Head-On Crash Leaves One Person Dead

April 5, 2026 7:27 am

Washington County Coroner Tim Warco  says one person was killed and two others injured in a head-on collision Saturday evening near the intersection of Route 40 and Lake Road in Donegal Township.  Warco says the victim, identified as 41-year-old Daniel Pasqualucci, was seen traveling the wrong way in the westbound lane of Route 40 at a high rate of speed when his sedan slammed head-on into an SUV.  The driver of the SUV and a passenger in that vehicle were flown to Pittsburgh area hospitals.  Warco says Pasqualucci was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.  The crash is under investigation by State Police.

Police Searching For Alleged Child Rapist

April 5, 2026 7:00 am

State Police say they have an arrest warrant out for Matthew Gabriel Barth who is wanted for rape of a minor.  Police say he is known to frequent the areas of Washington, Bentleyville, Brownsville, Belle Vernon, Donora, and Pittsburgh and Last known address: 475 Lively Road, Eighty-Four, Pa.  Troopers say he is facing a laundry list of charges, including rape of a child and corruption of minors.  Barth is described as six-feet tall, weighs about two-hundred pounds with brown eyes and hair.  If anyone has information or knows the whereabouts of Barth, they are encouraged to contact PSP Washington at 724-223-5200 or PSP Tips Toll Free at 1-800-472-8477 or online at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=107

Handgun Found In Carry-On At Pittsburgh International

April 5, 2026 8:37 am

PITTSBURGH — An Ohio man is facing a misdemeanor after police say he brought a gun to the Pittsburgh International Airport early Saturday morning.  The Allegheny County Police Department says TSA officers saw the gun within a passenger’s carry-on bag at the airport’s main security checkpoint soon after 3 a.m. Saturday.  ACPD responded and identified the man as Joshua Seese, 49, of Lowellville, OH. They later determined he did not have a valid concealed carry permit, so he was charged with one count of carrying a firearm without a license.  The FBI was also notified of the incident.  Anyone who brings a gun to an airport’s checkpoint can face federal civil fines up to $10,000, depending on the specific weapon and other circumstances. Repeat offenders can be fined up to nearly $14,000.  Passengers can travel with guns only in checked baggage if it’s unloaded and packed in a hard-sided, locked case. Then, the locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared.

U.S. Rescues Aviator Whose Jet Was Shot Down In Iran

April 5, 2026 7:29 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. service member who had been missing since Iran shot down a fighter jet has been rescued, President Donald Trump wrote in a social media post early Sunday. The crew member had been missing since Friday, when Iran downed a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle. A second crew member was rescued earlier. Trump wrote that the aviator is injured but “will be just fine,” and that the rescue involved “dozens of aircraft.” A frantic search and rescue operation unfolded after the jet crashed, as Iran promised a reward for anyone turning the aviator in. In the United Arab Emirates, authorities responded to multiple fires at the Borouge petrochemicals plant following an attack.  (Photo:  AP)

Southern California Wildfire Mostly Under Control

April 5, 2026 7:51 am

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A smoky wildfire in Southern California that broke out Friday morning was mostly under control Saturday afternoon. The Springs Fire in Riverside County, about 64 miles east of Los Angeles, was 75% contained by Saturday. Strong Santa Ana winds that were predicted to gust up to 45 mph on Saturday had “dissipated a bit” since Friday, helping firefighters. About 260 personnel are battling the blaze, and no structures have been damaged. Most evacuation orders have been lifted, and officials expected the rest to be removed by the end of the day. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Screenwriters & Hollywood Studios Reach Tentative Deal

April 5, 2026 8:20 am

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Screenwriters and Hollywood studios have reached a tentative deal after a few weeks of negotiation. The Writers Guild of America and The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers announced the deal late Saturday. The four-year agreement is longer than a typical contract. It still needs approval from the guild’s board and members. The terms of the deal are not immediately announced. But it is expected to include several union priorities such as better health care plans and more protection against artificial intelligence. The tentative deal comes three years after writers went on a historic strike that partially brought Hollywood to a standstill. Actors and directors are still negotiating new contracts with the studios.

Lunar Loo Acting Up Again On Artemis II

April 5, 2026 7:50 am

HOUSTON (AP) — The Artemis II astronauts are more than halfway to the moon. The three Americans and one Canadian will reach their destination Monday, performing a lunar flyby and then coming straight back home. They are the first moonbound crew in more than half a century, picking up where NASA’s Apollo program left off. On the downside, their toilet is on the blink again. Until it is fixed, Mission Control has instructed the astronauts to break out more of the backup urine collection bags. The toilet malfunctioned following Wednesday’s liftoff and has been hit and miss ever since.

Toddler Expected To Survive After Lawnmower Accident

April 5, 2026 7:00 am

NORTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP, PA — A toddler in North Strabane Township who was rushed to the hospital after a lawnmower accident is now in stable condition condition and expected to survive.  Washington County 911 tells WJPA News that the accident happened just after one p.m. on Trotwood Drive Friday afternoon, when the child was accidentally run over by a lawnmower. He was flown to UPMC’s Children’s Hospital, where he received immediate medical attention.

Worker Crushed In Tragic Mining Accident

April 4, 2026 8:24 am

MARSHALL COUNTY, WV — A worker Friday morning died after being crushed at a coal mine in Marshall County, prompting a multi-agency emergency response. Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s office identified the miner as Darin Reece, as Morrisey gave his condolences, “We extend our condolences to his family, his fellow miners, and all those who knew him. He served as a Continuous Miner Section Supervisor and was part of a workforce that takes on difficult and dangerous work every day.” According to authorities, Marshall County 911 received a call just after 10:30 Friday morning requesting EMS for Reece at the Ohio County Mine Golden Ridge Portal who had been crushed and suffered head and neck injuries. Dallas EMS, Marshall County EMS, Ohio County EMS, Stone Church VFD, West Finley VFD, and air medical were all requested for aid.

Pittsburgh Woman Charged for Attempted Shooting

April 4, 2026 9:13 am

PITTSBURGH, PA (WPXI) — A woman accused of opening fire at a family in a Pittsburgh neighborhood is facing over a dozen charges. On Friday, the Pittsburgh Police Department filed 17 charges, including criminal attempted homicide and six counts of aggravated assault, against 36-year-old Latasha Thorne. Thorne is accused of shooting a man in the city’s Larimer neighborhood on March 30, leaving him in critical condition. A criminal complaint states that police first responded to Mayflower Street before 7 p.m. to settle an argument between neighbors. By 7:45 p.m., officers were called back to the same street for a report of a person shot while holding their child. At this time, court records show that Thorne is not in custody.