WJPA News

Hanover Township residents once again gathered at a conditional use hearing for a proposed data center in Starpointe Business Park. Prime Data Centers, LLC is proposing a development with seven buildings and a power generation facility. A witness for Prime Data Centers, LLC went into detail about how the data center would operate, including the workings of a closed-loop cooling system and power generation. Attorneys representing residents who are opposed to the development argued that there were not enough specifics about the power generation facility in the application. Attendees had mixed opinions about the proposed data center. Alex Paris, the President of Alex Paris Contracting Company, believes that Starpointe Business Park is an ideal location for the development. He says there is a lot of misinformation about data centers, and he believes that if concerned residents saw a modern data center, they would have a different perception. One resident, Allen Reed, does not believe the applicant has the community’s best interest in mind, and he hopes the supervisors recognize that. The hearing will continue September 24, 29, and 30 at 6:00 PM at the Hanover Township Fire Department Hall.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health provided an update on the measles outbreak in the commonwealth. The DOH announced that there are now 792 measles cases confirmed across 39 counties in Pennsylvania. That is up by 25 cases adding one new county to the outbreak since September 18. There have been 155 hospitalizations and 4 measles associated deaths. The DOH says the best protection against measles is to be fully vaccinated with two doses of the MMR vaccine. Adults who only had one dose or cannot find vaccination records should consult their health care provider or pharmacist about receiving a vaccine.

Gas prices continue their assault on motorists in Western Pennsylvania. According to AAA prices are 20 cents higher this week. The average price per gallon is $4.73. The nationwide average climbed 16 cents per gallon to $4.47 per gallon. Prices are approaching their year high of $4.56 per gallon seen earlier this spring. Here in Washington County we are slightly higher in average price at $4.75 per gallon.

Spotted lanternflies returned to Pennsylvania over the summer, and as we move into the cooler months, they are still a problem. Rick Kruczek, the Spotted Lanternfly Coordinator with Penn State Extension, says the spotted lanternflies are currently in the process of laying their eggs and preparing for next year’s generation. The insects like to feed on grapes, and they tend to kill grapevines. Kruczek urges the public to squash lanternflies and to scrape away and dispose of egg masses. He says people should also check their vehicles before leaving an area with lanternflies to help stop the spread and protect plants. More information about spotted lanternflies can be found here.

NEW YORK (AP) — CNN, MS NOW and Politico have filed a lawsuit over being denied White House access. The lawsuit calls the administration’s actions barring reporters from the three news organizations a “blatant violation” of the First Amendment. Trump said last week he was barring them because of reporting he deemed “fake news.” On Monday morning, CNN was removed from its “pool” duties, which are shared by the major networks. Other networks said in response they were suspending their own pool coverage as well. The actions were an escalation of Trump’s long-running efforts in the courts and through administrative action to restrict news coverage by journalists he finds objectionable.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump is hosting Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Washington this week as economic and tech competition escalates between the two countries. Both leaders are aiming to stabilize fragile ties, though no major agreements are expected. The meeting itself is seen as significant given the deep differences and a lack of trust between the United States and China. An accelerating artificial intelligence race is a key issue, with both countries vying for dominance despite warnings about the rapid development of the technology. Along with persistent trade issues, the two leaders also are trying to maneuver around major hot spots like Iran and Taiwan.

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union and the Philippines have announced a new free trade deal. The agreement announced Tuesday is part of an EU effort to diversify its economy amid tensions with China, Russia and the United States. EU trade negotiator Maroš Šefčovič and Philippine Trade Secretary María Cristina Aldeguer-Roque structured the deal to enhance the nearly 30 billion euros or around $35 billion annual trade between the EU and the Philippines. Electronics dominate the trade with the EU exporting aircraft, pork and pharmaceuticals while importing semiconductors and machinery. The Philippines is the third ASEAN nation to sign a bilateral trade deal with the EU.

MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Polo has grown into a Category 4 storm in the Pacific and was forecast to bring heavy rain to southwestern Mexico but remain offshore. U.S. forecasters said Polo had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph and may intensify further to reach Category 5 strength Tuesday or Wednesday. Polo was moving east-southeast at 5 mph late on Monday and was forecast to sharply turn northwest and west-northwest. On that path, Polo would skirt the Mexican coast for a few days without making landfall. Heavy rain with the potential for flooding and landslides was forecast Guerrero and Michoacán states through Thursday.