WJPA News

NOTTINGHAM TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a near-drowning in Washington County. State Police were called to Pine Nut Drive in Nottingham Township around 2:40 Friday afternoon for a child who was not breathing and determined that a 5-year-old boy had been submerged in an in-ground pool behind a home. Police say family members had pulled the boy out of the pool by the time first responders arrived and troopers performed CPR for an extended period of time before he was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital where he was last listed in critical condition. Police say they believe the incident was accidental and happened during a family party with people going in and out of the pool. The investigation, however, continues.

Officials with the North Franklin Volunteer Fire Company are warning residents of a possible scammer. They say someone is actively soliciting donations by telephone. That’s something they don’t do to raise funds. In addition, there are also emails claiming to be registering vendors for the company’s upcoming Food Truck Festival. They urge everyone to take caution with any fundraising effort. Anyone interested in volunteering, donating, or taking part in the Food Truck Festival can visit the North Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department Facebook page for more information.

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — For many in Congo and elsewhere in Central and West Africa, there is no shame in craving wild meat, a key part of the culture. Even a disease as terrifying as Ebola, which is currently ravaging a remote part of eastern Congo, has failed to stem demand for wild meat emerging from the Congo Basin. The Congo Basin is an expansive forested ecosystem rich in wildlife from great apes to serpents — both of which are hunted for their meat. Although Ebola is not spread by food, cases in Africa have been associated with hunting, butchering and processing meat from infected animals.

SINGAPORE (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assured Pacific allies Saturday that Washington remains committed to the region while softening past comments that described China as an imminent threat. Speaking at the Shangri-La defense conference in Singapore, Hegseth said U.S. policy aims to preserve a favorable balance of power and prevent any country from dominating the Indo-Pacific. His remarks came after President Donald Trump met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing and praised prospects for U.S.-China ties. Hegseth said there is no change in U.S. policy toward Taiwan but declined to address a pending arms package. He also urged Asian allies to increase defense spending.