February 8, 2026 8:20 am
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Lindsey Vonn’s pursuit of a second Olympic downhill gold medal is over. The 41-year-old American, skiing with a badly injured left knee, crashed early in Sunday’s race in Italy. She was taken off the course by helicopter after receiving medical attention. Vonn lost control early in the race and was heard screaming as she was surrounded by medical personnel. Vonn returned to elite ski racing last season after a long break and was a race favorite. The crash may end her storied career. Teammate Breezy Johnson won the gold. (Photo: AP)
February 8, 2026 8:28 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is facing rare criticism from his Republican Party over a racist video. Trump’s White House removed a video that contained a racist image of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama after a bipartisan blowback from lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The condemnation from congressional Republicans marked a rare moment of pushback from GOP lawmakers, who otherwise rarely criticize Trump in public. Trump said that he did not support the racist parts of the video and declined to apologize. Democrats and supporters of the Obamas rallied to the former first couple’s defense
February 8, 2026 8:29 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The U.S. has given Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to reach a peace deal, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He said the U.S. plans to pressure both sides to meet this timeline. Zelenskyy spoke to reporters on Friday, with comments released on Saturday. Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have forced nuclear power plants to cut output. Over 400 drones and about 40 missiles targeted the energy grid. The strikes have increased power deficits, leading to extended outages. U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi failed to produce a breakthrough, with both sides holding firm on key issues.
February 7, 2026 4:32 am
A boil water advisory is now in effect for about 95,000 customers in the South Hills of Allegheny County and most of Washington county including the city of Washington, Canonsburg, Cecil Twp. and Peters Twp. A water main break shortly before midnight in Union Township damaged the Elrama Volunteer Fire Department, an unknown number of homes and the roadway, a Washington County 911 supervisor said. According to an emergency alert from Pennsylvania American Water, residents in the affected area may have no water or low water pressure, or discolored or cloudy water. Repairs are expected to take until about 10 p.m. Saturday to complete, the alert said. The fire department said the water company is working to get a water buffalo in the area, according to reports. Also, Elrama Avenue is closed from State Route 837 to Hout Lane because of the break. When work is completed, customers are advised to run water at the lowest level of their home for discoloration and at the lowest level for cloudiness. Here’s the complete list of Washington County municipalities covered by the advisory: Amwell, Buffalo, Canonsburg, Canton, Caroll Township, Cecil Township, Chartiers, City of Washington, Claysville, Cross Creek, Donegal Township, East Washington, Fallowfield, Finleyville, Forward Township, Green Hills Borough, Houston, Jefferson, Monongahela, Mount Pleasant, New Eagle, North Franklin, North Strabane, Nottingham, Peters Township, Somerset Township, South Franklin, South Strabane, Union Township and West Middletown.
February 6, 2026 11:46 am
Washington County 911 said that a blast of snow caused multiple accidents around the county around noon on Friday. Interstate 70 Eastbound at the Murtland Avenue Exit was closed due to a series of accidents and supervisors also said that Interstate 70 East and West to Route 519 were snow covered and slippery and was the scene of a host of accidents as well. There have been no reports of any major injuries. The interstate opened back up early in the afternoon.
February 7, 2026 2:50 am
Traffic conditions deteriorated quickly on area roadways. State Police say at least one person was killed and nine others injured in an 25-vehicle crash on Interstate 79 North in Butler County. Both lanes of the highway were closed for several hours – between the Zelienople and Evans City exits. The crash waS reported just before ten-thirty Friday morning and was believed to have been caused by snowy and icy road conditions.
February 7, 2026 2:52 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A racist post on President Donald Trump’s social media account depicting former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as primates in a jungle has been taken down. The White House initially defended the Republican president’s Thursday night post. But the post was deleted Friday after widespread backlash for its treatment of the nation’s first Black president and first lady, who are Democrats. Black and white Republicans joined civil rights advocates in criticizing the post as racist. An Obama spokeswoman says the former president has no response.
February 7, 2026 2:35 am
Three Washington men will face trial for the robbery and shooting of a witness at the Washington Food Mart in November. Christopher Ellis-Valperga, 19 faces attempted homicide and robbery charges. Christian Patrene, 19 and Julian Asbury, 17 face conspiracy homicide and conspiracy robbery charges. Asbury has been charged as an adult. All three men face multiple other charges. Ellis-Valperga and Patrene waived their charges to court. Asbury, a juvenile had his charges held without a hearing. According to police the three entered the store to rob it at gunpoint. The victim, playing a video game drew her legal weapon to defend herself was shot multiple times. She was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment. The clerk at the store said that the actors were unsuccessful in the robbery attempt. All three will be formally arraigned in March.
February 5, 2026 10:37 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Pam Bondi says a key participant in the 2012 attack on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans is in custody. Bondi says the man landed Friday morning at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The attack killed Americans including Ambassador Chris Stevens and immediately emerged as a divisive political issue. Republicans challenged President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on security at the facility, the military response to the violence and the Democratic administration’s changing narrative about who was responsible. A Libyan militant suspected of being a mastermind of the attacks was convicted in the U.S. and is serving a prison sentence.
February 7, 2026 2:18 am
It is that time of year where local communities find out if their local projects will receive grant funding from the Local Share Account that is funded by taxes levied on Pennsylvania gambling casinos. This year Washington County received $9.5 million in funding. According to Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman, that figure is down significantly from last year. Sherman says last year Washington County received more than $13 million in LSA funds making this year’s decisions “dicey”. One hundred thirty applications were made to the review committee and fifty four projects received funds. The largest of the awards granted was $1.95 million to the Washington County Department of Public Safety. That money will be spent on subscriber radio equipment that is needed for the new Emergency 9-1-1 Radio system presently under construction. More than 70% of funds went to public interest projects and public safety initiatives such as repair of aging sewer lines and South Strabane Township’s law enforcement traffic camera network. Commissioner Larry Maggi was pleased to see the committee award boy scouts, historical societies and parks along with job training programs monies for community development. Commissioner Electra Janis pointed to a collaborative CDL training program involving Trinity, Fort Cherry, Avella, McGuffey and Canon-McMillan school districts. She said this allows students to earn their certification creating job opportunities without college debt. The county will be contacting the awardees to outline the next steps in the funding process.
