August 27, 2021 2:34 am
Funeral Services were held Thursday at Immaculate Conception Church for Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone. Vittone, who was sixty-one, died Saturday after a year-long battle with lung cancer. A procession from the Warco-Falvo Funeral Home stopped in front of the Washington County Courthouse to allow the county’s judges and others who were close to Vittone to join and continue on to the church. Vittone had served as district attorney since 2012, after 12 years as an assistant district attorney. Vittone leaves behind his wife Jane Ann and two children. Jason Walsh, the county’s first assistant district attorney says he has been notified that he will be filling out Vittone’s term, but said he’s not concentrating on that now. He says the focus needs to be on Vittone’s family.
August 26, 2021 11:40 am
Washington County’s Register of Wills is facing a preliminary hearing next month on a misdemeanor charge for allegedly bringing a gun into the Washington County Courthouse. The Washington County Sheriff’s Department filed the weapons possession charge on Tuesday, after a sheriff’s deputy who was monitoring the X-ray machine at the entrance to the courthouse saw a pistol in Roman’s bag. Roman has called the incident an accident. He says he has a concealed carry permit and usually leaves the gun in his vehicle. Roman, along with other row officers, have often been at odds with Washington County Commissioners and other county officials over procedural issues, including Controller Mike Namie. Roman’s preliminary hearing has been set for September 27th in front of District Magistrate Robert Redlinger.
August 26, 2021 4:17 am
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – New York’s new governor is acknowledging that the state has had nearly 12,000 more deaths from COVID-19 than former Gov. Andrew Cuomo told the public. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office says almost 55,400 people have died of the coronavirus in New York based on death certificate data submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s up from about 43,400 that Cuomo reported to the public as of Monday, his last day in office.
August 26, 2021 4:14 am
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Just over half of Florida’s 2.8 million public school students now face mandates to wear masks in classrooms. More districts are defying Gov. Ron DeSantis amid a courtroom battle over the Republican’s efforts to leave such decisions to parents. The Orange County School Board voted to tighten its mask mandate through October. That makes at least 10 of Florida’s largest districts who say they’re following federal public health recommendations to reduce coronavirus infections. Meanwhile in Tallahassee, a three day hearing is wrapping up on a lawsuit by parents who want strict mask rules to keep their kids safe.
August 26, 2021 4:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The House committee investigating the January insurrection at the U.S. Capitol is demanding a trove of records from federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies. The requests show the sweep of the lawmakers’ review of the deadly attack by a mob of Donald Trump supporters. The committee is seeking information about events leading up to the Jan. 6 riot, including communication within the White House under then-President Trump and other agencies, and information about planning and funding for rallies held in Washington.
August 26, 2021 4:10 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) – A wildfire that burned several homes near Los Angeles may signal that the region is facing the same dangers that have scorched Northern California, where the largest fires in the state and in the nation have been. The South Fire in San Bernardino forced 1,000 people to flee the foothills northeast of Los Angeles after erupting Wednesday afternoon. By nightfall, firefighters seemed to have the upper hand. But hot weather is forecast and that could increase the fire danger, which usually hits a peak later in the fall. Meanwhile, the Caldor Fire in Northern California continues to advance on Lake Tahoe. That fire has destroyed hundreds of homes since erupting Aug. 14 in the Sierra Nevada.
August 26, 2021 4:09 am
MEXICO CITY (AP) – Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department is not saying whether the government will allow the U.S. to reinstate the “remain in Mexico” policy of sending asylum seekers back across the border to wait for hearings on asylum claims. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to block a lower court ruling ordering the administration of President Joe Biden to reinstate the Trump-era policy of forcing people to wait in Mexico. Roberto Velasco is the Mexican government’s director for North American affairs. Velasco said the court ruling is not binding on Mexico. He said Mexico will start “technical discussions” with U.S. officials to evaluate what should be done.
August 26, 2021 4:09 am
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – Two suicide bombers and gunmen have targeted crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul’s airport, in the waning days of a massive airlift that has drawn thousands of people seeking to flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Russian officials said at least 13 people were killed and 15 wounded. A U.S. official said several Marines were killed and a number of other American military were wounded. It was not clear if those deaths were included in the Russian toll. A U.S. official said the complex attack was believed to have been carried out by the Islamic State group. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed the blasts, saying one was near an airport entrance and another was a short distance away by a hotel. (Photo: CNN)
August 26, 2021 4:02 am
Tensions were high as the Peters Township School Board of Directors was deciding whether to keep or reverse their universal masking policy. The school Board originally voted to amend the policy to their health and safety plan at their Aug. 16 meeting. However, reportedly 50-60 residents were denied entry because of the occupancy limit of the district administration offices. On Wednesday, residents were able to testify at the Board’s “special voting meeting,” which was a redo of the Aug. 16 meeting, at the Peters Township High School auditorium. Of the 44 people who spoke, the 28-count majority urged the Board to return to optional masking. Many argued that the school has no authority to enforce masks since it’s not a state mandate. “It’s just a small portion of the population trying to force their beliefs on the larger portion who doesn’t believe it,” said one man who wished not to be named. Pro-masking residents insisted that the universal masking policy should remain. 37-year-old Robin Eiszler believes students who choose not to wear masks could lead to deadly consequences. “Even if the survival rate seems like it might be high, when you’re talking about something so infectious that possibly everyone could be infected, you end up with over half of a million people dead,” says Eiszler. At the end of the five-hour meeting, the Board voted to keep the mandate in a 6-3 decision- a slight difference from their initial 5-4 decision. Director Lisa Anderson, who favored universal masking, said the decision benefits student safety and education. “Our job is to look at the totality of the circumstances that present themselves to us and to use our vote for what will keep the most students and school to take advantage of in-person instruction and to keep our buildings open,” said Anderson. Although universal masking was approved, the Board faces issues of pending litigation. The Board faces a lawsuit from 143 residents, which claims their Aug. 16 meeting is in violation of the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act. Their Washington County Courthouse hearing is scheduled for Aug. 27. The School Board of Directors declined to comment on the matter.
August 25, 2021 3:36 pm
(WPXI) – The Pennsylvania Turnpike eastbound has been shut down for a fatal tractor-trailer crash in the Plum area. The crash occurred near mile marker 54.6 between the Allegheny Valley exit and Pittsburgh exit. Due to the severity of the crash, an eastbound detour was put in place at Exit 48. Detour: Freeport Road to PA-910 West to PA-28 South to I-579 South to I-376 East to re-enter the Turnpike at the Pittsburgh Interchange.
