February 7, 2026 4:32 am
A boil water advisory is now in effect for about 95,000 customers in the South Hills of Allegheny County and most of Washington county including the city of Washington, Canonsburg, Cecil Twp. and Peters Twp. A water main break shortly before midnight in Union Township damaged the Elrama Volunteer Fire Department, an unknown number of homes and the roadway, a Washington County 911 supervisor said. According to an emergency alert from Pennsylvania American Water, residents in the affected area may have no water or low water pressure, or discolored or cloudy water. Repairs are expected to take until about 10 p.m. Saturday to complete, the alert said. The fire department said the water company is working to get a water buffalo in the area, according to reports. Also, Elrama Avenue is closed from State Route 837 to Hout Lane because of the break. When work is completed, customers are advised to run water at the lowest level of their home for discoloration and at the lowest level for cloudiness. Here’s the complete list of Washington County municipalities covered by the advisory: Amwell, Buffalo, Canonsburg, Canton, Caroll Township, Cecil Township, Chartiers, City of Washington, Claysville, Cross Creek, Donegal Township, East Washington, Fallowfield, Finleyville, Forward Township, Green Hills Borough, Houston, Jefferson, Monongahela, Mount Pleasant, New Eagle, North Franklin, North Strabane, Nottingham, Peters Township, Somerset Township, South Franklin, South Strabane, Union Township and West Middletown.
February 6, 2026 11:46 am
Washington County 911 said that a blast of snow caused multiple accidents around the county around noon on Friday. Interstate 70 Eastbound at the Murtland Avenue Exit was closed due to a series of accidents and supervisors also said that Interstate 70 East and West to Route 519 were snow covered and slippery and was the scene of a host of accidents as well. There have been no reports of any major injuries. The interstate opened back up early in the afternoon.
February 7, 2026 2:50 am
Traffic conditions deteriorated quickly on area roadways. State Police say at least one person was killed and nine others injured in an 25-vehicle crash on Interstate 79 North in Butler County. Both lanes of the highway were closed for several hours – between the Zelienople and Evans City exits. The crash waS reported just before ten-thirty Friday morning and was believed to have been caused by snowy and icy road conditions.
February 7, 2026 2:52 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A racist post on President Donald Trump’s social media account depicting former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as primates in a jungle has been taken down. The White House initially defended the Republican president’s Thursday night post. But the post was deleted Friday after widespread backlash for its treatment of the nation’s first Black president and first lady, who are Democrats. Black and white Republicans joined civil rights advocates in criticizing the post as racist. An Obama spokeswoman says the former president has no response.
February 7, 2026 2:35 am
Three Washington men will face trial for the robbery and shooting of a witness at the Washington Food Mart in November. Christopher Ellis-Valperga, 19 faces attempted homicide and robbery charges. Christian Patrene, 19 and Julian Asbury, 17 face conspiracy homicide and conspiracy robbery charges. Asbury has been charged as an adult. All three men face multiple other charges. Ellis-Valperga and Patrene waived their charges to court. Asbury, a juvenile had his charges held without a hearing. According to police the three entered the store to rob it at gunpoint. The victim, playing a video game drew her legal weapon to defend herself was shot multiple times. She was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment. The clerk at the store said that the actors were unsuccessful in the robbery attempt. All three will be formally arraigned in March.
February 5, 2026 10:37 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Pam Bondi says a key participant in the 2012 attack on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans is in custody. Bondi says the man landed Friday morning at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The attack killed Americans including Ambassador Chris Stevens and immediately emerged as a divisive political issue. Republicans challenged President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on security at the facility, the military response to the violence and the Democratic administration’s changing narrative about who was responsible. A Libyan militant suspected of being a mastermind of the attacks was convicted in the U.S. and is serving a prison sentence.
