August 7, 2025 4:51 am
The newly hired special counsel for Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh is seeking a delay to submit a response to a petition asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to restrict his ability to seek the death penalty. According to the Observer-Reporter, they will now have until August 22 to respond. Attorneys Joshua Voss and Shohin Vance were hired by County Commissioners last week during an emergency meeting. They filed the application Tuesday claiming that they would benefit from additional time to fully understand the facts and circumstances of the petition filed by the Atlantic Center for Capital Representation. The Philadelphia group is representing Jordan Clarke of Peters Township and Joshua George of Smith Township. Both men face the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder in separate cases involving the deaths of their infant sons.
August 7, 2025 4:58 am
Students in the Upper Saint Clair School District will face new rules for cell phones and other electronics when they return for classes in two weeks. On Monday, the school board rolled out its new administration regulation to the existing policy regarding electronic devices, which the district says will provide consistency across all grades. Kindergarten through 6th graders aren’t allowed to use cell phones in school, and if a smartwatch is used, it must be in do-not-disturb mode. Some fear the changes are not enough. Some are behind a strong push to get Personal Electronic Devices, or PEDs, out of the classroom. 7th-8th grade students can bring the electronics to school but have to silence their phones and leave them in a locker unless given the go-ahead by a teacher. 9-10th graders are allowed to use their PEDs during study and lunch and the same goes for 11-12th graders. The policy gives teachers the final authorization for most usage. Those with USC unplugged say they’ve been fighting for a “bell-to-bell no device policy.” “Phones are securely away from the first bell of the school day to the last bell of the school day,” Talarico-Ramirez said. Currently, 17 states plus D.C. have the bell-to-bell policy.
August 7, 2025 5:03 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Pittsburgh native and entrepreneur Mark Cuban was at his hometown Giant Eagle Wednesday, standing side by side with CEO Bill Artman for a big announcement. “Giant eagle is Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh is Giant Eagle,” Cuban said. “You can take the boy out of Pittsburgh, but you can’t take the yinzer out of the boy.” Cuban and Artman announced their partnership and their goal to provide less expensive medications and prescriptions to customers through Cuban’s company, Cost Plus Drug. The pharmaceutical company touts huge drug savings with only adding a 15% markup. “There are a lot of companies that will market up 100%, 200% whatever it may be. Or if there’s a shortage, they’ll mark it up more. We don’t do that at all,” he ssaid. According to Artman, after Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy, Giant Eagle acquired six million prescriptions, and he sees the partnership as a way to save more customers money. Cuban told Channel 11 that transparency is key with his company and they provide a full breakdown for each cost affiliated with the drug. To sign up for the program, you can visit the Cost Plus Drugs website.
August 7, 2025 2:11 pm
(WPXI) ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A Robinson Township police officer is facing assault charges after a run-in with a local business owner. Court paperwork alleges that off-duty officer Steve Pies punched the man in the face following a traffic dispute back on July 2. According to the criminal complaint, it started when Al Cannella, owner of Al’s Service, failed to yield to Pies when turning onto Forest Grove Road. Cannella then drove to his business and Pies followed. Pies then, allegedly, got out of his truck and began yelling at Cannella before punching him in the face. Cannella fell into his own truck, fracturing multiple ribs. He told Channel 11 he did not want to comment on the incident at this time. As for Officer Pies, the complaint states he admitted his involvement to a Sergeant. We did reach out to Robinson Township Police about the status of Officer Pies. We were told the department was working on a statement. So far, we have not received it. Pies is due in court on August 26.
August 7, 2025 2:51 pm
(WPXI) PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police are searching for a man who they say attacked a woman in the Hill District on April 23. Police said an active arrest warrant is out for Bryant Garrett, 62. He’s charged with criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault, robbery and terroristic threats. The woman who was attacked on April 23 in the 2200 block of Webster Avenue sustained significant injuries. Police said Garrett is known to frequent the Hill District and may have shaved his head and goatee to avoid being arrested. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 412-255-6787.
August 7, 2025 5:05 am
The Kremlin said Thursday that a meeting in the coming days between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump has been agreed on. Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said the two sides are working on setting it up, and that a venue for the meeting has been agreed on and will be announced later. A meeting between Putin and Trump would be their first since Trump returned to office this year. It would be a significant milestone in the more than 3-year-old war, though there’s no promise such a meeting would lead to the end of the fighting, since Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on their demands. Meanwhile, a Gallup poll finds that Ukrainians are increasingly eager for a settlement that ends the fight.
August 7, 2025 5:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has started imposing higher import taxes on goods from over 60 countries, including the European Union, Japan and South Korea. These tariffs, which began Thursday, are part of Trump’s strategy to reduce the trade deficit and encourage foreign investment in the U.S. However, the economic impact is already visible, with signs of stalled hiring, rising inflation and declining home values. Despite the uncertainty, Trump remains optimistic about economic growth, while many experts warn of potential long-term damage.
August 7, 2025 2:26 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is forcing out more senior officials, including a former acting director who resisted Trump administration demands to turn over the names of agents who participated in Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigations and the head of the bureau’s Washington field office. That’s according to people familiar with the matter and internal communications seen by The Associated Press on Thursday. Brian Driscoll led the bureau in the weeks that followed President Donald Trump’s inauguration last January. Steven Jensen for months led the Washington office, one of the bureau’s largest and busiest. Driscoll and Jensen have sent farewell messages to colleagues. (Photo: AP)
August 7, 2025 3:29 pm
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that to destroy Hamas Israel intends to take full control of the Gaza Strip. He said Israel would eventually transfer Gaza’s administration to friendly Arab forces, as the Security Cabinet discussed a widening of its 22-month offensive. Asked in an interview with Fox News if Israel would “take control of all of Gaza,” Netanyahu replied: “We intend to, in order to assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza.” The Security Cabinet would still need to approve such a decision. Hospitals in Gaza meanwhile said at least 42 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes and shootings. (Photo: AP)
August 7, 2025 5:05 am
An undisclosed “technology issue” delayed more than 1,000 United Airlines flights across the U.S. United Airlines said in a statement Wednesday that flights on major routes were held at their departure airports because of a technology issue. The airline on Wednesday night said the underlying issue had been resolved but some delays remained. An alert on the Federal Aviation Administration website Wednesday says all United Airlines flights destined for Chicago were halted at their departing airports. The agency says Denver, Newark, Houston, and San Francisco airports were also impacted by halted flights.
