WJPA News

FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. — An Ohio woman is facing charges in connection with a deadly wrong-way crash on the Mon/Fayette Expressway in Fallowfield Township back in July.  Maciola Newman, 72, of Pickerington, is charged with homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering another person.  Investigators say Newman was behind the wheel of a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction near Toll 43.  Her vehicle crashed into a car driven by Jacob Huber, 24, of Ruffs Dale. Huber was pronounced dead at the scene.  Court documents say tire marks on the road indicated Newman crossed the double yellow line, causing the impact.  A passenger in her vehicle was injured and flown to a local hospital.  According to court documents, Newman is out on a $50,000 bond.

Washington County Commissioners reached out to inform and educate communities across the county on their efforts to improve life in Washington County with their outreach programs. Commissioner Nick Sherman detailed the new public safety building and 9-1-1 radio upgrade. Commissioner Larry Maggi discussed the blight mitigation program. Currently 73 blighted projects have been addressed. Of those, 59 are complete and 14 are in progress. One of the projects underway is the demolition of the old Somerset Inn on Rt. 136 in North Strabane Township. Commissioner Electra Janis discussed LSA and Opioid Settlement funding. Human Services Director Dr. John Tamiggi discussed the Human Services Department. Winding up the presentation was Bob Griffin, Director of the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Washington. He updated the audience on projects ranging from upgrades at the Washington County Airport to complete renovation of the former Washington Crown Center, now known as the Franklin Crossroads Park. He pointed to renovations at Lazear Hall on Washington And Jefferson’s campus that houses the college’s nursing program. Griffin called Canonsburg the “Gold Standard” for redevelopment with their efforts in redeveloping an old department store into the Midtown Market and the New Canonsburg Educational And Cultural Institute’s revitalization of the old Canonsburg Middle School. The Canon Theatre just had its ribbon cutting where they hope to host up to 150 shows per year. Smaller municipalities such as Charleroi were there to investigate the blight mitigation program. Deemston Borough spoke of their use of LSA funds to do electrical security camera upgrades at their buildings. Brownsville Borough spoke of their use of LSA funds for playground upgrades, war memorial restoration and the revitalization of their municipal center.

The Washington High School Student Life Group teamed with the Washington County League of Women Voters and the Washington Branch of the NAACP to host a “Meet the Candidates” event. Candidates for state representative, state senator, and the US House of Representatives took turns discussing their background and sharing their priorities with students and community members. Many of them expressed the importance of young people getting involved and everyone showing up to the polls. At the end of the event, attendees had the chance to speak with the candidates and ask questions. One member of Student Life, Blaise Naraskivitch, says it is amazing to have candidates show up to educate the youth, and he is happy with the community members who came to learn. Another representative for Student Life, Faith Bartozoti, explains that the event was especially important for the younger generation to learn about current issues. Eliza Boyd, the founder of Student Life, is glad that the group is growing and taking on bigger issues. Members expressed their disappointment in the Republican party candidates who did not attend. A few of those candidates shared written statements that were read by students.

More than 150 community stakeholders working to address the opioid epidemic gathered Wednesday at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum for the third annual Road to Recovery Symposium, hosted by the Washington County Department of Human Services.  The annual event brings together individuals with lived experience, community organizations, service providers and local leaders to share ideas, strengthen partnerships and identify solutions in the ongoing fight against opioid addiction.  “The people in this room are the boots on the ground getting the work done. The thing I love about this event is we do not sit around and have the conversations in this room and that is the end. We leave here and the collaboration continues,” said Vice Chair Electra Janis.  Washington County officials say they continue to play a role in addressing the opioid epidemic through the distribution of opioid settlement funds, which support programs and organizations working to prevent substance use, expand recovery resources and strengthen community support. Several symposium speakers represented organizations that have received settlement funding since it first became available in 2023.  Presenters included Teresa Burroughs of the Lemoyne Community Center; Pastor Tom Ravasio of Shekinah Ranch Camp; Nicole Masur of the Washington County Department of Human Services Housing and Homelessness division; Margie Ratay, social worker for the Peters Township Police Department; and keynote speaker Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski of the Common Ground Teen Center 

