July 17, 2026 2:20 am
Harrisburg, PA –The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has declared a statewide Code Purple Air Quality Alert for particulate matter (PM2.5) for Friday, July 17the. Wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota will blanket Pennsylvania on Friday, creating Code Purple concentrations of PM2.5. Residents are strongly encouraged to check www.airnow.gov for current conditions in their area. Current local conditions could be more severe (Code Maroon) or less severe (Code Red or Code Orange) depending on your location at any given time. Residents should make informed decisions on their outdoor activity based on the conditions at the time. During Code Purple Air Quality Alerts all residents should avoid long or intense outdoor activities, and sensitive groups such as children, elderly residents, and those with respiratory illnesses should avoid all outdoor activities. All residents are encouraged to move activities indoors. (Photo of Washington)
July 17, 2026 4:49 am
The Hanover Township Board of Supervisors held their monthly meeting on Thursday. Even though the agenda was short, the meeting lasted nearly two hours due to public comments about the proposed data center in the township. A public hearing on the Conditional Use Permit for the construction of a data center in Starpointe Business Park was held on June 18th and was to be continued on July 8th. However, that hearing was canceled. Supervisors explain that there were inconsistencies between the maps and applications that the developer, Prime Data Centers LLC, submitted. The applications have been edited, and a new hearing will be held on August 5th at 6:00 PM. The location of this meeting is still being determined. Kerri Hageter, a resident, believes that there will be a huge turnout at the hearing, and she hopes that supervisors are understanding the concerns of those in the township. Another resident, Cody, does not believe there is any evidence on how a data center will benefit residents. Supervisors refused to comment after the meeting.
July 17, 2026 2:41 am
The Washington County Coroner’s office has been under fire for charging law enforcement agencies several hundreds of dollars in fees to access coroner reports for cases that need the coroner’s rulings on those deaths. Commissioners voted unanimously to waive all fees charged by the coroner to law enforcement agencies. Recently, Westmoreland County raided the coroner’s office for autopsy reports. Commissioner Larry Maggi said in his time with the Pennsylvania State Police, they never had to pay fees to a coroner. Commissioner Nick Sherman called the fees unnecessary and wanted to remove them in order for law enforcement to do their jobs and for families to obtain closure. WJPA reached out to Washington Coroner Tim Warco for comment. We have not received a comment as of yet.
July 17, 2026 2:39 am
Earlier in the week an agenda item was listed for Washington County Commissioners to extend an approval period for a proposed miniature golf course at Mingo Creek Park. That all changed in the course of two days. The agenda item voted on was to reject all proposals for a mini golf course and the motion was approved unanimously. According to Commissioner Nick Sherman, the item was tabled last spring, but was never officially put to rest. Nevertheless, another large public outcry emerged against the idea this week, and commissioners listened and killed the plan. Commissioners did unanimously approve a motion to advertise for bids for site design and engineering to add an ADA accessible dog park to Mingo Creek Park. All commissioners agreed that the dog park fits much better into the atmosphere of the park.
July 17, 2026 4:51 am
Cyclosporiasis is a food borne illness that has been found in 34 states so far including Pennsylvania. Nearly 30 cases of the disease have been confirmed in the state with 11 cases right here in southwestern Pennsylvania. Dr. Atif Saeed is an infectious disease physician with UPMC Medicine. He says the parasite typically is found in raw foods like vegetables and fruits. Salads and unpeeled fruits seem to be the biggest culprits in spreading the disease. Those infected might have symptoms of nausea, vomiting and profuse diarrhea. Symptoms could last up to a week or ten days. In cases of immunocompromised people, the disease could last several weeks. Incubation periods could run from a few days to several weeks. Hydration is a concern. Saeed says to stay hydrated and consider drinks that have electrolytes in them such as Gatorade, Powerade and other energy drinks. Saeed says there is no 100 percent method of preventing the disease, especially with raw food. He says the best way to avoid it is to cook all foods. If not, wash all raw foods carefully. In severe cases, intervention from a medical professional may be necessary.
