March 19, 2025 5:02 am
SEATTLE (AP) — Attacks on property carrying the logo of Elon Musk’s electric-car company are cropping up from coast to coast and even overseas. Tesla showrooms, vehicle lots, charging stations and even privately owned cars have been targeted. Not all of the incidents have been definitively linked to politics, but there has been a clear uptick since President Donald Trump took office and empowered Musk to oversee a new Department of Government Efficiency that is slashing government spending. Experts on domestic extremism say Tesla is a predictable target for left-wing anarchist violence, even if it’s impossible to know yet if the spate of violence is a passing fad or the beginning of a worrisome trend.
March 19, 2025 5:01 am
DALLAS (AP) — Unredacted documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy have been released following an order by President Donald Trump shortly after he took office. The documents were posted on the website of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration on Tuesday evening. The vast majority of the National Archives’ collection of over 6 million pages of records, photographs, motion pictures, sound recordings and artifacts related to the assassination have previously been released.
March 19, 2025 4:48 am
A Washington woman has been charged with stealing from the Wash High Football Boosters Club. According to the Criminal Complaint, on January 13, police were dispatched to Washington High School, where Head Football Coach Mike Bosnic, and Booster club leaders reported a significant amount of money had been taken from the club. City Detectives began an investigation. Officials identified 38-year-old Nicole Cook, the Vice President of the Wash High football boosters, as someone who used the group’s bank card for multiple unauthorized transactions. All told, there were more than 18 unauthorized uses totaling more than 43-hundred dollars. In early February she told investigators that she was struggling for money. Purchases were allegedly made at Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and Dick’s and used for rent. Cook reportedly paid some of the money back. Cook is charged with Theft by Unlawful Taking and other charges at District Judge Kelly Stewart’s court.
March 19, 2025 4:43 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Voters in a western Pennsylvania state House district will be filling a vacancy next week and deciding which party will hold the speakership. The district at stake in a special election on Tuesday includes towns along the Mon Valley steel region southeast of Pittsburgh. The race pits McKeesport Police Officer Dan Goughnour, the Democrat, against longtime volunteer firefighter and current White Oak Borough Council President Chuck Davis, the Republican. Since Democratic state Rep. Matt Gergely died in January, the House has been deadlocked at 101 to 101. Democrats hope to keep the seat and maintain Democratic Speaker Joanna McClinton as the chamber’s presiding officer.
March 19, 2025 2:49 am
A Canonsburg man received probation for a drug delivery resulting in death charge. John Backner, 58 pleaded guilty for selling a fatal dose of fentanyl to Sean Caldwell, 41 of Hickory, in October of 2023. The negotiated plea is for five years probation with one year of electronic home monitoring. The sentence also included 180 days of time served in the Washington County Jail before Backner was released on $500,000 bond. The judge reluctantly accepted the plea after prosecutors explained that Backner admitted responsibility very early on at his preliminary hearing. They also indicated that Backner has been particularly instrumental in the investigations of other unrelated cases. Backner could have been sentenced to more than six years in prison. Charges of possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communications facility were dropped.
March 19, 2025 2:41 am
The Superintendent of the Fort Cherry School District, in a Facebook post and letter to parents and guardians, said the high school principal received notification Wednesday morning that a threatening statement was discovered written on a wall within the school. Thomas Samosky said that after consultation with law enforcement, the Mt. Pleasant Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Trinity Area School District Police conducted a thorough sweep of the building out of an abundance of caution and it has been determined that the threat is not credible. Samosky wrote that the safety and well-being of students and staff are top priorities. As such, we took these precautionary measures to ensure the safety of everyone on campus. All classes and extracurricular activities will continue as scheduled. Samosky says though, that there will be an increased police presence in and around the school. In addition, counselors will be available if any students would like to talk to someone about this event. He says a thorough investigation is ongoing to identify the individual or individuals responsible for this incident. Any person found responsible will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
March 19, 2025 2:17 am
PITTSBURGH — Kennywood, Idlewild and Sandcastle are being sold to a new company. Parques Reunidos has agreed to sell its Palace Entertainment U.S. properties, which include the three Pennsylvania parks, to Herschend, which owns award-winning destinations like Dollywood, the Adventure Aquarium and Wild Adventures Theme Park. In all, Herschend, which describes itself as the “world’s largest family-owned themed attractions company,” is acquiring 20 entertainment venues across 10 states. Herschend says it’s committed to a smooth transition and no immediate changes are planned for the daily operations of the properties it’s acquiring. “We look forward to building upon the strong foundation that Palace Entertainment has created and welcoming these properties and hosts into the Herschend family of brands,” said Andrew Wexler, CEO of Herschend. “The teams at these parks have done an incredible job building beloved destinations in their communities, and we look forward to learning from them, growing together, and building on their success. This is an exciting opportunity for all of us to continue creating exceptional experiences for guests and meaningful opportunities for our teams.” Terms of the sale were not announced. The sale has not yet been completed.
March 18, 2025 4:45 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. still has a major case of French bulldog fever. But a very different breed is chasing dog lovers’ hearts. The comical, controversial Frenchie tops the American Kennel Club’s annual rundown of the nation’s most prevalent purebred dogs for a third year in a row. Next are Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, German shepherds, poodles and other longtime faves. Keep an eye on the cane corso. The powerful, protective breed vaulted from 47th to 14th in the rankings in just a decade. Popularity is seen as a mixed blessing among dog breeders and as an outright scourge by their critics. There’s no disputing that there are plenty of lovable dogs in animal shelters. (Photo: AP)
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.
