WJPA News

A former youth football director who pleaded guilty to stealing nearly a quarter of a million dollars from the organization has received his sentence.  William Spencer, 57, of Washington, was sentenced to a decade on probation and was ordered to pay the Washington/Greene Youth Football League at least $1,500 a month.  His first six months of probation will be served on house arrest.  Spencer was charged with defrauding the organization of more than $230,000 while he served as the director between 2020 and 2025.

A fire that destroyed a California Borough business is under investigation.  It broke out just before 10:30 p.m. at Maund Industries along Wood Street.   The massive fire collapsed the roof of the building and destroyed all of the concrete company’s trucks and mixers.  Officials say personal vehicles parked inside the building were also destroyed.  Fire officials say there were also tires and propane tanks inside.   The fire reportedly began in a storage area and the State Police Fire Marshal is looking for the exact cause.  No injuries were reported. (PHOTO; Socki-Sun Photography)

A multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 79, north, around the Marianna, Amity/Lone Pine exits, left at least two people injured, one in critical condition.  A 911 Supervisor says it happened around eight o’clock, Thursday night, when a tractor-trailer lost its load of metal beams or pipes, causing at least a four to five-car pile-up.  The supervisor says no medical helicopters were able to fly because of the weather.  As a result, one person was taken by ambulance, in critical condition, to a Pittsburgh hospital.  The second person was transported by ground to a local hospital.  The northbound lanes were closed for some six-hours because of the crash.

Work on the lower part of the concrete arch bridge, between Boyce Road and Upper St Clair High School, will be completed this weekend, with a 2 day closure (11/14 & 11/15) so crews can safely remove scaffolding and concrete forms.

During the final meeting of the Washington County Local Emergency Planning Committee for 2026, The Washington County Department of Public Safety spoke of their recognition by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for their efforts to address flooding concerns and coordinate local agencies to help those who sustained flood damage during floods on September 12 and 20. Dustyn Montgomery, Emergency Planning Officer for WCPDS organized efforts to combine the two events into one event to have the county qualify for SBA loan opportunities and PEMA DRAP grants. He guided the county in arranging several events for residents to apply for programs. His leadership has been described as a model for similar future Pennsylvania events. Residents may still apply for SBA loans until December 22, 2026 and for PEMA DRAP grants until January 26, 2027.  Deputy Director of the WCPDS Dan Harvey reviewed two hazmat incidents that occurred over the last month. The New Eagle Municipal Sewer Authority is working through an underground thermos-reaction. A parking lot is currently emitting temperature readings of 170-180 degrees. It is unknown what is causing the reaction but it is being monitored daily. The second incident is the accumulation of what has been determined as waste oil in a pond at Forest Lawn Gardens Cemetery in Peters Township. The DEP is working on determining where the oil is coming from. They seem to have it narrowed down to an automobile repair facility or a dealership repair facility on Rt. 19. The WCDPS is also updating their Hazard Mitigation Plan. (Photo: WCDPS Facebook Page)

The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered a nationwide ground stop on all departing flights.  According to reports from NBC News, the FAA says the order is happening because of “extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.”  US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said the ground stop is happening because of a “communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers.”  Duffy added that technicians are investigating the issue.  There are no further updates as to what those circumstances are.  Airports are asked to keep all flights grounded until further notice.   Pittsburgh International Airport is listing delays for at least 43 flights. Four flights have been canceled.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — All passengers accounted for and over 30 people hospitalized after tanker ‘lost control’ and hit cruise ship, mayor says.  A tanker struck a New Orleans river cruise with 129 passengers on board on Friday, partially submerging the boat. Rescues were underway on the Mississippi River, officials say.  Video from the scene showed the much larger Atlantic Asphalt tanker hit the paddlewheel cruise boat while it appeared to be docked. People were seen in the river in life jackets or standing near the railing as the other side of the American Heritage listed further into the water.  The cruise ship is operated by American Cruise Lines.  Lt. Stephanie C. Norwood with New Orleans Emergency Medical Services said all agencies are responding to rescue efforts.

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City’s mayor says two of the eight people killed when an apartment building collapsed in Brooklyn were children. A city official says the three-story building gave way Wednesday afternoon while construction workers were digging at a neighboring lot. The cause is still under investigation. The fire department says the search for victims has ended. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said during a news conference Thursday that two of the victims were construction workers. He says 18 people were injured in the collapse and rescue operation. The mayor has ordered safety inspections at about 100 building sites related to the companies involved in the construction project where the collapse occurred.

NEW YORK (AP) — International health experts are meeting to assess whether the U.S. and Mexico have lost their measles elimination status. Measles, a highly contagious disease, had been controlled in the U.S. for 30 years. Large outbreaks in recent years have led to thousands of illnesses and about a dozen deaths. The Pan American Health Organization is reviewing genetic evidence this week to determine if the virus is spreading continuously. Health experts blame the outbreaks on falling vaccination rates fueled by disproven claims that the vaccines, which have saved millions of lives globally, are not safe.

TORONTO (AP) — Canada threatened to sue automaker Stellantis and recover hundreds of millions of dollars in government funding after the company shifted planned vehicle production to the United States during U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and agreed to sell its idled assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said Ottawa had issued Stellantis a formal notice alleging breaches of its funding agreement, giving the automaker 30 days to address the violations or face legal action. Stellantis abandoned plans to build the Jeep Compass at its Brampton plant and shifted production to Illinois, leaving more than 2,000 Canadian workers without jobs. Canada committed millions to help Stellantis retool its Brampton and Windsor plants for electric vehicle production.

DUBLIN (AP) — European nations are looking for an envoy to represent them in talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war. They are concerned that a U.S.-backed process could leave them sidelined. Leaders from the 27-nation European Union are meeting Friday in Dublin to discuss the issue. There is no consensus yet on who the envoy should be or what the role would entail. Ukraine wants European support in the negotiations, while Russia opposes European involvement. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said he hoped Friday’s discussions would bring “clarity.” Ukraine and the U.S. say Europe will play a role in the next round of peace talks.