October 5, 2024 1:21 am
The members of Teamsters Local 585 and the Washington County Housing Authority have come to a resolution regarding their strike. According to a joint statement issued by the parties the agreement allows for “well-deserved wage increases” and will get employees back to work. According to the statement, over the past several days “the Authority administration, Board of Directors, Union representatives and Leadership, and the County Commissioners were able to come together to reach a resolution that ensures the Authority, and the County can continue to provide the safe, reliable, and affordable housing to its residents across the County.” Workers will report back to work at midnight on October 7th.
October 5, 2024 1:25 am
A Charleroi man who stands accused of multiple possession with intent to deliver felonies asked Common Pleas Court Judge Traci McDonald for a Stipulated Trial. John Beebe, 50 asked for that type of trial so that a quick verdict may be reached and appeals could be made if necessary. In this type of trial, attorneys will present agreed upon written facts and present no witnesses. The judge will review those facts and render their decision. Appeals to the decision may be made by either side. Beebe faces 8 felony possession with intent to deliver charges along with seven other misdemeanor charges. He was arrested in March of 2022 when police raided his home and found drugs, multiple guns and more than $40,000 in cash. He has been incarcerated in the Washington County Jail without bond. It is unclear when the judge will render a decision.
October 5, 2024 4:15 am
BUTLER, Pa. (AP) — Donald Trump is setting aside what are now near-constant worries for his physical safety in order to fulfill “really an obligation.” The Republican presidential nominee plans to return Saturday to the site where a gunman tried to assassinate him in July. He’ll be joined by running mate JD Vance, Elon Musk and others on the grounds of the Butler Farm Show. The campaign is working to maximize the event’s headline-grabbing potential with just 30 days to go before voters decide between Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
October 4, 2024 8:56 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers added a surprisingly strong 254,000 jobs in September, the latest evidence that the U.S. labor market is still solid enough to support steady hiring and a growing economy. Last month’s hiring gain was up sharply from the 159,000 jobs that were added in August, and the unemployment dropped from 4.2% to 4.1%. The latest figures suggest that many companies are still confident enough to fill jobs despite the continued pressure of high interest rates. Few employers are laying off workers, though many have grown more cautious about hiring.
October 4, 2024 2:39 am
Washington City Council took the last step to repeal a tax that has been around since 1984. Council approved the repeal of the tax that raised revenue to defray costs related to the pension plans of the city. The tax amount levied was .02%. That repeal in combination with an earlier pension refinance issue will save approximately $500,000 in pension payments this year. Earlier in the week an audit of fiscal year 2023 showed a revenue decrease of approximately $500,000. Mayor JoJo Burgess was asked if that shortfall would shine a different light on the sale of the City Garage, he flatly stated “No.” He went on to say that council was not going to let news like that sway them into a quick decision that would not be beneficial to the city’s residents. He did say that they are willing to sell the garage, but not under the terms presented earlier by the county. Burgess thanked Finance Director Ken Westcott and his team for their hard work in repealing that tax. In city business, council did approve a motion to bid the revitalization plans for an empty lot at 70 N. Main Street. The revitalization is a partnership with the Washington Business District Authority to create space for food trucks to operate.
October 4, 2024 2:01 am
Washington County Commissioners voted 2-1 to appoint Snehal Patel of Peters Township to the board of the Washington County Housing Authority. During the nomination, Commissioner Larry Maggi, who cast the dissenting vote, asked the two other commissioners if they knew Patel. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman said he did and characterized him as a “good guy.” After the meeting, Maggi pointed to Patel’s 2014 guilty plea for possession of controlled substances and possession with intent to deliver controlled substances after a 2012 raid on his Cigarette City store in Washington. When contacted, Sherman stated he had no comment on the matter due to the inability to verify the report. Patel is replacing David Gatling, Sr., President of the Washington Branch NAACP. In county business PennDot will reimburse the county $5.65 million to replace two county bridges. The county will also enter into a master grant agreement with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to receive $2.2 million in funding for housing and supporting services for homeless individuals and families.
October 4, 2024 10:16 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Barack Obama is planning to hit key swing states to boost Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign for the White House, starting next Thursday in Pittsburgh. The Harris campaign says Obama will travel around the country over the final 27 days ahead of the election. The former president and Harris have a friendship that goes back 20 years, from when they first met while he was running for Senate.
October 4, 2024 4:47 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Republican challenger David McCormick have held the first debate in their race for a swing-state seat. Casey tried to drive home the message that McCormick is a carpetbagging ex-hedge fund CEO. McCormick painted Casey as a weak career politician. Each candidate also repeatedly accused the other of lying. One thing the candidates agreed on was opposing the sale of U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel. Meanwhile they disagreed on preserving the Senate filibuster. Casey supports ending it so senators vote on big issues. McCormick said the filibuster protects moderation.
October 4, 2024 4:56 am
DETROIT (AP) — The union representing 45,000 striking U.S. dockworkers at East and Gulf coast ports has reached a deal to suspend a three-day strike until Jan. 15 to provide time to negotiate a new contract. The International Longshoremen’s Association is to resume working immediately. The temporary end to the strike came after the union and the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies, reached a tentative agreement on wages. That’s according to a joint statement from the union and ports. A person briefed on the agreement said the ports sweetened their wage offer from about 50% over six years to 62%. The person didn’t want to be identified because the agreement is tentative.
October 4, 2024 4:54 am
DETROIT (AP) — Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are trying to get the upper hand with working-class voters in the closing weeks of the presidential campaign. Harris is visiting the union stronghold of Flint, Michigan, on Friday. Organized labor has been a bedrock of Democratic support, but Harris has been unable to secure endorsements from some unions that backed Joe Biden four years ago. Trump is eager to make inroads with unions in the election. He’s heading to Georgia, where he’ll appear with Gov. Brian Kemp, and North Carolina on Friday.
