February 17, 2023 4:02 am
Washington County Commissioners met Thursday for their monthly meeting and the agenda item drawing most interest was the recommendation of projects for Local Share Account funding. The LSA grants are derived from revenues generated by local casino gambling. Washington County being home to the Hollywood at the Meadows Casino annually receives a large share of those funds that are overseen by the Department of Community and Economic Development. Eight million dollars was divided between 45 projects in 2023. Many of the projects funded are infrastructure projects for water and sewer service and revitalization projects that help towns and boroughs fund initiatives such as façade upgrades. Commissioner Chairwoman Diana Irey-Vaughn credits LSA grant funding for helping with such projects that will provide long term benefits to Washington County communities. The next step is approval of those projects by the DCED.
February 17, 2023 2:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman is in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to seek treatment for clinical depression. His office said Thursday that Fetterman checked himself in Wednesday night. Fetterman continues to struggle with the aftereffects of a stroke he suffered last May. His chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, says Fetterman has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, but it became severe in recent weeks. The 53-year-old Fetterman is in his first weeks as a U.S. senator after winning the seat held by now-retired Republican Pat Toomey. Last week, Fetterman stayed two days in George Washington University, checking himself in after becoming lightheaded.
February 17, 2023 2:40 am
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) – Ohio’s governor says a plume of chemicals that spilled into the Ohio River after a fiery train derailment has broken up and is no longer a concern. But worries remain among residents near the disaster site who’ve complained about lingering headaches and irritated eyes. Authorities say air and water testing has shown no signs of contaminants. Some around East Palestine, along the Pennsylvania state line, are still skeptical and afraid to return to their homes. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says the state plans to open a medical clinic early next week to evaluate those who are worried and evaluate their symptoms.
February 16, 2023 4:53 pm
DETROIT (AP) – U.S. safety regulators have pressured Tesla into recalling nearly 363,000 vehicles with its “Full Self-Driving” system because it misbehaves around intersections and doesn’t always follow speed limits. The recall came after regulators expressed concerns about the way Tesla’s system responds in four areas along roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted Thursday on its website that Tesla will fix the concerns with an online software update in the coming weeks. The documents say Tesla is doing the recall but does not agree with an agency analysis of the problem.
February 16, 2023 4:25 pm
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) – The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is getting a first-hand look at a creek contaminated by a freight train derailment in Ohio that spilled toxic chemicals and burned in a huge plume over homes and businesses. EPA Administrator Michael Regan stood along a waterway Thursday still reeking of chemicals nearly two weeks after the derailment. His visit came a day after residents of East Palestine packed a meeting and demanded to know if they’re safe. Regan said he’s confident that technology being used to clean up the mess would protect public health. Rresidents are frustrated by what they say is incomplete and vague information about lasting effects.
February 16, 2023 4:17 pm
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Gov. Josh Shapiro announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will be conducting independent water sampling to closely monitor contamination risks after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The DEP is also assisting concerned public water suppliers in evaluating their source water in Beaver County. “My Administration is taking steps to independently verify the safety of Pennsylvanians’ water — and will continue to do so in the months to come,” Gov. Shapiro said in a news release. “As we work to learn more about this incident and hold Norfolk Southern accountable, the Commonwealth will also lead the way so that Pennsylvanians are aware of and protected from any threats to their safety and resources that may arise. Our independent testing will ensure the data we are receiving is accurate and timely so we can partner effectively with local communities to provide the information Pennsylvanians need and deserve.” The DEP will take independent samples from Norfolk Southern sampling sites and areas in Pennsylvania within a two mile radius of the derailment site.
February 16, 2023 8:43 am
Fewer Americans filed for jobless benefits last week, more evidence that the Federal Reserve’s efforts to loosen the labor market by raising interest rates hasn’t taken hold. Applications for jobless aid in the U.S. for the week ending Feb. 11 fell by 1,000 last week to 194,000, from 195,000 the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. It’s the fifth straight week claims were under 200,000. Jobless claims generally represent the number of U.S. layoffs. The four-week moving average of claims rose by 500 to 189,500. It’s the fourth straight week that the four-week moving average has been below 200,000.
February 16, 2023 4:58 am
BURGETTSTOWN, Pa. – (WPXI) – Concerns are up after someone who was not a student found their way inside a local school and stayed there for hours. “We heard that there was an intruder and he was there for two hours,” said Lindsay Leininger, a parent. A letter from the Burgettstown superintendent sent a letter to parents on Tuesday, the day after a school board meeting and nearly a month after the incident. It says a Burgettstown student brought a student from a different district to school and that that person hid in the bathroom. Some parents are saying when it comes to the safety and security of their kids in school, they feel the Burgettstown school district is not doing enough. “School should have been put on lockdown as soon as they heard there was an intruder. Doesn’t matter the age, sex, size – it doesn’t matter,” said one parent during Monday night’s school board meeting. “It was an intruder it should have been handled differently.” The superintendent said the intruder took off running and was chased by a school police officer, but got away. He was caught by local police shortly after and was charged with trespassing. He also said he did not feel there was a threat so he did not think a lockdown or communication with parents was necessary. Parents want more communication in the future.
February 16, 2023 4:10 am
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) – Police say the man who shot eight students at Michigan State University, killing three, was found with two handguns and a note containing a possible motive for the attack. They described Anthony McRae as a loner whose father said he had no friends. Investigators are trying to determine if mental health played a role in the Monday shootings. The 43-year-old McRae was on foot when he killed himself miles from campus. One of the five wounded students is in stable condition while the others remain in critical condition with signs of improvement. Classes at Michigan State remain suspended through the weekend.
February 16, 2023 4:09 am
EL PASO, Texas (AP) – Police in El Paso, Texas, say a one person has been killed and three others have been wounded in a shooting at a shopping mall. El Paso police said hours after Wednesday’s shooting that two people had been taken into custody. Police said that Cielo Vista Mall was still considered a crime scene, and that it would remain locked down until authorities had completed their investigation. Police stressed that there was no further danger to the public. The shooting happened in a busy shopping area and across a large parking lot from a Walmart where 23 people were killed in a racist attack in 2019.
