May 18, 2021 8:49 am
A review by Washington County Common Pleas Court could lead to changes in regards to collections from criminal defendants. Those collections are currently handled by the Clerk of Courts office. Washington County Commissioners Chairman Diana Irey Vaughan tells WJPA News that the “court issued an order several weeks ago announcing that they would be reviewing policies and procedures when it comes to collections.” According to Irey Vaughan, “there was a difference of opinion between the Clerk of Courts and the courts over the best procedures to accomplish that goal”. Irey-Vaughn emphasized that there have been no allegations of any wrong-doing. Irey Vaughan says the court, this week, is expected to present its final recommendations as to how to best handle those collections. She says County Commissioners would then pass a resolution on the matter. Irey Vaughan says, years ago, those collections were done through the court system.
May 18, 2021 4:48 am
The Peters Township School Board met Monday evening and adopted the final budget for the 2021-2022 school year. The $74,250,401 budget is $3 million more than the previous budget. Business Manager Brad Rau states that a 3% raise in taxes will be needed to fund the budget. The increase is a .42 mil increase over last year and is part of a five year plan of tax increases needed to fund the debt service for the new high school. Expenses to cover costs of the Covid-19 pandemic did put a drag on the budget. Rau states that about 80% of Covid-19 costs have been reimbursed by the federal government. Covid-19 did introduce budget items that are ongoing and will continue past the pandemic, such as the Canvass Learning system the district adopted to allow them to perform remote education. The budget does show a deficit of $1.6 million dollars. That deficit will be made up by pulling funds from the general fund. The motion to approve the budget carried unanimously 8-0.
May 18, 2021 4:19 am
LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) – Heavy rains in western Louisiana flooded streets, left cars stranded and heightened worries in a region hammered by two hurricanes last year and a deep freeze this winter. The Advocate reports that the National Weather Service said between five and 12 inches of rain had already fallen in some areas. The American Press reported that some isolated areas could see as much as 20 inches of rain. Parts of southeastern Texas and western Louisiana were under flash flood warnings on Monday afternoon. Officials were asking residents to stay off the roads and said they had already deployed high water vehicles and boats to assist residents.
May 18, 2021 4:18 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. Capitol Police say that threats to members of Congress have more than doubled this year, and many members say they now fear for their personal safety more than they did before the siege of the Capitol on Jan. 6. Several lawmakers say they have boosted security measures to protect themselves and their families, money for which will be part of a broad $1.9 billion spending bill that the House will vote on this week. A separate measure would create a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack.
May 18, 2021 4:17 am
The White House says President Joe Biden expressed support for a cease-fire in a call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday, the eighth day of Israeli-Palestinian airstrikes and rocket attacks. Biden’s move signals U.S. concern for an end to Israel’s part of hostilities with Hamas, although it falls short of joining growing demands from Democrats for an immediate cease-fire. The U.S. says it is engaging in “quiet diplomacy” in an effort to end the fighting. A White House readout of the Biden-Netanyahu call said that while the U.S. leader expressed his support for a cease-fire he also renewed his “firm support” for Israel’s right to defend itself.
May 18, 2021 4:16 am
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – Israel has carried out a wave of airstrikes on what it said were militant targets in the Gaza Strip, levelling a six-story building in downtown Gaza City. Palestinian militants fired dozens of rockets into Israel early Tuesday, the latest in the fourth war between the two sides, now in its second week. The Israeli military said it struck 65 militant targets, including rocket launchers, a group of fighters and the homes of Hamas commanders. The military said Palestinian militants fired 90 rockets. There were no immediate reports of new casualties. The latest war broke out on May 10. following weeks of clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli police in Jerusalem.
May 18, 2021 3:08 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Beyond the local races on ballots, Pennsylvania’s primary election will determine the future of a governor’s authority during disaster declarations. Voters statewide Tuesday will decide four separate ballot questions, including two on whether to give state lawmakers much more power over disaster declarations. Voters also must decide primaries for open seats on the three statewide appellate courts, including a three-way GOP primary for state Supreme Court. In four parts of Pennsylvania, there are contests for open seats in the state Legislature. If recent turnout patterns hold, fewer than one-fifth of Pennsylvania’s registered voters will determine the outcomes.
May 18, 2021 2:41 am
A Peters Township man facing charges of stalking and harassment of a Washington County Judge avoided trial. Forty-nine-year-old James Carlo Quisenberry of McMurray pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge of stalking by communications to cause fear. The case stems from an interaction between Quisenberry and Common Pleas Court Judge Valarie Costanzo from 2018. Quisenberry has been described as Costanzo’s one time boyfriend. Misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats and harassment were dropped. Quisenberry was sentenced to one year of probation and must surrender all firearms. He is to have no contact with the victim.
May 18, 2021 2:29 am
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the discovery of a burned vehicle with human remains inside. The Washington County Coroner’s Office says the remains are those of a man, but the identity of the man remains unknown. Authorities say the vehicle was discovered Sunday night just before nine o’clock on Maple Road in Claysville. No further details were released. Anyone with information is asked to call the Pennsylvania State Police Washington Barracks at 724-223-5200.
May 18, 2021 1:00 am
No injuries resulted but North Strabane Township police continue to investigate an incident early Tuesday morning that included a vehicle accident and shots fired. Police Chief Brian Hughes says officers responded to a report of shots fired just after 4 a.m. and found three vehicles were involved in an altercation in the parking lot of the Comfort Inn. Chief Hughes says two people exchanged gun fire. Those two people were located and were being interviewed. At last report, no arrests had been made. A third vehicle and its driver have not been located. There was a report that police were looking for a ‘dark-colored’ Chevy Cruz with front end damage and bullet holes. The vehicle was reportedly being driven by a female. No other information has been released at this time.
