January 20, 2023 4:45 am
Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh has presented a check for more than $15,000 to the City of Washington Police Department. The check was give to Police Chief Dan Rush on Thursday. The money comes from forfeited assests obtained during the investigation and prosecution of individuals trafficking illegal narcotics in the county. The Equitable Sharing Agreement between the District Attorney’s office and local law enforcement allow for the illegal proceeds from narcotics trafficking to be utilized by local law enforcement for training, equipment and other uses under the Drug Forfeiture Act.
January 20, 2023 4:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department says it has started taking “extraordinary measures” as the government has run up against its legal borrowing capacity of $31.381 trillion. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen sent a letter to congressional leaders Thursday urging them to act to raise the debt limit. Friction between President Joe Biden and House Republicans is raising concerns about whether the U.S. can sidestep an economic crisis. Markets so far remain calm, as the government can temporarily rely on accounting tweaks to stay open. That means any threats to the economy are several months away. But this particular moment seems more fraught than past brushes with the debt limit.
January 20, 2023 4:11 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — As actor Alec Baldwin faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a cinematographer on a New Mexico, gun safety on sets remains at the forefront of many in Hollywood. Joey Dillon, who supervises weapons in TV and film, says that since the shooting he has become more vocal during productions on the status of guns being put into actors hands. And he says the actors are double checking the weapons themselves much more. But Baldwin’s attorney and union both said Thursday that actors cannot be expected to make this a job responsibility, and should not be made a criminal if they fail at it.
January 20, 2023 2:48 am
(ABC News) – Two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer David Crosby passed away Thursday, according to a statement issued by his wife to Variety. He was 81. “It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away,” read the statement. “Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music.” It continues, “Peace, love, and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched. We will miss him dearly. At this time, we respectfully and kindly ask for privacy as we grieve and try to deal with our profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers.” Born in Los Angeles in 1941, Crosby launched his career as a member of the Byrds, joining the band in 1964 and appearing on their first five albums. In 1968, along with Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield and Graham Nash of the Hollies, he formed Crosby, Stills & Nash, which released their self-titled debut in 1969. The group went on to win the Grammy for Best New Artist that year. They were later joined by Neil Young and performed their second-ever gig together at Woodstock. Their first album as a foursome, 1970’s Déjà Vu, went to number one. (Photo: ABC)
January 20, 2023 2:44 am
A Chartiers Township man pleaded guilty in an automobile accident that sent the victim to the hospital. Harry Ringer, 41 is accused of striking David Marsette with his vehicle while Marsette was walking home from work on West Pike Street in July. The accident sent Marsette to the hospital for treatment of a concussion and several lacerations. Ringer pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI. He also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person. Ringer was sentenced to 3-6 years in state prison for the aggravated assault charge. He was sentenced to two years probation on the reckless endangerment charge. Ringer also had bond revoked on a previous simple assault charge. He will serve a 1-2 year prison sentence concurrent to the sentence for the aggravated assault. Ringer will also pay $10,596 in restitution to David Marsette.
January 20, 2023 2:29 am
Washington County Prothonotary Laura Hough announced Thursday, her plans to run for re-election. Hough says she plans to seek the Republican nomination for the Prothonotary’s office in the May Primary. Hough was election to the position in 2019 as the first registered Republican to hold the office in over forty-years. Hough touted her actions during the COVID-19 Pandemic. She said she implemented immediate changes to provide needed services to the taxpayers. Hough says she made images of filed documents available remotely as allowed by statutes, provided the ability to file documents via email when the courthouse was closed to the public, and continued filing operations during the emergency period. Public daily list of filings known as Counter Pads were also made electronic and available on the county website. Hough has previously served as a West Pike Run Township Supervisor and has been active in the Republican party as a volunteer within the California Area School District.
January 20, 2023 2:15 am
A preliminary hearing for a North Strabane Township man accused of multiple instances of child sexual assault was held on Thursday. Leo McIntyre, 27 has been accused by six victims of indecent assault of minors and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child. McIntyre waived his right to a preliminary hearing and all charges were waived to the court of common pleas. According to police, the assaults occurred at McIntyre’s North Strabane Township residence. According to victim interviews with police the assaults occurred over the span of many years some as early as 2008. Another victim stated that assaults occurred earlier in 2022 before McIntyre was arrested in December. McIntyre is facing 15 felony charges including involuntary sexual intercourse with a child, indecent assault of a minor and corruption of minors. McIntyre is being held in the Washington County Jail without bond. A request for bond modification was denied by the judge, agreeing with the District Attorney that McIntyre is a danger to the community at large.
January 19, 2023 12:37 pm
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) – Actor Alec Baldwin and a weapons specialist will be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer who was killed on a New Mexico movie set. The Santa Fe district attorney issued a statement Thursday announcing the charges against Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who supervised weapons on the set of the Western “Rust.” Halyna Hutchins died shortly after being wounded during rehearsals at a ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe in October 2021. Baldwin was pointing a pistol at her when the gun went off. Officials said the assistant director who handed Baldwin the gun has signed an agreement to plead guilty to negligent use of a deadly weapon.
January 19, 2023 9:56 am
Washington County Commissioner Nick Sherman has officially announced his bid for reelection. The Republican, in a release, says conservatives in the County have recognized his “first term as resoundingly successful.” He pointed to a charge against harmful lock-downs and mandates during the pandemic, as well as filing a multi-county lawsuit against Governor Tom Wolf. Sherman says he “fought to safeguard the voting process, eliminating unsecured ballot drop boxes and cleaning the county voter rolls of 26,000 deceased and ineligible voters.” Sherman went on to say “he strongly opposed the referendum vote to form a Local Study Commission in Washington County. The commission would have studied the adoption of a Home Rule charter or other governmental systems. Sherman was born and raised in Washington County and currently resides in North Strabane Township.
January 19, 2023 8:49 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. applications for unemployment benefits fell last week to their lowest level in 16 weeks, defying the Federal Reserve’s attempts to slow the economy and bring down inflation. The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of Americans applying for jobless aid for the week ending Jan. 14 fell by 15,000 to 190,000, from 205,000 the week before. The four-week moving average of claims, which can even out the week-to-week volatility, declined by 6,500 to 206,000. About 1.65 million people were receiving jobless aid the week that ended Jan. 7, an increase of 17,000 from the week before.
