WJPA News

A former Washington County attorney has been charged with embezzling more than $1.3 million from the organization that operates the Duquesne Incline.  Fifty-three-year-old Christopher Furman, now of Pittsburgh, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of wire fraud and money laundering, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Thursday.  The ten-count indictment alleges that Furman transferred money to his bank account from that of the Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline.  The DOJ says Furman made 25 different transactions between October 2024 and September 2025 and he allegedly put the money in an online cryptocurrency exchange and digital asset management platform, where he traded cryptocurrency for himself.  According to the indictment, this happened while Furman was president of the Society’s board.  Furman was selected for that position because he used to work for the incline and knew how its mechanics worked, the DOJ says.  While the board president, Furman was not allowed to look at the Society’s bank account or use its money for personal reasons, the DOJ says.  Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000 or double the gain from the alleged illegal activity.  Each count of money laundering carries a maximum of 10 years in prison and/or the same monetary penalty.

Washington County Commissioners, in a 2-1 have approved a $1.1 million dollar change order in connection with the P25 emergency radio system. At issue is a change order from Motorola Solutions, Inc. saying the money is necessary to deliver, build and outfit three support buildings for antenna sites for the new radio system. Commissioner Nick Sherman says that $5 million was put aside in the original contract that allows commissioners to outsource some of the project to local contractors. This is a part of that provision. The money is not covered by that $5 million as the payment for the change order will be coming from the county’s general operating fund. Commissioner Larry Maggi voted against the measure. He is concerned that the cost of the project keeps escalating. He says that he does not recall the provision of the holdback of $5 million. His view is to use that $5 million for the change order and leave the taxpayer money alone. The original contract was for $24.4 million. The contract now, with this change order stands at $26,380,072.73.

Thousands of TSA and other federal workers with the Department of Homeland Security have been affected by the partial government shutdown, which began in mid-February. More TSA workers are quitting or calling out sick, resulting in hours-long waits through security checkpoints for flyers in major airports. The latest numbers show TSA call-outs for Pittsburgh at 30 percent, Pittsburgh International Airport officials told our news partners at Channel 11 those numbers vary by the day and that the impact on security checkpoint lines has been minimal. Airport officials say they are utilizing operations teams and volunteer ambassadors to keep the lines moving. The airport has also teamed up with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, offering a food pantry for local TSA agents, as well as Customs and Border Patrol officers. “Obviously, they are going without paychecks, so we want to do everything we can to support them,” said Bob Kerlik, director of public affairs for Pittsburgh International Airport. Thursday morning, 250 boxes of fresh produce, as well as non-perishables, were delivered to the airport from the Food Bank around 7 a.m. The Food Bank said help will be provided as long as it is needed.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The first of five high school protesters detained for days in Pennsylvania after a scuffle with a man who turned out to be the police chief entered a probationary program designed to spare him a criminal record. Three other Quakertown teens delayed their juvenile court hearings Friday, while a lawyer for the fifth wants the assault charges dropped entirely. That lawyer, Ettore “Ed” Angelo, calls the treatment of the teenagers “shameful.” They spent four to eight days in detention after the Feb. 20 protest and the past month on house arrest. The police chief remains on medical leave and under investigation.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran has threatened recreational and tourist sites worldwide and insisted it is still building missiles. Its supreme leader issued another defiant statement on Friday. The United States was meanwhile deploying more warships and another 2,500 Marines three weeks into the war it launched alongside Israel. Iran fired on Israel and energy sites in neighboring Gulf Arab states. With little information coming out of Iran, it was not clear how much damage its forces have suffered in the punishing U.S. and Israeli strikes that began Feb. 28 — or even who was truly in charge of the country. But Iran’s attacks are still choking off oil supplies and denting the global economy.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Education Department is handing off a portion of its student loan portfolio to the Treasury Department. It’s a first step toward shedding management of all student loans as Trump administration officials dismantle the federal education agency. Under an agreement announced Thursday, the Treasury Department will take over management of student loans whose borrowers are in default, meaning they are months behind on payments. Those loans add up to about $180 billion, or 11% of the government’s $1.7 trillion student loan portfolio. A second phase with no timeframe says Treasury will “assume operational responsibility” over non-defaulted loans, “to the extent practicable.”

HONOLULU (AP) — Muddy floodwaters from severe rains have inundated streets, swallowed vehicles and prompted evacuation orders for more than 4,000 people in towns north of Honolulu. Officials are warning about the possible failure of a a 120-year-old dam. Emergency sirens blared early Friday morning along Oahu’s famed North Shore, where rising waters damaged some homes and vehicles. Officials have been watching dam levels since a storm last week dumped heavy rain across the state, which led to catastrophic flooding that washed away roads and homes. Most of the state was under a flood watch, with northern Oahu under a flash flood warning, according to the National Weather Service, which reported “widespread life-threatening flash flooding.”

NEW YORK (AP) — CBS News says it’s shutting down its radio news service after nearly a century of operation as part of a round of layoffs at the company. When it began operation in September 1927, the radio service was a precursor to the entire CBS network. It gave young executive William S. Paley his start and was the home of legendary broadcaster Edward Murrow’s reports from London during World War II. Today it is primarily known for its top-of-the-hour news roundups delivered to about 700 stations across the country. CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss said it will stop operating in May.  (Photo:  AP)

The martial arts grandmaster and action star Chuck Norris has died. His roles in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and other television shows and movies made him an iconic tough guy, sparking internet parodies and adoration from presidents. He was 86. Norris died Thursday, in what his family described as a “sudden passing.” They didn’t release details about his death. Before he would become a star in movies and on TV, Norris was wildly successful in competitive martial arts. His toughman image became the stuff of legend, sparking “Chuck Norris Facts” memes. He was also outspoken about his Christian beliefs and his support for gun rights, and backed political candidates for years.