August 28, 2025 4:32 am
ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV is demanding that Israel stop the “collective punishment” and forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza. Leo was interrupted twice by applause as he read aloud his latest appeal for an end to the 22-month war during his weekly general audience Wednesday. History’s first American pope also called for the release of the remaining hostages taken by Hamas in southern Israel, and for both sides and international players to end the war. Palestinians in Gaza are bracing for Israel’s promised offensive in some of the territory’s most populated areas including Gaza City, where famine has been documented and declared.
August 28, 2025 4:29 am
NEW YORK (AP) — The director of the nation’s top public health agency has been fired after less than one month in the job. The White House says Susan Monarez isn’t “aligned with” President Donald Trump’s agenda and refused to resign, so she was fired. Her lawyers said she was targeted for standing up for science. Also on Wednesday, some other top agency leaders said they are resigning. Monarez was sworn in on July 31 — less than a month ago, making her the shortest-serving CDC director in the history of the 79-year-old agency.
August 28, 2025 4:25 am
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A top Florida official says the controversial state-run immigration detention facility in the Everglades will likely be empty in a matter of days, even as Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration fights a federal judge’s order to shutter the facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by a late October deadline. That’s according to an email exchange shared with The Associated Press. Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie says in an email to a South Florida rabbi on Aug. 22 in regard to providing spiritual care at the facility that “we are probably going to be down to 0 individuals within a few days.”
August 28, 2025 4:24 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose case has come to encapsulate much of President Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration agenda, say he wants to seek asylum in the United States. His lawyers told that to a federal judge Wednesday. The 30-year-old Salvadoran national was detained Monday in Baltimore by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after leaving a Tennessee jail on Friday. Administration officials have said he’s part of the dangerous MS-13 gang, an allegation Abrego Garcia denies. His lawyers are fighting the deportation efforts in court, arguing he has the right to express fear of persecution and torture in Uganda.
August 28, 2025 4:19 am
Pennsylvania State Representative Bud Cook (R-50) held a press conference to update constituents on bills working their way through the State House. Cook’s biggest news comes from his introduction of House Bill 1823 that would change the method of how Local Share Account monies generated from casino gambling would be distributed. Cook would like the Commonwealth Financing Authority to be used exclusively for the grant projects in Washington County. Cook would like to see a forensic audit of the year 2021. Cook still feels that nearly $10 million in funds are unaccounted for. In other legislation, Cook says that House Bill 1737 that was introduced in July is a measure that would prevent public officials convicted of felonies from becoming lobbyists in Pennsylvania. That bill has been referred to the House State Government Committee. Finally House Bill 1035 introduced in March would update state law governing tire recycling. It would look to use a method called pyrolysis to break down old tires into reusable materials and reduce pollution and landfill waste.
August 28, 2025 4:14 am
(WPXI)-State police are urging residents to stay alert when using debit and credit cards as skimming devices become more widespread across Western Pennsylvania. “The skimmer devices in our area have really gotten to a heightened level that we’ve never seen before,” said Trooper Rocco Gagliardi of Pennsylvania State Police. Skimmers are often purchased on the black market and attached to legitimate card readers, allowing thieves to capture customers’ financial information. According to a recent FBI report, Pennsylvania ranks 8th in the nation for money lost to scams, including, but not limited to, card skimming. The report also found Pennsylvanians lost nearly $400 million to scams last year — a high amount compared to the number of complaints filed in the state. “We have fewer complaints but more money loss,” Gagliardi said. “That tells us they are taking us for way more than they should than any other state.” State police are urging both consumers and businesses to remain vigilant. While some retailers have added clamps to protect machines from tampering, officers say many stores still lack safeguards against skimming devices. Police recommend consumers use digital payment options, such as Apple Pay or Google Wallet, whenever possible to reduce the risk of having their information stolen.
August 28, 2025 1:55 am
Washington County Commissioners held a special meeting Thursday afternoon to vote on a change in the demolition order for tearing down the Courthouse Square building. The board voted two to one to award a contract for more than one-point-four-million dollars to JG Contracting Company of Carnegie to supply structural support to enable a safe and efficient demolition. Democrat Larry Maggi voted against the measure, saying it was a costly oversight, a hasty decision and a waste of hard-earned taxpayer dollars.
August 28, 2025 1:54 am
A federal jury in Pittsburgh has found a Donora man guilty of one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Authorities say 31-year-old Robert Goins fled from a traffic stop in Allegheny County and led police on a high speed chase that ended with Goins totaling his vehicle. From the vehicle, police say they recovered drugs and a stolen, loaded firearm. Sentencing has been set for October
August 28, 2025 1:42 am
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday afternoon at Washington’s Main Street Pavilion to showcase a new speaker system. The system, which features twelve speakers and internet connectivity was funded thru a nineteen-thousand-five-hundred dollar grant from the Washington County Tourism Promotion agency. Main Street Manager Bradly Martin says the remainder of the cost was paid for through rentals of the pavilion. Officials say those who rent the pavilion will have access to the speakers to play the music of their choice. Martin says they installation of the speaker system was done with the future in mind. He says that eventually they would like to have speakers up and down main street. The Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency also used the ceremony to announce fifty-nine-thousand-dollars in new tourism grants. President of the chamber and tourism, Jeff Kotula, says that during this final cycle of grant funding for 2025, tourism grants have been awarded to the Borough of Canonsburg, County Home Shows, Little A Town Arena, Little Lake Theatre Company, Sarris Candies, and Trax Farm Market to support a variety of marketing efforts to help attract visitors to these unique assets.
August 28, 2025 1:37 am
Washington Police say two felony arrest warrants have been issued for Patrick Thurston. He is accused of recently burglarizing the Hidden Treasures and Sherwin Williams stores. Police credit tremendous community and area response in assisting in the identification of Thurston. Thurston is not believed to be a danger to the public, but police ask that people not try to apprehend him themselves. If anyone sees him or has information about his whereabouts, they are asked to contact the Washington City Police. Reach out to Detective Stallings at 724-223-4225 or email him at bstallings@washingtonpa.us. You may also submit tips anonymously to a dedicated tip line at 724-223-4108 or tips@washingtonpa.us. If you see and recognize the suspect, police say you should call 911 immediately. In addition, police suggest residents and visitors should keep doors locked at all times and be extra alert in and around the Crown Plaza, Stewart Ave, and Washington Street areas, and if possible, make use of home and business security cameras to help deter and record suspicious activity. (Photo: City of Washington Police Department)
