August 1, 2025 4:57 am
CONNELLSVILLE, Pa. — A fire Thursday at a funeral home in Fayette County. Firefighters were called to the Paul G. Fink Funeral Home in Connellsville in the 400 block of Pittsburgh Street at 2:03 p.m. on Thursday. “As we got here, there was heavy smoke showing from the attic area, really thick brown smoke,” said New Haven Assistant Fire Chief Sam Spotto. Spotto said the fire in the attic was knocked down rather quickly, but there was a lot of water damage that could not have been prevented. Two firefighters were taken to a hospital for heat exhaustion out of precaution. Firefighters said they believe the fire was started accidentally by workers who were trying to strip paint.
August 1, 2025 2:54 am
It is now August and that means that the Washington County Agricultural Fair is just about ready to kick off. Opening day for the fair is August 9 and it will run through August 16. The cost of entry is $15. According to Wayne Hunnell, Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Fair, that price is hard to beat. Attendees will be able to see all of the agricultural displays including fruits and vegetables and the always popular animal competitions. Todd Richards, Board President says it is “electric” when you see a youngster’s face when they are awarded a blue ribbon for their efforts over the course of the last year. Traditional events include concerts. This year some of the groups booked are the Skyliners, Ruff Creek, Scott Blasey and Bon Journey. A traditional favorite, the School Bus Demolition Derby is being given a run for its money as far as favorite event. Last year the board brought back the Rodeo. Attendance for last year’s Rodeo was 300 people less than the School Bus Demolition Derby. Richards says that he hopes to see the rodeo surpass the demolition derby. Hunnel says that the format for the rodeo has changed to include more local participation. He looks forward to seeing his granddaughter participate in the barrel competition. There have been several renovations to the fair grounds since last year. Hall 3 has renovated restrooms, the historic horse barn and the 4-H barns have seen renovations and painting as well. Hunnell says that as soon as the fair closes, Building #1 will see extensive renovations including an extension and new restrooms. According to Hunnell, last year’s attendance was 64,000 people. That had an economic impact of $23 million on Washington County. Special event ticket pricing is available, for details go to the website www.washingtonfair.org .
August 1, 2025 1:52 am
Peters Township residents will now be able to enjoy themselves on a hot day at a splash pad that has been in the works for a number of years. Township officials and staff gave the splash pad in Rolling Hills Park a workout as they held a ribbon cutting event Thursday evening. Frank Kosir made sure that the bucket portion of the splash pad worked as he got drenched with several of the youngest of his constituents. He called it a great day to deliver the facility to the residents. Dave Brooks is the Director of Parks and Recreation for the township and he said that what the township now has is one more venue to make sure that Peters Township has anything residents want for recreation and not have to search for it elsewhere. Also on hand was state senator Camera Bartolotta. State representative Natalie Mihalek and Bartolotta were instrumental in delivering a $3.2 million grant to Peters Township to help offset the cost of the facility. Township Manager Paul Lauer called the splash pad something that cannot be found anywhere else in southwestern Pennsylvania. The facility also has outdoor picnic areas, an indoor party room available for rent and restrooms. The facility will officially open on August 4 and will remain open daily until September 1. The hours of operation are from 11-7. The cost is $2.50 per person for residents, $5.00 per person for non-residents. Annual passes for 4 people are available for $25, non-residents pay $50.
July 31, 2025 3:05 pm
(WPXI) PITTSBURGH — A water main break along Arlington Avenue in Pittsburgh’s South Side Slopes has shut off the water for some residents. Neighbors say it’s the third water main break this summer, and they are growing frustrated living without water. Two of the water main breaks, including Thursday’s, were lines from Pennsylvania American Water. The first was on June 17. “It’s the cost of no water. My wife and I are both disabled, so it makes things a lot more difficult, especially when we have to carry water in for drinking,” said Donald Dieterle. Neighbors said that during the last water main break, there was a sinkhole in the middle of the road. Around 100 customers are impacted by this break, and water is expected to be restored this afternoon.
July 31, 2025 2:43 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to reestablish the Presidential Fitness Test for American schoolchildren. The program was created in 1966 and had children run and perform situps, pullups or pushups and a sit-and-reach test. It changed in 2012 to focus more on individual health than athletic feats. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says Trump wants to promote healthy active lifestyles for future generations. Trump plans to sign an order later Thursday reestablishing the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. He’ll be joined at the White House event by a number of prominent athletes, including some who’ve faced controversy such as Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, and retired New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor.
July 31, 2025 2:37 pm
(WPXI) A man is accused of stealing a delivery driver’s truck, then dragging him the length of a football field on Pittsburgh’s South Side. Robert Howard, 27, is facing charges of aggravated assault, robbery, theft by unlawful taking, fleeing from police and more. The victim told police he ran inside while making a delivery along South 21st Street. When the victim came back out, he told police Howard was in his truck. The victim said Howard hit the gas as he grabbed one of the door handles and was dragged roughly 100 yards, according to the criminal complaint. Police tracked the truck using surveillance cameras – and eventually arrested Howard at gunpoint on Saint Thomas Street in the South Side Slopes. Howard was taken to the Allegheny County Jail, where he was unable to post bond.
July 31, 2025 2:15 pm
(WPXI) MCKEESPORT, Pa. — A man is dead and a woman is in critical condition after what police believe was an attempted murder-suicide in McKeesport early Thursday. Allegheny County Police said 911 was called around 12:29 a.m. for a shooting in the 2300 block of Grandview Avenue. When first responders arrived, they found a man and a woman shot inside a home. The woman was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The man was pronounced dead on the scene. The medical examiner’s office identified the man as 50-year-old Carlos Watts. Police said the preliminary investigation shows Watts shot the woman and then shot himself. Allegheny County Police continue to investigate.
July 31, 2025 2:11 pm
(AP) Delta Air Lines says a flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam was hit by serious turbulence, sending 25 people to hospitals and forcing the flight to divert to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The airline says that first responders met the flight Wednesday evening. One passenger said people who weren’t wearing seat belts were thrown about the cabin. The plane was carrying 275 customers and a 13-member crew. Delta says seven crew members were treated at hospitals and released, as were customers who shared their status with the airline. Delta is cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board on an investigation.
July 31, 2025 5:18 am
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado dentist has been convicted of murder in the poisoning death of his wife and sentenced to life in prison without possible parole. Jurors found James Craig guilty of first-degree murder on Wednesday. Prosecutors had accused Craig of repeatedly poisoning his wife Angela Craig, including by lacing her smoothies, over 10 days in 2023. When those attempts failed, prosecutors said, James Craig gave her a final dose of cyanide as she was hospitalized in suburban Denver. Craig stood in a hushed courtroom as the jury delivered guilty verdicts on murder and other charges. Afterward, the court heard emotional statements from the victim’s relatives before the judge sentenced Craig to life in prison.
July 31, 2025 5:18 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Authorities say the man who killed four people at a Manhattan office building bought the rifle he used in the attack and the car he drove across country from his supervisor at a Las Vegas casino. Police say Shane Tamura fatally shot four people in the building that houses the National Football League’s headquarters on Monday before killing himself. New York police said Wednesday that Tamura’s supervisor at the Horseshoe Las Vegas legally bought the AR-15-style rifle he sold to Tamura for $1,400. Police said a search of Tamura’s Las Vegas apartment turned up a psychiatric medication and other drugs that had been prescribed to him. Police say he believed he had a brain disease linked to contact sports and accused the NFL of hiding the dangers of playing.
