April 17, 2025 4:59 am
Brownsville Area School District moved to remote instruction Thursday after an intruder entered the middle school again in the early morning hours. Dr. Kristin D. Martin, Acting Superintendent of Schools, said that someone broke a window and entered the middle school, triggering the alarm system. The district’s Director of Security, Alec Hamilton, chased the intruder out of the building. State police responded and continue to investigate. Martin said the school chose to move to a remote learning day out of an abundance of caution, fo repairs to be made and for police to investigate. “At this time, there is no immediate threat to the safety of the district,” Martin said in the letter to parents. “We understand that incidents of this nature can be concerning, and we want to assure you that we are taking every precaution to ensure the continued safety and security of our students and staff. We remain committed to keeping our community informed as new information becomes available.” This comes a day after the district said an “unauthorized individual” got inside the Middle School. The person left before police arrived but troopers searched the building to make sure it was safe. The district hasn’t said if the two incidents are connected.
April 17, 2025 4:55 am
Emotions ran high over the authorization of the district’s photography services. Jeffrey King, a parent within the district and a representative from Redford Photography — a Washington County-based studio that has served Canon-McMillan School District for the past 12 years — attended the meeting alongside a handful of other parents to advocate for keeping the business local. Redford’s current three-year contract with the district is set to expire at the end of the school year, and King said the company was blindsided by the proposed switch. Despite the concerns raised, the school board voted unanimously to approve a new agreement with M&M Photography, based in Allegheny County, which will take effect at the beginning of the 2025–2026 school year and run through June 30, 2028. The deal comes at no cost to the district. For King, the issue was less about losing the contract and more about the decision to outsource to another county. Some parents echoed King’s sentiment during the public comment portion of the meeting, expressing disappointment that a local business with more than a decade of service was passed over without a transparent selection process. Nevertheless, King remains hopeful that the door isn’t closed.
April 17, 2025 2:53 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — An independent expert will review security at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence after investigators accused a man of scaling a wall and setting fire to the mansion. State police say the review will be a risk and vulnerability assessment following the security breach. Authorities allege Cody Balmer scaled an iron security fence, eluded officers and set the governor’s residence ablaze early Sunday morning. Investigators are combing his background to try to determine any motive for the attack, including whether it had anything to do with Shapiro’s Democratic politics or Jewish faith.
April 17, 2025 2:38 am
A man who once lived in Canton Township was accused of felony child rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault and corruption of minors pleaded guilty to lesser charges of misdemeanor child endangerment and corruption of minors. Victor Ardeno, 81 was accused by a minor in September of 2023 that Ardeno sexually assaulted them in Ardeno’s home in 2020 when the victim was 11 years old. The victim said that their siblings were in the room and witnessed the assault that occurred. Ardeno was sentenced to 11.5 months to 23 months in jail. He was immediately paroled. He will be on probation for 5 years once the sentence is complete. A victim’s impact statement said that they have endured years of pain and still have trust issues because of the assault. The deal nearly fell apart when defense counsel disagreed with a condition that Ardeno’s contact with minors be supervised. His lawyer said that he was not told of the condition. The judge stated that they were concerned with the condition being eliminated and that they would need time to consider whether to agree to the sentence. If the condition was agreed to, Ardeno would be free immediately. After a brief discussion, Ardeno agreed to the condition. Ardeno was released on Wednesday.
April 17, 2025 2:37 am
A Charleroi man accused of delivering a fatal dose of heroin laced with fentanyl pleaded no contest to a lesser charge. Aaron Mitchell, 42 faced drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communications device felonies. His no contest plea to the criminal use of a communications device allowed him to walk free on Wednesday. Mitchell was accused of supplying Bradley Glesk of Charleroi the heroin laced with fentanyl that killed him in June of 2024. He was charged after police were able to determine that Blesk and Mitchell were communicating by phone about a heroin transaction. Prosecutors offered the plea deal to Mitchell when it was determined during the investigation that he was an intermediary contact regarding the transaction to purchase the drugs. Mitchell was sentenced to 6-12 months in jail. He was given credit for 183 days served and released. He will serve the rest of the sentence on probation.
April 16, 2025 1:50 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge says he’s found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court for violating his orders to turn around planes carrying deportees to El Salvador. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg said Wednesday he could refer the matter for prosecution if the administration does not “purge” its contempt. Boasberg said the administration could do so by returning to U.S. custody those who were sent to the El Salvador prison in violation of his order so that they “might avail themselves of their right to challenge their removability.” If the Justice Department declines to prosecute, Boasberg said he will appoint another attorney to prosecute the contempt matter.
April 16, 2025 8:52 am
President Donald Trump’s administration announced a lawsuit Wednesday against Maine’s education department for not complying with the government’s push to ban transgender athletes in girls sports, escalating a dispute over whether the state is abiding by a federal law that bars discrimination in education based on sex. Also, a federal judge has said she’ll order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with her orders to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison.
April 16, 2025 5:05 am
TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Mark Carney says who will go up against U.S. President Donald Trump is the key question in Canada’s election while his Conservative rival argued Carney doesn’t represent change after 10 years of Liberal Party rule. Opposition Conservative Pierre Poilievre says during the French-language leaders’ debate Canada needs change and Carney is just like his predecessor Justin Trudeau. Trump’s frequent attacks on Canada’s economy and sovereignty have infuriated Canadians and led to a surge in nationalism that has bolstered Liberal Party poll numbers ahead of the April 28 vote. Poilievre is imploring Canadians not to give the Liberals a fourth term.
April 16, 2025 5:03 am
DETROIT (AP) — President Donald Trump is considering a delay of auto tariffs. A temporary pause won’t be enough for automakers to adjust their vast global supply chains but exemptions on parts could be key to the industry. It may also give car buyers a little more time to decide before vehicle prices are expected to rise significantly.
April 16, 2025 5:01 am
BANGKOK (AP) — China’s economy expanded at a robust 5.4% annual pace in January-March, supported by strong exports ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s rapid increases in tariffs on Chinese exports. Analysts forecast that the world’s second largest economy will slow significantly in coming months, however, as tariffs as high as 145% on U.S. imports from China take effect. Exports were a strong factor in China’s ability to attain a 5% annual growth rate in 2024 and the official target for this year remains at about 5%. Beijing has hit back at the U.S. with 125% tariffs on American exports, while also stressing its determination to keep its own markets open to trade and investment.
