October 7, 2026 2:59 am
Washington City Police say they have made an arrest in connection with an early morning accident on Saturday that severely damaged parts of Fairhill Manor Church on Montgomery Avenue, and sent two people to Pittsburgh hospitals by medical helicopter. Authorities say it happened just after one o’clock, when a vehicle plowed into the church’s brick monument sign – essentially destroying it – and then coming to rest on the church’s steps. Two occupants who were trapped inside had to be extricated by emergency responders. They were flown to Pittsburgh area hospitals. There’s been no word on their identities or the severity of their injuries. Police say they then observed a man, identified as Avery Alexander Ray, fleeing the scene. He was eventually apprehended and taken into custody following a struggle. Two officers were injured, with one seeking medical treatment. Ray was taken to UPMC Washington Hospital for evaluation and then to the county jail. Police say he faces multiple charges. They are asking anyone who may have seen the crash or have surveillance video to call them. The investigation is continuing.
October 7, 2026 2:44 am
(Canonsburg, PA) – Visitors to Washington County spent a record $804.5 million in 2025, according to a recently released report from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) and Visit PA. Visitor spending locally increased more than five percent year-over-year, outpacing both the regional and state averages. Visitor spending has increased 35% over the last five years. The DCED and Visit PA released their annual report on travel and tourism in the Commonwealth, the 2025 Economic Impact of Visitors to Pennsylvania, analyzing the impact of tourism across the state. The report confirms Washington County, PA, as the second-leading county in the Greater Pittsburgh region in overall visitor spending and shows continued growth in significant categories such as Total Business Sales, Employment, Personal Income and State/Local Taxes generated by the tourism industry. “Reaching over $800 million in visitor spending is a significant milestone for Washington County’s tourism efforts and further demonstrates that this industry is an important piece of our local economy,” stated Jeff Kotula, President of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Promotion Agency. “It also illustrates that our strategy to promote our exciting county in partnership with our local hotels, event operators, attractions, and municipalities is attracting visitors, growing our economy, and creating jobs for our residents.”
October 7, 2026 4:45 am
ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) — Cornell University trustees have announced that former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates will review how the university handles sexual misconduct complaints. Tuesday’s announcement comes after days of outrage over allegations of a 2024 gang rape at a fraternity house. The review will cover how the university investigates reports of sexual assault and sexual harassment, how the disciplinary process works and more. Cornell officials have been heavily criticized for their response to a complaint from a woman who told campus police in 2024 that she had been sexually assaulted by multiple Chi Phi fraternity brothers. New York’s attorney general is conducting a criminal investigation, and the governor called for an independent review.
October 7, 2026 4:43 am
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Christa Pike, a death row inmate in Tennessee, is awake and speaking after surviving a failed execution attempt. Pike lived after executioners tried to administer two doses of pentobarbital on Sept. 30. Her attorneys are heading to court Wednesday to seek more information from the Tennessee Department of Correction. They want a court order to preserve evidence from the attempted execution. Chancery Court Judge I’Ashea Myles has scheduled a Wednesday morning status conference in Nashville in the case. Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 beating and stabbing death of Colleen Slemmer.
October 7, 2026 4:40 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — As Israel gears up for national elections this month, the country remains focused on Oct. 7. The Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks are at the forefront of a bitter campaign that will determine the fate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Nearly every poster, stump speech or debate on television seems to reference the attack. Netanyahu’s opponents want him to pay for the failures that led to the deadliest day in Israel’s 78-year history and plunged the country into a series of inconclusive wars. His defenders say Netanyahu was betrayed by the military establishment and has led Israel through a dramatic rebound from its darkest hour.
October 7, 2026 4:48 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A lawyer for ABC has asked a federal judge to prevent the Trump administration from conducting an unusual, early review of its broadcast licenses, likening it to a looming execution by guillotine. The network argued on Tuesday that the early review was already chilling its editorial decisions weeks before the U.S. midterm elections. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan did not immediately rule on ABC’s request for a preliminary injunction. A government attorney argued that, as a procedural matter, the court doesn’t have jurisdiction over ABC’s case because it belongs in a different venue. A ruling was not expected until at least mid-October.
October 7, 2026 4:46 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Skydance-owned Paramount has closed its $81 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. The new Hollywood giant will be known as Skydance. The merger that closed Tuesday brings two of America’s oldest moviemaking studios together. It also further concentrates power in an industry already run by just a handful of major players. HBO Max and networks such as CNN now find themselves under the same roof as Paramount+ and CBS. Skydance Corp. emerges from one of the biggest tie-ups ever in the media and entertainment industry. Including billions of dollars in debt, the Warner acquisition amounted to nearly $111 billion.
October 7, 2026 2:41 am
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll announced Tuesday that a second daily roundtrip Pennsylvanian train service will begin service on November 18th. This collaboration with Amtrak and Norfolk Southern means service on the 444-mile trip between Pittsburgh and New York via Harrisburg, Philadelphia and other stops will double. It’s all part of the Shapiro Administration’s and federal investment in rail expansion. Officials say the expansion of service will give more Pennsylvanians access to modern, safe and reliable passenger rail service. They say the service will also provide economic development, jobs and infrastructure investment to the Commonwealth. According to officials, Pennsylvania has sixty-five operating railroads – the most of any state in the country – and ranks third in total track mileage with more than 5,500 miles. Riders of the Pennsylvanian can enjoy coach and business-class seating, onboard wi-fi, and café service featuring Pennsylvania-inspired menu items. Tickets for the second daily Pennsylvanian will be available this week on Amtrak’s website and mobile app.
October 6, 2026 11:56 am
(AP) – President Donald Trump has responded to a major backlash over taxpayer-funded advertisements glorifying himself. He’s agreed to use his super PAC to cover such costs going forward. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling Trump “deranged and dangerous” for suggesting in a campaign speech that Iran could attack cities in his Democrat-led state. “Let ’em take out Los Angeles. Let ’em take out San Diego,” Trump said. “This is a very small price to pay.” And Paramount closed its $81 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, the companies announced Tuesday. Trump had promoted the merger as a way of controlling network coverage.
October 6, 2026 4:36 am
South Strabane Township and the City of Washington were hit hard with rain storms on consecutive weekends in September that caused severe flooding. Canonsburg also was struck with consecutive rainstorms in August that caused significant flood damage as well along McBurney Road and across West Pike Street. Council will be approving an application letter to the Washington County Local Share Account board that says that they will supply $15,000 in matching funds toward a grant in next year’s round of grants. They hope for an approval of funding that would go toward the repairs needed to fix that flooding. They will also approve a resolution dedicating those funds at their voting meeting next week. During the meeting RVE Engineering discussed the plans for remedy. It will be a joint effort between Canonsburg and Chartiers Township. Chartiers Township will maintain the stream that runs along McBurney Road in their township so as not to have the stream overrun its banks and flood homes and businesses in Chartiers Township and Canonsburg. As for Canonsburg, they have already determined that the connection to a drain pipe is deficient and the pipe that runs under West Pike Street is insufficient to carry any runoff from that stream to Chartiers Creek. Any funding from Washington County LSA funds would be used for the remedy. According to Council President Eric Chandler, the borough will also be making application to the state LSA fund for further assistance.
