April 18, 2025 2:37 am
Washington County Commissioners have been questioning the bill paying practices of the county by the Controller’s Office. In a letter that commissioners sent to Acting Controller Heather Sheatler on March 14, Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman demanded answers when he was informed that the county’s health insurance carrier had not been paid in two months and the health insurance contract was in danger of cancellation. That would have cancelled health insurance coverage for 1,500 hundred employees and retirees, according to Sherman. Sherman said he was made aware of more than a dozen other delinquent accounts, some of them small local businesses doing business with the county. Sherman states that there has been no response from Sheatler’s office. WJPA did receive a response from Sheatler characterizing the letter as a mechanism to discredit her before the primary election. She indicated that she was not forwarded an invoice from the Human Resources Department to pay the January health insurance bill. Both bills were paid in full in February. Sheatler provided copies of paid checks to the insurance carrier that showed the checks cleared two days before the February 27 notice that was Sherman received that the account was delinquent. Sheatler went on to say that the letter is entirely false and no response is warranted. The Solicitor for the Controller’s office authored a cease and desist letter informing commissioners that they are not to try and regulate the office of the Controller. They are not to treat Sheatler as a traditional employee and any further attempt to do so could cause legal action.
April 18, 2025 2:02 am
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll visited the Freedom Transit in the Washington Transportation Center to discuss funding for public transit. In his address, Carroll outlined Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-2026 budget proposal of allocating an additional $292.5 million for public transportation. That money would be derived from sales tax contributions, a 1.75% increase over last year’s allocation from the sales tax pool. This would mean that Freedom Transit would realize $470,000 in additional funding this year. Sheila Gombita, Executive Director of Freedom Transit calls their services “lifeline services.” They not only operate fixed route services that take riders into Pittsburgh and other areas, the brunt of their services are shared ride services. Those services provide people who do not have cars a means to get to work, shop or most importantly obtain medical care. Terry Wiltrout, Vice President of Operations for UPMC/Washington Hospital said that without the shared ride services provided by Freedom Transit, patients may delay scheduled appointments. Those delays could increase medical bills due to a delay in diagnosis or a need for additional medical tests. Gombita indicated that increased funding is needed. Her organization is not in crisis mode, but without a reliable income stream, services could be reduced. The most likely cuts could be in shared ride services. Secretary Carroll said that the state house has introduced measures three time to increase spending on public transportation. All three times, the state senate refused to act. He called on the state senate to take action to properly fund public transportation.
April 18, 2025 5:11 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The arsonist who broke into the Pennsylvania governor’s residence while Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family slept upstairs faced little resistance as he smashed windows, ignited Molotov cocktails and crawled inside. A security expert who is retired from the FBI wonders how that happened. State police who protect the governor have pledged to hire an outside firm to review the breach. And it has happened before around the world — at the White House, at Buckingham Palace and at the California home of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Pennsylvania suspect Cody Balmer is being held without bail pending a competency evaluation.
April 18, 2025 5:06 am
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — When a 20-year-old opened fire at Florida State University, terrified students barricaded doors and fled across campus, abandoning chemistry notes and even shoes. By early Friday, memorials of candles and flowers dotted the campus and a school-wide vigil had been scheduled as students and faculty tried to start healing from the shooting that investigators said killed two men and wounded at least six others. Investigators say the son of a sheriff’s deputy opened fire with his mother’s former service weapon. Officers who arrived almost immediately shot and wounded the shooter who is believed to be a Florida State student.
April 18, 2025 5:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court says it is “shocking” that The Trump administration claims it can’t do anything to free Kilmar Abrego Garcia from an El Salvador prison and return him to the U.S. A three-judge panel from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday unanimously refused to suspend a judge’s decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with her instruction to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return. Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, who was nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan, wrote that he and his two colleagues “cling to the hope that it is not naïve to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos.”
April 18, 2025 5:10 am
JENA, La. (AP) — The world’s largest immigration detention system is on the cusp of explosive growth as President Donald Trump pursues his signature campaign promise of mass deportations. The deportations represent a potential bonanza for private prison companies and a challenge to the government agencies responsible for the orderly expulsion of immigrants. Some critics say the administration’s plans also include a deliberate attempt to isolate detainees by locking them up and holding court proceedings far from their attorneys and support systems. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is starting to scale up from its current budget for about 41,000 beds to 100,000 beds.
April 18, 2025 5:02 am
On Wednesday, the TSA announced that travelers without TSA PreCheck would be directed to use the alternative checkpoint, while the main security checkpoint lanes would be reserved for passengers with TSA PreCheck. Travelers will need to go to the third floor to access the alternative checkpoint. In a media release, officials stated, “Travel volume has increased tremendously during the past year, and TSA and airport officials have explored various checkpoint configurations to improve efficiency and streamline passenger flow into the checkpoint, especially during the busy early morning travel period.” The TSA also indicated that these changes would take effect on May 5, coinciding with the start of Real ID requirements. According to officials, during peak season, Pittsburgh International Airport sees about 30,000 travelers daily. The average cost of TSA PreCheck ranges from $75 to $85. Additionally, beginning May 4, passenger screening checkpoints at the airport will be closed from 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. daily. During this time, passengers will not be able to access the concourse or gate area of the airport.
April 17, 2025 12:48 pm
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A gunman opened fire at Florida State University, killing two people and wounded at least five others, authorities say. The 20-year-old gunman was the son of a sheriff’s deputy whose former service weapon was used in Thursday’s shooting. The two people who died were not students at the university, but the shooter is believed to be a student, Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower. Five people were being treated at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Trumbower said, and the shooter was also receiving medical attention. Students and frightened parents hid in a bowling alley and crammed into a freight elevator inside the student union after hearing gunshots outside the building.
April 17, 2025 10:24 am
U.S. President Donald Trump said Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s termination “cannot come fast enough” as he reiterated his frustration that the Fed hasn’t aggressively cut interest rates. The president’s broadside Thursday came a day after Powell said in a speech that Trump’s broad-based tariffs have left the Federal Reserve seeking “greater clarity” on the impact of policy changes in areas such as immigration, taxation, regulation, and tariffs before making potential cuts.
April 17, 2025 4:59 am
Brownsville Area School District moved to remote instruction Thursday after an intruder entered the middle school again in the early morning hours. Dr. Kristin D. Martin, Acting Superintendent of Schools, said that someone broke a window and entered the middle school, triggering the alarm system. The district’s Director of Security, Alec Hamilton, chased the intruder out of the building. State police responded and continue to investigate. Martin said the school chose to move to a remote learning day out of an abundance of caution, fo repairs to be made and for police to investigate. “At this time, there is no immediate threat to the safety of the district,” Martin said in the letter to parents. “We understand that incidents of this nature can be concerning, and we want to assure you that we are taking every precaution to ensure the continued safety and security of our students and staff. We remain committed to keeping our community informed as new information becomes available.” This comes a day after the district said an “unauthorized individual” got inside the Middle School. The person left before police arrived but troopers searched the building to make sure it was safe. The district hasn’t said if the two incidents are connected.
