Costanzo Sworn-In As Washington County President Judge

July 7, 2025 8:58 am

Washington County has a new President Judge. The Honorable Valerie Costanzo was officially sworn-in Monday morning to replace the Judge Gary Gilman who has retired. A lifelong resident of Washington County, Costanzo is a graduate of Canon McMillan High School, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She began her public service career as a prosecutor in the Washington County District Attorney’s office. In 1998, she was appointed Magisterial District Judge by then-Governor Tom Ridge. She was then elected to the Court of Common Pleas in 2013. For the majority of her 11 years on the bench, Judge Costanzo has managed a full criminal docket, presiding over numerous jury trials involving serious felony offenses such as homicide, rape, strangulation, and drug delivery resulting in death. She is currently scheduled to preside over a capital murder case in September.  Reflecting on her new leadership role, Judge Costanzo said: “As I look forward to stepping into the role of President Judge, I am truly honored by the opportunity to serve the people of Washington County. I plan to lead our court with a strong focus on fairness, transparency, and efficiency, and to work closely with my fellow judges, county commissioners, and other elected officials. Together, we can ensure our justice system works effectively and earns the trust of everyone in our community.”

Child Injured In Canonsburg Parade Back Home

July 7, 2025 2:43 am

(WPXI) CANONSBURG, Pa. — A child is back home after being injured during the Canonsburg Fourth of July Parade on Friday.  The child was injured by a motorcycle near the intersection of Adams Avenue and Brown Alley at 11 a.m., about an hour after the parade began. Canonsburg Mayor David Rhome said the child was injured by a small motorcycle being driven in the parade. Specific details on the crash were not provided.

Car Strikes Home In Charleroi

July 7, 2025 5:01 am

CHARLEROI, Pa. — No injuries were reported after a car drove into a house in Charleroi Sunday afternoon. Charleroi Fire Department officials say they were called to Eighth Street and Prospect Avenue at 1:48 p.m. for a car that had struck a home. Firefighters worked to stabilize the building and secure utilities. Photos shared to social media show a car with front-end damage and multiple bricks knocked out of place in and around the home. Officials did not say what caused the car to crash. (Photo:  Charleroi Fire Department Facebook)

Fireworks Thrown At Pittsburgh Police

July 7, 2025 5:11 am

PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Police have filed charges against multiple men and released new details about a situation where fireworks were thrown at police officers on Fourth of July weekend in Pittsburgh’s South Side. Video shows fireworks being set off along busy East Carson Street early Saturday morning. People were running in front of cars and there were reports of shots fired. Photos provided to Channel 11 show police officers forming a line and breaking up the crowd. Pittsburgh’s Citizen Police Review Board opened an inquiry into that process on Saturday to learn more. According to a city public information officer, police were in the area of East Carson Street on the evening of the Fourth of July and into the early morning of July 5 for a “large and unruly crowd” gathering. Officers heard shots fired in the area of the 1400 block of Sarah Street at around 1 a.m. on Saturday. A man was quickly detained and a firearm was recovered. Another man took off on foot away from police. No injuries or property damage were reported. Charges were filed against Ronald Pelton, 23, of McKees Rocks for that incident. He faces charges of discharging a firearm, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, public drunkeness and possession of a weapon. The situation continued when Pittsburgh Police began to disperse the remaining crowd. Police said this happened at 2 a.m. as part of a pre-established plan and that officers gave multiple warnings. That was when, police say, some people in the crowd began throwing objects and launching fireworks at officers and police cruisers. One officer was hit with a rock and two other officers suffered eye irritation from the fireworks debris. Two men were arrested in relation to that situation: Delricco White, 20, of Duquesne and Kyliek McCracken, 18, of Ambridge.

Death Toll Tops 80 In Texas Flooding

July 7, 2025 5:16 am

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — The risk of life-threatening flooding is still high in central Texas with more rain on the way. The urgent search for the missing continues following a holiday weekend deluge that killed at least 82 people including children at summer camps. Officials say the death toll is sure to rise. Gov. Greg Abbott says more than 40 people are unaccounted for. Searchers now have found 68 bodies in Kerr County, where a wall of water came down the Guadalupe River. Sheriff Larry Leitha says the dead include 28 children. Abbott warned Sunday that additional rounds of heavy rains lasting into Tuesday could produce more flash flooding.

Chantal Flooding Forces Evacuations In North Carolina

July 7, 2025 12:51 pm

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Officials in North Carolina say heavy rain and flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal forced dozens of people to flee their homes. The Chapel Hill Fire Department and neighboring agencies completed more than 50 water rescues, many of them in areas where floodwaters entered or threatened to enter apartments. Chapel Hill officials said Monday that more than 60 people were displaced Sunday and Monday. In Orange County, the possibility of the failure of the Lake Michael Dam prompted officials to issue a voluntary evacuation for areas downstream. In Chatham County, authorities say they’re searching for two missing canoers. They were last seen launching their canoe on Jordan Lake and their canoe was recovered Sunday night.

Pressure From Trump For Trade Deals

July 6, 2025 5:17 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is stepping up pressure on trading partners to quickly make new deals before a Wednesday deadline when a tariff pause by President Donald Trump expires. There are plans for the U.S. to start sending letters Monday warning countries that higher tariffs could kick in Aug. 1. That furthers the uncertainty for businesses, consumers and America’s trading partners. And questions remain about which countries will be notified, whether anything will change in the days ahead and whether Trump will once more push off imposing the rates. Trump could extend the time for dealmaking, as he has done before.

Will Trump’s Big Bill Come With Political Cost?

July 6, 2025 5:22 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has made tax cuts a central part of his political legacy. There were his first-term cuts. And now the Republican has pushed through an extension of those cuts and added new tax breaks. But the bill he signed into law Friday also comes with significant cuts to Medicaid and food assistance, contradicting promises to protect such programs. Democrats plan to make that expected fallout a campaign focus, while Republicans argue the bill will boost the economy. Historically, major legislation that’s been backed mostly by just one party has rarely translated into political rewards. So the long-term effects of Trump’s tax policy are unclear.

Trump To Meet With Netanyahu

July 7, 2025 10:46 am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump are set to meet for the third time this year. Among the issues for discussion: Israel’s 21-month war against Hamas in Gaza and questions over how hard Trump will push for an end to the conflict. Trump has made clear that following the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, he would like to see the Gaza conflict end soon. The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu could give new urgency to a U.S. ceasefire proposal being discussed by Israel and Hamas, but whether it leads to a deal that ends the war is unclear.

3 Dead, 10 Injured In Philadelphia Shooting

July 7, 2025 5:07 am

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Authorities say three people were killed and 10 others injured in a shooting. Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel says the three people who died in the shooting early Monday were adults, and two of the wounded are juveniles. The shooting happened shortly before 1 a.m. along a residential street in Grays Ferry, in South Philadelphia. Bethel says numerous rounds were fired. Police say one person with a weapon was taken into custody. The shooting happened after other shootings in the city and elsewhere around the U.S. over the Fourth of July weekend. Those included at least eight people struck by gunfire near a South Philadelphia nightclub.