WJPA News

Gas prices are 23 cents higher in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.537 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.  The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has gone up 16 cents over the past week to $4.31 as crude oil prices continue climbing. Volatility in the Strait of Hormuz has pushed crude oil back in the $100 per barrel range for the first time since July. Pump prices are currently comparable to early June. The national average is increasing during a season when gas prices typically go down due to lower gasoline demand.  According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased last week from 8.92 million barrels per day to 8.55 million. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 205.7 million to 206.9 million barrels. Gasoline production decreased last week from 9.8 million barrels per day to 9.3 million barrels.

Severe storms that swept through parts of Washington County Saturday caused major flash flooding and widespread damage to homes, businesses and roads, and as a result, both the city of Washington and South Strabane Township have declared States of Emergency.  Washington Mayor JoJo Burgess tells WJPA News that the city has reached out to government representatives, Republican State Senator Camera Bartolotta and U.S. Senator Guy Reschenthaler for funding help.  Burgess says the city has spoken with Bartolotta and is waiting on a response from Reschenthaler on whether they’ll be able to receive federal financial assistance.  In the meantime, Burgess is encouraging anyone with damages to keep receipts to document and issues.  In the city, emergency responders were out most of the afternoon, answering calls regarding flooded roadways and basements, downed trees and vehicles stuck in rising flood waters.  Burgess says the usual areas flooded again, including Park Avenue and W&J College field.  Both were under water and the W&J Football came was called around half-time because the field was flooded.  There were also reports of a retainer wall falling near a home in the nine-hundred block of Donnan Avenue.  In South Strabane, the fire department says a “significant event” at their Oak Spring Road location occurred – the main stormwater pipe under their parking lot had collapsed and within minutes, the lot filled with water. The department says no one was hurt, but the parking lot collapsed, and the station flooded.  Interim Fire Chief Jason Brown said roughly 4 inches of standing water accumulated outside its front door.  About 80 people were inside the fire hall for an annual community event when the storms arrived, and the pavement gave way.  Brown said none of the equipment was damaged.  Township leaders are asking homeowners and business owners to self-report storm damage as crews conduct assessments this week and determine the next steps for repairs.  Brown said firefighters will continue operating from the Oak Spring Road station as long as the building remains safe.  (Photo:  South Strabane Fire Department Parking Lot)

A Pennsylvania woman’s death is the state’s third this year involving the measles virus. Jefferson County Coroner Greg Furlong says the 40-year-old woman died Saturday from complications associated with measles.  The woman was not identified.  Pennsylvania’s two previous deaths involving measles were infants. Both previous deaths were in August. Doctors deemed measles a “significant condition” at the time of one infant’s death. They determined measles caused the death of the other infant, who had a genetic defect that left her vulnerable to infection.  Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) announced that 693 measles cases have been confirmed across 38 counties in Pennsylvania so far in 2026, as the Department continues its response to the ongoing measles outbreak and provides Pennsylvanians with updated information on cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.  The DOH is providing statewide data to help Pennsylvanians and health care providers understand measles activity and community transmission across the Commonwealth.   While daily numbers fluctuate, tracking these trends provides Pennsylvanians and health care providers with visibility into community transmission across the Commonwealth and helps inform the Department’s ongoing response.  Key updates include seventeen new positive cases since September 11, in thirty-eight counties; six-hundred and ninety-three total cumulative cases, 133 hospitalizations and three deaths.  (Photo:  AP)

Uniontown, PA – PennDOT has announced the closure of a portion of Old Scales Road and Vanneal Drive between Routes 18 & 221 in South Franklin Township, Washington County. A posted detour will be in place until mid-December, using Vanneal Drive, Route 221, Jolly School Road and Route 18. A Department Force Bridge crew will demolish the existing structure and replace it with a precast concrete box culvert, widen the bridge approaches, paving and guiderail repair/replacement, all part of a $1.5 million infrastructure investment project. Work is dependent on weather and operational conditions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency plans to repeal rules limiting greenhouse gas emissions from coal and natural gas power plants. Administrator Lee Zeldin says this move could save billions for the industry and boost American energy. The rule change, proposed last year, could be announced as soon as Monday. It’s a significant shift from efforts by Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama to combat climate change. The rule is expected to face legal challenges and could prevent future administrations from regulating emissions. The EPA has not commented on the proposal, which was first reported by the New York Times.

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has issued a new order freezing President Donald Trump’s attempt to limit mail voting for the midterm elections. A previous order from another judge is already before the U.S. Supreme Court. Election officials say they could not implement Trump’s new requirements before November. The decision issued late Sunday by U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols is significant because he was nominated by Trump and earlier declined to freeze the president’s executive order, saying at the time it was premature. In issuing a preliminary injunction, he wrote that it’s now clear many people could lose their ability to vote if it goes into effect.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he is a sufficient guardrail against rogue artificial intelligence, claiming that any efforts to limit the technology is part of a “SICK conspiracy.” The president specifically said on social media on Monday that the administration has already stopped the AI company Anthropic “from doing bad, or potentially bad” things. Trump pushed back against calls by tech leaders at Anthropic, OpenAI, Microsoft and others to have greater regulation of AI to ensure it is developed in ways that promote safety, address legal liability and preserve national security.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian diesel fuel infrastructure, saying attacks are causing a global shortage. Trump spoke on Sunday on the sidelines of the Irish Open after diesel prices in the U.S. hit record highs. His comments came hours after large-scale drone strikes overnight killed and injured civilians in Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian drones killed two people near an oil and industrial hub in Russia’s Tatarstan, according to local officials, while Ukrainian authorities reported on Russian drones pummeling the Black Sea port of Odesa and starting a fire near a border crossing with Poland.

NEW YORK (AP) — Fashion designer Bob Mackie has died at 87. A statement on his social accounts said he died Monday. His designs defined the 1970s, dressing stars like Carol Burnett and Cher in iconic outfits. Mackie won nine Emmy Awards, a Tony, and was nominated for three Oscars. He dressed celebrities such as Madonna and Diana Ross, and his influence continues today with stars like Zendaya. He also designed the gown Marilyn Monroe wore to croon “Happy Birthday” to John F. Kennedy. Known as the “Sultan of Sequins,” Mackie believed in enhancing natural beauty. His work spanned Broadway and television, creating memorable looks that combined fashion with fantasy.