WJPA News

A twenty-year-old Chartiers-Houston graduate was  killed in a motorcycle accident Sunday night in North Strabane Township.  According to his family and the Waynesburg University Sports Information Office, Jesse Orbin Jr., suffered a severe brain injury when his motorcycle crashed in the area of 307 Linden Road.  He was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital where he later died.  Orbin was an outstanding wrestler at Chartiers-Houston High School and continued his education and athletic success at Waynesburg University.  A GoFundMe page has been set up to help his family with expenses.

Gas prices are 11 cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.408 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.  The national average for a gallon of regular has been falling for three straight weeks, delivering some relief to drivers during the busy summer travel season. Since May 21, the national average has dropped from $4.56 to today’s average of $4.06 thanks to lower crude oil prices. After a deal was announced between the U.S. and Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, crude oil prices opened this morning at $80 per barrel. Pump prices remain at four-year highs, but the national average is currently far from the record set on June 11, 2022, of $5 per gallon. If the national average drops below $4 per gallon, it will be the first time since March 30^th.  According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week from 8.59 million barrels per day to 8.73 million. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 215 million barrels to 215.1 million. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.7 million barrels per day.

MCMURRAY, Pa.  – Pennsylvania American Water announced today that it has satisfied all requirements of a Consent Order and Agreement (COA) issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for its Dilliner system in Greene County— marking a major milestone as the system returns to compliance for the first time in more than 12 years.  “This milestone marks one year since Pennsylvania American Water assumed ownership, and it’s already making a difference for our customers in Greene County,” said Justin Ladner, president of Pennsylvania American Water. “We’re proud of the progress we’ve made to address long-standing issues and remain committed to delivering safe, reliable water every day.”  In November 2023, an emergency order was issued, followed by a February 2024 Commonwealth Court order that appointed Pennsylvania American Water as receiver to stabilize operations and restore safe, reliable service. The company then took ownership of the system in April 2025.

Pennsylvania American Water has announced that it will be hosting a Utility Assistance and Resource on Thursday, June 18th, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Canonsburg Senior Center at 30 E. Pike St. in the borough. Local customers will be able to learn about and enroll in programs that can help lower the cost of utility bills. Attendees are encouraged to bring income documentation and a recent utility bill.

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — Officials say a B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at a U.S. Air Force base in California’s Mojave Desert. The military posted on the social platform X that emergency crews were responding after the aircraft went down around 11:20 a.m. Monday at Edwards Air Force Base. There was no immediate information on whether anyone was hurt. A B-52 is typically crewed by five people. The crash comes almost a year after the pilot of a regional airliner flying over North Dakota last July made an unexpected sharp turn to avoid a possible midair collision with a military B-52 bomber that was in its flight path.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States and Iran have reached an initial agreement that would extend their shaky ceasefire and lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. But significant challenges remain to ending the war, including whether Israel will continue its offensive in Lebanon. Details of the deal were not immediately made public, but it appeared that it would not be implemented until it is formally signed. Mediator Pakistan said that would happen Friday in Geneva. Even if the strait fully opens then, it will likely take months for the global energy crisis sparked by its closure to ease. Israel’s defense minister said Monday that the country wouldn’t withdraw from land seized in Lebanon.

SACRAMENTO, Calif (AP) — Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that the Justice Department is investigating him and his wife, accusing the Trump administration of targeting him for political purposes as he weighs a presidential bid. The full scope of any investigations related to Newsom were not immediately clear. Newsom, said in a video posted on X that federal agents in recent days have knocked on the doors of his friends and former employees, and have asked for records. A person familiar with the matter confirmed that there are multiple federal investigations into people around Newsom, including one related to his wife’s taxes.

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — President Donald Trump has started his visit to the G7 summit by hailing an agreement aimed at ending the U.S. conflict with Iran. Trump met Monday with French President Emmanuel Macron and called the deal a potential breakthrough for global security. The Republican U.S. president says the deal could lead to positive changes in the Middle East. The agreement has yet to be fully detailed but might alter the dynamics of the summit, where Trump has faced criticism from European leaders for his decision to start the war without consulting them. Macron is among the leaders who’ve criticized Trump over the war but congratulates him for finding an agreement with Iran.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine has killed rescuers in Kharkiv and wounded at least 30 people in the capital Kyiv. Strikes on Monday set apartment buildings ablaze and sparked a fire at one of the country’s significant religious landmarks. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko says the rescuers have been killed in a second strike while fighting a blaze caused by an earlier attack. Many people in Kyiv sought shelter underground and officials urged residents to take cover. Officials says damage at the historic monastic complex of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was substantial with a serious fire breaking out.