WJPA News

South Strabane Township Supervisors reopened and approved a new 2026 budget only to have to revert back to the original budget approved in December. With that, supervisors went after that budget with cuts that they planned for the new budget. A large but rather silent crowd watched as the Parks and Recreation Department was eliminated. The biggest item was the layoff of the Administrative Assistant/Public Safety Specialist. Both of those actions passed 3-2 with supervisors Bob Weber and Russell Grego voting against. Supervisors George Rowand, Jeff Bull and Zack Morgan voting to approve. Fire Chief Jordan Cramer said that the layoff will have lasting effects on his overworked staff and on residents as well. Supervisor Jeff Bull says that the responsibilities of that person are outlined as part of the job of Fire Chief. Former supervisor Rich Luketich asked supervisors why they, according to documentation he received from township records, spent nearly $6,000 reopening the budget when they could have just made cuts to the old budget like they are doing. Supervisor George Rowand said that the reopening was necessary to find out just where the gaps in the budget existed. Other items addressed by supervisors were actions to rescind the Diversity Policy that passed 4-1 and the rescinding of the Workplace Bullying Policy that passed 3-2. A last minute agenda item added at the end of the meeting resolved the issue of Tax Collector Susan Koehler gaining access to her office. At issue was Koehler having building keys to have access to the whole building. Supervisor Grego explained that the keys to the tax collector’s office are different than those that access the rest of the municipal building thus she has no access to the main building. Koehler will now have keys to be able to work as she sees necessary. A drop box will be installed at the front of the municipal building for residents to drop off taxes outside of normal business hours. Koehler will need to supply her own phone number.

State, County and Local officials gathered at the Crossroads Building to begin the celebration of the 250^th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The America 250 PA organization celebrated with a remembrance of the great role Washington County played in the Revolutionary War and after when events like the Whiskey Rebellion tested the Constitution of the United States was tested only three years after it was officially ratified. Washington City Councilman Joe DeThomas welcomed visitors to the city. Commissioner Nick Sherman commented on how Revolutionary War history runs through Washington County. Commissioner Larry Maggi backed that up by telling how, conceivably, the last battle of the Revolutionary War was fought near Dutch Fork Lake. State Senator Camera Bartolotta described her Choctaw and Cherokee Indian heritage along with three relatives that fought for the young nation in the Revolutionary War. State Representative Tim O’Neal reflected on how divisive feelings of the early colonists may be similar to today’s citizens. He expressed faith in the Constitution and its strength to survive any attack. The America 250 PA celebration takes place across the commonwealth. Events are planned throughout the year. A schedule of events may be found at www.america250pa.org.

NEW YORK (AP) — The gigantic snowstorm this week across the Northeast United States has dropped piles of snow from Maryland to Maine. Cities were scrambling Wednesday to clear towering snow heaps that were not showing signs of melting anytime soon. By Tuesday evening, New York City had spread 143 million pounds of salt, while snowplows cleared the way for ambulances and fire trucks in Rhode Island. But with another storm expected Wednesday, there is plenty more work left to do, especially for the many people with disabilities. A spokesperson for the Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York, described parts of the city as impassable islands.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump used a record-length State of the Union on Tuesday to argue that the country is “winning” under his leadership, even as his approval ratings slide. He focused on jobs, manufacturing and an economy he says is stronger than many Americans believe. Trump tried at points to appeal to bipartisan patriotic sentiments, introducing a series of surprise guests that included U.S. military heroes and the Olympic gold-medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team. Trump also highlighted his immigration crackdowns and spending cuts. Democratic lawmakers stayed seated without clapping during most of Trump’s speech, and when Democrats heckled him, Trump proclaimed, “You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

(AP) – Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers will resign from teaching at Harvard University amid a campus review of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the university announced Wednesday. Summers, who has been on leave since November and whose name appeared hundreds of times in newly released Epstein files, will leave at the end of the school year, according to a statement from Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton. In a statement, Summers said it was a difficult decision and expressed gratitude to students and colleagues he has worked with over 50 years.

“Today” show host Savannah Guthrie says her family is now offering a $1 million reward for information leading to the recovery of her mother. It has been three weeks since Nancy Guthrie went missing from her Arizona home. Savannah Guthrie said Tuesday that her family is still holding out for a miracle and hopes her mother will be found alive. But she also acknowledged that they realize it might be too late. She said in the video that her mom may be dancing in heaven. Savannah Guthrie said while announcing the $1 million reward that her family needs to know where Nancy Guthrie is no matter what happened.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — The violence that followed the killing of a cartel leader in Mexico is fueling fears that the bloodshed could hurt tourism ahead of the FIFA World Cup later this year. Maria Dolores Aguirre’s corner store has lived off the tourism that flows into her cobblestoned town of Tapalpa in the mountains of Mexico’s state of Jalisco. Then the Mexican army killed the country’s most powerful drug lord Sunday just a few kilometers from her home. The killing sparked a surge in violence and put the country on edge. Now Aguirre and others are worried that the clashes between the cartel and security forces will hurt their livelihoods.

NEW YORK (AP) — Warner Bros. Discovery said that Paramount has raised the price of its takeover offer to $31 per share, potentially setting the stage for a fresh bidding war with Netflix over the future of the Hollywood giant. The company previously offered $30 per share when it first went directly to Warner stakeholders with its all-cash, hostile bid in December — just days after Warner struck a deal to sell its studio and streaming business to Netflix for $27.75 per share. Beyond upping its proposed purchase price, Warner said Paramount had increased its regulatory termination fee to $7 billion. Paramount also agreed to move up a previously-promised “ticking fee” payable to shareholders.