WJPA News

HARRISBURG – On Tuesday, the House Republican Caucus re-elected Rep. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) to the position of its whip for the 2027-28 Legislative Session.  “It is an honor to be chosen by my peers for the third time to help lead the caucus,” O’Neal said. “House Republicans are committed to ensuring the Commonwealth remains a place of opportunity, where individuals, families and businesses can thrive. We remain dedicated to fiscal discipline, limited government and policies that foster safe, strong and vibrant communities.”  As whip, O’Neal will continue to be responsible for tracking House votes and informing his other 88 Republican colleagues of upcoming issues and legislation.  O’Neal was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives following a May 2018 special election. In January, he will begin his fifth full term. A life-long resident of southwestern Pennsylvania, O’Neal graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). While an undergraduate, he served in the ROTC program at IUP and was a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard. After graduation, he served on active duty, including a tour in Afghanistan, rising to the rank of captain. While in combat, he was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” for valor

The holiday season is fast approaching and in an effort to keep motorists safe, officials from the Shapiro Administration and three state police units gathered at the Interstate 70 East Welcome Center in Claysville to deliver their holiday safety message. PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said that the Operation Safe Holiday campaign is underway and he spoke about two state police enforcement efforts over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Currently underway is the Click It Or Ticket campaign reminding drivers to wear seatbelts. The Holiday Season Impaired Driving Campaign will begin on November 25 and run through January 1. Jeremy Barni is the Commander of Troop B of the Pennsylvania State Police. He said that police will be out enforcing actions against impaired driving, enforcing speed laws and seat belt and cell phone regulations. According to Pennsylvania State Police, they investigated 1183 accidents that produced 186 injuries and 6 deaths over the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday. Carroll and Barni were joined by law enforcement officials from West Virginia and Ohio indicating that they too are enacting police patrols to provide safe holiday travel. All four officials preached the same call, buckle up, don’t drink and drive, put down cell phones, and obey all traffic and speed laws.

South Strabane Township police are investigating a robbery Monday night at the Walmart at Trinity Point.  It happened just before 9 p.m.  Washington County 911 says police put out a ‘BOLO’ alert for a black Chrysler sedan that was involved.  Dispatchers say the vehicle was then found by Pittsburgh Police but no other information was provided.  Police say two, black males wearing sweat suits stole Apple products and fled.  No weapons were seen and no injuries are reported.

The Canonsburg Borough Council voted unanimously to submit a grant application for the McBurney Road Flood Mitigation Project. Councilman Rich Russo says the grant is between $170,000 and $180,000. If the grant is awarded, Russo says the Borough would work with Chartiers Township to replace old pipes and drainage. In other business, there was a unanimous vote to add a 5% amusement ticket sales tax. Council President Eric Chandler says this is a small tax, but it would help generate additional revenue in Canonsburg. Chandler says the tax will be added to ticket sales at places like the Canon Theatre, but it will not go into effect until 2027.

Gas prices are nine cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.532 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.  The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is down 16 cents from last week to $4.00. Gas prices have been going down for nearly two weeks, as crude oil has dipped back into the high $80 – low $90 per barrel range. But pump prices remain the highest they’ve ever been during this time of year. Before 2026, the national average had never gone above $4 per gallon during the month of November. Currently, the national average is more than one dollar higher than it was a year ago.  According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week from 8.35 million barrels per day to 8.80 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased slightly from 209.2 million barrels to 209 million. Gasoline production increased from 9.24 million barrels per day to 9.70 million barrels.

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) — U.S. inflation was higher than expected last month in a sign that the rising prices that powered sweeping Democratic victories in last week’s midterm elections will continue to pose challenges for the White House and Federal Reserve. The data shows that inflation remains noticeably above the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%, and Americans’ struggles with high prices were evident as they ousted Republican majorities from the House and Senate last week.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is nearing an initial test vote on whether to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The procedural vote will either block the impeachment resolution or set up a final vote Wednesday. With Democratic leadership backing the effort brought by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, the outcome will likely hinge on whether Republican lawmakers break ranks after their sweeping losses in the midterm elections. Hegseth is contending that a rogue lawmaker is undermining American troops in war zones by targeting him with an impeachment effort over mere “policy disagreements.” Hegseth framed the impeachment effort as an indictment against the nation’s service members and their successes.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says the FBI is investigating Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s affair with an alleged Chinese government agent. But Trump says he doesn’t think the executive who has helped to develop artificial intelligence has a reason to worry. “I know the FBI is looking into it in terms of something else, and I think that he’ll be in good shape,” Trump said Monday at a White House briefing. The president called Huang a “very honorable man.” He said Huang told him “he had absolutely no idea that the person in question was a spy,” Trump said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Last week’s big Democratic wins could change the way the U.S. elects its president. That’s because Democrats picked up unified control of six more states. Eighteen states run by Democrats have already joined an interstate compact to award their Electoral College votes to whichever presidential candidate wins the national popular vote. Just a few more states would push that number above the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. There will likely be legal challenges that could only be settled by the Supreme Court, and it’s unclear whether the governors in all the states newly under Democratic control are on board with the compact.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have started three-way talks in the United Arab Emirates to address the ongoing conflict. The discussions on Tuesday mark the first meeting since February. The U.S. is pushing for a resolution to the war which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The discussions aim to focus on security guarantees. Russian President Vladimir Putin demands Ukraine pull back troops and abandon its NATO bid. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejects these terms. Both sides remain far apart on key issues. Russia and Ukraine have intensified aerial attacks meanwhile including the escalation of long-range strikes with drones and missiles.

GENEVA (AP) — The United States is to become the first country to skip a regular review of its human rights record at the U.N.’s Human Rights Council. The Trump administration withdrew from the council last year, accusing it of bias against the U.S. and Israel. The council reviews all 193 U.N. member states’ rights records every three to four years. The U.S. already missed its appointment last year, and the review was rescheduled for Tuesday. Critics warn this could encourage other countries to ignore scrutiny. The American Civil Liberties Union urges the U.N. to hold the U.S. accountable for its human rights record.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Billy Idol, Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, Phil Collins, Sade, Iron Maiden, Queen Latifah, Joy Division/New Order, and the late Luther Vandross are set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday. The ceremony will take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The event promises surprises, with few details revealed yet about performances or tributes. After two years of livestreaming, the ceremony will return to being aired later on ABC and Disney+. Other honorees include MC Lyte, Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti, and Gram Parsons, along with producers Rick Rubin and others