March 4, 2025 12:46 pm
(WPXI) – A small electrical fire broke out at the Pittsburgh Zoo’s Aquarium building on Tuesday morning. A spokesperson for the zoo said the fire was quickly placed under control. All guests and staff were safely evacuated, and the animals are being closely monitored. The fire was confined to the duct-work, and the building has been deemed structurally sound, according to the zoo spokesperson.
March 4, 2025 10:22 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are falling again on Wall Street as companies and investors react to President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on the U.S.’s biggest trading partners. The S&P 500 dropped 1.4% Tuesday morning, the Nasdaq fell 1.4% and the Dow slid 580 points, or 1.3%. The burgeoning trade war between the U.S., China, Canada and Mexico is helping to extend a recent slump for U.S. stocks that was prompted by signs of weakness in the economy. Shares of Target and Best Buy fell after the retailers warned of higher prices for consumers due to tariffs. Markets in Europe fell sharply while stocks in Asia saw more modest declines.
March 4, 2025 2:22 am
Washington City Council will have a largely procedural voting meeting when they meet on Thursday. Most of the meeting will be approvals of bills and contracts. One item that stands out will be the hiring of a new city administrator. Current city administrator Donn Henderson announced in February that he will be leaving the position on April 12. In other business council will vote on two ordinances. One will update the city maintenance code by adopting the 2021 edition of the International Property Maintenance Code. The second ordinance modifies the quality of life ordinance. It will increase fines from $25 to $50. Council will meet at 6:00 pm on Thursday.
March 4, 2025 4:51 am
GEORGES TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – At least one person is dead after a crash in Fayette County Monday night. A Fayette County 911 supervisor says first responders were called to a fatal two-vehicle crash in Georges Township, where Route 119 meets Tent Church Road, just after 9 p.m. The supervisor also said that several people were taken to an area hospital by ambulance, and one person was transported by medical helicopter. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the crash.
March 4, 2025 5:02 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s long-threatened tariffs against Canada and Mexico have gone into effect, kicking off a trade war with America’s neighbors. Starting just past midnight Tuesday, imports from Canada and Mexico are now taxed at 25%, with Canadian energy products subject to 10% import duties. In addition, the 10% tariff that Trump placed on Chinese imports in February was doubled to 20%. China retaliated Tuesday with additional tariffs of up to 15% on a wide array of U.S. farm exports, among other measures. Canada and Mexico both announced tariffs on American goods. Trump’s moves have raised inflation fears, even as he has promised the American public that taxes on imports are the easiest path to national prosperity.
March 4, 2025 5:00 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has directed a “pause” to U.S. assistance to Ukraine after a disastrous Oval Office meeting as he seeks to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia. A White House official said Monday that Trump is focused on reaching a peace deal and wants Zelenskyy “committed” to that goal. The official added that the U.S. was “pausing and reviewing” its aid to “ensure that it is contributing to a solution.” The official said the order will remain in effect until Trump determines that Ukraine has demonstrated a commitment to peace negotiations with Russia. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the assistance.
March 4, 2025 5:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will stand before a joint session of Congress to give an accounting of his turbulent first weeks in office as a divided nation struggles to keep pace. Some Americans fear for the country’s future after the president’s aggressive early moves, while others are cheering Trump on. Tuesday night’s speech will be the latest milestone in Trump’s total takeover of the nation’s capital as he and his allies work to slash the size of the federal government and remake America’s place in the world. Democrats are choosing to highlight the impact of Trump’s actions by inviting fired federal workers as guests, as well as people who would be harmed by steep cuts to Medicaid and other programs.
March 3, 2025 2:27 am
MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — A tractor-trailer driver has been charged with negligent homicide after police said he caused the crash that killed a Fayette County man found dead in a West Virginia lake. On Jan. 26th, 59-year-old Kevin Lataille of Smithfield was found dead inside a submerged car in Cheat Lake. He was reported missing a week before when he didn’t return home after his shift at Eat ‘n Park in Morgantown. On the day that Lataille was reported missing, police said deputies from the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a tractor-trailer jack-knifed on the Cheat Lake Bridge. According to a release, the driver, identified as Sukhjinder Singh of New York, told deputies that he lost control because of the snowy conditions outside. Over the next few days, police actively searched for Lataille. On Jan. 23, information from Lataille’s phone showed his last known location was near the Cheat Lake Bridge. Authorities said that surveillance video obtained from the area showed a large vehicle sliding on the bridge, throwing snow into the air and a separate car falling from the bridge into the lake. Aerial drone footage later showed a vehicle submerged in Cheat Lake near the location shown in the surveillance footage. Because of the severe weather and dangerous conditions on the lake, a recovery mission was scheduled for Jan. 26. The car was recovered and Lataille was found dead inside. Following weeks of investigation, authorities said that Singh’s tractor-trailer was traveling at an unsafe speed despite the hazardous winter weather conditions. According to a release, witnesses described Singh’s driving as “reckless and even criminal.” Investigators also said that Singh’s tractor had hit another vehicle before reaching the bridge and didn’t stop. Police said that Lataille’s vehicle had damage to the driver’s side rear, which was consistent with being hit by Singh’s truck, ultimately sending Lataille’s car off of the bridge and into the lake. Investigators determined that Singh’s reckless driving caused the crash that led to Lataille’s death. A warrant has been issued for Singh’s arrest for negligent homicide. More charges could be filed later.
March 4, 2025 4:56 am
LEMONT FURNANCE, Pa. — The Penn State Fayette Eberly Campus is one of 12 branch campuses that could potentially be closing. It’s one of four local branch campuses in southwestern Pennsylvania.“We’ve got to be loud, we’ve got to be heard, and we’ve got to do it quick,” said Muriel Nuttal, director of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce. She said she was stunned when she heard the Fayette campus could be on the chopping block. “My first thought was, ‘I can’t even imagine a Fayette County without Penn State Fayette Campus,’” she said. Nuttal, along with elected leaders at the local and state level, want to gather as much community support that they can to make sure Fayette is not one of the Penn State branch campuses to close. The Fayette campus had 407 students enrolled for this past fall semester. That’s down 30% from 577 students in fall 2020. It’s likely one of the reasons the university is looking to close it down. The university is expected to announce what branches will close before the spring semester is over. Leaders in the county are now working to form two committees. One is for community outreach and social media messaging. The other is a community, student, and alumni communications strategy to help form a letter-writing campaign to university officials. These committee meetings in Fayette County are going to continue. The next one is scheduled for Wednesday morning.
March 4, 2025 5:07 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Officials are rushing to reschedule Mardi Gras celebrations and warning revelers against bringing umbrellas and tents as powerful storms with a threat of tornadoes are expected to strike Louisiana and other parts of the South. The possible storms on Tuesday will also be one of the first big tests for meteorologists at the National Weather Service after hundreds of forecasters were fired under President Donald Trump’s moves to slash the size of the federal government. New Orleans moved up its two biggest Mardi Gras Day parades and cut down their routes to try to avoid the potentially destructive weather.
