WJPA News

NORTH FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A 20-year-old North Franklin Township firefighter says he is lucky to be alive after his was hit by a vehicle Monday along Route 40.  A speeding driver hit him and took off.  Logan Lilley was with firefighters doing traffic control after responding to a downed tree. He tells our news partners at WPXI “I probably shouldn’t be standing with how fast he hit me”. Lilley says he ran towards the guardrail and jumped but was struck by the hood on his boot.  He was thrown over the guardrail and suffered a hand injury and well as other cuts and sprains.  He believes the driver was traveling around 55 mph.   That driver did not stop and police are still searching for a white KIA. “I have angel wings tatted on my back, so I go with I had an angel with me that day, and for being a pretty religious person, I think God was definitely there for me,” he said. Firefighters are hoping this incident is a wake-up call for drivers to slow down. State Police continue to search for the hit-and-run driver.

HARRISBURG – Legislation to give Pennsylvania municipalities the time and authority to rein in data center projects across the state continues its way through the General Assembly.  The state House of Representatives , on Wednesday, by an overwhelming bipartisan majority passed H.B. 2496 to empower local governments to place up to a six-month “pause” on the consideration of any data center application. Municipalities could adopt, amend or repeal sections of their related land-use ordinances during the pause.  “This pause window allows local governments the time they need to thoroughly research, draft and pass comprehensive land-use ordinances pertaining to data centers,” Rep. Paul Friel, D-Chester, a co-sponsor said. “The bill gives our local officials necessary breathing room to update these ordinances, evaluating demands like water and energy usage and other considerations related to protecting our communities from potential harms caused by data center development.”  Critically, the pause dates back to the moment the public was notified of the meeting agenda, and any application filed during the pause is subject to the new rules.

Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is announcing several state-owned roads will close for the America250PA Commonwealth Concert in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County on Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27.  The following restrictions will be implemented in advance of the Saturday concert at Point State Park according to the following schedule: The Liberty Avenue ramp to westbound I-376 (Fort Pitt Bridge) will close to traffic at approximately 6:30 PM Friday.  Eastbound I-376 ramp to Liberty Avenue (Exit 70A) will close to traffic at approximately 6:30 PM Friday.  There will be a lane restriction in the northbound direction of the I-279 (Parkway North) Portal Bridge, which spans a portion of Point State Park, beginning at approximately 7:00 AM Saturday.  10^th Street Bypass ramp to Commonwealth Place/Fort Duquesne Boulevard/East I-376/Monroeville will close to traffic at approximately 2:00 PM Saturday

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge rose to a new three-year high in May as gas prices peaked, a sign rising costs could pose political problems for President Trump as midterm elections near. The increase was largely driven by more expensive gas, as well as pricier semiconductors and other computer equipment that are in high demand for the AI buildout. Rising prices have caused the inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve to keep their key rate unchanged this year, a reversal from January when they had penciled in two cuts. Some economists forecast the central bank could lift rates this year instead.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — At least 164 people have died and 971 were injured after a pair of powerful quakes rocked Venezuela, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said. Wednesday evening’s 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes were among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century, and could be felt throughout the region. Rodríguez said authorities were shifting rescue teams from other parts of the country to La Guaira, which she said was one of the hardest hit areas. She said officials were trying to make the most of the daylight hours to speed up efforts to rescue people believed to remain trapped under the rubble.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A sprawling legislative package aimed at lowering the cost of housing and spurring more home construction won broad bipartisan approval from Congress this week, but it’s hit a major roadblock in becoming law. Although the White House supported the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, President Donald Trump canceled the housing bill signing ceremony on Wednesday. He says he won’t sign the measure until Congress passes separate election reform legislation. The delay could impact aspiring homeowners and renters at a time when many Americans are burdened by the cost of housing.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans who were berated by President Donald Trump over opposition to his war in Iran have reversed course, holding a late-night vote to try to appease him. They rejected a war powers resolution Wednesday night, a day after a similar measure passed. Trump harangued GOP senators face to face earlier in the day for allowing a vote to block his war in Iran on Tuesday, further escalating a feud that has diverted GOP efforts to focus on election-year affordability issues. Trump exchanged particularly harsh words with Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of four Republicans who had voted with Democrats on the measure. Cassidy later changed his position after he received a White House briefing on the war.

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stepped into the national spotlight this week as a surging political force within the Democratic Party. Democratic leaders aren’t so sure that’s a good thing. Some of the most powerful Democrats in Washington downplayed the impact of Mamdani’s victories on Tuesday, when the 34-year-old democratic socialist mayor’s slate of congressional candidates defeated three establishment favorites — including two incumbents — in primary contests. He had even more victories in state legislative races, where he successfully backed five other candidates. Mamdani now hopes to export his policies and politics to other states, and he’s demanding major changes across the Democratic Party.