October 17, 2026 3:59 am
Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that former Greene County District Attorney, David Russo, was convicted Friday of official oppression for conduct while he was in office. The verdict came after three days of testimony regarding Russo’s misuse of his office to have emergency “Stop the Bleed” kits seized from county ambulances. Russo had a detective who worked for the District Attorney’s Office obtain a search warrant without valid probable cause to seize the kits, which were designed for mass casualty events. Multiple kits were taken out of active service ambulances. Russo will be sentenced December 10. He has been free on bail.
October 17, 2026 3:50 am
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) announced that 1,260 measles cases have been confirmed across 43 counties so far this year. The DOH also confirmed five measles-associated deaths in Pennsylvania this year. The best protection against measles is getting fully vaccinated. The vaccine is proven 97 percent effective at preventing measles for life after two doses.
October 17, 2026 4:09 am
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — High winds are fueling a fast-moving fire that has burned homes in Southern California. At least six homes had burned in Southern California on Friday. Flames engulfed expensive coastal properties and prompted thousands to evacuate. Two firefighters were taken to the hospital with heat-related injuries. Black smoke was visible from far away while firefighters doused blazing homes. The wildfire started in the coastal city of San Clemente and quickly moved into San Juan Capistrano. It was one of several fires in the region that was hit by dry, warm gusts known as Santa Anas. They blow from the interior of Southern California toward the coast and offshore.
October 17, 2026 4:12 am
MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Trudy has strengthened slightly as it moves towards southwestern and west-central areas of Mexico’s Pacific coast, and could keep growing through Saturday. It is a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph. Trudy’s center will approach the coast on Saturday. he center of Trudy will approach the coast of southwestern and west-central Mexico on Saturday and pass near the coast Saturday night into Sunday. A hurricane warning was in effect from Manzanillo in Colima state to Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco. The Mexican Navy urged the maritime community and coastal residents to exercise extreme caution due to high waves, heavy rains and the risk of rising river levels, flooding, and landslides in vulnerable areas.
October 17, 2026 3:30 am
Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop brought Ghostbusters Weekend to downtown Canonsburg. Festivities will continue today from 2:00 PM until 7:00 PM. There will be costumed characters, a scavenger hunt, themed offerings from local businesses, and a replica Ecto-1 car. To wrap up the weekend, there will be a screening of the 1984 “Ghostbusters” at the Canon Theatre at 7:00 PM.
October 17, 2026 4:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Katie Zacharia is leaving her role as White House press secretary after a brief and challenging tenure. She said on social media late Friday that it “was an honor to work for” President Donald Trump. A person familiar with the situation said earlier that Zacharia would be transitioning out. Her departure follows Trump’s comments suggesting she reconsider her position. Zacharia faced immediate scrutiny during her first briefing Tuesday, where she appeared uncomfortable and was criticized for her professional background. She had previously described herself as a lawyer without passing a bar exam. Trump said he wanted her to have a good life and avoid media criticism. Zacharia’s first official day was Monday.
October 16, 2026 3:39 am
That big hole in the ground on West Beau Street behind the courthouse will start to fill up soon. Commissioner Nick Sherman addressed the project at the Local Municipal Briefing and stated that construction on the new public safety building will begin October 19. Sherman says that the 3 story $40 million project is contractually mandated to be completed in 460 days. That puts the completion date at the beginning of 2028. Sherman addressed concerns about pyrite, that many blame as the major reason the Courthouse Square building was compromised. He says that the whole city of Washington is built on pyrite. The key is to channel water away from the building so that the pyrite that exists does not freeze and thaw against building concrete, then causing damage. He says support walls from the old building that will be used in the new building have been shored up preventing that. Sherman says the three story building will house the sheriff’s office and the 9-1-1 emergency center. A third floor that was originally designated as a booking center will now be used as a court relations area. Operations such as DUI classes, psychiatric evaluations, mental health evaluations and drug and alcohol evaluations will be conducted there. Sherman says that simultaneously, the county’s 9-1-1 emergency radio communications system is scheduled to be completed at the same time.
October 16, 2026 3:48 am
Washington Mayor JoJo Burgess met with the city’s administrator, engineer, representatives from the DEP, and a representative from Senator Camera Bartolotta’s office Thursday morning for a walking tour of problem areas that are causing consistent flooding in the city. Burgess says the meeting produced some answers to questions on flood mitigation in the city moving forward – which were either unknown at the time or misunderstood. He says in the next several weeks, steps will be taken to address some of the problems, which may include working with other municipalities and business and property owners.
October 16, 2026 3:51 am
Representative Tim O’Neal announced he is spearheading a six-bill legislative package that will address the state’s growing property tax burden, improve school district accountability, and give homeowners greater control over the taxes they pay. Representatives Marc Anderson, Jack Rader, Ryan Warner, and Ann Flood joined him in introducing these bills. The bills are designed to provide relief and strengthen taxpayer protections. The package would give taxpayers a say in property tax increases, establish annual limits on county property tax increases, require voter approval for major school construction debt, close loopholes in school district borrowing, encourage responsible education spending, and provide counties with a new property tax relief option. O’Neal emphasized that meaningful reforms like these should not be delayed.
October 16, 2026 4:10 am
(AP) — Authorities say a 16-year-old opened fire at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, killing three children and a teacher. He was shot by a person at the scene who pursued him into the school. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz says authorities found the suspect dead inside the school minutes after the shooting Thursday was first reported. Krantz says the three children killed were aged 5, 8 and 11. A 7-year-old child and a teacher were injured and taken to a hospital in critical condition. Police say the attacker forced his way into the school by shooting at locked doors. A Bend police spokesperson says he was shot and went down inside the school shortly after officers arrived.
