Wednesday, May 21, 2025

 

Local News

Main Street Farmers Market Opens Thursday

‘Tis the season for fun and fresh fruits and vegetables. The Main Street Farmers Market in Washington opens Thursday at the Main Street Pavilion on South Main Street, and will run from 3 to 6 p.m. every Thursday through Oct. 31st. Tracee Malik is the president of the market and she says they are looking forward to another wonderful season with many new vendors. In addition to new vendors, Malik says all of last year’s vendors will be back and they have a full slate of entertainment lined up for adults and children. She says various musical acts will be featured throughout the season, plus special events such as First Responder Day, Back to School celebration, Vet Appreciation Day, and a Halloween Party to wrap up the market.

Massive Water Main Break Floods Banksville Neighborhood

(WPXI) – A massive water main break has flooded and caused damage to an intersection in Pittsburgh’s Banksville neighborhood. The break is near the intersection of Banksville Road and Potomac Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Banksville neighborhood. Crews were first called to the scene at around 9:30 a.m. Pennsylvania American Water said a 20-inch water line broke there. It was shut off in just over an hour. The water damaged several nearby businesses and homes. A corner shop closed for multiple years and several garages were among the buildings impacted. Police say one of the garages had been storing several vats of oil inside, which came spilling out and into the street during the water main break, as a result, Hazmat crews were called out. Firefighters say they do not know how much oil leaked, but called it “substantial.” The Department of Environmental Protection and the Pittsburgh Water and Sewage Authority were also called to the scene.

Pat Phillips Wins GOP Nomination For Controller

Pat Phillips won the only contested row office race in Washington County.  He received 3,871 votes to defeat Heather Sheatler who received 3,365 votes.  Brenda Davis finished with 2,793 votes and Tony DeLost with 2,789.  There was no Democratic candidate in Tuesday’s primary. Voter turnout was low with only about 20-percent expected to cast a ballot. Complete Election results.

Tenny Wins On Both Tickets

Charles Tenny was the winner on both the Democratic and Republican tickets in the race for Magisterial District Judge.  Tenny narrowly held off incumbent Jim Saieva on the democratic side 1,072 to 965. On the republican ticket, Tenny garnered 55-percent of the vote with just over one-thousand votes.  The district includes Canonsburg, Houston and North Strabane. State Commonwealth Court allowed Tenny to remain on the ballot after three Democratic and three Republican voters challenged Tenny’s candidacy, alleging that he lives at a Fayette County property with his wife.

Corey O’Connor Ousts Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Corey O’Connor has ousted Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey in a Democratic primary. The campaign hinged on how Gainey was handling city finances, affordable housing and public safety. Victory in Tuesday’s primary all but assures O’Connor of winning November’s general election against a low-profile Republican nominee. The city hasn’t elected a Republican mayor in nearly a century. O’Connor is the Allegheny County controller and the son of a former Pittsburgh mayor. O’Connor and Gainey had jousted over whether Gainey had adequately addressed concerns about affordable housing, public safety, homelessness and revitalizing downtown.

Charges Filed: Alcohol Involved In Man’s Fall At PNC Park

(WPXI) – A man has been charged after they say he provided alcohol to the 20-year-old man who fell from the stands at PNC Park. Ethan Kirkwood, 21, of McKeesport, is charged by Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement with two counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor. On April 30, Kavan Markwood, 20, fell from the right field stands onto the warning track during the Pirates game. He suffered injuries to his skull, brain, spine, both ribs and even his lungs. An investigation by the Pirates found Markwood consumed two alcoholic drinks during the game and a guest he was with legally bought seven drinks.

World News

Wall Street Tumbles

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street slumped under the weight of pressure from the bond market, where Treasury yields climbed on worries about the U.S. government’s spiraling debt and other concerns. The S&P 500 fell 1.6% Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.9%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.4%. Stocks had been drifting only modestly lower earlier in the day, after Target and other retailers gave mixed forecasts for their upcoming profits. The market then turned sharply lower after the U.S. government released the results for its latest auction of 20-year bonds. That helped send Treasury yields jumping.  (Photo:  AP)

Trump Confronts South African President

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has used a White House meeting to confront South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with baseless claims of the systematic killing of white farmers in that country. Trump said during Wednesday’s meeting that people are fleeing South Africa for their own safety. At one point, Trump dimmed the lights in the Oval Office to play a video of a far-left politician playing an anti-apartheid song that included lyrics about killing farmers. Ramaphosa pushed back against Trump’s accusation, saying of the behavior alleged by the U.S. president, “We are completely opposed to that.”

Trump Implores Divided Republicans To Unify

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has implored House Republicans on Capitol Hill to drop their fights over his big tax cuts bill. He spoke privately for at least an hour trying to unite House Republicans on the multitrillion-dollar package that is at risk of collapsing before planned votes this week. Trump was upbeat afterward, saying there was “unity.” But negotiations are slogging along. It’s not at all clear the package, with its sweeping tax breaks and cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and green energy programs, has the support needed. With all Democrats opposed, the Republicans can handle only a few defections from their slim House majority.

US Must Keep Control Of Migrants Sent To South Sudan

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge ruled late Tuesday that U.S. officials must retain custody and control of migrants apparently removed to South Sudan in case he orders their removals were unlawful. U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy in Massachusetts ordered an emergency hearing for Wednesday, after attorneys for immigrants said in court documents that up to a dozen people from several countries, including Myanmar and Vietnam, may have been sent to Africa earlier Tuesday. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Measles Is Very Contagious

(AP) – A person attended a Shakira concert at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey while infectious with measles. Health officials are asking people who attended to monitor for symptoms. More than 1,000 measles cases have been confirmed across the U.S. this year, with major outbreaks in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas and eight other states. There are also many international outbreaks including in Mexico and Canada as childhood vaccination rates have declined since the pandemic.