Observer-Reporter

Observer-Reporter The Observer-Reporter is a daily newspaper covering Washington and Greene counties and the Mon Valley Parent company Observer Publishing Co.

The award-winning Observer–Reporter has been part of Washington and Greene counties since the early 1800s, and the Mon Valley since 1986. Headquartered in Washington, Pa., we cover news, sports, opinion, community stories and more. also publishes The Almanac, a weekly newspaper in the South Hills, as well as monthly magazines and other special-interest publications, and related Web sites.

Visions of sugar plums may be dancing in a lot of heads right now, but for some people they are being accompanied by vis...
12/19/2025

Visions of sugar plums may be dancing in a lot of heads right now, but for some people they are being accompanied by visions of mansions, sports cars, pricey vacations and comfy retirements.

It’s all due to the fact that the Powerball jackpot has reached $1.2 billion after Monday’s drawing did not produce a winner. The lottery, which encompasses all of the United States except for Alaska, Hawaii, Utah, Nevada and Alabama, has at least 181 million players. The next drawing is today at 10:59 p.m., so many of those millions of people will be staying up to see if they can pay off their mortgage and student loans, shuck off their job and start thinking about a wine cellar and their preferred brand of caviar.

Visions of sugar plums may be dancing in a lot of heads right now, but for some people they are being accompanied by visions of mansions, sports cars, pricey vacations and comfy retirements. It’s all due to the fact that the Powerball jackpot has reached $1.2 billion after Monday’s drawing did n...

The Washington County commissioners are poised to alter how they distribute more than $2 million in hotel tax revenue gi...
12/19/2025

The Washington County commissioners are poised to alter how they distribute more than $2 million in hotel tax revenue given annually to promote tourism, although the head of the county’s tourism agency said the proposed plan would violate state law and could lead to a lawsuit.

Commissioners Nick Sherman and Electra Janis want to create a partnership between the county and the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency that would send 75% of the hotel tax money to a joint fund that would require agreement on how the funds are spent.

The Washington County commissioners are poised to alter how they distribute more than $2 million in hotel tax revenue given annually to promote tourism, although the head of the county’s tourism agency said the proposed plan would violate state law and could lead to a lawsuit. Commissioners Nick S...

The latest round of state Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) grants include efforts to continue the revitalization of...
12/18/2025

The latest round of state Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) grants include efforts to continue the revitalization of the city of Washington, a program to address workforce shortages in agriculture and aid for further projects in the revitalization initiative in Charleroi.

The state NAP initiative offers significant tax credits of up to 95% to businesses for investing in community-based projects, helping ensure long-term, locally driven success.

latest news for Washington County, Greene County, and the Mon Valley

Peters Township officials are suing the Washington County coroner’s office over its refusal to turn over autopsy reports...
12/18/2025

Peters Township officials are suing the Washington County coroner’s office over its refusal to turn over autopsy reports and other records to the municipality’s police department, which they claim is hampering the investigation into a baby’s death earlier this year.

John Smith, who serves as Peters Township’s solicitor, filed the lawsuit Dec. 1 asking a judge for an injunction that would require Coroner Timothy Warco to readily provide autopsy and toxicology reports to the police department without charging a $700 fee that has been his practice in recent months.

Peters Township officials are suing the Washington County coroner’s office over its refusal to turn over autopsy reports and other records to the municipality’s police department, which they claim is hampering the investigation into a baby’s death earlier this year. John Smith, who serves as P...

Celene Petre knows the fear and struggle that comes with being diagnosed with breast cancer.She was diagnosed in 2018, a...
12/17/2025

Celene Petre knows the fear and struggle that comes with being diagnosed with breast cancer.

She was diagnosed in 2018, and went into remission after one year of treatment. Then, she was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time in 2020.

While Petre is in remission today, she wanted to help others who were struggling like she had.

“I realized there was no help in our area for people going through breast cancer treatment. We launched Celene’s Angels in the third quarter of 2019 and started helping people right away,” Petre said.

Editor’s note: This article is a part of Helping the Helpers, our annual series to raise awareness for nonprofits throughout the area. Celene Petre knows the fear and struggle that comes with being diagnosed with breast cancer. She was diagnosed in 2018, and went into remission after one year of t...

Frigid temperatures and the threat of heavy snowfall were not enough to keep thousands of volunteers away from the Natio...
12/17/2025

Frigid temperatures and the threat of heavy snowfall were not enough to keep thousands of volunteers away from the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies on Saturday for the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony.

About 18,300 wreaths were placed at the cemetery in Bridgeville at just one of many ceremonies that took place Saturday. About 3 million wreaths were placed at 5,600 cemeteries across the country, U.S. territories and 26 American cemeteries overseas.

Typically, about 2,000 volunteers show up to place wreaths at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies and about that many were there Saturday.

