WJPA News

The Washington County Board of Elections held a special hearing on the eligibility of Al Buchtan to remain on the Washington County ballot as a candidate for a Washington County Republican State Committeeman position. The board, comprised of all three county commissioners, did not take any action with regard to Buchtan’s removal from the ballot. Washington County Solicitor Gary Sweat advised the board that they do not have the jurisdiction to make such a decision at this late date. Sweat says that he had conversations with the Pennsylvania Department of State that said that the time for a challenge has expired. He says that he was advised, and after his research into election code, that only a court of competent jurisdiction could remove Buchtan from the ballot. Thomas King, general counsel for the Pennsylvania Republican Party, stated that the party is asking that Buchtan be investigated for inconsistencies regarding his residency and therefore his eligibility to represent Washington County as a party committee person. He said that if Buchtan should be elected, the party will not seat him as a committee person and Washington County Republicans would be without representation in that jurisdiction. Dave Ball, former Washington County Republican Party Chairman, handed letters to the board of elections and the solicitor containing information that he feels could have criminal charges levied against Buchtan concerning election integrity. The board will be handing those letters over to the District Attorney for investigation. Ultimately, the decisions have been based on earlier decisions by the Commonwealth Court and affirmed by the Supreme Court surrounding his candidacy for State Senator, that Buchtan is a resident of Greene County and not Washington County.

PITTSBURGH — For some, utility bills have been busting the household budget. A cold, snowy winter meant increased usage, while at the same time, some consumers are starting to feel the impact of recent gas delivery rate hikes. Nick Kuzy of Venetia has been watching his bills closely, mapping out costs on a spreadsheet. Last month, he cut his usage in half, but his gas bill still went up! “It just hit me that it went from $89 to $103. That’s quite a jump,” Kuzy said. Abe Scarr is the Energy and Utilities Program Director for PennPIRG, a consumer advocacy group. “I think higher bills are here to stay to a certain degree,” said Scarr. “I don’t think there’s been an adequate job of keeping those rate increases in check and that spending in check.” Consumers can’t “shop” for their delivery company, so the one way to cut costs is to lower gas consumption. “I’d encourage people to consider replacing some old gas appliances with electric appliances like heat pumps, which can both heat and cool your home and are super efficient,” said Scarr. Experts also say maintaining your HVAC system can save you money. Others suggest turning down the thermostat on your hot water heater.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (AP) — Josh Shapiro may be heavily favored to win reelection as Pennsylvania governor, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot on the line for him this year. He’s urging Democrats in the battleground state to turn out in force as a rebuke to President Donald Trump. He’s trying to persuade voters to give him Democratic control of the state legislature. And he’s pushing his favored congressional candidates in the midterm elections that will determine control of Washington. Shapiro brushes off questions — and Republican criticism — about burnishing his credentials for a potential White House run. He says he’s focused on beating his opponent for governor, helping other Democrats get elected and sending a message to Trump.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A cannabis industry group calls President Donald Trump’s reclassification of state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug “the most significant federal advancement in cannabis policy” in decades. The American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp says the Trump administration action recognizes “cannabis is medicine.” The order the Republican president’s acting attorney general signed Thursday Iargely legitimizes medical marijuana programs in the 40 states that have adopted them and allows state-licensed medical marijuana companies for the first time to deduct business expenses on their federal taxes. Critics say marijuana is harmful and policy is being dictated by ”CEOs, psychedelics investors, and podcasters in active addiction.”  (Photo:  AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate took the first steps in a new effort to reopen the Department of Homeland Security early Thursday, voting to adopt a budget plan that would fund ICE and Border Patrol over Democratic objections and sending it to the House. The entire department has been shut down since mid-February as Democrats have demanded policy changes in the wake of fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents. Republicans are now trying to fund the two immigration enforcement agencies through the complicated, time-consuming process called budget reconciliation, a maneuver that they also used to pass President Donald Trump’s package of tax and spending cuts last year with no Democratic votes. “We have a multistep process ahead of us, but at the end Republicans will have helped ensure that America’s borders are secure and prevented Democrats from defunding these important agencies,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. The budget process only requires a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing filibuster rules that require Republicans to find 60 votes on most bills when they only hold 53 seats. But it also comes with increased scrutiny from the Senate parliamentarian and a long, open-ended series of amendment votes at the beginning and the end of the process.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has abruptly announced that Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving his job. Phelan is the first head of a military service to depart during President Donald Trump’s second term but is just the latest top defense leader to step down or be ousted. No reason was given for the unexpected departure of the Navy’s top civilian official. It comes as the sea service has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports and is targeting ships linked to Tehran around the world during a tenuous ceasefire in the war. Another Trump loyalist is taking over as acting head of the Navy: Undersecretary Hung Cao.

(AP) – In the latest round of tech industry job cuts, Meta is laying off about 8,000 workers and Microsoft is offering buyouts to a similar number. Meta confirmed Thursday it plans to cut about 10% of its workforce in an effort to invest in other parts of its business and for efficiency, as first reported by Bloomberg. Microsoft is taking a different approach by offering voluntary buyouts to thousands of its U.S. employees.

NEW YORK (AP) — An $81 billion Warner-Paramount mega merger has received shareholders’ stamp of approval, propelling a deal that could vastly reshape Hollywood and the wider media landscape closer to the finish line. Per a preliminary vote count on Thursday, the overwhelming majority of Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders voted in support of selling the entire business to Paramount for $31 a share. Including debt, the deal is valued at nearly $111 billion. Skydance-owned Paramount wants to buy all of Warner. That means HBO Max, cult-favorite titles like “Harry Potter” and even CNN could soon find themselves under the same roof with CBS, “Top Gun” and the Paramount+ streaming service.