February 7, 2026 2:18 am
It is that time of year where local communities find out if their local projects will receive grant funding from the Local Share Account that is funded by taxes levied on Pennsylvania gambling casinos. This year Washington County received $9.5 million in funding. According to Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman, that figure is down significantly from last year. Sherman says last year Washington County received more than $13 million in LSA funds making this year’s decisions “dicey”. One hundred thirty applications were made to the review committee and fifty four projects received funds. The largest of the awards granted was $1.95 million to the Washington County Department of Public Safety. That money will be spent on subscriber radio equipment that is needed for the new Emergency 9-1-1 Radio system presently under construction. More than 70% of funds went to public interest projects and public safety initiatives such as repair of aging sewer lines and South Strabane Township’s law enforcement traffic camera network. Commissioner Larry Maggi was pleased to see the committee award boy scouts, historical societies and parks along with job training programs monies for community development. Commissioner Electra Janis pointed to a collaborative CDL training program involving Trinity, Fort Cherry, Avella, McGuffey and Canon-McMillan school districts. She said this allows students to earn their certification creating job opportunities without college debt. The county will be contacting the awardees to outline the next steps in the funding process.
February 5, 2026 2:50 am
The Washington County Salary Board experienced some disagreement over the creation of a CES Director and an Inter-agency Collaboration Manager positions. The Salary Board is made up of the three county commissioners, the controller and the elected official that is requesting the changes in their department payroll, whether they be new hires, elimination of positions or salary adjustments. Commissioner Larry Maggi and Controller Heather Sheatler voted against the creation of the positions. Commissioners Nick Sherman and Electra Janis voted in favor. Ordinarily, such a vote would defeat the measure. Commissioner Nick Sherman called on Director of Human Services Dr. John Tamiggi to provide the deciding third vote to approve the creation of the positions. Maggi argued against the procedure that he says goes against county code. A non-elected official is not entitled to vote to approve new hires. Sheatler said that her solicitor argued that Tamiggi is an “at will employee” and not entitled to such a vote. Both Maggi and Sheatler said that they do not know why the positions are being created. County Solicitor Gary Sweat said that code does allow the head of an agency to provide a vote in the absence of an elected official. Commissioner Nick Sherman, in a subsequent interview did disclose that the positions are being created in anticipation of the implementation of a county run drug and alcohol program that would fall under Tamiggi’s direction. According to Maggi and Sheatler, litigation against the creation of the positions could result, costing additional money to taxpayers above the $80,000 and $52,000 salary requests. Sherman said that none of that salary money will be spent until the county is approved to operate its own drug and alcohol program.
February 6, 2026 5:03 am
The Washington County Local Emergency Planning Committee held their first quarterly meeting. The biggest announcement was the introduction of Washington County joining the alert system Regroup. Dan Harvey, Deputy Director of Public Safety for Washington County says that the alert system will allow residents to receive notifications of emergency situations in their neighborhood. Alerts can be for weather, chemical spills or active shooters. He said that in just over a week of availability, nearly 2000 people have signed up for the service. Access to the system can be found on the Washington County Webpage under the Stay Informed, Stay Ready tab on the home page. In other public safety business, the group discussed two major incidents that involved a chlorine leak at the Monongahela Sewage Treatment Plant and the recent explosion at the Langeloth Metallurgical plant. Officials also wish to remind companies that their Tier II chemical facility reports are now due. Harvey says that of 626 active facilities, only 16 have reported. Facilities have until April 1 to report.
February 6, 2026 4:51 am
UNIONTOWN, Pa. — State Police are investigating a fatal shooting Thursday afternoon in Uniontown. Troopers say it happened along Dunlap Street. Fayette County Coroner Bob Baker said the victim was taken to a local hospital from the scene, where he later died. Baker identified the man as Lemaur Thompson Jr., 20, of Uniontown. Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said police are looking for a suspect identified as Braedon Dickinson, 18. He is described as a Black man who is 5 feet 10 inches tall with a thin build. Police say he should be considered armed and dangerous.
