July 7, 2025 2:58 am
Washington County has a new President Judge. The Honorable Valerie Costanzo was officially sworn-in Monday morning to replace the Judge Gary Gilman who has retired. A lifelong resident of Washington County, Costanzo is a graduate of Canon-McMillan High School, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She began her public service career as a prosecutor in the Washington County District Attorney’s office. In 1998, she was appointed Magisterial District Judge by then-Governor Tom Ridge. She was then elected to the Court of Common Pleas in 2013. For the majority of her 11 years on the bench, Judge Costanzo has managed a full criminal docket, presiding over numerous jury trials involving serious felony offenses such as homicide, rape, strangulation, and drug delivery resulting in death. She is currently scheduled to preside over a capital murder case in September. Reflecting on her new leadership role, Judge Costanzo said: “As I look forward to stepping into the role of President Judge, I am truly honored by the opportunity to serve the people of Washington County. I plan to lead our court with a strong focus on fairness, transparency, and efficiency, and to work closely with my fellow judges, county commissioners, and other elected officials. Together, we can ensure our justice system works effectively and earns the trust of everyone in our community.”
July 7, 2025 2:43 am
(WPXI) CANONSBURG, Pa. — A child is back home after being injured during the Canonsburg Fourth of July Parade on Friday. The child was injured by a motorcycle near the intersection of Adams Avenue and Brown Alley at 11 a.m., about an hour after the parade began. Canonsburg Mayor David Rhome said the child was injured by a small motorcycle being driven in the parade. Specific details on the crash were not provided.
July 6, 2025 7:59 am
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(WPXI) PITTSBURGH — Thousands of people across Pennsylvania are about to get some extra cash in their bank accounts, thanks to property tax and rent rebates. The state started sending out checks as part of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program on Tuesday. This initial wave includes approximately 425,000 rebates totaling $258 million. The money is going to older homeowners, renters and people with disabilities. Gov. Shapiro calls this a “big deal” for seniors. “I’ve heard for years from seniors who struggle to stay in their homes, who need just a little bit of extra help, and how the property tax/rent rebate is a critical lifeline for them,” Shapiro said. Applications for the 2024 rebates are still being accepted. The deadline was just extended to Dec. 31.
July 6, 2025 7:46 am
(WPXI) PITTSBURGH — Two men are accused of abusing and neglecting nine dogs in a Pittsburgh home. According to court documents, police received a tip from a concerned citizen about animal abuse happening at a house on the 5100 block of Blair Street in Hazelwood. Police said they were given video of what appeared to be Ryan Chavers, 31, hitting the dogs with what they described as a long pipe-like object. Officers said that Garrett Harper, 47, was also living at the house. Police entered the house on June 5 at 7:45 a.m. after getting a search warrant. Nine cane corso dogs were found inside. Three of them were adults and six were puppies, all around eight weeks old. The animals were in need of medical care and were taken to Animal Friends for treatment. Among them, the puppies had bloody tails, with one having a partially docked tail that was still hanging off. Charges were filed against both Harper and Chavers on July 3. Combined, the two face over 100 charges.
July 6, 2025 7:39 am
(WPXI) BEAVER FALLS, Pa. — A man is facing charges and another man was shot after a dispute over fireworks in Beaver Falls. The Beaver Falls Police Department said officers were called to the 300 block of 12th Street at 10:20 p.m. on the Fourth of July for a reported shooting. Police said a 47-year-old man was shot in the leg there and was taken to a local hospital in a personal vehicle before he was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital. The initial investigation revealed that the shooting happened after someone threw fireworks into a group of children. This resulted in a confrontation between the victim and Jaden Stull, 20, of Beaver Falls. Police said Stull began to run away and shot the victim in the thigh and shin. The victim tackled him after this. Stull is also believed to have shot himself in the hand. Both men are in stable condition. Stull faces charges of aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and firearm violation charges.
July 6, 2025 5:22 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has made tax cuts a central part of his political legacy. There were his first-term cuts. And now the Republican has pushed through an extension of those cuts and added new tax breaks. But the bill he signed into law Friday also comes with significant cuts to Medicaid and food assistance, contradicting promises to protect such programs. Democrats plan to make that expected fallout a campaign focus, while Republicans argue the bill will boost the economy. Historically, major legislation that’s been backed mostly by just one party has rarely translated into political rewards. So the long-term effects of Trump’s tax policy are unclear.
