WJPA News

Washington, PA – The Ebenezer Bridge and Henry Bridge sites of the EQT Washington & Greene Counties’ Covered Bridge Festival, scheduled for this weekend at Mingo Creek County Park, have been cancelled due to flooding and the potential of additional rainfall. The cancellation only involves the Ebenezer Bridge and Henry Bridge sites and does not currently affect the additional covered bridge sites involved in the festival.  The decision was made in consultation with the Washington County Department of Parks & Recreation, Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency, who manages the Ebenezer Bridge site; and Mental Health Association of Washington County, who manages the Henry Bridge site; with public safety as the primary consideration. Recent heavy rainfall has resulted in significant flooding and challenging conditions at Mingo Creek County Park, while the potential for additional rainfall creates further concerns for safely hosting the festival at the park this weekend.  “Each covered bridge site involved in the festival is operated by individual groups and we have been in contact with them to inform them of our decision. Currently, the other sites are moving forward with their festivities, but we encourage everyone to visit CoveredBridgeFest.net for all festival updates,” stated Jeff Kotula, president of the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency.  (Photo courtesy of WCTPA)

LATROBE, Pa. — The Luke Bryan show scheduled for Thursday evening in Latrobe has been canceled due to field conditions.  The show, which is part of Bryan’s 2026 Farm Tour, was to take place at 1846 Farms on Bell Memorial Church Road.  “This call was made for everyone’s safety on the grounds,” organizers posted on bigtickets.com.  Organizers said a full refund for tickets and parking will be processed automatically to the original payment method and will appear in 7-10 business days.   Following the cancelation announcement, 1846 Farms posted a statement on Facebook:  “We are incredibly saddened for our community, our guests, and everyone who worked so hard to prepare for this day. But today is also a reminder of something farmers know all too well you can prepare, plan, and work tirelessly, but ultimately, you cannot control the weather.  “Our area has experienced an exceptionally wet summer, with record amounts of rainfall creating challenges that are simply beyond anyone’s control.  “It’s a reality farmers face every day, and it speaks to the incredible character, resilience, and grit of the men and women who continue to get back up and keep going, season after season.  “God bless our farmers.  “There will be sunny days ahead. From all of us at 1846 Farms, thank you for the tremendous support you’ve shown our farm and our community. We look forward to the day we can welcome you all back again.”

This past weekend, on Saturday September 12, 2026, the City experienced a significant flooding event.  City officials are seeking assistance for residents whose properties were damaged.  Damage from the flooding can be reported by clicking the following link:  https://crisistrack.juvare.com/public/washingtonPA/request.html  After reporting damage to Crisis Track, you may also report to the City’s Emergency Management Coordinator by emailing with the following required information:  Name/Address/Phone number/Email Address and description of damages and estimated dollar amount.  The Emergency Management Coordinator can be reached at cricher@washingtonpa.us  If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Mayor JoJo Burgess at: 724-223-1380

AAA East Central and the South Strabane Police Department gave a presentation about cybercrimes and identity theft at the AAA Washington Branch Office. Presenters talked about phone scams, credit card scams, and ways to protect your identity. AAA safety advisor J.J. Miller explains that anyone can fall victim to cybercrimes. Miller says that consumers must work to protect their identity at all costs, and she hopes that this program gave valuable information. Mike Schidlmeier, a detective with the South Strabane Police Department, says it is important to report anything suspicious to the police to help prevent scams. Schidlmeier reminds citizens that falling victim to a cybercrime is nothing to be embarrassed about because, in the world today, everyone is vulnerable.

239 years after the Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, members of W&J college came to the Courthouse to take turns to read aloud the document.  Constitution Day is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is observed on Sept. 17, the day in 1787 that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia. Constitution Day became a holiday in 2004 when Senator Robert Bryd from the state of West Virginia was concerned that American citizens were losing the connection to the document and we have been celebrating the day ever since then.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days’ notice before making any major physical changes to the building, including demolishing it as President Donald Trump has threatened. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said Thursday his ruling would “avoid any confusion on that score given more recent events.” Earlier, Matt Floca, the Kennedy Center’s executive director and chief operating officer, said he closed the iconic performing arts center temporarily due to “acute risks to public safety resulting from continued structural deterioration” of the aging building.

STRASBOURG, France (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will address the European Parliament on Thursday after President Donald Trump suggested allowing Canada to become an associate EU member could be a “hostile act” and threatened additional tariffs on Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed making Canada the bloc’s first associate member as Trump’s tariffs, demands for economic concessions and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st state drive Ottawa closer to Europe. Carney has urged middle powers to reduce their dependence on dominant powers, warning at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January that economic integration can become a source of coercion. Canada and the EU are also deepening ties on defense, energy and critical minerals.

OpenAI has disclosed six reports on unexpected or concerning behavior in artificial-intelligence models. The company is introducing a new framework to track and disclose instances of what it called “misalignment.” This includes models acting without authorization or evading oversight. The announcement comes as U.S. AI leaders call for a slowdown in development over safety concerns. One case involved a research model inserting jailbreak-like instructions. Another saw an AI agent upload files to the internet without user permission. OpenAI emphasizes the need for a broader consensus on AI alignment research. These cases follow previous disclosures of rogue AI behavior in July.

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) — Human remains found in the Grand Canyon this week have been identified as Timothy Allen Smith, the last person missing after the deadly flash flooding in late August. His wife confirmed the discovery Thursday. The flooding, which devastated the Phantom Ranch area, brought the death toll to three. Smith, a pilot from Wyoming, was on a hiking trip with two companions when the flooding hit. Their remains were found earlier. The flooding began Aug. 29 and damaged a crucial water pipeline. Many hiking trails and lodging areas remain closed as repairs continue.

BENGALURU, India (AP) — Human-caused global warming resulting in the Himalayan permafrost thawing was, in part, responsible for the catastrophic glacier and boulder collapse last month. The sudden floods killed thousands and resulted in billions of dollars in damages in Nepal, a report released Thursday found. The World Weather Attribution group said planet heating has pushed the freezing threshold in mountains upward by roughly 100 meters per decade. This has led to glacial thinning and thawing of permafrost that held the mountains together. Already destabilized mountains as a result of the 2015 Nepal earthquake combined with climate-related factors are likely the primary causes of last month’s disaster.