August 28, 2025 1:55 am
Washington County Commissioners held a special meeting Thursday afternoon to vote on a change in the demolition order for tearing down the Courthouse Square building. The board voted two to one to award a contract for more than one-point-four-million dollars to JG Contracting Company of Carnegie to supply structural support to enable a safe and efficient demolition. Democrat Larry Maggi voted against the measure, saying it was a costly oversight, a hasty decision and a waste of hard-earned taxpayer dollars.
August 28, 2025 1:54 am
A federal jury in Pittsburgh has found a Donora man guilty of one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Authorities say 31-year-old Robert Goins fled from a traffic stop in Allegheny County and led police on a high speed chase that ended with Goins totaling his vehicle. From the vehicle, police say they recovered drugs and a stolen, loaded firearm. Sentencing has been set for October
August 28, 2025 1:42 am
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday afternoon at Washington’s Main Street Pavilion to showcase a new speaker system. The system, which features twelve speakers and internet connectivity was funded thru a nineteen-thousand-five-hundred dollar grant from the Washington County Tourism Promotion agency. Main Street Manager Bradly Martin says the remainder of the cost was paid for through rentals of the pavilion. Officials say those who rent the pavilion will have access to the speakers to play the music of their choice. Martin says they installation of the speaker system was done with the future in mind. He says that eventually they would like to have speakers up and down main street. The Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency also used the ceremony to announce fifty-nine-thousand-dollars in new tourism grants. President of the chamber and tourism, Jeff Kotula, says that during this final cycle of grant funding for 2025, tourism grants have been awarded to the Borough of Canonsburg, County Home Shows, Little A Town Arena, Little Lake Theatre Company, Sarris Candies, and Trax Farm Market to support a variety of marketing efforts to help attract visitors to these unique assets.
August 28, 2025 1:37 am
Washington Police say two felony arrest warrants have been issued for Patrick Thurston. He is accused of recently burglarizing the Hidden Treasures and Sherwin Williams stores. Police credit tremendous community and area response in assisting in the identification of Thurston. Thurston is not believed to be a danger to the public, but police ask that people not try to apprehend him themselves. If anyone sees him or has information about his whereabouts, they are asked to contact the Washington City Police. Reach out to Detective Stallings at 724-223-4225 or email him at bstallings@washingtonpa.us. You may also submit tips anonymously to a dedicated tip line at 724-223-4108 or tips@washingtonpa.us. If you see and recognize the suspect, police say you should call 911 immediately. In addition, police suggest residents and visitors should keep doors locked at all times and be extra alert in and around the Crown Plaza, Stewart Ave, and Washington Street areas, and if possible, make use of home and business security cameras to help deter and record suspicious activity. (Photo: City of Washington Police Department)
August 27, 2025 5:45 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the upcoming fall and winter season. But it could be weeks before many Americans know whether they’ll be able to get one, under new restrictions from the Trump administration. The new shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax target a newer version of the coronavirus. They are approved for all seniors but only for younger adults and children with at least one underlying health problem, like obesity. Additionally, U.S. officials revoked use of Pfizer’s vaccine in young children. (Photo: AP)
August 27, 2025 1:51 pm
Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop Mark Eckman issued a statement Wednesday afternoon on the mass shooting during a back-to-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. Bishop Eckman says “We hold close in prayer the students, families, teachers, parish community, and first responders. We ask the Lord to bring healing to the injured, eternal rest to those who have died, and consolation to all who mourn.”
He added that this story touches our local Church in a particular way. Archbishop Bernard Hebda, who shepherds the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, is a native son of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, here at home, our Diocesan Director of Safety and Security, Wendell Hissrich, continues to actively monitor developments and to remain in close contact with law enforcement. Our schools remain vigilant, and followed established safety protocols today, as they do every day. We are grateful for the professionalism of our administrators, teachers, and staff who work each day to keep our children safe. (Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Pittsburgh)
August 27, 2025 11:42 am
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A shooting Wednesday at a Minneapolis Catholic school has killed two children as they prayed and injured 17 other people, 14 of them kids. The police chief says the shooter also died in the violence Wednesday at the Annunciation Catholic School. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter approached the side of the church and shot through the windows toward the children sitting in the pews during Mass. The police chief said the shooter did not have an extensive known criminal history and is believed to have acted alone. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that they have identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman. That official was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity. The police chief said a wooden plank was placed to barricade some of the side doors, and that authorities found a smoke bomb but no explosives at the scene. (Photo: AP)
August 27, 2025 4:09 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook’s lawyer says she’ll sue President Donald Trump’s administration to try to prevent him from firing her. Longtime Washington attorney Abbe Lowell said Tuesday that Trump “has no authority to remove” Cook. If Trump succeeds in removing Cook from the Fed’s board of governors, it could erode the Fed’s political independence, which is considered critical to its ability to fight inflation because it enables the Fed to take unpopular steps like raising interest rates. The Republican president said Monday he was removing Cook because of allegations she committed mortgage fraud. Cook was appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden in 2022.
August 27, 2025 4:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and other top Democrats are warning President Donald Trump to stay out of the cities they run. Trump has suggested sending federal troops to cities like Chicago and Baltimore, claiming violence is out of control. Democrats, including Pritzker, say this is a political move meant to intimidate opponents and another signal of his authoritarian takeover. They argue crime is falling and accuse Trump of ignoring cities with worse crime rates that have Republican leaders. Democrats plan to fight any intervention and use the issue to show they have real public safety solutions.
August 27, 2025 3:54 am
Jordan Cramer, who has been Acting Assistant Township Manager, will continue leading the fire department while overseeing the township’s day-to-day operations. The board voted 3–2 to have him serve as Interim Township Manager until a permanent replacement is hired. Supervisors Jeff Bull and George Rowand opposed the move. Bull said the board had previously agreed to assign responsibilities to supervisors rather than Cramer and noted that the former township manager opposed naming him to the interim role. He declined to comment on how well Cramer is performing in the position. In other business, supervisors approved the final land development plan for an Industry Public House at the former TGI Friday’s site. The project includes adding an outdoor patio to the existing structure. The board also accepted the resignation of part-time South Strabane police officer Cody Kusluch, who stepped down for personal reasons effective August 19, 2025.
