July 17, 2025 5:18 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The controversy over President Donald Trump’s handling of records from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation entered a new dimension Thursday as his administration struggles to make good on its promises to release details on the sex trafficking case involving a one-time friend of the now-president. Trump threatened a lawsuit after The Wall Street Journal on Thursday described a sexually suggestive letter that the newspaper says bore Trump’s name and was included in a 2003 album for Epstein’s 50th birthday. Trump denied writing the letter. Trump in recent days has berated supporters vying for more records from the Epstein probe, after years of courting political support from those who have stoked claims of a coverup in the case.
July 17, 2025 4:59 am
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Communities along a 700-mile stretch of Alaska’s southern coast ordered their residents to higher ground after a powerful earthquake, but officials quickly downgraded and then canceled a tsunami warning in the area. There were no immediate reports of significant damage. Officials said the earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3, struck at 12:37 p.m. local time south of Sand Point. The first waves were projected to land there, but the state’s emergency management division said an hour after the quake that it had received no reports of damage. The earthquake was reportedly felt as far away as Anchorage, almost 600 miles to the northeast.
July 17, 2025 4:56 am
A U.S. Army veteran arrested during an immigration raid at a California marijuana farm says he was sprayed with tear gas and pepper spray before being dragged from his vehicle on his way to work. George Retes, a native of Ventura City, California, says he was pinned to the ground by ICE officials on his back and his neck after getting caught between protesters and authorities last week at Glass House Farms in Camarillo. Retes was held for three days before being release without charges and without being allowed to contact a lawyer. He said Wednesday he plans to sue the federal government over his ordeal.
July 17, 2025 4:53 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed Donald Trump’s request to cancel about $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting spending, moving forward on one of the president’s top priorities despite concerns from several Republican senators. The legislation now goes to the House. It would have a tiny impact on the nation’s rising debt but could have major ramifications for the spending that is targeted, from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to U.S. food aid programs abroad. It could also complicate efforts to pass additional spending bills this year, as Democrats and some Republicans have argued that they are ceding spending powers to Trump.
July 17, 2025 4:47 am
Representatives Emily Kinkead and Abby Major have introduced a bipartisan bill to legalize recreational cannabis for adult use in Pennsylvania. House Bill 20 aims to establish a stable, well-regulated cannabis market that prioritizes public safety, promotes social justice and fosters economic opportunity. “By failing to legalize, Pennsylvania is sending millions in needed revenue to other states,” Kinkead said. “Representative Kinkead and I have worked diligently to craft a piece of legislation that we believe both parties can get behind,” Major said. The lawmakers said the bill is designed to boost local economies and create more than 30,000 new jobs, while also providing a new revenue stream for the state. Key features of the bill include independent regulation through a commission of experts, strong regulatory guardrails, justice reform for prior cannabis-related convictions and inclusive economic growth opportunities for small businesses. The bill also includes consumer safety provisions regarding labeling, packaging, and advertising to protect children. The bill has been referred to the House Health Committee for consideration and mirrors previous bipartisan legislation introduced by Kinkead.
July 17, 2025 4:43 am
Pennsylvania American Water has announced a $2.6 million upgrade to the water system in Washington and Allegheny counties, set to replace over a mile of water main. The projects aim to improve reliability for customers, reduce service disruptions, and increase water flows for firefighting. The upgrades involve replacing aged water mains with new ductile iron pipes in Peters Township, Washington County, and Jefferson Hills Borough, Allegheny County. In Peters Township, the Waterdam Road project involves installing new 16-inch ductile iron pipes to replace water mains from the 1950s and 1990s. The work is being done by company contractors along Waterdam Road from Galley Road to Saddleclub Drive. Construction is scheduled for evenings, from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Friday, with completion expected by the end of August. Traffic restrictions will be enforced during both projects, and temporary service interruptions, discolored water, and lower than normal water pressure may occur. Pennsylvania American Water advises customers to contact their Customer Service Organization at 1-800-565-7292 for more information.
July 17, 2025 2:50 am
A contracted IT worker who operates out of Peters Township High School is in the Washington County Jail on child porn charges. Authorities say 46 YEAR Jason Ayres was taken into custody on the high school’s campus Wednesday morning by the Attorney General’s Office Child Predator Unit. Police said they found disturbing downloaded videos, including those of children between 4 and 6 years old. According to the criminal complaint, Ayres admitted to police that he had been viewing child porn on and off for a couple of years, including AI-generated child porn, which is also illegal in Pennsylvania. Ayres is charged with child sexual abuse material and criminal use of communication facility. His bail has been set at $250,000.
July 17, 2025 2:21 am
Washington County will soon be involved in a court dispute between two different energy companies looking to utilize the same portion of land in East Finley Township. Tunnel Ridge, LLC is currently seeking a temporary injunction to have Mark West Liberty Midstream & Resources, LLC cease using their gas transmission pipelines while Tunnel Ridge longwall mines coal underneath those lines. Tunnel Ridge is further seeking a permanent injunction. Washington County Solicitor Gary Sweat was alerted to the case by attorneys from Range Resources. According to Sweat, typically, in situations like this, gas companies would simply raise the pipelines above ground until all mining is complete. In this case that is impossible because these lines would then be located in protected wetlands. A second solution would be for Mark West to construct another cryogenic production plant. Unfortunately, that would be a 3-4 year construction process. The county is intervening because of the large loss of revenue that could occur if Tunnel Ridge’s injunction request is granted. According to figures submitted to Sweat from Range Resources, 40 percent of royalty owners would cease to receive payments. 156 wells would be idled. Locally, 6-7 townships would have royalty and/or impact fees affected by an injunction. Washington County alone would see a financial loss of nearly $60,000 per month of royalty payments. Compensatory figures are being exchanged between the two parties. A hearing on the injunctions is scheduled for August 27-29.
July 17, 2025 2:17 am
An investigation is underway into the death of a Monongahela man who barricaded himself inside his home Wednesday night following a report made to Washington County 911 around seven-thirty. Authorities say at this time, they believe the death of 36-year-old Zachry Hamilton is a suspected suicide. SWAT crews from Washington and Beaver counties were called to the home along with the Charleroi Regional Police, Carroll Township Police and Tri-Community and Southeast Regional EMS. SWAT used a drone and observed him unresponsive with an apparent gunshot wound. An autopsy is pending.
July 16, 2025 3:41 pm
(WPXI) PITTSBURGH — North Shore-based unicorn company Gecko Robotics announced two partnerships with local companies alongside the Pennsylvania Energy & Innovation Summit. Gecko, which uses robotics and AI to perform infrastructure analysis, will “explore a new collaboration” with U.S. Steel, according to a joint statement from Gecko CEO Jake Loosararian and U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt. “Pittsburgh is fast becoming the physical AI capital of the world,” Loosararian and Burritt’s joint statement reads. “U.S. Steel and Gecko Robotics are pleased to announce plans to explore a new collaboration focused on the health of steel mill infrastructure throughout the U.S. The future of manufacturing is taking shape now, where Gecko’s advances in AI and robotics could combine with U.S. Steel’s 120-plus-year legacy of industrial ingenuity and grit.”
