WJPA News

In Hanover Township, there have been five hearings for a conditional use application towards a proposed data center at Starpointe Business Park. Prime Data Centers, LLC is proposing the development, which would consist of seven buildings and a power generation facility. Residents have heard from multiple witnesses for Prime. During Wednesday night’s hearing, witnesses discussed physical characteristics of Starpointe Business Park. Kate Nolan Bryden, the senior vice president of development, hopes all of the witnesses addressed residents’ concerns. If the conditional use application is approved, Prime would like to host an open house for residents to learn more about the development. One resident, Mark Dumbovich, says he is unsure if he supports the data center or not, and he wants to hear from more witnesses. Another resident, Cathy Glandon, says that she is still concerned about noise pollution and how it could affect her health. Solicitor Dennis Makel announced that the hearing will continue October 7, 12, and 28 at 6:00 PM at the Hanover Township Fire Department Hall.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt held his 4th election update briefing on Wednesday, instead of the usual Tuesday. This week he noted that no part of any voting system used in Pennsylvania is ever connected to or permitted on in internet facing network. He said through bipartisan efforts, law enforcement partners, including the Pennsylvania State Police, and other state agencies are working together to ensure that they are prepared for any developments on, or even after, election day. He added, “to keep our voting infrastructure secure, the department relies on a number of cybersecurity layers such as 24/7 network monitoring firewalls and encryption.” He also addressed the topic of voter intimidation by commenting, according to the Pennsylvania election code, unless they are voting, serving a warrant or preventing disturbances, police officers and military personnel are prohibited being within 100 feet of a polling place. He added that requests for mail-in ballots are much higher during this cycle than the most recent midterm general election in 2022. More than one million voters have asked for mail-in ballots, and 30 counties have started to fulfill those requests. The deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania is October 19; the deadline to apply for a mail ballot is October 27^th and ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, November 3.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday confirmed the state’s fifth measles-related death this year.  An unvaccinated Lancaster County resident who tested positive for measles has died, according to the department. The person’s age was not released to protect their privacy.  Earlier this month, an 18-year-old Mifflin County resident died from the disease, days after a 40-year-old woman from Jefferson County.  Two infants from Lancaster County died in August, marking the first measles-related deaths in the U.S. this year, and the first in Pennsylvania in 35 years.  The latest death comes as the total number of measles cases in the state this year reaches 943 across 39 counties.  Of those 943 cases, state health officials note that only four, or less than 1%, are among vaccinated people.  (Photo:  AP)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee officials have been unable to put Christa Gail Pike to death for a 1995 murder after administering two doses of a lethal drug. A death penalty expert said it was an unprecedented failure. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee late Wednesday halted the remaining scheduled execution for the rest of the year and ordered an outside investigation. Pike’s attorneys say she was alive and loudly snoring after the attempted lethal injection and taken by ambulance from the prison. Her attorneys said in court filings that officials gave Pike two doses of pentobarbital. The Tennessee Department of Correction says they followed every step of the state’s execution protocol.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Investigators across the region are trying to learn why an Omani copilot stabbed his captain on a FlyDubai flight to Israel. The plane, carrying 174 people, made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after descending so sharply in the chaos that its rudder tore off. Passengers described how the bloodied Indian captain opened the cockpit door, allowing them to subdue the attacker and stabilize the plane. Officials say the copilot is arrested, and the captain is reportedly in stable condition. FlyDubai has suspended flights to and from Israel after the attack came at a sensitive time there.

QUANTICO, Va. (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is announcing some major changes to the U.S. military in what he calls his “State of the Force” address. They include establishing a new drone command and cutting 20% of the nation’s generals and admirals. He says the Pentagon will launch an effort to study the future of warfare that will be led in part by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Hegseth also says the Defense Department will create an Office of Religious Affairs and plans to build a new base for the first time in 40 years. He made the announcements Wednesday when speaking to junior officers and enlisted leaders at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) — Experts report that glaciers in Switzerland have lost 5.5% of their ice volume this year due to heat waves and low winter snowfall. The GLAMOS Swiss glacier monitoring service and Swiss Academy of Sciences released a statement Thursday, warning that Alpine glaciers can’t survive long-term under these conditions. The report highlights concerns about global warming’s impact on Europe, the fastest-warming continent. The record retreat of glacier ice in Switzerland occurred in 2022. Over the past five years, Swiss ice volume has declined by nearly one-fifth. This accelerated melt affects Switzerland and the continent’s major rivers.