June 1, 2026 5:05 am
The Washington County Coroners Office has announced that a Hickory man was killed in a one-vehicle crash Sunday night in Peters Township. According to the coroner, 37 year old Alexander Lauterbach lost control of his vehicle while traveling north along Washington Road. The vehicle rolled over and came to rest in the parking lot in the Waterdam Centre Shopping Plaza around 8:30 p.m. He was transported to Canonsburg Hospital were he was pronounced dead a short time later. A passenger in the vehicle was also transported to the hospital but there is no word on their identity or condition. The coroners office and Peters Township Police continue to investigate.
June 1, 2026 5:00 am
South Strabane Township Department of Fire & Emergency Services held a ceremony to welcome in its new Truck 44-2. This new truck is headlined by its 107 foot Ascendant rear-mount ladder, 500 gal tank and the truck’s ability to handle different scenarios that reflects the needs in the township. The process to obtain the new firetruck goes back to 2022 when Fire Chief Jordan Cramer identified a gap in the department’s capabilities to protect the community. The apparatus itself is a 2025 Pierce Enforcer and was made by the Pierce manufacturing in Appleton, Wisconsin. The truck’s increased aerial reach allows for better reach of multi story buildings as opposed to the seventy foot ladder on the older ladder fire truck. Another feature on the new truck is the ability to handle up a 15 degree incline terrain. At the ceremony, the fire department demonstrated the new ladder and pulley system, as seen in the photo.
May 31, 2026 8:02 am
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A United Airlines flight bound for Minneapolis was diverted to Wisconsin on Friday night after reports of an unruly passenger. An airline said United flight 2005 from Chicago to Minneapolis landed safely in Madison, Wisconsin, to address a security concern with an unruly passenger. The Boeing 737-900 had 147 passengers and six crew aboard. No injuries were reported, according to the airline. The flight continued its journey and landed in Minneapolis early Saturday morning.
May 31, 2026 7:55 am
BEIRUT (AP) — Israeli troops have captured a strategic mountain topped with a Crusader-built castle in southern Lebanon in their deepest incursion into the country in more than a quarter-century. The Israel military announced Sunday that it has captured Beaufort castle near the city of Nabatiyeh, after days of intense fighting and airstrikes in nearby villages where Israeli troops fought Hezbollah members. It marks a major gain for Israel. The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began in early March. Israel and Lebanon, who have been at war since Israel was created in 1948, held direct talks in Washington last week and are due to meet again later this week.
May 31, 2026 7:54 am
(AP) – Ukraine has launched new strikes on Russian energy sites. Russian authorities and media say drone debris set fire to a fuel storage facility in the Rostov region, and civilian infrastructure was reported damaged in Saratov province. Ukraine has increased attacks on Russia’s oil and gas facilities, saying they fund Moscow’s invasion. Meanwhile, Kyiv denied Russian claims that a Ukrainian drone struck the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Russia’s state nuclear energy company accused Ukraine of a deliberate attack. The Zaporizhzhia plant has repeatedly come under fire since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
May 31, 2026 8:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — An upcoming celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, called “The Great American State Fair,” has faced challenges as several musical guests backed out due in part to its connections to President Donald Trump. Organizers announced Saturday that Trump himself will now headline the event. The event is set to start June 25 on Washington’s National Mall. Some artists, like Bret Michaels and Martina McBride, withdrew over concerns about the event’s political ties. Others, including Flo Rida and Vanilla Ice, still plan to perform.
May 31, 2026 7:00 am
NOTTINGHAM TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a near-drowning in Washington County. State Police were called to Pine Nut Drive in Nottingham Township around 2:40 Friday afternoon for a child who was not breathing and determined that a 5-year-old boy had been submerged in an in-ground pool behind a home. Police say family members had pulled the boy out of the pool by the time first responders arrived and troopers performed CPR for an extended period of time before he was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital where he was last listed in critical condition. Police say they believe the incident was accidental and happened during a family party with people going in and out of the pool. The investigation, however, continues.
May 31, 2026 7:00 am
Officials with the North Franklin Volunteer Fire Company are warning residents of a possible scammer. They say someone is actively soliciting donations by telephone. That’s something they don’t do to raise funds. In addition, there are also emails claiming to be registering vendors for the company’s upcoming Food Truck Festival. They urge everyone to take caution with any fundraising effort. Anyone interested in volunteering, donating, or taking part in the Food Truck Festival can visit the North Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department Facebook page for more information.
May 30, 2026 4:02 am
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — For many in Congo and elsewhere in Central and West Africa, there is no shame in craving wild meat, a key part of the culture. Even a disease as terrifying as Ebola, which is currently ravaging a remote part of eastern Congo, has failed to stem demand for wild meat emerging from the Congo Basin. The Congo Basin is an expansive forested ecosystem rich in wildlife from great apes to serpents — both of which are hunted for their meat. Although Ebola is not spread by food, cases in Africa have been associated with hunting, butchering and processing meat from infected animals.
May 31, 2026 7:00 am
Officials say Lithium batteries in a maintenance room were the cause of a fire at the City Mission in downtown Washington Friday morning. Washington County 911 says the fire was reported around 7:30 a.m. Washington City Fire Chief Chris Richer tells WJPA News the batteries were properly mounted to a charging shelf above a chair and once they combusted the chair caught fire. Richer says the buildings sprinkler system put the fire out and crews found minimal fire but there was heavy smoke. The entire complex was evacuated but no injuries resulted. The fire has been ruled accidental. City Mission President and CEO Diana Irey Vaughan says the fire was in the single men’s residence area near the cafeteria.
