April 17, 2025 2:37 am
A Charleroi man accused of delivering a fatal dose of heroin laced with fentanyl pleaded no contest to a lesser charge. Aaron Mitchell, 42 faced drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communications device felonies. His no contest plea to the criminal use of a communications device allowed him to walk free on Wednesday. Mitchell was accused of supplying Bradley Glesk of Charleroi the heroin laced with fentanyl that killed him in June of 2024. He was charged after police were able to determine that Blesk and Mitchell were communicating by phone about a heroin transaction. Prosecutors offered the plea deal to Mitchell when it was determined during the investigation that he was an intermediary contact regarding the transaction to purchase the drugs. Mitchell was sentenced to 6-12 months in jail. He was given credit for 183 days served and released. He will serve the rest of the sentence on probation.
April 16, 2025 1:50 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge says he’s found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court for violating his orders to turn around planes carrying deportees to El Salvador. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg said Wednesday he could refer the matter for prosecution if the administration does not “purge” its contempt. Boasberg said the administration could do so by returning to U.S. custody those who were sent to the El Salvador prison in violation of his order so that they “might avail themselves of their right to challenge their removability.” If the Justice Department declines to prosecute, Boasberg said he will appoint another attorney to prosecute the contempt matter.
April 16, 2025 8:52 am
President Donald Trump’s administration announced a lawsuit Wednesday against Maine’s education department for not complying with the government’s push to ban transgender athletes in girls sports, escalating a dispute over whether the state is abiding by a federal law that bars discrimination in education based on sex. Also, a federal judge has said she’ll order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with her orders to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison.
April 16, 2025 5:05 am
TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Mark Carney says who will go up against U.S. President Donald Trump is the key question in Canada’s election while his Conservative rival argued Carney doesn’t represent change after 10 years of Liberal Party rule. Opposition Conservative Pierre Poilievre says during the French-language leaders’ debate Canada needs change and Carney is just like his predecessor Justin Trudeau. Trump’s frequent attacks on Canada’s economy and sovereignty have infuriated Canadians and led to a surge in nationalism that has bolstered Liberal Party poll numbers ahead of the April 28 vote. Poilievre is imploring Canadians not to give the Liberals a fourth term.
April 16, 2025 5:03 am
DETROIT (AP) — President Donald Trump is considering a delay of auto tariffs. A temporary pause won’t be enough for automakers to adjust their vast global supply chains but exemptions on parts could be key to the industry. It may also give car buyers a little more time to decide before vehicle prices are expected to rise significantly.
April 16, 2025 5:01 am
BANGKOK (AP) — China’s economy expanded at a robust 5.4% annual pace in January-March, supported by strong exports ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s rapid increases in tariffs on Chinese exports. Analysts forecast that the world’s second largest economy will slow significantly in coming months, however, as tariffs as high as 145% on U.S. imports from China take effect. Exports were a strong factor in China’s ability to attain a 5% annual growth rate in 2024 and the official target for this year remains at about 5%. Beijing has hit back at the U.S. with 125% tariffs on American exports, while also stressing its determination to keep its own markets open to trade and investment.
April 16, 2025 4:59 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Elon Musk’s federal cost-cutting team is touting its latest finding: Hundreds of millions of dollars in allegedly fraudulent unemployment claims. But the fraud the Department of Government Efficiency is claiming to have uncovered seems to mimic work that federal investigators already reported years ago. And when they looked into the fraud, they found far more than what DOGE is now trumpeting. DOGE says its review found abuse including filings made by people with birthdates indicating they were just children, over the age of 115 or not even born yet. The Department of Labor’s own inspector general found major problems in pandemic unemployment benefits.
April 16, 2025 4:57 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wink Martindale, the genial host of such hit game shows as “Gambit” and “Tic-Tac-Dough,” has died. He was 91. Martindale began his career in radio and was did one of the first recorded television interviews with a young Elvis Presley before scoring hits as a game show host. “Gambit” started in 1976 but within a few short years was overtaken by “Wheel of Fortune” and other shows, but he bounced back in 1978 with “Tic-Tac-Dough,” which aired until 1985. Publicist Brian Mayes says Martindale died Tuesday at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage after battling lymphoma for a year.
April 16, 2025 4:47 am
Plans were announced in North Strabane Township to apply for Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewerage Grants to help fund stormwater improvement projects on McGregor Drive and Curry Avenue. The proposed project on McGregor Drive is expected to cost approximately $47,902, while the Curry Avenue project is estimated at $250,596.Vince Seyko Project Manager of Gibson-Thomas Engineering for North Strabane Township states that part of Curry Avenue is sinking and is a safety issue. The higher cost of the Curry project compared to McGregor is due to the sinking road needing to be repaved with asphalt. Since the projects will be funded by the state, Seyko says that residents will not face a tax increase. The timeline of the project has not been determined. In addition to stormwater work, the township is preparing to move forward with repairs to the Vandale Bridge. The board discussed authorizing the preparation and advertisement of bids for the bridge project, signaling the next step in securing a contractor to handle the repairs. Also on the agenda was a request from the Canonsburg-Houston-Strabane Veterans Council on a proposed donation to support the council’s annual Memorial Day Program.
April 16, 2025 2:56 am
Washington City Police and State Police are investigating an accident involving a pedestrian Monday evening in the city. Police Chief Steve Devenney tells WJPA News that a juvenile, who was believed to be operating a motorized scooter, was struck a vehicle along W. Chestnut Street at Washington Street near the Post Office. Devenney says the unidentified juvenile was then flown by medical helicopter to UPMC Childrens’ Hospital with life-threatening injuries. There has been no update on their condition. Devenney says the driver of the vehicle remained and the scene and has been fully cooperative. A State Police accident reconstruction team was brought in. Devenney says there were multiple witnesses to the accident but police are asking anyone who may have additional information to contact the police department.
