WJPA News

The newly formed Opioid Settlement Review Committee for Washington County concluded its first meeting on Monday morning. Chairman of the committee Dr. John Tamiggi was pleased with how the meeting went and credited the group members for working together to do what is best for the community. During Monday’s meeting, eight submissions were reviewed. Of these eight submissions, two of them were tabled. These included programs affiliated with UPMC Washington’s Opioid Use Support & Mitigation program and Serenity Farms Inc. and Scaffold Builders Coaching & Consulting Accountability Recovery and Workforce Pathway project. Tamiggi explained that these submissions required further review, and they will be the first projects to be considered for funding next year. Only five members voted on the submissions. Dan Buzzard, the court administrator for the Washington County courts, and Joe Glover, the police chief of Peters Township, did not participate. After the meeting was adjourned, Tamiggi explained the absence of the two committee members. Although they originally agreed to serve on the committee, their governing offices would not allow their participation. According to Tamiggi, these positions should be filled later in the summer. A special meeting will be held this Thursday where the Board of Commissioners will review, and potentially approve, the applications.

Gas prices are retreating in Western Pennsylvania. According to AAA, prices fell 10 cents this week. The average price per gallon is $4.59 per gallon. Nationally, the average price for regular gas is down 18 cents at $4.32. Today’s national average is $1.18 more than a year ago. Prices in Washington County are a little higher, they come in at $4.68 per gallon. The national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at public EV charging stations remained level at 41 cents.

The Washington County Coroners Office has announced that a Hickory man was killed in a one-vehicle crash Sunday night in Peters Township.  According to the coroner,   37 year old Alexander Lauterbach lost control of his vehicle while traveling north along Washington Road.  The vehicle rolled over and came to rest in the parking lot in the Waterdam Centre Shopping Plaza around 8:30 p.m.  He was transported to Canonsburg Hospital were he was pronounced dead a short time later. A passenger in the vehicle was also transported to the hospital but there is no word on their identity or condition. The coroners office and Peters Township Police continue to investigate.

Community advocate Jodi Borello has officially announced her candidacy for the Pennsylvania State Senate in the 46th District.  She is running as an independent candidate and will face incumbent Republican Camera Bartolotta and Democrat Evan Snyder.  Borello says her platform centers on ‘economic accountability, public health and revitalizing local small businesses’.  In a release, Borello says she ‘aims to break through traditional party lines and take on the corruption in both political parties to provide direct, unbossed representation for the residents of Washington, Beaver and Greene Counties’. She admits to facing ‘a steep institutional hurdle’  running outside the traditional two-party system.

South Strabane Township Department of Fire & Emergency Services held a ceremony to welcome in its new Truck 44-2. This new truck is headlined by its 107 foot Ascendant rear-mount ladder, 500 gal tank and the truck’s ability to handle different scenarios that reflects the needs in the township. The process to obtain the new firetruck goes back to 2022 when Fire Chief Jordan Cramer identified a gap in the department’s capabilities to protect the community. The apparatus itself is a 2025 Pierce Enforcer and was made by the Pierce manufacturing in Appleton, Wisconsin. The truck’s increased aerial reach allows for better reach of multi story buildings as opposed to the seventy foot ladder on the older ladder fire truck. Another feature on the new truck is the ability to handle up a 15 degree incline terrain. At the ceremony, the fire department demonstrated the new ladder and pulley system, as seen in the photo.

The man known as ‘Handyman Negri’ on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood has died at the age of 99.  Fred Rogers Productions confirmed Joe Negri’s death Sunday evening just days from his 100th birthday. For more than thirty-years,  children tuned in to see him tinkering.  A Pittsburgh native, Negri was also an accomplished musician.  He began performing on radio at the age of three and switched to guitar in the 1950’s.  He also taught jazz guitar for nearly 50 years at the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne, and Carnegie Mellon University.  He continued teaching well into his 90’s before retiring in 2019.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military says it bombed Iranian radar and drone control sites in Iran after Tehran shot down an American MQ-1 Predator drone this weekend. Kuwait meanwhile said early Monday its air defenses had opened fire early Monday morning to intercept incoming drone and missile fire as Iran acknowledged launching a retaliatory strike. The dueling attacks reflect the fragility of a weekslong ceasefire in the Iran war, which has seen repeated attacks even as American and Iranian officials try to negotiate a deal to extend it. The U.S. military’s Central Command said it carried out the strikes in Iran on Saturday and Sunday around the city of Geruk and on Qeshm Island.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The world is getting more uptight about lending money to President Donald Trump’s government. The energy price spike triggered by the Iran war has seeped into the price of bonds that help fund the U.S. government. That’s caused interest rates to climb in ways that are worsening affordability pressures, creating a new risk for Republicans in November’s midterm elections. Trump says a task force on fraud could find enough savings to balance the budget. Economists say that’s probably unrealistic because of the magnitude of the deficit. Voters are already concerned about high costs for food and gas, and higher interest rates make it harder to buy or renovate a home, afford a new car or manage credit card debt.

BOSTON (AP) — Former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell used one of his first major public appearances since leaving office to deliver a broad defense of independent institutions while accepting the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in Boston. Powell, who frequently clashed with President Donald Trump during his eight years leading the central bank, warned against political interference in monetary policy and described the Federal Reserve’s independence as a “priceless asset.” He also defended universities, courts and Congress as pillars of democracy. The award also honored residents of Minnesota’s Twin Cities for their actions during a federal immigration crackdown that led to thousands of arrests and two deaths.

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Governments around the world are being pressed to find and support alternatives to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers as the Iran war drives up prices. The Gulf region produces 30% of globally traded chemical fertilizer. That’s caused concerns about food supply. Experts say the shift away from chemical fertilizer could benefit the environment since its production and use cause significant global greenhouse gas emissions, the main driver of climate change. In Senegal, farmer Abou Sow has turned to organic compost. In Brazil and India, farmers are exploring biofertilizers and natural farming. But there are challenges including in scaling up availability.