February 28, 2024 2:32 am
The Board of Trustees of Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) announced on Tuesday that Elizabeth MacLeod Walls, Ph.D., will become the College’s fourteenth president. Dr. MacLeod Walls currently serves as the president of William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. She will succeed Dr. John C. Knapp, who has announced that he will retire on June 30, 2024. “W&J has had a long history of strong leaders who have transformed the College,” stated Donna Haley Grier, chair of the Washington & Jefferson Board of Trustees. “After an extensive and inclusive search, the Board of Trustees unanimously and enthusiastically selected Dr. MacLeod Walls to lead W&J into the future.” Dr. MacLeod Walls will be joined on campus by her husband, the Rev. Dr. Craig MacLeod Walls, the founding director of the Center for Faith and Culture at William Jewell College. Her two college-aged children, Alec and John, will join their parents on campus during holiday breaks. The MacLeod Walls family will also bring their beloved golden retriever, Buckeye, to the W&J campus.
February 28, 2024 1:04 am
A Pittsburgh man was shot and killed in Charleroi Monday night. The Washington County Coroner has identified the man as 31-year-old Tev Jerod Mungo. Authorities say the shooting occurred just before eleven o’clock outside of a home in the 800 block of Lookout Avenue. The investigation is ongoing.
February 27, 2024 4:52 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Macy’s will close 150 unproductive namesake stores over the next three years, including 50 by year-end. The company made the announcement Tuesday after posting a fourth-quarter loss and declining sales. As part of the strategy, Macy’s aims to upgrade its remaining 350 stores, with plans to add more salespeople to fitting areas and shoe departments, while adding more visual displays like mannequins. At the same time the company signaled a pivot to luxury, which has fared better overall. The retailer plans to open 15 of its higher end Bloomingdale’s stores and 30 of its luxury Bluemercury cosmetics locations.
February 27, 2024 4:50 pm
DETROIT (AP) — Toyota is recalling about 381,000 Tacoma midsize pickup trucks in the U.S. because a part can separate from the rear axle, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall covers certain trucks from the 2022 and 2023 model years. Toyota said in a statement Tuesday that welding debris left on the ends of the axles can cause some nuts to loosen over time and eventually fall off. That can cause the part to separate, which can affect stability and brake performance. Toyota wouldn’t say if there have been any crashes or injuries. Dealers will inspect the rear axles and tighten retaining nuts at no cost to owners. Any damaged components will be repaired or replaced. Customers will be notified by mail in late April.
February 27, 2024 3:39 pm
Multiple fire crews were called out Tuesday afternoon around three o’clock for reports of a fire in a building in the six-hundred block of East Maiden Street in Washington. The road in that area was shut down while crews battled the blaze. West Penn Power was called to the scene. Smoke could be seen for blocks. There’s been no word on injuries or the cause of the blaze. Washington County 911 did say, however, that everyone made it out of the building and the fire was brought under control around five-thirty. (Photo: Facebook)
February 27, 2024 1:51 pm
Dr. Bobbi Y. Cumpston, DSL, Washington County Director of Veteran Affairs, was recently appointed by Governor Josh Shapiro to the Advisory Council for the Solider and Sailors Veterans Home. “I am honored to receive this appointment to the Advisory Council to help support our veterans and their families. It is a continuation of my military service and provides an opportunity to ensure our veterans receive the best care. Dr. Cumpston will be administered the Oath of Office from Washington County President Judge Gary Gilman on February 28th at 9 a.m. and she will assume her duties immediately. “Dr. Cumpston serves over 15,000 veterans who consider Washington County their home. Her appointment is a recognition of her work and it’s an honor for her to be appointed to this advisory council. They will be fortunate to have her knowledge and experience,” said Commissioner Nick Sherman. Cumpston is a 20-year Army veteran who retired in 2022. She served on active duty with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Dr. Cumpston earned her Doctorate in Strategic Leadership at Regent University.
February 27, 2024 5:18 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden is set to appear on Capitol Hill for a closed-door deposition with lawmakers. His appearance Wednesday marks a critical moment for Republicans as their impeachment inquiry into his father and their family’s business affairs teeters on the brink of collapse. The 14-month Republican investigation into the Biden family has centered on Hunter Biden and his overseas work for clients in Ukraine, China, Romania and other countries. Republicans have long questioned whether those business dealings involved corruption and influence peddling by President Joe Biden, particularly when he was vice president. But despite interviews and more than 100,000 pages of documents, Republicans have yet to produce direct evidence of misconduct by the president.
February 27, 2024 5:17 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders emerged from an “intense” Oval Office meeting with President Joe Biden speaking optimistically about the prospects for avoiding a partial government shutdown beginning this weekend. However, things are still at a crossroads on assistance for Ukraine and Israel as the president and others in the meeting urgently warned House Speaker Mike Johnson of the grave consequences of delay. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says those in the meeting told Johnson ‘get it done.’ But Johnson emerged from the meeting without mentioning Ukraine. He said “the first priority of the country is our border, and making it secure.”
February 27, 2024 5:14 am
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Joe Biden and Donald Trump have won their party’s primaries in Michigan. However, Tuesday’s results showed that both candidates have cause for concern in their bid to win the swing state in November. An “uncommitted” vote in Michigan’s Democratic primary was the first indication of how backlash over President Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza might impact his reelection campaign. Trump won his primary by a large margin. Still, support for rival Nikki Haley once again showed that some Republican voters may have misgivings about giving the former president another four years in the general election.
February 27, 2024 5:11 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The scene in classrooms around the country is similar: Kids are on their phones, even when school rules forbid it. Teachers say they see students on Snapchat, listening to music and even watching Netflix in class, among countless other examples of how smartphones distract from teaching and learning. Increasingly, educators are speaking with one voice on the question of how to handle it: Ban phones during classes. A growing number of leaders at the state and federal levels have begun endorsing school cellphone bans and suggesting new ways to curb access to the devices.
