January 19, 2024 5:14 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden has agreed to appear before House Republicans for a private deposition next month, ending months of defiance from the president’s son, who had insisted on testifying publicly. The House Oversight Committee announced Thursday that the two parties have come to an agreement for Hunter Biden to sit for a deposition on Feb. 28. Republicans had been set to advance a contempt resolution against him to the House floor this week but called it off Tuesday to give attorneys additional time to reach an agreement. Hunter Biden’s legal team confirmed news of the agreement Thursday night.
January 19, 2024 5:11 am
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A new layer of ice has formed over parts of Tennessee just days after a deadly snowy, frigid storm, as bitterly cold weather continued impacting the U.S. from Oregon to the Northeast. Tennessee officials updated the state’s death toll to 14 at midweek after more than 9 inches of snow fell since Sunday in parts of Nashville, where only about half that amount falls annually. Freezing rain began falling Thursday in Tennessee. In Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, a power line fell on a parked car, killing three people and injuring a baby during an ice storm. Even with warmer temperatures and rain there Thursday, forecasters warned more freezing rain and gusting winds were possible.
January 19, 2024 5:09 am
UVALDE, Texas (AP) — Families of the children and teachers killed in the Uvalde, Texas, school massacre are renewing demands for criminal charges after a scathing Justice Department report again laid bare numerous failures by police during one of the deadliest classroom shootings in U.S. history. In the report released Thursday, federal officials detail “cascading failures” by police in responding to the 2022 massacre of 19 students and two teachers, They include officers waiting more than an hour to confront and kill the gunman, and repeatedly giving false information to grieving families about what happened. It is up to local prosecutors to determine whether criminal charges should be filed.
January 19, 2024 5:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has sent President Joe Biden a short-term spending bill that would avert a looming partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies into March. The House approved the measure by a vote of 314-108, with opposition coming mostly from the more conservative members of the Republican conference. Nevertheless, about half of Republicans joined with Democrats in passing the third stopgap spending measure in recent months. The action came a few hours after the Senate had voted overwhelmingly to pass the bill by a vote of 77-18. The bill extends current spending levels and buys time for the two chambers to work out their differences over full-year spending bills.
January 19, 2024 5:01 am
Fire crews from several local companies battled a house fire this morning in North Franklin Township. Washington County 9-1-1 tells WJPA News the call came in just before 3:30 a.m at a home along Ellwood Lane. According to dispatchers, there were people inside but they did get out safely and no injuries are reported. We are also told that firefighters had to deal with ammunition that was stored in part of the home. The fire was finally brought under control just after 5 a.m. There is no word on the cause of the fire.
January 19, 2024 4:55 am
PITTSBURGH — A Washington County man died after a crash on Pittsburgh’s South Side on Thursday afternoon. Emergency crews were called to the 3400 block of East Carson Street for a single-vehicle collision at 1:30 p.m. The driver lost control of the car and struck a utility pole. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and was later pronounced dead. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the man as Jeffrey Neel, 58, of California Borough. The investigation is ongoing.
January 19, 2024 4:52 am
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. — A man is behind bars after police say he set fire to his own apartment building in the 600-block of Broad Street in Washington. According to a criminal complaint, William Reese texted his neighbor about turning up the heat Wednesday evening. Soon after, he showed up at the neighbor’s door, demanding the same thing. According to police, a little while later, the neighbor heard a noise outside, looked out the window and saw the porch on fire. While on scene, police say the neighbor received another text reading “Now you wish you’d have been a good neighbor, LMFAO!!!!!!!” According to the complaint, police found a doorbell video showing Reese set the fire. He was arrested at his apartment and faces multiple charges including arson.
January 19, 2024 4:49 am
The office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General convened a public hearing Thursday to gather testimony and public comment on the proposed merger of the Washington Health System and UPMC. The two hour meeting had testimony from WHS President and CEO Brook Ward outlining the history of the hospital system and testifying to the financial outlook facing WHS. Ward was positively supported by other hospital representatives from UPMC Jameson in Lawrence County and UPMC Somerset. Those testimonies proclaimed the investment UPMC made to save both hospitals from closing. Ward spoke of financial losses in 2022 and 2023 and a large loss in the first six months of 2024. Ward says that hospitals “just can’t raise prices like other industries.” Inflation in costs of services and operations are not being offset by reimbursement payments. The majority of people in attendance were supportive of the merger. Theresa Babyak, Director of Operations of the Washington Physicians Group says she experienced a great outcome when UPMC merged with McGee Women’s Hospital when she worked there. She said the merger was positive for patient care and staff. There were a handful of detractors stating that they are concerned with staff layoffs, decrease in services and a possible closure of the hospital. Ward indicated that Washington Hospital would be the fifth “hub hospital” at UPMC, meaning that UPMC is committed to expansion and growth Washington Hospital.
January 19, 2024 1:48 am
A Canonsburg man pleaded guilty on Thursday to leading Pennsylvania State Police on a brief car chase back in May. State Police were called to the Red Roof Inn on Chestnut Street with a report that 21 year old Levi Areford did not pay his bill. When police arrived, Areford sped out of the Denny’s Restaurant parking lot and led state police on a 10 minute car chase before police were able to apprehend him. Areford pleaded guilty to felony flight from an officer and a misdemeanor charge of DUI. He will serve 6 months probation with 90 days on electronic home monitoring for the first 90 days on the DUI charge. He will serve a concurrent 2 year term of probation on the flight from an officer charge. His license will be suspended for a year and he will pay a $1000 fine. He will also pay $69.50 in restitution to the Red Roof Inn.
January 19, 2024 1:25 am
Washington County Commissioners unanimously approved a measure to make appointments as county representatives to the contract currently in effect with MRA as it relates to the upgrade of the county’ 9-1-1 emergency response radio system. The County appointed the V-Comm company of Edison, New Jersey as the chief county representative. Public Safety Director Jerry Coleman was appointed as the alternate. Commissioners directed V-Comm to immediately conduct an audit of the equipment purchased and construction progress to date and report back with its findings. They are also directed to make any recommendations to commissioners regarding their findings. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman states that he is concerned about reliability of the current system only covering between 30%-40% of the county and if the new system created by MRA will live up to federal Department of Homeland Security coverage levels of 95%. He is considering the current contract to be open and steps will be taken to rebid the project. In other county business, the county, during its salary board meeting created the full time position of Public Relations Director. The Public Relations Director position pays $82,000 annually. Sherman’s former Chief of Staff Patrick Geho will assume the responsibility. According to Sherman, Geho has worked in former Governor Tom Corbett’s office performing similar duties. Geho will work to provide consistent and regular messaging to residents of Washington County.
