January 28, 2025 4:54 am
North Strabane Township officials offered a preview of their new Public Safety Building located on Route 19. Public Safety Director Mark Grimm and Township Manager Andrew Walz directed the tour of the building that will house police, fire and emergency medical services crews. Grimm said the building was needed because the previous building was outdated due to bigger fire apparatuses and a much larger fire and police crew. Walz called the building a “Game Changer” in the sense that its location will allow emergency crews to reach any part of the township quickly. Grimm detailed many of the upgrades that both fire and police will see. The police department will have 5 holding cells, interview rooms and a dedicated investigation area. Fire crews will be afforded some of the best cancer prevention strategies available. Diesel fuel fumes will be properly exhausted and personnel will be able to fully decontaminate their gear and themselves from any cancer causing agents encountered during a fire. Grimm took a moment to express his gratitude to the Peters Township Fire Department for their mutual aid efforts during the construction. He thanked them for their close relationship over the years. The building has been under construction for approximately two years. It is anticipated to be in use in mid to late March.
January 28, 2025 5:07 am
A frenzy over an artificial intelligence chatbot made by Chinese tech startup DeepSeek was upending stock markets Monday and fueling debates over the economic and geopolitical competition between the U.S. and China in developing AI technology. DeepSeek’s AI assistant became the No. 1 downloaded free app on Apple’s iPhone store Monday, propelled by curiosity about the ChatGPT competitor. Part of what’s worrying some U.S. tech industry observers is the idea that the Chinese startup has caught up with the American companies at the forefront of generative AI at a fraction of the cost. But hype and misconceptions about DeepSeek’s technological advancements also sowed confusion.
January 28, 2025 5:06 am
WADI GAZA, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have streamed into heavily destroyed northern Gaza in their first chance to return since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas. Meanwhile, Israel says eight of the hostages to be freed in the weeks ahead are dead. A fragile ceasefire has entered a second week. The return of Palestinians is a dramatic reversal of the mass exodus that many had feared Israel would make permanent. Palestinians who have been sheltering in squalid tent camps and former schools are eager to return to their homes, even if they are likely destroyed.
January 27, 2025 4:53 am
CHARLEROI, Pa. — (WPXI) – A Washington County man is facing charges after Pennsylvania State Police determined he had sex with a child. State Police Belle Vernon says troopers were sent to a Fallowfield Township home on Saturday evening for a welfare check on a child. Through investigation, the PSP report states troopers determined Miguel Pedrosa, 62, of Charleroi, was “engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor child.” Pedrosa was arrested and taken to the Washington County Prison. Online court records show he faces multiple charges, including rape of a child, statutory sexual assault of a child older than 11, aggravated indecent assault without consent and corruption of minors.
January 27, 2025 12:35 pm
(WPXI) – Two people were flown to area hospitals after a crash in Ligonier Monday morning. According to Westmoreland County 911, around 8:10 a.m. crews were called to the 3000 block of PA-711 for a vehicle crash with reported entrapment. First responders tell Channel 11 that seven people were hurt in the crash, including five juveniles. One adult and one child were flown to area hospitals. Everyone else was transported in ambulances. We’ve learned a Porsche and Chevy Trailblazer crashed head-on. All of the juveniles were in the Trailblazer. PA-711 closed while crews were on scene investigating the crash.
January 27, 2025 5:27 am
West Alexander has been working on reclaiming its independence from Donegal Township since 2021. On Saturday, several steps forward in that initiative took place. Doctor Kathleen Miller is the coordinator of the West Alexander Borough Project and she launched a petition signing drive. The drive comes immediately after she received a certified sealed map of the proposed borough boundaries. In addition to those official steps, a resident of West Alexander stepped forward to do their part. Pamela Johnson, who has lived in West Alexander for only six years, made a contribution to the project of $20,000. Johnson said she has fallen in love with the area and calls West Alexander her own “Mayberry.” Miller says the contribution was a “God Send” and will cover all expenses for the creation of the map, attorney retainer and deed transfers should they be successful in gaining their separation from the borough. Miller is hoping to get 80% of the registered voters of West Alexander and 80% of land owners that do not live there to sign the petition. After that, the initiative will be advertised for 30 days and the petition will then be presented to Washington County Courts to work through the legal process. Postcards have been sent out to alert residents when petitions will be available for signing.
January 27, 2025 4:58 am
(WPXI) – Officials say a body recovered from a car found in a West Virginia lake is a missing Fayette County man. The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office confirms Kevin Lataille, of Smithfield, was the driver of the Hyundai Tucson pulled from Cheat Lake on Sunday. Investigators previously said they thought Lataille went over the side of the Interstate 68 Bridge and into the lake. Vehicle parts were found along the bridge. A hole was cut in the ice on the lake so divers could get in. They said they found the vehicle, with a body inside, twelve feet under the ice. The vehicle was towed out of the lake and put back onto the bridge. The sheriff’s office is still investigating how Lataille’’s vehicle ended up in the water and is asking for help from the public. Anyone who may have information, photos or video of the I-68 Eastbound Cheat Lake Bridge from Sunday, Jan. 19th, around noon, is encouraged to call the sheriff’s office detective division at 304-291-7260
January 26, 2025 5:01 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A car has hit and injured three pedestrians in a crowd of people that was leaving the Philadelphia Eagles playoff game. The Philadelphia Police Department says a driver is in custody and the collision does not immediately appear to be intentional. Multiple news reports citing police says the victims suffered non-lifethreatening injuries. News reports say the car struck the large crowd near the historic Center City area around 9:30 p.m. after the NFC championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Washington Commanders 55-23 and will face the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Feb. 9.
January 27, 2025 1:43 pm
(WPXI) – The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has announced the one-year-only site for the Three Rivers Arts Festival. The beloved annual celebration of the arts will be in a different format and location in 2025 due to construction at the 8th Street Block Civic Space and other downtown renovation projects. So, this year, the event, which runs June 5-8, will be held at the 15th Street Plaza along Waterfront Place in the Strip District. The Festival will remain near its namesake three rivers, not far from its future long-term home in the Cultural District. A map of the festival grounds will be released in the spring, along with the lineup of free performing and visual art attractions.
January 27, 2025 5:03 am
DORAL, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s push to have Egypt and Jordan take in large numbers of Palestinian refugees from besieged Gaza has fallen flat with both countries’ governments and perplexed a congressional ally. Trump nonetheless said he’d discuss the idea more on Sunday with Egypt’s leader. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday that moving about a 1.5 million people away from Gaza might mean that “we just clean out that whole thing.” Jordan’s foreign minister says his country’s opposition to what Trump floated is “firm and unwavering.” And Sen. Lindsey Graham, who is close to Trump, says the suggestion isn’t feasible.
