June 21, 2024 3:41 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has upheld a federal gun control law that’s intended to protect domestic violence victims. President Joe Biden praised the decision, saying that “no one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser getting a gun,” The justices ruled 8-1 Friday in favor of a 1994 ban on firearms for people under restraining orders to stay away from their spouses or partners. The justices reversed a ruling from the federal appeals court in New Orleans that had struck down the law. It’s the justices’ first Second Amendment case since they expanded gun rights in 2022. The case involved a Texas man accused of hitting his girlfriend and threatening to shoot her.
June 21, 2024 12:56 pm
State Police in Uniontown say two suspects got away with $60,000 in jewelry during an armed robbery in South Union Township. The Kay Jewelry store at 201 Walmart Drive was robbed just before 7 p.m. Wednesday. Police say two suspects entered the store one minute before it closed and asked to see a two-karat diamond. One of the suspects showed a store employees a pistol in his waistband, state police said. They had store employees take them to a safe, where they stole 25 LEO diamonds, Neil Lane jewelry and various lab-created diamonds worth about $60,000. Both were dressed in all black, including black ball caps. One suspect had a cap with a broken heart picture with the writing “no love” in red. Anyone with information is asked call State Police Uniontown at 724-439-7111 or PSP Tips at 1-800-4PA-TIPS. All callers to PSP Tips could be eligible for a cash reward.
June 21, 2024 5:00 am
The Cecil Township Planning Commission disappointed approximately 60 residents by pulling an agenda item at the beginning of the meeting. Residents of Lawrence and the Georgetown Estates community came out to have their views heard on a discussion regarding amendments to the township’s Oil and Gas Development ordinance. According to Planning Commission Chairman Jason Krut, Township Supervisors communicated to them that it was their preference to not have the item considered by the commission. When the announcement was made, Cecil Township Assistant Manager Jacque King announced that the planned public hearing on the ordinance on July 1 will be continued and no vote will be taken on the ordinance at the supervisors meeting that night. The Planning Commission did take about an hour of public comment on the ordinance. The main point that residents wished to express was that they would like to have a 2500 foot setback minimum from structures for well pad development in the revised ordinance. Under the current proposal, those communities would be within 1700 feet of two possible proposed pad sites. Township Supervisors Frank Egizio and Darlene Barni attended the meeting. Neither would offer an explanation as to why supervisors did not want the ordinance to be discussed. Supervisors will meet on July 1. It is anticipated that more clarity will be offered on the status of the ordinance at that meeting.
June 20, 2024 2:28 am
The North Strabane Township Police Department has announced that two individuals wanted in connection with the robbery, on June 5th, at the First National Bank on Route Nineteen, have been arrested and are in custody. Police say Brandon Scerri and Kayla Pruett, both of Wellsburg, West Virginia, were arrested on Thursday near New York City. they say Scerri was taken into custody after robbing another bank there. Police say the arrest was made possible by working together with the FBI, The U.S. Marshals Service, Washington City Police, the Washington County District Attorney’s Office and other local police departments.. Authorities have said that they believe Scerri was the one who entered the bank and demanded money. They say the two were identified using their tattoos and driver’s license photos, along with the description of their car, a blue-colored Ford Focus. Scerri got away with more than seventy-four-hundred-dollars in the robbery. Scerri has also been named as a suspect in the robbery, two days earlier, of the Washington Financial Bank on Wiley Avenue in Washington. (Photo: North Strabane Township Police)
June 20, 2024 2:15 am
The 2024 Pony League World Series has a new title sponsor. Southpointe-based Printscape has put its name on the annual tournament that brings teams from across the country and from around the world to Washington County. It replaces Dicks Sporting Goods. Printscape owner John Dziak called the move a “no-brainer”. The company has been a long supporter of the tournament for years. World Series Tournaments, Inc President and Chairman Nathan Voytek only half-jokingly said the deal is especially great given all the signage needed at Lew Hays Pony Field. Voytek says they are “ecstatic to have Printscape on board”. He cited their “commitment to our community and athletics”. Printscape also has the naming rights to the Arena in Southpointe. The Pony League World Series will be played from August 9 through the 14th. Washington County Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Kotula says the annual event means some $6 million in economic impact for the County with 30,000 people visiting each year.
June 21, 2024 5:51 pm
HUTCHINSON ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say a Pennsylvania couple vacationing in Florida with their six children drowned after they were caught in a rip current while swimming. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office identified the couple in a Facebook post as Brian Warter, 51, and 48-year-old Erica Wishard. Investigators say the couple and two of their mostly teenage children were caught in the current on Hutchinson Island, along Florida’s southeast coast. The children broke free but the parents were unable to swim out of the current. A crisis intervention deputy is assisting the children while other family members travel to meet them in Florida.
