If you happened to notice a large police presence around the W&J Campus in Washington Wednesday afternoon, city police say they were called in to assist with an incident that began in East Washington Borough and ended in the city following a brief foot chase. They’ve released little information, except to say they did take a male into custody and there was no active threat to the community.
Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele announced on Wednesday that the search for seventeen-year-old Emily Grace Salonick is over. Aubele says Salonick, who was missing for a week, was found in South Carolina and a twenty-year-old man is now facing charges. According to Aubele, Michael Hart is currently facing a charge of interfering with the custody of children, and additional charges are expected to be filed. Aubele, who called Hart – Salonick’s “paramour” – denied knowing where she was when he was first interviewed. Salonick was reported missing on March 18th. Aubele says their investigation led them to discover that Hart took her out of Pennsylvania and placed her with a family member. Authorities credit the public for help in finding her. They say they received hundreds of tips through phone calls and social media. The investigation is ongoing.
HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed a bill that would codify marriage equality into law. House Bill No. 1800 calls to change the definition of marriage in Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes from: “a civil contract by which one man and one woman take each other for husband and wife” to “a civil contract between two individuals.” The legislation advanced with a vote of 127 yeas and 72 nays. Representative Malcolm Kenyatta was the prime sponsor for the bill. He released a statement on its passing, saying: “I know some folks in this building have never had to refresh a computer screen to see if a court has given you access to a fundamental right, but that’s where I was when Obergefell v. Hodges ruling came up – and the court voted correctly,” Kenyatta said. “Because of this vote, I got to marry my best friend, Dr. Matthew Kenyatta. As important as this vote is to me, my family and people across the commonwealth who are in loving same-sex marriages, it’s equally as important that this law is passed to ensure our state law reflects the law of the land held in Obergefell. “Marriage is not symbolic, there are legal, practical and financial things connected to the institution of marriage.” Governor Josh Shapiro also celebrated the movement. The bill is now moving to the Republican-led Senate for consideration.
Pittsburgh and regional leaders met Wednesday at a T-station to discuss transportation for the upcoming NFL Draft, which is now less than one month away. And they know it will be hectic. Rich Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, joined others in encouraging people to use Public Transportation for the event, which will encompass everything from Point State Park and the Golden Triangle to the North Shore and Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh Regional Transit officials also encourage people to take the light rail T service that serves riders from Library and South Hills Village all the way to the North Shore. Washington’s Freedom Transit and Fayette Area Coordinated Traffic are also offering draft-specific service. Those who plan to attend are encouraged to plan early. They are encouraged to carpool, use ride share options, and walk wherever they can. The NFL One Pass App will also help everyone who needs to get around for the Draft, which is scheduled from April 23 through the 25th.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pressure is mounting on Congress to end the funding shutdown. It’s resulted in travel disruptions, missed paychecks and even warnings of airport closures. But lawmakers have yet to resolve the underlying issue of reining in President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement operations. Senators are expected to vote Thursday on a Republican proposal that would fund the Transportation Security Administration and much of the Department of Homeland Security, except the immigration enforcement and removal operations. But it’s expected to fail. Democrats argue the GOP plan falls short in putting guardrails on federal officers engaged in immigration sweeps. Congress is set to leave town by week’s end for its own spring break recess as calls intensify for an end to the 41-day stalemate.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran and the United States have hardened their positions after diplomacy aimed at reaching a ceasefire in the Middle East war appeared to be faltering. Tehran moved to formalize its control over the crucial Strait of Hormuz as Washington prepared for the arrival of combat forces that could be used on the ground in the Islamic Republic. Israel on Thursday carried out a wave of strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure, and Iran kept up its attacks on Persian Gulf neighbors, with Saudi Arabia intercepting multiple drones. The United Arab Emirates’ air defenses also worked to intercept incoming fire, and Bahrain was extinguishing a blaze near its international airport.
HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stocks are lower and oil prices have risen as a de-escalation of the Iran war remains uncertain. U.S. futures are down 0.5%. Brent crude, the international standard, rose more than 3% to around $100 per barrel on Thursday. Meanwhile gold and silver prices dropped. Tehran on Wednesday dismissed a ceasefire plan by the U.S., after U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration offered a 15-point proposal to Iran. Iran also launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries. On Wednesday, the S&P 500 gained 0.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.7%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.8%.
The Iran war has deflected global attention from Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbor Ukraine as Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II enters its fifth year and an emboldened Kremlin undertakes a spring offensive. The past week showed that neither side is easing up. Russia on Tuesday fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at Ukraine in one of the war’s biggest bombardments. The following day Ukraine launched almost 400 drones in the largest reported overnight attack on Russian regions and Crimea. Ukraine’s fate is still Europe’s top foreign policy issue, fueled by fears that Moscow has wider ambitions.
An appeals court has ruled that the U.S. can continue to detain immigrants without bond. The ruling Wednesday handed a victory to the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration. The opinion from a panel of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis overturned a lower court ruling. The latter ruling required that a native of Mexico arrested for lacking legal documents be given a bond hearing before an immigration judge. It’s the second appeals court to rule in favor of the administration on this issue. Both appeals court opinions counter a slew of lower court decisions across the country saying the practice is illegal.
MONTCLAIR, N.J. (AP) — A growing faction of concerned citizens across America’s suburbs are positioned on the front lines of the anti-Trump resistance. They are voters who are often wealthier and more educated than average Americans — and they historically tended to prefer Republicans. But now, on the eve of the 2026 midterm elections, many suburbanites are energized to fight President Donald Trump and his party. Suburbanites will be especially active at this weekend’s “No Kings” protests against Trump. Few areas illustrate the upside-down politics of the Trump era more than the nation’s suburbs, which may ultimately decide the balance of power in Washington for the president’s final two years in office.
