May 19, 2026 12:44 pm
Authorities are investigating the death of the chief of The Heidelberg Borough Police Department. The borough put out a release on Tuesday, saying they are “saddened to announce the sudden and tragic death of Police Chief Dennis Dixon while on duty.” Chief Dixon was found dead in his patrol vehicle around just before nine o’clock Monday night. He joined the Heidelberg Police Department in 2008 and was promoted to chief in 2018. The Allegheny County Police Department is handling the investigation and information regarding the cause and manner of his death will be released by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.
May 19, 2026 1:45 am
It’s primary election day across Pennsylvania. The polls opened at seven a.m and will close at eight p.m. Washington County Elections Director Melanie Ostrander says she is expecting to see around a thirty-five to thirty-eight-percent voter turnout, but is hoping for better since the weather is expected to be fairly nice. There are two costly and hotly contested races. One is for Pennsylvania State Senate in the 46th Senatorial District. Three-term incumbent Republican Camera Bartolotta is being challenged by Al Buchtan, a Greene County businessman, for a place on November’s ballot. Evan Snyder of Washington County’s Nottingham Township is running unopposed for the seat in the Democratic primary. Meanwhile, Bud Cook, the incumbent republican representative in the Pennsylvania State House is going up against Ben Humble from Waynesburg. Voters will also be asked to cast votes for nominations for Lieutenant Governor and for both chambers of the General Assembly. Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro and his Republican opponent Stacy Garrity are both unopposed. (Photo: AP)
May 19, 2026 5:08 am
The Peters Township School Board voted to approve their preliminary operating budget for the 2026-2027 school year. The budget will include a tax increase of .32 mills. That equates to a 1.97% millage increase. According to Business Manager Brad Rau, the school district was allowed to raise taxes by 3.5% without voter approval. The $89,784,137 budget is balanced and has a $5 million reserve fund. The vote was 5-3 to approve. Directors Rolf Briegel, Jason Camilletti, Kathleen Chaudhari, Michael Lynch and Richard Soeder voted to approve the measure. Directors Thomas Adrian, Alex Binsse and Sarah Kennedy voted against the measure. Director Alex O’Neill was not in attendance. According to Vice Chairperson Kathleen Chaudhari, the district is facing more than $20 million in building maintenance projects over the next 5 years. There are two paving projects along with HVAC and roof replacements that are in need of attention. In addition to the tax increase, directors by the identical 5-3 vote approved a measure to file 2027 property tax assessment appeals to properties transferred in the district from July 1, 2024 through June 30 2026. Appeals will be filed on properties with a minimum sales price of $200,000 and a minimum under-assessed tax revenue of $500. A vote to formally adopt the budget will occur on June 22.
May 19, 2026 2:39 am
Triple A says Memorial Day travelers can expect to pay the highest gas prices at the pump in four years. Gas prices are nine cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.760 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. Nationally, after some consistent declines, the national average price for gasoline rose towards the end of last week and the national average is $4.51, a penny less than last Monday and nearly 50 cents higher than a month ago. Travelers are preparing to hit the road in record numbers this week, and drivers will be facing the highest Memorial Day gas prices since 2022. This time last year, the national average price for a gallon of gasoline was $3.17. Simultaneously, oil is trading around $107/barrel after spending most of last week trading around $100/barrel. With elevated oil prices and expected higher demand, prices could continue to push upward through the week and into the weekend. (Photo: AP)
May 18, 2026 2:52 am
A retired priest and chaplain is facing charges for sex-related crimes dating back to 2009 – after investigators say two victims recently came forward. Now, our news partners at WPXI say there could be more victims. Authorities say 84-year-old Robert Byrnes is currently facing multiple charges, including aggravated indecent assault without consent and obstruction and official oppression. The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office says Byrnes was a chaplain for the Pennsylvania State Police and other law enforcement agencies through 2018, and was issued a badge and a state police uniform. He lived at Christ Our Shepard Center in Greensburg in an apartment above the kitchen and the DA’s office says both male victims reportedly worked in the kitchen there. Following his arraignment, Byrnes on $250,000 unsecured bail. He’s expected to appear in court again in June.
May 19, 2026 4:50 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates says drones that targeted its Barakah nuclear power plant all came from Iraq. The announcement Tuesday means that Iranian-backed Shiite militias were likely behind Sunday’s nuclear plant attack. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said he’s willing to give Iran a few days — possibly until early next week — to make progress in peace negotiations before the United States resumes military strikes. No group has claimed responsibility for the UAE attack, though Iran and its proxies had been suspected. Such militias have launched repeated drone attacks targeting Gulf Arab states after Israel and the United States began their war against Iran on Feb. 28.
May 19, 2026 4:51 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has not ruled out the possibility of compensating individuals involved in violence during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot from a new $1.776 billion fund. During a Congressional hearing on Tuesday, Blanche stated that anyone who believes they were politically targeted can apply for the “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” The fund, announced Monday, aims to compensate those mistreated by previous administrations’ Justice Departments. Blanche emphasized that the fund is not limited to any political party or specific individuals. Some Democrats have criticized the fund as an abuse of power, while some Republicans have expressed discomfort with it.
May 19, 2026 4:54 am
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Federal authorities say the teenagers who killed three people at a San Diego mosque met online and shared a “broad hatred” toward different religions and races. Mark Remily of the FBI said Tuesday that authorities have uncovered writings by the suspects. Authorities have also recovered 30 firearms and a crossbow from two residences searched in connection to the investigation. Remily said authorities are still trying to uncover whether the shooters had broader plans.
May 19, 2026 4:55 am
BEIJING (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is traveling to China to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The visit comes less than a week after U.S. President Donald Trump wrapped up his own trip to Beijing. Putin is scheduled to be in China on Tuesday and Wednesday. The meeting is likely to be closely watched as Beijing seeks to maintain stable relations with the United States while also preserving strong ties with Russia. The Kremlin has said Putin and Xi are planning to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries but also key international and regional issues. The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship signed in 2001.
May 19, 2026 5:11 am
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Former Los Angeles police detective Mark Fuhrman, who was convicted of lying during testimony at the O.J. Simpson murder trial, has died. He was 74. Fuhrman was one of the first two police detectives sent to investigate the 1994 killings of Simpson’s ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman. Furhman reported finding a bloody glove at Simpson’s home but his credibility came under attack during the trial as the defense raised the prospect of racial bias. Under cross-examination, Fuhrman testified he had never made anti-Black racial slurs over the previous 10 years, but a recording made by an aspiring screenwriter showed he had done so repeatedly. A coroner said Monday that Fuhrman died May 12 in Idaho, where he had moved years ago.
