WJPA News

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) today announced that 903 measles cases have been confirmed across 39 counties in Pennsylvania so far in 2026.  While daily numbers fluctuate, tracking these trends provides Pennsylvanians and health care providers with visibility into community transmission across the Commonwealth and helps inform the Department’s ongoing response.  New Positive Cases (since September 25, 2026): 13/Total Counties: 39/Total Cumulative Cases: 903/Total Hospitalizations: 176/Total Confirmed Measles-Associated Deaths:  4/Measles cases among vaccinated individuals: 4 (less than 1% of cases)  Pennsylvanians can stay up to date on confirmed measles cases, hospitalizations, deaths, community transmission, and vaccination efforts on DOH’s dashboard: pa.gov/measles.

Gas prices are three cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.700 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.  The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is stable this week at $4.47 per gallon. This is still the highest the national average has ever been for this time of year. Typically, the start of autumn brings lower gas prices, but lingering volatility in the Strait of Hormuz and the high cost of crude oil are driving up pump prices. This month is on track to set a new September record. So far, the average for this month is $4.30, higher than the previous September record of $3.83 set in 2023.  According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week from 8.79 million barrels per day to 8.84 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 207.7 million barrels to 206 million. Gasoline production decreased slightly from 9.64 million barrels to 9.59 million.

An employee was killed in an apparent workplace accident Sunday at the Cleveland-Cliffs coke plant in Monessen.  A Westmoreland County 911 supervisor says first responders were dispatched to the plant at 4:15 p.m.  The employee became “pinned between two door machines,” according to the Westmoreland County Office of the Coroner.  Jeffrey Smith, 53, of Newell, was pronounced dead, the coroner’s office says.  His cause and manner of death are pending autopsy and toxicology results.  Monessen police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating.

One woman is dead and two others were hurt, following a wrong-way crash on Route 22 in Washington County.  The crash happened just after 10:30 p.m. in the eastbound lanes about a half-mile before the Burgettstown exit in Hanover Township.  State police said a vehicle driven by fifty-three-year-old Dawn D’Andrea of Wintersville, Ohio, entered Route 22 the wrong way and collided head-on with another vehicle.  Authorities say D’Andrea was killed , while a front-seat passenger in her vehicle and the driver of the other vehicle were both flown to hospitals.  There’s been no word on the identities or the nature of the other individual’s injuries.

Efforts continue to assist local residents and businesses dealing with damage that resulted from recent flooding.   The County will host a Multi-Agency Response Center for two days at the American Legion along Park Avenue in Washington.   It will be held Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.   Officials say the event is in partnership with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and will bring together multiple agencies, volunteer organizations, and State agencies including the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Washington County  Department of Human Services.   They will provide assistance in regards to understanding insurance coverage, information on avoiding fraud and repair scams, and connections to local community support services.

DETROIT (AP) — The Trump administration released new fuel economy standards on Monday, relaxing regulatory requirements for automakers to control pollution from gasoline-powered cars and light trucks. The new standards set the industry fleetwide average for light-duty vehicles at roughly 34.9 miles per gallon in the 2031 model year, down from a projected 50.4 miles per gallon in 2031 under rules put in place by the Biden administration. President Donald Trump claimed on his Truth Social media account Saturday that the less stringent mileage requirements would save Americans thousands of dollars on a new car.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is announcing a new $15 billion steel plant in Iowa being built with backing from an Indian conglomerate. The White House says the project will create the largest steel plant in U.S. history. The White House said Trump will announce the project on Monday alongside steel industry executives and commerce officials. It comes as Trump is trying to energize voters ahead of difficult midterm races including in Iowa, where governor and Senate seats have become competitive. The new mill in eastern Iowa is being built by Mesabi Metallics, a Minnesota-based company owned by India’s Essar Group, an industrial conglomerate.

PUERTO SAN CARLOS, Mexico (AP) — Residents of Mexico’s Baja California Sur state are preparing for Hurricane Polo, which threatens high winds, floods, and mudslides. On Monday, people in Puerto San Carlos feared high tides and waves could breach barriers. Some families planned to head to shelters in Ciudad Constitucion. Polo is a Category 3 storm with top sustained winds of 115 mph. It is expected to hit the Mexican mainland after affecting Baja California Sur. Meanwhile, Hurricane Nolo could still bring torrential rain to parts of Hawaii. The Pacific has seen above-average storm activity this season, consistent with El Niño years.

FAIRFORD, England (AP) — British police say that five men arrested under counterterrorism laws near a U.S.-run air base in England will be released on bail but are still under investigation. The head of U.K. Counter Terrorism Policing said Monday that the men face stringent conditions and “absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry.” Investigators haven’t concluded whether the incident was state-backed. They are investigating a possible link to Iran, Russia or non-state-backed militant groups. RAF Fairford is home to long-range U.S. bombers that have been used in the Iran conflict and has also been the focus of protests by anti-war campaigners.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — As tech titans warned an AI-weary world that their own advanced systems could endanger humanity, the question emerged: What do they have to gain? The answer may lie in the companies’ efforts to score political goals ahead of the U.S. midterm elections and the money top artificial intelligence labs and their investors stand to make in much-anticipated listings on a jittery stock market. Experts, analysts and former government evaluators tell The Associated Press that Anthropic and OpenAI appear with their rhetoric to be seeking public favor and to set the terms for their own safety protocols in the unregulated market.

NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift made history and Nirvana was awarded the 2026 Video Vanguard Award at the starry MTV Video Music Awards. Swift received the inaugural Artist Director Honors, making her the most-awarded artist in VMA history. She was previously tied with Beyoncé for most wins. She also took home the top prize of video of the year and dedicated the award to Dolly Parton. Madonna opened the show and was joined by her recent collaborators Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx. LISA won the first award for best pop. Snoop Dogg is hosting the event. The show is being broadcast live on CBS from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.  (File Photo:  AP)