January 19, 2024 4:49 am
The office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General convened a public hearing Thursday to gather testimony and public comment on the proposed merger of the Washington Health System and UPMC. The two hour meeting had testimony from WHS President and CEO Brook Ward outlining the history of the hospital system and testifying to the financial outlook facing WHS. Ward was positively supported by other hospital representatives from UPMC Jameson in Lawrence County and UPMC Somerset. Those testimonies proclaimed the investment UPMC made to save both hospitals from closing. Ward spoke of financial losses in 2022 and 2023 and a large loss in the first six months of 2024. Ward says that hospitals “just can’t raise prices like other industries.” Inflation in costs of services and operations are not being offset by reimbursement payments. The majority of people in attendance were supportive of the merger. Theresa Babyak, Director of Operations of the Washington Physicians Group says she experienced a great outcome when UPMC merged with McGee Women’s Hospital when she worked there. She said the merger was positive for patient care and staff. There were a handful of detractors stating that they are concerned with staff layoffs, decrease in services and a possible closure of the hospital. Ward indicated that Washington Hospital would be the fifth “hub hospital” at UPMC, meaning that UPMC is committed to expansion and growth Washington Hospital.
January 19, 2024 1:48 am
A Canonsburg man pleaded guilty on Thursday to leading Pennsylvania State Police on a brief car chase back in May. State Police were called to the Red Roof Inn on Chestnut Street with a report that 21 year old Levi Areford did not pay his bill. When police arrived, Areford sped out of the Denny’s Restaurant parking lot and led state police on a 10 minute car chase before police were able to apprehend him. Areford pleaded guilty to felony flight from an officer and a misdemeanor charge of DUI. He will serve 6 months probation with 90 days on electronic home monitoring for the first 90 days on the DUI charge. He will serve a concurrent 2 year term of probation on the flight from an officer charge. His license will be suspended for a year and he will pay a $1000 fine. He will also pay $69.50 in restitution to the Red Roof Inn.
January 19, 2024 1:25 am
Washington County Commissioners unanimously approved a measure to make appointments as county representatives to the contract currently in effect with MRA as it relates to the upgrade of the county’ 9-1-1 emergency response radio system. The County appointed the V-Comm company of Edison, New Jersey as the chief county representative. Public Safety Director Jerry Coleman was appointed as the alternate. Commissioners directed V-Comm to immediately conduct an audit of the equipment purchased and construction progress to date and report back with its findings. They are also directed to make any recommendations to commissioners regarding their findings. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman states that he is concerned about reliability of the current system only covering between 30%-40% of the county and if the new system created by MRA will live up to federal Department of Homeland Security coverage levels of 95%. He is considering the current contract to be open and steps will be taken to rebid the project. In other county business, the county, during its salary board meeting created the full time position of Public Relations Director. The Public Relations Director position pays $82,000 annually. Sherman’s former Chief of Staff Patrick Geho will assume the responsibility. According to Sherman, Geho has worked in former Governor Tom Corbett’s office performing similar duties. Geho will work to provide consistent and regular messaging to residents of Washington County.
January 18, 2024 5:49 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden has agreed to appear before House Republicans for a private deposition next month, ending months of defiance from the president’s son, who had insisted on testifying publicly. The House Oversight Committee announced Thursday that the two parties have come to an agreement for Hunter Biden to sit for a deposition on Feb. 28. Republicans had been set to advance a contempt resolution against him to the House floor this week but called it off Tuesday to give attorneys additional time to reach an agreement. A request for comment from Hunter Biden’s attorneys was not immediately returned.
January 18, 2024 4:59 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has sent President Joe Biden a short-term spending bill that would avert a looming partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies into March. The House approved the measure by a vote of 314-108, with opposition coming mostly from the more conservative members of the Republican conference. Nevertheless, about half of Republicans joined with Democrats in passing the third stopgap spending measure in recent months. The action came a few hours after the Senate had voted overwhelmingly to pass the bill by a vote of 77-18. The bill extends current spending levels and buys time for the two chambers to work out their differences over full-year spending bills.
January 18, 2024 10:53 am
UVALDE, Texas (AP) — The Justice Department says police officials who responded to the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, “demonstrated no urgency” in setting up a command post and failed to treat the killings as an active shooter situation. A Justice Department report released Thursday identifies “cascading failures” in law enforcement’s handling of one of the deadliest massacres at a school in American history. The report, the most comprehensive federal accounting of the haphazard police response to the May 24, 2022, shooting at Robb Elementary School, identifies a vast array of problems from failed communication and leadership to inadequate technology and training that federal officials say contributed to the crisis lasting far longer than it should have.
January 18, 2024 9:16 am
The reorganized Washington County Board of Commissioners have formally announced that Daryl Price will serve as the new County Chief of Staff. Commissioner’s Chairman Nick Sherman says “the transition team Commissioner Janis and I put together was so impressed with Daryl’s work serving as Chair that we asked him to stay on and serve in this critical role”. Sherman called Price a “talented individual with knowledge and experience in many areas”. Democratic Commissioner Larry Maggi said “I have known Daryl both personally and professionally for many years, I look forward to working with him”. Price is a Washington and Jefferson College Graduate with a degree in Business Administration. He is a member of the County Redevelopment Authority and a former North Strabane Township Supervisor.
January 18, 2024 8:28 am
Washington Police have arrested a man in connection with a fire on the porch of a home in the 600-block of Broad Street. Police Chief Steve Devenney tells WJPA News that fire crews were called to the home just before 10:30 p.m. Upon arrival they found an item on the porch on fire and quickly extinguished it. Chief Devenney says an individual at the scene was then taken into custody and arrested. At this time, police are not releasing any other information including the man’s name. He is last reported held in the Washington County Jail.
January 18, 2024 5:10 am
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI) – A Peters Township man is accused of stabbing another man inside an Uber. The incident happened on Jan. 12, according to court documents. The Uber driver told police his two passengers got into a fight. One passenger, identified as Christopher Cavanagh, pulled out a knife. The driver stopped the vehicle and ran to safety. Police found the victim along Georgetown Road in Cecil Township with multiple stab wounds to his chest. Cavanagh was nearby when police arrived and was arrested. The victim was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital. Cavanagh is facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault.
January 18, 2024 5:10 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says it had tested a purported underwater nuclear attack drone in response to a combined naval exercise between South Korea and the United States and Japan this week, as it continues to blame its rivals for raising tensions in the region. The alleged drone test came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared he would scrap his country’s long-standing goal of a peaceful unification with South Korea and that his country would rewrite its constitution to define South Korea as its most hostile foreign adversary. North Korea first tested the drone last year and says it’s designed to strike enemy vessels and ports. South Korea’s military insists the North has exaggerated the capabilities of the drone.
