WJPA News

No injuries resulted after a tractor trailer struck a disabled vehicle along Interstate 79 north early Friday morning.  Washington County 911 says it happened around 4 a.m. near mile-marker 26 in Amwell Township.  According to reports, the tractor trailer struck the vehicle and went down a steep hillside. The interstate is open through the area but motorists are asked to use caution through the area.  They are waiting for daylight before towing both vehicles from the scene. State Police are investigating.

The 10th Annual Washington Italian Festival is Saturday, September 26 from 12:00-7:00 PM. Held at the Community Pavilion on Main Street in Downtown Washington, the festival will feature music and dance performances, Italian food and beverages, and local vendors. The lineup of performers includes Allegro Dance Company, New Vintage Big Band, Washington Jazz Orchestra, Street Players, and more. Rebecca Robertson plays a big role in bringing everything for the festival together. She says this is a beloved event, and everyone is looking forward to celebrating Italian heritage. An honoree ceremony will recognize Italian American veterans, active-duty U.S. Military members, and the families of deceased Italian American veterans. Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi, a U.S. Marines veteran, will emcee the ceremony. The festival will have experiences for all ages, and admission is free!

Conditional use hearings for a proposed data center at Starpointe Business Park in Hanover Township have continued throughout the summer, and there is no end in sight. While many of these hearings were standing room only, there have been empty seats at the last two. Resident Cody Cunningham urges residents to be at as many hearings as they can to be seen and express their opinions. Another resident, Kerri Hageter, says she will continue to knock on doors and inform residents about these hearings. During Thursday night’s hearing, a witness for Prime Data Centers, LLC provided information about noise and sound studies that were conducted and noise reduction materials that would be used at the data center. During previous hearings, residents expressed concerns about noise pollution. Resident Katie Weber says she is still concerned, and she wants to hear from an acoustic expert who can address how harmful noises at different levels can be. The hearing will continue Tuesday and Wednesday of next week at 6:00 PM at the Hanover Township Fire Department Hall.

James Copenhaver, one of three campaign rally attendees shot in 2024 during an assassination attempt on then-candidate Donald Trump, has died. His lawyer announced the man’s death on Thursday. Copenhaver was 76. Copenhaver was in the bleachers during the event in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a 20-year-old gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop, grazing Trump’s right ear with one bullet. Copenhaver was struck in the arm and in the abdomen, wounds that left him with lingering injuries and walking with a cane.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has hosted a state dinner for China’s leader Xi Jinping, highlighting the glitzier side of diplomacy with a tech-heavy guest list and lavish details. Trump emphasized strong ties between the U.S. and China, despite political tensions. He also offered a long aside about the White House ballroom he’s building. Thursday’s event included billionaires, powerbrokers, and a menu crafted by Melania Trump. Guests dined on squash velouté and sesame-crusted sea bass. Trump showcased White House updates, including a new helipad and ballroom construction. The evening featured a toast to mutual goals and saw Trump give Xi a gift. The dinner follows Trump’s personal welcome for Xi, aiming to strengthen their relationship.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — The Energy Department says it will spend almost $2 billion to try to squeeze more electricity out of the nation’s aging and stressed power grid. President Donald Trump’s administration is stepping up efforts to avoid blackouts amid skyrocketing energy demand spurred by artificial intelligence. The money will go toward 31 projects across 26 states that are expected to produce more than 23 gigawatts of additional electricity capacity — enough to power 16 million homes. Energy Secretary Chris Wright spoke about the grant program Thursday in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Recipients include utilities, cooperatives and four state agencies. The state agencies — in Colorado, Indiana, Ohio and Oklahoma — were the biggest recipients, drawing at a total of $810 million.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration is voicing support for the safety of vaccines. Dr. Heidi Overton on Thursday faced questions from senators who will vote on her nomination to lead the powerful health agency. Currently serving as a White House adviser, Overton has worked on Trump administration health efforts, including a plan from the Republican president to break up decades-old combination vaccines for children. Despite that effort, which is not supported by science, Overton says FDA-approved vaccines remain safe and effective. Overton also faced questions about the FDA’s oversight of the abortion pill and vaping products.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, as U.S. jobless claims remain at historically low levels and most Americans enjoy job security. The Labor Department said Thursday that 197,000 people applied for unemployment checks last week, fewest since mid-July and down from a revised 198,000 the week before. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week ups and downs, fell to 202,250 last week from 204,000. Claims for jobless benefits are a proxy for layoffs, and economists watch them because they can be a sign of where the job market is headed. So far this year, claims have mostly stayed below 220,000 — historically low.

NEW YORK (AP) — Reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico returned to the White House hours after a federal judge temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s ban of the three news outlets. The judge said early Thursday that the news outlets must have their access restored. But reporters from all three outlets said they were still blocked early Thursday before access was granted a few hours later. Then some CNN and MS NOW journalists were denied entry to cover an evening event. The back-and-forth was the latest in an extraordinary showdown between Trump and media outlets whose coverage he dislikes. Trump announced he was banning the outlets Friday, assailing what he called “fake news.” The outlets argued they were singled out over the content of their coverage.