WJPA News

The Cecil Township Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on the Conditional Use Application for the Cool Valley Development. The site of the proposed development is 216 acres along Interstate I-79, Lewicki Rd., and Morganza Rd. It will be used for retail, town homes, and an apartment complex. Frank Egizio, the Chairman of the Board, believes that the applicant was not fully prepared for the hearing. He said that there are still a lot of unanswered questions, including what the traffic flow would be like and how the development would impact residents in the surrounding area. Residents who spoke at the hearing expressed concerns regarding traffic, public safety, and light pollution. One resident, Michelle Turbanic, was pleased with the number of residents who showed up at the hearing, because she believes that taking part in local government is extremely important. Supervisor Cindy Fisher ensures that the Board will represent the residents and make sure that their concerns are validated. John Haynes, who spoke on behalf of Cool Valley Development, refused to comment after the hearing. The hearing will be continued on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 6:00 PM, with a vote immediately following.

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Washington hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the installation of a new, second linear accelerator, an advanced radiation machine used to treat cancer. Beth Wild, the president of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, says this addition not only ensures that patients receive the best care possible, but that they receive it as soon as they need it. Ziad Fawaz, a radiation oncologist and medical director at the Cancer Center, explains that this technology offers more advanced imaging and improved treatment accuracy. The system can accurately target tumors and minimize exposure to healthy tissue. Brook Ward, the president of UPMC Washington, says that this is an important milestone for the hospital, the Cancer Center, the Washington community, and the surrounding area. He also says that, while the technology is important, it is the great team at the Cancer Center that really makes a difference.

PennDOT says single-lane restrictions will be in place during their annual bridge inspections in Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.  In Greene County, bridge inspections will take place on Interstate 79 northbound over Route 221 at Exit 19 in Washington Township on Wednesday, July 8th, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.  In Washington County, Interstate 70 in both directions from Exit 40 and 41 in Speers Borough will be affected on Thursday, July 9th, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.  In Westmoreland County, the inspections will occur on July 8th from noon until 4 p.m. on Route 981 between Wimmerton Industrial Park and Lloyd Avenue in Unity Township.  PennDOT District 12 staff will perform the inspection work on the structures and all work is dependent on weather and operational conditions.

PennDOT announced on Tuesday that there will be nightly ramp closures on Interstate 79 at Exit 14, Masontown/Waynesburg, in Franklin Township in Greene County. They say the ramp closures will occur nightly from 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. beginning Monday, July 13th, and continue through Saturday, July 25th.   All work depends on weather and operations.  Officials say the ramp closures will be coordinated so detour routes do not conflict with one another.  Current I-79 single-lane restrictions between Exit 14, Masontown/Waynesburg, and Exit 23, Marianna/Prosperity,  that began on June 18th, will continue until late August.  The ramp closures will allow crews to perform concrete patching and to overlay entrance and exit ramps with asphalt.  The work is part of the I-79 Waynesburg to Marianna Project, which will make improvements to approximately 11 miles of I-79, extending through Franklin and Washington townships in Greene County and Amwell Township in Washington County, a $45.9 million infrastructure investment.

A group of former justices from Pennsylvania and Ohio and a former Pennsylvania Governor are on a barnstorming bus tour to discussing democracy, public trust and the importance of an independent judiciary. The “Justice In Motion” tour is organized by the nonpartisan civic organization Keep Our Republic. They are dedicated to strengthening trust in American democracy, constitutional norms and the rule of law. Their stop at the LeMoyne Community Center found a group of teenagers looking to find out more about an independent judiciary. Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett spoke of freedom and how the judicial process works in concert with the idea of freedom. Retired Ohio Supreme Court Justice Michael Donnelly explained how current political party fighting is threatening the independence of the courts. Retired Ohio Supreme Court Justice Maureen O’Connor specifically stated that there is no room for politics in the court of law. According to tour organizers, the tour is designed to create space for direct, unscripted conversations about democracy, constitutional government, and the role courts continue to play in American civic life.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. has launched strikes on Iran and revoked a license authorizing the sale of Iranian oil in retaliation for what it said were Tehran’s attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran hit back with strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait. U.S. President Donald Trump said later that the interim agreement with Iran was “over” but he would allow talks to continue. That raised concerns that the wider conflict in the Middle East could resume. Oil prices shot up. The attacks on shipping and the resulting strikes came during the dayslong funeral for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He was killed Feb. 28 in the war’s first moments.

BANGKOK (AP) — Oil prices have surged about 6% after U.S. President Donald Trump said the interim agreement with Iran is “over,” though he will allow talks to continue. Trump made the comments following U.S. strikes on Iran in reaction to attacks on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The price of Brent crude oil jumped 5.4% to more than $78 a barrel. In other trading Wednesday, stocks in South Korea dipped 5.4% following a retreat on Wall Street as the AI roller-coaster took tech shares sharply lower. AI stocks worldwide have been swinging because of worries their prices have shot too high.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Denmark has vowed to defend its territory after President Trump insisted the U.S. should control Greenland. This statement came during a NATO summit in Turkey, which was meant to show unity. Denmark’s Prime Minister emphasized Greenland’s right to self-determination, stating it is not for sale. Trump’s comments have raised concerns about NATO’s future, as the organization usually focuses on external threats like Russia. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General praised U.S. strikes on Iran, highlighting the fragility of the interim deal between the two countries. NATO leaders are also addressing defense spending and Trump’s grievances about burden-sharing.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Democratic nominee Graham Platner hasn’t resigned from the Maine U.S. Senate race following an allegation of sexual assault. But the battle to take his place is already underway. The allegation reported Monday prompted a chorus of calls for Platner to depart the high-stakes race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins, which could decide party control of the Senate. Platner’s long-time backer, Sen. Bernie Sanders, “recommended that he step aside.” Then, Tuesday evening, The Washington Post reported that an ex-girlfriend of Platner’s had accused him of removing condoms during sex without her consent. Platner, who has denied all the allegations, has been mum on whether he’ll step aside.

PROVO, Utah (AP) — Lawyers for the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk are expected to keep questioning the reliability of DNA testing that prosecutors say links the defendant to the suspected murder weapon. A member of Tyler Robinson’s defense team closely interrogated a DNA analyst from the FBI on Tuesday about the techniques she used to tie Robinson to a rifle found at Utah Valley University. Kirk was shot on the campus in September. Defense lawyer Michael Burt cast doubt on the FBI analyst’s conclusions. But legal experts say prosecutors have a low bar to demonstrate they have enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.

NEW YORK (AP) — An under-construction Manhattan high-rise at risk of collapse after columns buckled has been stabilized and some evacuations of nearby buildings have been lifted. The commissioner of the New York City Department of Buildings says the building hasn’t moved since they started monitoring it earlier Tuesday. The building is a former Pfizer headquarters and is being converted to luxury apartments. Nearby buildings, including a school, had been evacuated earlier Tuesday. Builders say the 37-story tower is part of the city’s largest office-to-residential conversion project, with over 1,600 planned units.