Arrest Made After Hidden Cameras Found In Home

May 27, 2026 1:26 am

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges Wednesday against a Montgomery County man regarding the installation of hidden cameras in a southwestern Pennsylvania home to produce child sexual abuse material.  Adam Benjamin Arena, 46, was charged this week with more than 100 felonies — including production and possession of child abuse material — and dozens of misdemeanor counts of invasion of privacy.  Arena, who moved to Montgomery County after the conduct was discovered, was denied bail at arraignment.  The Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section and the Brownsville Police Department conducted an investigation that revealed Arena had installed hidden cameras at a Fayette County home, primarily in a shower/bathroom area, to record a child in various states of undress.  Investigators determined Arena concealed at least one camera in a shampoo bottle, which was discovered by the child victim.  During a search warrant in June 2024, investigators found multiple devices owned by Arena with videos and images he obtained via hidden cameras. Some videos show Arena installing the camera and retrieving it.

 

Shots Fired At ATF Agent In Pittsburgh

May 28, 2026 9:40 am

PITTSBURGH — Shots were fired at an ATF agent in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.  The incident happened just before 11 p.m. in the 900 block of Clarissa Street in Upper Hill.  Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando said detectives and federal agents were working together to search for a person who was wanted on gun charges when someone opened fire on the ATF agent in his cruiser. The car was struck by at least one bullet, but the agent was not.  Lando said Pittsburgh Police officers did not return fire, but he is unsure if the ATF agent did. SWAT operators were called in just before 12:30 a.m. and later received consent to search a home believed to be connected to the incident. ”This person is known to be dangerous. And that was the reason why we had a significant number of officers looking for him, because he is known to be dangerous and to carry firearms,” Lando said.  Pittsburgh police said two people were taken to headquarters for questioning, but have since been released. No arrests have been made.  FBI Pittsburgh has taken over the investigation.

Kuwait Says It Faced A Missile & Drone Attack

May 28, 2026 4:56 am

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Kuwait says it was targeted with a missile and drone attack. That’s another challenge to the shaky ceasefire in the Iran war following strikes by both Washington and Tehran. Kuwait’s military made the announcement, without providing further details on what had been targeted. Iran said hours later that it launched an attack in the region. It did not say exactly what was targeted. Kuwait is a close ally of the U.S., and it repeatedly came under fire from Iran and Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq during the war. Kuwait’s announcement Thursday comes as the Middle East is on the edge. U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that his administration is making headway in negotiations with Iran to end the war, but the talks remain in flux.

US Imposes Sanctions On Iranian Agency

May 27, 2026 4:59 am

The Trump administration has placed additional sanctions on Iran as part of a sprawling economic pressure campaign during the war, this time targeting the country’s newly created agency that is trying to control shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The move Wednesday, first reported by The Associated Press, is the latest U.S. effort to use economic leverage on top of military action to push Iran’s leadership into an agreement to end the war and open the waterway. The sanctions were announced late Wednesday after U.S. forces carried out strikes on an Iran military facility after downing Iranian attack drones, according to U.S. officials who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

US Military Strikes Another Alleged Drug Boat

May 28, 2026 5:01 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has struck another vessel suspected of transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two men. U.S. Southern Command posted video on social media Wednesday showing a boat resting on the water before being struck by an explosion. A day earlier, U.S. forces had launched a strike on an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific, killing one man and leaving two survivors. The Trump administration’s campaign of blowing up alleged drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters has gone on since early September and killed at least 196 people in total. The military has not provided evidence that any of the vessels were carrying drugs.

South Strabane Finalizing Data Center Ordinances

May 27, 2026 5:00 am

South Strabane Township Supervisors are nearing the end of their journey to
develop a data center ordinance and other ordinances that would be closely
affiliated with that ordinance. Supervisors authorized a motion to have their
solicitor advertise an ordinance governing fossil fuel generating facilities. This is
vital as plans for data centers may hinge on the ability to burn natural gas and
other combustibles as a means to generate sufficient electricity. Supervisors
tabled a measure that would have updated their noise and dust ordinance. Public
comment during the meeting stated some inconsistencies in contractor operating
times exist. Supervisors scheduled a vote on the ordinance in conjunction with
their vote on the actual data center ordinance. As far as the actual approval of the
data center ordinance, supervisors scheduled a public hearing on the ordinance
for June 9 at 6:30 pm. in the municipal building. Immediately following that
meeting, supervisors will hold a vote on the ordinance. In conjunction with that,
supervisors will vote on their updated noise and dust ordinance.

Sheriff’s Office Announces Fugitive Arrest

May 27, 2026 5:07 am

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit has announced the arrest of 35 year old Mason Smith of Washington.  He was wanted on an outstanding Washington County Adult Probation warrant.  Smith was also wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant out of Allegheny County on a multitude of charges including 4 felony counts stemming from a sexual assault. He also faced two arrest warrants out of Washington County for PFA violations.  A month-long investigation determined that Smith was staying at a motel in Oakdale and set up surveillance in the area and were able to positively identify him and took him into custody without incident.  He is last reported in the Washington Countu Jail.

Gas Prices Drop

May 27, 2026 5:11 am

Gas prices are seven cents lower this week here in Western Pennsylvania.  AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report puts the average this week at $4.69 per gallon.  The national average is down four cents to an average of $4.49.  Even though the average is lower than last week, gas prices are still the highest they have been in four years.  With gas demand on the rise and prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, pump prices are likely to remain elevated as the summer travel season gets underway.  This weeks national average is 40-cents more than one-month ago and $1.32 higher than one-year ago.

Paxton Dominates Cornyn In Texas Senate Runoff

May 27, 2026 5:20 am

PLANO, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. He defeated four-term Sen. John Cornyn. Paxton was endorsed by President Donald Trump last week. His victory in Tuesday’s runoff makes Cornyn the first Republican senator from Texas to lose the party’s nomination for reelection. Trump endorsed Paxton as part of his effort to dislodge GOP officeholders he views as less than devout in their support of him. Cornyn said in 2023 as Trump was running to return to the White House that his time “has passed him by.” Paxton will run against state Rep. James Talarico in November.

Billionaire Steyer’s Ad Spending Breaks Records

May 27, 2026 5:24 am

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Win or lose, billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer will leave a mark in the history books in his bid to become California’s next governor. He’s running the most expensive political advertising campaign in the country this year. Data from ad tracker AdImpact shows Steyer has spent or booked over $195 million in ads for broadcast TV, cable and radio, with the tally still growing. The lavish spending has lifted the former hedge fund manager turned liberal activist into contention in the crowded race. But he’s not breaking away from the field. Still, the cash advantage could give him an edge in the race’s final days.