May 1, 2023 4:15 am
A Washington teenager died in a single-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon in Somerset Township. Washington County Coroner Tim Warco says 19 year old Alexandra Wilson was the operator and sole occupant in a vehicle traveling north on Pittsburgh Road when she left the roadway and struck a tree near 488 Pittsburgh Road. It happened just after 4 p.m. and it’s unclear if she was wearing a seat belt. A cause and manner of death are pending. Crews From Bentleyville, Ellsworth, Fallowfield, North Strabane and Valley Inn responded. State Police are investigating. Wilson was a student at Washington High School and district officials say grief counselors will be on hand for those who feel they need to talk.
May 1, 2023 4:10 am
An unveiling of several key attractions at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum took place over the weekend. Scott Becker, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum emceed the event that saw six feature elements presented for visitors to enjoy. The most prominent features were the completion of Volunteer Boulevard and the christening of Falconi Plaza. Volunteer Boulevard is a brick paved street with 33,000 hand laid bricks and rails to allow two way trolley traffic. Falconi Plaza was unveiled in memory of the late entrepreneur. A landscaped seating wall, street clock, flag pole and antique fountain that once sat at Falconi’s home highlight the “town square” recreation. Other projects presented were a High Level Platform that will allow visitors to access three trolleys from Philadelphia. The platform was needed because access to the cars was not at street level. Labor for the platform project came from the county Furlough Into Service program. That program utilizes labor from eligible inmates from the Washington County Corrections Facility. The Washington County Community Foundation Trolley Platform and the David and Kathryn Black Trolley Canopy sit adjacent to the still under construction Welcome and Education Center. Rounding out the amenities is the Christopher Golofski Memorial Gazebo. The gazebo is in memory of the past museum president and will be used for concerts and other events. Ed Morascyzk is the current president of the museum and calls Volunteer Boulevard “a step back in time…that will allow visitors to have a transformational experience” of the trolley era.
May 1, 2023 2:30 am
Several area health care facilities have announced plans to lift their mask mandates. PennHighlands Healthcare, which is made up of eight hospitals, including Penn Highlands Mon Valley, says that effective Monday, May 1st, the mask mandate that has been in place at its facilities for the past three years is being lifted. Meanwhile, effective on the same day, UPMC says masking will no longer be required at most of its facilities, with the exception of some specific areas where patients are particularly vulnerable to infection. These are the latest health care facilities to lift mask mandates. Allegheny Health Network discontinued its mask requirements on April 20th.
April 30, 2023 9:16 pm
An investigation is underway into a car crash that killed a Washington High School student Sunday afternoon. According to reports, nineteen-year-old Alexandra Wilson was traveling on Pittsburgh Road in Somerset Township around four o’clock when her vehicle ran off the road and slammed into a tree. The Washington County Coroner’s Office says Wilson was pronounced dead about an hour later. Wilson was the only person in the car.
April 30, 2023 8:05 am
CLEVELAND, Texas (AP) — A Texas sheriff says a fugitive accused of opening fire on his neighbors after they asked him to stop shooting in his yard could be anywhere by now. Authorities have widened the search area for a man suspected of killing five of his neighbors near Houston. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers told reporters Saturday that the search area for 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza could now be as far as “10 or 20 miles” from the murder scene. The gunman has remained at large since the shooting Friday night. Authorities say the attack happened after the neighbors asked the man to stop firing rounds in his yard because they were trying to sleep. It happened near the town of Cleveland, about 45 miles north of Houston. Capers said Oropeza may still have a weapon.
April 30, 2023 8:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States has carried out its first evacuation of American citizens and permanent residents from Sudan since war broke out in the capital two weeks ago. That’s according to the State Department. Officials say U.S. unmanned aircraft provided armed overwatch for a bus convoy believed to be carrying out hundreds of Americans over 500 miles or 800 kilometers. The land evacuation came six days after U.S. special operations troops briefly flew to Khartoum to airlift out American staffers at the embassy and other U.S. government personnel from the east African country. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents were eligible to join Saturday’s convoy.
April 30, 2023 8:03 am
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The competition between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis is intensifying as the former president is scheduling a return trip to Iowa on the same day that the Florida governor was already going to be there. The state kicks off the Republican contest for the White House. DeSantis is slated to headline Iowa Rep. Randy Feenstra’s annual summer fundraiser in northwest Iowa on May 13 and is expected to speak at a party fundraiser later that evening in Cedar Rapids. A Trump campaign official says the former president now plans to be in Iowa on the same day to headline an organizing rally at a park in downtown Des Moines.
April 30, 2023 8:02 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities say a Southern California man who assaulted police with pepper spray during the storming of the U.S. Capitol was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison. The U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement Friday that Jeffrey Scott Brown of Santa Ana received a sentence of 54 months. Brown and two co-defendants were found guilty in December. Prosecutors say Brown dove toward the front of a makeshift police line and used a stolen can of pepper spray on officers. Brown’s attorney said in court documents that his client only wanted to protest peacefully. More than 320 people have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.
April 30, 2023 8:01 am
SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. Army has identified the three soldiers who were killed when two helicopters collided in Alaska while returning from a training mission. The helicopters were headed to Fort Wainwright from a mission in the Donnelly Training Area. They crashed at about 1:40 p.m. Thursday about 50 miles east of Healy. The U.S. Army announced Friday that it has grounded aviation units for training. Twelve soldiers have died within the last month in helicopter crashes in Alaska and Kentucky. Killed in Thursday’s crash were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Eramo, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle McKenna and Warrant Officer 1 Stewart Wayment.
April 30, 2023 7:57 am
HOUSTON, Pa. (WPXI) — Thousands of text messages have been sent to a group of parents thanks to a spoofing app. The harassment has been going on for nearly four years. “I woke up one day over a night with 130 messages in my phone. A Friday to Saturday morning. We are talking hundreds and hundreds and hundreds a week,” said Ryan O’Donnell. The texts from a spoofing app go to Ryan, his ex-girlfriend and a large group of parents in the Chartiers Houston School District. Texts will say things making fun of student-athletes, coaches and other parents, each from a different number, making it impossible to block. “A repeat of what I’ve heard for three years: I’m a loser, I’m fat, I’m lazy, I’m this. That’s fine. Whatever you call me, fine, but just leave these people alone,” said O’Donnell. The case first came to light last year when Chartiers police arrested O’Donnell’s ex-wife, Kristyn O’Donnell for harassment. Last week she was arrested for allegedly arresting for violating a PFA. State senator Camera Bartolotta was asked about any potential legislation to crack down on spoofing apps. Days later, she contacted the victims. She is now working with Senator Michele Brooks to broaden a bill already in the works to combat spoofing. “I know this particular app is illegal in other states and I intend to make them illegal in Pennsylvania,” said Senator Bartolotta. As the wheels of justice turn slowly, the texts continue and Kristyn O’Donnell’s trial is not scheduled until August.
