November 22, 2025 3:34 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that found Texas’ 2026 congressional redistricting plan pushed by President Donald Trump likely discriminates on the basis of race. The order signed Friday by Justice Samuel Alito will remain in place at least for the next few days while the court considers whether to allow the new map favorable to Republicans to be used in the midterm elections. The court’s conservative majority has blocked similar lower court rulings because they have come too close to elections. The order came after the state asked the high court to intervene to avoid confusion as congressional primary elections approach.
November 22, 2025 3:28 am
GRAYS HARBOR COUNTY, Wash. (AP) — A Washington state resident is believed to be the first person to die from a rare strain of bird flu, but state health officials say the risk to the public is low. The Washington State Department of Health announced the person’s death on Friday. The person was an older adult with underlying health conditions. Health officials say the person was being treated for a bird flu called H5N5 after becoming seemingly the first known human infected by the strain. The person lived in Grays Harbor County with a backyard flock of domestic poultry that had been exposed to wild birds.
November 23, 2025 1:19 am
A portion of the Montour Trail in Cecil Township is closed. The Montour Trail Council announced that they have closed the National Tunnel. The tunnel is located at mile marker 25. At 623 feet it is the longest tunnel on the trail. The tunnel is being closed due to deteriorating concrete ceiling conditions. Initial stabilization work has begun. The Montour Trail Council envisions the tunnel reopening in early 2026. The Montour Trail Council does not recommend using on road detours. They say that you can access the trail westbound at the McConnell Road trailhead at mile marker 24.7, eastbound access is at the Kurnick trailhead at mile marker 25.6. You can find updates at their website montourtrail.org.
November 23, 2025 2:20 am
The South Strabane Township Fire Department was recently honored as a Gold Helmet Department through the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer (NFR) initiative powered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Firefighter Wesley Attwood was the driving force behind enrolling more than 50% of his colleagues at the department for taking proactive steps to improving the understanding of occupational cancer risks in fire service. By enrolling, firefighters in the NFR, contribute critical data to help protect future generations of emergency responders. Attwood says that his participation is personal as his grandfather, a firefighter in Punxutawney, PA died of esophageal cancer caused by fumes breathed in during his career. South Strabane Fire Department is one of 76 fire departments across the United States and only three in Pennsylvania to earn the award. The other Pennsylvania departments are the Fox Chapel Fire Department and the Taylorstown Fire Department, also in Washington County.
November 22, 2025 2:18 am
A joint statement released by state Senator Camera Bartolotta and Representative Tim O’Neal says that the Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority has been awarded a $2.4 million state grant to support a major waterline extension project in Amwell Township. The water main extension on Amity Ridge Road will serve an additional 58 homes. Funding for the grant was provided through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation Abandoned Mine Lands and Acid Mine Drainage Grant Program.
November 22, 2025 5:09 am
(WPXI)-Congressman Chris Deluzio’s offices have been targeted with bomb threats. A spokesperson said on social media that Deluzio’s offices in Beaver County and Carnegie were targets of bomb threats on Friday afternoon. All staff are safe, the spokesperson said, thanking law enforcement for their swift response. “Political violence and threats like this are unacceptable,” the spokesperson said. The threats come days after Deluzio (D-17th District) and five other lawmakers issued a message over social media, calling on U.S. military members to uphold the Constitution and defy “illegal orders.” President Donald Trump responded on social media by calling the message “seditious behavior” that’s “punishable by DEATH.” Deluzio, a veteran, condemned Trump’s comments and said the president has “no regard for the law.” Multiple other leaders condemned the president’s words, including Sen. John Fetterman, Gov. Josh Shapiro and Congresswoman Summer Lee. It’s unknown whether the recent social media exchange was a factor in the bomb threats. Allegheny County Police said their squad searched the area with Carnegie officers and did not find anything.
November 21, 2025 4:54 pm
President Donald Trump and New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met at the White House and focused more on their shared goals rather than their combustible differences. The president has previously said Mamdani is a “100% Communist Lunatic” and a “total nut job.” Mamdani has called Trump’s administration “authoritarian” and described himself as “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare.” At their first-ever meeting they discussed housing affordability and the cost of groceries and utilities, as Mamdani successfully used frustration over inflation to get elected, just as the president did in the 2024 election.
November 21, 2025 2:57 pm
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — An American proposal to end the war in Ukraine puts the country in a delicate diplomatic position — caught between placating its most important ally, the United States, and not capitulating to Russia, its much larger neighbor that launched a full-scale invasion nearly four years ago. The 28-point peace plan was crafted by the U.S. and the Kremlin, without Ukrainian involvement. It acquiesces to many Russian demands that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has categorically rejected on dozens of occasions, including giving up large pieces of territory.
November 21, 2025 2:57 am
Washington County Commissioners voted 2-1 to authorize the release of a letter of intent to the State Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs of their desire to assume the responsibilities of drug and alcohol programs under the County’s department of Human Services. The measure calls into question the continued existence of the Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission (WDAC). During public comment at the meeting, Cheryl Andrews, Executive Director of the WDAC, said the county relinquished responsibility of the programs more than 20 years ago. She felt that the transition would be detrimental to recovery efforts of addicts. Several people in public comment characterized the measure as a money and power grab. Heaven Sensky-Kirsch from the Center for Coalfield Justice is one of those people. She also said that the county being closely affiliated with law enforcement may deter people from seeking recovery. Commissioner Larry Maggi dissented saying that the WDAC has done a great job all these years. He is concerned that the move is an expansion of government and the county should let the experts continue to do their job and keep government out of it.
November 21, 2025 4:59 am
A Monessen couple is facing charges after a two-year old overdosed from cocaine and fentanyl. The Westmoreland County District Attorney and Monessen police were called to a home back on October 4 after reports of a child overdosing. According to The Trib, Sable Ford, 36, and Travis Holmes told police the child found a baggie in the front yard and put it in its mouth. The child was then taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for treatment and tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl. According to the report, police found white residue in the home that was identified as cocaine. They also found drug paraphernalia. Ford and Holmes are both charged with endangering the welfare of children, criminal conspiracy, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance. Both were reportedly being held in the Westmoreland County Jail on $50-thousand bond.
