WJPA News

A major winter storm has covered Washington County and all of that snow has led to plenty of closures Monday.  A winter storm warning is to expire at noon but then an extreme cold warning goes into effect at 7 p.m.   Many schools are closed but some with operate remotely. Schools are also keeping close watch on the bitter cold and sub-zero wind chills that move in Monday evening and that will likely lead to remote instruction for some schools on Tuesday.  As for Monday, Washington County offices and Courts will be closed to the public with remote work in place.  Essential operations including the County 9-1-1 center, the jail and the Sheriffs office will remain open.  If you plan to head to downtown Washington be aware that you may have a hard time finding a place to park.  Roads have been plowed but all that snow is blocking  some parking areas.  All the snow is also blocking the entrance to the community pavilion.  Tune to WJPA 95.3FM/1450AM for the very latest.

Sunday’s major winter storm had a huge impact on air travel, with thousands of delays and cancellations across the U.S. According to the airline tracking website FlightAware, there were nearly 19,000 delays on Sunday and more than 12,000 cancellations. Pittsburgh International Airport was no exception. There were around 20 delays into PIT and more than 200 cancellations. By 11 p.m. on Sunday, there were already around 43 canceled flights out of Pittsburgh International on Monday. The airport reminds everyone to check directly with their airline for the most up-to-date information on delays or cancellations.

SPRINGHIHLL TOWNSHIP, Pa. — An ambulance rolled onto its side after crashing in Fayette County. Fayette County dispatchers said the vehicle was responding to an emergency in Springhill Township at 5:31 p.m. The vehicle rolled on Nilan Road. No injuries were reported.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The fatal shooting of a Minneapolis protester by a federal immigration officer touched off a firestorm and prompted some fellow Republicans to question President Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration crackdown, but the president on Sunday night doubled down and blamed Democratic officials. After remaining relatively quiet on Sunday, the Republican president in two lengthy social media posts said that Democrats had encouraged people to obstruct law enforcement operations. He also called on officials in Minnesota to work with immigration officers and “turn over” people who were in the U.S. illegally.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A growing number of Republicans are pressing for a deeper investigation into federal immigration tactics after a U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot a man in Minneapolis. And those calls are a sign that the accounting of events by President Donald Trump’s administration may face bipartisan scrutiny. The killing of Alex Pretti has also raised uncomfortable questions about the GOP’s core positions on issues ranging from gun ownership to states’ rights and trust in the federal government. Administration officials are firm in their defense of the hard-line immigration enforcement tactics in Minneapolis and they fault Democrats in the state along with local law enforcement for not working with them.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge is set to hear arguments Monday on whether to pause an immigration crackdown in Minnesota. This follows the fatal shootings of two people by government officers. The state and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul sued the Department of Homeland Security two weeks ago. They want to restore conditions before the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge began in December. Democratic Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison plans to attend the hearing. Justice Department attorneys have called the lawsuit legally frivolous. The case could have implications for other states facing similar immigration enforcement operations like that underway in Minnesota.

BANGOR, Maine (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration says a private aircraft with eight people on board has crashed on takeoff from Bangor International Airport in Maine. The Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed around 7:45 p.m. Sunday. There was no immediate word on the conditions of those aboard and an airport statement said the airport was closed and emergency crews were at the site. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. The crash occurred as New England and much of the country grappled with a massive winter storm. Bangor had steady snowfall Sunday like much of the northeastern United States.