WJPA News

In a letter to parents and guardians, Charleroi District Superintendent Ed Zelich announced that starting on August 26th, the day students return from school, the district will begin a bell-to-bell to bell cell phone restriction.  He says that from the time student enter the building each morning until dismissal, cell phones and other personal devices will be stored and powered off in an individual NuKase that will stay with the student throughout the day.  Zelich encouraged parents and guardians to use a fact sheet they put together to find out details, such as, how the NuKase system works, exceptions for medical needs, how to reach a student during the day and what happens in an emergency.  Essentially, Zelich says the move was made based on research showing that when students are not distracted by cell phones, their focus increases.

Harrisburg, PA –The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has declared a statewide Code Purple Air Quality Alert for particulate matter (PM2.5) for Friday, July 17the.  Wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota will blanket Pennsylvania on Friday, creating Code Purple concentrations of PM2.5.   Residents are strongly encouraged to check www.airnow.gov for current conditions in their area. Current local conditions could be more severe (Code Maroon) or less severe (Code Red or Code Orange) depending on your location at any given time. Residents should make informed decisions on their outdoor activity based on the conditions at the time.  During Code Purple Air Quality Alerts all residents should avoid long or intense outdoor activities, and sensitive groups such as children, elderly residents, and those with respiratory illnesses should avoid all outdoor activities. All residents are encouraged to move activities indoors.

The Washington County Coroner’s office has been under fire for charging law enforcement agencies several hundreds of dollars in fees to access coroner reports for cases that need the coroner’s rulings on those deaths. Commissioners voted unanimously to waive all fees charged by the coroner to law enforcement agencies. Recently, Westmoreland County raided the coroner’s office for autopsy reports. Commissioner Larry Maggi said in his time with the Pennsylvania State Police, they never had to pay fees to a coroner. Commissioner Nick Sherman called the fees unnecessary and wanted to remove them in order for law enforcement to do their jobs and for families to obtain closure. WJPA reached out to Washington Coroner Tim Warco for comment. We have not received a comment as of yet.

Earlier in the week an agenda item was listed for Washington County Commissioners to extend an approval period for a proposed miniature golf course at Mingo Creek Park. That all changed in the course of two days. The agenda item voted on was to reject all proposals for a mini golf course and the motion was approved unanimously. According to Commissioner Nick Sherman, the item was tabled last spring, but was never officially put to rest. Nevertheless, another large public outcry emerged against the idea this week, and commissioners listened and killed the plan. Commissioners did unanimously approve a motion to advertise for bids for site design and engineering to add an ADA accessible dog park to Mingo Creek Park. All commissioners agreed that the dog park fits much better into the atmosphere of the park.

An unidentified man suffered a leg injury after falling from a roof in Chartiers Township Thursday morning.  Washington County 911 says it happened at 20 Museum Road which is the location of Revolution Energy Services.  Dispatchers say the man was conscious and alert after falling 18-feet and was transported by ambulance to a Pittsburgh hospital.  There is no word on his identity or condition.

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Josh Shapiro has announced that his administration is investing $134,436,640 in 100 projects across Southwest Pennsylvania through the Commonwealth’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). He says this investment reflects his commitment to strengthening Pennsylvania communities and driving regional economic development through key cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects.  The investments are part of a broader statewide commitment of nearly $445 million supporting 356 projects across Pennsylvania aimed at creating jobs, improving infrastructure, strengthening public safety, and driving long-term economic growth in communities across the Commonwealth.  RACP, administered by the Governor’s Office of the Budget, is a reimbursement grant program that supports essential design, acquisition, and construction projects across the Commonwealth. The program funds projects with regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, promoting economic growth, creating jobs, increasing tax revenue, and contributing to vibrant, resilient communities.  Included in the program, several Washington County businesses and non-profits.  Among those receiving funding:  Attollo Medical Development: $2 million to support construction and renovation of the Attollo Medical Institute at 1001 Corporate Drive, creating a new medical facility with updated clinical and patient care spaces.  Blueprints Community Welcome Center: $727,114 will fund demolition, site preparation, and construction of an expanded welcome center with offices, seating, kitchenette, restrooms, and improved programming space.  Lemoyne Center Expansion: $408,242 will add a new classroom, entryway, administrative offices, and restrooms to expand youth programming capacity and improve safety and access control.  WJC Lazear Hall: $1.25 million will convert Lazear Hall at Washington & Jefferson College into a modern nursing education facility.

NEW YORK (AP) — Heavy smoke from wildfires is darkening skies from the U.S. Midwest to the East Coast. The smoke on Thursday prompted warnings that breathing the air outside could be dangerous for people. The smoke is coming from fires that are burning primarily in Canada but also in northern Minnesota. A National Weather Service Meteorologist in Detroit says a lingering high pressure system has trapped the smoke close to the ground. Officials in many cities are urging residents to stay inside or wear masks outside as air quality reaches unhealthy to hazardous levels, meaning it’s unhealthy for anyone, regardless of health conditions.

UVALDE, Texas (AP) — Authorities in Texas have rescued dozens of stranded drivers and people trapped in homes and at least one person has died due to catastrophic flooding. Gov. Greg Abbott said during a news conference Thursday there has been “one loss of life” due to the disaster in Texas Hill Country. The region is still recovering from devastating floods a year ago. The National Weather Service says a “deadly flood wave” is barreling down the Guadalupe River that runs alongside Camp Mystic. That’s where two dozen children and two counselors were killed last July. Rivers are rising hour by hour, turning them into fast-moving seas of white water. Abbott has issued disaster declarations for dozens of counties.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fighting between the U.S. and Iran has intensified. But hopes for a possible diplomatic solution have shown stubborn signs of life. Vice President JD Vance told podcaster Joe Rogan that the U.S. will not indefinitely bomb Iran and that “you’ve got to actually be willing to talk and to try to figure out the problem.” Mediators from countries that include Pakistan, Qatar and Egypt also have been working to resume talks. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday that the parties eventually “will have to come to the negotiating table to settle all outstanding issues.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a first-of-its-kind pill that can drastically reduce cholesterol. The drug cleared Thursday can lower dangerous cholesterol in a way that’s previously only been available with expensive, injectable drugs. The Lipfendra pill from Merck is the first noninjectable option for blocking a liver protein that interferes with the body’s ability to clear cholesterol from the blood. Biotech injectables targeting the protein have been available from other drugmakers for more than a decade. But patient access has been limited by high prices, insurance restrictions and low prescribing by doctors.

PHOENIX (AP) — Election officials in Arizona’s most populous county now agree on how to jointly oversee the vote. Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap had sued the board of supervisors in June 2025, alleging it illegally took over certain aspects of election administration. Under the settlement agreement signed this week, the Republican recorder largely will oversee early voting, ballot drop boxes and other duties. The predominantly Republican board will oversee Election Day voting, ballot tabulation and voting location equipment maintenance. The board also will fund a new $15 million information technology system and related positions for the recorder. An interim plan will govern the state’s July 21 primary.