July 17, 2026 2:14 am
In a letter to parents and guardians, Charleroi District Superintendent Ed Zelich announced that starting on August 26th, the day students return from school, the district will begin a bell-to-bell to bell cell phone restriction. He says that from the time student enter the building each morning until dismissal, cell phones and other personal devices will be stored and powered off in an individual NuKase that will stay with the student throughout the day. Zelich encouraged parents and guardians to use a fact sheet they put together to find out details, such as, how the NuKase system works, exceptions for medical needs, how to reach a student during the day and what happens in an emergency. Essentially, Zelich says the move was made based on research showing that when students are not distracted by cell phones, their focus increases.
July 17, 2026 2:42 am
Harrisburg, PA – Governor Josh Shapiro has announced that his administration is investing $134,436,640 in 100 projects across Southwest Pennsylvania through the Commonwealth’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). He says this investment reflects his commitment to strengthening Pennsylvania communities and driving regional economic development through key cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. The investments are part of a broader statewide commitment of nearly $445 million supporting 356 projects across Pennsylvania aimed at creating jobs, improving infrastructure, strengthening public safety, and driving long-term economic growth in communities across the Commonwealth. RACP, administered by the Governor’s Office of the Budget, is a reimbursement grant program that supports essential design, acquisition, and construction projects across the Commonwealth. The program funds projects with regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, promoting economic growth, creating jobs, increasing tax revenue, and contributing to vibrant, resilient communities. Included in the program, several Washington County businesses and non-profits. Among those receiving funding: Attollo Medical Development: $2 million to support construction and renovation of the Attollo Medical Institute at 1001 Corporate Drive, creating a new medical facility with updated clinical and patient care spaces. Blueprints Community Welcome Center: $727,114 will fund demolition, site preparation, and construction of an expanded welcome center with offices, seating, kitchenette, restrooms, and improved programming space. Lemoyne Center Expansion: $408,242 will add a new classroom, entryway, administrative offices, and restrooms to expand youth programming capacity and improve safety and access control. WJC Lazear Hall: $1.25 million will convert Lazear Hall at Washington & Jefferson College into a modern nursing education facility.
July 17, 2026 5:01 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States has expanded its airstrike campaign against Iran by hitting more bridges and collapsing a tower at a key Iranian port. The latest strikes early Friday are part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to start striking infrastructure to pressure Tehran to ease its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also launched new missile attacks against U.S.-allied nations in the Middle East, including Qatar, a key mediator in the war. The interim ceasefire agreed to last month has collapsed, and the region has endured days of back-and-forth attacks by the U.S. and Iran as they battle for control of the strait. Iran reported new casualties in Friday’s strikes.
July 17, 2026 5:04 am
To air or not to air? The nation’s TV networks and their news operations spent the hours leading up to President Donald Trump’s address Thursday night debating how to cover it. They were struggling to balance delivering the news with handing over their airwaves to potential falsehoods about the 2020 elections. The dilemma took place against a backdrop of deep tension between the media and a president working to exert control over it by whatever means he can. Even in his speech itself, Trump excoriated networks that chose not to carry it live. He said “NBC and ABC fake news” avoided it and threatened consequences, using the presidential pulpit to suggest they should be sanctioned for their editorial decisions.
July 17, 2026 5:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Treasury last year swelled with revenue from President Donald Trump’s double-digit taxes on imports from almost every country on earth. But the money dried up after the Supreme Court struck down the biggest and boldest of Trump’s tariffs in February. The question now is: Can the president’s trade team make good on its promise to replace the lost revenue? A July 24 deadline is approaching rapidly. But trade attorneys and analysts are confident the tariff-happy Trump administration will manage to beat the clock. “They’re going to raise the tariff wall again,’’ said one trade lawyer.
