August 20, 2024 6:37 am
The Peters Township School Board quickly disposed of their agenda filled largely with procedural voting items. The board of directors is looking forward to a new year that will begin Wednesday August 21. Superintendent Dr. Jeannine French says she is looking forward to greeting the students this year. She says that crews were hard at work making sure the facilities are nice and fresh for students when they arrive. She says that the district will keep focusing on the basics of education. That way the district should be able to maintain its local, state and national recognition that it has enjoyed for the last several years. According to USNews.com, the district ranks third in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Region, 11th in Pennsylvania and 503rd in the nation last year. French also expressed her gratitude to the union leaders, teachers negotiating team and staff for coming together on a five year labor agreement last month.
August 20, 2024 5:10 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says it has recovered the bodies of six hostages taken in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that started the war in Gaza. The operation came as U.S. and Arab mediators try to advance an agreement to halt the fighting and release scores of other militant-held captives. The military announced the recovery on Tuesday, without saying when or how the six died. Hamas says some captives have been killed and wounded in Israeli airstrikes. The recovery is a blow to Hamas, which hopes to exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting cease-fire. But it was also likely to increase pressure on Israel’s government to reach a deal to release dozens of hostages who are still believed to be alive.
August 20, 2024 5:09 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Dozens of protesters broke through a security fence near the site of the Democratic National Convention on its opening day as thousands took to the streets to voice their opposition to the war in Gaza. Families with babies in strollers, students, elected leaders and others holding signs and flags joined the march on Monday to the United Center, where the convention is being held, to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. As the larger group marched peacefully, a few dozen who broke away tore down pieces of the security fence. Several protesters who had managed to get through the fence were detained and handcuffed by officers.
August 20, 2024 5:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tim Walz and JD Vance have vaulted themselves out of national obscurity as they hustle to introduce themselves to the country, but the senator from Ohio has had a rockier start than the Minnesota governor. A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that Walz had a smoother launch as a running mate to Vice President Kamala Harris than Vance did for former President Donald Trump. Overall, about one-quarter of Americans have a positive opinion of Vance, and about one-third have a favorable view of Walz. Significantly more also have an unfavorable view of Vance than Walz, 44% to 25%.
August 20, 2024 5:08 am
Barack Obama is returning to the Democratic National Convention stage two decades after his memorable debut. His job is different this time. In 2004, Obama was a young state senator from Illinois stumping for nominee John Kerry and introducing himself to the nation. That speech came months before his election to the U.S. Senate and catapulted him on a course to the presidency barely four years later. This time, Obama is the 63-year-old elder statesman eight years removed from serving two terms as the nation’s first Black president. And he will be making the case for another historic figure: Vice President Kamala Harris. Democrats say they expect Obama to balance aggressive attacks on Republican Donald Trump while boosting Harris.
August 20, 2024 5:05 am
CHICAGO (AP) — President Joe Biden has delivered his valedictory address to the Democratic National Convention, saying, “I gave my best to you.” He basked in a long ovation that reflected the energy released by his decision to cede the stage to Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden received a hero’s welcome weeks after many in his party were pressuring him to drop his bid for reelection. The opening night of the convention in Chicago was designed as a handoff from the incumbent to his hand-picked successor — albeit four years before he intended for her to follow him. A visibly emotional Biden was greeted by a more than four-minute-long ovation and chants of “Thank you Joe.”
August 20, 2024 5:02 am
FINDLAY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – Transportation Security Administration officers caught a man with a loaded gun in his carry-on bag at Pittsburgh International Airport’s main security checkpoint. TSA said the gun was intercepted on Sunday, Aug. 18. A man from Commodore, Indiana County, had a .38 caliber firearm loaded with six bullets in his bag, which was also packed with a gun magazine that had six more bullets. When TSA officers detected the firearm, the checkpoint lane came to a halt until the police responded and removed the carry-on bag from the X-ray machine. “We are seeing way too many guns show up at our checkpoints,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “If you own a firearm, do not bring it to a checkpoint. If you must travel with your gun, the proper way to do it is to make sure it’s unloaded, packed in a hard-sided locked case and taken to the airline check-in counter. The airline will ensure it is transported in the belly of the aircraft.” TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Civil penalties for bringing a weapon into a checkpoint can reach up to $15,000, depending on the specific weapon and the circumstances.
August 20, 2024 4:53 am
Washington school teachers will be starting the year Thursday with a new contract. The board voted unanimously to approve a 5 year deal that will include salary increases of 4.2 percent annually. In addition to increases, the two sides agreed to freeze medical contributions and enhance provisions for modified family leave. The board also announced a meeting scheduled for next Tuesday regarding the potential sale of the Crossroads parking garage. Representatives from the city, district and parking authority are gathering to share information and work towards clearing up communication issues regarding the proposed sale. Forget the gas and plug in the bus. That’s what Wash High school bus drivers will be doing between dropping off students for classes later this week. The district is rolling out a new fleet of electric vehicles made possible by a 3.2 million dollar grant. Geographically, Washington is ideal for electric busing due to the condensed radius in which vehicles need to travel.
August 20, 2024 2:57 am
A Washington County man who recently retired for the second time won a $1 million jackpot from a Pennsylvania Lottery ticket. Michael Matyas, 70, was presented with a commemorative check Tuesday after he won $1 million from a Pennsylvania Lottery ticket last month. Matyas bought the ticket at Giant Penn LLC (Exxon) in Charleroi the day of the July 19 drawing, but didn’t check it until two days later. Matyas said he retired 10 years ago and recently retired from working a part-time job. He said he plans to use his prize money to help his children, pay off bills and spend more time enjoying his favorite hobby: golfing. “I’m still taking it all in. This whole experience has been fantastic,” Matyas said.
August 20, 2024 2:19 am
In a Facebook post, Fire officials are warning residents about the potential dangers of lithium-ion batteries after two incidents involving hoverboards on the charger. The Chartiers Township Fire Department said a family who lives in the Piatt Estates development in Chartiers Township was woken up by their smoke alarms last Friday. When firefighters arrived, they found a garage full of black smoke which was caused by a small fire that started from the hoverboard’s lithium-ion battery pack – which was on a charger. Coincidentally, they say, another resident in the same development woke up to find their hoverboard, which was also on the charger, had burned overnight. They say the original chargers for the hoverboards were being used in both incidents. No one was hurt. (Photo courtesy of Chartiers Township Fire Department)
