Observer-Reporter

07/19/2024

Best of the Best nominations begin today! One entrant will win $250, so make sure your voice is heard and your favorite local businesses are represented. Visit o-rbest.com. Good luck!

07/17/2024

It took more than a decade for Scott Edmonds to go to trial in the shooting death of his wife in their North Strabane townhouse in March 2014. It took less than 90 minutes for a Washington County jury to convict him of first-degree murder in Louise Weis-Edmonds’ killing.

It took more than a decade for Scott Edmonds to go to trial in the shooting death of his wife in their North Strabane townhouse in March 2014. It took less than 90 minutes for a Washington County jury to convict him of first-degree murder in Louise Weis-Edmonds’ killing. After five days of testimo...

07/16/2024

Former U.S. Secret Service agent Patrick Fitch, an attorney in Washington, said he was “astonished” when he heard Saturday night that a 20-year-old man carrying a semi-automatic rifle had climbed atop the roof of a manufacturing plant and fired multiple shots at former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler.

Former U.S. Secret Service agent Patrick Fitch, an attorney in Washington, said he was “astonished” when he heard Saturday night that a 20-year-old man carrying a semi-automatic rifle had climbed atop the roof of a manufacturing plant and fired multiple shots at former President Donald Trump at ...

07/15/2024

Federal investigators descended upon the Milford Drive home of Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, the night after he used an AR-style rifle to injure the former president, kill one person and critically injure two others Saturday evening while Trump was speaking at a rally in Butler.

BETHEL PARK – At about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Keith and Joann Holzer noticed flashing police sirens and law enforcement on the street in their Bethel Park neighborhood. They went to bed without giving it too much thought, unaware that the man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald J. Tru...

07/15/2024

Former President Donald Trump called for unity and resilience Sunday after an attempt on his life added fresh uncertainty to an already tumultuous presidential campaign.

Butler, Pa. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump called for unity and resilience Sunday after an attempt on his life added fresh uncertainty to an already tumultuous presidential campaign and raised sharp questions about how a gunman was able to open fire from a rooftop near a Pennsylvania campaig...

07/10/2024

Washington County Controller April Sloane, who is awaiting trial on animal cruelty charges in connection with the starvation death of her pet dog last year, is heading to jail after a judge revoked her bond for “harboring” a cat while living at her boyfriend’s North Strabane apartment.

Washington County Controller April Sloane, who is awaiting trial on animal cruelty charges in connection with the starvation death of her pet dog last year, is heading to jail after a judge revoked her bond for “harboring” a cat while living at her boyfriend’s North Strabane apartment. Judge J...

07/09/2024

Park Avenue in North Franklin Township is closed due to police activity near Armour Street.

Park Avenue in North Franklin Township is closed due to police activity at a residence near Armour Street. North Franklin fire Chief Dave Bane said his department was called at 10:30 a.m. today to close the 900 block of Park Avenue to traffic between McJ Drive and Williams Street. Numerous state pol...

06/17/2024

The official start of summer is June 20, but we're already seeing dangerously hot conditions in the area.

https://www.observer-reporter.com/news/local-news/2024/jun/17/hot-hot-hot-heat-wave-could-break-records-in-pa/

06/13/2024

UPMC Washington hosted a celebration at the hospital yesterday to commemorate its new affiliation with UPMC.

What a difference a year makes. On Wednesday, UPMC Washington hosted a celebration at the hospital to commemorate its new affiliation with UPMC. The celebration, which included flag-raisings at now renamed UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene in Waynesburg, comes one year after the health systems announc...

05/30/2024

Vadym Korobenko was a television sports reporter in Ukraine until he joined the Ukrainian National Guard in 2014 after Russia’s first invasion. A decade later, Korobenko, a retired lieutenant, is devastated that the city lies in ruin and is now under occupation.

He was one of four Ukrainian and U.S. veterans who met this week for a roundtable discussion about the war.

Vadym Korobenko was a television sports reporter in Ukraine until he joined the Ukrainian National Guard in 2014 after Russia’s first invasion of Ukraine. Korobenko fought in and around the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol. A decade later, Korobenko, 39, and a retired lieutenant, is devastated ...

05/23/2024

Need to beat the heat? This Memorial Day weekend, many of the region’s public pools will open their doors to anyone who wants to take a dip.

Need to beat the heat? This Memorial Day weekend many of the region’s public pools will be opening their doors to anyone in need of a dip. Check below for information on when the pool closest to you will be open, and how much admission will cost. Washington County Canonsburg Town Park Pool 1 VFW [...

05/22/2024

It’s been a busy year for tornadoes in our region. With five confirmed tornadoes on Friday – including one that touched down in Elrama, the second to hit Union Township in a week – the Pittsburgh area has seen 14 tornadoes in May.

It’s been a busy year for tornadoes in Southwestern Pennsylvania. With five confirmed tornadoes on Friday – including one that touched down in Elrama, the second to hit Union Township in a week – the Pittsburgh area has seen 14 tornadoes in May. This surpasses the 11 tornadoes from a 1985 wave...

05/20/2024

A large storage building operated by a subcontractor at the Bailey Mine complex in Greene County caught fire Monday morning, prompting numerous fire departments to respond to fight the massive blaze.

A large storage building operated by a subcontractor at the Bailey Mine complex in Greene County caught fire Monday morning, prompting numerous fire departments to respond to fight the massive blaze. Emergency responders were dispatched to Consol Energy’s sprawling mine complex in Richhill Townshi...

