WJPA News

It is that time of year where local communities find out if their local projects will receive grant funding from the Local Share Account that is funded by taxes levied on Pennsylvania gambling casinos. This year Washington County received $9.5 million in funding. According to Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman, that figure is down significantly from last year. Sherman says last year Washington County received more than $13 million in LSA funds making this year’s decisions “dicey”. One hundred thirty applications were made to the review committee and fifty four projects received funds. The largest of the awards granted was $1.95 million to the Washington County Department of Public Safety. That money will be spent on subscriber radio equipment that is needed for the new Emergency 9-1-1 Radio system presently under construction. More than 70% of funds went to public interest projects and public safety initiatives such as repair of aging sewer lines and South Strabane Township’s law enforcement traffic camera network. Commissioner Larry Maggi was pleased to see the committee award boy scouts, historical societies and parks along with job training programs monies for community development. Commissioner Electra Janis pointed to a collaborative CDL training program involving Trinity, Fort Cherry, Avella, McGuffey and Canon-McMillan school districts. She said this allows students to earn their certification creating job opportunities without college debt. The county will be contacting the awardees to outline the next steps in the funding process.

The Washington County Salary Board experienced some disagreement over the creation of a CES Director and an Inter-agency Collaboration Manager positions. The Salary Board is made up of the three county commissioners, the controller and the elected official that is requesting the changes in their department payroll, whether they be new hires, elimination of positions or salary adjustments. Commissioner Larry Maggi and Controller Heather Sheatler voted against the creation of the positions. Commissioners Nick Sherman and Electra Janis voted in favor. Ordinarily, such a vote would defeat the measure. Commissioner Nick Sherman called on Director of Human Services Dr. John Tamiggi to provide the deciding third vote to approve the creation of the positions. Maggi argued against the procedure that he says goes against county code. A non-elected official is not entitled to vote to approve new hires. Sheatler said that her solicitor argued that Tamiggi is an “at will employee” and not entitled to such a vote. Both Maggi and Sheatler said that they do not know why the positions are being created. County Solicitor Gary Sweat said that code does allow the head of an agency to provide a vote in the absence of an elected official. Commissioner Nick Sherman, in a subsequent interview did disclose that the positions are being created in anticipation of the implementation of a county run drug and alcohol program that would fall under Tamiggi’s direction. According to Maggi and Sheatler, litigation against the creation of the positions could result, costing additional money to taxpayers above the $80,000 and $52,000 salary requests. Sherman said that none of that salary money will be spent until the county is approved to operate its own drug and alcohol program.

The Washington County Local Emergency Planning Committee held their first quarterly meeting. The biggest announcement was the introduction of Washington County joining the alert system Regroup. Dan Harvey, Deputy Director of Public Safety for Washington County says that the alert system will allow residents to receive notifications of emergency situations in their neighborhood. Alerts can be for weather, chemical spills or active shooters. He said that in just over a week of availability, nearly 2000 people have signed up for the service. Access to the system can be found on the Washington County Webpage under the Stay Informed, Stay Ready tab on the home page. In other public safety business, the group discussed two major incidents that involved a chlorine leak at the Monongahela Sewage Treatment Plant and the recent explosion at the Langeloth Metallurgical plant. Officials also wish to remind companies that their Tier II chemical facility reports are now due. Harvey says that of 626 active facilities, only 16 have reported. Facilities have until April 1 to report.

UNIONTOWN, Pa. — State Police are investigating a fatal shooting Thursday afternoon in Uniontown. Troopers say it happened along Dunlap Street. Fayette County Coroner Bob Baker said the victim was taken to a local hospital from the scene, where he later died. Baker identified the man as Lemaur Thompson Jr., 20, of Uniontown. Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said police are looking for a suspect identified as Braedon Dickinson, 18. He is described as a Black man who is 5 feet 10 inches tall with a thin build. Police say he should be considered armed and dangerous.

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The family of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie is renewing their plea for their mother’s kidnapper to contact them. Guthrie’s brother, Camron, posted a second plea on social media Thursday on behalf of the family. The message came hours after Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators don’t have proof 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie is alive but believe “she’s still out there.” Nanos says authorities have not identified any suspects or persons of interest five days into the desperate search. Investigators say they are taking seriously notes seeking ransom that were sent to some media outlets.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump claims his tariffs have revived the U.S. economy, calling it an “American economic miracle.” He argues that tariffs have boosted growth and reduced inflation. However, the facts tell a different story. The U.S. economy was already growing before his second term. During the first three quarters of the year, Trump’s tariffs — or the threat of them — delivered mixed results for the American economy. Inflation figures are skewed by data disruptions, and tariffs have actually increased core goods prices. Trump also claims foreign producers bear most tariff costs, but studies show U.S. consumers and firms are affected.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military says it has carried out another deadly strike on a vessel accused of trafficking drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean. U.S. Southern Command said Thursday on social media that the boat “was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” It said the strike killed two people. A video linked to the post shows a boat moving through the water before exploding in flames. Thursday’s attack raises the death toll from the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug boats to 128 people.

MOSCOW (AP) — A deputy chief of Russian military intelligence has been shot and wounded. Officials say Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev was attacked by an unidentified assailant in Moscow. The incident happened on Friday. Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko says Alekseyev was hospitalized. She did not comment on who might be behind the attack. Alekseyev has served as the first deputy head of Russia’s military intelligence since 2011. Several top Russian military officers have been assassinated in attacks that Moscow blamed on Ukraine. The attack came a day after Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators wrapped up two days of talks in Abu Dhabi. The Russian delegation was led by the military intelligence chief, Adm. Igor Kostyukov.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says it would be up to the president to decide whether to sue Kevin Warsh, Donald Trump’s nominee for Federal Reserve chair, if he doesn’t lower interest rates. Trump joked about suing Warsh during a private dinner on Saturday. He later told reporters it was all in jest. Sen. Elizabeth Warren questioned Bessent about Trump’s remarks during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Wednesday. Concerns have risen over the Trump administration’s interference with the Fed’s independence. Sen. Thom Tillis has said he won’t support Warsh’s nomination until an investigation into current Fed chair Jerome Powell is resolved.

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian shares are mostly lower after Wall Street extended losses driven by technology stocks. Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 0.8% as tech shares in Japan bounced back. U.S. futures edged lower and bitcoin sank about 8% to roughly half its record price, erasing gains since U.S. President Donald Trump was elected for a second term. Oil prices were higher, while gold and silver prices fell following some recovery earlier in the week. On Thursday, the S&P 500 was down 1.2%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.2% and the Nasdaq composite fell 1.6%.