WJPA News

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — Punxsutawney Phil’s handlers say he’s seen his shadow and is therefore predicting six more weeks of winter weather. Phil’s annual prediction occurred shortly after dawn Monday outside his tree stump in Gobbler’s Knob. The Pennsylvania festivities are among the many Groundhog Day rituals around the U.S. and beyond. Groundhog Day on Feb. 2 comes at the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. The tradition has roots in European agricultural folklore. Despite its silliness, the event remains a beloved tradition. Phil’s accuracy is debated, with federal weather officials saying he’s been right only about 40% of the time.

The Canonsburg Senior Center along East Pike Street is closed thanks to a water line break.  WJPA News spoke with Canonsburg Mayor Dave Rhome who tells us that the break occurred (most likely because of the bitter cold) in the front of the building where the offices and activity rooms are located.  The water has been turned off, but Rhome says there is extensive damage and most likely they will have to tear out the floor boards.  Rhome says they are till assessing the damage and the center will remain closed for now.

Donations and community support have been pouring in after a fire damaged a Greene County apartment building.  The fire on Saturday, which is under investigation, affected ten units at the Mather Apartments in Morgan Township. Three people were reportedly injured, with two being flown to area hospitals.  In the fire’s wake, multiple agencies, businesses and other groups have stepped up to support first responders who battled the blaze and residents who’ve been displaced.  In an update Sunday evening, the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Company said the past weekend had been “very difficult” with inclement weather complicating first responders’ duties, officials with the department expressed “sincere thanks and gratitude” for those who contributed resources after the fire.  In another update, the department said clothes are no longer being accepted, though people can still donate household goods and toilet supplies. The department said it will post if victims need or request specific items.  Also, the department shared methods for people to make monetary donations, including by check or Venmo.  Fire officials though, are warning donors to be aware of scam donation requests.

One person was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital following a two-vehicle crash Monday morning in South Strabane Township.  Washington County 9-1-1 says it happened around 9:45 a.m. at the intersection of Country Club Road and Locust Avenue.  There is no word on the identity or condition of the person injured.  No other injuries were reported.

Two people were taken into custody during a drug trafficking investigation spanning Pennsylvania and Ohio.  In a social media post Saturday, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said the four-month investigation concluded on Thursday, with multiple agencies from both states involved.  The investigation focused on the distribution of heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine in various municipalities, the office said. Numerous people are alleged to have taken part.  On Thursday, authorities initiated a traffic stop on State Route 18 in Burgettstown. During the stop, 53-year-old Archie Orison of McDonald/Burgettstown was arrested and found to have an unspecified amount of crack cocaine on him, according to the sheriff’s office.  Orison was lodged at the Washington County Correctional Facility on a bench warrant and an arrest warrant out of Mount Pleasant Township, the office said. Additional charges are pending.  After Orison’s arrest, the Jefferson County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at a home in Steubenville, Ohio. A person was taken into custody after authorities found cocaine, crack cocaine and more than $15,000 in cash, the office said.  More arrests may come as a result of the investigation, the office said.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Forecasters warned that dangerous extra-cold conditions will persist for a huge swath of the U.S. from the Gulf Coast into New England. There were hundreds of weekend flight cancellations to North Carolina, snow flurries and falling iguanas in Florida, and more misery for thousands who are still without power from last month’s ice storm in the South. About 150 million people were under cold weather advisories and extreme cold warnings in the eastern portion of the U.S. on Sunday. Florida experienced its coldest air mass since 1989. Windchills near zero are expected in many states again Monday.

(AP) – Air travelers in the U.S. without a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification are subject to a new fee starting Sunday. The non-refundable $45 charge isn’t a penalty or fine, but payment for non-compliant travelers to use the Transportation Security Administration’s new alternate identity verification option called ConfirmID. The process can take up to 30 minutes and doesn’t guarantee passengers will make their flight if their identity can’t be verified.

(AP) – An Arizona sheriff says “We do in fact have a crime scene” as authorities search for the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, who was reported missing over the weekend. Speaking during a Monday morning news conference, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said there are signs at the home indicating Nancy Guthrie did not leave on her own. Nanos said at a news conference Sunday night that Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9:30 p.m. Saturday at her home in the Tucson area. Her family reported her missing midday Sunday. Nanos says Nancy Guthrie has physical ailments, but no cognitive issues. He says the homicide team is also involved, which isn’t standard for such cases.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson faces tough days ahead trying to pass a federal funding package and prevent a prolonged partial government shutdown. Democrats are demanding changes to rein in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations after the deaths in Minneapolis. But Republicans are making their own demands in support of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. A partial shutdown started over the weekend when funding lapsed for several agencies. Trump struck a deal with senators, who approved new funding, but only temporarily for Homeland Security until Feb. 13. That would give Congress time to consider new restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Johnson now needs Trump to help push that deal through the House.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he will move to close Washington’s Kennedy Center performing arts venue for two years starting in July for construction. Trump’s announcement on social media Sunday night follows a wave of cancellations by artists since Trump ousted the previous leadership and added his name to the building. Trump announced his plan days after the premiere of “Melania,” a documentary of the first lady, was shown at the storied venue. He says the proposal is subject to approval by the board of the Kennedy Center, which has been stocked with his hand-picked allies.

When Amazon announced it was cutting 16,000 corporate jobs, many assumed it was the latest phase of CEO Andy Jassy’s push to reduce the corporate workforce as AI brings more efficiency gains. But like other companies that have tied layoffs to AI — including Pinterest and Dow — it can be hard for economists, or individual employees, to know if AI is the real reason or the message a company wants to tell Wall Street.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The 68th annual Grammy Awards took placed Sunday in Los Angeles. Bad Bunny has won album of the year, the first time a Spanish-language album has taken the Grammys’ top honor. Ms. Lauryn Hill returned to the Grammys stage to pay tribute to the late D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. Billie Eilish, Bad Bunny, Jelly Roll and Lady Gaga were among the night’s winners. Olivia Dean won best new artist. Kendrick Lamar won the first televised award for best rap album and record of the year. That brings him to a total of 27 career Grammys, the most of any rapper. Many artists used their time on stage to spread a pro-immigration and anti-ICE message.