July 29, 2026 2:39 am
A woman from Ohio wanted on homicide charges is last reported in the Washington County jail awaiting extradition. 38 year old Karenda Hutsenpiller was charged in connection with a police chase Friday here in the City of Washington as well as East Washington Borough. Police stopped her vehicle along North Avenue and she was apprehended by an East Washington police officer after she tried to flee on foot. Police say she is wanted on an active warrant in connection with a homicide in Ohio and was on supervised release after pleading guilty to manslaughter 15-years ago in Warren, Ohio. She has been charged with fleeing police, evading arrest, resisting arrest and other offenses.
July 28, 2026 2:50 am
City of Washington Police have filed charges against a West Virginia man in connection with an alleged fraud scheme involving Stewart Snacks, LLC, an independent distributor of Little Debbie snack products. The investigation began after reports of fraudulent business records and missing product associated with deliveries made throughout Washington County at stores including Shop-N’-Save, Giant Eagle and WalMart. James Powell, of Valley Grove, was employed as a distributor and allegedly created fraudulent delivery invoices indicating that the products had been delivered to several retail stores. Powell allegedly forged signatures on delivery invoices and received commission payments for deliveries that never occurred. Police have charged him with three counts of Forgery, two counts of Theft by Deception, two counts Theft by Unlawful Taking and other charges. Police say they are seeking more than $17-thousand dollars restitution. Powell was taken into custody in West Virginia and is last reported awaiting extradition to Washington County.
July 29, 2026 5:24 am
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iran has launched a barrage of missiles at American forces in the Middle East. The U.S., meanwhile, partnered with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to strike Iran-backed militias in neighboring Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters. Iraqi militia officials said six Iranian advisers were also killed in the U.S.-Saudi strikes. The flare-up after several days of relative calm raised the risk of a return to all-out war. It also underscored the difficulty of winding down a five-month conflict that has jolted the world economy and is deeply unpopular among Americans. Elsewhere, drone strikes ignited fires on two natural gas vessels at an Egyptian port. It was not immediately clear who was responsible.
July 29, 2026 5:26 am
NEW YORK (AP) — More progressive Americans are swearing off traditional media. They’re turning to independent podcasts, social media and digital news for information. This shift could impact Democratic primaries by promoting progressive candidates. The rise of alternative media has been fueled in part by declining trust in institutions. Ryan Grim, a co-founder of Drop Site News and a veteran of online political debates, said progressive politicians have sought out his platform to reach voters. In Michigan, a Senate primary is testing its influence, with progressive Abdul El-Sayed challenging establishment-backed Haley Stevens. In New York City, a slate of progressive congressional candidates endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani defeated establishment-backed candidates.
July 29, 2026 5:23 am
HONG KONG (AP) — The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has announced a ban on new foreign-made humanoid robots, citing national security concerns. The move mainly targets China, which dominates the global market for humanoid robots with an estimated market share of roughly 85%. The FCC also banned foreign-made power inverters. That reflects concerns over potential risks for American electricity grids and a push to fortify U.S. supply chains. China’s Foreign Ministry protested the move. The FCC’s bans follow a slew of U.S. restrictions on imports of Chinese products, including drones, and on exports of U.S. advanced technology to China. Such measures are likely to test relations with Beijing ahead of a planned U.S. visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in September.
July 28, 2026 5:27 am
KUMAMOTO, Japan (AP) — Soldiers and emergency workers are combing through a badly damaged shopping mall and collapsed houses looking for trapped survivors Wednesday after a powerful earthquake that killed at least 18 people in southwestern Japan. A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit a day earlier in the Kumamoto area on the southern main island of Kyushu. The prefectural government said it also left at least 62 people injured, six of them seriously. The tally has been steadily growing, fanning fears it may continue to rise. It remains unclear how many people might still be missing. One of the most seriously damaged places was a shopping mall, where four people died and three people are still missing.
July 29, 2026 2:48 am
Uniontown, PA – PennDOT has announced that a portion of Route 88 between Hidden Hollow Road and Beach Drive/Cardox Road in Union Township, Washington County, will close to traffic beginning Monday, August 3 at 6:00 a.m. A posted detour will remain in place through mid-August utilizing Route 3038 (Connor Road), Route 3009 (South Park Road), Route 1002 (McMurray Road), Route 1019 (Bebout Road), Route 1010 (Valley Brook Road), Route 1006 (Venetia Road) and Route 88. Local traffic and deliveries will have access to Hidden Hollow Road from the south and Beach Drive from the north. There will be no through access on Route 88 between those locations because of the open excavation. Crews from Plum Contracting Inc. will replace a pipe. An infrastructure investment of $150,000.
July 28, 2026 4:51 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ confidence in the economy fell this month as gas prices resumed their climb after the U.S. and Iran stepped up their fighting. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell to 90.8 in July from 92.2 in June. Consumers view of current business and labor market conditions fell by 3.6 points to 114.9, the third straight monthly decline. Consumer attitudes had improved modestly in June as gas prices came down to around $3.70 a gallon from more than $4.50 a gallon in late April and early May. But consumer anxiety increased in July, along with the price of gas.
July 28, 2026 2:07 am
An adult has been arrested in connection with a high school sextortion ring that was discovered earlier this year in Peters Township. Authorities say they arrested Aaron White because he was allegedly exchanging sexually explicit text messages, videos and pictures with a teenage boy who was already a victim of a sex trafficking and sextortion operation that focused on Peters High School students — and was allegedly run by their senior class president, Zachariah Meyers. Detectives say they found White’s messages when they searched the victim’s phone – and saw White was communicating with the boy through Snapchat, under the username “Whitey_1896.” Police say they were able to trace the account to a PCT.edu email address, which is the email domain for Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport. White is free on bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in August.
July 28, 2026 4:53 am
The Amwell Township Planning Commission has unanimously voted to recommend approval of its comprehensive plan, new zoning ordinance, and Subdivision Land Development Ordinance, known as “SALDO,” to the Board of Supervisors. Chairman Scott Hartley says the next step is for the Washington County Planning Commission to complete a review, and then thirty days to make a decision. The next public hearing is tentatively set for October 8th. John Trant, the CEO & President of the Pittsburgh based company, Strategic Solutions, is working with the township and says the comprehensive plan is to lay out future use of the land, growth and preservation infrastructure. The new zoning, its first since 1975, and SALDO are for regulations that make sure they are consistent with the community’s vision for the future. Hartley said as well that the board wants to protect all residents, keep the Township rural open space, while keeping large development out.
