WJPA News

No injuries resulted after a tractor trailer struck a disabled vehicle along Interstate 79 north early Friday morning.  Washington County 911 says it happened around 4 a.m. near mile-marker 26 in Amwell Township.  According to reports, the tractor trailer struck the vehicle and went down a steep hillside. The interstate is open through the area but motorists were asked to use caution through the area.  Emergency crews towed both vehicles from the scene Friday afternoon.  State Police continue to investigate.

The 10th Annual Washington Italian Festival is Saturday, September 26 from 12:00-7:00 PM. Held at the Community Pavilion on Main Street in Downtown Washington, the festival will feature music and dance performances, Italian food and beverages, and local vendors. The lineup of performers includes Allegro Dance Company, New Vintage Big Band, Washington Jazz Orchestra, Street Players, and more. Rebecca Robertson plays a big role in bringing everything for the festival together. She says this is a beloved event, and everyone is looking forward to celebrating Italian heritage. An honoree ceremony will recognize Italian American veterans, active-duty U.S. Military members, and the families of deceased Italian American veterans. Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi, a U.S. Marines veteran, will emcee the ceremony. The festival will have experiences for all ages, and admission is free!

Conditional use hearings for a proposed data center at Starpointe Business Park in Hanover Township have continued throughout the summer, and there is no end in sight. While many of these hearings were standing room only, there have been empty seats at the last two. Resident Cody Cunningham urges residents to be at as many hearings as they can to be seen and express their opinions. Another resident, Kerri Hageter, says she will continue to knock on doors and inform residents about these hearings. During Thursday night’s hearing, a witness for Prime Data Centers, LLC provided information about noise and sound studies that were conducted and noise reduction materials that would be used at the data center. During previous hearings, residents expressed concerns about noise pollution. Resident Katie Weber says she is still concerned, and she wants to hear from an acoustic expert who can address how harmful noises at different levels can be. The hearing will continue Tuesday and Wednesday of next week at 6:00 PM at the Hanover Township Fire Department Hall.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — The Energy Department says it will spend almost $2 billion to try to squeeze more electricity out of the nation’s aging and stressed power grid. President Donald Trump’s administration is stepping up efforts to avoid blackouts amid skyrocketing energy demand spurred by artificial intelligence. The money will go toward 31 projects across 26 states that are expected to produce more than 23 gigawatts of additional electricity capacity — enough to power 16 million homes. Energy Secretary Chris Wright spoke about the grant program Thursday in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Recipients include utilities, cooperatives and four state agencies. The state agencies — in Colorado, Indiana, Ohio and Oklahoma — were the biggest recipients, drawing at a total of $810 million.  (Photo:  AP)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A powerful nor’easter is expected to hit the East Coast over the weekend, bringing strong winds, coastal flooding, and heavy rain. The strongest winds are headed for Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, with gusts reaching 60 to 65 mph on Friday night and Saturday. Boston could see gusts of 50 to 55 mph, while inland areas may experience 35 to 40 mph. Meteorologist Matthew Belk notes that the storm’s impact will be greater closer to the coast. Public ferry services to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard are experiencing widespread cancellations due to the weather, with disruptions expected to continue into Saturday.  (Photo:  AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — The Supreme Court is allowing states to resume using a controversial federal tool to check voter eligibility before the November elections. The emergency ruling lifts a lower court’s restrictions for now on the program, called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE. The recently revamped Department of Homeland Security tool has been a central pillar of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on noncitizen voting, although its use remains voluntary. A federal judge had blocked its use, saying SAVE violates voter privacy and can lead to wrongful voter purges. Critics argue the renewed use of SAVE by states could disenfranchise voters in the midterms.

(AP) – Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume talks on its nuclear program in seven days if the United States lifts its naval blockade, waives sanctions on Iranian oil sales and observes a ceasefire that would include Lebanon. Iran’s foreign minister detailed the proposal in a private gathering on Thursday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, according to one attendee. The deal strongly resembles the so-called Memorandum of Understanding reached in June, but with an accelerated timetable. The earlier agreement quickly collapsed as Iran resumed attacks on shipping in the strait.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some trade analysts are struck by how few tangible accomplishments seem to have come from President Donald Trump’s meeting with China’s Xi Jinping. Xi concluded his state visit to the U.S. by saying he expects to meet Trump two more times this year. Trump took Xi to the National Archives on Friday to cap a three-day visit criticized for being light on substance, though Trump says they discussed the Iran war. Little was announced outside of the promise of more meetings and Washington and Beijing agreeing to extend their trade truce until January. Cato Institute vice president of general economics Scott Lincicome says there was a lot of “pomp and circumstance” signifying nothing.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration is voicing support for the safety of vaccines. Dr. Heidi Overton on Thursday faced questions from senators who will vote on her nomination to lead the powerful health agency. Currently serving as a White House adviser, Overton has worked on Trump administration health efforts, including a plan from the Republican president to break up decades-old combination vaccines for children. Despite that effort, which is not supported by science, Overton says FDA-approved vaccines remain safe and effective. Overton also faced questions about the FDA’s oversight of the abortion pill and vaping products.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, as U.S. jobless claims remain at historically low levels and most Americans enjoy job security. The Labor Department said Thursday that 197,000 people applied for unemployment checks last week, fewest since mid-July and down from a revised 198,000 the week before. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week ups and downs, fell to 202,250 last week from 204,000. Claims for jobless benefits are a proxy for layoffs, and economists watch them because they can be a sign of where the job market is headed. So far this year, claims have mostly stayed below 220,000 — historically low.

(AP) – The White House network video pool is back in operation. Friday morning marked the first time the pool has been in action since President Donald Trump banned three news outlets in an extraordinary showdown over media access. A judge temporarily struck down the ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico on Thursday, but his ruling didn’t directly address the pool. CNN media analyst Brian Stelter says on X that CNN has a pool assignment at the National Archives on Friday with President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. He says the White House approved the network’s credentials.