WJPA News

In a public hearing that lasted well over two hours, Mt. Pleasant Township residents voiced their opposition to the construction of a tank pad by Range Resources. The proposed site of the tank pad would be on the Yonker well site on Baker Road near the intersection of Fort Cherry Road and Walnut Road. That intersection is governed by a four way stop sign configuration. During the presentation of the project, it was stated that the tanks on the pad would be temporary structures housing fresh and reused water. The total operational time would be 30-60 days twice each year with operations being conducted 24 hours a day. Late summer construction would then lead to first usage in the fall. Residents that spoke during the hearing largely support gas drilling in the township. Most people pre-qualifying their statements with that support. Most of the arguments centered on safety. It was stated that the intersection is deficient for large trucks. People were concerned about the proximity of the site to nearby schools. Paul Salansky, whose farm is adjacent to the would be site, called on supervisors to not just “do the lawful thing, how about we do the right thing.” Supervisors now have 45 days to render their decision.

State Police say they investigated 756 crashes that resulted in 140 injuries and five deaths over the four day Memorial Day holiday weekend. Total crashes were down from 849 in 2024.  Intoxicated drivers were a factor in 57 of those crashes, two of which were fatal.  Troopers also arrested 519 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. That’s up from 456 last year.  More than 27-thousand citations were issued.  More than 7-thousand for speeding, 977 for failing to wear a seat belt and 166 for not securing children in safety seats.

Uniontown, PA – Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 12 is announcing the closure of Route 3026 (Enon Church Road) between Jackson Road and the Consol Bailey Prep Plant in West Finley Township, Washington County, will be extended from today until late June. Detour:
· Route 3037 (West Finley Road)
· Route 3035/3029 (Burnsville Ridge Road)
· Route 231 (East Finley Drive)
The Washington County maintenance department is conducting slide repairs – an infrastructure investment of $120,000. All work depends on weather and operational conditions. Remain alert and follow the posted signs and speed limits. Safety is everyone’s responsibility.

PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Pennsylvania court officials are warning the public of a text scam. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts says the scams involve messages that mimic the Pennsylvania Courts and/or Unified Judicial System website. The text tells victims that court records show they have an outstanding traffic ticket that must be paid. The scam also lays out fake actions and penalties if the ticket is not paid, including license and vehicle suspension, prosecution and negative credit score impacts. Court officials say they will never call or text anyone soliciting payment via any means for any reason. You should never give personal information to anyone claiming to be from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts through text or call. If you get one of these scam texts, officials encourage you to contact local police at the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection at (800) 441-2555.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal court is blocking President Donald Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs on imports under an emergency-powers law. The ruling from a three-judge panel came after several lawsuits arguing Trump has exceeded his authority, leaving U.S. trade policy dependent on his whims. At least seven lawsuits are challenging the levies, the centerpiece of Trump’s trade policy. Trump says he has the power to act because the country’s trade deficits amount to a national emergency. The court found the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the use of tariffs. The plaintiffs argued that the trade deficit is not an emergency because the U.S. has run a trade deficit with the rest of the world for 49 consecutive years.

ROUNDUP, Mont. (AP) — Mining company Signal Peak Energy sits atop a billion-ton coal reserve beneath Montana’s rugged Bull Mountains and ships 98% of the fuel it mines to Japan and South Korea. Congressional Republicans last week advanced a plan to approve a long-stalled permit for the mine, just as President Donald Trump looks to further boost coal exports. Yet Trump’s own tariffs make more exports an iffy proposition for most U.S. coal. Countries retaliating against tariffs might price U.S. coal out of competition altogether. In effect, an escalating trade war could undermine Trump’s goal of saving coal.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the U.S. will begin revoking the visas of some Chinese students, “including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.” His announcement Wednesday adds to the uncertainty for America’s international students, who have faced intensifying scrutiny from President Donald Trump’s administration. China is the second-largest country of origin for international students in the United States, behind only India. In the 2023-2024 school year, more than 270,000 international students were from China, making up roughly a quarter of all foreign students in the U.S. On Tuesday, Rubio halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for international students.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Elon Musk is leaving his government role as a top adviser to President Donald Trump after spearheading efforts to reduce and overhaul the federal bureaucracy. The billionaire entrepreneur posted Wednesday about his decision on X, his social media website. “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” he wrote. A White House official, who requested anonymity to talk about the change, confirmed that Musk was leaving. Musk’s departure comes one day after he criticized the centerpiece of Trump’s legislative agenda, saying he was “disappointed” by what the president calls his “big beautiful bill.”