WJPA News

Kroger plans to buy Pittsburgh-based grocery chain Giant Eagle. In a news release, Kroger announced a definitive agreement to acquire Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion, which includes 197 supermarkets and 11 standalone pharmacies across northern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana.  “Giant Eagle is a well-run, high-quality regional grocer with a strong reputation for fresh products, pharmacy, private label and customer loyalty,” said Greg Foran, Chief Executive Officer at Kroger. “We evaluated the opportunity carefully, and the strategic fit is clear. Giant Eagle expands our reach into attractive adjacent markets, allowing us to do what we do best: Run outstanding stores, deliver fresh foods and convenient meal solutions at affordable prices, and take care of our customers and associates every single day.”  “Today’s announcement marks an exciting next chapter for our Team Members, customers, vendors and community partners,” said Bill Artman, Chief Executive Officer at Giant Eagle.  Artman says Giant Eagle will keep its name and will continue to run their Giant Eagle Supermarket, Giant Eagle Pharmacy, and Market District brands as a division of Kroger.  In addition, Artman says Kroger also plans to keep Giant Eagle’s myPerks loyalty program “while exploring additional opportunities to expand its reach.”  The release from Kroger stated that Kroger and Giant Eagle expect to make “limited Giant Eagle store divestitures” to complete the transaction. It’s unknown how many stores will be sold off.The transaction is expected to close in 2027.

CECIL TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A 93-year-old West Virginia man is facing charges in connection with a crash that left a motorcyclist dead last year.  Charges have been  filed against William Johnston of Wellsburg, W.Va. He faces homicide by vehicle and other traffic violations.  Police say he was behind the wheel of an SUV that crashed into 67-year-old John Dinsmore’s motorcycle on Oct. 6. Dinsmore was pronounced dead at the scene in the 3800 block of Millers Run Road in Cecil Township.  According to court documents, officers spoke with Johnston at the scene. He told police he was traveling westbound when the “front end of his car came up” and he thought he “was going to flip over.” Johnston also said he was wearing glasses and could not see any vehicles in his way.  Police said a witness at the scene said he had been traveling behind Johnston in the westbound lane. The witness said Johnston was swerving slightly and then suddenly turned left, into the oncoming lane, crashing into the motorcycle. Johnston is scheduled to appear in court in August.

A dangerous heat wave is expected to continue to blanket the area at least through Friday, with temperatures reaching into the mid to upper 90’s and the ‘feel-like’ temperatures into the low 100’s.  Heat-related illnesses can increase significantly in the extreme heat. Health officials say to make sure to be prepared and find ways to keep you and your family cool. Stay out of the sun, stay in air-conditioning, keep hydrated, and keep pets out of the heat.  Due to the extreme heat, cooling centers were opened around the county and Washington County’s Public Safety Office has released locations. which will be be updated as changes occur.  For the complete list, click on this link: Click Here.

The Main Street Farmer’s Market has been cancelled for Thursday, July 2nd because of the current heat wave that is baking much of the United States, including Washington County.  Tracie  Liberatore, the markets administrator, says they really had no choice.  She says they’ve been keeping an eye on the weather forecast and Thursday is expected to be the hottest day this week, with actual temperatures in the upper 90’s and the heat index heading into triple digits.  She says many of the markets customers are older and could be at risk if they spend too much time outdoors.  In addition, she says a few vendors had already cancelled because they were concerned that their products could not have survived the heat and that sales, because of the heat, would not be up to par.  Liberatore says this is the first time she can remember, since her involvement with the market, that it has been cancelled because of the weather.  Brighter days are ahead though.  Liberatore says they are excited for the next market, on July 9th.  She says that will be the official kick-off for the Whiskey Rebellion Festival, and this year will be extra special because of the America250 Celebration.  She says she and all of the volunteers that make the festival happen are super excited to showcase the history of Washington.

