December 16, 2025 2:37 am
The Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency (WCTPA) is advising the Washington County Board of Commissioners that their proposed change to strip funding from the WCTPA by amending the county ordinance will violate Pennsylvania County Code if enacted. “We were disappointed that the commissioners did not contact us to discuss their intention to modify the ordinance before they presented it today at their Public Agenda Meeting. We would have advised them that the changes they are seeking will violate state law and could end up in litigation against the county,” stated Jeff Kotula, President of the WCTPA. Mr. Kotula pointed to Pennsylvania County Code Title 16, Section 17507 which permits counties to enact a hotel tax and provides the manner it is used. “Our legal counsel informed us that the County Code is clear on how the hotel tax is to be collected, distributed, and used. The code states that the hotel tax is collected by the County Treasurer-who retains four percent in an administrative fee-and the remaining amount goes directly to the county tourism promotion agency to market the county to leisure and business visitors. The County Code does not permit the county commissioners to retain, redirect, or allocate those funds for other purposes. The commissioners do not have the authority to change state law by county ordinance,” Kotula said. “We are certain that when the county solicitor performs his legal due diligence, he will advise the commissioners that their proposed ordinance violates state law and enacting it may result in legal action,” Kotula stated.
December 16, 2025 2:56 am
Washington County Commissioners will be voting to adopt a resolution to establish an Opioid Advisory Committee to evaluate and recommend programs to receive funding from the nationwide Opioid Settlement Funds. Recently, Washington County was criticized by the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust and the county had 17 programs either denied funding or placed under further review for questions on the nominee’s compliance. According to Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman, the idea of a formation of a review committee has been in place for several months. He blames the rejection of the programs on “Moving Goalposts” by the state. He said that originally the Human Services Department was sufficient to make decisions. As the fund monies grew, he said the state wanted to see a review committee to be formed. He said that some of the programs in question were approved in earlier rounds of distribution. Sherman says that they are considering a 7 member board whose make up is still to be determined. Commissioner Larry Maggi is in support of the committee’s formation saying that it will bring more transparency to the review process.
December 16, 2025 4:49 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has announced an expansion of travel restrictions to include 20 more countries. This move doubles the number of nations affected by previous limits on travel and immigration to the U.S. The administration cites national security concerns, including the arrest of an Afghan national suspect, as reasons for the expansion, among others. Critics argue it unfairly targets a broad range of countries. The restrictions exempt those with visas, lawful permanent residents and certain visa categories. It’s unclear when these new restrictions will take effect. The expansion includes full bans and partial restrictions on various countries.
December 16, 2025 4:51 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he is ordering a blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on the country’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro. The moves comes after U.S. forces last week seized an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast, an unusual move that followed a buildup of military forces in the region. In a post on social media Tuesday night announcing the blockade, Trump alleged Venezuela was using oil to fund drug trafficking and other crimes. Venezuela’s government accused Trump of “violating international law, free trade, and the principle of free navigation” with “a reckless and grave threat.”
December 16, 2025 4:56 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Many U.S. consumers say they’ve noticed higher than usual prices for holiday gifts in recent months, according to a a December poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. A contributing factor is the unusually high import taxes the Trump administration put on foreign goods. While the worst-case consumer impact that many economists foresaw from the administration’s trade policies hasn’t materialized, some popular gift items have been affected more than others. Most toys and electronics sold in the U.S. come from China. So do most holiday decorations. Jewelry prices have risen due to the cost of gold.
December 16, 2025 4:50 am
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Authorities have released a new video timeline and a slightly clearer image of the man suspected in the Brown University shooting. They provided no indication Tuesday that they were any closer to zeroing in on his identity. Investigators have been canvassing Providence homes, yards and dumpsters in search of videos or other clues. Saturday’s campus shooting killed two students and wounded nine others. In all of the videos made public, the suspect’s face was masked or turned away. Authorities have only been able to give a vague description of him. In the new video timeline, footage shows the man running along quiet streets before the attack.
December 16, 2025 5:42 pm
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors say Rob Reiner’s son Nick Reiner will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges against 32-year-old Nick Reiner at a news conference on Tuesday. Prosecutors plan to file the charges, two counts of first degree murder special circumstances of multiple murders, later Tuesday. The announcement of the charges came two days after the famed actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner were found dead in their Los Angeles home. Their son Nick Reiner was arrested hours later. Nick Reiner’s attorney Alan Jackson said medical reasons kept his client from making his first court appearance Tuesday.
December 16, 2025 4:55 am
Peters Township is suing the Washington County Coroner’s office as the police department claims its investigators have not been able to review Timothy Warco’s findings after a baby died back in August. According to the Observer-Reporter, Township Solicitor John Smith filed the lawsuit December 1 seeking an injunction that would require the coroner to readily provide autopsy and toxicology reports to the police department without charging a $700 fee that has been his recent practice. The suit states that “The District Attorney, not the Coroner, is charged and entrusted with applying legal principles to deaths in order to determine whether criminal charges should be filed”. Warco previously stated that he needed police reports to help reach a conclusion. Law enforcement officials have said that the coroner is not designated a criminal justice agency and has not right to review crime scene investigative materials from police departments through the Criminal History Records Information Act. The coroner’s solicitor says the office is reviewing the suit while preparing to file preliminary objections before the deadline. In a written statement, Smith said the township is still willing to work with Warco to find a solution to the situation.
December 15, 2025 4:42 am
PITTSUBRGH — Looks like we’ll get a little break from the frigid cold. Tuesday starts with bitterly cold temperatures but ends with highs climbing close to freezing as we begin an extended stretch of milder temperatures. Highs on Wednesday will push into the low 40s with a bigger surge of warm air taking us into the low 50s on Thursday. Rain will come with the warmer temperatures, though. Showers develop late Thursday afternoon and evening a period of steady rain before midnight. Colder air rushes in behind the rain early Friday, ending as a mix of rain and snow.
December 15, 2025 4:59 am
Gasoline prices have jumped four-cents this week in Western Pennsylvania to an average of $3.27 per gallon. That’s according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. Here in Washington this weeks average is $3.22. The holiday season is delivering a gift for drivers as the national average dropped 4 cents since last week to $2.91. Gas prices are the lowest they have been in four years. As a record number of travelers prepare to hit the road starting this weekend, they will be paying less than they were last holiday season when the national average was $3.04 to close out 2024.
