June 18, 2025 5:52 pm
Pittsburgh legend, singer-song writer Lou Christie has died. He was eighty-two. Born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco, Christie was a graduate of Moon Area High School, who went on to be a big success soon after that. Christie had two, top ten hits in 1963, “Two Faces Have I” and “The Gypsy Cried”. He hit #1 with “Lightnin’ Strikes” in 1965. Christie performed until 2023 and one of his last shows was at the Palace Theater in Greensburg in 2021. (Photo: Lou Christie Facebook)
June 18, 2025 4:43 pm
DEDHAM, Mass. (AP) — A jury has found Karen Read not guilty of second-degree murder in death of her Boston police officer boyfriend but guilty of a lesser charge of drunken driving. The jury handed down its decision Wednesday after deliberating for at least 22 hours since June 13. The verdict comes nearly a year after a separate jury deadlocked over whether Read killed John O’Keefe in 2022. Along with the second-degree murder charge, Read also faced charges of manslaughter and leaving the scene for allegedly striking O’Keefe with her SUV during a blizzard and leaving him to die in the snow. The case attracted international attention, with many people siding with the defense argument that Read was framed by police. (Photo: AP)
June 18, 2025 10:19 am
It’s official. Japan’s Nippon Steel has finalized its $14.9 billion takeover of U.S. Steel. The companies making the announcement Wednesday morning. In addition, the companies have entered into a national security agreement with the federal government to mitigate concerns about a Japanese company having control over a domestic steelmaker. Nippon has committed to investing some $11 billion in U.S. Steel facilities by 2028 and keeping its headquarters in Pittsburgh. The federal government will have a so-called “golden share” in the company giving the president veto power over some matters, including reductions in capital investments, relocating its headquarters, transferring jobs outside the country and closing existing facilities.
June 18, 2025 8:53 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dipped to 245,000 last week amid uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s trade policies. U.S. jobless claims ticked down from 250,000 the week before. Economists had forecast 250,000. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, rose to 245,500, the highest since August 2023. The number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits the week of June 7 slid to 1.95 million.
June 18, 2025 2:33 am
North Strabane Township Supervisors picked up on a conditional use application hearing for the Hidden Acres development. A public hearing was begun in January of this year and was continued to Tuesday to allow Laurel Communities time to address supervisor concerns with the plan. As was the case in January, about two dozen local residents attended the meeting for the proposed development on Christy Road to voice different concerns than before. Several residents including Doug Matt voiced environmental concerns as they relate to the streams stocked with fish that traverse the property. Also addressed were protected plant and insects living there. Bats and turtles were also animals of concern. Residents of Christy Road voiced their concerns for their own safety. Many pointed out that increased traffic from the development would put their safety at risk as they walked along Christy Road for recreation. Laurel Communities presented a revised application in March of 2025 for a 160 home development that would be located on 279 acres. Jon Kamin, an attorney representing Laurel Communities explained that this is the very first step in a process that has several more steps and could take up to 18 months to complete. Supervisors anticipate voting on the conditional use application in July.
June 18, 2025 2:38 am
Washington County Commissioners will vote on a measure to bring the demolition of the Washington Mall one step closer to reality. On their agenda for Thursday, commissioners will vote on a cooperation agreement between the county, The Redevelopment Authority of Washington County and Chapman Properties to complete the demolition. The Redevelopment Authority will be administering a $5.9 million contribution from the county’s Blight Mitigation and Demolition Fund to offset some of the demolition costs. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman is pleased that the project is moving one step closer to reality. Commissioner Larry Maggi, stated that he is certainly in favor of the project but wishes that the county had some sort of covenants that guided the types of businesses that could be located on the property. He pointed to the covenants in place at Southpointe I and II as examples. Maggi’s concern is that appropriate enterprises locate to the new project. He does not want to see any business move in that would deter other businesses from locating at the new development. Discussion during the meeting indicated use of the property would be up to South Strabane Township. The purchase of the property is scheduled to close on Wednesday.
June 18, 2025 5:15 am
Eight people are now confirmed dead from flooding in Ohio County, West Virginia on Saturday. At least one person is still listed as missing and officials are warning residents to pay close attention to rain that may come in the next twenty-four hours. Other victims include Lisa McMasters, 59, Michael Bokanovich, 73; Kyleigh Minch Shotton, 26, her daughter, Parker Shotton, 3, and Travis Creighton, 19, all of Triadelphia.
June 18, 2025 2:10 am
Many area businesses and organizations are stepping up to the plate this week to help those who were devastated by the flooding in the Wheeling area on Saturday, including the Canonsburg Fire Department. Fire Chief Tim Solobay and Assistant Fire Chief Dave Rhome say they are now collecting much needed supplies that will be delivered to Ohio County over the weekend. They say they are seeking cleaning supplies right now – no furniture, clothing or appliances at the moment. Donations are being accepted this week from nine a.m. until nine p.m. at the fire hall on 1 Greenside Avenue.
June 18, 2025 4:48 am
Iran’s supreme leader warns US that joining Israeli strikes will ‘result in irreparable damage for them’ Iran’s supreme leader has warned the United States that joining the Israeli strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will “result in irreparable damage for them.” The comments by 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei came in a statement read out by a state television anchor against a still image of the leader. “Any military involvement by the U.S. in this field will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage for them,” the statement said. In the message, Khamenei also urged officials to “continue their work with strength and trust in God.” “God will certainly and surely make the Iranian nation … victorious,” he said. State television said that a video of Khamenei giving the same address would be aired later.
June 18, 2025 4:50 am
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — At least 51 Palestinians were killed and over 200 wounded in the Gaza Strip while waiting for U.N. and commercial trucks to enter the territory with desperately needed food, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry and a local hospital. Palestinian witnesses told The Associated Press that Israeli forces had fired on the crowds. The military said it was looking into reports that its forces had fired toward the crowd, causing several casualties. It did not appear to be related to a new Israeli- and U.S.-supported aid delivery network that rolled out last month and has been marred by controversy and violence.
