March 18, 2025 1:37 pm
(WPXI) – The National Weather Service has confirmed a fifth tornado touched down during Sunday’s storms across our area. NWS officials said they found damage consistent with an EF-1 tornado near Haddenville, Fayette County. They added that more information will be available after the survey team completes their assessment. On Tuesday, the NWS confirmed the other four EF-1 tornadoes that touched down on Sunday were near Donegal, Ligonier and Wilpen in Westmoreland County and near Josephine, in Indiana County. The four tornadoes confirmed Tuesday had estimated wind speeds of 100-105 mph, according to the NWS.
March 18, 2025 6:28 am
Washington County President Judge Gary Gilman is retiring. The 62-year old reportedly informed his staff and other judges Friday. He will officially retire July 7. The Observer-Reporter says Judge Valerie Costanzo will become the new President Judge. Gilman was elected to the bench back in 2011 and won retention a decade later. Gilman says he and his wife Senior Judge Katherine Emery would like to travel.
March 18, 2025 4:51 am
SMITH TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – An Ohio man was flown to a hospital after he was hit by a car while changing a flat tire in Smith Township. A Pennsylvania State Police report says the incident happened on Monday just after 3 p.m. on U.S. Highway 22, just west of the Bavington Exit. Troopers say a man from Jacobsburg Ohio was on the shoulder trying to change his vehicle’s flat tire when he was hit by a Volkswagen Jetta driven by a West Virginia woman. The man was taken to an area hospital by helicopter. There’s no word on his current condition. The crash remains under investigation.
March 18, 2025 4:48 am
North Franklin Township residents can soon expect a new dining option as the Zoning Hearing Board has approved the construction of a Long John Silver’s restaurant. The new restaurant will be located next to the Burger King on West Chestnut Street. According to Barry Blose, Chairman of the North Franklin Township Zoning Board, the vacant lot will soon be transformed into a state-of-the-art facility. The restaurant will offer a modern drive-thru, a seating area for approximately 25 people, and restroom facilities.The new eatery will provide the community with a fast food option that includes all the familiar offerings of Long John Silver’s, while also enhancing the area with a modern design. Long John Silver’s also has reached an agreement with the neighboring Burger King to share their parking lot if their lot has reached capacity. Construction is expected to begin this summer.
March 18, 2025 4:47 am
Peters Township School Directors held a straight forward meeting disposing of day to day business items and approving a draft format for the school calendar two years from now. The draft of the 2026-2027 school year calendar is now available for public comment on the school district’s website. Prior to approval, Director Alex O’Neill suggested that the public’s attention be brought to the calendar, specifically regarding the length of spring break. In two years, the break will only be for 4 school days. By comparison, this year and in the 2025-2026 school year, spring break is scheduled for 6 school days. Directors asked staff to make sure parents are alerted by email to study the change.
March 18, 2025 4:55 am
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The search for a U.S. college student who went missing in the Dominican Republic intensified on Monday after a man questioned by authorities visited the beach where she was last seen and spoke with officials. The 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki vanished before dawn on March 6 in the resort town of Punta Cana. Her parents are now asking officials in the Dominican Republic to officially declare her dead. Sources say the parents sent a letter to police acknowledging there is no evidence of foul play. Authorities are scouring waters in case she drowned. Minnesota student Joshua Riibe has not been named as a suspect but is believed to be the last person to see her. Konanki is an Indian citizen.
March 18, 2025 5:01 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed on an immediate ceasefire for energy and infrastructure targets in the Russia-Ukraine war. Ukraine hasn’t responded yet. The White House described the move Tuesday as the first step in a “movement to peace” that it hopes will eventually include a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a full and lasting end to the fighting. The White House said negotiations would begin immediately on those steps. Trump and Putin held a call for more than an hour. There’s no indication Putin has backed away from his previous conditions, fiercely opposed by Kiev, to consider a broader ceasefire.
March 18, 2025 5:07 am
A federal judge on Monday was incredulous at the contention by the Trump administration that his directive to turn around deportation flights wasn’t binding because it was made verbally. District Court Judge James E. Boasberg made the demand Saturday night as he temporarily halted deportations under wartime powers President Donald Trump had declared minutes earlier under a rarely used 18th century law. But planes were already en route to El Salvador. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit asked Boasberg to determine if the administration violated his order. But an administration lawyer on Monday wouldn’t answer many of the judge’s questions, saying the judge had no right to the information.
March 18, 2025 5:05 am
The Pentagon says internet pages honoring a Black Medal of Honor winner and Japanese American service members were mistakenly taken down. But it is staunchly defending its overall campaign to strip out content singling out the contributions by women and minority groups, which the Trump administration considers “DEI.” A Defense Department website honoring Black Medal of Honor recipient Army Maj. Gen. Charles Calvin Rogers was taken down last week. Another page that was removed featured the World War II Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Both were back online Monday, but thousands of pages have been taken down in efforts to delete material promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.
March 17, 2025 5:03 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday he was ending “immediately” the Secret Service protection details assigned to Joe Biden’s adult children, which the former president had extended for six months shortly before leaving office in January. Trump on a social media objected to what he said were 18 agents assigned to Hunter Biden’s protective detail while he is in South Africa this week. He said Ashley Biden has 13 agents assigned to her detail and that she too “will be taken off the list.” Former presidents and their spouses receive life-long Secret Service protection under federal law, but the protection afforded to their immediate families over the age of 16 ends when they leave office.
