WJPA News

A Washington County teenager and his mother have been charged in the murder of PennWest California freshman, 18-year-old Karoline Heintz, who was found dead inside a vehicle early Thursday morning.  Eighteen-year-old Royce Moser is facing a homicide charge, while his mother, Rachel Moser, is facing charges of hindering and tampering.  During a press conference, State Police said they have been investigating at two homes in Washington County in relation to Heintz’s death.  Police were called out just before twelve-thirty to the area of the California Public Library at 100 Wood Street where they found Heintz, dead inside a vehicle.  Heintz, who was a graduate of Peters Township High School, and was playing soccer for the Vulcans, was with family earlier in the day and was supposed to be returning to campus housing and checking in with her family, according to Washington County Coroner Tim Warco.  Her cause and manner of death are pending.  (Photo:  PennWest)

NORTH CHARLEROI, Pa. — A man faces charges after police say they found nearly 40 cats, many of which were dead, at a home in North Charleroi.  According to court documents filed on Wednesday, Joseph B. McKenna Jr. was charged with 18 felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals causing serious bodily injury or death and 20 counts of cruelty to animals.  Police said they were called to a house on Fourth Street after neighbors reporting at least two cats were dead inside garbage bags on the property and numerous others were running around.  Officers reported the house was in deplorable condition both inside and out. Police said 18 dead cats were found in various states of decomposition inside the house and 20 living cats were found running around inside. McKenna told police he was going through personal issues and was struggling to take care of the animals. He was asked whether he had tried reaching out to the Washington County Humane Society, the police department, or a nonprofit for help, and he said he had not.  McKenna was taken into custody and is being held at the Washington County Jail.

Authorities say an airplane pilot has died after a violent collision with a Pennsylvania state police helicopter near a runway at a small airport. Officials say both state troopers aboard the helicopter survived the crash Wednesday. The state’s acting police commissioner says the plane was coming down on the runway and veered into the helicopter that was close to the ground. The FAA and NTSB called it a midair collision but state police didn’t clarify if the plane was off the ground. Photos on social media showed a helicopter on its side near aircraft debris and a line of emergency vehicles near Carlisle.

Officials in the Monessen School District are considering beginning the school year with remote instruction.  In a letter sent to district families, Superintendent Dr. Robert Motte says resources like teacher supplies and instructional materials inside the middle-high school building cannot be affected building cannot be accessed.  He says no final decision has been made but “there’s a strong possibility” that the school year starts remotely and the district is “preparing for this possibility”.  The district previously pushed back the start of classes because of mold that was found inside the building.  Motte says the district is finalizing plans to distribute technology to students and staff.  He calls the situation “very fluid” and says they will share additional information as plans are finalized.

HONOLULU (AP) — Communities still recovering from last weekend’s hurricane in Hawaii could get pounded again in coming days. Hurricane Lala tore roofs off houses, covered roads in mud and left thousands of homes without power. Now forecasters are warning another tropical storm could form as early as Thursday in the Pacific and approach the islands this weekend. Meteorologists say the system could dump up to 15 inches of rain across the Big Island and trigger life-threatening flooding and mudslides. Currently a tropical depression about 960 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. Gov. Josh Green planned a news conference Thursday to discuss storm preparations and update residents on Hurricane Lala, which left two people dead.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The national debt has surpassed a record $40 trillion, highlighting the impact of defense costs, social programs, and interest on the deficit. This milestone comes just five months after hitting $39 trillion. Experts say the growing debt is already affecting Americans by raising borrowing costs and lowering wages. Advocates for a balanced budget warn of tougher fiscal tradeoffs ahead. Margaret Spellings from the Bipartisan Policy Center says the fiscal trajectory is unsustainable. The U.S. is subject to a statutory debt limit, which Congress may need to address again by 2027.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Canada and the United States have moved closer to finalizing a trade agreement that would avert threatened 50% U.S. tariffs. A senior Canadian official calls the emerging terms “a very good deal for Canada” while cautioning that negotiations are not complete. President Donald Trump says the agreement was “very fair” to both sides and predicts U.S. farmers and manufacturers will benefit. Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked provincial premiers to return U.S. alcohol to store shelves, according to Nova Scotia’s premier. The tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian imports have been postponed until 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has picked Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration. Overton is a deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and a trusted figure in Trump’s administration. Overton has worked on several of Trump’s health initiatives. But the new FDA commissioner will face challenges balancing Trump’s priorities, traditional Republican interests and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-corporate stance. Overton will need Senate confirmation and face questions from the Senate health committee. The previous FDA head, Dr. Marty Makary, resigned in May, leaving unfinished projects like work on ultra-processed foods, antidepressants and COVID-19 shots.

The Israeli military plans a criminal investigation into the killings of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl and her family, as well as 15 paramedics in Gaza. Wednesday’s decision follows reviews of 150 incidents of troop conduct during the Gaza war. Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf is visiting neighboring Iraq for three days to meet with officials and leaders of an Iran-backed political coalition. Deadly Israeli airstrikes continue in Gaza. And France’s government has announced the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats in response to the expulsion of French diplomats from Iran earlier this week.

LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, will return to the United Kingdom, seemingly marking an end to a yearslong rift with the royal family. Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper reported Wednesday that the couple won’t resume their roles as working members of the royal family. But returning to Britain means King Charles III, who is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, will get to see more of his grandchildren. Harry and Meghan quit royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States, alleging hostility and racist attitudes by the press and royal establishment. But in recent months, there had been signs of a thaw in the tumultuous relationship.