July 19, 2025 4:20 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An explosion at a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department training facility killed three veteran deputies from the arson and explosives unit. Sheriff Robert Luna said it was the department’s worst loss of life since 1857. The blast occurred around 7:30 a.m. Friday at the Biscailuz Training Facility. Officials are investigating the cause, with assistance from the FBI and ATF. Luna said the scene took over four hours to secure. The deputies, with 19, 22, and 33 years of service, were described as highly trained experts. No one else was injured.
July 19, 2025 4:15 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Education Department plans to release previously withheld grant money for after-school programs. This decision comes days after 10 Republican senators urged the Office of Management and Budget to release the funds. The Trump administration had withheld over $6 billion in grants on July 1, including $1.3 billion for after-school programs, as part of a spending review. On Wednesday, the senators emphasized that these programs have bipartisan support and are vital to local communities. They also said the funds did not support “radical left-wing programs.” The Trump administration is continuing to review some education grants for left-wing bias.
July 19, 2025 4:13 am
MAZRAA, Syria (AP) — U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack says that Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire following Israel’s intervention this week in fighting between Syrian government forces and . The announcement came as clashes continued between Druze groups and members of Bedouin clans in Syria’s southern Sweida province, leaving tens of thousands of people displaced in a worsening humanitarian crisis. Government forces had withdrawn from Sweida following a separate ceasefire agreed upon with Druze groups on Wednesday after Israel launched dozens of airstrikes on convoys of government fighters.
July 19, 2025 4:12 am
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela has released 10 jailed U.S. citizens and permanent residents in exchange for getting home scores of migrants deported by the United States to El Salvador months ago under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The arrangement represents a diplomatic achievement for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and helps President Donald Trump in his goal of bringing home Americans jailed abroad. El Salvador will send back some 300 Venezuelan migrants whom the Trump administration agreed to pay $6 million to house in a notorious Salvadoran prison. The arrangement drew immediate blowback when Trump invoked an 18th century wartime law to quickly remove men his administration had accused of belonging to the violent Tren de Aragua street gang.
July 19, 2025 1:13 am
On Friday, in front of a backdrop of a partially demolished wall and under the raindrops from a summer storm, local, county and state government officials gathered with members of the new owners and demolition team of the Washington Mall to celebrate the first steps in its demolition. Tony Rosenberger is a member of the development team 79/70 Associates that closed on the purchase of the mall two weeks ago for a purchase price of more than $12 million. He detailed the chronology of events that led up to the celebration of the demolition. Washington County Commissioner Nick Sherman described Washington County’s role in delivering $5.9 million in county blight mitigation funds to the project to spearhead the demolition. While everyone there was celebrating, one South Strabane Township resident did not share the same view. Thomas Lonich attended the event at the invite of Sherman. Lonich spoke out at the most recent commissioner’s meeting asking for transparency of the county’s involvement. He also questioned the logic in using taxpayer dollars for a demolition project that he feels could have been funded by the developers themselves. With no environmental issues to navigate, the project is set to begin. In addition to the funding. Washington County will be contributing debris from the Courthouse Square building demolition to use as fill on the Washington Mall site.
July 19, 2025 3:33 am
Washington County Commissioners authorized the release of the third round of opioid settlement funds on Thursday and one of the beneficiaries of the funds is a recovery house proposed for the City of Washington. The family of Shawn Patrick Nairn will be using $350,000 to set up the Shawn Patrick House. Shawn Nairn died as a result of his addiction in 2020 at the age of 28 in a recovery home. Shawn Nairn, Sr. said that their version of a recovery home will be different. They want to create a safe space that melds recovery, jobs, counselling, family support and prayer into their program to foster successful recovery. Shawn’s mother Melissa says that paternalistic views of recovery do not really work. She says the home will focus on partnerships that will hold residents accountable for their actions. Shawn Patrick’s best friend Devin Reed says that they will be partnering with an existing recovery home in Washington. This is their first effort and they hope to expand, offering addicts an environment of work, family involvement and the ability to participate in the community. Shawn Patrick’s brother Regis says they chose to name the home after his brother because hundreds of guys are clean because of Shawn Patrick and this allows the recovery community the ability to continue to learn from him.
July 18, 2025 9:34 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch, a day after the newspaper published a story reporting on his ties to wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein. The controversy has created a major fissure between Trump and his loyal base, with some of his most vocal supporters slamming the White House for the way it has handled the case, and questioning why Trump would not want the documents made public. The lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in Miami. It seeks at least $10 billion in damages. The move came shortly after the Justice Department asked a federal court to unseal grand jury transcripts in Epstein’s sex trafficking case. The Trump administration is trying to contain a firestorm that erupted after it previously announced it would not be releasing additional government files from the case.
July 18, 2025 4:40 am
It is not often that questions arise over advertisements for bids on county services. That is what happened Thursday when Commissioners voted on a measure to advertise requests for proposals for payroll services. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman said that the idea is something that he has desired for several years. He said he is looking for ways to save taxpayers money and streamline government and this may be a way to do that. Commissioner Larry Maggi wanted to delay action and have more conversation about the idea. He said he is in favor of saving money, he just is questioning why it is being done now, right before an election in November that will elect a new County Controller. Regardless, the measure passed unanimously and formal requests for proposals will be sent out next week.
July 17, 2025 2:21 am
Washington County will soon be involved in a court dispute between two different energy companies looking to utilize the same portion of land in East Finley Township. Tunnel Ridge, LLC is currently seeking a temporary injunction to have Mark West Liberty Midstream & Resources, LLC cease using their gas transmission pipelines while Tunnel Ridge longwall mines coal underneath those lines. Tunnel Ridge is further seeking a permanent injunction. Washington County Solicitor Gary Sweat was alerted to the case by attorneys from Range Resources. According to Sweat, typically, in situations like this, gas companies would simply raise the pipelines above ground until all mining is complete. In this case that is impossible because these lines would then be located in protected wetlands. A second solution would be for Mark West to construct another cryogenic production plant. Unfortunately, that would be a 3-4 year construction process. The county is intervening because of the large loss of revenue that could occur if Tunnel Ridge’s injunction request is granted. According to figures submitted to Sweat from Range Resources, 40 percent of royalty owners would cease to receive payments. 156 wells would be idled. Locally, 6-7 townships would have royalty and/or impact fees affected by an injunction. Washington County alone would see a financial loss of nearly $60,000 per month of royalty payments. Compensatory figures are being exchanged between the two parties. A hearing on the injunctions is scheduled for August 27-29.
July 18, 2025 4:39 am
Community people, union leaders, and advocates gathered on the steps of the Washington County Courthouse for the “Good Trouble Lives On” demonstration, part of a global day of action to defend democracy and workers’ rights. A few days ago, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision allowing the Trump administration to proceed with large-scale layoffs in the U.S. Department of Education. The Washington and Greene Counties Central Labor Council organized the rally, which was part of a national coordinated movement against President Donald Trump’s policies and inspired by the legacy of civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis. His encouragement to generate “good trouble” in the face of injustice was mirrored in speeches and signs carried by attendees. The event drew a diverse crowd of labor activists, including teachers, health care workers, tradesmen, and retirees. Speakers highlighted what they regarded as escalating challenges to civil freedoms, attacks on working families, and moves to weaken protections for public employees. In addition to remembering John Lewis’ life, the demonstration served as a reminder of the strength of organized labor and grassroots activism. Participants encouraged continuing participation through voting, public advocacy, and union solidarity.
