May 29, 2026 7:58 am
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.
May 29, 2026 4:57 am
One person was injured in a tractor-trailer rollover crash on Interstate 79 north in Amwell Township. Washington County 911 says it happened around 9:30 p.m. between the Amity/Lone Pine and Laboratory exits. The driver reportedly had to be extricated from the cab. They were transported to a local hospital by ambulance and there is no word on their condition. Dispatchers day the tractor trailer was blocking both the north and southbound lanes and closed the Interstate for several hours. Things are back to normal this morning.
May 29, 2026 2:54 am
An Oakdale man accused of lane splitting between two trucks and killing a man on the roadside will face trial. Jaxon Farrell, 18 faces homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault by vehicle and 18 other charges. At his preliminary hearing, Farrell waived his charges to common pleas court. The criminal complaint states that on August 25, Farrell was lane splitting on an entrance ramp to the Southern Beltway from Route 22 eastbound in Robinson Township. Farrell sped to the right of a tractor trailer and struck a disabled tractor trailer beyond the fog line on the shoulder of the on ramp. In the process Farrell struck and killed 46 year old Brian Everhart who was working on the disabled vehicle. Farrell did not stop to render aid, he continued to drive until his vehicle became disabled. That is where State Police apprehended him. Jaxon told police he hit the truck but did not know he hit a person. Farrell will be formally arraigned on June 30.
May 29, 2026 5:03 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. and Iranian negotiators have reached a tentative agreement to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and start a new round of talks on Iran’s nuclear program. That’s according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter who spoke Thursday to The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday evening confirmed there was a tentative agreement, but it was unclear if President Donald Trump would approve it. Iran did not immediately confirm any deal with the United States. The tentative agreement comes at a moment when the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran appears to be wavering.
May 29, 2026 5:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is appearing before House lawmakers investigating Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse cases. She will answer questions Friday on how she oversaw the botched release of case files on the disgraced financier. Bondi was defiant when she was the attorney general and lawmakers confronted her in congressional hearings about her handling of the Epstein investigation. Friday’s transcribed interview gives lawmakers an opportunity to press for details on how the Trump administration has handled the Epstein files, as well as the prison sentence of his former girlfriend and confidant, Ghislaine Maxwell.
May 29, 2026 5:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain low despite economic uncertainty caused by the Iran war. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims were up to 215,000, up from 210,000 the week before. The four-week moving average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, rose by nearly 6,300 to 209,000. The number of Americans signing up for unemployment benefits — a proxy for layoffs — has stabilized in a low range of mostly 200,000 to 250,000 a week since the U.S. economy emerged from a brief but nasty pandemic recession in 2020.
May 29, 2026 5:01 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Romanian authorities say a Russian drone that was part of an overnight attack on Ukraine crashed into an apartment building in eastern Romania. Two people had minor injuries and several were evacuated. The Defense Ministry said early Friday that the drone was tracked by radar in Romanian airspace and crashed onto the roof of a building in Galati. Russia has been using long-range ballistic missiles and drones to damage Ukraine’s power grid and hammer cities, and Ukraine has braced for further heavy bombardments. Romania’s Foreign Ministry said the country is asking NATO for a faster transfer of anti-drone capabilities to its military.
May 29, 2026 2:52 am
HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that a Fayette County man — serving a prison sentence for murdering his girlfriend in 2021 — pleaded guilty this week to dumping a large amount of waste tires at Ohiopyle State Park. Thomas L. Dean, 53, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor violations of the Solid Waste Management Act, and was sentenced to 6 to 12 months in prison. Dean is also ordered to pay a $2,500 fine to the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Abatement Fund. The Office of Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Section investigated and prosecuted the case, which involved Dean (and his nephew, Donald Dean) dumping tires at the park while employed at an auto tire shop. ”Our state parks are areas of peace, beauty, and leisure, and this sort of conduct violates the sanctity of those protected lands,” Attorney General Sunday said. “While we recognize the defendant is already serving many years in prison for a separate crime, we feel this conviction is important in that it sends a message that illegal dumping is a serious offense.” The conduct dates back to 2018. The prosecution followed a third-degree murder conviction in 2024, regarding Thomas Dean killing his girlfriend in 2021. Following a referral from the Department of Conservation of Natural Resources, the Office of Attorney General filed charges earlier this year. Donald Dean is also charged, and is currently a fugitive. The investigation began when park patrons reported to authorities suspicious behavior — that report included a vehicle license plate traced to the Deans.
May 28, 2026 2:39 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. and Iranian negotiators have reached a tentative agreement to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and launch talks on Iran’s nuclear program. That’s according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said President Donald Trump still needs to sign off on the emerging memorandum of understanding. Iran did not immediately confirm any deal with the United States. The tentative agreement worked out by the two sides comes at a moment when the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran appeared to be wavering.
May 28, 2026 2:43 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain low despite economic uncertainty caused by the Iran war. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims were up to 215,000, up from 210,000 the week before. The four-week moving average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, rose by nearly 6,300 to 209,000. The number of Americans signing up for unemployment benefits — a proxy for layoffs — has stabilized in a low range of mostly 200,000 to 250,000 a week since the U.S. economy emerged from a brief but nasty pandemic recession in 2020. (Photo: AP)
