WJPA News

A boil water advisory is now in effect for areas of Allegheny and Washington counties including the city of Washington, Canonsburg, Cecil Twp. and Peters Twp. A water main break shortly before midnight in Union Township damaged the Elrama Volunteer Fire Department, an unknown number of homes and the roadway, a Washington County 911 supervisor said. According to an emergency alert from American Water Company, residents in the affected area may have no water or low water pressure, or discolored or cloudy water. Repairs are expected to take approximately 20 hours to complete, the alert said. The fire department said the water company is working to get a water buffalo in the area, according to reports, which also reported that Elrama Avenue is closed from State Route 837 to Hout Lane because of the break. When work is completed, customers are advised to run water at the lowest level of their home for discoloration and at the lowest level for cloudiness.

Traffic conditions deteriorated quickly on area roadways. State Police say at least one person was killed and nine others injured in an 25-vehicle crash on Interstate 79 North in Butler County. Both lanes of the highway were closed for several hours – between the Zelienople and Evans City exits. The crash waS reported just before ten-thirty Friday morning and was believed to have been caused by snowy and icy road conditions.

Three Washington men will face trial for the robbery and shooting of a witness at the Washington Food Mart in November. Christopher Ellis-Valperga, 19 faces attempted homicide and robbery charges. Christian Patrene, 19 and Julian Asbury, 17 face conspiracy homicide and conspiracy robbery charges. Asbury has been charged as an adult. All three men face multiple other charges. Ellis-Valperga and Patrene waived their charges to court. Asbury, a juvenile had his charges held without a hearing. According to police the three entered the store to rob it at gunpoint. The victim, playing a video game drew her legal weapon to defend herself was shot multiple times. She was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment. The clerk at the store said that the actors were unsuccessful in the robbery attempt. All three will be formally arraigned in March.

It is that time of year where local communities find out if their local projects will receive grant funding from the Local Share Account that is funded by taxes levied on Pennsylvania gambling casinos. This year Washington County received $9.5 million in funding. According to Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman, that figure is down significantly from last year. Sherman says last year Washington County received more than $13 million in LSA funds making this year’s decisions “dicey”. One hundred thirty applications were made to the review committee and fifty four projects received funds. The largest of the awards granted was $1.95 million to the Washington County Department of Public Safety. That money will be spent on subscriber radio equipment that is needed for the new Emergency 9-1-1 Radio system presently under construction. More than 70% of funds went to public interest projects and public safety initiatives such as repair of aging sewer lines and South Strabane Township’s law enforcement traffic camera network. Commissioner Larry Maggi was pleased to see the committee award boy scouts, historical societies and parks along with job training programs monies for community development. Commissioner Electra Janis pointed to a collaborative CDL training program involving Trinity, Fort Cherry, Avella, McGuffey and Canon-McMillan school districts. She said this allows students to earn their certification creating job opportunities without college debt. The county will be contacting the awardees to outline the next steps in the funding process.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A racist post on President Donald Trump’s social media account depicting former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as primates in a jungle has been taken down. The White House initially defended the Republican president’s Thursday night post. But the post was deleted Friday after widespread backlash for its treatment of the nation’s first Black president and first lady, who are Democrats. Black and white Republicans joined civil rights advocates in criticizing the post as racist. An Obama spokeswoman says the former president has no response.

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The family of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie is renewing their plea for their mother’s kidnapper to contact them. Guthrie’s brother, Camron, posted a second plea on social media Thursday on behalf of the family. The message came hours after Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators don’t have proof 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie is alive but believe “she’s still out there.” Nanos says authorities have not identified any suspects or persons of interest five days into the desperate search. Investigators say they are taking seriously notes seeking ransom that were sent to some media outlets.

NEW YORK (AP) — Luigi Mangione spoke out in court against the prospect of back-to-back trials in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The 27-year-old Mangione on Friday told the judge presiding of the New York case against him: “It’s the same trial twice. One plus one is two. Double jeopardy by any commonsense definition.” He made the remarks as court officers were escorting him out of the courtroom after the judge scheduled his state murder trial for June 8, three months before jury selection in his federal case.  (Photo:  AP)

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico grand jury has indicted actor Timothy Busfield on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child. The indictment was filed Friday in state District Court after an announcement by a district attorney on social media. Authorities had issued an arrest warrant for Busfield over allegations of misconduct tied to when he was working as a director on the set of the TV series “The Cleaning Lady.” Busfield has denied the allegations. He turned himself in to authorities and was released from jail. An attorney for Busfield says there are weaknesses in the state’s evidence and that Busfield will fight the charge.  (Photo:   AP)