December 2, 2025 4:44 am
Nearly 44% of the 16,000 truck driving programs listed nationwide by the government may be forced to close if they lose their students after a review by the federal Transportation Department found they may not be complying with government requirements. Separately, the Department of Homeland Security is auditing trucking firms owned by immigrants to verify their drivers are qualified to hold a commercial license. The Transportation Department says it plans to revoke the certification of nearly 3,000 schools unless they can comply within the next 30 days. Another 4,500 schools are being warned they could face similar action.
December 2, 2025 2:55 am
Washington County’s lone Democratic commissioner is calling for the creation of an Opioid Settlement Distribution committee. Maggi says he wants stronger oversight of the distribution of millions of dollars in Opioid Settlement funds. He says that there are currently only three employees deciding where that money goes, and he’s concerned that none of it, to date, has gone to the county’s drug and alcohol program. Maggi says the county has distributed more than four-point-seven-million-dollars over the past year and a half, from a national class-action lawsuit filed against major drug companies. Washington County’s money, according to Maggi, was intended solely to combat the opioid epidemic. Maggi says there are several gaps in the process and he wants accountability. He says there is no publicly available applications for entities seeking funding; no written guidelines detailing eligibility or evaluation criteria; no published timelines or instructions for how and when to apply and no formal follow-up or auditing process to ensure that awarded funds are being used effectively and appropriately. Maggi is also requesting a full audit and review of past awards to confirm that the funds were distributed and used in a legal, accountable and effective manner. Commissioners Chairman Nick Sherman questioned Maggi’s proposal. Sherman says the County has a board that oversees awarding such funds and recently held a meeting to discuss expanding it. Sherman also says Opioid funds were also the subject of a meeting just last week at the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania meeting in which they laid out procedures for handling those funds. Sherman says Maggi was absent from that meeting.
December 2, 2025 2:22 am
The Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency Board of Directors announced $155,300 in new tourism investments on Tuesday. Officials say the board has already awarded $454,275 in grants in 2025, and the additional grants will allow for future 2026 investments in capital projects and marketing. According to Jeff Kotula, President of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Promotion Agency, tourism is a major economic driver in the county. “The tourism industry continues to be a key contributor to Washington County’s economy. In fact, according to the most recent report from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, the tourism economy is responsible for $719.5 million in direct visitor spending per year and supports over 5,500 jobs across the county. These new investments in our tourism assets and attractions will support additional economic growth, improve the visitor experience, and increase our quality of life – attracting more leisure and business visitors as well as residents to our county,” Kotula stated. The grants awarded were given to: Always B Smiling; Claysville Playgrounds Association: Little A Town Arena; Marianna Outdoorsmen Association; National Duncan Glass Society; National Pike Trail Council; North Strabane Township Park; Washington County Heritage Alliance; Washington County Historical Society; Washington Symphonic Orchestra; West Alexander Agricultural Association and Family Festivals Association, Inc.
December 1, 2025 5:44 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump’s doctor says the president had MRI imaging on his heart and abdomen in October as part of a preventative screening for men his age. That’s according to a memo from the physician released by the White House on Monday. Sean Barbabella said in a statement that Trump’s physical exam included “advanced imaging” that is “standard for an executive physical” in Trump’s age group. Barbabella concluded that the cardiovascular and abdominal imaging was “perfectly normal.” The White House had declined to detail why Trump had an MRI during his physical in October or on what part of his body. Trump said Sunday he had “no idea” on what part of his body he got the MRI.
December 1, 2025 12:44 pm
(AP) – Chain stores have Black Friday. Online marketplaces have Cyber Monday. For local businesses, it’s Small Business Saturday. In the last 20 years, more segments of the retail industry have vied for their own piece of the holiday shopping season. The travel trade has firmly joined the trend with another post-Thanksgiving sales push: Travel Tuesday. On the same day as the nonprofit world’s Giving Tuesday, airlines, hotels, cruise ship companies, travel booking platforms and tour operators get in on the annual spirit to spend by promoting one-day deals. Consumer advocates say there are legitimate savings to be had but also chances to be misled by marketing that conveys a false sense of urgency.
December 1, 2025 12:39 pm
(AP) – Melania Trump has decorated the White House for the holidays, and her theme is “Home Is Where the Heart Is.” The first lady’s decor also nods to next year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and founding of the United States of America. In a change this year after the East Wing was torn down, the official White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room also honors Gold Star families that lost a member during active-duty military service. The East Room is decorated with patriotic colors and eagles and other national symbols to highlight the coming America250 celebration.
December 1, 2025 5:13 am
President Donald Trump says he’s invited the family of a National Guard member fatally shot last week to the White House. Trump says he spoke to her parents and they are “devastated.” U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom died after the shooting on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., while her seriously injured colleague, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, remained in critical condition. The president said Sunday he’s discussed a White House visit for the parents of both members of the West Virginia National Guard. Both were deployed as part of Trump’s crime-fighting mission that federalized D.C. police.
December 1, 2025 5:11 am
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Black ice, snow showers and fog are pestering post-holiday travelers in the Midwest, while the Northeast is gearing up for its first major snowstorm of the season. More than 8 inches of snow fell at Chicago O’Hare International Airport this weekend, setting a record for the highest single-day snowfall in November at the airport. The previous record was set in 1951. Dozens of flights remained canceled or delayed there into Monday, and commuting conditions were expected to remain dangerous in some areas well into Monday night. In the Northeast, some parts of northern New England were expecting up to 10 inches of snow to fall Tuesday.
December 1, 2025 5:09 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says that a Navy admiral ordered a second strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea and insists that the September attack that has come under bipartisan scrutiny was lawful. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered a justification for the Sept. 2 strike on Monday after lawmakers from both parties announced support for congressional reviews of U.S. military strikes against vessels suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, citing a published report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order for all crew members to be killed as part of a Sept. 2 attack on the vessel.
December 1, 2025 5:06 am
DAWSON, Pa. — The investigation continues into a fire over the weekend in Fayette County. A garage was destroyed at an auto salvage yard early Saturday morning. A Fayette County 911 dispatcher says emergency responders were sent to Marsh Auto Salvage on Banning Road in Dawson Township around 6:15 a.m. Everson Volunteer Fire Company says the fire happened in an eight-bay garage, and several explosions occurred inside the building. There is no word on the cause of the fire.
