WJPA News

Former Republican U.S. Congressman Tim Murphy has died.  The former politician and psychologist served as the U.S. representative for Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district (which included Washington County) from 2003 until his resignation in 2017.  Murphy ran for the newly redrawn 18th Congressional District in 2002, which  had previously been the 20th, represented by four-term Democrat Frank Mascara. However, the legislature re-drew the district after the 2000 Census in such a way that a large portion of Mascara’s district ended up in the neighboring Johnstown-based 12th District, represented by an incumbent of 28-years – John Murtha.  In October of 2017, Murphy made news by allegedly urging his mistress to have an abortion, even though he advocated a strict public anti-abortion platform.  This was also followed by reports of abuse and harassment in his congressional office.  His resignation came almost immediately after these reports.  His seat was eventually won, during a special election, by Democrat Conor Lamb.  There has been no word at this time, of his cause of death.

The demolition of the old Washington County Courthouse Square is complete. The next step is to find a construction company to build the new Public Safety building. According to Commissioners Chairman Nick Sherman, construction companies must submit their formal bid by July 22, and the bids will be opened publicly. That opening was scheduled for July 9, but a local contractor questioned the bidding process, which put it on hold. Officials reviewed the process and Sherman says that everything is squared away. The bid will be awarded at a special meeting on July 30. Sherman explains that the Public Safety building, which will house all the inner operations of 911, is very important for the first responders who deserve all the assets they need.

Demolition of the parking garage at Penn Highlands Mon Valley Hospital is set to begin this morning . Officials call it the first step of a modernization project designed to improve safety, accessibility and convenience for patients, visitors and staff. In its place the hospital will build a new, level, paved parking lot featuring safety lighting and easy access to the campus. Hospital operations, patient care and emergency services will remain fully operational throughout the demolition and construction process.

Weather did not cooperate but a few Washington County citizens gathered on  Main Street in front of the Washington County Courthouse to hold a ‘Good Trouble Lives On’ rally.  The rally was hosted by the Washington-Greene Central Labor Council. The rally commemorated the memory of Congressman John Lewis and his fight to protect voting rights. Several people offered their reasons for battling the rain. Don Herschell says he has worries about the direction the country is heading. Audrey Holsclaw understands John Lewis’ rally cry and was there to cause her version of Good Trouble. Donna Patrina, chairperson of the Washington Greene Central Labor Council says her group is rallying against the SAVE Act and its restrictions on people’s right to vote. Finally, Byron Timmins Vice Chairman of the Washington County Democratic Committee says that bottom line, voting is most important thing you can do as a citizen, when you vote you make your opinion heard, so get out and vote. Congressman John Lewis was arrested more than 40 times while fighting to dismantle segregation and secure voting rights. ‘Good trouble’ was Lewis’ rallying cry used to urge people to peacefully challenge injustice and stand up for their rights.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States has conducted a new round of airstrikes targeting Iran after announcing the death of another American service member. Iran has responded Monday by launching an attack targeting Bahrain, the home of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. The latest attacks again show how, step by step, the U.S. and Iran have inched closer to all-out war as last month’s interim deal meant to permanently end the fighting has crumbled and shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. Benchmark Brent crude rose Monday above $90 a barrel, further fueling a global energy crisis sparked by the conflict.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. gas prices have jumped to an average of $4 a gallon again as the U.S. and Iran launch more attacks. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now back to $4. The average price a year ago was $3.14 a gallon. The price is a national average, meaning drivers in some states have been paying well over $4 a gallon for a while now. Prices vary between states due to factors ranging from nearby supply to differing tax rates. People around the world are also dealing with high gas prices as a result of the war.

Defaults on student loans have surged across the United States, reaching record levels as borrowers struggle to keep up with payments. The numbers have spiked since payments started coming due again following a lengthy pause intended to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, around 9.5 million people — 1 in 5 federal student loan borrowers — are in default, meaning they are more than nine months behind on their payments. While credit scores can suffer when borrowers are just a few months behind, entering default brings the possibility of more serious consequences, including garnished wages or Social Security payments. For now, the Trump administration has held off on such involuntary collections.

Taylor Farms has expanded a voluntary recall of its iceberg lettuce products sourced from central Mexico because of a potential link to the multistate cyclospora outbreak that has sickened people across the U.S. The California-based company said products with the potential to be contaminated with the diarrhea-causing parasite were shipped to 27 states including Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania and Illinois. Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. U.S. health officials earlier this week identified lettuce from a supplier in Mexico as a source of cyclospora contamination in food served at Taco Bell restaurants in five Midwestern states.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance have welcomed their fourth child. Their son Alec Neel Vance is the first child born to a sitting vice president in more than 150 years. The Vances announced the birth Sunday on social media. Alec joins older siblings Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel. The Republican vice president’s growing family is in keeping with his passionate advocacy for Americans to have more children. The vice president, who’s 41, has been accompanied on overseas trips by Usha Vance, 40, and their children, with the kids often pajama-clad as they board Air Force Two for the overnight flights.