September 29, 2026 3:57 pm
During their agenda setting meeting, Washington County Commissioners added an item that, if approved, will direct the County Treasurer to withhold county hotel tax revenues and deposit them into a special holding account instead of directing those funds to the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency as mandated by law. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman says that they sent a letter to Washington County Chamber of Commerce and Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency President Jeff Kotula, asking them to provide information, that Kotula says, is beyond the limits of a financial audit. Commissioners are looking for information on transaction journals, consulting agreements and leases, employment agreements between third parties and the agency or a summary of employee salaries and benefits and other items. Kotula says that they have provided a clean audit again this year. Any tax information is public knowledge and available as public record. The county lost several legal decisions in the Office of Open Records, and Common Pleas Court in search of that information. An appeal to Commonwealth Court is pending. The county says that they are now seeking the information as provided for under county code. Sherman says that commissioners are trying to be good stewards of taxpayer money. Kotula says that Sherman is well aware of how the money is spent as he had been seated on the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce that is a partner with the WCTPA and has never had an issue with any funds being spent. Commissioners will vote on the measure on Thursday, October 1 at 10:00 am.
September 29, 2026 1:52 pm
Harrisburg, PA – Following an annual adjustment to account for food costs and inflation, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) has announced increases to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) income limits and maximum benefit amounts starting October 1st. These changes will benefit all SNAP recipients and no one will experience a decrease in benefits because of these updates. The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) made the changes as part of an annual re-evaluation of SNAP’s income eligibility standards, the maximum benefit amount, and the minimum benefit amount. This adjustment is a routine, annual process. “SNAP is the nation’s most important anti-hunger program. I strongly encourage anyone who may need food assistance to apply for SNAP,” said PA DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. “SNAP helps more than 1.7 million Pennsylvanians afford food for themselves and their families, and PA DHS will always help Pennsylvanians facing food insecurity keep food on their tables.” The average increase for most SNAP recipients will be $18.
September 29, 2026 10:55 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ confidence in the economy sank to the lowest level in more than a decade this month as prices remain elevated and wages stagnate amid the ongoing Iran war. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index tumbled 6.7 points to 81.9 in September, down from 88.6 in August. That’s the lowest reading in the board’s survey since April 2014 and below the lowest level reached during the pandemic. Respondents’ views of their present situation fell by 7.9 points to 109.3. Their short-term outlook also slid, falling 5.9 points to 63.6.
September 29, 2026 4:39 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. — City of Washington Police say two missing teenage girls have been located. Kimea Lowry,13, and Alia Matthews, 14 were reported missing Monday and had not been seen since Friday morning. Police announced early Tuesday morning that Lowry had been found. Matthews was located Monday evening in Canonsburg. No other information was released.
September 29, 2026 5:08 am
CANONSBURG, Pa. — Canonsburg Police are asking for the public’s help to identify two suspects who threw items at moving vehicles on Sunday evening. It between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. as the suspects were driving through town. Investigators believe the individuals are likely juveniles who wore hoodies and covered their faces to hide their identities. The department postd on Facebook that “We received multiple police reports of these two driving through town throwing items at moving cars that potentially could have caused a serious accident”. Chief Alexander Coghill told our news partners at WPXI that police believe the two teenage boys are between the ages of 14 and 16, so there’s a very strong possibility they don’t even have their driver’s licenses and are riding this type of e-bike illegally in more ways than one. Coghill said the teens threw eggs, cans, iced tea containers, and more at passing cars. He said at least one of those cars reported damage. Neighbors who live on several streets, including West College, North Jefferson, Arlington Drive, and East Pitt, reported seeing the pair. “We know these same two individuals, at least by their clothing and the type of bike, are responsible for a lot of antagonizing,” Coghill said. “They’ve gone to different festivals, they’ve been on Interstate 79, they’ve been wreaking havoc throughout our area.” Police are encouraging anyone with information to call the Canonsburg Police Department.
September 29, 2026 4:30 am
In what may be considered a surprise action, Peters Township Council firmly defeated adoption of their comprehensive plan. Township officials and HRG Engineering, serving as consultants for the plan, spent nearly 18 months crafting the document that is meant to guide township officials on the development of Peters Township for the next 10 years. The vote was 5-2 to deny adoption. Council members Frank Arcuri and Robert Lewis voted for adoption. Council members John Binsse, Frank Kosir, Allison Shanafelt, Gary Stiegel and Jonathan Waldinger all voted against the plan. The main issue driving the defeat was how a parcel of land referred to as Venetia Hills could be developed. The plan identifies the property as a special land use area that council needs to study to accurately determine what should be built there. The land has several terrain issues. Currently, it is zoned mixed residential with a strip of it zoned small community commercial. Mixed residential allows for high density housing, something that community feedback about the comprehensive plan state that the community is vehemently against. Council Chairman Frank Kosir says that until the issue of high density housing is eliminated, he could not vote for the plan. Councilman Frank Arcuri says that he voted to adopt the plan so that council could take action to close that high density housing issue more rapidly. Township Manager Paul Lauer says that now they will meet with the consultants to make that alteration in the plan. The Planning Commission will need to hold a public hearing before adoption. Council will need 45 days to advertise the change before it could hold its public hearing before adoption. No final timetable is available for final adoption.
September 28, 2026 2:50 am
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) today announced that 903 measles cases have been confirmed across 39 counties in Pennsylvania so far in 2026. While daily numbers fluctuate, tracking these trends provides Pennsylvanians and health care providers with visibility into community transmission across the Commonwealth and helps inform the Department’s ongoing response. New Positive Cases (since September 25, 2026): 13/Total Counties: 39/Total Cumulative Cases: 903/Total Hospitalizations: 176/Total Confirmed Measles-Associated Deaths: 4/Measles cases among vaccinated individuals: 4 (less than 1% of cases) Pennsylvanians can stay up to date on confirmed measles cases, hospitalizations, deaths, community transmission, and vaccination efforts on DOH’s dashboard: pa.gov/measles.
September 28, 2026 2:38 am
Gas prices are three cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.700 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is stable this week at $4.47 per gallon. This is still the highest the national average has ever been for this time of year. Typically, the start of autumn brings lower gas prices, but lingering volatility in the Strait of Hormuz and the high cost of crude oil are driving up pump prices. This month is on track to set a new September record. So far, the average for this month is $4.30, higher than the previous September record of $3.83 set in 2023. According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week from 8.79 million barrels per day to 8.84 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 207.7 million barrels to 206 million. Gasoline production decreased slightly from 9.64 million barrels to 9.59 million.
September 29, 2026 4:42 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S.-Canada relations, already tense, are likely to deteriorate further after the United States went ahead early Tuesday with a decision to ban nearly $1 billion worth of Canadian imports, including alcoholic beverages, dairy products and motorcycles. The ban amounts to barely a ripple in $880 billion worth of a two-way annual trade between the two northern neighbors. But it marks another escalation in President Donald Trump’s second-term trade war with America’s longtime ally and trading partner.
September 29, 2026 4:42 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has disputed that he asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping if he wanted to buy weapons from the United States. That contradicts an account from the U.S. ambassador to China. Trump on Monday acted confused when a reporter asked him about Ambassador David Perdue’s remarks over the weekend. Trump suggested that his ambassador was confusing China with Taiwan but then said “maybe it’s a good idea” to make such an offer to China. The whiplash over the prospect of arms sales from the U.S. to its ascendant geopolitical rival underlines the Trump administration’s uncoordinated and contradictory approach to China.
