WJPA News

The Main Street Farmers Market in downtown Washington is giving the community one more chance to shop before the end of the season. The president, Tracee Malik, explains that shopping at the market is a great way to support local farmers. Despite some bad weather, Malik says it was still a very successful season. The market’s last day is Thursday, October 29 and there will be trick-or-treat for children. The market will be open from 3:00-6:00 PM and parking is free.

A key part of the Washington County business community will no longer be here after October 31^st.    After more than 130 years, Sprowls City Appliance on West Chestnut Street in Washington is closing its doors.  Owner Nick Sprowls says it wasn’t an easy decision, but he says he is just worn out.    Early in 1891, George B. Sprowls gave up his job as a country school teacher and with the sum of $50 entered into the sale of buggies, wagons, harnesses, cook stoves and general merchandise for farm and home in a small back alley store in Claysville, Pa. As business grew, he expanded into the sale of automobiles in Claysville and another retail store in Washington, PA, which included home appliances.

UNIONTOWN, Pa. — Two Fayette County corrections officers accused of beating an inmate are now facing criminal charges.  The assault on inmate Robert Stimmel during intake processing took place 20 days ago. In the days after the attack, he was diagnosed with multiple broken ribs, a brain bleed, a traumatic brain injury, a concussion and permanent vision problems.  Court documents for Ryan Sigley and Amadeus Marinucci, the corrections officers accused in the attack. They’re both charged with aggravated assault, official oppression, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and unsworn falsification to authorities.  Sigley and Marinucci were fired nearly two weeks after the attack. A third officer accused on the incident was suspended for 10 days and is not facing any charges.

ARC Human Services reached out to the disability community and the aging population by sponsoring an Assistive Technology Fair. The event was designed to alert citizens about the array of services available and the specialized mechanical and electronic devices that can be used to make a person’s life easier. Michael Brownlee is the Director of Communications and Development for ARC Human Services. He wants to remind people that they are available not just for people diagnosed with disabilities, but for all people. He says they are able to help senior citizens that wish to age in place in their homes. They offer simple device solutions  that can help with opening cans, turning on lights and magnifiers. They also have electronic solutions like medication dispensers, speech to text programs and programs for wearable devices that monitor health vital signs and geofence a property that can protect it from damage if a door is left unlocked and you leave the area.  Organizations such as TRIPL provided information on their access to mechanical and electronic technology. Empowerment programs led by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs, Pennsylvania Training and Assistance Network and Duquesne University’s Institute for Disability Empowerment and Advocacy were there to help the developmentally disabled. For information on these and other programs available go to archumanservices.org.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been released for Pittsburgh rocker Donnie Iris.  Iris died Monday at the age of 83.  Iris was the beloved front man of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers.  He was born in New Castle on Feb. 28, 1943.  Just a few weeks ago, Iris announced he was retiring from performing live, citing “recent health issues.”  His final show was held right here in Pittsburgh for the grand opening of Citizens Live at the Wylie on Sept. 28.  Around 1978, Iris joined the band Wild Cherry after their hit song “Play That Funky Music.”  He may be best known for his work with the Jaggerz and their hit song “The Rapper.” Other beloved hits include “Ah! Leah!,” “Love Is Like a Rock” and “My Girl.”  In June 2023, he canceled a Youngstown concert with REO Speedwagon after being diagnosed with cancer. He returned to the stage in March 2024 following chemotherapy.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ confidence in the economy rebounded somewhat in October as gas prices fell modestly but remain elevated. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index jumped 7.5 points to 91.7 in October from 84.2 last month. September’s reading was the lowest in the board’s survey since April 2014 and below the lowest level reached during the pandemic. Respondents’ views of their present situation rose by 6.9 points to 72.6 while their short-term outlook climbed 8.6 points to 120.4. Even with the improved outlook, Americans remain flustered by the economy after five years of elevated inflation.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli voters delivered a sharp rebuke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with exit polls indicating voters gave his opponents a solid majority in the next parliament. Whether those disparate parties can form a government is uncertain and will likely take weeks of haggling. They would only be able to form a government if his main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, partners with Arab-led parties, something he had largely ruled out. The exit polls released by major Israeli TV stations indicated that Netanyahu’s bloc won 50 seats, the opposition won 52-53 and Arab parties won 17-18.

(AP) – Authorities say an escaped Tennessee inmate convicted of murdering a co-worker stole a truck from a nearby farm and apparently made it to southern Illinois before abandoning it. Jacob Morley, who was serving a life sentence for killing a co-worker four years ago, was found to be missing from the Northwest Correctional Complex late on Sunday. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says Morley stole a farm truck about 2 miles from the prison at about 1 a.m. Monday. Investigators say the truck was found abandoned Tuesday in Marion, Illinois, about 120 miles north of the prison. The police chief in Marion says no other stolen vehicles or suspicious things have been reported in his city.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Susan Saint James, known for her roles in “McMillan & Wife” and “Kate & Allie,” has died at 80. People magazine reports she passed away Monday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Los Angeles, she started modeling in Paris as a teenager and later signed with Universal Studios. She gained fame in the 1970s and 1980s, earning multiple Emmy nominations. Saint James retired to focus on family but occasionally appeared on TV. She was a longtime supporter of the Special Olympics and leaves behind her husband, children, and extended family.  (Photo:  AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is attempting to prosecute James Comey for what it calls a decade-old leak of classified information. The former FBI director’s lawyers immediately dismissed the effort as invalid and outside the time limit for when the Justice Department can file a case. The allegations from the Justice Department came in documents unsealed Monday in federal court in Washington. Prosecutors are trying to bring what would be the third criminal case against Comey, a longtime critic and foe of President Donald Trump, since the Republican returned to the White House last year. Comey says, “It would almost be funny if it weren’t such an appalling abuse of the Department of Justice.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has agreed to extend an order blocking the Trump administration’s renovation plans for a century-old public golf course in the nation’s capital. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a preliminary injunction that halts tree-cutting and other work at the East Potomac Golf Course. On Oct. 18, President Donald Trump announced plans on social media to close the golf course for 15 months and redevelop it despite a court challenge. Reyes previously ordered the administration to suspend work on the project until at least Oct. 26.