WJPA News

Harrisburg, PA. – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) launched Narcan in Courts, a new initiative to expand access to the lifesaving overdose reversal medication naloxone by having it on hand at judicial buildings — including courthouses — across the Commonwealth in the event someone is experiencing an overdose. Naloxone is a medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reverse an opioid overdose by quickly restoring breathing to an individual if their breathing has slowed or stopped.

“Overdoses can happen anytime, anywhere. ‘Narcan in Courts’ will help to expand access to naloxone by placing it in buildings within Pennsylvania’s judicial system that are open to the public,” said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones. “This new partnership is a prime example of how multiple branches of government – executive and judicial – can work together to help those we all serve. Just like having AEDs for cardiac emergencies, having life-saving medication on hand for overdoses can be truly lifesaving.” The naloxone for the initiative is funded and supplied through DDAP’s Overdose Prevention Program. DDAP is providing 600 Narcan kits, which equates to 1,200 individual doses of Narcan – the common brand of naloxone that comes as a nasal spray – to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC).

The goal of the new, voluntary initiative is to place one Narcan kit in each of the 512 Magisterial District Judge courts and all 67 county courthouses for on-site emergency use. The Narcan will be placed in locations near or similar to those that house AEDs. In addition to distributing Narcan, AOPC will provide instructions, educational materials, and information about training videos to each location. “The courts are not immune to the tragic impact of substance use disorder on Pennsylvania families,” said Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Debra Todd. “Through our collaboration with the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Pennsylvania courts will have increased access to Narcan, which when administered in the critical moments of a suspected overdose, could mean the difference between life and death. Our shared focus in this effort is a testament to our broader commitment to the health and safety of everyone who enters our courthouses and magisterial district judge court facilities and to working with our government partners to respond to the challenges facing our communities.” AOPC, which operates within Pennsylvania’s judicial system, is responsible for ensuring accessible and safe courts for all citizens, recommending court system improvements and program innovations directly or collaboratively, and other business and administrative functions of Pennsylvania’s judicial branch of government.

A former Washington County attorney has been charged with embezzling more than $1.3 million from the organization that operates the Duquesne Incline.  Fifty-three-year-old Christopher Furman, now of Pittsburgh, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of wire fraud and money laundering, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Thursday.  The ten-count indictment alleges that Furman transferred money to his bank account from that of the Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline.  The DOJ says Furman made 25 different transactions between October 2024 and September 2025 and he allegedly put the money in an online cryptocurrency exchange and digital asset management platform, where he traded cryptocurrency for himself.  According to the indictment, this happened while Furman was president of the Society’s board.  Furman was selected for that position because he used to work for the incline and knew how its mechanics worked, the DOJ says.  While the board president, Furman was not allowed to look at the Society’s bank account or use its money for personal reasons, the DOJ says.  Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000 or double the gain from the alleged illegal activity.  Each count of money laundering carries a maximum of 10 years in prison and/or the same monetary penalty.

Washington County Commissioners, in a 2-1 have approved a $1.1 million dollar change order in connection with the P25 emergency radio system. At issue is a change order from Motorola Solutions, Inc. saying the money is necessary to deliver, build and outfit three support buildings for antenna sites for the new radio system. Commissioner Nick Sherman says that $5 million was put aside in the original contract that allows commissioners to outsource some of the project to local contractors. This is a part of that provision. The money is not covered by that $5 million as the payment for the change order will be coming from the county’s general operating fund. Commissioner Larry Maggi voted against the measure. He is concerned that the cost of the project keeps escalating. He says that he does not recall the provision of the holdback of $5 million. His view is to use that $5 million for the change order and leave the taxpayer money alone. The original contract was for $24.4 million. The contract now, with this change order stands at $26,380,072.73.

BEIRUT (AP) — Three young men were hanged in Iran this week, raising alarm among rights groups that a wave of executions may be underway as authorities facing relentless attacks from the U.S. and Israel seek to squelch public dissent. The three men are the first to be executed from among the tens of thousands who were arrested during a January crackdown on nationwide protests. They had been sentenced on charges of “waging war against God,” for allegedly killing two police officers during protests, but Amnesty International said the convictions came in “grossly unfair trials” that used confessions extracted by torture. Rights groups say more than 100 others could face death sentences.

The public is experiencing the consequences of a partial U.S. government shutdown in long wait times at some airports as Transportation Security Officers take time off to manage the financial strain. The Department of Homeland Security says hundreds more have quit their jobs altogether since the shutdown began on Valentine’s Day. That could worsen the delays at airport security checkpoints and pose longer-term problems for an agency that historically has had some of the U.S. government’s highest attrition and lowest employee morale. TSA pay starts at around $34,500 and the average pay is $40,000 to $55,000, according to government figures.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Scientists say a record-smashing March heat wave in the U.S. Southwest shows climate change is already driving more dangerous weather extremes. World Weather Attribution said Friday that the heat would have been virtually impossible without human-caused warming. Experts say extremes now hit more often, in odd seasons, and in unusual places. NOAA data shows a much larger share of the country sees extreme conditions than decades ago. An analysis by The Associated Press finds the U.S. breaks far more heat records than in past decades. One former FEMA official said disasters now fall outside old planning models and noted insurers pulling back.