April 12, 2024 2:39 am
The Washington County Board of Elections says it has taken steps to make it easier for the public to view and access the Primary Election returns. Board members say their aim is to ensure transparency and integrity, and to instill confidence in residents that county elections are conducted freely and fairly. On election night, the public can watch the results being returned from the poll workers via a live feed of security cameras displayed on large televisions in the public meeting room. The room is located on the ground floor of the Crossroads Center at 95 W Beau Street in Washington. Access to the building will be from the Franklin Street entrance. In addition, one authorized representative per candidate on the ballot and one authorized representative per political party on the ballot will be allowed to view the return of the results via predetermined and marked areas inside the Elections Office. To gain access, a letter on candidate letterhead or political party letterhead must be presented, identifying the representative as authorized to view the election returns. (Photo: AP)
April 12, 2024 1:38 am
A severe storm system that moved through the area Thursday night dumped several inches of water on most parts of Washington County. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning that is in effect until 12:30 p.m Friday. There are reports of evacuations and water rescues. Washington County 9-1-1 dispatchers say flooding issues and road closures are widespread throughout the County but Canton Township was especially hard-hit. Washington Estates Mobile Home Park on Henderson Avenue saw heavy flooding and there were reports of evacuations. Washington County Public Safety Director Gerry Coleman tells WJPA News that buses were used to take residents to a shelter at the Canton Township Volunteer Fire Department building. Coleman says they will return today to access the damage that he called “significant”. There were several swift water rescues including some in the City of Washington after motorists tried to drive through flooded roadways. Many area school districts also cancelled in person classes for Friday and instead opted for remote instruction or Flexible Instruction Days. Late Friday morning the City of Washington issued an emergency proclamation declaring a State of Emergency, which will last five days, unless extended by city council. PennDot has issued an update on road closures;
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- Route 50 (Millers Run Road) between Route 980 and Muse-Bishop Road in Cecil Township.
- Route 221 between Highland Ridge Drive in Buffalo Township and Verner Lane in South Franklin Township.
- Route 221 (Green Valley Road) between Route 40 West and Pleasant Valley Road in Buffalo Township.
- Route 221 between Route 231 (Claysville Road) and Oak Ridge Road in Blaine Township.
- Route 917 between Almond Road and Hetherington Road in Somerset Township.
- Route 3001 (Brush Run Road/Lake Road) between Route 40 (National Pike) and Ealy Road in Donegal Township.
- Route 231 between Route 18 (Prosperity Pike) and Enon Church Road in East Finley Township.
- Route 1010 (Georgetown Road) between Spring Avenue in Cecil Township and Buckeye Street in Peters Township.
- Route 2019 (Almond Road) between Route 917 (Main Street) and Wherry Road in Somerset Township.
- Route 3008 (Jolly School Road/Lagonda Road) between Route 221 (South Bridge Road) in Buffalo Township and Mounts Road in South Franklin Township.
- Route 3026 (Enon Church Road) between Route 231 (East Finley Drive) and Route 3032 (Valley Church Road) in East Finley Township.
- Route 4022 (Armstrong Drive/Weirich Avenue/Pleasant Valley Road/West Wylie Avenue) between Gorby Road/Reese Road and McKee Road in Buffalo Township.
- Route 4039 (Pleasant Road/Southview Road) between Route 50 (Millers Run Road) and Pleasant Street in Mount Pleasant Township.
April 11, 2024 4:18 pm
(AP) – Four railroads have asked federal appeals courts to throw out a new rule that would require two-person train crews in most circumstances. The identical challenges were filed this week in appellate courts across the country. They call the Federal Railroad Administration’s new rule arbitrary, capricious and an illegal abuse of discretion. The rail industry has long opposed such a rule. They say safety data doesn’t support it and crew size should be determined by negotiations. But regulators and unions argue that there are clear safety benefits to having two people operating trains because they can keep each other alert and the conductor can respond immediately to any problems.
