WJPA News

WASHINGTON, Pa. — Demolition work on the Courthouse Square building is on hold after a 30-ton excavator toppled into a ditch on Tuesday. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has confirmed that it has opened an investigation into the incident. Officials say the operator of the excavator was not injured. Engineers with Adamo Demolition — the Michigan-based company hired by Washington County to demolish the building and parking garage — were at the site Wednesday assessing the situation. An Adamo worker told our news partners at Channel 11 that engineers still need to develop a plan to remove the excavator and that a crane will be brought in to lift the machine out of the ditch. That process may not happen until next week.

The Superintendent of the Bentworth School District posted on their Facebook page that a middle school student was found with a knife on Tuesday morning.  Scott Martin says the student went to breakfast and then reported to the office where he turned the knife over to an adult.  Martin says the student’s parents were immediately notified and the matter was referred to the school district’s police.  No names were released and no reason was given as to why the student brought the knife to school.

The final suspect in the September 2020 drug delivery resulting in death case surrounding the death of Bradley Remorowski of Washington has entered a plea. Duane Berry, 33 of Carnegie pleaded guilty to conspiracy possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance charge. Berry was initially accused of supplying the drugs to Remorowski that caused his death because police identified phone communications between the two in the hours leading up to Remorowski’s death. Berry told police that he acted as the intermediary between Remorowski and the actual supplier Calvin Ortiz of Homestead. In October of 2025, Calvin Ortiz pleaded no contest to a drug delivery resulting in death charge and a criminal use of a communications device charge. He is currently spending 4-10 years in state prison. In exchange for Berry’s plea and cooperation with prosecutors, Berry received a 3 year probationary sentence. Felony charges of conspiracy drug delivery resulting in death and criminal use of a communications device against Berry were dropped.

 Fan registration is now open for the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.  To register for free entry for the draft taking place from April 23-25, fans should download the NFL OnePass app or click here.  “The NFL Draft is a massive annual celebration of football and community, and Pittsburgh provides a spectacular stage to welcome residents and fans from all over the world,” said Peter O’Reilly, executive vice president of club business, international and league events. “By connecting iconic locations in the heart of the city, we’re creating an accessible, free experience that reflects Pittsburgh’s creativity, imagination and grit, and invites all fans to be there live as the next generation of the NFL takes the stage.”   The NFL Draft in Pittsburgh is said to transform the North Shore and Point State Park into a three-day celebration of football, community and culture. The expansive campus is expected to highlight Pittsburgh’s landmarks, waterways and skyline while creating an immersive experience for fans of all ages.  Officials encourage fans to download the NFL OnePass app, calling it the “must-have” tool to navigate draft weekend and get real-time updates.  (Photo:  WPXI) 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran is launching more missiles at Israel as attacks in the Middle East commence for a sixth day. Israel announced multiple incoming attacks early Thursday and said it was moving to intercept the missiles. The Israeli military say it began new strikes in Lebanon against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group. The fighting has continued after a U.S. submarine sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday and the U.S. and Israel intensified their bombardment of Iran’s security forces. Tehran has warned of the destruction of the Middle East’s military and economic infrastructure.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is preparing to vote on a war powers resolution that would halt President Donald Trump’s attack on Iran. Thursday’s roll call will offer a snapshot of the support, or opposition, in Congress to the widening conflict that is rapidly reordering U.S. priorities at home and abroad. It’s the second vote in as many days, after the Senate defeated a similar measure along party lines. Lawmakers are confronting the sudden reality of representing the nation in wartime and all that entails — with lives lost, dollars spent and alliances tested by a president’s decision to go to war with Iran. Republicans largely back the war, while Democrats oppose, but there are splinters in the parties.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are invoking the war in Iran and the prospect of retaliatory terrorist attacks as they tee up votes on a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security. The House already approved a DHS spending bill in January, but it faltered in the Senate as Democrats insisted on changes to immigration enforcement operations following the shooting death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. As a result, funding for the department lapsed on Feb. 14. Republicans are calling on Democrats to reconsider in the wake of the conflict in Iran. But Democrats argue that it’s a cynical effort that will fail without changes to immigration enforcement operations.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a defeat for the Trump administration, a federal judge in New York ruled Wednesday that companies that paid tariffs struck down last month by Supreme Court are due refunds. Judge Richard Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade wrote that “all importers of record’’ are “entitled to benefit’’ from the Supreme Court ruling that struck down sweeping double-digit import taxes President Donald Trump imposed last year under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Eaton also wrote that he alone “will hear cases pertaining to the refund of IEEPA duties.’’ The ruling offers some clarity about the tariff refund process, something the Supreme Court did not even mention in its Feb. 20 decision.

BANGKOK (AP) — European shares have fallen back after rebounds in Asia and on Wall Street. U.S. futures dropped and oil prices resumed their upward climb as Iran launched attacks and threatened the U.S. South Korea’s Kospi gained as much as 12% during Asian trading after its worst plunge ever the day before. Chinese Premier Li Qiang opened the annual session of the National People’s Congress with a report that set China’s annual target for economic growth this year at a slightly lower 4.5% to 5%. But that news was eclipsed by uncertainty over the war in the Middle East, which has been jolting financial markets, with most taking their cues from what the price of oil is doing.