WJPA News

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.

Washington County Commissioners have passed on responsibility of the Washington County Real Estate Expo to the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Washington. The county will however, retain the responsibilities of marketing, graphic design and set up for the event. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman said that it was time to let go of the program and called the Redevelopment Authority the best organization to advance the program. He said that by doing this, the program may qualify for additional funding. The vote however was 2-1. Commissioner Larry Maggi asked that the measure be tabled because of a recently received audit of last year’s expo that levels what he calls, severe questions in the administration of the event. He said that the county should address the concerns in the audit before passing it along to the RACW. Sherman said that the calendar dictates that the transfer be done now for planning purposes. Maggi, who states that he is not in favor of the event, calls the expo a waste of taxpayer money. Sherman says that a recent meeting with the Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development indicates that the event falls in line with state efforts in providing housing and business support.

BROWNSVILLE, Pa. — A man accused of beating a woman and setting fire to her home while she was still inside was sentenced to prison on Wednesday.  Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said Anthony T. Boyer, 47, received a sentence of 17 to 34 years in a state correctional facility after he was convicted by a jury.  He was convicted of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, arson and burglary.  Police said Boyer broke into his ex-girlfriend’s house in Brownsville in October 2025 and beat her with a tire iron and a baseball bat. Police said he also assaulted a member of the woman’s family who was also in the house at the time.  Officers arrived at the scene while it was ongoing and found a burning pile of pillows and readily combustible household items at the time.  Police said the woman was beaten so severely that she initially appeared to be dead.  When officers interviewed Boyer, they asked if the woman he attacked was dead. When he was told she was not, he said, “She will be dead,” and implied he knew people who would make it happen.

The Cecil Township Board of Supervisors held a data center workshop to give residents the opportunity to provide feedback on a drafted data center ordinance. Less than ten residents attended the workshop. Supervisor Cindy Fisher says she was surprised by the turnout, because many residents expressed opinions on social media. Resident Deborah Lee expressed concerns about how close a data center could be to residential properties. The drafted ordinance states that there would be a 500-foot setback. Additionally, data centers could only go in a limited area of I-2 zoning, and there are conditions regarding energy and water use. Lee says she is happy to have the opportunity to speak with supervisors about the ordinance.  Fisher explains that the next steps would be to incorporate changes, advertise the formal ordinance, and then hold a public hearing. Fisher says an ordinance will be adopted by the end of January.

CRANBERRY, Pa. — After Tuesday’s election, Democrats in Pennsylvania will hold the Governor’s Office, State House, and State Senate. “We now have a responsibility to govern and govern responsibly with this new trifecta, and that is exactly what we will do,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said Wednesday.  He announced some things he wants to get done now that he has full party control in the legislature, including funding mass transit and raising the minimum wage. Despite the big wins for Democrats across the state and country, southwestern Pennsylvania Republicans performed very well, with only one GOP-controlled state house seat flipping blue, and one Democratic seat returning to GOP control.

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 today 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) — Fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week as layoffs remain scarce and most workers enjoy job security. The Labor Department reported Thursday that 189,000 people sought jobless aid last week, fewest since mid-July and down from 195,000 the week before. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week ups and downs, dipped to 194,750. Applications for jobless benefits are a proxy for layoffs, and economists watch them closely because they can provide signs of where the job market is headed. So far this year, claims have remained at historically low levels, never topping 230,000 in a single week. They’ve come in at or below 200,000 for eight straight weeks

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump faces a tough decision on his unpopular war against Iran after the Republican Party’s midterm losses. He had hinted at escalating the conflict if Tehran didn’t meet his terms by Election Day. Now with the election behind him, Trump must decide whether to escalate, maintain the status quo or find a pathway out of the conflict. Despite acknowledging the political cost, Trump on Wednesday said his decision to launch the conflict was the right one. The war has caused significant casualties and had an economic impact around the globe. The AP Voter Poll found about one-third of voters said the war in Iran was “crucial” to shaping how they voted for Congress.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaskans have settled in to await more results for key races on the general election ballot that are not yet called. Those include a bitterly fought U.S. Senate campaign and an open seat for governor. A ballot measure seeking to repeal the state’s unique system of open primaries and ranked vote general elections is also too early to call. If no candidate wins more than 50% of first-choice votes, rankings will come into play. Alaska accepts ballots from overseas voters for up to 15 days after the election. That makes Nov. 18 the date targeted by state elections officials to tabulate the votes under the ranked vote system.

TAYIBE, Israel (AP) — A veteran Arab lawmaker in Israel says his bloc is willing to break with decades of precedent and join forces with Jewish-led parties in a shared bid to end Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long rule. But any such partnership could be politically fraught for both sides. For the Joint List, it would mean backing a government unlikely to end Israel’s wars or curb settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. For Netanyahu’s opponents, it would mean aligning with parties that not only criticize Israeli policies, but reject its identity as a Jewish state.

PARIS (AP) — French trade unions are joining forces for more nationwide strikes and demonstrations for higher wages and in support of the high school protest movement. Major rallies are expected in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille on Thursday after more than a month of protests across France. Transportation chaos is expected and some schools could be shut as teachers join the strike. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said that 70,000 police officers are being deployed. They are being backed by armored vehicles, drones and helicopters. France’s main unions warned in a joint statement that the country is on the brink and anger is mounting.

JetBlue has raised its checked baggage fees for the second time this year. The increase took effect Tuesday and comes just weeks before the busy holiday travel season in the U.S. kicks off with the Thanksgiving weekend. Most domestic economy passengers will now pay at least $50 each way for their first checked bag. That is up from $39 previously. The price climbs to $55 during peak travel periods like the winter holidays. A second checked bag also increased to $70 each way and $75 during peak travel. JetBlue previously raised checked bag fees in March after the Iran war began and helped set off a broader round of baggage fee hikes among major U.S. airlines.

LONDON (AP) — Russell Brand has been convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others. The British comedian faces a significant prison term when sentenced Monday. Brand, known for his risqué comedy and past promiscuity, denied the charges. He was taken into custody after the judge rejected a bail request. Prosecutors described him as a manipulative predator. The jury deliberated for over eight hours before reaching the verdict. Brand was acquitted of two rape counts and one attempted indecent assault. Police have provided prosecutors with investigations into two more allegations against him. Brand’s conviction follows a 2023 investigation by The Times and Channel 4.  (Photo:  AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — The National Toy Hall of Fame has inducted bingo, Care Bears, the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the humble playground slide. These toys join classics like Mr. Potato Head and G.I. Joe. Experts at The Strong National Museum of Play, which hosts the Hall of Fame, highlight bingo’s global popularity and its appeal to young adults. Care Bears gained support through social media, while Pokémon cards were boosted by anime and manga fans. The slide is praised for helping children develop motor skills. To be inducted, toys must be iconic and engage multiple generations.  (Photo:  AP)