June 20, 2024 10:45 am
The Pirates and Sheetz have announced a multi-year partnership in which the convenience chain will serve as the team’s first jersey patch partner. As part of the agreement, the Sheetz logo will be featured on the sleeves of the Pirates home and away jerseys beginning with tonight’s game against Tampa Bay at PNC Park. “We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Sheetz and the Sheetz family,” said Bob Nutting, Pirates Chairman. “Like the Pirates, Sheetz is an iconic local brand that is a part of everyday life in Pittsburgh and throughout the Western Pennsylvania region. Sheetz is a family-owned company that shares in our strong commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others in our community. Sheetz is the perfect partner to be featured on our first-ever jersey patch.” Sheetz has more than 730 store locations and over 25,000 employees and was founded as a small family business in 1952 when Bob Sheetz purchased one of his father’s dairy stores in Altoona, Pennsylvania. After 70 years, the company serves more than 1.5 million customers a day across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina.
June 22, 2024 1:55 am
(WPXI) – An iconic piece of Steelers history can stay at the Heinz History Center, the Pittsburgh Zoning Board ruled on Thursday. The four-ton Heinz ketchup bottle was placed at the history center in December 2023. It was one of two iconic bottles removed from Heinz Field, as the stadium became Acrisure. In May, zoning officials said the bottle qualified as a “sign,” and on its platform, it exceeded the maximum permitted sign height of 40 feet. The board ultimately determined the bottle was an artifact and not subject to city regulations.
June 22, 2024 2:08 am
A dangerous and prolonged heat wave is expected to blanket the area this week, with temperatures reaching into the low to mid-90s. The unseasonably high temperatures may stay with us into the start of the weekend as well. The National Weather Center has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for our area through Saturday. Heat index values may reach 100 degrees or hotter and heat-related illnesses can increase significantly in the extreme heat. Health officials say to make sure to be prepared and find ways to keep you and your family cool. Stay out of the sun, stay in air-conditioning, keep hydrated, and keep pets out of the heat. Due to the extreme heat, cooling centers were opened around the county and Washington County’s Public Safety Director Gerry Coleman has released the list. These will be updated as changes occur:
Municipality Location
Bentleyville/931 Main Street (724) 239-5887
Bentleyville Fire Dept/900 Main Street
Beth Center Area/316 Station Street (724) 377-0000
Burgettstown Borough/200 Senior Way (724) 947-9524
California Senior Center 130 Woodland Court – Brownsville (724) 938-3554
California Borough/225 3rd Street (724) 938-8878
Canonsburg Borough/30 East Pike Street (724) 745-5443
Carroll Twp Social Center Baird St. (724) 825-2109
Charleroi Fire Dept/328 Fallowfield Ave. (724) 483-7311
Claysville Borough/105 Green St. (724) 663-4202
Cross Creek Township/28 Clark Avenue, Avella (724) 587-5755
Denbo Vesta Six VFD/415 Low Hill Rd/Brownsville (724) 785-9460
Donora Borough/683 Meldon Ave, (724) 379-6446
Dunlevy/4 Walnut St. (724) 483-3672
Marianna Borough/(10am-5pm)/1 Procasky Road (919) 231-4780
McDonald – Cecil 3599 Miller’s Run Road (724) 743-1827
Monongahela City/102 West Main St. (724) 258-9511
Riverside (Charleroi)/303 Chamber Plaza (724) 483-5800
S. Strabane Fire Dept/172 Oak Spring Road (724) 222-3885
Thomas Campbell /(Washington) 850 Beech St. (724) 225-2290/(724) 228-2855
Washington City/69 West Maiden St. (724) 222-8566
West Alex United Methodist Church/58 N. Liberty Road
June 21, 2024 5:05 am
NEW YORK (AP) — President Joe Biden is beginning an intense period of private debate preparations at Camp David. His trip comes as officials in both parties scramble to set expectations for what may be the most consequential presidential debate in decades. Biden’s team notes he cannot afford an underwhelming performance against Donald Trump Thursday night. Trump’s allies are pushing the Republican to stay focused on his governing plans, but they’re expecting him to be tested by pointed questions about his unrelenting focus on election fraud and his legal baggage. Strategists on both sides agree on one thing: Nearly four months before Election Day, the political stakes could not be higher.
