November 12, 2026 4:57 am
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi has elected its first Black U.S. senator since post-Civil War Reconstruction and delivered Democrats a major upset in a rocky midterm election for the GOP. Scott Colom defeated Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in the Deep South state that has been controlled mostly by white conservatives for generations. Colom noted Mississippi’s civil rights history in his Wednesday night victory speech but pledged to represent all Mississippians. The Associated Press called the contest Wednesday evening. Hyde-Smith posted a concession video on social media. National and Mississippi Democrats are celebrating the win as a seismic shift in the state and region. Colom capitalized on the state’s large Black population, discontent with the economy and Hyde-Smith’s mistakes.
November 12, 2026 5:01 am
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska judge has ruled that a request by Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign for a list of absentee voters whose ballots have been rejected is “not reasonable.” Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews cited in part the tight timeline elections officials face as they continue processing and counting ballots. Attorneys for Peltola’s campaign had sued state elections officials, seeking a list of absentee voters whose ballots have been rejected and the reasons for the rejections. They said their intent was to ensure that all qualified voters have their ballots counted. But attorneys for the state said the information requested would violate voter privacy.
November 12, 2026 5:00 am
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation case against the BBC remains on track for now. A federal judge in Florida ruled Tuesday that Trump’s defamation claim could proceed, though the judge didn’t rule on its merits. The BBC had sought to dismiss the case. The judge dismissed part of the case related to Florida’s unfair business practices law. Trump’s lawsuit filed in December accuses the publicly funded British broadcaster of defamation over the documentary “Trump: A Second Chance.” The BBC has apologized for its editing but denies it defamed Trump. A different judge has ordered Trump to sit for a deposition by Dec. 11.
November 12, 2026 4:58 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — More evidence this week of hot inflation in the U.S. was unpleasant news for the Federal Reserve, not to mention consumers: Rising prices may be spreading beyond the one-time shocks from tariffs and high gas prices into the wider economy, meaning that mortgages, credit cards and other forms of borrowing are likely to become increasingly expensive. Tuesday’s consumer price index report showed broadly rising costs across a range of goods and services. There is increasing anxiety among Fed officials that higher oil prices stemming from the Iran war may last longer than previously thought.
November 11, 2026 2:37 am
Students in the Monessen School District are scheduled to return to in-person classes within the coming week, but parents are raising safety concerns following months of remote learning caused by a mold discovery. The district discovered mold inside its facility over the summer, forcing several months of virtual instruction for some students. Although administrators say the issue has been resolved, families argue board members have ignored their concerns, questioning the remediation firms hired by the district and alleging a lack of transparency. Monessen School District Superintendent Robert Motte addressed the parents during a recent school board meeting. “Parents are guardians. They want clear and reliable information about the environment in which their children learn,” Motte said. “That’s not only understandable, it’s something we owe you.” Several parents noted their children may transition to remote education.
November 12, 2026 2:44 am
We are quickly closing in on Thanksgiving. It’s just a couple of weeks away and 2000 Turkeys needs your help. The annual fundraiser, sponsored by WJPA Radio and the Observer Reporter, raises much needed funding to provide a complete Thanksgiving dinner to thousands of families who might not otherwise enjoy the day. This year, as food and fuel costs continue to climb, the need is great. A special thanks goes out to Pennsylvania American Water Company. Company spokesman Brent Robinson stopped in the WJPA studios on Thursday, to present a ten-thousand-dollar check. Our 2000 Turkeys goal this year is 165-thousand-dollars, and to date, we have raised 136-thousand-dollars. We are also hitting the streets again this year. Range Resource’s Day is set for Wednesday, November 18th from eight a.m. until two p.m. in downtown Washington and Canonsburg. Employees and volunteers will be out asking for your help to reach our goal. Once again, as they have done in years past, Range will match that days donations up to twenty-thousand-dollars. If you would like to help, you can send a check to 2000 Turkeys, P.O. Box 2000, Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301, or bring your donation to WJPA Radio at 98 South Main Street or the Observer Reporter at 122 South Main Street, both in Washington. We are also, for the first time this year, accepting on-line donations using Zeffy. You can find the link on the WJPA and Observer Reporter websites. Thank you!
November 11, 2026 5:49 pm
(AP) – The father of an 11-month-old boy who survived being buried alive in a dog crate for a day has been charged with attempted murder in South Carolina. Authorities say Koah Sharp was taken to a hospital on Tuesday, a day after he was reported missing in Lexington County. He was in a dog crate wrapped in a towel. The boy’s 25-year-old father, Michael Comer, now faces attempted murder and other charges. He’s been in custody since Monday night. The Lexington County sheriff said Koah survived because of cool temperatures and an air pocket created by the towel.
November 11, 2026 10:54 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has issued a warning to Democrats over their planned probes into the Trump administration. It’s going as far as claiming that such investigations, which are a standard oversight function of Congress, may amount to “blatant criminality.” White House counsel Will Scharf issued the warning in a letter dated Monday to Rep. Robert Garcia, top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. Garcia most likely would chair the powerful panel in the new Democratic-controlled Congress. Garcia said in response to the letter that “it appears Donald Trump has something to hide” and stressed that Congress’s investigative powers do not need the “permission of the White House.”
November 11, 2026 4:39 am
North Franklin Township Supervisors will be advertising their proposed budget for 2027 and it will not be raising taxes. Supervisor Chairman Bob Sabot says the budget is approximately $2.1 million and is balanced. Sabot says that they will be spending between $400,000 and $500,000 on roads. The township is keeping its options open on infrastructure improvements and improvements along the Waterfront Lake Park. When asked about partnering with Washington City Police for coverage, Sabot said that a substantial tax increase would have been necessary. He said that Washington wanted to go all in with coverage by hiring four new officers. Sabot said that supervisors felt that fewer officers would have been able to provide adequate coverage. Sabot reminded residents that the last tax increase came in 2018. He also reminded residents of the 1.25 mill tax decrease implemented in 2021. The budget will be formally adopted in December.
November 11, 2026 4:37 am
Over several months, there have been eleven conditional use hearings for a proposed data center at Starpointe Business Park in Hanover Township. Prime Data Centers, LLC, is proposing the development, which would consist of seven buildings and a power generation facility. Even after 33 hours’ worth of hearings, there is no end in sight. Kate Nolan Bryden, the senior vice president of development, thought the process would conclude in June, but she is grateful that the supervisors have been patient while listening to Prime’s witnesses. Solicitor Dennis Makel does not expect the hearings to conclude until sometime in January. Makel says the township has allowed a lot of cross-examination by the objectors, and there has been a lot of leeway. Resident Kerri Hageter appreciates that there is no time limit. Hageter believes that everyone deserves to be heard. The hearing will continue tonight, November 18, and December 9 at 6:00 PM at the Hanover Township Fire Department Hall.
