WJPA News

U.S. Senator John Fetterman was in Washington on Friday, to discuss potential funding opportunities and assistance for critical flood mitigation projects throughout the community.  City of Washington officials, along with borough officials from East Washington, participated in a meeting with Senator Fetterman, followed by a tour of several areas impacted by recurring flooding. Washington Mayor JoJo Burgess say the tour provided an opportunity to highlight ongoing concerns, discuss the challenges facing our communities, and emphasize the importance of securing funding for necessary flood mitigation improvements.

The 2026 Washington County Veterans Day Parade will be held in downtown Washington Saturday morning. Local veteran Melissa Six and Anastasia Barr-Whiteman were elected to serve as Chair and Co-Chair, respectively. Barr-Whiteman explains that Washington is the perfect place to hold the parade, especially with the added significance of the country celebrating America’s 250th. Barr-Whiteman says every veteran deserves to be honored. There are more than 15,000 veterans who call Washington County home. Six says she is grateful for everyone who has helped make this parade happen, including volunteers, sponsors, and veteran organizations. A veterans resource fair will be held under the Main Street pavilion starting at 8:30 AM, and the parade kicks off at 10:00 AM.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health released their latest update on the measles outbreak in Pennsylvania. Since November 4, there have been 20 newly confirmed cases of measles. That brings the total number of cases to 1487 across 45 counties. There have been 287 total hospitalizations and 6 confirmed measles associated deaths. The Department of Health says that the best protection against the measles is being fully vaccinated. The MMR vaccine administered over two doses provides 97% lifetime protection.

We are quickly closing in on Thanksgiving.  It’s just three weeks away and 2000 Turkeys needs  your help.  The annual fundraiser, sponsored by WJPA Radio and the Observer Reporter, raises much needed funding to provide a complete Thanksgiving dinner to thousands of families who might not otherwise enjoy the day.  This year, as food and fuel costs continue to climb, the need is great.  A special thanks goes out to Washington Financial Bank.  CEO Michael Chaido stopped in the WJPA studios to present a fifteen-thousand-dollar check from the bank and another five-thousand-dollar check from the bank’s charitable foundation.  Our 2000 Turkeys goal this year is 165-thousand-dollars, and to date, we have raised 100-thousand-dollars.  We are also hitting the streets again this year.  Range Resource’s Day is set for Wednesday, November 18^th from eight a.m. until two p.m. in downtown Washington and Canonsburg.  Employees and volunteers will be out asking for your help to reach our goal.  If you would like to help, you can send a check to P.O. Box 2000, Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301, or bring your donation to WJPA Radio at 98 South Main Street or the Observer Reporter at 122 South Main Street, both in Washington.  We are also, for the first time this year, accepting on-line donations using Zeffy.  You can find the link on the WJPA and Observer Reporter websites.  Thank you!

WASHINGTON (AP) —WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, is stepping down and will be replaced by Stephen Miller, a key member of Trump’s inner circle. Wiles’ departure comes after midterm elections that saw major Republican losses. She is Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff and the first woman ever to hold the position. Miller, long a key member of Trump’s inner circle, is a key architect of the administration’s hard-line immigration policies. He is one of Trump’s closest and longest-serving advisers, jumping on board during his long shot 2016 presidential campaign as a speechwriter.  (Photo:  AP)

LONDON (AP) — The U.S. midterm rout of President Donald Trump’s stewardship doesn’t mean the world trusts America again. Interviews by Associated Press journalists around the world revealed that the Trump administration’s policies, especially his tariffs, have taken a toll on whether or when America might be considered a reliable partner. In the words of one South Korean office worker, one election doesn’t restore anything. Topping the list are worries about tariffs and whether they will continue apace.

JERUSALEM (AP) — President Donald Trump has suggested ending military aid to Israel. A staunch critic of Israel won a key Senate race. The vice president has partly blamed U.S.-Israel relations for his own party’s sweeping losses. The election showed U.S. bipartisan support for Israel is in free fall in the wake of its devastating campaign in Gaza and the war with Iran. A cutoff in military aid would mark a major change after the U.S. has given Israel tens of billions of dollars across decades. Israel is likely to face similar pressure even if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s domestic opponents manage to replace him.

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Three weeks after lung cancer surgery, Pope Leo XIV has opened a three-nation tour of Latin America by declaring he felt better than he looked and crediting God, good doctors and his healthy lifestyle with his quick recovery. The 71-year-old pope arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay, Latin America’s most secular country. It came after a 13 1/2-hour flight from Rome during which he acknowledged “some people” had doubted whether he could make the grueling, 12-day trip at all. As if to prove his point, he immediately got down to business. He drew some 30,000 people as he pulled into Montevideo in his open-sided popemobile.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Missile explosions have struck Kyiv, injuring at least five people, as Ukraine prepares for new talks with Russia and the United States. Negotiators from the three countries are set to meet Tuesday in Abu Dhabi to discuss ending the war. This will be the fourth round of negotiations brokered by the Trump administration. Western governments are seeking a new formula to break the impasse, though territorial and security issues remain unresolved. The missile also closed traffic on a Kyiv bridge and caused power and water outages. Meanwhile, recovery efforts continue in Komyshuvakha after a deadly attack there killed at least 55 people.