November 12, 2026 2:37 am
Students in the Monessen School District are scheduled to return to in-person classes within the coming week, but parents are raising safety concerns following months of remote learning caused by a mold discovery. The district discovered mold inside its facility over the summer, forcing several months of virtual instruction for some students. Although administrators say the issue has been resolved, families argue board members have ignored their concerns, questioning the remediation firms hired by the district and alleging a lack of transparency. Monessen School District Superintendent Robert Motte addressed the parents during a recent school board meeting. “Parents are guardians. They want clear and reliable information about the environment in which their children learn,” Motte said. “That’s not only understandable, it’s something we owe you.” Several parents noted their children may transition to remote education.
November 12, 2026 2:44 am
We are quickly closing in on Thanksgiving. It’s just three weeks away and 2000 Turkeys needs your help. The annual fundraiser, sponsored by WJPA Radio and the Observer Reporter, raises much needed funding to provide a complete Thanksgiving dinner to thousands of families who might not otherwise enjoy the day. This year, as food and fuel costs continue to climb, the need is great. A special thanks goes out to Washington Financial Bank. CEO Michael Chaido stopped in the WJPA studios to present a fifteen-thousand-dollar check from the bank and another five-thousand-dollar check from the bank’s charitable foundation. Our 2000 Turkeys goal this year is 165-thousand-dollars, and to date, we have raised 100-thousand-dollars. We are also hitting the streets again this year. Range Resource’s Day is set for Wednesday, November 18th from eight a.m. until two p.m. in downtown Washington and Canonsburg. Employees and volunteers will be out asking for your help to reach our goal. If you would like to help, you can send a check to P.O. Box 2000, Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301, or bring your donation to WJPA Radio at 98 South Main Street or the Observer Reporter at 122 South Main Street, both in Washington. We are also, for the first time this year, accepting on-line donations using Zeffy. You can find the link on the WJPA and Observer Reporter websites. Thank you!
November 11, 2026 5:49 pm
(AP) – The father of an 11-month-old boy who survived being buried alive in a dog crate for a day has been charged with attempted murder in South Carolina. Authorities say Koah Sharp was taken to a hospital on Tuesday, a day after he was reported missing in Lexington County. He was in a dog crate wrapped in a towel. The boy’s 25-year-old father, Michael Comer, now faces attempted murder and other charges. He’s been in custody since Monday night. The Lexington County sheriff said Koah survived because of cool temperatures and an air pocket created by the towel.
November 11, 2026 10:54 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has issued a warning to Democrats over their planned probes into the Trump administration. It’s going as far as claiming that such investigations, which are a standard oversight function of Congress, may amount to “blatant criminality.” White House counsel Will Scharf issued the warning in a letter dated Monday to Rep. Robert Garcia, top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. Garcia most likely would chair the powerful panel in the new Democratic-controlled Congress. Garcia said in response to the letter that “it appears Donald Trump has something to hide” and stressed that Congress’s investigative powers do not need the “permission of the White House.”
November 11, 2026 4:39 am
North Franklin Township Supervisors will be advertising their proposed budget for 2027 and it will not be raising taxes. Supervisor Chairman Bob Sabot says the budget is approximately $2.1 million and is balanced. Sabot says that they will be spending between $400,000 and $500,000 on roads. The township is keeping its options open on infrastructure improvements and improvements along the Waterfront Lake Park. When asked about partnering with Washington City Police for coverage, Sabot said that a substantial tax increase would have been necessary. He said that Washington wanted to go all in with coverage by hiring four new officers. Sabot said that supervisors felt that fewer officers would have been able to provide adequate coverage. Sabot reminded residents that the last tax increase came in 2018. He also reminded residents of the 1.25 mill tax decrease implemented in 2021. The budget will be formally adopted in December.
November 11, 2026 4:37 am
Over several months, there have been eleven conditional use hearings for a proposed data center at Starpointe Business Park in Hanover Township. Prime Data Centers, LLC, is proposing the development, which would consist of seven buildings and a power generation facility. Even after 33 hours’ worth of hearings, there is no end in sight. Kate Nolan Bryden, the senior vice president of development, thought the process would conclude in June, but she is grateful that the supervisors have been patient while listening to Prime’s witnesses. Solicitor Dennis Makel does not expect the hearings to conclude until sometime in January. Makel says the township has allowed a lot of cross-examination by the objectors, and there has been a lot of leeway. Resident Kerri Hageter appreciates that there is no time limit. Hageter believes that everyone deserves to be heard. The hearing will continue tonight, November 18, and December 9 at 6:00 PM at the Hanover Township Fire Department Hall.
November 11, 2026 2:13 am
The holiday season is fast approaching and in an effort to keep motorists safe, officials from the Shapiro Administration and three state police units gathered at the Interstate 70 East Welcome Center in Claysville to deliver their holiday safety message. PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said that the Operation Safe Holiday campaign is underway and he spoke about two state police enforcement efforts over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Currently underway is the Click It Or Ticket campaign reminding drivers to wear seatbelts. The Holiday Season Impaired Driving Campaign will begin on November 25 and run through January 1. Jeremy Barni is the Commander of Troop B of the Pennsylvania State Police. He said that police will be out enforcing actions against impaired driving, enforcing speed laws and seat belt and cell phone regulations. According to Pennsylvania State Police, they investigated 1183 accidents that produced 186 injuries and 6 deaths over the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday. Carroll and Barni were joined by law enforcement officials from West Virginia and Ohio indicating that they too are enacting police patrols to provide safe holiday travel. All four officials preached the same call, buckle up, don’t drink and drive, put down cell phones, and obey all traffic and speed laws.
November 10, 2026 2:46 am
HARRISBURG – On Tuesday, the House Republican Caucus re-elected Rep. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) to the position of its whip for the 2027-28 Legislative Session. “It is an honor to be chosen by my peers for the third time to help lead the caucus,” O’Neal said. “House Republicans are committed to ensuring the Commonwealth remains a place of opportunity, where individuals, families and businesses can thrive. We remain dedicated to fiscal discipline, limited government and policies that foster safe, strong and vibrant communities.” As whip, O’Neal will continue to be responsible for tracking House votes and informing his other 88 Republican colleagues of upcoming issues and legislation. O’Neal was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives following a May 2018 special election. In January, he will begin his fifth full term. A life-long resident of southwestern Pennsylvania, O’Neal graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). While an undergraduate, he served in the ROTC program at IUP and was a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard. After graduation, he served on active duty, including a tour in Afghanistan, rising to the rank of captain. While in combat, he was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” for valor
November 11, 2026 4:47 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has turned aside a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The vote Tuesday halted an effort to remove Hegseth as Pentagon chief for his conduct in office and his handling of the war in Iran. The vote came as Republicans grapple with the fallout from sweeping midterm losses that some in the party have blamed on the war in Iran and the resulting surge in gas prices. But after President Donald Trump signaled strong support for Hegseth, GOP lawmakers largely stood by the secretary. They rejected the impeachment effort led by Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie and backed by Democrats.
November 10, 2026 4:48 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Jim Jordan has been elected the next House Republican leader. Jordan of Ohio on Tuesday defeated Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana in a secret-ballot election of Republicans who will serve in the next Congress. Jordan, 62, is a co-founder of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus and served as its first chairman. Jordan’s place in the House Republican leadership comes as the party prepares for its new role in the minority and a flurry of Democratic investigations aimed at its standard-bearer in the White House. His candidacy appealed to those looking for new leadership in the wake of last week’s election debacle and to those who like his hard-hitting political style. The vote was 106-73.
