August 16, 2026 8:09 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s war against Iran is stretching the limits of the nation’s aircraft carriers and leaving the western Pacific without one of the key American warships. The USS George Washington is departing the Pacific and heading toward the Middle East. It’s expected to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln after its extended deployment has raised concerns about mental health and supply issues aboard. The lack of a carrier in the Pacific may be short-lived. But it shows how the Trump administration is further retreating from the Asia-Pacific region and focusing on the Western Hemisphere.
August 16, 2026 7:54 am
MONESSEN, Pa. (WPXI) — The Monessen City School District is delaying the start of classes by two weeks after environmental testing confirmed mold inside its middle-high school building. The district’s first day of school is now scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8, instead of Aug. 25. The delay applies districtwide, including the elementary center. Testing confirmed fungal growth on water-damaged materials in two restrooms, an office area and the concession room. According to a report shared by the superintendent, the concession room had the most significant airborne mold levels. The cafeteria and two nearby common areas had low mold levels at the time of testing. The report recommends removing and replacing the affected materials. Superintendent Dr. Robert Motte said the delay is a precaution intended to give crews time to complete necessary work. “This delay is being implemented as a precautionary measure to complete building maintenance and ensure a safe, fully prepared environment for our students and staff,” Motte wrote. Motte said the district will release more information in the coming days.
August 16, 2026 8:02 am
Parking for patients and visitors is being temporarily shifted at a local hospital. The change is coming as Penn Highlands Mon Valley continues to demolish its parking garage to make room for a new one-level lot. Starting Monday, the parking lot adjacent to the Anthony M. Lombardi Education Conference Center will close to patients and visitors. This closure is expected to last for no longer than three weeks. The circle in front of the conference center will remain open for patient drop-off and pick-up. During the closure, parking will be available in the rear of the hospital. Drivers arriving at the hospital should turn left at the four-way stop at the campus entrance, then continue to the lot behind the hospital. Hospital operations, emergency services and patient care are uninterrupted by the demolition work.
August 16, 2026 3:48 am
The Washington County Agricultural Fair is underway and will continue through Saturday. The fair offers fun for all ages. In addition to animal shows, rides, and games, the fair will have events including a school bus demolition derby, a monster truck show, and senior high band performances. The full fair schedule can be found here. Admission is $15. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online.
August 15, 2026 3:59 am
The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (PTM) hosted community leaders, partners, members, and volunteers at a ceremony inside their new outdoor pavilion. The Pavilion will allow an expansion of event capabilities. It also offers a great place for picnics and reunions. Executive Director Jeanine DeBor says that the pavilion was “built by the community for the community.” PTM is also excited to continue the tradition of offering trolley rides to the Washington County Agricultural Fair. Guests will be shuttled to the Fairgrounds from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Trolleys will depart every 10-15 minutes. Rides to the fair are $5 per person round trip and children aged two and under are free.
August 15, 2026 4:07 am
Rep. Bud Cook (R-Greene/Washington) announced that several schools in the 50th Legislative District will receive more than a combined $1.5 million. The grants were approved through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s School Safety and Security Committee. The money will be used to make the schools safer and to provide behavioral health support to students and staff.
August 15, 2026 4:41 am
Duquesne University broke ground on a Health Sciences Facility along Forbes Avenue. The $68 million facility will bring multiple academic programs together, and it will be designed for hands-on learning and collaboration. The new facility is a five-story, 82,000-square-foot development.
August 15, 2026 9:36 am
A shooting involving multiple suspects and five people shot at Virginia State University prompted a campus lockdown early Saturday. The shooting happened near the university’s Quad Annexes, and both campus and Chesterfield County police are actively investigating. County police said officers discovered five people wounded from gunshots outside campus dormitories when they arrived. County police say the five were transported to hospitals, and one initially listed as having life-threatening injuries has been upgraded to critical condition. Police say the other injuries were not life-threatening. They say officers responded just before 1:30 a.m. and the lockdown was lifted at about 9 a.m.
August 15, 2026 6:48 am
(AP) — The U.S. Army temporarily halted all Apache helicopter training missions after a fatal crash in Texas earlier this week killed two soldiers. The Army said the stand-down announced Friday will remain in effect until investigators have a better understanding of the cause of the accident. The Army is investigating the crash that happened Wednesday outside of Salado, Texas, which is not far from Fort Hood. The Apache attack helicopter had been a core part of the Army’s fleet ever since the first one was delivered in 1984. More than 5,000 Apaches have been deployed by the U.S. military and its allies over the decades.
August 15, 2026 3:36 am
HONOLULU (AP) — Tropical Storm Lala is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches Hawaii’s Big Island. The National Hurricane Center predicts that it could be at hurricane status by early Saturday. If it makes landfall as a hurricane, it would be the first to do so since 1871. Forecasters issued a hurricane warning for the island on Friday. Officials and residents prepared for potential impacts including heavy rain and strong winds. Some areas could see up to 25 inches of rain. Shelters have been opened, and various events canceled.