05/20/2024

Take a trip into a coal mine with reporter Karen Mansfield.

At the start of their shift, the coal miners working at the mine in Propserity step into a black steel elevator and descend for two minutes to 800 feet underground into a part of the earth that few people ever see.

At the start of their shift, the coal miners working on Enlow Fork Mine’s H-3 longwall section step into a black steel elevator and descend 800 feet underground, where they walk out through a heavy airlock door and into a part of the earth that few people ever see. It’s a two-minute trip to the ...

05/14/2024

Liberty Pole Spirits was selected Small Business of the Year by the Western Pennsylvania District Office of the Small Business Administration.

Jim Hough and his family did not have time to unbottle their thoughts. “We were shocked,” he said upon realizing their craft whiskey distillery had been selected Small Business of the Year by the Western Pennsylvania District Office of the Small Business Administration. “There are a lot of sma...

05/13/2024

“It was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced in my life,” said Lynn Michigan, who was attending a Saturday evening service at Crossroads Ministries in Finleyville with her husband, Rob, when a tornado touched down around 6:05 p.m.

“It was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced in my life,” said Lynn Michigan, who was attending a Saturday evening service at Crossroads Ministries in Finleyville with her husband, Rob, when a tornado touched down around 6:05 p.m. Rob, a member of the Castle Shannon Volunteer Fire Departme...

05/02/2024

From Washington, D.C., to Washington, Pa., AMVETS Charities is moving its national headquarters to Southwestern Pennsylvania, where it also will offer transitional housing for veterans in crisis.

From Washington, D.C., to Washington, Pa., AMVETS Charities is moving its national headquarters to Southwestern Pennsylvania, where it also will offer transitional housing for veterans in crisis. In March, AMVETS Charities was the highest bidder in an auction for the former Laboratory Elementary Sch...

05/02/2024

💖 We're working on a story about recipes passed down through mothers and daughters for Mother's Day this year. Do you remember teaching your little one how to mix the ingredients for your family's favorite cookies or rolling out homemade pasta dough together? We want to chat with you!

05/01/2024

Flocks of sheep will race through Washington this weekend for the Running of the Wools, but it’s the thousands of visitors who will be flocking to the downtown business district that has local store owners most excited.

There will be flocks of sheep racing through Washington next weekend for the Running of the Wools, but it’s the thousands of visitors who will be flocking to the downtown business district that has local store owners most excited. One of them is Anastasia Barr-Whiteman, who looked outside her Pret...

04/30/2024

Last week, Samantha Cortese unveiled the Connecting Through Inspiration mural, commissioned by the nonprofit Arc Human Services in Canonsburg.

CANONSBURG – When Samantha Cortese began painting as something to do during the pandemic four years ago, little did she imagine she’d be tapped to create a meaningful, larger-than-life work for an area nonprofit. But on Wednesday, Cortese, a wife, mother of two and abstract artist from Washingto...

04/30/2024

🔧 We're hoping to chat with female auto mechanics. If this fits you or someone you know, please let us know.

04/25/2024

It's "no more Mr. Nice Bud" after state Rep. Bud Cook's primary win.

After fending off a Republican challenger going for his 50th House seat during Tuesday’s primary, state Rep. Bud Cook is now on the “warpath” looking to take on GOP leaders and area politicians who backed his opponent. “It’s time. I’m on the warpath,” Cook said Tuesday night after his ...

04/12/2024

Record rainfall wreaked havoc across Washington and Greene counties overnight, causing flooding that resulted in several water rescues, evacuations and dozens of road closures.

Record rainfall in Southwestern Pennsylvania wreaked havoc across Washington and Greene counties overnight, causing flooding that resulted in several water rescues and evacuations, and dozens of road closures. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh issued a flash flood warning until 12:30 p.m. t...

04/12/2024

We welcome your flooding photos. Comment below, message the page or email [email protected]. Please include where the photo was taken and if you took it. Thank you!

And please stay safe!

04/10/2024

The Pennsylvania Turnpike warned that E-ZPass users were targeted in a phishing scam.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike issued a warning Sunday that users of its E-ZPass service were being targeted in a phishing scam. Both the Turnpike and state police received reports of text messages claiming the E-ZPass holder owes $12.51 in outstanding toll fees, along with a link to a website. It warns....

04/09/2024

Hundreds of visitors turned out at Mingo Creek County Park Observatory Monday to witness the solar eclipse.

Hundreds of visitors turned out at Mingo Creek County Park Observatory Monday to witness the solar eclipse in its totality. And despite some cloud cover, it was a spectacular show. “That was awesome, just beautiful,” said Sherri Taddeo of Monongahela, who viewed the eclipse with her daughter, Le...

04/08/2024

Whether you traveled to the zone of totality or stayed home, make sure you view today's eclipse safely.

Much of the country is abuzz ahead of the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8. Western Pennsylvania will be in the spotlight, too, as the Pittsburgh region will experience a partial eclipse with 95% totality while Erie will be in the zone of 100% totality. While you’re making plans to view the eclip...

04/04/2024

Continued heavy rain has caused widespread flooding and home evacuations and prompted two municipalities to declare states of emergency.

Heavy rain continued to fall across Western Pennsylvania Tuesday night into Wednesday, causing widespread flooding and evacuations of homes and prompting two municipalities to declare states of emergency. On Tuesday, the National Weather Service Pittsburgh recorded 2.68 inches of rain, a record for....