September 23, 2025 2:53 am
As of Monday, Washington Crown Center in North Franklin Township no longer exists – it is now – Franklin Crossroads Park. The soon to be mix of retail and business and industrial occupants has officially been taken over by its new owners, Cleveland based Prep Group and an L.A. investment Firm. A partner will the Prep Group, Chris Salata, tells WJPA that work is already beginning to transform the facility into much more than a retail mall. Salata says they plan on tearing down the old Bon-ton store and part of the former Hollywood theater and transforming those into a business park area. In addition, Salata says they are doing away with the interior part of the mall and instead, will have the retail stores facing outward toward Interstate 70. The total cost of the project is estimated to be about forty-million-dollars. Salata says the mall will be open through the end of the year.
September 23, 2025 4:47 am
Preliminary hearings were scheduled for two men that are accused of killing 37 year old Renee Gill of Smith Township over a robbery that went bad back in June. Walter Winland, 38 of Canonsburg and Michael Pyles, 38 of New Martinsville, West Virginia will have their cases heard in common pleas court. Both men face homicide, robbery and aggravated assault charges among others. Winland waived his case to court, Pyles had a full hearing. Testimony began with the victim’s son Ronald Brown who said he was playing video games in his room when he thought he heard Gill call for help. He emerged finding two men dressed in black, one of them struggling with Gill. When Brown attempted to aid his mother, a gun fired and a bullet went through Brown’s wrist. He described a chaotic scene and hearing his mother say “Ronnie, I’ve been shot.” He also testified to his mother calling out “Walt” and hearing one of the men saying “Where, where, where”. Second to testify was the co-defendant Walter Winland. He described the events of the day where he met up with Pyles to rob Gill of drugs. He described going to Pyles’ father’s house to retrieve a gun. His testimony described how they changed into all black clothing before entering Gill’s home. Winland described the chaotic scene and how he directed Pyles to where the drugs were stored. Under cross examination, Winland disclosed that he is cooperating with the prosecution in the case, but received no special treatment. Ultimately, all charges were held for court against Pyles. Both men are being held in the Washington County Jail without bond. Both men will be formally arraigned on October 24.
September 23, 2025 4:53 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump isn’t a doctor. But he played one on TV Monday, offering copious amounts of unproven medical advice that he suggested — without providing evidence — might help reduce autism rates. Trump blasted Tylenol, promoting unproven links between the pain reliever and autism and pushing the well-established treatment into a national image crisis. “Don’t take Tylenol,” Trump instructed pregnant women around a dozen times during a White House news conference. He also urged mothers not to give infants the drug, known generically as acetaminophen. The latest blow could invite more litigation and prompt customers to switch to alternatives. But the maker of Tylenol, Kenvue Inc., is refuting Trump’s challenge, and analysts think loyalty to a product that has been on the market since the 1950’s may limit damage.
September 23, 2025 4:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will consider expanding President Donald Trump’s power to shape independent agencies by overturning a nearly century-old decision limiting when presidents can fire board members. The high court agreed Monday to quickly hear arguments in a case over the firing of members of the Federal Trade Commission and two other boards. The justices have allowed the Republican president to fire Democratic Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter and board members at other agencies while their lawsuits play out. The high court’s actions send a strong signal the conservative majority could be poised to overturn or narrow a 1935 decision that found commissioners can be removed only for misconduct or neglect of duty.
September 22, 2025 5:00 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has issued an executive order designating antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. Antifa, short for “anti-fascists,” is an umbrella term for far-left-leaning militant groups and is not a singular entity. It consists of groups that resist fascists and neo-Nazis, especially at demonstrations. The order did not specify how the administration would label what is effectively a decentralized movement as a domestic terrorist organization. Trump had said last week on social media that he would designate antifa as a “major terrorist organization.”
September 23, 2025 4:56 am
NEW YORK (AP) — ABC will reinstate Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show after suspending it due to his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The network announced Monday that the show would return on Tuesday. Kimmel faced backlash for his remarks, leading major affiliates like Nexstar and Sinclair to pull his show. President Trump, a frequent target of Kimmel’s jokes, celebrated the suspension. Kimmel expressed concern about potential government crackdowns on comedians. His suspension comes amid a shifting late-night landscape and ongoing debates about media control and free speech. Sinclair said Monday that it would not air Kimmel’s show Tuesday and would broadcast news programming instead.
September 23, 2025 5:02 am
With Vice President JD Vance calling Charlie Kirk “a martyr for Christianity,” some Kirk admirers suggest his assassination will galvanize throngs of people — notably young conservatives — to become more engaged in evangelical and Catholic churches. Evocations of Kirk-inspired religious fervor surfaced almost immediately after his death on Sept. 10, and continued to swell as much of Sunday’s VIP-studded memorial service for the conservative activist resembled a massive megachurch service. There have been widespread reports of attendance surging at some evangelical churches. But a religious demographics expert says any surge might be brief, given there are no recent examples of an enduring religious revival after a civic trauma.
September 22, 2025 4:25 am
CANTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — An investigation is underway into a fire in Canton Township Sunday evening. Washington County 911 says crews were called to a commercial structure fire in the 1100 block of West Findlay Street just after 7:30 p.m. Canton Township Fire Chief Chuck LaBella says the fire started at a car repair business. The man who rents the building was outside at the time. Since the building is made of metal, damage was mainly to the interior insulation and some cars that were inside, LaBella says. Crews were on scene for about an hour and a half. The fire was brought under control quickly thanks to help from several other companies, LaBella says. The renter began experiencing a rapid heart rate and was taken to a hospital to be checked out. LaBella says the fire’s cause is currently unknown.
September 22, 2025 5:00 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Over the span of 14 days, nearly 200 people marched from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., in defense of democracy. From children to the elderly, members of the We Are America march arrived in the nation’s capital on a warm and sunny Friday afternoon, tired but joyous, where they were greeted with hugs and cheers from supporters and members of Congress. The mission of their sprawling walk was to unite a movement strong enough to hold America’s leaders accountable. Along the way they were housed in churches, where they slept in pews, or at people’s homes.
September 22, 2025 5:03 am
CHARTIERS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is giving kids a chance to get up close with some older modes of transportation. The museum is offering free admission for kids up to age 17 through Sept. 30. Kids can take trolley rides and explore exhibits, including the Terrible Trolley, which officials say is a huge hit. “We were lucky enough to find the original car in a barn in Ohio,” said Kevin Zebley, director of facilities, safety and operations for the museum. “Brought it to the trolley museum, where we had volunteers and paid staff put many hours of work into it, and it’s been a fan-favorite ever since it rolled out about a month ago.” The museum is open Thursday through Sunday, with specific hours for the free kids event.
