February 27, 2026 5:01 am
A Washington County jury has found a man not guilty of shooting and killing a Monessen man at a Finleyville bar. 32 year old Keaundre Crews was accused of killing 29 year old Jaisen Irwin outside of Bob’s Tavern in 2022. Police say Irwin was shot seven times following an argument at the bar before his body was dumped in the middle of the road nearby. A jury of seven women and five men deliberated for about two-hours before returning the verdict. Crews’s fiancée, Maurissa Spencer, is facing charges as an alleged accessory to the shooting. It’s unclear when she will stand trial.
February 26, 2026 2:49 am
A pair of Washington County fire departments will receive grants to fund the purchase of specialty gear. The Charleroi Fire Department will receive $4,620 and the Marianna Volnteer Fire Company will receive $3,066 from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The grant is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The funding may be used for the purchase of critical wildfire suppression equipment, protective gear, communications tools and training.
February 26, 2026 5:19 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump heads to Texas on Friday, his first trip after his State of the Union address. He’s planning to talk about his energy and economic policies. But the red-hot Senate Republican primary race may overshadow his message. The vote happens on Tuesday, and all three candidates in the competitive race plan to be at Trump’s event. Sen. John Cornyn is fighting for a fifth term. He’s being challenged by state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt. All three are highlighting their ties to Trump. But he hasn’t endorsed anybody in the race, saying he supports all of them.
February 27, 2026 5:15 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new Gallup poll shows that American sympathies in the Middle East have shifted dramatically toward the Palestinians after decades of overwhelming support for the Israelis. That shift accelerated during the war in Gaza. Fifty-four percent of Americans sympathized more with the Israelis three years ago compared to 31% for the Palestinians. Their support is now about evenly balanced between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The numbers reflect how support for Israel has become deeply contentious in the U.S. with profound implications for American politics and foreign policy. The changing sentiment has been largely driven by Democrats who are now much more likely to sympathize with Palestinians.
February 27, 2026 5:00 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Netflix is declining to raise its offer to buy Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming business in a stunning move that effectively puts Paramount in a position to take over its storied Hollywood rival. On Thursday, after Warner’s board announced that Skydance-owned Paramount’s offer was superior to the agreement it had previously struck with Netflix, the streaming giant said the new price that would be required to buy Warner would make it a deal that is “no longer financially attractive.” Unlike Netflix’s bid, Paramount wants all of Warner’s operations, including networks like CNN and Discovery. That would put CNN under the same roof as Paramount’s CBS and combine two of Hollywood’s last five remaining studios.
February 26, 2026 2:47 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has told members of Congress she had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes and didn’t recall ever meeting him. Thursday’s testimony comes at the start of two days of depositions that will include former President Bill Clinton. The depositions are in the Clintons’ hometown of Chappaqua, north of New York City. The depositions come after months of tense back-and-forth with the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee. Hillary Clinton has said the Democratic couple’s knowledge of Epstein is “very limited.” Bill Clinton has not been accused of wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein. Republicans pledge lengthy days of questioning for both Clintons. (Photo: AP)
February 27, 2026 5:17 am
Members of Congress say the U.S. military used a laser to shoot down a Customs and Border Protection drone. The Federal Aviation Administration responded Thursday by closing more airspace near El Paso, Texas. No commercial flights were affected this time. The FAA shut down the El Paso airport and the surrounding area just over two weeks ago after another use of an anti-drone laser. The Defense Department and Transportation Department referred questions to the FAA. The FAA, CBP and the Pentagon issued a joint statement late Thursday that acknowledged the military used the anti-drone laser to mitigate what seemed like a threat.
February 26, 2026 4:21 am
North Strabane Township emergency responders were dispatched to an accident on Interstate 79 North on Wednesday night. According to Washington County 9-1-1, at 11:55 pm a tractor trailer and a car collided at mile marker 45. One person was treated for injuries at the scene. Traffic lanes were restricted for about one hour. No other details are available.
February 26, 2026 2:44 pm
CLAIRTON, PA. (WPXI) — The three suspects in an armed robbery in Clairton have been identified. According to department officials, a woman in her 60s was robbed of her belongings at gunpoint in the 600 block of Third Street early Saturday. The Clairton Police Department previously shared a video and photos of the people they believe are responsible in hopes that the public could identify them, to further lead to their arrests. On Wednesday, the department announced and thanked community members for their help, saying the suspects were identified through witness statements, surveillance video, inter-agency cooperation and other information. Clairton police, Allegheny County SWAT and the Elizabeth Township K-9 unit executed a search warrant at a home connected to the suspects, however the suspects are still at large. Warrants have officially been issued for their arrest, the department said, adding, “We are strongly encouraging them to turn themselves in immediately.”
February 26, 2026 4:13 am
WEST MIFFLIN, Pa.-(WPXI) — Phase three of the Mon/Fayette Expressway is about to get underway, bringing new construction to parts of Jefferson Hills and Duquesne. At an open house on Wednesday, Pennsylvania Turnpike leaders outlined plans for the next section of the long-running project. This phase will extend the toll road from Route 51 in Jefferson Hills to Route 837 in Duquesne. Construction will impact areas near Camp Hollow Road and Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard. Crews plan to excavate land, close some roads for weeks at a time and build noise walls. The expressway is funded through oil company franchise tax revenue, toll revenue and a state transportation funding law signed in 2013. Turnpike officials said limited funding has created challenges in completing the overall project. Officials said that because funding is evaluated based on state revenue, which remains low, there is no set timeline for when the entire expressway will be finished.
