WJPA News

Uniontown, PA—PennDOT says they plan to close a portion of Route 4022 (Pleasant Valley Road) at the intersection of Clark Road in Buffalo Township, Washington County beginning Tuesday, September 8 at 7:00 AM.  A posted detour will be in place until early November utilizing Route 4022 (Pleasant Valley Road), Route 221, Route 40, and Route 3011 (McKee Road).  Gulisek Construction, LLC crews will perform emergency slide repairs.  All work depends on weather and operational conditions.

Uniontown, PA – PennDOT is announcing daily single-lane restrictions on Route 18 at the intersection of South Street and South Main Street in the City of Washington, Washington County, beginning Tuesday, September 8 through Friday, September 11.  Restrictions will be in place daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Traffic will be controlled by flaggers.  During this time, Golden Triangle Construction Company will perform asphalt patching work to complete utility restoration at the intersection of South Street and South Main Street.  This $2.25 million investment will replace the existing box culvert underneath Route 18 with a new pre-cast box culvert. This work includes excavation of the existing concrete box culvert, installing a new pre-cast concrete box culvert, full-depth asphalt road replacement and concrete curb, gutter, and sidewalk replacement. This work is part of the Route 2001/Route 18 Over Catfish Creek Bridge Replacement Project.

If you’re going to need shared ride services on Labor Day, you’d better make your reservation quickly.  On Labor Day, Monday, September 7th, Freedom Transit’s administrative office and transit center will be closed.  Fixed route bus service will not operate on Labor Day, but shared ride service will be available. To schedule a shared ride for Monday, September 7, or Tuesday, September 8, please call customer service by noon on Friday, September 4th, at 724-223-8747.  For more information on public transportation in Washington County, visit www.freedom-transit.org or call 724-223-8747.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission says the bodies of all three missing boaters from a crash on the Monongahela River Sunday night have now been recovered, bringing the death toll to four.  The incident occurred when a boat and a barge collided near Rices Landing in Greene County.  On the night of the crash, two people (a man and a woman) were pulled from the river by barge crew members.  The woman later died at a hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia, while the male remains hospitalized.  He was listed in critical condition earlier this week, but there have been no further updates.  Authorities have not yet released their identities.  The Greene County Coroner though, has released the identities of those who were pulled from the river over the past two days.  They are 57-year-old Brian Selvoski of Bentleyville, 56-year-old Racquelle Rockwell of Scenery Hill and 58-year-old Erick Rockwell, also of Scenery Hill.  On Wednesday morning, the commission said someone called 911 from Rices Landing after seeing something floating in the river. Emergency crews responded, and the third body, a male, was recovered.

Travelers may have been exposed to measles at a Pennsylvania Turnpike service plaza in Westmoreland County.  The Pennsylvania Department of Health says someone who doesn’t live in the state tested positive for measles and may have exposed others to the virus at the New Stanton Service Plaza on the westbound Pennsylvania Turnpike in Westmoreland County on Aug. 17.  Exposure areas inside the service plaza include the Burger King, Starbucks, Sunoco, 7-11, restrooms and dining area.  Anyone at the plaza on Aug. 17 is urged to check their vaccination status and monitor for symptoms. Officials say those who are unvaccinated are most at-risk for infection.  Measles is a highly contagious virus that can spread through breaths, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and irritated eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the head and spreads downward. Symptoms typically appear seven to 21 days after exposure.  Measles can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia and brain swelling, with nearly 20% of infected individuals requiring hospitalization.  State health officials emphasized that receiving two doses of the MMR vaccine provides 97% lifetime protection against the virus.  Anyone experiencing symptoms or suspecting a measles exposure should contact a health care provider or call the Department of Health toll-free hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258).

BOSTON (AP) — The Trump administration is again asking the Supreme Court to let it move ahead with restrictions on mail ballots before the midterm elections in November even as legal wrangling over President Donald Trump’s executive order continues in lower courts. The Thursday appeal comes after a federal judge in Boston blocked Trump’s executive order for now. The justices have previously allowed the president’s plan to move ahead, but haven’t decided whether it’s legal. The court fight is unfolding even as states are preparing to send out mail ballots.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A shooting at a downtown Minneapolis apartment building has left three people dead, including the suspect, and five others wounded. Authorities say those wounded in the gunfire include two Minneapolis police officers, both in stable condition. A 911 call about shots fired came in just after 4:30 p.m. Monday. Officers quickly entered the building and found victims. Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson has praised the officers’ courage in confronting the dangerous situation. The suspect was known to authorities before the shooting. The FBI is assisting local law enforcement.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Childcare costs are straining families. An analysis by The Associated Press found hundreds of thousands of kids who qualify for federal childcare subsidies are sitting on waitlists. The analysis showed eligible children waiting for aid in 23 states and the District of Columbia as of this spring. Funding shortfalls worsened after pandemic aid expired in 2024, causing waitlists to balloon. While they wait for childcare assistance, families face tough choices, with some parents sidelined from work or education. In Indiana, nearly 37,000 children were on the waitlist as of this spring. The state is using $200 million in surplus funds to help it move roughly 8,000 children off the waitlist.

Virtually every American has been targeted by scammers in some way, exclusive new polling data shows. Scams in the U.S. have surged to a record high, causing billions in losses for Americans. But the U.S. still lags behind some other countries in tackling the problem, holding financial and social media companies responsible and regulating the cryptocurrency scammers rely on, an investigation by The Associated Press and FRONTLINE found. And although both the Trump administration and Congress are pursuing new options, victims still have little recourse.

PATTAYA, Thailand (AP) — The crew of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has streamed into Pattaya, Thailand, as part of the port call after the ship’s lengthy deployment to the Middle East. It had supported the U.S. war against Iran and set a record with over 260 days at sea. Concerns about crew mental health and food shortages arose last month, but the Navy downplayed any issues. Sailors expressed excitement about being in Thailand. The Lincoln is expected to leave Thailand this weekend and continue its journey back to the U.S.

NEW YORK (AP) — Gloria Steinem, the most visible symbol and potent voice of the U.S. women’s movement in the ’60s and ’70s and a fierce advocate for feminist causes for the rest of her life, has died at 92. With her trademark streaked, straight hair parted down the middle and large aviator glasses, Steinem, co-founder of Ms. Magazine, was a hugely recognizable presence wherever she went. And she went everywhere, from college campuses to community centers to rallies and marches. According to her and her foundation’s social media pages, she died Wednesday at her home in New York City.