April 30, 2026 2:47 am
WASHINGTON, Pa – The City of Washington Police Department has filed criminal charges against Andrew Mours of Pittsburgh following an extensive investigation into the misappropriation of funds from the Washington Community Theater, a local non-profit organization. The investigation began on March 13, 2026, when representatives of the organization reported suspected financial discrepancies involving its treasurer. The case was subsequently assigned to the City Detective Unit. Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined that Mours, while serving as treasurer, unlawfully diverted funds belonging to the organization for personal use. Financial records, witness statements, and admissions made by Mours established a total loss of approximately $41,140.57. Investigators further determined that Mours engaged in deceptive practices to conceal the activity, including providing false financial information to the organization’s board and altering financial records. Based on the findings of the investigation, criminal charges have been filed against Mours, an arrest warrant was issued, and Mours has since turned himself into Magistrate Kelly Stewart’s office and was given a bond.
April 30, 2026 2:50 am
Police are investigating reports of a suspicious man along the Montour Trail in Bethel Park. Bethel Park police were called to the Montour Trail on Friday after a woman reported an encounter with a suspicious man around 8 p.m., near the Limestone Drive entrance. Investigators said the woman told police she was walking her dog when the man approached her, began talking to her and complimented her appearance. The report states the man then reached to touch her arm, but her dog lunged at him, causing him to run down the trail toward Peters Township. Police said a Good Samaritan witnessed the incident and stayed with the woman until they arrived. This is a popular access point for walkers, joggers, and bikers. Police said they’re still working to determine if a crime did occur and want to talk to the man involved. They said this is an active investigation and are asking anyone who saw anything along the trail around Friday at 8 p.m. to give them a call.
April 30, 2026 4:59 am
ROSTRAVER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A student faces charges after police say they made an online threat against the Belle Vernon Area School District. An investigation began on April 20 after a person from Minnesota called Pennsylvania State Police to report that a person they had been playing online video games with had made a specific bomb threat against the district. The Rostraver Township Police Department and troopers responded to the campus. The school activated its safety protocols and implemented an emergency action plan. The threat was determined to be non-credible. “Rostraver Township Police would like to commend the online gamer for taking this threat seriously, showing initiative, and having the courage to reach out and contact our department,” Rostraver Township Police Chief Scott Sokol said. On Wednesday, the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office provided an update saying that police executed a search warrant at the student’s home and seized their electronic devices. District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said the student will be charged with terroristic threats and simple assault in juvenile court. “The prompt and proactive measures of the Rostraver Police Department and Belle Vernon Area School District to intercept this threat, credible or not, should be commended. I am thankful for the individual who reported this and that all students and staff are safe,” Ziccarelli said.
April 30, 2026 2:12 am
PennDOT announced that single-lane restrictions are scheduled to occur on Route 2001 (South Main Street) and Route 18 in the City of Washington, beginning Monday, May 4th. During this time crews from Allison Park Contractors, Inc. will perform sewer line relocation at the intersection of Route 2001 and Route 18 as part of the Route 2001/Route 18 Over Catfish Creek Bridge. Replacement Project. Drivers should remain alert and use caution when traveling through the area.
April 30, 2026 5:02 am
HONG KONG (AP) — The price of Brent crude oil briefly surged pass $126 a barrel as stalled U.S.-Iran talks raised doubts over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a permanent end to the Iran war. Brent crude oil to be delivered in June jumped 3.3% to $121.90 after briefly surpassing $126 per barrel. U.S. futures fell and world shares were mixed. Before the war began in late February, Brent crude was trading around $70 per barrel. There’s no clear path to ending the war, which is in its ninth week. The U.S. has continued its blockade of Iranian ports while the Strait of Hormuz is closed, pushing oil prices higher.
April 30, 2026 5:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has weakened a landmark Civil Rights-era law that has increased minority representation in Congress and elsewhere. In a 6-3 ruling, the court’s conservative majority on Wednesday struck down a majority Black congressional district in Louisiana. The decision opens the door for more redistricting across the country that could aid Republican efforts to control the House. The effect of the ruling may be felt more strongly in 2028 because most filing deadlines for this year’s congressional races have passed. It’s unclear now how much is left of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. That law is the main way to challenge racially discriminatory election practices.
April 30, 2026 5:07 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to face a second day of grilling from Democrats on Capitol Hill. This time, it will be from members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. They will get their first opportunity on Thursday to question the Pentagon chief about his handling of the war in Iran. Hegseth battled with Democrats during a nearly six-hour House Armed Services Committee hearing a day earlier. He faced sharp questioning over the war’s costs in dollars, lives and critical weapons. The hearings are being held on the Trump administration’s 2027 military budget proposal. It would boost defense spending to a historic $1.5 trillion.
April 30, 2026 5:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jerome Powell plans to remain on the board of the Federal Reserve after his term as chair ends next month “for an undetermined period of time,” saying the “unprecedented” legal attacks by the Trump administration have put the independence of the nation’s central bank at risk. The Fed Wednesday left its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the third straight meeting but signaled it could still cut rates in the coming months, moves that attracted the most dissents since October 1992. The Senate Banking Committee earlier approved Powell’s successor as chair, Trump appointee Kevin Warsh, on a party-line vote.
April 30, 2026 5:03 am
Outlaw country singer-songwriter David Allan Coe, who wrote the blue-collar anthem “Take This Job and Shove It” and created a singing career after a stint in prison, has died. He was 86. A statement to People said he died Wednesday. The cause was not disclosed. Coe had a cult following based on his raw, often-obscene lyrics and a checkered plus somewhat mysterious past. His hits included “You Never Even Call Me by My Name” in 1975 and “The Ride” in 1983. He was also the first country singer to record “Tennessee Whiskey,” which has since become a genre standard.
April 29, 2026 4:43 am
South Strabane Township Supervisors held discussions during their meeting centered on their data center ordinance, fossil fuel and electric generation ordinance and their noise and dust ordinance. Those continuing discussions are frustrating residents that want to see a data center ordinance passed before a land development plan is filed on a 1400 acre property owned by CNX on Zediker Station Road that could develop one there. Diane Ecker played sound effects from an operating data center to emphasize that supervisors must take their health and well being into consideration. Cynthia Rossi made a trip to Ohio to visit a data center and specifically study a fossil fuel power generation plant. She described the power plant and the data center buildings as huge. She said it would be inhumane to have a data center complex like the one that she saw built in a residential/agricultural area of South Strabane. Hearing the frustrations of the residents, Supervisor Jeff Bull said that they are making sure that the ordinance is being done right. Supervisors will be updated on changes to the data center ordinance and the fossil fuel electric generation ordinance this week. It is likely another public hearing will be scheduled to allow comment on changes. Supervisors also voted to have the noise and dust ordinance advertised so residents can view modifications to that ordinance as it would relate to data center construction.
