August 5, 2025 2:44 am
The summer brings less legislative action in municipalities, and the City of Washington is no different. Thursday’s agenda will be light, but two items will be of particular interest. Council will look to approve a Conciliation Agreement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This action is typically used to settle a discrimination claim instead of taking the claim to court. Discrimination may be of several types, age, race, gender and disability are a few of the types of claims that may be made. Mayor JoJo Burgess will comment formally on the issue once he is certain of what may be disclosed. Additionally, council will look to approve a resolution keeping the final payment date for solid waste collections as June 1 before penalties accrue. It will move the final date of collections to December 31 instead of the current November 2. Council will meet Thursday at 6:00 PM.
August 5, 2025 4:48 am
Canonsburg Council assessed a preliminary application for a Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) to permit a sewer lateral installation at 48 West Pike Street. The initiative will be financed solely by the owner resulting in no expenses for the borough or taxpayers. Borough Council President Richard Russo, who is serving as the acting interim borough manager, is anticipated to approve the HOP. Although a start date for construction has not been set, the project is expected to disrupt traffic on Pike Street during the installation phase according to Russo. In light of the recent passing of Borough Manager Billie Bilko, the borough is currently looking for candidates to fill the role. Currently, President Richard Russo is fulfilling the combined responsibilities of council president and interim borough manager. Council is also set to vote on reallocating $14,491 from the 2024 CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) demolition funds. The funds are suggested to be reallocated to assist the Taylor Drive CDBG Project. Furthermore, the borough is anticipated to provide $10,000 for Canonsburg Streets financing, which will be distributed via the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County. Regarding community matters, the board will also cast their votes to sanction upcoming events, which include Canonsburg Park Friends and the Camp Splash Kids Triathlon which is set to take place on Friday, August 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the borough park.
August 5, 2025 2:26 pm
(WPXI) PITTSBUGH — Two men are in custody after a massive search in Pittsburgh on Monday afternoon. A Channel 11 crew was on scene as the incident unfolded. Police were stationed on all sides of the 31st Street Bridge, and our crew saw and heard officers draw their guns after a driver took police on a chase from Route 65 to the 31st Street Bridge. The driver, later identified by police as Duane Jemison, jumped out of his car and ran underneath the 31st Street Bridge. Before they found the driver, police took the passenger, Vaughn Hall, into custody on the bridge on-ramp. The driver was later pulled from the water and taken into custody. Jemison is facing charges including robbery, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person. Hall has not been charged related to this incident, but is facing charges in a shooting from last week. A Pittsburgh police spokesperson says the pursuit ended after the suspected stolen car hit another vehicle on the bridge. No one was hurt in that crash.
August 5, 2025 4:53 am
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Democrats have prevented their state’s House of Representatives from moving forward, at least for now, with a redrawn congressional map sought by President Donald Trump. The map would shore up Republicans’ 2026 midterm prospects as Trump’s political standing falters. After dozens of Democrats left the state, the Republican-dominated House was unable Monday to establish the quorum of lawmakers required to do business. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made threats about removing some members of the opposition from their seats. Democrats pushed back Monday. Some mocked Abbott as the weak figure in the drama, saying he is “bending a knee” to Trump. And at least one legal expert casts doubt on the governor’s ability to sanction any state lawmaker.
August 5, 2025 4:55 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Democrats are weighing new political maps that could slash five Republican-held House seats in the liberal-leaning state while bolstering Democratic incumbents in other battleground districts. The tentative proposal comes in response to plans by Texas Republicans to redraw House districts and strengthen the GOP hold on the chamber in 2026. According to a source familiar with the plan who was not authorized to discuss it publicly, the map aims to boost the Democratic margin to 48 seats out of California’s 52 congressional districts, up from the 43 seats the party now holds.
August 5, 2025 4:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The monthly jobs report is already closely-watched on Wall Street and in Washington but has taken on a new importance after President Donald Trump on Friday fired the official who oversees it. Trump claimed that June’s employment figures were “RIGGED” to make him and other Republicans “look bad” yet provided no evidence. The firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics director followed Friday’s jobs report that showed hiring was weak in July and had come to nearly a standstill in May and June. Economists and Wall Street investors have long considered the job figures reliable. Friday’s revisions were unusually large, and the surveys used to compile the report are facing challenges from declining response rates. But that hasn’t led most economists to doubt them.
August 5, 2025 3:31 pm
(AP) Police in Tennessee have arrested the man wanted for the killings of an infant’s parents, grandmother and uncle. Authorities say 28-year-old Austin Robert Drummond is now in custody and that his arrest occurred Tuesday, shortly after police warned residents to stay indoors following a sighting in a neighborhood. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has already charged Tanaka Brown and Giovonte Thomas with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Investigators allege both men assisted Drummond in the killings. It was not immediately clear whether Drummond had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. An automated message from the public defender’s office said to call back later. (Photo: AP)
August 5, 2025 4:59 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Witnesses and health officials say dozens of Palestinians have been killed or wounded as desperate crowds headed toward food distribution points or airdrops in Gaza. Israel’s blockade and military offensive have made it nearly impossible to safely deliver aid. That’s contributing to the territory’s slide toward famine nearly 22 months into the war with Hamas. Aid groups say Israel’s week-old measures to allow more aid in are far from sufficient. Families of hostages in Gaza fear starvation affects them too, but blame Hamas. The U.N. says several hundred Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since May while seeking food aid.
August 5, 2025 2:07 pm
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Public health officials in Florida are reporting 21 cases of campylobacter and E. coli infections linked to drinking raw milk, all from the same farm. As of Monday, six children under the age of 10 were among those infected, according to the Florida Department of Health. Seven people have been hospitalized, with at least two cases leading to severe complications. Raw milk seems to be gaining in popularity, despite years of warnings about the health risks of unpasteurized products. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say raw milk is one of the riskiest foods people can consume.
August 4, 2025 4:49 am
FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. — A 9-year old girl’s goodwill gesture at the Fayette County Fair opened some eyes and pockebooks. At the county fair, Harper Diamond sold her 270-pound pig, Cookie. Harper decided to donate the earnings to a fund for a new barn at the fairgrounds “I donated this money because I wanted to help for the next generation of 4-H so they had more opportunity,” Harper said. “After the sale of that, people from the crowd started wanting to add on to it, $1, $2, a couple added five, four,” said Harper’s grandfather Chris Diamond. “Next thing you know, the total per pound for the pig ended up somewhere around $96, totaling somewhere around $27,000.” The current barn is 50 years old and is scheduled to be torn down.
