February 24, 2025 4:59 am
ELRAMA, Pa. — Nearly three years after a devastating fire, a popular Washington County tavern has reopened. Elrama Tavern, which has been in business for decades, was destroyed by a fire in April 2022. Since then, the owners have been working to rebuild. Early Sunday morning, the long-anticipated announcement was made — Elrama Tavern will reopen its doors on Monday. The reopening comes less than a week after a “soft opening” with friends and family. “After a challenging journey following a fire in March 2022, we are thrilled to share our beautiful, cozy and inviting brand new space with you,” a statement on the tavern’s website says.
February 24, 2025 4:56 am
YORK, Pa. (AP) — Investigators are trying to determine why a man targeted a Pennsylvania hospital, taking workers inside the intensive care unit hostage and holding one staff member at gunpoint as her hands were bound by zip ties. A police officer was killed and two other officers were wounded in a shootout that left the gunman dead Saturday. Officer Andrew Duarte (pictured) of the West York Borough Police Department died in a shootout with suspect Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, 49, who police said was holding a female hospital worker at gunpoint when police opened fire. Officer Duarte was a 2016 graduate of PennWest California, university officials confirmed Sunday. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice.A doctor, nurse and custodian who suffered gunshot wounds in the chaos were reported in stable condition. Authorities released no new information Sunday about a possible motive for the attack. They had said that the man knew an individual who was recently in the hospital and that he specifically targeted the ICU.
February 24, 2025 2:12 am
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Belle Vernon pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of harboring illegal aliens for financial gain and failing to pay employment taxes, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Andy Ha, 28, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Ha was charged by a two-count Information filed with the Court on January 28, 2025. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from September 2022 to April 2024, Ha owned a temporary staffing agency called Prosperity Services, Inc., that provided workers to companies in the Charleroi, Pennsylvania, area. As part of his business, Ha paid for more than 25 workers who were not legally authorized to be in the United States to stay in a former hotel, and his business paid for vans to transport those workers to and from their work. In addition, Ha provided Prosperity’s tax return preparer with spreadsheets listing only workers who were legally authorized to be and work in the United States. That information, in turn, was reflected on the company’s quarterly employment tax returns, representing less than 10% of the actual total number of workers employed by Prosperity. Ha then also signed those returns, knowing them to be false and causing a tax loss of at least $3.1 million. “The defendant broke the law by harboring and employing individuals not authorized to be in the United States,” said Acting United States Attorney Rivetti. “In addition, defendant Ha cost the U.S. government millions of dollars through his failure to pay taxes related to his business. Our office and our law enforcement partners at all levels will continue to ensure that those who seek to profit from the employment of such workers, and who fail to pay taxes, face appropriate consequences under the law.” Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for July 22, 2025. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain from the offense, or both on the tax charge and up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain from the offense, or both on the harboring charge. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
February 23, 2025 7:47 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — President Donald Trump says he may put the U.S. Postal Service under the control of the Commerce Department in what would amount to an executive branch takeover of the independent agency. Trump made the remarks Friday at the swearing-in of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. He called the move a way to stop losses at the $78 billion-a-year agency, which has struggled to balance the books with the decline of first-class mail. The Post Office was created during the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1775, when Benjamin Franklin became the first postmaster general. In recent years, the Postal Service has fought calls from Trump and others that it be privatized. (Photo: AP)
February 23, 2025 7:44 am
PARIS (AP) — Thieves used a stolen card to buy a winning French lottery ticket worth 500,000 euros or $523,000. But they vanished before cashing in. And now they’re among France’s most famous fugitives. The man whose card was stolen is offering to split the cash with the lucky winners. Prosecutors could try to seize the winnings by considering them illegally obtained gains. The thieves meanwhile face the risk of arrest if they turn in the ticket. The victim’s lawyer has launched a national appeal asking them to come forward so that they can share the money. France’s state lottery operator said that no one had submitted the ticket to cash out as of Saturday.
February 23, 2025 7:42 am
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked Congress to approve nearly $40 billion in aid to help the Los Angeles area recover from January’s devastating wildfires. Newsom sent a letter Friday asking for support from lawmakers. Newsom vowed that the funding would be used to rebuild homes, infrastructure, business, schools, churches and health care facilities. More than 16,200 structures were destroyed as flames ripped through Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Pasadena and Altadena. The governor said the fires could become the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Estimates of the total economic loss have been estimated to top $250 billion. (Photo: AP)
February 23, 2025 7:38 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of federal workers have little more than 48 hours to explain what they accomplished over the last week. The order is part of billionaire Elon Musk’s crusade to slash what he describes as “waste everywhere” in the federal government. Musk, who serves as President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting chief, shared the extraordinary request on his social media network on Saturday. He said that “failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.” Shortly afterward, federal employees received a three-line email telling them to share “approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week and cc your manager.” Thousands of government employees have already been forced out of the federal workforce during the first month of Trump’s administration.
February 23, 2025 7:36 am
ROME (AP) — The Vatican says Pope Francis is still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen after doctors earlier said that the 88-year-old pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, was in critical condition. On Saturday morning, he suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection. He also had blood transfusions to treat a low platelet count. He had a peaceful night and rested. The Vatican said he was still receiving supplemental oxygen on Sunday and more clinical tests were being conducted. (Photo: AP)
February 23, 2025 7:32 am
(WPXI) – The Pittsburgh Penguins and their fans came together Saturday for the first time since the death of legendary announcer Mike Lange. For everyone in attendance, it was more than just a game. Fans and players converged not only for a hockey night in Pittsburgh but to honor Lange. Signs throughout PPG Paints Arena displayed some of the key phrases he used that families came to know and love. “You can’t even describe it. Hearing it on the radio isn’t anything of what he was like in real life. Just a larger-than-life personality,” said Ashlee Gallagher who once job-shadowed with Lange and Phil Bourque. Broadcasting friends like Joe Brand, Josh Getzoff, Eddie Olcyk, Paul Steigerwald and the Ol’ Two-Niner Phil Bourque lined up on the ice to pay their respects. They were joined by Lange’s sons and their families as a touching tribute video played overhead. After the video ended, a simple but emotional sigh was shown to the audience from Lange’s son Ian as he wiped away a tear. The sign said, Thank you, Pittsburgh. Fans also had a chance to take photos with Lange’s legendary headset inside the arena.
February 23, 2025 7:28 am
(WPXI) – A high-profile mystery in Butler County remains unsolved years after 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan vanished. Janice McKinney is still haunted by unanswered questions about what happened to her little girl 40 years ago Saturday. “Nobody understands how much I would love to have my daughter back in my life,” McKinney said. On February 22, 1985, Cherrie mysteriously disappeared near her home in rural Butler County after getting off the school bus. There’s been no trace of the 8-year-old ever since. After four decades of exhaustive searches, tips and leads turned up empty, Cherrie’s mom has never given up hope. “Never, ever,” McKinney said. “Not until I have a bag of bones, not until I have that child standing in front of me. And I know that she’s not a child but until I know for sure, I’m never giving up. Friends, family and even strangers packed the VFW in Saxonburg Saturday to try to breathe new life into a case that’s gone cold. Trooper Jim Long with Pennsylvania State Police said they’re still actively investigating every lead they get. “It’s been decades, so the information that we have, a lot of it is the same information we’ve had before – misidentification of vehicles, things like that, so the more time passes the more difficult it gets.” State police said there is nothing new in the case. They are asking anyone with information on Cherrie’s disappearance to call PSP Butler at 724-284-8100.
