WJPA News

ROSTRAVER, Pa. — There was an increased police presence at Rostraver Elementary in the Belle Vernon Area school district on Monday. A letter from Belle Vernon Area School District Superintendent Dr. Timothy Glasspool issued Saturday said the district received multiple Safe2Say Something reports regarding a potential threat. Glasspool says the threats were made on a social media platform or in a large group chat after the school day on Friday. He assured parents that the district is taking the reports seriously and the Rostraver Township Police Department is investigating. Out of an abundance of caution, there was an increased police presence at Rostraver Elementary School. Glasspool says the measure is intended to provide “reassurance and support,” as well as maintain a safe and secure learning environment while the investigation is ongoing. This announcement comes days after parents were notified of a threat made to bring a gun to the district’s middle school. Glasspool reminds parents to urge their children to report anything they see or hear that’s concerning to a trusted adult. Parents are also encouraged to review their child’s online presence.

Former Washington County Public Relations Director Patrick Geho, 55 of Canonsburg, has been sentenced for his actions in early 2025. According to an article published in the Morning Journal newspaper from Lisbon, Ohio on October 7, Geho was accused of responding to an undercover advertisement on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity in exchange for $250. Geho was fined $750 and given a suspended 90 day jail sentence. He was charged with two counts of possessing criminal tools. One of the counts was amended from engaging in prostitution. He must also perform 20 hours of community service and take a prostitution prevention course.

WASHINGTON, Pa. — A Washington teen’s toy drive braved the cold on Sunday to help kids this holiday season. It was the 12th year for Colby’s Toys for Tots Box Truck Drive in the city. The drive’s founder, Colby Jeffrey, told our news partners at Channel 11 he was inspired to start it when he was only five years old. Jeffrey is 17 now, and as determined as ever. “We’ve never missed a year,” Jeffrey said. “We’ve done it 12 straight years. We were a little bit nervous this year because of the weather, but we ended up able to stick it out.” Jeffrey said the engagement has been good despite the cold. They expected to collect around 1,000 toys on Sunday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Police say the younger son of Rob Reiner, Nick Reiner, was taken into custody Monday and booked for what investigators believe was the fatal stabbing a day earlier of the director-actor and his wife Michele at their home in Los Angeles. It was not immediately clear what charges Nick Reiner, 32, would face. Police Chief Jim McDonnell said he is being held on $4 million bail. Rob Reiner, known for directing films like “This is Spinal Tap” and “A Few Good Men,” and photographer Michele Singer Reiner were married in 1989. They had three children together.  (Photo:  AP)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Authorities are again searching for a person seen on a short video clip in the Brown University shooting that killed two students and injured nine. Officials said late Sunday they released a person of interest detained earlier in the day, finding no reason to keep him in custody. This setback leaves law enforcement without a known suspect. The shooting happened Saturday afternoon during a busy time on campus, causing chaos and a lockdown. The gunman fired over 40 rounds inside a classroom. Brown canceled all remaining classes and exams for the semester. Officials are not recommending another shelter-in-place order despite the renewed search.

SYDNEY (AP) — Australian leaders have promised to immediately overhaul already-tough gun control laws after a mass shooting targeted a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach. At least 15 people died in the attack. It has fueled criticism that authorities are not doing enough to combat a surge in antisemitic crimes. Among the new measures proposed Monday would be a limit on the number of guns someone can own and a review of licenses held over time. Sunday’s violence erupted at the end of a summer day when thousands had flocked to Bondi Beach. They included hundreds gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea event celebrating the start of the Jewish festival.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Federal authorities have announced the arrests of four alleged members of an extremist group suspected of planning coordinated bombing attacks in Southern California. The arrests took place last week in the desert east of Los Angeles. According to a federal criminal complaint, the suspects were preparing to test improvised explosive devices for planned bombings. They are members of an offshoot of a pro-Palestinian group called the Turtle Island Liberation Front. The group allegedly plotted to set off a series of bombings on New Year’s Eve and target ICE agents and vehicles.

TUKWILA, Wash. (AP) — Crews used sandbags to shore up an earthen levee south of Seattle on Monday after a small section of it failed following a week of heavy rains, prompting an evacation order covering parts of three suburbs, an official said. The evacuation order from King County in Washington state covered homes and businesses east of the Green River in parts of Kent, Renton and Tukwila. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning that initially covered nearly 47,000 people, but within a couple of hours had reduced the warning to an area covering 7,000 people. Authorities in two of those cities — Renton and Tukwila — said Monday afternoon the flooding was confined to small, industrial areas and that no residents were being evacuated.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A JetBlue flight from the small Caribbean nation of Curaçao halted its ascent to avoid colliding with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker, and the pilot blamed the military plane for crossing his path. The incident Friday involved JetBlue Flight 1112 from Curaçao, which is just off the coast of Venezuela, en route to New York City’s JFK airport. It comes as the U.S. military has stepped up its drug interdiction activities in the Caribbean and is also seeking to increase pressure on Venezuela’s government.