December 12, 2025 4:12 am
Several local historical organizations were awarded grants recently. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission grants were awarded to the Bradford House Historical Association, the Donora Historical Society and the Washington County Historical Society. The Bradford House Historical Association received $7500, The Donora Historical Society received $5000 and the Washington County Historical Society received $9000. The funds will be dedicated to general operating costs and historical and archival records care.
December 12, 2025 1:44 am
The City of Washington Fire Department received a holiday boost from the Pennsylvania American Water Company. The PAWC stopped by City Hall to present firefighters a check for $2000. The money comes from the PAWC’s annual Firefighting Support Grant Program. Grants can be used to purchase personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling equipment, training and related activities and materials used to support community fire protection. City Councilman Joe DeThomas thanked the PAWC and said that the money would go a long way in helping with the purchase of a new cargo container that will be used for training at the fire department’s training facility. Brent Robinson from PAWC says that they appreciate the work that firefighters do in the community and this is a demonstration of gratitude to all of that hard work. This year Pennsylvania American Water awarded $131,500 in grants to 203 fire departments and rescue organizations in 32 counties statewide.
December 12, 2025 1:24 am
Washington County has come under scrutiny for the way it has been distributing opioid settlement funds. The Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust is the committee that oversees the state’s opioid settlement trust fund. In a meeting this month, the committee rejected eight applicants, put nine others under review and agreed to assign a liaison to monitor future grant awards. The county has the option to take back the money given to the non-compliant eight recipients, or allow them to keep the money, but that money would then come from county funds and not settlement funds. Last week, Democratic County Commissioner Larry Maggi had questioned the procedures used to award the grants and called for an actual committee to be formed, rather than just three employees making the decision. He also called for an audit. WJPA reached out for comment to Commission Chairman Nick Sherman, who responded with an emailed statement saying the county intends to discuss and appeal the non-compliant determinations and give those recipients an opportunity to demonstrate that their programs do fall under the Trust’s approved uses.
December 12, 2025 1:11 am
A Washington County jury deliberated about nine hours before returning a mixed verdict in the case against Jose Zaragoza of Washington. Zaragoza was accused of strangling and attempting to kidnap the mother of their child. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Giant Eagle in South Strabane Township in May of 2024. The jury returned a not guilty verdict on two counts, but rendered a deadlocked verdict on the remaining two charges. Zaragoza was acquitted of the kidnapping and one strangulation charge. The jury dead-lock on a strangulation and assault charge. The commonwealth must now decide whether to re-try him on the two deadlocked verdicts. District Attorney Jason Walsh is considering his options for a retrial. Zaragoza remains in the Washington County Jail.
December 11, 2025 5:53 pm
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch from Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon. The track of this storm has not yet been fully determined, but forecasters say our area could see anywhere from three to seven inches of snow, with locally higher amounts possible. WJPA will have all the information you need. Stay tuned to WJPA and wjpa.com. (Photo: AP)
December 11, 2025 2:16 pm
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt is currently in a local hospital, with his status for Monday’s game uncertain. Watt is in the hospital awaiting evaluation of his lung after he felt “discomfort” during Wednesday’s practice, a Steelers spokesperson says. Watt will not be at practice on Thursday, and his status for the upcoming game against the Miami Dolphins is “in question,” the spokesperson says. Coach Mike Tomlin is expected to provide updates “at the appropriate time.”
December 11, 2025 2:10 pm
(A) – A federal judge has ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration detention while he fights deportation. This decision marks a significant win for Abrego Garcia, whose wrongful deportation to El Salvador became a flashpoint of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. On Thursday, the judge in Maryland ruled that Immigration and Customs Enforcement had no legal basis to detain Abrego Garcia. The Department of Homeland Security criticized the decision and plans to appeal. Abrego Garcia, who has an American wife and child, is also seeking asylum in the U.S. and faces criminal charges in Tennessee. (Photo: AP)
December 11, 2025 2:09 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has rejected legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, essentially guaranteeing that millions of Americans will see a steep rise in costs at the beginning of the year. Senators on Thursday rejected a Democratic bill to extend the subsidies for three years and a Republican alternative that would have created new health savings accounts. It’s an unceremonious end to a monthslong effort by Democrats to prevent the COVID-19-era subsidies from expiring on Jan. 1. Ahead of the votes, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer warned Republicans that if they did not vote to extend the tax credits, “there won’t be another chance to act.”
December 11, 2025 7:48 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new AP-NORC poll finds President Donald Trump’s approval on the economy has fallen substantially since he reentered the White House. It’s a warning about how Americans are evaluating the Republican president’s performance as the year draws to a close. The survey finds only 31% of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling the economy. That’s down from 40% in March and marks the lowest economic approval he’s registered in his first or second term. Trump’s approval also has slipped on other issues that were strengths for him at the beginning of this term, including immigration and crime. Trump’s overall job approval hasn’t fallen as steeply.
December 11, 2025 6:51 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Travelers who are now able to come to the United States without a visa might soon need to provide social media, email, and family history details to the Department of Homeland Security. The Trump administration has increased monitoring of international travelers. And now, Customs and Border Protection is proposing collecting five years of social media data from travelers from about roughly 40 mostly European and Asian countries who can now come to the U.S. for tourism or business for three months without visas. The public has 60 days to comment on these proposed changes.
