WJPA News

Washington County Commissioners are exploring the possibility of moving the county’s food bank funding back to a local institution. Several years ago, the board began directing money to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, but are now considering whether the funding should go straight to the Greater Washington County Food Bank in the amount  of three-hundred-thousand-dollars. During a recent meeting, commissioners tabled a motion to approve the funding to the Duquesne-based food bank. A decision on which organization should receive the money for the next fiscal year will likely be made in July.

BRADDOCK, Pa [WPXI]— A woman and a man are dead and several others injured following two shootings in Pittsburgh and one in Braddock Friday night into Saturday morning. According to WPXI and the Allegheny County Police, around 2 a.m. 911 was notified of a shooting in the 800 block of Braddock Avenue. When first responders arrived on scene, they found the victims. Investigators say that a small group of people were on a sidewalk on Braddock Avenue when an unknown person began firing at them from the other side of the street. Meanwhile, at around 2:30 a.m., police were called to Bedford Dwellings and found an unresponsive man, who was taken to a hospital and later died. In another incident, two people were shot on North Dallas Street in Homewood. They are in critical conditions. Police continue their investigation into all three cases. Anyone with information concerning these incident is asked to call the County Police Tip Line 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.

LUANDA, Angola (AP) — Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Angola and hopes to bring a message of joy and encouragement to its long-suffering people. Leo arrived in Angola on Saturday as he opened the third leg of his four-nation trip through Africa. Leo’s plane touched down at Luanda’s international airport after the flight from Cameroon where he celebrated a morning Mass before an estimated 200,000 people. Leo had further comments en route to Angola about his back-and-forth with U.S. President Donald Trump over the Iran war. Leo said that it was “not in my interest at all” to debate the president but that he would continue preaching the Gospel message of peace.

BEIRUT (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron says a French soldier was killed and three others wounded in an attack on U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. Macron identified the soldier as Staff Sgt. Florian Montorio from the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment. He added that three of Montorio’s comrades were wounded and evacuated. He said that Hezbollah is likely responsible for the attack. Macron demanded that Lebanese authorities arrest those responsible and work with UNIFIL, the U.N. mission in southern Lebanon. Macron expressed respect and support for the families of the soldiers and all military personnel in Lebanon.

CAIRO (AP) — The United States and Iran are locked in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. On Saturday, Iran fired on a ship trying to pass through, escalating tensions. The U.S. continues its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran restricts passage in the strait. The conflict threatens global energy supplies and risks renewed conflict. Despite this, Pakistani officials reported progress toward a deal, with a ceasefire in Lebanon easing tensions. However, questions remain about the truce’s stability.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has approved a short-term renewal of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies just days before it was set to expire. A bill extending the program until April 30 cleared the Senate by voice vote Friday as Congress raced to send it to President Donald Trump for his signature. Lawmakers turned to a short-term extension of the program after an attempt to pass a five-year renewal failed in a late-night House vote. The short-term fix sets the stage for another showdown in a matter of weeks. The program permits key national security agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant.

PROVO, Utah (AP) — Defense witnesses in the prosecution of the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk say conjecture about the case is making it impossible to have a fair trial. The testimony came as attorneys for Tyler Robinson on Friday urged a Utah a judge to ban cameras from the courtroom. Media organizations, prosecutors and Kirk’s widow want cameras allowed and say they promote transparency. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty for Robinson if he is convicted in the Sept. 10 shooting of Kirk. The conservative activist had been addressing a crowd of thousands on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem.