WJPA News

Pennsylvania State Police have identified the victim of a fatal two-vehicle crash in the 800-block of Grindstone Road near School House Road in Jefferson Township, Fayette County. Troopers from Belle Vernon say 35-year-old Jacob Wolfe of Grindstone was killed in the crash that happened around 10:30 Thursday night. Another man, 63-year-old Roger Cline received minor injuries in the accident. State Police are continuing their investigation into what exactly happened.

Harrisburg, PA – The Shapiro Administration today announced it will develop new regulations to reduce methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas operations across Pennsylvania, including requirements to detect and repair leaks and phase out routine venting and flaring — two major sources of methane pollution. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will develop rules requiring equipment and practices that reduce leaks from well sites, pipelines, and other oil and gas infrastructure, while reducing emissions from venting and flaring activities. “As a greenhouse gas, methane is more potent than carbon dioxide and is a key driver in climate change. These commonsense regulations will prevent it from leaking into the atmosphere and improve air quality,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “This is the first step in the regulatory process, and we will hear from stakeholders and the public before these regulations are finalized.” The Shapiro Administration says the proposal builds on efforts to reduce harmful air pollution, protect public health and “ensure Pennsylvania’s energy industry remains competitive by reducing waste and improving operational efficiency.”

State Treasurer and Republican nominee for Governor Stacy Garrity (R-PA) issued the following statement in response to Governor Josh Shapiro’s (D-PA) and the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives’ refusal to pass commonsense, bipartisan legislation to address the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in Commonwealth v. Lee – which found that automatic life-without-parole sentences in Second-Degree murder cases violated the state’s constitution. The state Senate passed the measure, but the House did not act by the July 24^th deadline. Garritty asserts that nearly 1,200 convicted murderers across Pennsylvania can challenge their sentences and force the friends and families of victims to re-live those tragedies.

One person was injured late Friday in a one-car accident on Interstate 79 northbound at Mile Marker 33 in South Strabane Township. Around 11:20 last night, one vehicle crashed and one occupant was pinned inside the car. Washington County 9-1-1 confirms that first responders arrived and had cut the driver out of the car. A helicopter landed on Rt. 79. Emergency personnel loaded the driver on the helicopter, and he was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital. There is no word on the identity or condition of the person.

Libraries offer more than books on a shelf. Kathy Pienkowski, the operations manager at Citizens Library in Washington, says that libraries are the original data centers, and they promote digital literacy. The library offers access to Libby, which has audiobooks and e-books, free Wi-Fi, computer access, and multiple databases where patrons can receive accurate information. There are two study rooms that can be reserved for a quiet atmosphere. The library also hosts programs for all ages, including a Summer Reading program for children in the community. Pienkowksi says that the program is very popular this summer, thanks to the dinosaur theme and the free activities that are included. The library is keeping up with the times by promoting their programming and resources on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Pienkowski explains that the library is a safe and welcoming place, and she encourages residents to learn more about what the library offers and to take advantage of the free resources available.

It will be another busy week for PennDOT crews maintaining roadways in Washington County. PennDOT District 12 says crews will conduct base repair along Route 519 (Western Avenue) in Chartiers and Mount Pleasant Townships, as well as Houston borough. Bridge Replacement continues on Waterdam Road in Mt. Pleasant Township. Workers will be cleaning inlets along various routes in the county, while culvert pipe replacement will take place on Noblestown Road in Robinson Township. Crews will be mowing on Rt. 22 at the ramp in Hanover Township, Interstate 70 at the Jefferson Avenue ramp in the city of Washington, as well as Rt. 221 at South Bridge Road in Buffalo Township and Rt. 837 in Donora. There will be patching work at various sites in the county, and seal coating in Carroll Township, Charleroi Borough and Donora. And look for similar work in Allenport, Speers, Long Branch Borough and Fallowfield Township. And crews will continue with slide repair along Rt. 221 S Bridge Road in Buffalo Township. Motorists can expect detours, flaggers and single-lane restrictions. All work is weather permitting.

A favorite supermarket brand of chips was sold earlier this week. Hanover, PA’s Utz Brands has agreed to be acquired by Germany’s Intersnack Group in a $2.9 billion go-private transaction. Under terms of the deal, shareholders will receive $14.25 per share in cash, and the company will transition from a public trading entity to being owned equally (50/50) by Intersnack as well as Utz’s founders, the Rice and Lissette family. News of the acquisition sent stock prices up from $6.78 to $14.11 a share this week. Utz Brands will continue managing its core U.S. snack lines—including Utz, Zapp’s, On the Border, and Boulder Canyon. The new ownership plans to keep the brand in Hanover.

LEGE-CAP FERRET, France (AP) — France is using a massive cargo aircraft to dump flame retardants on a wildfire near the wine country city of Bordeaux. The fire has forced tens of thousands to evacuate, with winds threatening to push it closer to the city. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the battle as “long and very difficult.” Soldiers and firefighters are working to contain the blaze, which has reached unprecedented strength. French officials slashed the length of the final stage of the Tour de France on Sunday so more police could be deployed to the wildfire zones. In Spain, wildfires have displaced over 70,000 people. High temperatures and climate change have fueled these fires, catching authorities off guard.

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s “Cockroach” movement has called off weeks of protests, saying the government has accepted all of its demands. The decision follows the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged exam paper leaks and irregularities in the education system. The move on Saturday marks the first major concession from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The Cockroach movement has held nationwide demonstrations, sit-ins, and hunger strikes. The protests have become a significant sign of public dissent against Modi’s government, with thousands of people returning to the streets even after police used tear gas and batons this week to disperse marchers trying to reach Parliament.

BEND, Ore. (AP) — Firefighters in Oregon are battling dozens of blazes with windy and dry conditions expected Friday and Saturday. Crews have built containment lines around the Akawa Butte Fire, burning near Sisters. This fire has burned 42 square miles and destroyed two homes since it was started by lightning on July 16. It’s the nation’s top priority wildfire due to its proximity to people. Strong winds and low humidity could increase fire activity, prompting evacuation warnings. More 1,000 firefighters are battling the blaze. There are dozens more fires burning across the state, choking the air in Oregon and sending smoke across the country.

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — The U.S. military says it has fired on a merchant vessel attempting to breach its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran targeted American strongholds around the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia struck the port city of Hodeida in Yemen. The conflict shows no signs of easing after 13 nights of strikes. U.S. embassies in the Middle East have warned Americans that options to leave could become limited. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard advised residents of neighboring countries to avoid bases with U.S. troops. The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point, with its closure causing economic turmoil. Diplomatic efforts appear stalled, with no signs of progress in negotiations.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has again acknowledged in court documents that it terminated $7.6 billion in grants for hundreds of clean energy projects “based solely on the political identity of the grant recipient’s state,” in this case, 16 states that voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. The statement contradicts repeated assertions by Energy Secretary Chris Wight and other officials that the projects were canceled because they did not adequately advance the nation’s energy needs or had other problems that made them a poor investment of taxpayer dollars. Democrats and environmental groups seized on the latest court filing, saying the administration had “weaponized” the federal government to kill good jobs and punish working families.