April 22, 2025 2:55 am
Legal counsel for Range Resources rested their case in a challenge to a new oil and gas ordinance in Cecil Township. Monday’s public hearing in front of the Zoning Hearing Board will continue as no verdict was issued on whether an ordinance adopted in November of 2024 and revised in April 2025 has adversely affected Range Resources’ ability to continue to drill for oil and gas in the township. At issue are new setback requirements that say no drilling may occur within 5000 feet of a school or 2500 feet of a protected structure. Range Resources offered testimony from their Director of Geographic Information Systems to say that the setbacks eliminate the possibility of new pad development. What was not studied by Range Resources was a waiver clause allowing a land owner to waive the 2500 foot setback if they chose to have a well pad on their property. The witness said it would be difficult to determine the effect and how it could open the township to further development. Also presented was testimony from an attorney from Range Resources’ Leasing Team. That witness presented three properties determined to be “stranded” from gas and oil development because none of the current gas wells can reach those properties. The witness was unable to explain how the new setbacks could be harmful when the leases were signed before the new setbacks took effect. After transcripts of this hearing are received by counsel, briefs will be filed and arguments heard at another hearing at a yet to be determined date. The next hearing will be advertised for public notice.
April 22, 2025 2:43 am
Planning is already underway for the 2026 Pittsburgh Draft and the NFL is looking to engage event-ready businesses within the greater Pittsburgh area to support the production of the event. Washington County Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Kotula, along with other chambers in the area say this procurement program is an opportunity for local businesses and certified diverse businesses (minority, woman, person with disabilities, LGBTQ+ and veteran-owned) to gain exposure to subcontracting opportunities related to the event and provide networking and capacity building for all accepted businesses. Kotula says businesses selected for the program will be profiled in a directory, which NFL primary contractors and event producers will use to identify and select local and certified diverse suppliers to fulfill their subcontracting needs. Kotula says this is not only an opportunity for local businesses, but also a chance to showcase Washington County as well. If you’re interested, Kotula says you can visit the chamber website and fill out an application until May 7th. (Photo: AP)
April 21, 2025 9:17 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The outlook for the U.S. and global economies this year and next has significantly worsened in the wake of President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the uncertainty they have created. The International Monetary Fund said Tuesday that the global economy will grow just 2.8% this year, down from its forecast in January of 3.3%, according to its latest World Economic Outlook. And in 2026, global growth will be 3%, the fund predicts, also below its previous 3.3% estimate.
April 21, 2025 5:24 am
BEIJING (AP) — China is warning other countries against making trade deals with the United States to China’s detriment. Governments including those of Taiwan, Japan and South Korea have begun negotiations with Washington after President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs against most of America’s trading partners on April 2. The import taxes were mostly paused after markets panicked, but he increased his already steep tariffs against China. The Commerce Ministry said Monday that China “firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests” and China would retaliate if that happened. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier the countries currently negotiating trade deals with the U.S. should “approach China as a group” together with Washington.
April 21, 2025 5:22 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth created another Signal messaging chat that included his wife and brother where he shared similar details of a March military airstrike against Yemen’s Houthi militants that were sent in another chain with top Trump administration leaders. The New York Times on Sunday reported the second chat, and a person familiar with the contents and those who received the messages confirmed it to The Associated Press. That person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said the unclassified chat included 13 people. The White House late Sunday dismissed the report as a “non-story,” insisting that no classified information was shared.
April 21, 2025 5:18 am
VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope Francis has died at age 88. The Vatican says the cause of death was a stroke that put him into a coma and led to heart failure. History’s first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated many conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change. The pope recently spent 38 days in a hospital for a respiratory crisis in the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy. He last appeared in public on Sunday with an Easter blessing and pope-mobile tour through a cheering crowd in St. Peter’s Square. From his first greeting as pope of a simple “Good evening” to his embrace of refugees and the downtrodden, Francis signaled a very different tone for the papacy, stressing humility over hubris for a Catholic Church beset by scandal and accusations of indifference.
April 21, 2025 5:15 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Pittsburgh Police are trying to find a dog that attacked a child and got out of its house. Officers and medics were called to the 200 block of Moore Avenue in Knoxville at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. The callers told police that they believe the child got near the dog, which was described as “food-aggressive” while it was eating. When the adults tried to pull the dog off of the child, it escaped and ran out of the house. The child was taken to a hospital with serious facial injuries and is in stable condition. The dog is described as a 2-year-old gray pit bull. Animcal Care and Control searched and did not find the dog. They believe it is still in the Knoxville area. Anyone who sees it is asked to call the Animal Care and Control emergency line at 412-255-2935 or 911.
April 21, 2025 5:10 am
Norfolk Southern reached an agreement with one of two companies about how much each side will help pay for a $600 million class-action settlement, which the railroad agreed to after the disastrous 2023 Ohio train derailment and toxic chemicals that were released and burned. This lawsuit doesn’t change anything about how much money people will receive from the settlement or any payments to the village of East Palestine or anyone else — those are all established in various settlement agreements. This case only affects which companies have to write the checks to pay for the class-action settlement, which is separate from the cost of the massive environmental cleanup. The railroad and OxyVinyls, the chemical company that made the vinyl chloride that was released and burned after the derailment, announced the settlement Thursday in the midst of the ongoing trial over who should pay people affected by the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The two companies didn’t disclose any details of the agreement in their brief statement.
April 21, 2025 4:59 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says overcast weather for the annual White House Easter egg roll means no one has to worry about getting sunburned. More than 40,000 people were expected to participate in Monday’s event. Children used wooden spoons to guide colorfully dyed hard-boiled eggs across a patch of lawn to a finish line. A special station promoted next year’s 250th anniversary of America’s founding. The egg roll is one of the oldest White House traditions. It dates to 1878 and the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes, who opened the lawn to children after Congress barred them from the grounds of the Capitol.
April 21, 2025 4:43 am
PITTSBURGH — Gov. Josh Shapiro has ordered all U.S. and Commonwealth flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Pope Francis. The flags will be flown like this until sunset on the date of the pope’s internment, which has not yet been announced. All Pennsylvanians are encouraged to participate.