By Paul Paterra [email protected] BRIDGEVILLE – Frigid temperatures and the threat of heavy snowfall were not enough to keep thousands of volunteers away from the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies on Saturday for the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony. About 18,300 wreaths were...

When the ghosts and jack-o’-lanterns get put away, the tinsel and sparkling lights start to come out of storage.While ma...
12/16/2025

When the ghosts and jack-o’-lanterns get put away, the tinsel and sparkling lights start to come out of storage.

While many houses decorate for Christmas, some go the extra mile to make their homes festive inside and out.

Brittany McLaughlin, of Peters Township, said it takes her three weeks to fully decorate the exterior and interior of her house.

“Growing up my grandparents did this, my grandma Twila, and my parents as well. And I just thought it was so important for my children to grow up in a winter wonderland,” McLaughlin said.

When the ghosts and jack-o’-lanterns get put away, the tinsel and sparkling lights start to come out of storage. While many houses decorate for Christmas, some go the extra mile to make their homes festive inside and out. Brittany McLaughlin, of Peters Township, said it takes her three weeks to fu...

A South Strabane man accused of attempting to kidnap and assault a woman in a grocery store parking lot last year was fo...
12/16/2025

A South Strabane man accused of attempting to kidnap and assault a woman in a grocery store parking lot last year was found not guilty on two felony counts Thursday, although the Washington County jury was deadlocked on other charges associated with the case.

Jose Carmen Zaragoza, 50, was on trial this week at the Washington County Courthouse for the May 6, 2024, incident in which South Strabane police said he tried to kidnap and choke his ex-girlfriend outside Giant Eagle in the Strabane Square shopping center.

A South Strabane man accused of attempting to kidnap and assault a woman in a grocery store parking lot last year was found not guilty on two felony counts Thursday, although the Washington County jury was deadlocked on other charges associated with the case. Jose Carmen Zaragoza, 50, was on trial t...

Organizers of what was billed as the World’s Largest Christmas Cookie Exchange last month announced the number of cookie...
12/12/2025

Organizers of what was billed as the World’s Largest Christmas Cookie Exchange last month announced the number of cookies that were made at an event in Monongahela Tuesday.

All told, 83,427 cookies were made at the event that was based at the Washington County Fairgrounds on Nov. 30 and organized by the Wedding Cookie Table Community. The exchange encompassed 14 states and New Zealand. Also, 73,835 cookies were exchanged among 67 teams and 583 bakers.

Cookie palooza Numbers revealed for World’s Largest Cookie Exchange Organizers of what was billed as the World’s Largest Christmas Cookie Exchange last month announced the number of cookies that were made at an event in Monongahela Tuesday. All told, 83,427 cookies were made at the event that wa...

Peters Township council voted Monday to negotiate potential contracts with two outside EMS providers, signaling the end ...
12/12/2025

Peters Township council voted Monday to negotiate potential contracts with two outside EMS providers, signaling the end of the longstanding local ambulance service.

An initial motion to only negotiate with Allegheny Health Network, which operates Canonsburg EMS, failed after a 3-3 tie. Tom Pirosko, Gary Stiegel Jr. and Frank Kosir Jr. voted against the motion. Council member Matt Rost was absent from Monday’s meeting.

Peters Township council voted Monday to negotiate potential contracts with two outside EMS providers, signaling the end of the longstanding local ambulance service. An initial motion to only negotiate with Allegheny Health Network, which operates Canonsburg EMS, failed after a 3-3 tie. Tom Pirosko,....

For years, Point Marion Community Park has served as the venue for a number of volunteer-run events, among them the Albe...
12/11/2025

For years, Point Marion Community Park has served as the venue for a number of volunteer-run events, among them the Albert Gallatin Regatta, Fall Fest and Santa in the Park.

While those have brought thousands to the park and created memories for all ages, members of the Riverfront Park Associates are now focused on improving the park’s amenities.

Editor’s note: This article is a part of Helping the Helpers, our annual series to raise awareness for nonprofits throughout the area. For years, Point Marion Community Park has served as the venue for a number of volunteer-run events, among them the Albert Gallatin Regatta, Fall Fest and Santa in...

City leaders and business owners in Washington said they still think downtown is a safe place to visit and shop followin...
12/11/2025

City leaders and business owners in Washington said they still think downtown is a safe place to visit and shop following three incidents in the past two months in which gunshots rang out on North Main Street.

Washington Mayor Jojo Burgess said he will “not act like Chicken Little (saying) the sky is falling” following the most recent incident in which city police said a man suffering from a “PTSD attack” fired multiple gunshots inside and outside an apartment at 71 N. Main St. during a domestic incident about 7:45 p.m. Sunday.

City leaders and business owners in Washington said they still think downtown is a safe place to visit and shop following three incidents in the past two months in which gunshots rang out on North Main Street. Washington Mayor Jojo Burgess said he will “not act like Chicken Little (saying) the sky...

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