April 11, 2024 4:11 pm
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania state agency has received thousands of applications for the state’s first-ever student-teacher stipends, many times more than the available stipends approved by lawmakers as a way to help end a teacher shortage. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency reported receiving 3,000 applications by 11 a.m. Thursday, just two hours after the window for applications opened. The $10 million approved by lawmakers for stipends last year, however, is only expected to serve about 650 student-teachers. Lawmakers created a program to give a stipend of at least $15,000 or $10,000, depending on the district. Stipend recipients must commit to teaching in Pennsylvania for three years.
April 11, 2024 11:26 am
LAS VEGAS (AP) — O.J. Simpson, the decorated football superstar and Hollywood actor who was acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend but later found liable in a separate civil trial, has died. He was 76. The family announced on Simpson’s official X account — formerly Twitter — that Simpson died Wednesday after battling cancer. Simpson’s attorney confirmed to TMZ he died in Las Vegas. Simpson earned fame, fortune and adulation through football and show business, but his legacy was forever changed by the June 1994 knife slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman in Los Angeles. Live TV coverage of his arrest after a famous slow-speed chase marked a stunning fall from grace for the sports hero. (Photo: AP)
April 11, 2024 4:59 am
NEW YORK (AP) — As he prepares to bring the first of Donald Trump’s four criminal prosecutions to trial, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg finds himself at the center of a political firestorm. Since his election two years ago, Bragg, a former law professor, has often spoken about his unease with the job’s political demands. The upcoming trial, over hush money payments allegedly made by Trump during the 2016 election, will test Bragg’s efforts to portray himself as apolitical in the face of relentless attacks from Trump and his supporters. Bragg says he is treating the former president as he would any other defendant in a white-collar crime case. The trial is scheduled to begin on Monday.
April 11, 2024 4:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has addressed U.S. lawmakers at the Capitol. He was urging them to consider the importance of global commitments at a time of tension in the Asia-Pacific and deep skepticism in Congress about U.S. involvement abroad. Kishida is in Washington this week visiting President Joe Biden as the White House completes hosting each leader of “the Quad.” It’s an informal partnership between the U.S., Japan, Australia and India that is seen as important to countering China’s growing military strength. On Thursday at the Capitol, Kishida was addressing many Republicans who have urged the U.S. to take a less active role internationally in line with the ethos of Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
April 11, 2024 4:55 am
PHOENIX (AP) — The fight over a newly revived 1864 Arizona law criminalizing abortion throughout pregnancy unless a woman’s life is at risk has engulfed the state’s lawmakers. The Arizona Legislature devolved into jeering Wednesday as Republican lawmakers shut down discussion on a proposed repeal of the law. Shouts of “Shame! Shame!” erupted in the state House. The Arizona Supreme Court cleared the way this week for enforcing the pre-statehood abortion ban throughout pregnancy without exceptions for rape or incest. A proposed ballot initiative may ask voters in November whether to enshrine abortion protections into the Arizona state constitution.
April 11, 2024 4:52 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania on Wednesday rolled out a counterproposal to Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s plan to boost college enrollment in Pennsylvania. The plan they unveiled Wednesday pledges help for both in-state and out-of-state students who enroll in degree programs for high-priority disciplines, such as teaching and nursing. The proposal revolves around grants and tuition discounts. Top Republicans also signaled that key elements of Shapiro’s higher education plan rolled out earlier this year are essentially dead in the Legislature. Republicans view their proposal as an effort to counter the demographic trend of a shrinking workforce in Pennsylvania, declining enrollments in higher education institutions and shortages in high-need disciplines.
April 11, 2024 2:34 am
A California man will face trial for his alleged role in starting a fire in a California apartment building. Christopher Grasty, 38 had 26 felony arson charges, 26 misdemeanor reckless endangerment charges and four other felonies held for court. He is alleged to have started a fire in his apartment at the California Manor apartment building on March 1. The fire, in the building owned by the Washington County Housing Authority displaced 29 people at the time of the blaze. Grasty jumped from the window of his apartment and investigators determined that the fire began in his apartment. According to police Grasty admitted to starting the fire in his unit. All charges were held for court. Grasty is currently being held in the Washington County Jail unable to post an $800,000 bond. His formal arraignment will be on May 23.
