February 18, 2023 3:39 am
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced Friday that January gaming revenue across the state was up 18.5% over last January, with a total of $464.4 million. The Hollywood Casino at the Meadows took in $19.5 million last month, a 16.81% increase over a year ago, with slots revenue up 22.73%, but table game revenue down over 28.6%. Over $202 million was wagered on sports betting in January at the Hollywood Casino, with just over $4 million in revenue, an increase of 28%. Meanwhile, the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh saw a total increase of just shy of 2% in January at $29 million, and the Lady Luck Casino at Nemacolin outside Uniontown was down 7.7%, taking in just over $1.5 million. The sources of gaming revenue includes slot machines, table games, internet gaming, sports wagering, fantasy contests, and VGTs (video gaming terminals).
February 17, 2023 4:26 pm
(AP) – Stella Stevens, a prominent leading lady in 1960s and 70s comedies perhaps best known for playing the object of Jerry Lewis’s affection in “The Nutty Professor,” has died. She was 84.
Stevens’ estate said she died Friday in Los Angeles after a long illness. Born Estelle Caro Eggleston in Yazoo City, Mississippi in 1938, she married at 16 and gave birth to her first and only child, actor/producer Andrew Stevens in 1955 when she was 17, and divorced two years later. She started acting and modeling during her time at Memphis State University and made her film debut in a minor role in the Bing Crosby musical “Say One for Me” in 1959, but she considered “Li’l Abner” her big break. “The head of publicity at Paramount basically made me a worldwide sex symbol,” Stevens told FilmTalk in 2017. “He had me doing a lot of layouts with photographers – indoors, outdoors, here and there – being seen in different places, going to the best restaurants, meeting with wonderful actors and directors . those were the golden years of Hollywood. It was a very exciting time.” (Photo: AP)
February 17, 2023 4:12 am
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) – Hosts at Fox News had serious concerns about allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election being made by guests who were allies of former President Donald Trump. That’s according to new court filings in a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit filed by a voting machine company against the network. Excerpts of internal Fox communications were included in a redacted summary judgment brief filed Thursday by attorneys for Dominion Voting Systems. Host Tucker Carlson referred to attorney Sidney Powell in a text as an “unguided missile,” and “dangerous as hell.” Fellow host Laura Ingraham, meanwhile, told Carlson that Powell is “a complete nut.” Attorneys for Fox say the lawsuit is an assault on the First Amendment.
February 17, 2023 4:10 am
ATLANTA (AP) – A special grand jury that investigated efforts by then-President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn his election loss in Georgia is expressing concerns that “one or more witnesses” called to testify may have lied under oath. The panel recommends that the district attorney “seek appropriate indictments for such crimes where the evidence is compelling.” But the report does not name the people who are alleged to have lied. In addition to the section on perjury, the report’s introduction and conclusion were released Thursday. But any recommendations on potential criminal charges for specific people will remain under wraps for now.
February 17, 2023 4:06 am
The Canon-McMillan School Board has approved the academic calendar for the 2023-2024 academic year. According to Deputy Superintendent Scott Chambers, next year’s calendar will see a big difference. The last day of school is scheduled to be May 31. That is a Friday and graduation ceremonies will be held that same evening. The start date for students will be August 24. The district also approved the current health and safety plan without any changes. The district will also be studying the possibility of offering its own cyber school program. According to Chambers, his research shows that approximately 200 students now attend cyber schools. Canon-McMillan would like to offer students their version of cyber education so that they can satisfy that segment of the student population that prefer cyber education.
February 17, 2023 4:04 am
The Washington County Community Foundation awarded its 2023 Louis E. Waller Humanitarian Award to a Washington City Mission staple for his long term devotion for doing what is best for his fellow man and making sure that those people remain on the straight and narrow path to life. Doug Bush (pictured) is the House Coordinator at the City Mission. He has held this position and several others over the last 24 years. Bush had been in and out of homelessness and the Washington County Jail until his final release from jail on Christmas Eve of 1998. Upon his release, he walked to the City Mission and looked for a way to turn his life around. Turning his life around is just what he did. According to stories told at his celebration “Everybody knows Doug Bush.” Dean Gartland, President and CEO of the City Mission states that Bush has been a positive impact on the community and City Mission. Betsie Trew, President of the WCCF says that Bush is the embodiment of humanitarianism with his care for those who are suffering from addiction, homelessness and other trials. Bush called the award a pretty big deal. He tries to help people find the narrow road to salvation, the same road he found more than 20 years ago. When asked what advice he had for people in the community, his thought was simple. Surrender.
February 17, 2023 4:02 am
Washington County Commissioners met Thursday for their monthly meeting and the agenda item drawing most interest was the recommendation of projects for Local Share Account funding. The LSA grants are derived from revenues generated by local casino gambling. Washington County being home to the Hollywood at the Meadows Casino annually receives a large share of those funds that are overseen by the Department of Community and Economic Development. Eight million dollars was divided between 45 projects in 2023. Many of the projects funded are infrastructure projects for water and sewer service and revitalization projects that help towns and boroughs fund initiatives such as façade upgrades. Commissioner Chairwoman Diana Irey-Vaughn credits LSA grant funding for helping with such projects that will provide long term benefits to Washington County communities. The next step is approval of those projects by the DCED.
February 17, 2023 2:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman is in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to seek treatment for clinical depression. His office said Thursday that Fetterman checked himself in Wednesday night. Fetterman continues to struggle with the aftereffects of a stroke he suffered last May. His chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, says Fetterman has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, but it became severe in recent weeks. The 53-year-old Fetterman is in his first weeks as a U.S. senator after winning the seat held by now-retired Republican Pat Toomey. Last week, Fetterman stayed two days in George Washington University, checking himself in after becoming lightheaded.
February 17, 2023 2:40 am
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) – Ohio’s governor says a plume of chemicals that spilled into the Ohio River after a fiery train derailment has broken up and is no longer a concern. But worries remain among residents near the disaster site who’ve complained about lingering headaches and irritated eyes. Authorities say air and water testing has shown no signs of contaminants. Some around East Palestine, along the Pennsylvania state line, are still skeptical and afraid to return to their homes. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says the state plans to open a medical clinic early next week to evaluate those who are worried and evaluate their symptoms.
February 16, 2023 4:53 pm
DETROIT (AP) – U.S. safety regulators have pressured Tesla into recalling nearly 363,000 vehicles with its “Full Self-Driving” system because it misbehaves around intersections and doesn’t always follow speed limits. The recall came after regulators expressed concerns about the way Tesla’s system responds in four areas along roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted Thursday on its website that Tesla will fix the concerns with an online software update in the coming weeks. The documents say Tesla is doing the recall but does not agree with an agency analysis of the problem.
