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.

Speaking to a crowd at the Peters Township High School auditorium, author Shawn “S.A.” Cosby talked about growing up in ...
11/12/2025

Speaking to a crowd at the Peters Township High School auditorium, author Shawn “S.A.” Cosby talked about growing up in a family of vociferous readers.

His mother enjoyed biographies and historical novels, and Cosby recalled reading detective novels with his uncle.

“Which, side note, those books had these, like, very lascivious covers, and my mom wouldn’t let me read them until we cut the covers off. I never had the heart to tell her … There is so much worse stuff in the book,” Cosby said.

Speaking to a crowd at the Peters Township High School auditorium, author Shawn “S.A.” Cosby talked about growing up in a family of vociferous readers. His mother enjoyed biographies and historical novels, and Cosby recalled reading detective novels with his uncle. “Which, side note, those boo...

The Trades and Labor Building in Washington has been designated as a Washington County Historical Landmark and a public ...
11/12/2025

The Trades and Labor Building in Washington has been designated as a Washington County Historical Landmark and a public dedication was held Saturday to celebrate that honor.

“This building is a testament to the rich labor history of Washington County,” said Donna Patrina, president of the Washington-Greene Central Labor Council, which is currently housed in the building. “We are thrilled to put our registered landmark on the building.I can’t begin to tell you what it means to me to have this building as a registered landmark in Washington. We’re trying to save the building. It’s old. It needs a lot of work. For the labor history in Washington County, this building is everything to us.”

The Trades and Labor Building in Washington has been designated as a Washington County Historical Landmark and a public dedication was held Saturday to celebrate that honor. “This building is a testament to the rich labor history of Washington County,” said Donna Patrina, president of the Washin...

Typically, the second Saturday of the month is busy at the LeMoyne Community Center but this past Saturday drew even a b...
11/11/2025

Typically, the second Saturday of the month is busy at the LeMoyne Community Center but this past Saturday drew even a bigger crowd for its monthly food distribution.

People started lining up as early as 6:30 a.m. for fresh produce, canned goods, non-perishables and dairy products, as well as 500 turkeys which were given away. “On a normal month, we probably serve about 125-130 families,” said Trish Robinson, program director, shortly after 10 a.m. Saturday. “I think we’ve exceeded that already. Everybody has been so gracious. We want to make sure everybody has not just what they need, but more than enough, not just for them but maybe for their neighbors.”

Typically, the second Saturday of the month is busy at the LeMoyne Community Center but this past Saturday drew even a bigger crowd for its monthly food distribution. People started lining up as early as 6:30 a.m. for fresh produce, canned goods, non-perishables and dairy products, as well as 500 tu...

A freelance journalist who has been researching the deaths of inmates in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcem...
11/11/2025

A freelance journalist who has been researching the deaths of inmates in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement has filed a federal lawsuit in Johnstown seeking the release of information concerning an inmate who died in December 2023 when housed in the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg.

MVPC inmate Frankline Okpu was 37 years old when he was found unresponsive in his cell on Dec. 6, 2023.

The ensuing investigation by Pennsylvania State Police and the Clearfield County Coroner determined that his death was due to ecstasy toxicity accompanied by multiple other medical concerns reflecting heart and coronary artery issues.

A freelance journalist who has been researching the deaths of inmates in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement has filed a federal lawsuit in Johnstown seeking the release of information concerning an inmate who died in December 2023 when housed in the Moshannon Valley Processing Center...

The recent ICE raids across the country and in Southwestern Pennsylvania, along with immigration enforcement agents in t...
11/10/2025

The recent ICE raids across the country and in Southwestern Pennsylvania, along with immigration enforcement agents in the city of Washington in recent weeks, have sparked fear among immigrants in the area.

“Around last October, the fear level from 0 to 10 was at a 2. I’d say it’s now at an 8 or 9. It’s awful. People are frightened,” said the Rev. Jay Donahue, parochial vicar at St. Oscar Romero Parish in Washington. The parish includes Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Meadow Lands, where Donahue conducts a weekly Mass in Spanish for the church’s large Latino community.

UPDATE: This story was updated on Nov. 8 to reflect confirmation of ICE raids. The recent ICE raids across the country and in Southwestern Pennsylvania, along with immigration enforcement agents in the city of Washington in recent weeks, have sparked fear among immigrants in the area. “Around last...

