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WJPA News Archive

Three Dead & Ten Injured In Philadelphia Shooting

July 7, 2025 5:07 am

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Authorities say three people were killed and 10 others injured in a shooting. Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel says the three people who died in the shooting early Monday were adults, and two of the wounded are juveniles. The shooting happened shortly before 1 a.m. along a residential street in Grays Ferry, in South Philadelphia. Bethel says numerous rounds were fired. Police say one person with a weapon was taken into custody. The shooting happened after other shootings in the city and elsewhere around the U.S. over the Fourth of July weekend. Those included at least eight people struck by gunfire near a South Philadelphia nightclub.

Death Toll Tops 100 In Texas Flooding

July 7, 2025 5:02 am

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas over the July Fourth weekend has surpassed 100. The number of deaths reached at least 104 on Monday as a massive search continued for missing people. Officials say searchers in hard-hit Kerr County have found the bodies of 84 people, including 28 children. The county is home to several summer camps. Authorities overseeing the search for flood victims say they will wait to address questions about weather warnings and why some summer camps did not evacuate ahead of the flooding. With additional rain on the way, more flooding still threatens parts of central Texas.

Car Strikes Home In Charleroi

July 7, 2025 5:01 am

CHARLEROI, Pa. — No injuries were reported after a car drove into a house in Charleroi Sunday afternoon. Charleroi Fire Department officials say they were called to Eighth Street and Prospect Avenue at 1:48 p.m. for a car that had struck a home. Firefighters worked to stabilize the building and secure utilities. Photos shared to social media show a car with front-end damage and multiple bricks knocked out of place in and around the home. Officials did not say what caused the car to crash. (Photo:  Charleroi Fire Department Facebook)

Costanzo Sworn-In As Washington County President Judge

July 7, 2025 2:58 am

Washington County has a new President Judge. The Honorable Valerie Costanzo was officially sworn-in Monday morning to replace the Judge Gary Gilman who has retired. A lifelong resident of Washington County, Costanzo is a graduate of Canon-McMillan High School, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She began her public service career as a prosecutor in the Washington County District Attorney’s office. In 1998, she was appointed Magisterial District Judge by then-Governor Tom Ridge. She was then elected to the Court of Common Pleas in 2013. For the majority of her 11 years on the bench, Judge Costanzo has managed a full criminal docket, presiding over numerous jury trials involving serious felony offenses such as homicide, rape, strangulation, and drug delivery resulting in death. She is currently scheduled to preside over a capital murder case in September.  Reflecting on her new leadership role, Judge Costanzo said: “As I look forward to stepping into the role of President Judge, I am truly honored by the opportunity to serve the people of Washington County. I plan to lead our court with a strong focus on fairness, transparency, and efficiency, and to work closely with my fellow judges, county commissioners, and other elected officials. Together, we can ensure our justice system works effectively and earns the trust of everyone in our community.”

Child Injured In Canonsburg Parade Back Home

July 7, 2025 2:43 am

(WPXI) CANONSBURG, Pa. — A child is back home after being injured during the Canonsburg Fourth of July Parade on Friday.  The child was injured by a motorcycle near the intersection of Adams Avenue and Brown Alley at 11 a.m., about an hour after the parade began. Canonsburg Mayor David Rhome said the child was injured by a small motorcycle being driven in the parade. Specific details on the crash were not provided.

Texas, Federal Officials Under Fire For Flood Response

July 6, 2025 7:59 am

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Before heading to bed before the Fourth of July holiday, Christopher Flowers checked the weather while staying at a friend’s house along the Guadalupe River. Nothing in the forecast alarmed him. “What they need is some kind of external system, like a tornado warning that tells people to get out now,” Flowers, 44, said. Hours before a massive wall of floodwater barreled down a river in the heart of Texas Hill Country before sunrise on Friday, forecasters with the National Weather Service warned people that dangerous conditions were brewing. An initial flood watch for the hard-hit area was issued at 1:18 p.m. Thursday predicting rain amounts of between 5 to 7 inches. Weather messaging from the office included automated alerts delivered to mobile phones to people in threatened areas. Those warnings grew increasingly ominous in the early morning hours of Friday, urging people to move to higher ground and evacuate flood-prone areas.

Ukraine-Russia War, Air Strikes Drag On Over Weekend

July 6, 2025 7:57 am

LONDON (AP) — Ukraine said it struck a Russian air base on Saturday, while Russia continued to pound Ukraine with hundreds of drones overnight as part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than 3-year-old war. Ukraine’s military General Staff said that Ukrainian forces had struck the Borisoglebsk air base in Russia’s Voronezh region, describing it as the home base of Russia’s Su-34, Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter jets. The U.S. has paused some shipments of military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defense missiles. Ukraine’s main European backers are considering how they can help pick up the slack. Zelenskyy says plans are afoot to build up Ukraine’s domestic arms industry, but scaling up will take time. Four Ukrainian drones were shot down while approaching Moscow on Saturday, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Air traffic was briefly halted as a precaution at one of Moscow’s airports, Sheremetyevo, Russia’s aviation authority Rosaviatsiya said.

Israel Sending Negotiating Team To Qatar Ahead Of Trump Meeting

July 6, 2025 7:55 am

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — U.S.-led ceasefire efforts in Gaza appear to be gaining momentum after nearly 21 months of war, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says Israel on Sunday will send a negotiating team to talks in Qatar. The statement also asserted that Hamas was seeking “unacceptable” changes to the proposal. U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for an agreement and will host Netanyahu at the White House on Monday to discuss a deal. Inside Gaza, hospital officials say Israeli airstrikes killed 14 Palestinians and another 10 were killed while seeking food aid. And two American aid workers with the Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation were injured in an attack at a food distribution site. Weary Palestinians expressed cautious hope after Hamas gave a “positive” response late Friday to the latest U.S. proposal for a 60-day truce but said further talks were needed on implementation.

Son Of Mexican Boxer Arrested, Accused Of Cartel Ties

July 6, 2025 7:50 am

CULIACAN, Mexico (AP) — The arrest of Julio César Chávez Jr., son of Mexican boxing legend Julio César Chávez, for overstaying his visa in the U.S. and lying on a green card application shook Sinaloa state’s capital. But it was the way that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security also revealed an active Mexican warrant for his arrest and alleged ties to arms and drug trafficking and the Sinaloa Cartel that made him an uncomfortable subject. In Culiacan, Chávez’s hometown, the news has sparked quiet concern. Locals revere his father, Julio César Chávez, as a national hero but discussions about his son’s alleged cartel links remain muted.

Pennsylvania Begins Distribution $258M In Rebates

July 6, 2025 7:48 am

(WPXI) PITTSBURGH — Thousands of people across Pennsylvania are about to get some extra cash in their bank accounts, thanks to property tax and rent rebates. The state started sending out checks as part of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program on Tuesday. This initial wave includes approximately 425,000 rebates totaling $258 million. The money is going to older homeowners, renters and people with disabilities. Gov. Shapiro calls this a “big deal” for seniors. “I’ve heard for years from seniors who struggle to stay in their homes, who need just a little bit of extra help, and how the property tax/rent rebate is a critical lifeline for them,” Shapiro said. Applications for the 2024 rebates are still being accepted. The deadline was just extended to Dec. 31.