WJPA News

UPMC Washington has earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. This recognition follows the hospital’s “A” grade in fall 2025, reflecting sustained performance in key measures designed to prevent errors, accidents, injuries and infections.  The Leapfrog Group assigns letter grades ranging from “A” to “F” to general hospitals across the country using evidence‑based measures focused exclusively on patient safety.  “Earning an ‘A’ once again is a testament to the extraordinary commitment of our team and their continuous focus on patient safety,” said Brook Ward, president of UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene. “I am incredibly proud of our physicians, nurses and staff for the care they provide every day. Their dedication to delivering exceptional, safe care is what our patients and community count on..  An ‘A’ Grade is a strong sign that UPMC Washington is deeply committed to protecting patients from harm,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We commend the leadership, board, clinicians, staff and volunteers for the role each played in earning this distinction.”  The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only national hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries. The program is peer‑reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public, with grades updated twice annually in the fall and spring.

A member of the Trump administration visited Washington County. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler visited Steel Nation on her tour of the United States to recognize small businesses during National Small Business Week. Loeffler met with Steel Nation President Mark Dooley and his staff to gain an understanding of their business. Steel Nation is a manufacturer of steel buildings that house equipment in the oil and gas and data center industries. They employ 45 people from western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. Loeffler promoted the advantages small businesses were able to gain with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, the No Tax on Tips policy and loosening of regulations. Dooley spoke of Steel Nation’s experience with the SBA, when they were able to take advantage of the payroll protection plan and the IRS employee retention program when business slowed considerably during the Covid 19 pandemic. According to the SBA, there are 36 million small businesses that represent 99% of all private sector employers and they create 2 of every 3 new jobs. Small businesses contribute to roughly half of our nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

The Senate today approved, in a bipartisan manner, legislation sponsored by Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35) to eliminate the commonwealth’s outdated vehicle emissions program.  Senate Bill 1298 provides for the removal of all 25 counties currently subjected to the annual emissions testing. Further, the legislation clarifies that no additional counties can be added into the program, protecting vehicle owners across the commonwealth.  “People are being squeezed from every direction, and the last thing they should be forced to bankroll are outdated mandates that do nothing but drain their wallets,” said Langerholc. “If a mandate doesn’t serve the public anymore, it has no business siphoning money from working families.”  The Senate passed legislation, sponsored by Langerholc, to reform the emissions program in February 2025, as well as each legislative session since the 2019-2020 legislative session. All measures have failed to receive consideration in the House of Representatives.  “It is beyond time that the House of Representatives bring vehicle emissions reform to a vote and give Pennsylvania motorists much needed relief.”  The measure now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran has said it is reviewing new U.S. proposals to end the war, as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens more bombing if no deal is reached. The conflict has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route, affecting global markets. On Wednesday, the U.S. fired on an Iranian tanker trying to break an American blockade on Iranian ports. Trump says Iranian officials want a deal, but warns of intensified bombing if they refuse. Talks hosted by Pakistan failed last month. Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson says a deal is expected soon.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Tennessee are poised to vote on a plan to reshape a majority-Black congressional district. The move is part of a broader strategy in Southern states following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act. The court found Louisiana relied too heavily on race when creating a second Black-majority district. Tennessee’s proposal would break up a Democratic-held district centered on Memphis. Alabama and South Carolina are also considering redistricting changes. President Donald Trump has encouraged the redistricting. But Democrats and civil rights activists have criticized the efforts.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio is heading to the Vatican and Italy on a fence-mending visit after President Donald Trump’s broadsides against Pope Leo XIV and the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran have alienated those allies. Rubio’s audience Thursday with Leo was complicated at the last minute by Trump’s latest criticism of the Chicago-born pope. Leo has pushed back, calling out Trump’s misrepresentations of his views on Iran and nuclear weapons and insisting that he’s merely preaching the biblical message of peace. Rubio’s meetings Friday with Premier Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani might not be much easier, given both have strongly defended Leo against Trump’s attacks and have criticized the Iran war as illegal.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Officials and experts in Argentina are scrambling to figure out if their country is the source of a deadly hantavirus outbreak that has gripped an Atlantic cruise. Argentina is consistently ranked by the World Health Organization as having the highest incidence of the rare, rat-borne disease in Latin America. And it’s seeing a surge of hantavirus cases that many local public health researchers attribute to the accelerating effects of climate change. The Argentine Health Ministry on Tuesday reported 101 hantavirus infections since June 2025. That’s roughly double the caseload recorded over the same period the previous year.