Teen Remains In Critical Condition After Field Party Crash

July 30, 2026 4:55 am

BURGETTSTOWN, Pa. — A 19-year-old remains in critical condition and is on a ventilator after she was run over by a pickup truck at a field party in Burgettstown over the weekend.  Ayla Reynolds was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital early Saturday morning after she was struck at a party in the woods along Creek Road, according to her grandmother, Rebecca.  According to our news partners at WPXI,  doctors are working to save Reynolds’ leg, but her grandmother said they now believe it will likely need to be amputated below the knee.  Rebecca said Reynolds was one of three people struck when a pickup truck lost control while driving people up a steep hill to the party. She identified the driver as Reynolds’ ex-boyfriend.  According to Rebecca, Reynolds was pulled underneath the truck and suffered the most serious injuries. Friends and the driver placed her in the truck and rushed her to Weirton Medical Center because they feared it would take too long for an ambulance to reach the remote location. She was later flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh.  Rebecca said Reynolds suffered multiple spinal fractures, a broken pelvis, spleen injuries, internal bleeding and severe injuries to her leg. She said the other two people who were struck suffered minor injuries.

Interstate 70 Drilling Will Affect Travel For Several Weeks

July 30, 2026 2:18 am

Uniontown, PA— PennDOT announced on Wednesday that daytime single-lane restrictions will be in place in both directions of Interstate 70 between the Bentleyville Interchange (Exit 32) and Route 481 Interchange (Exit 35) in Fallowfield Township, Washington County beginning Monday, August 3rd through Thursday, August 27th.  Single-lane restrictions will occur on Eastbound I-70 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Westbound I-70 Sunday through Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.  Crews from Armstrong Drilling, Inc. will drill geotechnical test borings for the I-70 Belle Vernon Bridge to Bentleyville project, which is currently in design.  All work depends on weather and operations.

Bridge Preservation Projects Getting Underway

July 30, 2026 2:25 am

Uniontown, PA – PennDOT has announced upcoming bridge preservation projects in Greene and Washington counties.  In Greene County, Route 1003 (Porter Street) over I-79 in Franklin Township will be affected.  Route 1003 (Porter Street) is scheduled to close between Caldwell Road and North Porter Street beginning Wednesday, August 5, at 7:00 AM through early September.  Posted detour: Apple Hill Road, Route 19, Route 221 and Porter Street.  In Washington County, Route 19 (Washington Road) over Route 519 in North Strabane Township will be worked on.  Route 19 (Washington Road) will have nightly single-lane restrictions in place from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM, Monday, August 3, through Friday, August 7.  Also, Route 2056 (Barrett Hill Road) over I-79 in Amwell Township.  Route 2056 (Barrett Hill Road) is scheduled to close between Moninger Road and Barrett Hill Road beginning Thursday, August 6, at 7:00 AM through early September.  Posted detour is Moninger Road, Mankey Road, Route 19, Weaver Run Road, Lone Pine Road, Baker Hill Road.  Crews from Triton Construction, Inc. will conduct bridge preservation activities, including latex overlays, epoxy overlays, expansion dam replacement, concrete repairs to extend the life of eight structures. A $4.1 million infrastructure investment project in Washington and Greene counties.

Senate Panel Delays Vote On Blanche Nomination

July 30, 2026 4:59 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Todd Blanche’s nomination to become attorney general has stalled as lawmakers scrapped a planned committee vote. Key Republicans have demanded more assurances about the settlement of President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. The Senate Judiciary Committee had been scheduled to vote Thursday to advance Blanche’s nomination to the floor. But Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have threatened to withhold their support without more answers from the Justice Department about the controversial settlement. A spokeswoman for the committee said in a statement Wednesday night that the vote would be postponed.

US-Iran Conflict Enters A New Phase

July 30, 2026 4:57 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — The stop-start fighting between the United States and Iran appears to have entered a new phase as Saudi Arabia has publicly joined military escalations against Tehran-backed proxies. At the same time, an already untenable diplomatic effort to end the war has faltered once again as mistrust deepens between the longtime adversaries. Despite several days of relative calm, both sides carried out military strikes in the last 24 hours that once again risk a return to all-out war — and further expansion in the region. Late Wednesday, the U.S. military said it had launched a “a powerful response” against Iran. Little is clear about what strategy, if any, American or Iranian officials have for a path forward.

Lettuce Causing Hard Times At Some Restaurants

July 30, 2026 5:01 am

It’s been a choppy year for restaurants that lean into lettuce. Lettuce prices rose sharply in the first half of 2026 due to hot weather in Arizona, where about one-third of America’s lettuce is grown. Now, some restaurants are dealing with the fallout from a cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded lettuce that has sickened thousands of Americans. Taco Bell will likely see the biggest sales impact from the outbreak. But market research companies say other salad-focused chains are seeing reduced foot traffic as well. Federal health officials first tied the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in multiple states, although health officials say there might be additional causes.

Hope Dwindles For Rescues After Japan Earthquake

July 30, 2026 4:56 am

KUMAMOTO, Japan (AP) — The Kumamoto prefectural government says the powerful earthquake that hit southwestern Japan earlier this week has now killed at least 25 people. The magnitude 7.1 earthquake on Tuesday set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney and flattened homes in the Kumamoto area on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu. Time was running out to find survivors as rescuers continued to work. The total number of those missing was unclear. The quake left at least 86 people injured, five of them seriously, the prefectural government said.

Federal Reserve Leaves Interest Rate Unchanged

July 29, 2026 3:40 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday despite persistently high inflation and a spike in energy prices caused by the Iran war. The Fed’s rate-setting committee reached the 9-3 decision after two days of deliberations, marking the fifth straight meeting at which the benchmark rate was kept at around 3.6%. Three Fed officials dissented in favor of a rate increase, and Fed Chair Kevin Warsh described the policy discussion to reporters as a “good family fight.” Inflation has been stuck above the central bank’s 2% target for more than five years and Wall Street still expects a rate hike in September.

Fauci Faces Contempt Of Congress Vote

July 29, 2026 9:10 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dr. Anthony Fauci will face a contempt of Congress vote in a Senate committee next week after he invoked the Fifth Amendment in a hearing about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Wednesday’s hearing, Fauci declined to answer dozens of questions from senators. The scientist’s decision to not testify injected drama into the lingering tensions between Fauci and GOP lawmakers over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and accusations he lied about its origins, which he denies. Fauci was subpoenaed by Sen. Rand Paul, who led the charge to have the now-retired infectious disease expert testify again. The hearing was part of a campaign to arrest Fauci, spearheaded by some congressional Republicans. Fauci says Paul has an “obvious obsession” with calling for his prosecution.

South Strabane Tables Fossil Fuel Ordinance

July 29, 2026 5:00 am

South Strabane Township Supervisors have tabled their fossil fuel power generation ordinance.  Supervisor Zach Morgan tells WJPA News they want to make some changes to the measure and will consider it again when they meet next month.  It is part of the township’s overall data center ordinance which was approved in June.   Supervisors also voted unanimously to change their emergency notification service.  Cancelling the use of Code Red after seven years.  Fire Chief Jordan Cramer says  Code Red was costing the township $4,200 annually and they did not use it once last year. They will now use the ‘Regroup Mass Notification’ System.