Charleroi Borough officials say the extreme heat is forcing them to change their schedule this week.  A council agenda meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday at four o’clock has been cancelled.  Additionally, officials say borough staff will only work until noon on Wednesday and then  borough offices will be closed for the remainder of the week and will re-open on Monday, July 6th.

NEW YORK (AP) — Two people have gotten to the top of the Empire State Building’s antenna and unfurled a banner about “the power of love” before starting to descend. They have since been arrested. News helicopter video showed the black-clad people balancing on a ledge on top of the antenna at midday Wednesday. It’s unclear how they gained access to the antenna. It rises well above public areas of the 102-story building. A message seeking comment has been sent to the building’s management. The banner reads: “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the nation celebrates its 250th birthday this weekend, the legislative branch has momentarily called it quits. House leadership abruptly canceled votes Tuesday and sent lawmakers home early. Speaker Mike Johnson’s majority was once again ground to a standstill by rebellious Republicans refusing their own party’s agenda. In this case, it’s a standoff blocking the annual defense bill. Renegade Republicans are pushing to include President Donald Trump’s own priority, the SAVE America Act, a strict voter ID bill. Last week, the Senate similarly shuttered after Trump’s demands. The emptying Capitol provides another snapshot of the imbalance of power in Washington as a headstrong executive confronts a weakened Congress.

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump took in nearly $1.2 billion dollars from his crypto businesses last year, a federal filing released Tuesday shows. Trump got more than $500 million from his World Liberty Financial business selling new crypto products, including “governance tokens,” while another crypto business, CIC Digital LLC, took in more than $600 million from sales of souvenir-type “meme” coins. The mainstay real estate business also boomed last year. The 927-page disclosure form paints a stark, if incomplete picture of the massive growth of the president’s wealth since taking office last January through a web of business interests.

NEW YORK (AP) — Advice columnist E. Jean Carroll has asked a judge to require President Donald Trump to pay her $5 million from a jury verdict that found Trump sexually abused her in the 1990s and defamed her after she publicly described the attack in 2019. Lawyers for Carroll filed papers late Tuesday in Manhattan federal court to say Trump is unjustly trying to further delay release of the money that has grown to nearly $5.8 million with interest accumulated after the 2023 civil verdict. The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal of the verdict. The lawyers wrote that Trump has resumed his defamatory attacks against Carroll as his lawyers considered asking the high court to reconsider its decision.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian state television is reporting that a ship has ran aground in the Strait of Hormuz after not running Iran’s approved route through the water. The report published Wednesday identified the affected vessel as a foreign container ship, but offered no other immediate details. It said shippers needed to follow the instructions of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in the strait. The announcement comes as tensions have grown over the strait, which was supposed to be open to vessels to travel freely in and out of under an interim deal between Iran and the United States. However, there was crossfire in the Mideast over the weekend as Oman and a United Nations agency tried to open a new route through the strait near Oman’s coast.

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department and 17 states have reached settlement agreements with three major egg producers over allegations of that the companies illegally colluded in a multiyear scheme to raises prices. The companies — Cal-Maine Foods, Versova, and Hickman’s Egg Ranch — are accused of colluding between June 2022 and March 2025 to inflate egg prices. To resolve the states’ claims, the settlements require the companies to collectively pay $3.3 million and donate 53 million eggs. They must also adopt antitrust compliance programs and stop communicating with competitors about pricing. The settlements still require court approval. Critics criticized the terms, saying they’re too lenient.

NEW YORK (AP) — Victor Willis, who co-founded the Village People and co-wrote some of the disco group’s biggest hits, including “Y.M.C.A.” and “Macho Man,” has died at age 74. The group announced his death on Facebook, citing “a short but aggressive illness.” Willis, who performed dressed as a police officer, helped form the Village People in 1977 with producer Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo. The group’s debut album was released that year, followed by hits like “Y.M.C.A.” in 1978. The song became an American phenomenon and was added to the National Recording Registry in 2020. The group’s music remains a staple at events and celebrations worldwide.