WJPA News responded Thursday morning to reports of ICE agents present in the City of Washington this morning. A reporter went to 239 Shirls Ave, where roofing work is being done and spoke to Jason Morris of Morris Contracting & Roofing. Morris explained that there was a van circling before his crew got to the job site. After work began, about 10 ICE agents started to approach. Morris said he got his workers out safely, and there was no conflict.
In Hanover Township, some residents are looking to get more representation on the Board of Supervisors. This comes after months of conditional use hearings regarding a proposed data center at Starpointe Business Park. On Election Day, residents can vote to expand the Board from three to five supervisors. One resident, Katie Weber, says having additional supervisors is important to increase diversity and representation. Andy Miller is a resident and part owner of Starpointe Business Park. He says adding supervisors is a terrible idea. Resident Gary Munko explains that if supervisors are added, they would not take office until January 2028. At that time, they would be able to enforce the township’s data center ordinance. The conditional use hearing will continue November 10 at 6:00 PM at the Hanover Township Fire Department Hall.
Washington County 911 tells WJPA News that one person was trapped in a home at 775 Michigan Avenue in South Strabane Township after a fire broke out shortly before six o’clock on Wednesday evening. According to a post on the South Strabane Fire Department website, the individual was rescued and taken to a hospital. There’s been no word on that person’s condition or the nature of the injuries. Multiple fire departments responded and the blaze was brought under control quickly. South Strabane fire officials say the fire is under investigation.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s response to the disastrous 2023 East Palestine train derailment will be investigated after dozens of residents of the small town on the Ohio-Pennsylvania and Vice President JD Vance requested the review. The Inspector General of the EPA announced the investigation Tuesday to assess the agency’s response to the worst rail disaster in more than a decade. Resident Jami Wallace said she is glad the concerns raised by people who live in the area are getting attention again. She has tracked more than 80 cases of cancer among residents.
The Main Street Farmers Market in downtown Washington is giving the community one more chance to shop before the end of the season. The president, Tracee Malik, explains that shopping at the market is a great way to support local farmers. Despite some bad weather, Malik says it was still a very successful season. The market’s last day is Thursday, October 29 and there will be trick-or-treat for children. The market will be open from 3:00-6:00 PM and parking is free.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Get ready to fall back. The Senate is unlikely to act on a House-passed bill that would make daylight saving time permanent, despite pressure from President Donald Trump and Americans who don’t like having to change their clocks twice a year. Daylight saving time ends early Sunday, requiring much of the U.S. to move clocks back one hour. Several senators are holding up legislation that would eliminate that longtime U.S. tradition. Supporters argue that ending the time change would provide more daylight during the times Americans are most active. Opponents say commuters in some states wouldn’t see the sun until after 9 a.m.
WASHINGTON (AP) — An inflation gauge closely monitored by the Federal Reserve accelerated last month, a sign prices remain elevated less than a week from midterm elections that have focused on affordability concerns. Consumer prices rose 3.6% in September compared with a year earlier, the Commerce Department said Thursday, up from 3.4% in August. On a monthly basis, prices climbed 0.5%, up from 0.3% in August and the highest figure since May. Annual inflation has worsened since the Iran war caused spikes in oil and gas prices. U.S. oil prices still top $100 a barrel, up from less than $70 before the war.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a healthy 3.4% annual pace from July through September, accelerating from the second quarter on strong consumer spending and investment in artificial intelligence. The expansion in third-quarter gross domestic product – the nation’s output of goods and services – was faster than the 2.2% growth registered from April through June, the Commerce Department said Thursday. Consumer spending rose at a brisk 3.8% clip in the third quarter, and business investment was up sharply, reflecting the AI boom.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — President Donald Trump is calling for the criminal prosecution of the Democratic candidate running for Senate in Alaska after revelations that her campaign appeared to be involved in recruiting a candidate with the same name as Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. The New York Times relied on text messages and interviews for a report Wednesday showing that Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign coordinated with Democratic operatives to recruit a man named Daniel J. Sullivan to compete on the ballot with the incumbent. Sen. Sullivan said his opponent needs to “come clean.” At a campaign stop Wednesday, Peltola called the report a ”distraction.”
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (AP) — Former President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump have both rallied for their parties ahead of the midterm elections. Obama campaigned in Georgia with former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Sen. Jon Ossoff on Wednesday. He criticized Trump for focusing on personal wealth and White House renovations. Meanwhile, Trump spoke in Ohio, urging supporters to vote and repeating claims about the 2020 election. He also targeted Democrat Mary Peltola in Alaska, accusing her of voter fraud. Trump’s rallies are focusing on red states as he supports candidates like Ohio Sen. Jon Husted and Michigan’s Mike Rogers.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve kept its key rate unchanged Wednesday at about 3.9% despite stubbornly high inflation, while providing little hint about its next moves. The Fed meeting took place less than a week before the midterm elections, which have focused heavily on concerns about the cost of living and affordability, but Fed Chair Kevin Warsh denied politics affected the central bank’s decision. The Fed wants to return inflation to its 2% target, which it typically does by raising its short-term interest rate. Warsh dismissed the notion that not raising rates would cause the public to lose faith in the Fed.
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his party have amplified claims that the country’s election was “stolen” by Arab-led parties. Final results are expected to confirm on Thursday that Netanyahu’s bloc has lost its majority in parliament. The opposition accuses Netanyahu of demonizing the Arab population after a strong showing by Arab-led parties. If the opposition teams up with those parties in a rare and politically risky move, they could form the next government. The elections committee has asked the Shin Bet intelligence service to investigate alleged election interference by unspecified “foreign entities.” Netanyahu’s Likud party targeted Arab-led parties even before the vote, despite lacking specific evidence.
