FDA Adds New Warning To GLP-1 Drugs

November 9, 2026 5:44 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration is adding a new warning about possible rare cases of vision loss reported with popular drugs used for weight loss and diabetes, such as Ozempic. FDA regulators on Monday said the warning information will be added to all GLP-1 drugs, the blockbuster medications whose popularity has exploded in recent years. The new language warns doctors of a rare eye condition that can cause loss of vision. The agency says the problem can be permanent and is not fully understood. The FDA says the issue has been reported with all GLP-1 drugs on the market, though it occurs in only a tiny fraction of patients.

Massie Launches Bid To Impeach Hegseth

November 9, 2026 5:39 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky has filed a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The swift action came as the House opened Monday, following the midterm elections, and sets the stage for a dramatic vote on whether to remove one of the Trump administration’s most prominent figures. The resolution largely focuses on the war in Iran but also includes references to Hegseth’s role in carrying out military actions in Yemen and Venezuela. Massie said Hegseth’s actions amount to “high crimes and misdemeanors.” A vote in the House could come by mid-week, putting pressure on Republicans — many of whom blamed their election wipeout on the Iran war.  (Photo:  AP)

Gas Prices Are Coming Down

November 9, 2026 5:28 pm

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.

Monongahela Police Officer Caught On Camera Using Slur

November 9, 2026 4:46 am

MONONGAHELA, Pa. — A family is upset after a video appears to show an on-duty police officer using a homophobic slur while speaking to a group of teenagers. The family of a 15-year-old boy said they did not want to speak on camera but gave our news partners at Channel 11 permission to share the video. The boy’s mother wrote on Facebook that her son and the other teens had been loitering and making noise at a McDonald’s before the encounter.  In the video, the officer is heard saying, “When you turn 18, I’ll be glad to put you in jail, you (expletive).” In another clip, the officer says, “Wait until you get a $500 fine. See how (expletive) funny that is.”  Monongahela Police Chief Kevin Harris confirmed  the officer works for the department and says he is working to address the officer’s behavior.  It is not clear what action, if any, will be taken against the officer.

Congress Returns After GOP’s Election Wipeout

November 9, 2026 4:54 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress returns to a changed Washington after Democrats trounced Republicans in the midterm elections. Also Monday, Stephen Miller becomes President Donald Trump’s new chief of staff as the White House doubles down on the president’s political threats despite the landmark GOP losses. It’s the start of a six-week lame-duck sprint for Congress as Republicans try to wrap up work before Democrats take charge in January. Newly elected lawmakers have arrived on Capitol Hill for orientation sessions. Jubilant Democrats, with families in tow, appear emboldened by the party’s sweep of power. The trickle of Republicans coming in spoke soberly of the GOP’s challenges ahead.

Trump & His Justice Department Stand Defiant

November 8, 2026 4:55 am

President Donald Trump and his Department of Justice are taking a combative stance toward Democrats after their victories in the midterm elections. The Republican administration is signaling that there’s intense conflict to come as lawmakers prepare aggressive investigations into the executive branch next year. Trump set the tone by claiming on social media that investigative requests already made by Democrats are “extortion at the highest level, and they should be held accountable.” Attorney General Todd Blanche says criminal investigations of Democrats are possible. A leading House Democrat says members of his party aren’t going to be intimidated.

Autumn Conditions Bring Out Deer

November 8, 2026 4:00 am

Now that it is fall with cooler temperatures and shorter days, motorists may notice more deer along roadways. According to AAA, along with more deer, come more automobile accidents associated with deer strikes. According to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS), more than one third of deer-vehicle collisions occur during October and November. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation says in 2025, there were more than 6300 deer related crashes in Pennsylvania causing 11 deaths. Most of the crashes were on rural roads, during dark conditions with speeds of 45 mph or higher. AAA suggests several practices that motorists can use to avoid accidents with deer. They include; pay attention to road signs, stay focused on the road, be attentive in early morning and early evening hours, use high beams when appropriate and slow down and watch for other deer to appear. If you are involved in a deer strike, AAA recommends that you call police, avoid making contact with the animal, put on hazard lights and if possible, move the vehicle to the side of the road and wait for help.

2000 Turkeys Campaign Ramping Up

November 9, 2026 2:44 am

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 18th 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!

Rubio Says War Against Iran Is Needed

November 8, 2026 4:59 am

HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio says President Donald Trump launched the war against Iran even if it wasn’t “necessarily popular” to safeguard the world from the country’s nuclear ambitions. He wouldn’t comment directly Sunday about the Republican wipeout in the midterm elections that followed the unpopularity of the Iran war and its impact on gasoline prices. Asked about Vice President JD Vance’s social media post last week that largely blamed the war for the Republican losses, Rubio told reporters that Trump “identified a very real threat” in Iran and worked to stop the Islamic Republic from pursuing a nuclear weapon. Rubio said that “confronting difficult challenges for the security of our country” isn’t “necessarily popular, but necessary.”

China Dismisses Spy Plot Claim

November 8, 2026 4:52 am

BANGKOK (AP) — China is denying that there is any spy plot targeting Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and is calling it a smear campaign against Beijing. Huang admitted to an extramarital affair but did not name anyone. The controversy centers on whether he drove sales of advanced computer chips to China, despite U.S. tech restrictions. The New York Times reported that Huang had a close relationship with a Chinese citizen accused of smuggling chips into China. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson dismissed the spy allegations on Monday as unsubstantiated. Huang had lobbied U.S. President Donald Trump to loosen chip sales restrictions to China.