Coroner & State Police Investigate Smith Township Death

September 19, 2024 4:57 am

The Washington County Coroner’s Office has identified a man found dead Wednesday in Smith Township.  He is 59 year old Raymond Gilpin Sr.  The coroner’s office says he barricaded himself in his Vance Drive residence following a confrontation with Washington County Adult Probation.  State Police were then dispatched and used a drone which observed the deceased unresponsive with an apparent gun shot wound.  A cause and manner of death are pending.  State Police are not releasing any additional information at this time.

Donegal Twp To Meet With Union Over Road Crew Layoffs

September 19, 2024 4:48 am

On September 12, Donegal Township Supervisors voted unanimously to lay off their four person road crew. The reason for the layoffs according to township supervisors was lack of productivity by the road crew. On September 18, labor negotiators for the township and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 66 held an effects bargaining meeting to discuss the ramifications to the road crew regarding the supervisors decision to call for the layoff. According to Phil Binotto, the Labor Negotiator for the township, they are waiting for a proposal from the union regarding terms of the layoff. He expects to hear from the union in a day or so. The layoff takes effect on Friday. Contract negotiations between the township and the union have been ongoing for several years. The road crew has been working under the terms of a contract that expired on December 31, 2022. Efforts to reach Union Representative Larry Cardillo for comment have been unsuccessful.

Mail-In Voting Has Not Yet Started In Pennsylvania

September 19, 2024 2:17 am

(AP) – Voters in Pennsylvania are not yet able to cast ballots, despite confusion over a state law concerning applications for mail ballots. Pennsylvania counties have been waiting for the state Supreme Court to rule in multiple cases regarding whether third-party candidates could be listed on the ballot, and the last ruling came Monday. County election officials say they will need time to test, print and mail the ballots — a process that could stretch into October. Experts say confusion over the availability of ballots in Pennsylvania stems from a law that requires that counties start processing voters’ applications for mail ballots by Sept. 16. But counties didn’t need to have ballots ready by that date.

Federal Reserve Signals End To Inflation Fight

September 18, 2024 5:14 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by an unusually large half-point, a dramatic shift after more than two years of high rates that helped tame inflation but also made borrowing painfully expensive for consumers. The rate cut, the Fed’s first in more than four years, reflects its new focus on bolstering the job market. Coming just weeks before the presidential election, the Fed’s move also has the potential to scramble the economic landscape just as Americans prepare to vote. The policymakers signaled that they expect to cut their key rate by an additional half-point in their final two meetings this year, in November and December. And they envision four more rate cuts in 2025 and two in 2026.

Poll Shows Voters View Harris More Favorably

September 19, 2024 5:12 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new poll finds voters view Vice President Kamala Harris slightly more favorably than they did in July, just after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that the Democratic presidential nominee is now seen more positively than negatively. Former President Donald Trump’s favorability ratings remained steady, although the poll was conducted prior to the apparent assassination attempt of the Republican nominee on his golf course in Florida on Sunday. Even a small uptick in Harris’ favorability rating is a positive sign for the Democratic candidate. Shifts in favorability ratings for national figures like Biden or Trump have been rare over the past few years.  (Photo:  AP)

Springfield, Ohio Residents Hunker Down

September 19, 2024 5:11 am

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — In the quiet corners of Springfield, Ohio — out of sight of the drumbeat of politicians, journalists, troopers and newly installed security cameras — people are attempting to carry on. Between the morning bomb sweeps of Springfield’s schools and the near daily afternoon media briefings, a hush comes over the city that residents say is uncanny, haunting even. They’re dismayed at being transformed overnight into a target for the nation’s vitriol. Residents say people are hunkered down and hoping the attention sparked by former President Donald Trump spreading unsubstantiated rumors about the city’s legal Haitian immigrants eating house pets during last week’s presidential debate will blow over.

Hezbollah Leader Vows Retaliation For Deadly Attacks

September 19, 2024 5:08 am

BEIRUT (AP) — The leader of Hezbollah vowed to retaliate for this week’s deadly attacks on the group’s communications devices. Israel and Hezbollah exchanged strikes on Thursday as he spoke. Nasrallah called the attacks on Hezbollah’s devices a “severe blow” that crossed a “red line.” Lebanon is still reeling from this week’s attacks on electronic devices used by Hezbollah. Hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies blew up at the same time in an operation widely believed to be carried out by Israel. At least 37 people were killed, including two children, and some 3,000 others were wounded. Israel’s defense minister said Hezbollah will pay an ‘increasing price’ as Israel seeks to return residents to homes near the Lebanon border.

Trump Coming Back To Pennsylvania

September 17, 2024 4:55 am

INDIANA, Pa. — (WPXI) – Former President Donald Trump is making a campaign stop in Indiana next week. Trump’s rally will be held on Monday at 7 p.m. at Ed Fry Arena. The rally is Trump’s fifth time visiting Pennsylvania since a gunman tried to assassinate him at his Butler Farm Show rally in July. Doors will open at 3 p.m. Monday.

Washington Man Gets Plea Deal For Child Porn

September 18, 2024 9:46 am

Two counts of felony child pornography is the plea deal for a Washington County man. Originally Trevor Korba of North Franklin faced 20 felony counts of child porn after explicit and illegal photos were found on one of his electronic devices through drop-box. In court Tuesday, Korba had all but two of the charges dropped through a plea agreement that could put him behind bars for 14 years. Tier 3 felony child pornography charges in the state of Pennsylvania carry a maximum 7 year prison sentence and a 15 thousand dollar fine for each offense. Korba is scheduled to be sentenced in Washington County Court on December 12th.

Federal Reserve Cuts Benchmark Interest Rate

September 18, 2024 5:11 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by an unusually large half-point, a dramatic shift after more than two years of high rates that helped tame inflation but also made borrowing painfully expensive for consumers. The rate cut, the Fed’s first in more than four years, reflects its new focus on bolstering the job market. Coming just weeks before the presidential election, the Fed’s move also has the potential to scramble the economic landscape just as Americans prepare to vote. The policymakers signaled that they expect to cut their key rate by an additional half-point in their final two meetings this year, in November and December. And they envision four more rate cuts in 2025 and two in 2026.