. He says that all of the fireworks sold at these stores are legal in Pennsylvania.
July 4, 2026 3:56 am
A threat involving a van with pipe bombs and a shooting led to a heavy police presence at Rivers Casino Friday evening. Around 8:00 PM, a man reported he was going to begin shooting at the casino. No shots were fired, but police investigated a van that was parked behind the casino. After police cleared both the casino and the parking garage, workers started to go back inside around 9:00 PM.
July 4, 2026 4:03 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has ushered in the 250th anniversary of American independence with soaring rhetoric about American exceptionalism before veering into a darkly political speech with warnings about communism. Trump’s speech Friday night at Mount Rushmore swerved from the typically apolitical, unifying speeches past presidents have delivered during high-profile Independence Day celebrations. In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, delivered his own address that cast America as a nation of contradictions “working each day towards the perfection in which it was conceived.” The president’s speech capped an Independence Day eve that was otherwise most notable for a brutal heat wave the gripped much of the eastern portion of the country.
July 4, 2026 4:02 am
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. (AP) — Three people died and seven others were rescued after a boat capsized on a Wisconsin lake during a strong storm. Many injuries were reported Friday in Wisconsin’s Walworth County as the storm toppled trees, knocked down power lines, and damaged buildings. Police are investigating the capsizing on Lake Geneva. The mayor declared an emergency and noted power outages and minor injuries. County authorities received 911 calls reporting damage and people trapped in buildings. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the area, forecasting heavy rain and lingering showers into Independence Day.
July 4, 2026 4:06 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have tied the knot at Madison Square Garden. Adam Sandler officiated the star-studded event, which included guests like Camila Cabello, Hugh Grant, and Gigi Hadid. The announcement was made Friday evening, but many details remain hidden, including photos of the couple’s attire. Swift wore Cartier jewelry, and both wore outfits by Christian Dior Haute Couture. Celebrities and fans alike have rushed to celebrate the couple’s marriage, with Dolly Parton even joking about their future children.
July 4, 2026 4:00 am
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran has begun a dayslong funeral for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, months after an airstrike killed him at the start of the war. He was 86. Khamenei’s body will be on display at the Grand Mosalla in Tehran, Iran’s capital, beginning Saturday. Iran’s government expects to see millions flood the streets of the capital in scenes reminiscent of the burial of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989. That could provide a boost for Iran’s government, particularly as it tries to leverage its hold on the Strait of Hormuz in negotiations with the United States over a permanent end to the war.
July 3, 2026 2:44 pm
A man who has been charged with child sex crimes in Washington County was arrested in Ohio. On Friday, Pennsylvania State Police said Matthew Gabriel Barth, 43, of Eighty Four, was arrested in Toledo. Troopers said a tip led them to Barth’s location. In April, PSP offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to Barth’s arrest. Court documents show Barth was charged with several sex crimes in Somerset Township, including rape of a child, sexual assault and indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, among others.
July 3, 2026 2:43 pm
BULLSKIN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man and woman are facing charges after an incident where a child was injured and a woman was hit by a vehicle in Fayette County. Pennsylvania State Police said troopers were called to the 570 block of Kreinbrook Hill Road in Bullskin Township at 11:28 a.m. on Thursday for reports of a person hit by a vehicle at a house. Investigators said that during a dispute between two people who knew each other, Tyler Eugene Sanders, 20, of Connellsville, struck a woman with a vehicle intentionally. That woman was taken to a local hospital. Police say Sanders also backed the vehicle into the front door of a home to forcibly gain access to it during this dispute. This caused extensive and the situation continued inside. Troopers say a child was injured in the ongoing altercation. The child had to be taken to a hospital for treatment. Police said another woman, Michelle Renee Pritts, 39, of Connellsville, entered the house after troopers had secured the scene. She was arrested and charged after police say she refused to leave, despite multiple commands to do so. Sanders himself was taken to a hospital for injuries. A second man was at the scene and sustained injuries during this incident, but declined to be taken to a hospital. Troopers have not said exactly how all of the injuries were caused or the relationship between everyone involved, but they confirm charges are being prepared against the parties. The investigation is still considered active.
July 3, 2026 4:18 am
A group of Democratic governors is asking the U.S. Postal Service to withdraw its proposed rule to comply with an executive order that seeks to create a federal list of eligible voters, including those eligible to receive a ballot by mail. Under the order, signed by President Trump, federal agencies would create voter lists for each state and the Postal Service would limit mailed ballots to those on the lists. The Democratic governors, in their letter sent Thursday, said the Postal Service’s proposed rule undermines trust in elections and complicates voting. The Postal Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
