WJPA News

One person is in custody after Police were called to a ‘shots fired’ incident in the City of Washington.  Washington County 911 tells WJPA News that it happened just after 2:30 a.m. in the 300-block of Locust Avenue.  Dispatchers say no injuries were reported but the individual involved fled the scene in a vehicle.  Police were able to track the vehicle to Hollywood Casino at the Meadows were the individual was taken into custody.  No identity has been released.  We are awaiting further details from City Police.

Washington County Commissioner Electra Janis traveled for two days to Washington D.C. last week to advocate to federal representatives on behalf of residents. Janis, along with 10 other commissioners from surrounding counties were invited by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission to meet with staff for Senators and Representatives from the region. Janis met with senior staff from the offices of Representatives Guy Reschenthaler and Chris Diluzio, and Senator Dave McCormick. She traveled, armed with evidence to prove the need for emergency funding by FEMA to alleviate flood damage caused by the two mid-September rain storms. Janis showed pictures of the sink hole at the South Strabane Township fire station, the flooding that happened at the W&J football field and other locations around Washington and South Strabane. She drove home the point that help is needed now, not a year from now. Janis says the report was well received by the bi-partisan panel with whom she met. She has since followed up with a flurry of emails to ensure quick action.

PennDot is advising motorists of a single lane restriction that is scheuled for one day this week. Beginning on Tuesday, October 6 at 10:00 PM, one lane eastbound on Interstate 70 will be closed. The affected area is between Exit 18 (I-79 North) and Exit 19 (Murtland Avenue). The lane will reopen on Wednesday, October 7 at 3:00 PM. During the single lane restriction PennDot maintenance crews will be removing a damaged slab, addressing drainage issues and repaving the section. Drivers are asked to exercise caution and obey posted signs and speed limits.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Office of Public-Private Partnerships (P3) announced today that it is accepting unsolicited proposals for transportation projects from the private sector through October 31. Instructions on how to submit a project and information on the unsolicited proposal review process can be found on the state’s P3 website. PennDOT holds an unsolicited proposal period in April and October each year. The submission period applies to PennDOT-owned projects, infrastructure, and services. The private sector can submit proposals offering innovative ways to deliver transportation projects across all modes including roads, bridges, rail, aviation, and ports. Proposals can also include more efficient models to manage existing transportation-related services and programs. They may also submit applications for non-PennDOT-owned assets directly to the P3 board during this time. The state’s P3 law allows PennDOT and other transportation authorities and commissions to partner with private companies to participate in delivering, maintaining, and financing transportation-related projects. As part of the P3 law, the seven-member Public Private Transportation Partnership Board was appointed to examine and approve potential public-private transportation projects. If the board determines a state operation would be more cost-effectively administered by a private company, PennDOT would issue a Request for Proposals and start a competitive procurement as defined by the P3 law. To learn more about P3 in Pennsylvania, including active projects, visit PennDOT’s website.

Pennsylvania is beautiful in the fall as the leaves turn red, orange, and yellow. In Washington County, peak color can be seen from the third week of October until the end of the month. Dave Planinsek, a forester with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, says recent heavy rainfall can have both positive and negative impacts on the leaves. Some trees get fungal leaf spot diseases, which causes brown spots on the leaves and less vibrant color. Other trees, like oak, take advantage of the rain and produce bright, colorful leaves. Planinsek explains that sunny days and cool nights help to produce bright fall colors. Planinsek says Southern Somerset County is the best area to view fall color now. Weekly fall foliage reports can be found here.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Air Force has brought home its bombers stationed at a U.S.-run military air base in England used to strike Iran following an investigation into a planned terror attack at the RAF Fairford base. This is according to a Pentagon official who was not authorized to discuss sensitive military movements and spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity. The official said the bombers were redeployed back to their home bases in the United States. The move comes as President Donald Trump weighs options for his war on Iran — including new strikes — despite his initial promises to Americans that the campaign would last a matter of weeks.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has tapped his director of national intelligence, Jay Clayton, to lead a new government task force on artificial intelligence. Trump is calling it the “Super Intelligence Force” because he’s tried to rebrand AI as “super intelligence.” The announcement Sunday comes after Trump hosted top executives of AI companies at the White House last week. Trump says the task force will reach out to consumers, public interest groups, religious organization critical infrastructure providers and AI companies.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court begins a new term Monday with significant cases on climate change, religious rights, and immigration. The court will hear an appeal from energy companies, including Suncor and ExxonMobil, trying to block lawsuits seeking to hold them liable for climate change-related damages. The Trump administration supports the companies, arguing the lawsuits aim to impose emission regulations. In December, the court will consider challenges to assault weapons bans in several states. The court will also hear two immigration cases with implications for President Donald Trump’s policies, including deportations and mandatory detention. Additionally, religious rights cases involving Catholic preschools are on the docket.

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, and Brazil’s veteran President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will face off in a runoff for the top job of Latin America’s powerhouse economy. The country’s electoral court in Brasilia said neither the 80-year-old incumbent, seeking his fourth non-consecutive term, nor the 45-year-old son of former President Jair Bolsonaro would garner a majority in Sunday’s first round of voting. The runoff election will be held on Oct. 25. The next presidential term begins Jan. 5.

Christa Pike remains unconscious and on a ventilator in a Tennessee hospital after a failed execution attempt. Her lawyer, Stephen Ferrell, said Sunday that her prognosis might not be known for days. Pike, now 50, was sentenced to death for a 1995 murder. Tennessee officials gave her two doses of a lethal injection drug Wednesday night, but it didn’t kill her. Her lawyers said her arms were burned and blistered from the drugs. Pike’s medical decisions are being made by someone with her power of attorney, whose identity remains undisclosed.