February 28, 2026 4:00 am
A Peters Township high school student accused of running a catfishing and sextortion scheme faced his preliminary hearing on 304 felony charges. Zachariah Meyers, 18 had those charges reduced to 67 in an agreement between the District Attorney and his legal counsel in an administrative action. Meyers then waived those charges to common pleas court. Meyers is being held in the Washington County jail without bond. His attorney asked for bond to be placed. He said that he is not a flight risk because he lives with his parents and his extended family also lives in the township. He said that he could eliminate the danger to society issue by having all electronics and internet capability removed from his home. The judge was not convinced and maintained the condition of no bond. Meyers is accused of getting juvenile victims to send him sexually compromising photos. He is also accused of convincing a victim to record other juveniles in a private gym locker room in the high school on six different occasions. Meyers will be formally arraigned on March 30. (Photo: WPX)
March 1, 2026 8:21 am
A man who scaled the Gulf Tower in Downtown Pittsburgh has now been criminally charged. Austin Seik was taken into custody after police took him into custody but released him Friday at the Gulf Tower. The day before, he’d climbed to the tower’s peak and posted videos of it on social media. But on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police announced that Downtown Public Safety Center officers had obtained arrest warrants for Seik and a woman, alleging they “gained illegal access” to the tower. Seik, 27, of Hookstown, and Mariah Lynn Barnes, 33, of Munhall, are charged with criminal trespass, police say. According to the criminal complaint, police say Seik confessed to entering the Gulf Tower with Barnes on Thursday by using a paint scraper to get through the locked doors on Grant Street. Police say it appears Seik made a hole through a wire fence in a restricted area of the building’s 38th floor to get to additional floors. Seik and Barnes allegedly confessed to entering restricted areas of the building and acknowledged that doing so was a crime, the complaint says.
February 28, 2026 9:19 am
PITTSBURGH (WPXI) — A Pittsburgh medic accused of injecting his teenage son with steroids is now facing criminal charges. Endangering children charges were filed against Michael Bess out of Columbiana County, Ohio, on Friday, where his son lives. His teenage son told reporters last year that Bess would inject him with anabolic steroids following a shoulder injury. That boy is also a pediatric cancer survivor who was placed on medical suspension. The Columbiana County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the case for any further leads on Bess.
February 28, 2026 4:00 am
On February 2, 2026, Alcoa Pittsburgh Federal Credit Union (FCU) officially merged with CHROME Federal Credit Union, finalizing the merger and welcoming over 2,000 members. Alcoa Pittsburgh FCU serves the employees of Alcoa, an industrial corporation specializing in alumina, along with primary and fabricated aluminum. The decision to merge with CHROME was made in the interest of honoring their former manager, Lisa Blacer, who had to step down due to medical reasons. Merging with CHROME allows Alcoa Pittsburgh FCU to continue to thrive with a like-minded partner with similar values and a similar background. While both financial institutions share similar products, Alcoa Pittsburgh FCU members will be able to utilize CHROME Care, CHROME’s local support team, and will have access to next-level digital banking, extra benefits and features, and more branch locations, both locally and nationwide. Rooted in Southwestern Pennsylvania, CHROME FCU has served its members for over 55 years, delivering local service and high-quality products. Like Alcoa Pittsburgh FCU, CHROME’s values are member-focused. CHROME, initially known as Washington Steel FCU, was started in 1971 by seven employees to serve the hard-working employees of Washington Steel Company.
February 27, 2026 4:00 am
A student at Charleroi High School was found to be in possession of a knife on Thursday. Superintended Edward Zelich issued a letter to parents saying the knife was found when the student passed through the medal detector during morning arrival. The letter says the unidentified student was taken to the principal’s office where the knife was confiscated and the students parents were called. Charleroi Police are now investigating and the district will pursue disciplinary action as well.
February 27, 2026 9:39 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. wholesale prices came in hotter than expected last month. The Labor Department reported Friday that its producer price index, which measures inflation before it hits consumers, rose 0.5% from December and 2.9% from January 2025. Economists had forecast a 0.3% increase for the month and 1.6% year over year, according to a survey by the data firm FactSet. Driving the increase was an uptick in the wholesale price of services, led by higher profit margins for retailers and wholesalers.
February 27, 2026 1:51 am
Traffic restrictions are now in place as demolition of the Courthouse Square building on West Beau Street is set to begin. Those restrictions will take be in place until the end of business on Tuesday. Police say temporary mid-block stop signs will be installed to allow alternating traffic through the work zone; parking meter restrictions will be in place on West Beau Street in the active demolition area. As a result – parking will be prohibited there during this time and police say you can expect minor traffic delays as well. As for visitors who need to access the Crossroads Building at 95 West Beau Street, you are being asked to please utilize the parking garage for convenient access during this time. Police are suggesting as well, that if you can find an alternate way around this area, it will help keep everyone safe and reduce congestion. Police say they will be monitoring the area to assist with traffic flow and ensure safety. Washington County Commission Chair Nick Sherman says the big equipment is being brought in on Friday but the actual demolition work won’t start till Tuesday. He says that work was expected to start earlier, but engineers said a wall needed to be created to shore up the foundation. Sherman says they are excited for the new building since the current one was in pretty bad shape.
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.
