January 24, 2025 4:58 am
President Donald Trump is criticizing California water policy as he prepares to tour wildfire damage in Los Angeles. Since the fires broke out Jan. 7, Trump has accused the state of sending too much water to the Pacific Ocean instead of south toward Los Angeles. But the federally managed Central Valley Project doesn’t carry water to the nation’s second most-populous city and mostly supplies farms. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California says it has ample storage to meet the region’s water needs.
January 24, 2025 2:24 am
The Washington County Local Share Account Review Committee is recommending a total of 67 projects to receive more than $10 million. The grants come from a portion of gaming revenue generated at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows. The list includes local governments, non-profits and other eligible entities throughout Washington County. Washington County Commissioners Chairman Nick Sherman says “from improvements to parks and facilities to upgrades in municipal sewage and classroom environments, these diverse recommendations will enhance our communities by completing and jump-starting essential projects”. Officials say the grants will be leveraged by more than $68.3 million in additional funding. Among the projects: $500,000 to the Washington Wild Things for upgrades at their ballpark, $500,00 to the Canonsburg Education and Cultural Institute for an auditorium development project, $438,000 to the Carroll Township Authority for the nearly $3-million Ginger Hill sewer extension, and $400,000 for a Lemoyne Community Center expansion project. The Board of Commissioners are expected to act on the recommendation at their February 6 public meeting. For the complete list of recommendations, Click Here.
January 23, 2025 5:20 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed Donald Trump’s pick to lead the CIA. John Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term and is the first person to have held that position and the top post at the CIA, the nation’s premier spy agency. Ratcliffe is the second of Trump’s nominees to be confirmed, following Marco Rubio as secretary of state. Ratcliffe told senators at a hearing last week that the CIA must do better when it comes to using technology like artificial intelligence to confront adversaries including Russia and China.
January 23, 2025 5:18 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has advanced the nomination of Pete Hegseth as President Donald Trump’s defense secretary. Thursday’s vote pushed Hegseth toward confirmation, despite grave objections from Democrats and stirring unease among Republicans over his behavior and qualifications to lead the U.S. military. Two Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, broke ranks to oppose Hegseth. The former combat veteran and Fox News host faces allegations of excessive drinking and aggressive actions toward women, which he has denied. A final confirmation vote is expected Friday. (Photo: AP)
January 23, 2025 5:16 pm
SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order ending the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship regardless of the parents’ immigration status. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour in Seattle ruled on Thursday in the case brought by the states of Washington, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon. The states argue that the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court case law have cemented birthright citizenship. Coughenour called Trump’s order “blatantly unconstitutional.”
January 23, 2025 9:40 am
Two people were killed in a fire in Wharton Township. Fayette County dispatchers said the fire happened on Fike Hollow Road at around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. Fayette County Coroner Dr. Bob Baker said Donald Brewer, 70, and Patricia Brewer, 68 were both pronounced dead at the scene. Their cause and manner of death have not been released at this time. This is the latest in a series of fatal fires. Also on Thursday morning, one person was killed and four were injured after a massive house fire in Upper St. Clair. The cause of that fire is also under investigation. And – Wednesday morning, 68-year-old Kimberly Haines died in a fire at the Thomas Campbell Apartments in South Strabane Township. One other person was injured and taken to a hospital. Authorities say that fire is also under investigation, but they believe it was started by Haines smoking around oxygen equipment. On Monday, a woman was killed and a man hospitalized after a fire at a home in Crafton. An individual also died in a house fire in Rankin over the weekend.
January 23, 2025 4:49 am
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Officials say four San Antonio police officers have been shot while responding to a “suicide in progress call.” A heavy presence of police Wednesday night around an apartment complex were trying to detain the suspect. San Antonio Chief of Police Bill McManus say SWAT was setting up to try to detain the suspect in the neighborhood of Stone Oak. He says the suspect is a man in his 40s. The four officers have been transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. They have between four and eight years of experience.
January 23, 2025 4:47 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has passed a bill to require the detainment of unauthorized migrants accused of theft and violent crimes. It marks the first legislation that President Donald Trump can sign as Congress, with some bipartisan support, swiftly moved in line with his plans to crackdown on illegal immigration. The Laken Riley Act is named after a Georgia nursing student who was murdered last year by a Venezuelan man. Its passage shows just how sharply the political debate over immigration has shifted to the right following Trump’s election victory.
January 23, 2025 4:46 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is threatening to withhold federal disaster aid for wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles unless California leaders change the state’s approach on its management of water. Trump in a Fox News interview on Wednesday repeated false claims that California’s fish conservation efforts in the northern part of the state are responsible for fire hydrants running dry in urban areas. He says the blame for Los Angeles’ struggles to tame some of the deadly fires lies with Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Trump added, “I don’t think we should give California anything until they let the water run down.” Newsom for his part has called for partnership amid the disaster.
January 23, 2025 1:51 am
The Hollywood Casino at the Meadows rebranded their sportsbook on Wednesday. The casino had been working for several months with ESPN through Penn Entertainment to relaunch the sportsbook as ESPN Bet. According to Matthew Heiskell, General Manager of Hollywood Casino at the Meadows, the casino had already been working with the ESPN Bet App, so the renaming of the sportsbook was the next logical step. Heiskell says that players will find an expanded menu of food and drink to accompany their game day experience. Wednesday was also special for the Hollywood Cares charitable program run by the casino. At the ribbon cutting, Hollywood Cares presented the Mario Lemieux Foundation with a check for more than $30,000. According to Heiskell, the program donated more than $200,000 to local charities in 2024.
