WJPA News

Both the City of Washington and South Strabane Township have issued emergency declarations following flooding that resulted from storms that rolled through the region Saturday.  The South Strabane Fire Department says that as storms moved in and began flooding homes, flooding roads, trapping vehicles in stormwater, and triggering fire alarms and fires.  While responding to multiple incidents across the community, firefighters learned of a “significant event” at their Oak Spring Road location — the main stormwater pipe under their parking lot had collapsed.  Within minutes, the lot filled with water. The department says no one was hurt, but the parking lot collapsed, and the station flooded.  Interim Fire Chief Jason Brown said roughly 4 inches of standing water accumulated outside its front door.  About 80 people were inside the fire hall for an annual community event when the storms arrived, and the pavement gave way.  An excavator operator was able to move a nearby shed containing critical equipment away from the collapse.  Brown said none of the equipment was damaged.  Township leaders are asking homeowners and business owners to self-report storm damage as crews conduct assessments this week and determine the next steps for repairs.  Brown said firefighters will continue operating from the Oak Spring Road station as long as the building remains safe.  As for the City of Washington, Multiple roads were either closed briefly or shutdown completely.  Authorities were out most of the afternoon, answering calls regarding flooded roadways and basements, downed trees and vehicles stuck in rising flood waters.  Once again, Park Avenue in the city of Washington and W&J College field were underwater.  There were also reports of a retainer wall falling near a home in the nine-hundred block of Donnan Avenue.

A Pennsylvania woman’s death is the state’s third this year involving the measles virus. Jefferson County Coroner Greg Furlong says on Facebook the 40-year-old woman died Saturday from complications associated with measles. The post did not identify the woman other than as a resident of a rural area some 50 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania’s two previous deaths involving measles were infants. Both previous deaths were in August. Doctors deemed measles a “significant condition” at the time of one infant’s death. They determined measles caused the death of the other infant, who had a genetic defect that left her vulnerable to infection.

Uniontown, PA – PennDOT has announced the closure of a portion of Route 3009 (Old Scales Road) and Route 3014 (Van Neal Drive) between Route 18 and Route 221 in South Franklin Township, Washington County, beginning Monday, September 14.  A posted detour will be in place until mid-December using Route 3014 (Van Neal Drive), Route 221, Route 3008 (Jolly School Road), and Route 18.  Department Force Bridge crew will demolish the existing structure, replace it with precast concrete box culvert. Work will also consist of widening the approaches, paving and guiderail. A $1.5 million infrastructure investment project.  All work depends on weather and operational conditions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency plans to repeal rules limiting greenhouse gas emissions from coal and natural gas power plants. Administrator Lee Zeldin says this move could save billions for the industry and boost American energy. The rule change, proposed last year, could be announced as soon as Monday. It’s a significant shift from efforts by Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama to combat climate change. The rule is expected to face legal challenges and could prevent future administrations from regulating emissions. The EPA has not commented on the proposal, which was first reported by the New York Times.

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has issued a new order freezing President Donald Trump’s attempt to limit mail voting for the midterm elections. A previous order from another judge is already before the U.S. Supreme Court. Election officials say they could not implement Trump’s new requirements before November. The decision issued late Sunday by U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols is significant because he was nominated by Trump and earlier declined to freeze the president’s executive order, saying at the time it was premature. In issuing a preliminary injunction, he wrote that it’s now clear many people could lose their ability to vote if it goes into effect.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he is a sufficient guardrail against rogue artificial intelligence, claiming that any efforts to limit the technology is part of a “SICK conspiracy.” The president specifically said on social media on Monday that the administration has already stopped the AI company Anthropic “from doing bad, or potentially bad” things. Trump pushed back against calls by tech leaders at Anthropic, OpenAI, Microsoft and others to have greater regulation of AI to ensure it is developed in ways that promote safety, address legal liability and preserve national security.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian diesel fuel infrastructure, saying attacks are causing a global shortage. Trump spoke on Sunday on the sidelines of the Irish Open after diesel prices in the U.S. hit record highs. His comments came hours after large-scale drone strikes overnight killed and injured civilians in Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian drones killed two people near an oil and industrial hub in Russia’s Tatarstan, according to local officials, while Ukrainian authorities reported on Russian drones pummeling the Black Sea port of Odesa and starting a fire near a border crossing with Poland.

NEW YORK (AP) — Fashion designer Bob Mackie has died at 87. A statement on his social accounts said he died Monday. His designs defined the 1970s, dressing stars like Carol Burnett and Cher in iconic outfits. Mackie won nine Emmy Awards, a Tony, and was nominated for three Oscars. He dressed celebrities such as Madonna and Diana Ross, and his influence continues today with stars like Zendaya. He also designed the gown Marilyn Monroe wore to croon “Happy Birthday” to John F. Kennedy. Known as the “Sultan of Sequins,” Mackie believed in enhancing natural beauty. His work spanned Broadway and television, creating memorable looks that combined fashion with fantasy.

MIAMI (AP) — Amazon says it has suspended its partnership with 21 Air after one of the cargo carrier’s planes careened off a Miami runway last week and killed five people. The Boeing 767 came in fast and then barreled roughly 1,300 feet past the end of the runway and smashed into a van carrying workers at a plane cleaning company. All five people who died were in the van. Amazon said Sunday it’s decided to pause operations with 21 Air as the investigation into the crash continues. North Carolina-based 21 had flown packages for Amazon since 2024. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about Amazon’s decision.