WJPA News

Washington City Police say they have made an arrest in connection with an early morning accident on Saturday that severely damaged parts of Fairhill Manor Church on Montgomery Avenue, and sent two people to Pittsburgh hospitals by medical helicopter.  Authorities say it happened just after one o’clock, when a vehicle plowed into the church’s brick monument sign – essentially destroying it – and then coming to rest on the church’s steps.  Two occupants who were trapped inside had to be extricated by emergency responders.  They were flown to Pittsburgh area hospitals.  There’s been no word on their identities or the severity of their injuries.  Police say they then observed a man, identified as Avery Alexander Ray, fleeing the scene.  He was eventually apprehended and taken into custody following a struggle.  Two officers were injured, with one seeking medical treatment.  Ray was taken to UPMC Washington Hospital for evaluation and then to the county jail.  Police say he faces multiple charges.  They are asking anyone who may have seen the crash or have surveillance video to call them.  The investigation is continuing.

(Canonsburg, PA) – Visitors to Washington County spent a record $804.5 million in 2025, according to a recently released report from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) and Visit PA. Visitor spending locally increased more than five percent year-over-year, outpacing both the regional and state averages.  Visitor spending has increased 35% over the last five years.  The DCED and Visit PA released their annual report on travel and tourism in the Commonwealth, the 2025 Economic Impact of Visitors to Pennsylvania, analyzing the impact of tourism across the state. The report confirms Washington County, PA, as the second-leading county in the Greater Pittsburgh region in overall visitor spending and shows continued growth in significant categories such as Total Business Sales, Employment, Personal Income and State/Local Taxes generated by the tourism industry.  “Reaching over $800 million in visitor spending is a significant milestone for Washington County’s tourism efforts and further demonstrates that this industry is an important piece of our local economy,” stated Jeff Kotula, President of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Promotion Agency. “It also illustrates that our strategy to promote our exciting county in partnership with our local hotels, event operators, attractions, and municipalities is attracting visitors, growing our economy, and creating jobs for our residents.”

South Strabane Township and the City of Washington were hit hard with rain storms on consecutive weekends in September that caused severe flooding. Canonsburg also was struck with consecutive rainstorms in August that caused significant flood damage as well along McBurney Road and across West Pike Street. Council will be approving an application letter to the Washington County Local Share Account board that says that they will supply $15,000 in matching funds toward a grant in next year’s round of grants. They hope for an approval of funding that would go toward the repairs needed to fix that flooding. They will also approve a resolution dedicating those funds at their voting meeting next week. During the meeting RVE Engineering discussed the plans for remedy. It will be a joint effort between Canonsburg and Chartiers Township. Chartiers Township will maintain the stream that runs along McBurney Road in their township so as not to have the stream overrun its banks and flood homes and businesses in Chartiers Township and Canonsburg. As for Canonsburg, they have already determined that the connection to a drain pipe is deficient and the pipe that runs under West Pike Street is insufficient to carry any runoff from that stream to Chartiers Creek. Any funding from Washington County LSA funds would be used for the remedy. According to Council President Eric Chandler, the borough will also be making application to the state LSA fund for further assistance.

The Cecil Township Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to create the position of Director of Public Safety. Supervisors also appointed Chief of Police Shawn Bukovinsky to the role. Chairman Frank Egizio says creating this position was necessary because of continual growth in the township. Egizio believes that Bukovinsky’s background and knowledge will make him a great fit. Bukovinsky says he looks forward to working closely with the fire department and coordinating police, fire, and EMS together. In other business, supervisors will host a Data Center Ordinance Hearing on Wednesday, November 4 at 7:00 PM at the Cecil Township Municipal Building. Residents will have the opportunity to review a drafted ordinance and provide feedback.

West Virginia University Police are warning students about reports of hazing at at least two on-campus fraternity sites.  In a Campus Warning issued Tuesday, police said there were multiple anonymous reports of alleged hazing. The possibly involved fraternities were not identified, nor were any other details about the reports revealed.  Anyone who has been a target of hazing or who may have information that’s helpful to investigators is urged to call University Police at 304-293-3136 or visit the department at 886 Chestnut Ridge Road, Morgantown. Information may also be shared anonymously via the LiveSafe app.

PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll announced Tuesday that a second daily roundtrip Pennsylvanian train service will begin service on November 18th. This collaboration with Amtrak and Norfolk Southern means service on the 444-mile trip between Pittsburgh and New York via Harrisburg, Philadelphia and other stops will double. It’s all part of the Shapiro Administration’s and federal investment in rail expansion. Officials say the expansion of service will give more Pennsylvanians access to modern, safe and reliable passenger rail service. They say the service will also provide economic development, jobs and infrastructure investment to the Commonwealth.  According to officials, Pennsylvania has sixty-five operating railroads – the most of any state in the country – and ranks third in total track mileage with more than 5,500 miles. Riders of the Pennsylvanian can enjoy coach and business-class seating, onboard wi-fi, and café service featuring Pennsylvania-inspired menu items. Tickets for the second daily Pennsylvanian will be available this week on Amtrak’s website and mobile app.

(AP) – President Donald Trump has responded to a major backlash over taxpayer-funded advertisements glorifying himself. He’s agreed to use his super PAC to cover such costs going forward. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling Trump “deranged and dangerous” for suggesting in a campaign speech that Iran could attack cities in his Democrat-led state. “Let ’em take out Los Angeles. Let ’em take out San Diego,” Trump said. “This is a very small price to pay.” And Paramount closed its $81 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, the companies announced Tuesday. Trump had promoted the merger as a way of controlling network coverage.

ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) — Cornell students, professors and others are thronging a campus plaza to protest the university’s response to allegations of sexual assault at a fraternity house in 2024. Students complained at Monday’s demonstration that the Ivy League university has met sexual assault complaints with procedures and silence, instead of support. Speakers faulted fraternities, the university trustees and Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff. The protesters marched to present a list of demands at the school’s main administration building. It had been splashed with graffiti and damaged overnight.

President Donald Trump has approved the execution by firing squad of Army Maj. Nidal Hasan for the 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas. The U.S. military hasn’t carried out the death penalty since 1961. A Pentagon spokesperson says the Army secretary will decide the time and place for the execution. Hasan killed 13 people and injured more than 30, claiming it was to stop soldiers from going to Afghanistan. Trump’s approval starts procedural steps for the execution, but Hasan could delay it with an appeal in civilian courts. Death sentences are rare in the military, with only four men currently on death row.

Tennessee’s top Republicans are exploring alternative execution methods after the failed execution of Christa Pike. U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn said Monday the state needs to reevaluate its execution procedures. She emphasized the need to find a successful method, whether lethal injection or electric chair. Top legislative leaders have discussed potential changes to state execution laws during their 2027 session. Tennessee’s execution procedures gained national attention last week when Pike survived a lethal injection attempt. Republican Gov. Bill Lee halted the remaining execution scheduled for this year and ordered an independent investigation into the state’s capital punishment system.

Seven major oil-exporting countries agreed Sunday to keep production steady in November at a time when the Iran war has driven the price of benchmark Brent crude oil above $100 a barrel. The so-called OPEC+ subgroup will meet again on Nov. 1 to review conditions in the oil market. The group includes Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman. The fighting with Iran began with U.S. and Israeli attacks last Feb. 28 and has disrupted global oil supplies and driven prices higher.

CHICAGO (AP) — Skydance-owned Paramount has closed its $81 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. The new Hollywood giant will be known as Skydance. The merger that closed Tuesday brings two of America’s oldest moviemaking studios together. It also further concentrates power in an industry already run by just a handful of major players. HBO Max and networks such as CNN now find themselves under the same roof as Paramount+ and CBS. Skydance Corp. emerges from one of the biggest tie-ups ever in the media and entertainment industry. Including billions of dollars in debt, the Warner acquisition amounted to nearly $111 billion.

(AP) – Grammy-nominated R&B singer Freddie Jackson, known for hits like “Rock Me Tonight” and “You Are My Lady,” has died at 70. His family confirmed he died Monday through a statement on Instagram. Jackson was born and raised in Harlem, where he learned all about soul music and sang gospel at White Rock Baptist Church. He began his career in the New York club scene before finding success with his debut album in 1985. In 2024, he revealed a kidney disease diagnosis and partnered with the National Kidney Foundation to raise awareness. Details about arrangements will be announced soon.

Jim Bakker, who along with his first-wife Tammy Faye built an evangelical empire around the hugely successful “The PTL Club” TV show, only to lose it all over a sex scandal and financial crimes, has died. He was 86. His second wife, Lori Bakker, said in a statement that Bakker died Monday. His cause of death was not immediately clear. The pair lived near the Missouri entertainment town of Branson and filmed their TV show “The Jim Bakker Show” there since it launched in 2003. Bakker suffered a stroke in 2020.