August 13, 2025 4:47 am
Washington County Commissioners were informed at their agenda meeting that their request for more detail in how the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency spends their money has been denied. According to Agency President Jeff Kotula, the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records determined that the agency is a private, non-profit corporation, independent of county governmental control. That determination does not sit well with Washington County Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman who maintains that because the county allocates about $2.5 million per year to the agency, they deserve more transparency on how funds are spent. The Agency previously shared spending records with the county before the open records request was made. Sherman maintains that 80% of the money spent by the Agency is on administrative costs. Kotula says the reimbursement figure related to the tourism program is just over $700,000 and includes not only salaries and benefits, but operational costs like rent, insurance, telephones and copiers. He says that other peer counties spend in the neighborhood of $1.2 million on salaries alone. Sherman counters by saying that money could be better spent by adding additional events to attract tourism and have those tourists spend their money in county hotels, the casino and local businesses. He would like to see a sports complex and convention center developed. Sherman stated that the ruling will now be appealed to the common pleas court.
August 13, 2025 2:24 am
(WPXI) – A family was able to escape when a massive fire broke out at their home in Upper St. Clair on Wednesday morning. The fire broke out shortly after 4:30 a.m. in the 1400 block of Old Meadow Road. Authorities say two adults, their one-year-old child and a dog were able to get out of the home safely – thanks to their dog who woke the family up and alerted them to the fire. Most of the fire was contained to the left side of the home, but the cause of the blaze and where it started from is still under investigation. Firefighters say they had the blaze under control in less than hour.
August 13, 2025 1:06 am
North Franklin Township Supervisors were greeted by a crowd of approximately 50 residents for their meeting on Tuesday. Scheduled speakers included Ridgewood Road resident George Leasure who spoke for the whole street. He employed a power point presentation to describe back yard flooding that occurred on June 14 and July 26. Some of that flooding affected people’s basements. He showed how a cross drain needs maintenance to clear out silt that holds water and limits the flow of the pipe during heavy rains. He also called into question the maintenance of a pond in Walnut Ridge. His presentation prompted more than a dozen other complaints from residents in other areas of the township, particularly from Cario Drive and Holiday Hills residents. Supervisor Bob Sabot sympathized with residents as he described his own dealings with flood waters. He pledged to work to get infrastructure failures addressed either temporarily or as in the case of Ridgewood Drive, totally next year during the road paving season. Sabot made an interesting comment about development. He said the board is concentrating on supporting the Washington Crown Center Mall redevelopment and addressing current infrastructure deficiencies before approving more housing to add to the existing problems with water and adding more cars to create traffic problems.
August 12, 2025 8:21 am
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders have urged U.S. President Donald Trump to defend their security interests at an upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting, set for Friday, focuses on the ongoing war in Ukraine. European leaders are concerned about being sidelined and fear that Putin might secure favorable concessions. Trump has suggested that Ukraine may need to give up some territory, which has disappointed U.S. allies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected this idea. Meanwhile, Russia appeared close to capturing a key city in the Donetsk region on Tuesday, complicating the situation further.
August 12, 2025 8:14 am
Sections of Alaska’s capital city are bracing for the arrival of what could be record floodwaters due to rainwater and snowmelt flowing downstream from a basin dammed by the Mendenhall Glacier. Residents in some parts of Juneau have evacuated. Flooding from the basin has become an annual concern for residents. On Tuesday, officials confirmed water had started escaping the ice dam and was flowing downstream, with flooding expected into Wednesday. In past years the flooding has swept away houses and swamped hundreds of homes. The Mendenhall Glacier is a thinning, retreating glacier that acts as a dam for Suicide Basin, which fills each spring and summer with rainwater and snowmelt.
August 12, 2025 6:57 am
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel plans to widen its coming offensive beyond Gaza City to the last areas not yet under Israeli control. Most of Gaza’s 2 million residents have sought shelter in those areas as the territory slides toward famine. The mobilization of forces is expected to take weeks, and Israel may be using the threat of a wider offensive to try to pressure Hamas. Any expansion of Israeli operations is likely to bring even more death and destruction to the war-ravaged territory. The plans have also sparked controversy in Israel, where many fear for the lives of the remaining hostages.
August 12, 2025 6:51 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser has responded to President Donald Trump’s plan to take over the Metropolitan Police Department and call in the National Guard. Bowser emphasized that crime has been dropping and Trump’s state of emergency doesn’t match the numbers. She acknowledged that the city has little choice but to comply. Bowser linked the takeover to the larger issue of D.C. statehood, stating that limited autonomy makes the city vulnerable. Trump’s decision fits a pattern of using emergency declarations to rule by executive order. Bowser maintains that violent crime has decreased, a claim supported by Trump’s former U.S. attorney nominee.
August 12, 2025 6:43 am
Under the direction of President Tony Colaizzo, The Canonsburg Educational and Cultural Institute (CECI) is moving forward with an $8 million first phase renovation project. This phase includes converting the old Canon-McMillan Middle School auditorium into a 500-600 seat first-class theater according to Colaizzo with upgraded restrooms, reception area, lighting, and sound systems featuring Broadway shows, concerts, and comedy acts. The project also involves adding additional parking to accommodate an expected 50,000 visitors annually to the new theater, with CECI requesting $110,000 in support from the borough. Completion of the first phase is projected for fall 2026. Beyond the theater, CECI is transforming the gymnasium into a health and wellness center, converting the cafeteria into restaurant space, and upgrading classrooms to provide adult education and daycare services, creating a multi-use community space serving all ages. In other business, the council approved the reassignment of $14,491 in demolition funds from the 2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to the 2024 Taylor Drive CDBG project. Additionally, a $10,000 contribution was authorized for Canonsburg Streets to the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County, supporting local redevelopment efforts.The council also gave the green light for the Canonsburg Friends of the Park and Camp Splash Kids Triathlon event, scheduled for August 16th from 9 a.m. to noon at Canonsburg Town Park.
August 12, 2025 4:34 am
CLAIRTON, Pa. (AP) — An explosion at a U.S. Steel plant that shook the ground near Pittsburgh left two dead and sent at least 10 to hospitals. An Allegheny County spokesperson says an explosion followed by several smaller blasts happened Monday morning at the Clairton Coke Works. The plant is a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, and is considered the largest coking operation in North America. The explosion sent black smoke spiraling into the midday sky in the Mon Valley, a region of the state synonymous with steel. Officials said a rescue operation was ongoing Monday.
August 12, 2025 2:02 am
Peters Township Police, like many departments, often find themselves addressing a distress call, only to find themselves addressing that same call again, somewhere down the line. Peters Township Council took steps to try and rectify that situation. They hired a Social Services Coordinator. Marguerite Ratay, LCSW was hired to help the township in instances where intervention for mental health or emotional health circumstances need to be addressed. According to Township Manager Paul Lauer, Ratay has already proved her worth. During her presentation to council, she said that over last weekend, she was instrumental in intervening with police on four calls and getting the people involved the information needed to access proper counseling. Ratay also works with the fire department and emergency services department when necessary. Ratay’s services are also available to the general public. There is an online request form that residents may fill out so that she knows how to address a resident’s concern. Lauer said that the Washington County Commissioners made the program possible by offsetting costs for the position by directing monies from the Federal Opioid Settlement Fund to the township. According to Lauer, Peters Township is the only municipality in Washington County to employ someone in this position.
