WJPA News

In a rare agreement among all three Washington County Commissioners, they will be talking to Motorola Solutions, Inc about a $1,147,201 change order for the Washington County P25 emergency radio system upgrade. During the agenda setting meeting on Wednesday, both Larry Maggi and Nick Sherman questioned why such a large change order is necessary. Chief of Staff Daryl Price explained that the increase is due to the need for three new support shelters that need to be delivered, built and outfitted. He said the original proposal did not include these because it was felt that the existing infrastructure at the antenna sites would be adequate. Further study indicated otherwise. Commissioners are reaching out to Motorola on Wednesday to get a detailed explanation about the charges. Commissioner Nick Sherman wants to know why this was not included in the initial contract. Commissioner Larry Maggi is also pushing back saying he needs a better explanation as to why this was not in the original contract. The original contract for the project came in at $24.4 million. If this change order is approved, it will push the contract price to $26,380,000. Completion for the project is anticipated for early 2027.

The Washington County Board of Elections has filed a petition with the Court of Common Pleas seeking approval to make changes to several election districts in response to population shifts, challenges in recruiting poll workers, and increasing costs to the county.  “It is important to evaluate these changes as we see some polling locations struggling to handle voter traffic while others are barely used,” said Chair Nick Sherman. “The Mon Valley was once one of the most populated and active areas, but now there are too many polling locations that are difficult to staff. This allows
us to save county resources yet still provide people physical locations to vote in their neighborhoods.”  Following careful planning and evaluation, the county is proposing the consolidation of 24 voting precincts, reducing the total number of polling places from 180 to 156 ahead of the May 19 primary election.  “We are also seeing increasing difficulty finding actual polling locations that are accessible,” said Washington County Elections Director Melanie Ostrander. “Many churches that previously hosted polling places have closed, and other buildings in these communities are not ADA-compliant. In several cases, the precincts we are proposing to consolidate already share the same physical location, so combining them will improve efficiency by reducing the amount of equipment and the number of poll workers required.”  The proposed changes would affect the following municipalities: California Borough, Charleroi Borough,  Cross Creek Township, Donora Borough,  Fallowfield Township, Independence Township, Monongahela City,  Mount Pleasant Township, Peters Township, Robinson Township, Smith Township, Union Township, the City of Washington, and West Finley Township.  A judge will hear the arguments and decide on the proposed changes in a hearing set for next Thursday, March 26th in Courtroom 6 at 1:15pm. You can find the specifics on the proposed changes for each precinct at https://www.washingtoncopa.gov/elections or posted in the communities.

North Strabane Township Supervisors could be adding a new method of transportation in township neighborhoods, golf carts. Supervisors will consider directing their solicitor to draft an ordinance that would allow golf carts in neighborhoods governed by home owners associations. Supervisor Harold Close is behind the effort. He says that the ordinance would be strict if it is written at all. Golf carts would need to be “street legal”, possessing lights, and turn signals and be insured. Drivers would have to be 16 years of age and licensed to operate the vehicles. They would only be allowed in the specific neighborhoods and not on main roads. Golf carts could not even cross a township road to travel from one HOA community to another. Supervisors will also look to award their paving contract. Portions of six roads will be paved. Linley Road from Lily Ridge to S. Johnson, Taylor Drive from Thomas Road to Nancy Drive, Coachside from Meadowbrook to Meadow Ridge, Lakeview Drive from Coachside to the cul-de-sac, Nancy Drive and Lenore Way from Nancy Drive to Taylor Drive. The bid from Redstone Excavating is for $782,225. Township Engineer Vince Seyko says that may not be a firm total. He says that because of the war in Iran, he anticipates asphalt costs to increase. If those increases come about, liquid fuels funds cannot be used to cover them. Those increases must come out of the general budget. Supervisors will vote on these items on September 24.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania regulators are seeking $2.6 million in penalties from UGI because of a gas leak and deadly explosion at a chocolate factory. The state Public Utility Commission on Wednesday asked an administrative law judge to issue the fines. Regulators argue UGI’s gas distribution equipment serving R.M. Palmer Co. in West Reading violates state and federal rules. The March 2023 blast killed seven workers and injured 10 people. It destroyed a factory building and a nearby apartment building. UGI is calling the explosion a heartbreaking tragedy and expressing sympathy for the victims’ families, people in West Reading and others who were affected.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials expect the Iran war will worsen inflation this year while having little impact on growth, but they still expect to cut their key rate once in 2026. For now, Fed policymakers left short-term interest rates unchanged Wednesday for the second straight meeting at about 3.6%. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that it’s too soon to predict the long-term impact of the Iran war on the U.S. economy. Powell also said he has “no intention” of leaving the central bank until a Justice Department investigation related to his testimony about a building renovation is over.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department is easing sanctions on Venezuela’s state oil company, with some limits. The Trump administration is looking for ways to to ease oil prices that have soared during the Iran war. The U.S. issued a license on Wednesday that lets Venezuela’s state-run company sell and export Venezuelan oil to U.S. buyers and on global markets. The move could have the effect of getting more oil into the world market. Separately, the White House says Trump will waive, for 60 days, requirements for goods shipped between U.S. ports to be moved on U.S.-flagged vessels for 60 days. That 1920s law is often blamed for making gas more expensive.

HONG KONG (AP) — About 90 ships including oil tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the war with Iran. Maritime and trade data platforms report it is still exporting millions of barrels of oil at a time when it said it closed the key waterway for vessels of the U.S. and its allies. Analysts say Iranian oil export volumes remain resilient. Many of the vessels that have passed through the Strait are so-called “dark” transits evading Western sanctions that likely have ties with Iran. More recently, vessels with ties to India and Pakistan have also successfully crossed the strait as governments stepped up negotiations.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran has lashed out with multiple attacks on its Persian Gulf neighbors and Israel following the killing of one of its top leaders in an airstrike, using some of its latest missiles to evade air defenses. Two people were killed near Tel Aviv. Israel, on Wednesday. Israel has kept up the intense pressure on Lebanon with strikes it said targeted Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, hitting multiple apartment buildings in Beirut and killing at least six people as the war in the Middle East showed no signs of slowing. The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant complex had been hit by a projectile but suffered no damage.

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore the government-run Voice of America to full operations, putting hundreds of journalists who have been on administrative leave for a year back to work. U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth’s order came a week after he ruled that Kari Lake, President Donald Trump’s choice to effectively lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, did not have the authority to effectively dismantle the congressionally authorized Voice of America. Following an executive order by Trump a year ago, Lake had put 1,047 of 1,147 employees on administrative leave. The administration had contended it was a bloated agency and wanted government-run news organizations to better reflect its point of view

(AP) – The Oscars draw fewer TV viewers this year, even as the show stays a major live event. On Tuesday, Disney says 17.9 million people watched Sunday’s ceremony which was broadcast live on ABC and streamed on Hulu. That is a 9% drop from last year’s 19.7 million. The show featured a faceoff between two Warner Bros. films, “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners.” “One Battle After Another” won best picture and director. Disney says the Oscars still rank as the top primetime entertainment telecast this season. Social impressions rise over 42%, with 129 million video views.