October 1, 2026 5:58 pm
The attorney for a Peters Township High School student accused of running a sextortion network involving his classmates was in Washington County Court a few weeks ago, asking a judge to release 18-year-old Zachariah Meyers from jail pending trial. The judge, however, denied the request, ruling that the court could not adequately address concerns about victim safety and flight risk if he were placed on house arrest. Meyers served as class president at the high school and prosecutors allege Meyers used social media platforms, including TikTok, to manipulate victims into sending sexually explicit images and videos. His attorney appealed the ruling to the State Superior Court and in a ruling handed down this week, the court denied his motion to modify bail.
October 1, 2026 5:38 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military is moving roughly 9,000 troops aboard a group of ships to the Middle East. The move follows President Donald Trump’s warning of possible new strikes against Iran. Meanwhile, Trump is suggesting there are early indications linking Iran to a co-pilot who attempted to crash an Israel-bound flight on Wednesday. The president is warning of retaliation if the link is confirmed. As for the ships, they can carry more than 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines. A U.S. official says this deployment could mean three carriers will be in the Middle East as early as the end of October.
October 1, 2026 4:22 pm
Washington County Commissioners acted as planned and voted to withhold hotel tax revenues from the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency. The vote was 2-1 with Commissioner Larry Maggi dissenting. Prior to the vote, Maggi asked that the measure be tabled in order to consider a letter received by commissioners from the WCTPA in the last 24 hours. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman expressed that he was frustrated by not getting the information that he has been asking for, above and beyond a standard accounting audit. He forcefully denied the request and called for a vote. Sherman says that the commissioners are able to withhold the funds based on county code. WCTPA president Jeff Kotula says that they have provided their audit and any information above that will not be recognized as a standard accounting audit and any withholding of funds by the commissioners and by the county treasurer would be illegal based on county code. In a written statement from the WCTPA that included a letter from Sherman to the WCTPA Sherman states that he wants the county to have a more active role in tourism spending and the appointment of decision makers on how hotel tax money is spent. According to Commissioner Larry Maggi, that goes against the reasoning that the County appointed the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and the WCTPA to conduct tourism activities on behalf of the County. It is unknown if any further communication between the parties will take place before funds are withheld.
October 1, 2026 4:59 pm
Updated 2026-2027 COVID vaccines are available, but it seems as though less people are willing to get the shot. Dr. William Sharpnack, a family physician in Washington, believes this could be for several reasons, including COVID being less severe than it used to be, general apprehension of vaccines, and the fact that many people do not like seasonal shots. Sharpnack says it is still important to get the vaccine, and it is more important depending on a person’s risk factors. He says those with certain chronic illnesses, like asthma, cancer, and diabetes, children younger than two, and people older than 65 should all get vaccinated. Sharpnack says there is no question that COVID vaccines are safe. (Photo: AP)
October 1, 2026 12:45 pm
Nearly 1,000 Duquesne Light Company workers went on strike at midnight. Members of Local 29 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers walked off the job following failed contract negotiations. The union is seeking management solutions for safety, staffing, equipment and working conditions. A representative stated that the union had not received a proposal from the company after presenting its last full offer Tuesday night. Striking workers have established continuous picket lines at company facilities. Union members are rotating on six-hour shifts to maintain a 24-hour presence every day. Tension occurred at facility gates as trucks from Indiana arrived at the property. Duquesne Light brought in out-of-state, non-union workers to fill operational gaps left by striking personnel. (Photo: WPXI)
October 1, 2026 12:32 pm
(AP) – A medical helicopter crash off Catalina Island near Los Angeles has killed two people and hospitalized two. Authorities on Thursday morning continued searching for a fifth person who was also aboard the helicopter. First responders were called to the crash shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday. Coast Guard Capt. Stacey Crecy says the helicopter was transporting a patient off the island and went down shortly after takeoff. The two survivors were brought to mainland hospitals in stable condition. Authorities say the helicopter is submerged in 240 feet of water off Catalina, which is about 22 miles off the mainland. It’s not clear what caused the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.
October 1, 2026 10:46 am
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Renee Good’s family has sued the U.S. government and several immigration officials, alleging wrongful death, conspiracy and other violations in the 37-year-old woman’s killing by an immigration officer during a federal crackdown in Minnesota. The two lawsuits were filed by Good’s partner, Becca Good, and Renee’s brother Brent Ganger. Renee Good, a mother of three, was fatally shot Jan. 7 as protests against immigration raids flared across Minneapolis.
September 30, 2026 5:59 am
Crews are on the scene of a water main break in North Franklin Township. Washington County 911 dispatchers say it happened around 3:15 a.m. in the 400-block of Franklin Farms Road. Video from the scene initially showed water spraying directly on the front of a home. Dispatchers tell WJPA News that three homes were flooded. Crews from Pennsylvania American Water are on the scene. As of 7:30 a.m, Pennsylvania American Water spokesman Brent Robinson tells us it was a 16-inch main that ruptured. 25 customers are impacted and repairs are expected to take six-to-eight hours.
October 1, 2026 4:45 am
In Hanover Township, there have been five hearings for a conditional use application towards a proposed data center at Starpointe Business Park. Prime Data Centers, LLC is proposing the development, which would consist of seven buildings and a power generation facility. Residents have heard from multiple witnesses for Prime. During Wednesday night’s hearing, witnesses discussed physical characteristics of Starpointe Business Park. Kate Nolan Bryden, the senior vice president of development, hopes all of the witnesses addressed residents’ concerns. If the conditional use application is approved, Prime would like to host an open house for residents to learn more about the development. One resident, Mark Dumbovich, says he is unsure if he supports the data center or not, and he wants to hear from more witnesses. Another resident, Cathy Glandon, says that she is still concerned about noise pollution and how it could affect her health. Solicitor Dennis Makel announced that the hearing will continue October 7, 12, and 28 at 6:00 PM at the Hanover Township Fire Department Hall.
October 1, 2026 5:41 pm
HARRISBURG – As rapid data center development adds significant new demand to the regional electric grid, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today advanced proposed safeguards aimed at protecting Pennsylvania consumers and preserving electric reliability during periods when electricity supplies may be strained. By a vote of 4-0, the Commission approved a Tentative Order seeking public comment on proposed changes to how Pennsylvania electric utilities prepare for and respond to periods of tight electricity supply, including new procedures for electric distribution companies addressing large loads such as data centers. At the center of the proposal is a key consumer protection principle: certain large new loads that have not secured sufficient new electric capacity to support their demand would be subject to curtailment before other customers when additional load reductions are needed to maintain reliability. The Commission is also proposing that large loads such as data centers not be classified by electric distribution companies as critical loads that would be exempt from curtailment during pre-emergency or emergency events. Acting now to protect consumers and reliability. The action builds on a Sept. 10 motion offered by Vice Chair Barrow and unanimously approved by the Commission directing PUC staff to outline proposed updates that Pennsylvania’s electric distribution companies must make to their emergency electric load-control procedures. It also follows a recent independent analysis commissioned by the PUC warning that rapidly growing electricity demand – driven largely by data center development – could create serious reliability risks if electric supply does not keep pace. Under the study’s reference scenario, the regional grid fails to meet PJM’s reliability planning standard from 2027 through 2030, with modeled reliability risk by 2030 nearly six times that standard.
