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WJPA News Archive

Ophelia Weakens To Post-Tropical Low And Moves North

September 24, 2023 8:12 am

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Ophelia has been downgraded to a post-tropical low but continues to pose a threat of coastal flooding and flash floods in the mid-Atlantic region. At 11 p.m. Saturday, the center said Ophelia, reduced to a weak form of a tropical storm, was located about 30 miles south-southwest of Richmond, Virginia, and about 85 miles southeast of Charlottesville, Virginia. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph with higher gusts. Areas from Virginia to New Jersey are likely to receive 1 to 3 inches of rain and up to 5 inches in some places

US Set To Open Embassies In The Cook Islands And Niue

September 24, 2023 8:11 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is set to announce the U.S. will open new embassies in the South Pacific islands of Cook Islands and Niue. The announcement about new embassies will be formally rolled out on Monday as Biden welcomes leaders to Washington for the two-day U.S.-Pacific Island Forum Summit. Talks are expected to heavily focus on climate change. Biden has put a premium on improving relations in the Pacific amid rising U.S. concern about China’s growing military and economic influence in the region. Plans for the new embassies were confirmed by two senior administration officials who requested anonymity to preview the announcement.

Casey In Washington Promoting Bridge Funding

September 24, 2023 4:18 am

Senator Bob Casey was in Washington on Friday to promote the accomplishments of the Bilateral Infrastructure Law (BIL) in Washington County. Casey and other state and local leaders gathered at the West Wheeling Street Bridge that crosses Catfish Creek between Jefferson Avenue and Mill Street. That bridge is being replaced with $1.13 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Two additional bridges are also being replaced with those funds. The bridge that carries Valley Road over Brush Run in Cecil and Chartiers Townships. Is being funded at $1.13 million. Additionally, the North Hewitt Avenue bridge over Georges Run in Canton Twp. has been completed with $1.19 million from the BIL. Casey stated that this is the first time in several decades that the federal government has stepped in to do its share in the repair and upkeep of roads and bridges. He went on to comment that counties and local municipalities simply do not have the available funds to do the repairs necessary and the federal government needs to continue its support.

Comcast/Xfinity Worker Electrocuted In South Strabane

September 24, 2023 4:18 am

A Comcast/Xfinity employee was severely burned Friday afternoon, when he came into contact with live power lines while he was working on Route 136.  South Strabane Fire Chief Jordan Cramer tells WJPA News that the man was working in a bucket truck around eleven-thirty when he was electrocuted after coming into contact with live wires in the area of Munce Road and Carriage Drive. Cramer says his rescue took several hours since the bucket truck was also damaged in the incident and was not functioning. He says they had to wait for West Penn Power crews to shut off the power and then bring in their ladder trucks to lift him out. The roads in that area were closed until about three-thirty p.m. Cramer says the man was flown to West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh with severe burns.

Arrests Made In Shooting Death That Sparked New Mexico Guns Ban

September 23, 2023 4:57 am

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police in Albuquerque say three people have now been arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting outside a baseball stadium that killed an 11-year-old boy. The shooting prompted New Mexico’s governor to issue a controversial gun ban. Police say a third man was arrested Friday. The other two were arrested Thursday in connection with the Sept. 6 shooting after an Albuquerque Isotopes game. Froylan Villegas was killed and his cousin, Tatiana Villegas, was left partially paralyzed. Albuquerque’s police chief says two of the men had argued with people during the ballgame and mistakenly opened fire on a truck carrying the boy and his family because it closely resembled another one.

White House Preparing For Government Shutdown

September 23, 2023 4:54 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has directed federal agencies to get ready for a shutdown after House Republicans left town for the weekend with no viable plan to keep the government funded. Speaker Kevin McCarthy says the House will return next week to start voting on the latest plan. He has just five days until the Sept. 30 deadline. A hard-right flank of Republicans has essentially seized control and is demanding spending cuts. McCarthy was unable to persuade his rebellious flank to approve a temporary funding measure to prevent closures. Instead, House Republicans will try Tuesday to pass some of the individual spending bills in a typically lengthy process.

Greene County Maintenance Facility Opens

September 23, 2023 4:46 am

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDot) unveiled a new state of the art maintenance facility in Greene County. The Greene County Maintenance Facility is a $22 million, 49,880 square foot facility built to replace the original facility that burned down on Memorial Day, May 27, 2019. The work of the entire department has resulted in a structure featuring numerous innovations in energy efficiency, safety, security and worker comfort and efficiency. Construction on the facility began in March of 2020, one week before the Covid-19 pandemic shut downs.

United Auto Workers Union Expand Strike

September 23, 2023 4:44 am

(AP) – The United Auto Workers expanded its strike against major automakers Friday, walking out of 38 General Motors and Stellantis parts distribution centers in 20 states. Ford was spared additional strikes because the company has met some of the union’s demands during negotiations over the past week, said UAW President Shawn Fain. The union is pointing to the companies’ huge recent profits as it seeks wage increases of 36% over four years. The companies have offered a little over half that amount. The UAW has other demands, including a 32-hour work week for 40 hours of pay and a restoration of traditional pension plans for newer workers.

Western PA Passenger Rail Service To Expand

September 23, 2023 4:32 am

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDot) has finalized a deal with the Norfolk Southern Corporation to expand passenger rail service on the Pennsylvanian Amtrak line in Western Pennsylvania. Currently, the Pennsylvanian Amtrak service travels roundtrip between New York City and Pittsburgh via Harrisburg once daily. The agreement supports increasing those Pennsylvanian passenger services to twice daily. The commonwealth will invest more than $200 million in infrastructure and safety improvements that will be constructed and maintained by Norfolk Southern. Grant applications by PennDot to the Federal Railroad Administration have been made to help pay for the improvements.

U.S Senator Menendez, Wife Indicted On Bribe Charges

September 23, 2023 4:31 am

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal prosecutors say U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and his wife have been indicted on bribery charges after an investigation that turned up $100,000 in gold bars and $480,000 in hidden cash at their home. Prosecutors announced the charges against the 69-year-old Democrat on Friday nearly six years after an earlier criminal case against him ended with a deadlocked jury. The latest indictment is unrelated to the earlier charges that alleged Menendez accepted lavish gifts to pressure government officials on behalf of a Florida doctor. Representatives for Menendez and his wife haven’t responded to messages seeking comment.