September 19, 2026 4:24 am
COMSTOCK, Texas (AP) — The Trump administration has started building the border wall in the Big Bend region of west Texas. This marks the first major construction in an area where the plans have faced heavy opposition. Customs and Border Protection has doubled the pace of construction along the U.S.-Mexico border. In the Big Bend region, landowners, environmental groups, and ranchers oppose the construction, arguing the area isn’t a high-traffic zone for illegal immigration. The agency is building an average of 12 miles of barriers a week. Activists say they’ll continue to fight against the wall-building plans.
September 19, 2026 4:22 am
HAVANA (AP) — Cuba’s power grid has collapsed, leaving millions of people across the island without electricity. The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced the blackout on its official X account without mentioning the cause and added that officials had begun “activating service-restoration protocols.” Power grid collapses have become increasingly common over the past two years because of the severe economic crisis gripping the island. They have worsened since January, after the United States imposed an energy blockade aimed at forcing a change in Cuba’s political system. The two most recent nationwide blackouts occurred in early August, following others in July and March, as well as several regional outages.
September 19, 2026 4:21 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military’s price tag for the Iran war has grown to $43.6 billion as of Sept. 3. That’s according to a new estimate provided this week to lawmakers. The figure from U.S. Central Command offers the latest cost estimate for the conflict. A Congressional Budget Office report released Tuesday said the war had cost $38 billion through Aug. 1. The new breakdown showed the continued use of expensive munitions by American forces. Weapons costs jumped by more than $6 billion in just over a month, from $21.7 billion listed in the CBO report to $28.1 billion in U.S. Central Command’s estimate.
September 19, 2026 4:20 am
HENRICO, Va. (AP) — In-person voting for this year’s midterm elections is underway. Friday was the start of early voting in Virginia, and voters in a few other states, including Minnesota and South Dakota, can now cast absentee ballots in person. In Fairfax, Virginia, 18-year-old Sanya Singhal said she voted early to “try to be the first early voter.” In Henrico County, Laura Bland said she cast a ballot to send “a signal that we’re still here” despite President Donald Trump’s efforts to curtail mail voting. Americans now have just over six weeks to decide whether Congress remains in Republican control or flips to Democrats. Election administrators expressed confidence the vote will be secure.
September 19, 2026 1:08 am
Notice to drivers: Cameron Road will be closed beginning at 6:00 AM on Saturday, September 19th, at the intersection of Willowbrook Drive. This closure is necessary for the replacement of a collapsed pipe on Cameron Road. Willowbrook Drive residents should access their road via Route 19. Washington Woods residents should access their roads via E. Beau Street (Route 136). We hope to complete the project within the same day.
September 19, 2026 4:00 am
Washington County 9-1-1 dispatchers report that a one car vehicle accident occurred on a main road in Fallowfield Township. Emergency responders were sent to the 1300 block of State Route 481 in Fallowfield township at 8:34 pm Friday, where a car struck a tree. One person was injured and flown to a Pittsburgh hospital. A second person was taken to Penn Highlands Mon Valley Hospital where they later died. The names and identity of the victims are unknown at this time.
September 19, 2026 3:41 am
A Washington County man was hit by a train in Allenport on Friday. Washington County dispatchers say the incident happened on the 1800 block of Main Street in Allenport at 5:13 p.m. In a release, Washington County Coroner Tim Warco said the victim was crossing the railway in a motorized wheelchair at the Bridge Street crossing when he was struck by a Norfolk Southern train. That man has been identified as Anthony Michael Chilzer, 43, of Allenport. Warco said it is unclear why Chilzer was trying to cross, but added that video shows the warning signals and crossing gates were working at the time of the incident. Chilzer’s cause and manner of death are still under investigation.
September 20, 2026 3:42 am
The Pennsylvania Department of Health released a statement that announced that 767 measles cases have been confirmed across 38 counties in Pennsylvania so far this year. Since September 16 there have been 36 new positive cases detected. There have been a total of 150 hospitalizations and 4 confirmed measles associated deaths. On September 16, the Department of Health began the formal process of requesting an Epi-Aid from the CDC to assist in the Department’s measles outbreak response. State health officials have administered nearly 4800 MMR vaccinations at 148 pop-up vaccination clinics in affected communities since the outbreak began in April. Dozens of additional vaccine clinics are scheduled for opening based on need in the next several weeks. State health officials have administered over 6900 MMR vaccines to Pennsylvania residents in 2026.
September 19, 2026 1:27 am
In recognition of Constitution Day, a special naturalization ceremony was held at the Washington County Courthouse. 27 individuals representing 21 countries took the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States. Before being presented with their naturalization certificates, the new citizens were given information about registering to vote. Antoinette Fitch, the President of the Washington County League of Women Voters, says this ceremony represented the best of America, and she was happy to see so many new citizens excited to participate in elections. Roberta Occhiuto was naturalized, and her family was there to witness the special moment. She says she looks forward to being an active member of society and voting in elections.
September 19, 2026 1:43 am
Have you been thinking about adding a pet to your family? Now that children are back in the classroom, this might be the right time! The Washington County Humane Society is making adoption fees more budget-friendly for the month of September. Adoption fees cover vaccines, deworming, and spaying and neutering. Executive Director Kelly Proudfit explains that this is a good time for families to adopt, because they are going on fewer trips. Proudfit also says that kids benefit from having a furry companion when they get home from a long day at school. In other business, the humane society has volunteer opportunities for students who need to fulfill community service requirements. Opportunities range from helping at food distributions to pulling weeds at the shelter. Anyone interested in adopting or volunteering can learn more at the humane society’s website.
