June 4, 2025 4:54 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. — No charges will be filed in connection with a crash involving a dirt bike that took the life of a 15-year-old boy. The crash between a dirt bike and an SUV happened on April 14 at the intersection of West Chestnut and Washington Street. The teenager riding the dirt bike, Jonathan Gillespie, 15, was flown to Children’s Hospital, but later died of the injuries he sustained in the crash. The driver of the SUV, who remained on scene and administered CPR before first responders arrived, tested negative for any impairment. Washington Police spent over a month investigating the crash, collecting witness statements, video evidence and medical records to understand what happened before and during the incident. Once the investigation was complete, it was turned over to the DA’s office for review, and then the two agencies met to discuss findings. Both the Washington Police Department and the Washington County District Attorney’s Office agreed that criminal charges wouldn’t be filed, determining that the driver was not at fault for the crash. The teen was riding his dirt bike when he was hit by a car April 14 at the intersection of West Chestnut and Washington streets in the city. He was flown to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he died three days later. Police informed the teen’s parents Monday that the driver would not be charged, according to a press release issued Tuesday by Washington police Chief Steve Devenney. “During the month-long investigation, this department collected multiple witness statements, video evidence and obtained the medical records of the deceased in order to obtain a clear picture of the events leading up to and including the accident,” Devenney wrote in the release. Jasmine Gillespie, Johnathan’s older sister, said the family believes the driver – who has not been identified by police – should face charges for the incident. “We just feel like we didn’t get justice for Johnathan,” she said Tuesday. Devenney did not provide specific details about what led to the accident or why the department decided the driver would not be charged. The Observer-Reporter filed a Right-to-Know request Tuesday afternoon seeking the identity of the driver and the circumstances that led to the crash. Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh declined to comment on the case and deferred questions to police. Washington police consider the investigation to be closed.
June 4, 2025 7:40 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik has resigned, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announced. According to a release, Pope Leo XIV accepted his resignation at 6 a.m. Wednesday. Zubik reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in September. “I am both grateful and thrilled with this appointment. Bishop Eckman knows the diocese. And we know him as an exceptional pastor, and outstanding administrator – truly an exemplary priest,” Zubik wrote in a letter to diocesan clergy and staff Wednesday morning. At the same time, Auxiliary Bishop Mark A. Eckman was appointed as the 13th bishop. Eckman has served the diocese as an Auxiliary Bishop since 2022. He will be installed on Monday, July 14, during a special Mass at Saint Paul Cathedral in Oakland. “With a grateful and humble heart, I accept this appointment and ask for the prayers of all the faithful,” Eckman said in a release. “Together, we will continue the mission of Jesus Christ with hope.”
June 4, 2025 4:48 am
BETHEL PARK, Pa. — (WPXI) – Part of the Silver Line is not running because of downed power lines. PRT says shuttle buses are operating between Washington Junction and Library Station. Rail cars are operating between Mesta to Library Station on the Silver Line. PRT was not immediately sure why the lines came down just south of Washington Junction over Milford Drive, but said crews are working to repair lines and restore service as quickly as possible. A PRT spokesperson confirms this incident did not cause any cars to derail or any injuries to riders.
June 4, 2025 4:58 am
CLAIRTON, Pa. — (WPXI) – U.S. Steel is responding to a reported breakdown at its Clairton Coke Works plant that sent high levels of pollution into the air. According to the Allegheny County Health Department, the incident occurred Monday night around 7 p.m. while repairs were being made to a control room. All equipment was back online by 3 a.m. Health officials say preliminary information shows that during the breakdown, a control room that removes harmful chemicals from gas produced during coke-making was shut down and bypassed. The coke oven gas created during the breakdown was only partially cleaned by the remaining control systems, allowing for high levels of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide to be released. In a statement, U.S. Steel said its crews worked quickly to “isolate the cause of the problem and make repairs,” then bring the control room back online. “The plant has been in normal operation since the early morning hours of June 3. U. S. Steel followed all response protocols to ensure the safety of its employees and the community. The Allegheny County Health Department was notified, in accordance with our operating permit,” the statement reads in part. Health officials say U.S. Steel has a week to submit a full report explaining what happened.
June 4, 2025 5:06 am
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to hike nearly all of his tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum to a punishing 50% on Wednesday, a move that would hammer businesses from automakers to home builders, and likely push up prices for consumers. Foreign-made steel and aluminum is used in household products like soup cans and paper clips as well as big-ticket items like a stainless-steel refrigerators and cars. Economists warn that the latest tariffs will significantly squeeze the wallets of both companies and shoppers alike.
June 4, 2025 5:07 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. economic growth will slow to 1.6% this year from 2.8% last year as President Donald Trump’s erratic trade wars disrupt global commerce, drive up costs and leave businesses and consumers paralyzed by uncertainty. World economic growth will slow to just 2.9% this year and stay there in 2026, according to the OECD’s forecast. It marks a substantial deceleration from growth of 3.3% global growth last year. Trump’s policies have raised average U.S. tariff rates to the highest since 1938, according to the OECD. Tariffs raise costs for consumers and American manufacturers that rely on imported raw materials and components.
June 4, 2025 5:03 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump wants his “big, beautiful” bill of tax breaks and spending cuts on his desk to be signed into law by Independence Day. And he’s pushing the slow-rolling Senate to make it happen sooner rather than later. Trump met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune at the White House earlier this week and has been dialing senators for one-on-one chats, using both the carrot and stick to encourage them to act. But it’s still a long road ahead for the bill. Senators want to make changes to protect Medicaid and ensure some tax breaks become permanent. Elon Musk called the whole bill a “disgusting abomination.”
June 4, 2025 5:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Elon Musk has blasted President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” of tax breaks and spending cuts as a “disgusting abomination.” The tech billionaire’s comments Tuesday test his own influence over the Trump-led Republican Party. Musk targeted Trump’s top congressional priority just days after the president gave him a celebratory Oval Office sendoff marking the end of Musk’s role leading the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk’s business interests stand to lose from Trump’s bill, which would slash funding for electric vehicles and related technologies.
June 4, 2025 5:09 am
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Members of the Boulder community are reeling from a firebombing attack that injured 12 people demonstrating for the release of Israeli hostages. Residents are preparing to come together for a vigil Wednesday evening to support those impacted. Authorities say Mohamed Sabry Soliman had 18 Molotov cocktails but threw just two during Sunday’s attack in which he yelled “Free Palestine.” Officials say he had planned to kill all of the roughly 20 participants in the demonstration. Soliman is an Egyptian national who has been living in the U.S. illegally. He faces federal hate crime and state attempted murder charges. Federal officials say his wife and five children have been taken into custody and could be quickly deported.
June 4, 2025 5:01 am
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Smoke from Canadian wildfires has carried another day of poor air quality south of the border to the American Midwest. Conditions in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan were rated “very unhealthy” on Tuesday. The smell of smoke hung over the Minneapolis-St. Paul area on Tuesday morning. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an alert for almost the entire state into Wednesday. Canada is having another bad wildfire season, and more than 27,000 people in three provinces have been forced to evacuate. The smoke is even reaching Europe, where it is causing hazy skies but isn’t expected to affect surface-air quality,
