the almanac J A N U A RY 25, 2026
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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‘One of Washington County’s PennWest looks to cut academic most distinguished sons’ majors, minors
KAREN MANSFIELD/OBSERVER-REPORTER
Pennsylvania Western University is proposing a major restructuring of its course offerings starting with the 2026-27 school year.
MIKE JONES
COURTESY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
James Blaine
A historical marker was placed at the site of James G. Blaine’s childhood home on Main Street in West Brownsville just below the Lane Bane Bridge.
Blaine ran for president in 1884 By Mike Jones mjones@observer-reporter.com
James G. Blaine, who grew up in West Brownsville and is the only Washington County resident to ever run for president on a major party ticket, is getting a “glow up,” thanks to a new Netflix drama series featuring President James Garfield’s brief term in office. The Washington County Historical Society recently listed Blaine as “one of our most famous statesmen of the 19th century and one of Washington County’s most distinguished sons,” but few people around here seem to know much about him and his local ties despite his outsized role in national politics. Blaine was born Jan. 31, 1830, and grew up in a house that once stood on Main Street in West Brownsville Borough not far from the banks of the Monongahela River. Astonishingly, he enrolled at Washington College in 1843 at age 13 and studied at the school until graduating in 1847. While going to the school that would become Washington & Jefferson College a couple of decades later, Blaine lived at a house on South Main Street in the city that still stands today – with an exterior plaque that bears his name –
and is now a home decor shop. A few years after graduating from college, Blaine relocated to Maine and called that home for much of his adult life as he moved up the political ladder in the Republican Party. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1863 until 1875 – being elevated to speaker for several years – before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1876. Known as the “Magnetic Man From Maine,” he had dreams of running for president, even becoming “warped” by the idea, according to the book, “Destiny of the Republic,” by Candice Millard. Blaine put his name into the mix during the Republican National Convention in Chicago in 1880, but was defeated by the unassuming candidacy of Congressman James Garfield of Ohio. But the political opponents were also longtime friends from their time together in Congress, and when Garfield won election later that year, he tapped Blaine to serve as his Secretary of State. It’s here where the story of Blaine takes some of the spotlight in the Netflix drama, “Death by Lightning,” that features the unexpected political rise of Garfield and his abbreviated presidency when an assassin’s bullet and subsequent infection took his life months later. Bradley Whit-
ford, who is known for his acting roles in movies such as Billy Madison and the television series, “The West Wing,” portrayed a white-bearded Blaine who was a close ally and confidant to Garfield. After Garfield’s death in September 1881 – more than two months after he was shot with Blaine by his side and just six months into his term – Blaine briefly remained as Secretary of State under the deceased president’s successor, Chester Arthur, until leaving his post at the end of the year. But Blaine’s political career wasn’t over. In 1884 at age 54, he secured the Republican Party’s nomination for president, but narrowly lost to Grover Cleveland in the general election. Washington County Historical Society Director Clay Kilgore, who was researching Blaine for a possible “Laid Back History” video, was surprised when there were no mentions of him as a “hometown boy” in campaign stories in the local papers when he ran for president. “He becomes this pretty prominent person. Are people (here) still following him?” Kilgore said of his research in local newspaper clippings discussing his political rise. “And there’s nothing in the papers.”
Attorney general warns of surge in utility-related scams kmansfield@observer-reporter.com
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is urging citizens to be aware of the recent rise in utility-related scams. Sunday said in a release on Wednesday that scammers are using different tactics to obtain private information, and posing as utility provid-
ers to access personal details. Those tactics include using fake utility websites to lure customers onto the site, claiming that they have missed payments to intimidate them into disclosing private payment information. “We are hearing of increases in impersonation scams involving utility providers. As always, I encourage Pennsylvanians to be vigilant and
LOCATION Robotics teams advance to championships PAGE A6 What’s happening, B3
By Karen Mansfield
kmansfield@observer-reporter.com
Pennsylvania Western University is looking to end four academic majors and 34 minors at its three campuses in California, Clarion and Edinboro while increasing the number of undergraduate certificates offered as part of a comprehensive restructuring. Students already enrolled in those programs can finish their degrees at their home campus. PennWest plans to sunset four undergraduate degrees: digital technology, commercial music technology, theater, and legal studies. Two associate degrees – digital media technology and engineering technology – also are slated to be placed in moratorium. Graduate programs to be cut across all campuses include athletic training, corporate communications, legal studies, and professional accountancy. At California’s campus, the following programs will no longer be offered, pending approval: graphic design, studio arts, and secondary education - art education. Minors slated to enter moratorium are: applied data analytics, Arabic, arts administration, athletic coaching, climate change, communication sciences and disorders, creative writing, deaf studies, digital marketing, digital media technology, entrepreneurship, earth and space science, event planning and management, forensic accounting, game programming, geography, global business, health science, human resource management, literature and culture, management information systems, nutrition and fitness, parks and recreation management, personal financial planning, professional writing, sales, social media, social work, Spanish, supply chain management, tourism and hospitality management, theater, theater history and literature, and web programming. At the same time, PennWest plans to add 18 undergraduate certificates, increasing its certificate offerings from 19 to 37. PennWest spokesperson Wendy Mackall said some minors will be redesigned as skill-focused certificates. “For example, PennWest plans to offer undergraduate and
SEE BLAINE PAGE A2
CONSUMER, BEWARE
By Karen Mansfield
Launching new certificate degrees
METROCREATIVE
Scammers are using different tactics to obtain private information, and posing as utility providers to access personal details.
cautious online and anytime they are solicited,” the attorney general said. “Consumers should be wary when someone asks for your personal or banking information over the
phone — especially during an unexpected incoming call. Scammers aim to frighten and pressure their targets, so if you have such an experience, cease communications
SPORTS Leroux scores 1,000 points PAGE B1
Classifieds, B4
SEE CUT PAGE A2
immediately.” Sunday warned of a rise in scams involving websites posing as legitimate utility providers, which can be found via Google searches as a scam lure. According to Sunday, when customers click on the site, scammers, posing as employees, will make claims that payments are past due and attempt to frighten the victim into turning over personal information or making a payment. He advises customers to take the following advice to protect themselves from potential utility scams: n Access your utility company’s website directly. The website is often provided on your bill. n Call the customer service number provided on your
utility bill or other official correspondence from the utility company. n Be wary of urgent payment demands. Utility companies do not require immediate payment by unconventional methods such as wire transfers, gift cards, or peerto-peer payment apps such as Venmo, CashApp, Zelle, or others. n Do not call numbers you see on advertisements online; these ads are often paid for by scammers who are hoping to take advantage of the “convenience” they are offering by putting their scam number in front of a consumer. n If you are using a search engine to find your utility’s contact information, use the name of the utility company SEE SCAMS PAGE A2
SIGHTS & SOUNDS Pittsburg Opera to stage ‘Curlew River‘ PAGE B3 Real estate transactions, A5