Peters Township police charged a woman accused of assaulting police officers after she was taken into custody during a d...
11/07/2025

Peters Township police charged a woman accused of assaulting police officers after she was taken into custody during a domestic incident.

Kimberly M. Pettijohn, 52, of Peters Township, faces felony charges of aggravated assault, and misdemeanors of simple assault and resisting arrest.

Peters Township police charged a woman accused of assaulting police officers after she was taken into custody during a domestic incident. Kimberly M. Pettijohn, 52, of Peters Township, faces felony charges of aggravated assault, and misdemeanors of simple assault and resisting arrest. According to t...

After President Donald Trump’s administration said it would “partially fund” SNAP benefits in November, many families ar...
11/07/2025

After President Donald Trump’s administration said it would “partially fund” SNAP benefits in November, many families are still worried about how to put food on the table.

Initially, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were not set to be distributed at all for November amid the government shutdown.

After President Donald Trump’s administration said it would “partially fund” SNAP benefits in November, many families are still worried about how to put food on the table. Initially, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were not set to be distributed at all for November amid ...

Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices fighting to keep their seats on the bench in a politically charged campaign we...
11/06/2025

Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices fighting to keep their seats on the bench in a politically charged campaign were leading in their retention vote late Tuesday night.

Democratic Supreme Court Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht all held a 2-to-1 advantage in the vote for retention Tuesday night in their quests to win another 10-year term on the high court.

Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices fighting to keep their seats on the bench in a politically charged campaign were leading in their retention vote late Tuesday night. Democratic Supreme Court Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht all held a 2-to-1 advantage in the vote....

It’s that time of year again – rutting season – when the deer that have feasted all year on your garden and flower beds ...
11/06/2025

It’s that time of year again – rutting season – when the deer that have feasted all year on your garden and flower beds seem even more likely to be leaping in front of your vehicle. They are beautiful to watch, and they are a nuisance.

Humans and these large animals have shared the environment for millennia, and that complicated relationship is explored in “The Age of Deer: Trouble and Kinship With Our Wild Neighbors,” by Washington native Erika Howsare.

It’s that time of year again – rutting season – when the deer that have feasted all year on your garden and flower beds seem even more likely to be leaping in front of your vehicle. They are beautiful to watch, and they are a nuisance. Humans and these large animals have shared the environment...

When thinking about the window displays at the old Kaufmann’s Department Store in downtown Pittsburgh, most people’s mem...
11/05/2025

When thinking about the window displays at the old Kaufmann’s Department Store in downtown Pittsburgh, most people’s memories probably drift off to the Christmas season and gifts for sale.

“It’s November, so you’re starting to think about holiday gifts,” said Robert Stakeley of the Senator John Heinz History Center. “That’s what Kaufmann’s would want (us) to do. Sell. Sell. Sell.”

When thinking about the window displays at the old Kaufmann’s Department Store in downtown Pittsburgh, most people’s memories probably drift off to the Christmas season and gifts for sale. “It’s November, so you’re starting to think about holiday gifts,” said Robert Stakeley of the Senat...

Four municipalities recently voted on forming a regional police department, but only Mt. Pleasant Township and McDonald ...
11/05/2025

Four municipalities recently voted on forming a regional police department, but only Mt. Pleasant Township and McDonald are currently moving ahead with the idea.

Mt. Pleasant’s board of supervisors approved a charter for the Northern Washington County Regional Police Department at their Oct. 22 meeting, and McDonald followed suit at their Oct. 23 meeting.

Four municipalities recently voted on forming a regional police department, but only Mt. Pleasant Township and McDonald are currently moving ahead with the idea. Mt. Pleasant’s board of supervisors approved a charter for the Northern Washington County Regional Police Department at their Oct. 22 me...

The lack of a state budget and the shutdown of the federal government continue to have wide-ranging local effects.Some a...
11/04/2025

The lack of a state budget and the shutdown of the federal government continue to have wide-ranging local effects.

Some agencies have had to alter services of lay off staff. Others have stepped up to try to fill the void and aid those in need.

About 2 million Pennsylvanians are among the 42 million Americans who were set to lose benefits from the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) starting Nov. 1. On Friday, two federal judges ordered government officials to tap contingency funds to keep those benefits in place.

The lack of a state budget and the shutdown of the federal government continue to have wide-ranging local effects. Some agencies have had to alter services of lay off staff. Others have stepped up to try to fill the void and aid those in need. About 2 million Pennsylvanians are among the 42 million....

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