WJPA News

LATROBE, Pa. — The Luke Bryan show scheduled for Thursday evening in Latrobe has been canceled due to field conditions.  The show, which is part of Bryan’s 2026 Farm Tour, was to take place at 1846 Farms on Bell Memorial Church Road.  “This call was made for everyone’s safety on the grounds,” organizers posted on bigtickets.com.  Organizers said a full refund for tickets and parking will be processed automatically to the original payment method and will appear in 7-10 business days.   Following the cancelation announcement, 1846 Farms posted a statement on Facebook:  “We are incredibly saddened for our community, our guests, and everyone who worked so hard to prepare for this day. But today is also a reminder of something farmers know all too well you can prepare, plan, and work tirelessly, but ultimately, you cannot control the weather.  “Our area has experienced an exceptionally wet summer, with record amounts of rainfall creating challenges that are simply beyond anyone’s control.  “It’s a reality farmers face every day, and it speaks to the incredible character, resilience, and grit of the men and women who continue to get back up and keep going, season after season.  “God bless our farmers.  “There will be sunny days ahead. From all of us at 1846 Farms, thank you for the tremendous support you’ve shown our farm and our community. We look forward to the day we can welcome you all back again.”

Severe storms that resulted in a major flooding event impacted areas across Washington County on Sept. 12, 2026. Since the event, Washington County Emergency Management has been working in coordination with municipal Local Emergency Management Coordinators to assess the impacts and assist communities.  While many residents and business owners may have already reported damage to their insurance companies or municipal officials, Washington County is asking residents and businesses to also self-report flood-related damage to their homes, businesses or property through the county’s online damage reporting system.  Residents and businesses submitting a report should provide information about the extent of the damage and include photographs, if possible.  “We appreciate the patience and support of residents and business owners as we work through this process. The more information we have, the clearer the picture becomes of the overall impact, helping the county respond to this aftermath and prepare for future storms,” said Deputy Director of Washington County Emergency Management Dan Harvey.  Submitting a damage report does not guarantee financial assistance or reimbursement from any entity. Rather, the information will help Washington County Emergency Management and municipal leaders develop a complete assessment of flood-related damage throughout the county to aid in this aftermath and future storms.  If you have immediate needs, we are asking residents to contact their local municipality and speak with their Local Emergency Management Coordinator. The coordinator will work with Washington County Emergency Management to address reported needs.  If you have questions about the online reporting system or experience difficulties submitting a report, contact the Washington County Department of Public Safety at 724-228-6911 or email damage@washcopa.gov.

PITTSBURGH — A hearing in federal court for a Butler County man who authorities say was planning an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack was waived on Wednesday.  Twenty-one-year-old Jonathan Kramer was arrested on Saturday at the Cranberry Park Hotel.  Investigators said he had a semi-automatic rifle and 190 rounds of ammunition, with the alleged intent to commit terrorism.  “He armed himself to carry out a mass attack against the American people and was doing so right here in the suburbs of Pittsburgh,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec said.  He had been on the FBI’s radar since 2023 when he was charged with having child porn and his role in a “plot to commit a mass casualty” event.  A future court date has not yet been decided.

PennDOT has announced a scheduled closure of southbound Interstate 79 from Exit 19 (Ruff Creek/Jefferson) in Washington Township to Exit 14 (Masontown/Waynesburg) in Franklin Township, Greene County. All work depends on weather and operations.  The full roadway closure of southbound Interstate 79 will occur Thursday, September 17 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.  Detour:   Exit I-79 at southbound Exit 19 (Ruff Creek/Jefferson), southbound Route 221, eastbound Route 188, southbound Route 88, westbound Route 21, enter southbound I-79 via Exit 14 (Masontown/Waynesburg).  The closure will allow crews to repair guiderail damaged from a crash over the weekend. The Pennsylvania State Police will also be onsite to assist with traffic control  This work is part of the I-79 Waynesburg to Marianna Project, a $45.9 million infrastructure investment, which will make improvements to approximately 11 miles of I-79, extending through Franklin and Washington townships in Greene County and Amwell Township in Washington County. Lindy Paving, Inc., is the prime contractor.

STRASBOURG, France (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will address the European Parliament on Thursday after President Donald Trump suggested allowing Canada to become an associate EU member could be a “hostile act” and threatened additional tariffs on Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed making Canada the bloc’s first associate member as Trump’s tariffs, demands for economic concessions and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st state drive Ottawa closer to Europe. Carney has urged middle powers to reduce their dependence on dominant powers, warning at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January that economic integration can become a source of coercion. Canada and the EU are also deepening ties on defense, energy and critical minerals.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is blasting Federal Reserve governors after the board raised its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for the first time since 2023 in an effort to quell stubbornly high inflation. The central bank also signaled another rate hike could occur later this year. Trump called the governors politicians and said they’re trying to hurt him politically. The quarter-point increase lifts the Fed’s key rate to about 3.9% and, over time, could result in higher borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards. The move comes as Americans are already struggling with high costs for groceries, gas and housing. Affordability has taken on a leading role in the upcoming midterm elections, just seven weeks away.

OpenAI has disclosed six reports on unexpected or concerning behavior in artificial-intelligence models. The company is introducing a new framework to track and disclose instances of what it called “misalignment.” This includes models acting without authorization or evading oversight. The announcement comes as U.S. AI leaders call for a slowdown in development over safety concerns. One case involved a research model inserting jailbreak-like instructions. Another saw an AI agent upload files to the internet without user permission. OpenAI emphasizes the need for a broader consensus on AI alignment research. These cases follow previous disclosures of rogue AI behavior in July.

BENGALURU, India (AP) — Human-caused global warming resulting in the Himalayan permafrost thawing was, in part, responsible for the catastrophic glacier and boulder collapse last month. The sudden floods killed thousands and resulted in billions of dollars in damages in Nepal, a report released Thursday found. The World Weather Attribution group said planet heating has pushed the freezing threshold in mountains upward by roughly 100 meters per decade. This has led to glacial thinning and thawing of permafrost that held the mountains together. Already destabilized mountains as a result of the 2015 Nepal earthquake combined with climate-related factors are likely the primary causes of last month’s disaster.