WJPA News

Police in Smith Township are asking for the public’s help in locating witnesses to an incident that occurred just before two-thirty Saturday morning.  In a social media post, Smith Township Detective Tyler Evans said they are seeking witnesses after a truck crashed into three people during an outdoor gathering.  Evans says a Ford Ranger reportedly hit three people near Creek Road, in a rural part of the township.  Evans says one of the victims is in critical condition and was taken to a hospital where they have undergone surgery.  Police say they have identified the victims and the Ranger’s driver, but  numerous other people attended the party, which was located in the woods or an open field and they are asking anyone who was a witness or has information to call Washington County 911 or (724) 947-5069 ext. 205.

A SWAT situation in the City of Washington Saturday night ended peacefully.  Authorities say an individual barricaded themselves inside of a home when police tried to serve an active arrest warrant on East Walnut Street.  They say that prompted multiple law enforcement agencies, including a SWAT team, to respond to the area.  The suspect was eventually arrested without further incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public.  There were no reported injuries.

CLAIRTON, Pa. (WPXI) — Two men are dead after they were shot in Clairton on Saturday afternoon.  The Allegheny County Police Department says the shooting on Miller Avenue near the Village Inn was reported around 6:35 p.m.  First responders found two men shot multiple times. Both were taken to an area hospital, where police say they died.  The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified one of the victims as Robert Allen Jones, 32, of Clairton.  ACPD says preliminary information detectives have gathered so far indicates the suspects fled in a vehicle.  Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call the County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.

It will be another busy week for PennDOT crews maintaining roadways in Washington County. PennDOT District 12 says crews will conduct base repair along Route 519 (Western Avenue) in Chartiers and Mount Pleasant Townships, as well as Houston borough. Bridge Replacement continues on Waterdam Road in Mt. Pleasant Township. Workers will be cleaning inlets along various routes in the county, while culvert pipe replacement will take place on Noblestown Road in Robinson Township. Crews will be mowing on Rt. 22 at the ramp in Hanover Township, Interstate 70 at the Jefferson Avenue ramp in the city of Washington, as well as Rt. 221 at South Bridge Road in Buffalo Township and Rt. 837 in Donora. There will be patching work at various sites in the county, and seal coating in Carroll Township, Charleroi Borough and Donora. And look for similar work in Allenport, Speers, Long Branch Borough and Fallowfield Township. And crews will continue with slide repair along Rt. 221 S Bridge Road in Buffalo Township. Motorists can expect detours, flaggers and single-lane restrictions. All work is weather permitting.

(AP) – The stage is in battleground Pennsylvania. The stakes are control of the House. And the main event Sunday will be political rallies to mark 100 days until the midterm elections. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries will unveil the party’s Fighting for an Affordable America agenda as he works to focus voter attention and build momentum ahead of November. In Pennsylvania’s 7th District, Jeffries and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, are rallying support for Bob Brooks. Down the road, Brooks’ rival, freshman GOP Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, is launching his own 100-day out event. It’s the symbolic start of the campaigns that will determine control of Congress in November.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has paused its airstrikes on Iran after nearly two weeks of intensifying bombing. At the same time, diplomatic efforts pushed forward to try to avert a return to all-out war. But it remains to be seen whether the U.S. and Iran are at an inflection point in a mercurial conflict that will reach the five-month point Tuesday. President Donald Trump has threatened more strikes but also said talks are pressing on. He’s brushed off concerns that rising gas prices tied to the fighting could hurt Republicans in November’s midterm elections. Adding to the uncertainty is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned visit with Trump next week. Israel has been notably absent from the renewed U.S. attacks.

NEW YORK (AP) — Trump’s tariffs are headed to court — again. Two lawsuits filed by small businesses are challenging Trump’s sweeping tariffs announced Thursday that impose double digit levies on 60 trading partners. The tariffs, implemented for what the Trump administration says is countries’ failure to prevent imports produced by forced labor, cover 99% of U.S. imports. Critics say that’s a pretext and the goal is to replace the worldwide tariffs that Trump imposed last year that were struck down by the Supreme Court in February. They came just as temporary 10% worldwide tariffs — that had also been challenged in court — expired.

NEW YORK (AP) — Skydance-owned Paramount has agreed to delay closing its $81 billion buyout of Warner Bros. Discovery well into next year. The move comes as a judge continues to consider a challenge from 12 states seeking to block the deal altogether. In a court filing, Paramount said it wouldn’t close the merger until a court ruling on the merits of the lawsuit or June 1, 2027. Just days ago, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín granted a temporary restraining order requested by the states to freeze the transaction for several weeks. The states allege the merger would “extinguish competition” in Hollywood and lead to fewer choices for consumers.

(AP) – Living through the biggest jump in grocery prices in a half-century has many Americans changing their eating and food shopping habits. The price of food purchased for home use has increased 33% since the beginning of 2019. In the 7 1/2 before thatThe war in Iran has made it uncertain if a slowdown expected this year will materialize. Residents of some cities where food prices increased by more than the national average say they hunting for deals at multiple stores and switching brands. Others are buying fewer of their favorite foods or less food overall. One reason consumers feel so pinched is other costs have climbed rapidly, too, most recently for gasoline.