April 16, 2025 8:52 am
President Donald Trump’s administration announced a lawsuit Wednesday against Maine’s education department for not complying with the government’s push to ban transgender athletes in girls sports, escalating a dispute over whether the state is abiding by a federal law that bars discrimination in education based on sex. Also, a federal judge has said she’ll order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with her orders to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison.
April 16, 2025 2:47 am
The Washington County Republican Party kicked off the primary election season by hosting a Meet the Candidates Forum. Nearly 60 people listened to the unopposed row office candidates, Sheriff Tony Andronas and Recorder of Deeds Carrie Perrell join the four candidates vying for the position of County Controller for a panel discussion. Current Acting Controller Heather Sheatler, Pat Phillips, Tony DeLost and Brenda Davis are all seeking nomination for the controller seat in the May 20 primary election. The four answered prepared questions regarding their desire for the office, their qualifications for the office and what accomplishments they would like to have if they became controller. Office transparency, integrity, efficiency, and a removal of politics from the office were all goals of each candidate. Audience questions ranged from how long have you been a republican, to have you ever taken campaign contributions from a democrat? In a more serious note, people did want to know how all candidates would keep political influence out of their offices. Each candidate emphasized the importance of voters to get out and vote on Election Day.
April 16, 2025 4:47 am
Plans were announced in North Strabane Township to apply for Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewerage Grants to help fund stormwater improvement projects on McGregor Drive and Curry Avenue. The proposed project on McGregor Drive is expected to cost approximately $47,902, while the Curry Avenue project is estimated at $250,596.Vince Seyko Project Manager of Gibson-Thomas Engineering for North Strabane Township states that part of Curry Avenue is sinking and is a safety issue. The higher cost of the Curry project compared to McGregor is due to the sinking road needing to be repaved with asphalt. Since the projects will be funded by the state, Seyko says that residents will not face a tax increase. The timeline of the project has not been determined. In addition to stormwater work, the township is preparing to move forward with repairs to the Vandale Bridge. The board discussed authorizing the preparation and advertisement of bids for the bridge project, signaling the next step in securing a contractor to handle the repairs. Also on the agenda was a request from the Canonsburg-Houston-Strabane Veterans Council on a proposed donation to support the council’s annual Memorial Day Program.
April 16, 2025 2:56 am
Washington City Police and State Police are investigating an accident involving a pedestrian Monday evening in the city. Police Chief Steve Devenney tells WJPA News that a juvenile, who was believed to be operating a motorized scooter, was struck a vehicle along W. Chestnut Street at Washington Street near the Post Office. Devenney says the unidentified juvenile was then flown by medical helicopter to UPMC Childrens’ Hospital with life-threatening injuries. There has been no update on their condition. Devenney says the driver of the vehicle remained and the scene and has been fully cooperative. A State Police accident reconstruction team was brought in. Devenney says there were multiple witnesses to the accident but police are asking anyone who may have additional information to contact the police department.
April 15, 2025 5:02 am
GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — A federal judge says she will order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with her orders to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He was mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison last month. The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to return him. But the administration has so far refused. It claims he’s in the MS-13 gang. Abrego Garcia’s attorneys deny the allegations and say he was never charged with a crime. The president of El Salvador also said he would not return Abrego Garcia, likening it to smuggling “a terrorist into the United States.”
April 16, 2025 5:03 am
DETROIT (AP) — President Donald Trump is considering a delay of auto tariffs. A temporary pause won’t be enough for automakers to adjust their vast global supply chains but exemptions on parts could be key to the industry. It may also give car buyers a little more time to decide before vehicle prices are expected to rise significantly.
April 16, 2025 5:01 am
BANGKOK (AP) — China’s economy expanded at a robust 5.4% annual pace in January-March, supported by strong exports ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s rapid increases in tariffs on Chinese exports. Analysts forecast that the world’s second largest economy will slow significantly in coming months, however, as tariffs as high as 145% on U.S. imports from China take effect. Exports were a strong factor in China’s ability to attain a 5% annual growth rate in 2024 and the official target for this year remains at about 5%. Beijing has hit back at the U.S. with 125% tariffs on American exports, while also stressing its determination to keep its own markets open to trade and investment.
April 16, 2025 4:59 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Elon Musk’s federal cost-cutting team is touting its latest finding: Hundreds of millions of dollars in allegedly fraudulent unemployment claims. But the fraud the Department of Government Efficiency is claiming to have uncovered seems to mimic work that federal investigators already reported years ago. And when they looked into the fraud, they found far more than what DOGE is now trumpeting. DOGE says its review found abuse including filings made by people with birthdates indicating they were just children, over the age of 115 or not even born yet. The Department of Labor’s own inspector general found major problems in pandemic unemployment benefits.
April 16, 2025 4:57 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wink Martindale, the genial host of such hit game shows as “Gambit” and “Tic-Tac-Dough,” has died. He was 91. Martindale began his career in radio and was did one of the first recorded television interviews with a young Elvis Presley before scoring hits as a game show host. “Gambit” started in 1976 but within a few short years was overtaken by “Wheel of Fortune” and other shows, but he bounced back in 1978 with “Tic-Tac-Dough,” which aired until 1985. Publicist Brian Mayes says Martindale died Tuesday at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage after battling lymphoma for a year.
April 15, 2025 2:38 am
Peters Township Council worked on an agenda that saw them bring improvements to several aspects of the township, and all of them at a savings to taxpayers. Council awarded their road paving project to Mele and Mele and Sons for just over $1.8 million. Two million three hundred thousand dollars was budgeted leaving plenty of funds for pavement rejuvenator projects and crack sealing. Council also purchased a tractor and mower deck for $186,500. The purchase came in $33,000 under budget. Finally, council approved new playground equipment for Elm Grove Park. A climbing tower with slides, a set of swings and a merry go round will be purchased for just under $273,000 and a savings of $2000. Council was updated on the progress of the splash pad at Rolling Hills Park, the project remains on schedule for a mid to late June completion.
