October 7, 2025 1:19 am
The fate of West Alexander – and whether it will become a borough again – won’t be known for at least another 30 days. A Washington County judge on Tuesday delayed a hearing until Nov. 7 to determine whether the West Alexander community can separate from Donegal Township. Dennis Makel, a lawyer for residents leading the charge, met with lawyers for the township for about 45 minutes in Judge Brandon Neuman’s chambers before returning to the courtroom and announcing the delay. He told Dr. Kathleen Miller, coordinator of the West Alexander Borough Project, and about 15 supporters in attendance that the township agreed to drop challenges related to the map and population of the proposed borough but is questioning the legality of some of the signatures the residents were required to gather to petition for the change. Miller said the residents submitted signatures from 2,042 of the 4,056 landowners within the proposed borough, 14 more than the required 50 percent.
October 6, 2025 4:43 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned ex-girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein. The justices Monday declined to take up a case that would’ve renewed attention on the Epstein sexual-abuse saga after President Donald Trump’s administration sought to tamp down criticism over its refusal to publicly release more investigative files. Trump’s Republican administration had urged the high court to stay out of the case. Lawyers for Maxwell argued she never should’ve been tried or convicted for a role in luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. Maxwell is serving 20 years and recently was transferred from a Florida prison to a Texas prison camp. (Photo: AP)
October 6, 2025 4:40 pm
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi have won the Nobel Prize in medicine for discoveries about how the body ensures immune cells attack intruders but not our own tissues. Their findings advanced the search for autoimmune disease treatments, as well as work in cancer and organ transplants. The Nobel Assembly announced the award Monday. Sakaguchi first discovered regulatory T cells in 1995. In 2001, Brunkow and Ramsdell identified a gene mutation involved in autoimmune diseases. Sakaguchi later connected these findings to explain a previously unknown way the body keeps the immune system in check. The trio will share nearly $1.2 million in prize money.
October 6, 2025 9:09 am
CAIRO (AP) — Israeli and Hamas officials are set to hold indirect talks in Egypt on a potential ceasefire in Gaza. The talks are taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh, with Israeli and Hamas delegations arriving Sunday and Monday. The negotiations focus on a ceasefire’s first stage, including the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are also expected to join. This push for peace follows Hamas accepting some elements of the U.S. peace plan, which Israel supports. The talks are expected to be brief.
October 6, 2025 7:57 am
A three-vehicle crash in Canton Township injured two people Monday morning. Washington County 9-1-1 dispatchers say it happened just before 7 a.m. at the intersection of Route-40 and Mckee Road. A garbage truck and two other passenger vehicles were involved. Dispatchers say one person was flown by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital. Another was transported by ambulance to UPMC Washington. There is no word on their identities or conditions. Route 40 was closed as a result of the crash, but at last report one lane has reopened.
October 6, 2025 5:05 am
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Authorities say rival gunmen shot at each other in a crowded downtown nightlife district in Alabama’s capital city, killing two people and injuring 12 others. Montgomery Police Chief James Graboys said five people wounded in Saturday night’s shootings were hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Those killed included a 43-year-old woman and a 17-year-old male. Police were called around 11:30 p.m. to what Graboys described as a “mass shooting” in which two rival parties were firing at each other in the middle of a crowd without regard for the people around them. Graboys said investigators were combing through evidence and interviewing potential suspects, although no one had been charged as of Sunday afternoon.
October 6, 2025 5:03 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington lawmakers remain at a standstill over reopening the government, showing few signs of progress as President Donald Trump says layoffs are “taking place right now.” Both parties believe public opinion supports their stance, with Democrats pushing for health insurance subsidies and Trump aiming to maintain current spending levels. The shutdown adds to economic uncertainty, with hiring slowing and inflation high. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday criticized Republicans for not negotiating. Talks remain unproductive, with a Senate vote failing to advance a Republican bill.
October 6, 2025 5:01 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois and Chicago have filed a lawsuit aiming to stop President Donald Trump’s administration from sending hundreds of National Guard troops to Chicago. Trump moved to deploy National Guard troops from another city on Saturday by authorizing 300 troops to protect federal officers and assets in Chicago. Trump has long threatened to send troops to Chicago, but it was not immediately clear when or exactly where they would be deployed. The lawsuit was filed on Monday, just as troops prepared to deploy and just hours after a federal judge blocked their deployment to Portland, Oregon.
October 6, 2025 4:50 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned ex-girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein. The justices Monday declined to take up a case that would’ve renewed attention on the Epstein sexual-abuse saga after President Donald Trump’s administration sought to tamp down criticism over its refusal to publicly release more investigative files. Trump’s Republican administration had urged the high court to stay out of the case. Lawyers for Maxwell argued she never should’ve been tried or convicted for a role in luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. Maxwell is serving 20 years and recently was transferred from a Florida prison to a Texas prison camp.
October 6, 2025 2:41 am
Testimony on day one of the homicide trial of Joshua George, 33 of Smith Township concluded early due to technical problems with computers. George is accused of shaking his infant son and delivering him injured, to the child’s grandparents for babysitting. The grandparents called for medical assistance when the child became lethargic and began vomiting and convulsing. Testimony came from the child’s mother Caitlyn Riffle who testified that the child was fine when she departed for work and left the child to be delivered by George to her father and step-mother, Cheska Rotellini. Rotellini contacted Riffle about the child’s condition but it was revealed under cross examination that the child’s condition was much worse than initially described. In the afternoon, Cheska Rotellini took the stand and described the child’s demeanor as inconsolable and he then vomited causing her to call 9-1-1. She then testified to the events that occurred with the baby being ambulanced to a hospital. Cross examination revealed that questionable decisions were made by Rotellini regarding other children previously in her care, often putting those children at risk. Rotellini’s recollection of events was sketchy, often times having her say that she did not recall events. Technical difficulties with computers ended the day. Testimony will continue Tuesday morning.
