August 30, 2023 2:33 am
A fugitive wanted in New York was taken into custody Monday by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Donovan Devost, 30, of New York, was wanted on charges of attempted murder, assault and a weapons charge, according to Sheriff Tony Andronas. Deputies, who had information that he was staying at the Red Roof Inn in Washington, set up surveillance in the area and were able to positively identify him and take him into custody without incident. Devost is being held in the Washington County Jail without bond, awaiting extradition back to New York. In connection with his arrest, Brittani Daisy, 28, of Louisiana, was taken into custody on felony hindering the apprehension of a fugitive charge. She was placed in the Washington County Jail.
August 29, 2023 4:58 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The second ranking House Republican says he has been diagnosed with blood cancer. Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana said Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. The 57-year-old Scalise says he’ll continue to serve in the House as he undergoes treatment. He vowed to tackle the treatment with “strength and energy” and described the cancer as “very treatable.” Scalise was among those wounded in 2017 when an attacker fired on lawmakers on a Virginia baseball field. He endured long hospitalizations from being shot in the hip. In offering their best wishes to him now, fellow lawmakers are recalling the determination and strength he showed in recovering from that attack. (Photo: ABC)
August 29, 2023 9:50 am
Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh has signed-off on a consent agreement allowing Bob’s Tavern to reopen. The long-time establishment along Route 88 in Finleyville was ordered closed as a public nuisance and threat to public welfare following a fatal shooting in the parking lot back in October of last year. 29 year old Jaisen Irwin of Monessen was shot and killed. The consent agreement includes a list of conditions for tavern owner Rudy Zelak. They include; installation of security cameras both inside and outside, the purchase of an Identification scanner, employee training, a listing of barred patrons, adjusted and limited business hours and the establishment of a line of communication with the Monongahela Police Department which he must contact on a bi-weekly basis. Walsh says the establishment has been inspected and can re-open immediately. Any breach of such terms would allow the District Attorney’s office to close the business.
August 29, 2023 5:04 am
ATLANTA (AP) — Mark Meadows has testified that actions detailed in a sweeping indictment accusing him of participating in an illegal conspiracy to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia were all part of his job as White House chief of staff. Meadows made the claim Monday as part of his argument that the case should be moved from a state court to federal court. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones did not immediately rule. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis says Meadows’ actions were political in nature and not performed as part of his official duties.
August 29, 2023 5:01 am
TOKYO (AP) — All 28 vehicle assembly lines at Toyota’s 14 auto plants in Japan have shut down over a problem in its computer system that deals with incoming auto parts. The Japanese automaker said it doesn’t believe the problem was caused by a cyberattack, but the cause was still under investigation. It’s unclear when the lines will be back up. Toyota declined to say what models being produced might be affected.
August 29, 2023 5:00 am
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say a University of North Carolina graduate student walked into a classroom building, shot his faculty adviser and then left. Thirty-four-year-old Tailei Qi was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder in Monday’s killing of Zijie Yan inside of a science building at the state’s flagship public university. UNC Police Chief Brian Jones said at a news conference that Chapel Hill police arrested Qi in a residential neighborhood near campus. He says investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the attack and are still searching for the gun used to kill Yan. The attack led to a roughly three-hour lockdown on the UNC campus. No one else was hurt in the attack.
August 29, 2023 4:59 am
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Idalia became a hurricane on Tuesday as it intensified on a path toward Florida’s Gulf coast, with the National Hurricane Center warning of an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds in Florida in the next two days. Idalia would be the first storm to hit Florida this hurricane season and a big blow to the state, which is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Ian almost a year ago. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 46 counties, evacuation notices were issued in 21 counties and the state has mobilized 1,100 National Guard members.
August 29, 2023 4:56 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania State Police has removed the college credit requirement for people who want to serve as state troopers. Gov. Josh Shapiro announced the decision on Monday. “Policing is [a] noble profession, and this is the finest law enforcement agency in the nation. We need to show those who want to serve that this door of opportunity is open – and we want you on our team,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Our State Police Academy trains highly capable public servants who work hard to make our communities safer. Our Administration has worked to emphasize skills and experience in Commonwealth hiring practices, and now the PSP have dropped the college credit requirement for state troopers to empower those who want to serve their community and open even more doors for Pennsylvanians to chart their own course and succeed.” Previously, 60 college credits were required for applicants. Leaders believe waiving this requirement on a trial basis will help attract more candidates. Applicants must be at least 20 years old when applying and must be between ages 21 and 40 when they enter the training academy. Cadets must be Pennsylvania residents and have a valid driver’s license at the time of graduation.
August 29, 2023 4:52 am
WHEELING, W.Va. (AP) – Newspaper publisher G. Ogden Nutting has died. He was 87. The newspaper in Wheeling, West Virginia, where Nutting’s family business was based says he died Friday. The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register published Nutting’s obituary and a separate story on his death Monday. Nutting once held a stake in the Pirates before his son, Bob, supplanted Kevin McClatchy as principal owner in 2007. Ogden Nutting helped grow his family’s newspaper business to more than 50 daily publications in 18 states. His grandfather founded The Wheeling Evening News in 1890, and it formed the basis of the newspaper chain. In 1996, Nutting joined with Kevin McClatchy’s partnership group to ensure the Pittsburgh Pirates did not leave Pittsburgh. He later worked with McClatchy to help design and open PNC Park in 2001.
August 29, 2023 4:50 am
Peters Township Council has set dates to begin and finalize the budget process for next year. Township Manager Paul Lauer listed the dates for workshops on the budget for public information. Three workshops will be held on September 18, October 16 and 30. The budget will be available for public view on November 13. A public hearing regarding the 2024 Operating Budget and the 2024-2028 Capital Improvement Plan will be held November 28. Council will adopt the Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan on December 18. In other township business, council awarded a $119,000 contract to purchase ballistic shields for all Peters Township Police Officers, including School Resource Officers. In addition, council will spend $169,500 for the purchase of 50 tactical vests to be used by the South Hills Area Council of Government’s Cooperative Emergency Response Team. Both purchases are funded by an award received by the township for its participation in police activities in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Task Force.