The deadline for removing skill game machines went into effect at midnight, prompting non-compliant venues across the area to get rid of their devices.  In June, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that skill game machines are essentially slot machines.  Lawmakers had 120 days to regulate the machines after the ruling, but ultimately couldn’t agree on how much to tax the games, with proposals rising as high as 52%. The fight became a stalemate between the Senate and the House.  Harrisburg insiders said “very little progress” was made before the deadline, but also said discussions are expected to continue.  Under the new rules, licensed casinos and qualifying licensed truck stop establishments are the only entities permitted to operate skill games. To maintain the machines, qualified businesses must pay a licensing fee of $500 per month for each machine, a cost that several local businesses say is not worth the expense.  If caught operating a skill machine, you will face a first-degree misdemeanor charge. It carries up to five years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.  Officials estimated that there were about 70,000 skill games throughout Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Social Security Administration projects a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for older adults and people with disabilities starting in 2027. Some recipients say it won’t offset rising prices. This adjustment means $75 extra per month for the nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries and about 7.3 million Supplemental Security Income recipients. Inflation continues to pressure household budgets and savings, and some older Americans feel the increase isn’t enough. The Social Security Administration faces a looming bankruptcy date if a funding shortfall isn’t addressed by Congress. Lawmakers have proposed measures to replenish the trust funds, including lifting the payroll tax cap to generate substantial revenue.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. inflation accelerated last month as gas, clothes, and air fares got more expensive, evidence that rising prices remain an economic challenge just a few weeks before the midterm elections. The consumer price index rose 3.7% in September compared with a year ago, the Labor Department said Wednesday, up from 3.4% in August. The figures underscore the lingering impact of the Iran war on gas prices and the stubborn persistence of inflation. The report also raises pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise its key interest rate further to combat inflation.

CAIRO (AP) — Iran-backed Houthi rebels have struck the headquarters of Saudi oil company Aramco in a strike that damaged the offices of senior executives. That’s according to two regional officials on Wednesday. There were no casualties. The strike is part of intensifying attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Houthis in neighboring Yemen. The rebels say the latest attacks are retaliation for Saudi military actions in Yemen. The rebels’ attacks have disrupted flights and raised concerns about Saudi Arabia’s ability to intercept missiles and drones. The conflict also has reignited Yemen’s civil war that has caused increased casualties and humanitarian challenges.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian drones lost some speed after restrictions were suddenly imposed on battlefield use of the country’s U.S.-made Starlink communication terminals. Ukrainian officials shared the information Wednesday as the capital endured a second consecutive night of missile attacks. At the same time, Ukraine did not receive the usual advance warning from its Western partners about the devastating Russian ballistic missiles aimed at Kyiv. That’s according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The situation triggered fears that Ukraine is being starved of vital intelligence, especially from the U.S. Zelenskyy did not specify which partners he was talking about when referring to the lack of warning.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Justice Department is threatening California with possible legal action over what it says are noncitizens believed to have received mail ballots for next month’s midterm elections. A letter sent Tuesday to Secretary of State Shirley Weber from Trent McCotter, the acting deputy attorney general, says the Justice Department has provided officials in Los Angeles County with a password-protected thumb drive containing a list of names the federal government believes are likely noncitizens. The letter gives the state 48 hours to review the list. The Los Angeles County registrar says his office is reviewing the demand with the secretary of state and state attorney general.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities investigating Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar have seized the Democratic lawmaker’s phone and have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives, according to a person briefed on the probe. The subpoenas were issued for a grand jury collecting evidence in Minnesota as authorities probe potential fraud in Omar’s immigration paperwork, said the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation. The investigation led to the search Monday of Omar’s Washington, D.C. home just weeks before the November midterms, in which Omar is seeking reelection.

Florida has won a key court decision in a case involving a ban on social media accounts for kids under 14. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the law in 2024 as a way to protect kids from social media addiction. A federal appeals court overturned an injunction from a lower court. The appeals court says the law implicates the First Amendment but does so it in a way that is content neutral. The law bans social media accounts for Florida children under 14 and requires parental consent for kids who are 14 or 15. Trade groups argued that the law violated free speech rights.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans have a new sunscreen option for the first time in over 25 years. The FDA approved the chemical ingredient BEMT back in June. It’s now available in products from brands like Neutrogena and others. The ingredient, already popular in Europe, offers broad protection without the cosmetic downsides of older ingredients. Dermatologists say BEMT fills a market gap by providing strong protection from ultraviolet light without leaving white streaks. It also has minimal skin absorption, reducing safety concerns. Unlike some older chemicals, BEMT is stable in sunlight. Experts still recommend reapplying sunscreen regularly and using additional sun protection.