December 3, 2025 4:51 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration says it will withhold funds for administering SNAP food aid in most Democratic-controlled states starting next week unless they provide data about those receiving the assistance. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday that the action is looming because those states are refusing to provide requested information about the recipients, including their names and immigration status. She says it’s necessary that states comply to root out fraud in the program. Democratic states have sued to block the requirement. About 42 million lower-income Americans rely on SNAP to help buy groceries. The USDA said it is targeting states’ administrative funds, not the benefits people receive.
December 3, 2025 10:30 am
PennDOT has unveiled plans for improvements along Interstate 79 between Marianna and Waynesburg impacting Amwell Township in Washington County and Franklin and Washington Townships in Greene County. A Virtual Plans Display is up on the PennDOT District 12 website which allows for public comment until December 17. The project is proposed to start in the summer and be completed in Fall of 2027. PennDOT says the project will “maintain and improve the condition of the existing pavement and structures including minor safety enhancements”. The work is to be completed in phases under long-term single lane restrictions in both directions. Additional travel restrictions will include temporary lane shifts onto ramps, as well as intermittent short-term truck detours and reduced speeds to accommodate concrete bridge deck restoration at select locations. Ramp detours will also be necessary as interchanges are patched or re-paved.
December 3, 2025 4:47 am
Canonsburg Council has approved its preliminary budget and it looks like residents will see a slight tax increase in the new year. According to the Observer-Reporter, the spending plan totals more than $6.5 million and would hike the millage rate by .2 mills. That would an increase of twenty-seven-dollars for the average homeowner. Council is to formally adopt the budget when they meet Monday.
December 2, 2025 2:22 am
The Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency Board of Directors announced $155,300 in new tourism investments on Tuesday. Officials say the board has already awarded $454,275 in grants in 2025, and the additional grants will allow for future 2026 investments in capital projects and marketing. According to Jeff Kotula, President of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Promotion Agency, tourism is a major economic driver in the county. “The tourism industry continues to be a key contributor to Washington County’s economy. In fact, according to the most recent report from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, the tourism economy is responsible for $719.5 million in direct visitor spending per year and supports over 5,500 jobs across the county. These new investments in our tourism assets and attractions will support additional economic growth, improve the visitor experience, and increase our quality of life – attracting more leisure and business visitors as well as residents to our county,” Kotula stated. The grants awarded were given to: Always B Smiling; Claysville Playgrounds Association: Little A Town Arena; Marianna Outdoorsmen Association; National Duncan Glass Society; National Pike Trail Council; North Strabane Township Park; Washington County Heritage Alliance; Washington County Historical Society; Washington Symphonic Orchestra; West Alexander Agricultural Association and Family Festivals Association, Inc.
December 3, 2025 4:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon’s watchdog has found that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth put U.S. personnel and their mission at risk when he used the Signal messaging app to convey sensitive information about a military strike against Houthi militants in Yemen. That’s according to two people familiar with the findings on Wednesday. One of the people says Hegseth, however, has the ability to declassify material and the report did not find he did so improperly. Hegseth denied posting classified information regarding plans for a military strike against Houthi militants in Yemen in March. The review by the Pentagon inspector general’s office was delivered to lawmakers, who were able to review the report in a classified facility at the Capitol.
December 2, 2025 4:50 am
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from making widespread immigration arrests in the nation’s capital without warrants or probable cause that the person is an imminent flight risk. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington granted a preliminary injunction sought by civil liberties and immigrants rights groups in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. An email to the department after hours Tuesday was not immediately returned. Plaintiffs’ attorneys argued federal officers were frequently patrolling and setting up checkpoints in Washington, D.C., neighborhoods with large numbers of Latino immigrants and then stopping and arresting people indiscriminately.
December 2, 2025 4:54 am
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican Matt Van Epps has won a special election in Tennessee for a seat in the U.S. House. Van Epps was backed by President Donald Trump. He defeated Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn to keep the 7th Congressional District in the GOP column. But the comparatively slim margin of victory fueled Democratic hopes for next year’s midterm elections. The special election followed Republican Rep. Mark Green’s resignation this summer. The race saw a surge in spending, with Van Epps receiving over $1 million from the Trump-backing super PAC MAGA Inc. The House Majority PAC supported Behn with $1 million.
December 3, 2025 5:16 pm
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A doctor who sold ketamine to ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry before his overdose death has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison. A federal judge in Los Angeles handed down the prison sentence plus two years of probation to 44-year-old Dr. Salvador Plasencia on Wednesday. Plasencia admitted to illegally selling ketamine to Perry, knowing he was a struggling addict. Plasencia has surrendered his medical license and pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution. Prosecutors said the ketamine that killed Perry was not provided by Plasencia, but his actions contributed to Perry’s harm. (Photo: AP)
December 2, 2025 5:42 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is citing the “fog of war” in defending a follow-up strike on an alleged drug-carrying boat in the Caribbean Sea in early September. During Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting at the White House, Hegseth said he did not see any survivors in the water, saying the boat “exploded in fire.” Hegseth also said he “didn’t stick around” for the remainder of the mission following the initial strike, and said the admiral in charge “made the right call” in ordering it, which he “had complete authority to do.” Lawmakers have opened investigations following a Washington Post report that Hegseth issued a verbal order to “kill everybody” on the boat.
December 2, 2025 9:55 am
The storm system that rolled through the region early Tuesday morning resulted in plenty of problems throughout Washington County. Washington County 9-1-1 dispatchers were busy all morning with numerous calls for accidents and disabled vehicles. PennDot reduced the speed limit along Interstates 70 and 79 but that didn’t prevent countless crashed. Dispatchers told WJPA News there were no major accidents but there were several jack-knifed tractor trailers and vehicles off of the roadway into the median or jersey barriers. Washington City Police closed Murtland Avenue between Locust and Ridge because vehicles became stuck. The weather system led most area schools to switch to remote instruction while a couple did cancel classes for the day.
