August 21, 2025 5:11 am
Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh is appealing a recent decision by a judge to dismiss all charges against a co-defendant in the shooting death of a man at a Donora convenience store back in 2021. According to the Observer-Reporter, Walsh filed an appeal with state Superior Court over Washington County Judge Traci McDonald to dismiss the homicide case against 31 year old Jah Sutton of Homewood. She was initially charged with conspiracy and then later with criminal homicide in the shooting death of 28 year old Nicholas Tarpley, an employee at Anna Lee’s store. 36 year old Devon McLean of McKeesport and Devell Christian of White Oak are accused of shooting and killing Tarpley. Judge McDonald Dimissed the homicide case against Sutton after finding that there was no conclusive evidence linking her to the killing. Walsh intended to pursue the death penalty against all three. The appeal comes as the Atlantic Center for Capital Representation has filed a petition with state Supreme Court asking it to curtail Walsh’s pursuit of the death penalty claiming that he has used it for political purposes and to gain leverage against defendants.
August 21, 2025 4:59 am
CONNELLSVILLE, Pa. — (WPXI) – The decision to eliminate class rank at Connellsville Area Senior High School was made two years ago. It goes into effect with this year’s graduating class of 2026. But those incoming seniors don’t want to lose the class rank system and are urging the board to change its mind. The district said the decision was made in 2023 after a full year of research and public input. Superintendent Rich Evans said the board found eliminating class rank wouldn’t hurt college admissions, awards or scholarships. Instead of class rank, the district has moved to a cum laude system to honor more than just the top 10. The cum laude title requires a 3.8 GPA. Magna cum laude requires a 4.0 with at least two AP classes, and summa cum laude requires a 4.15 GPA with four AP classes.
August 21, 2025 4:53 am
HENRY CLAY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – A man was rescued from a burning vehicle in Fayette County Tuesday night. State police say they were called around 11:15 p.m. for a two-vehicle crash on National Pike, west of Fern Road in Henry Clay Township. A sedan heading eastward crossed into the opposing lane and hit a semi-truck head-on. The sedan caught fire while the driver, Jared Peck, 23, of Markleysburg, was trapped inside. Police say a nearby family ran to the burning sedan and pulled Peck out. Medics took him to Ruby Memorial Hospital, where he is in stable condition. The semi-truck driver was not hurt.
August 20, 2025 5:28 pm
RODANTHE, N.C. (AP) — Hurricane Erin is strengthening again and forecasters say it could re-intensify into a major hurricane. The storm is creeping toward the mid-Atlantic coast and churning up menacing waves that have closed beaches from the Carolinas to New York City. It’s expected to peak over the next 48 hours. Erin is unlikely to make landfall along the East Coast before turning farther out to sea. But authorities are warning that its large swells will cut off roads on North Carolina’s Outer Banks and whip up life-threatening rip currents from Florida to New England. The National Hurricane Center is watching two more tropical waves to the east of Erin. (Photo: AP)
August 20, 2025 5:15 am
RODANTHE, N.C. (AP) — Hurricane Erin is strengthening again and forecasters say it could intensify again to be a major hurricane. The storm is creeping toward the mid-Atlantic coast and churning up menacing waves that have closed beaches from the Carolinas to New York City. By Wednesday evening, its outer bands had reaching North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Erin is unlikely to make landfall along the East Coast before turning farther out to sea. But authorities are warning that its large swells will cut off roads on the Outer Banks and whip up life-threatening rip currents from Florida to New England. The National Hurricane Center is watching two more tropical waves.
August 20, 2025 5:15 am
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda says it has agreed a deal with the United States to take deported migrants on condition that the deportees should not have criminal records and not be unaccompanied minors. The Ugandan foreign affairs ministry in a statement Thursday said the two sides are working out the details. Uganda also expressed a preference that those brought into the country should be of African nationalities. According to CBS News, which cited US government documents, the Trump administration had reportedly reached agreements with Uganda and Honduras to accept deportees as part of a broader effort to persuade countries worldwide to assist in its crackdown on illegal immigration.
August 20, 2025 5:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook late Wednesday said she wouldn’t leave her post after Trump on social media called on her to resign over an accusation from one his officials that she committed mortgage fraud. Bill Pulte, the head of the agency that regulates mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and a Trump appointee, alleged early Wednesday that Cook had claimed two primary residences in 2021 to get better mortgage terms. Trump followed up Pulte’s accusation by calling on Cook to resign, in the latest effort by the administration to exert greater control over one of the few remaining independent federal agencies.
August 20, 2025 12:35 am
North Strabane residents will be pleased to learn that the township will be receiving over $1.8 million in grant allocations for building projects in the township. Assistant Township Manager Ashley Stack announced at the supervisors agenda meeting that The Pennsylvania LSA Grant program will reimburse $999,940 for renovations performed on the new municipal building. The township will also receive $837,064 from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for construction on the new Public Safety building. Prior to the agenda meeting supervisors held public two public hearings. The first had a traffic engineer hired by Christy Road residents offer his technical memo on previous traffic impact studies that relate to the 160 unit Hidden Acres housing development proposed to be built off of Christy Road. Another hearing will be scheduled to allow developers to respond to the report. Secondly, CC Realty Advisors had a conditional use hearing for their personal warehouse development. The plan calls for four buildings containing 46 units that will have warehouse, office and possibly retail uses in the development.
August 20, 2025 5:11 am
One person was transported to a local hospital after a two-vehicle crash along Interstate 70 westbound Tuesday morning. Washington County 9-1-1 dispatchers say it happened just before 11 a.m. at mile-marker 22 just before the south junction. Dispatchers say a tractor trailer and a van were involved. The person injured was reportedly in the van. There is no word on their identity or condition. The crash closed both westbound lanes but the highway reopened around noon.
August 20, 2025 5:08 am
A Donora woman is facing arson charges in connection with a fire Monday evening at a home in the 200-block of Allen Avenue. 64 year old Tamara Stewart allegedly set fire to clothing during an argument with her boyfriend. She is charged with aggravated arson, arson endangering property and risking a catastrophe. Stewart is last reported in the Washington County jail on $50,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 27.
