December 4, 2025 9:57 am
The Washington County Chamber of Commerce has notified County Commissioners that they need to pay nearly $460,000 for breaching a long-term contract for job creation and economic development services the Chamber provided without proper notice. Chamber President Jeff Kotula says the County violated the original termination requirements in the contract which called for one year’s notice. Commissioners Nick Sherman and Electra Janis voted to end the contract effective January 1, 2026 with only 51 days notice. The Chamber is requesting full and immediate payment to satisfy the County’s remaining commitment. Kotula says “due to their violation, we are certain the commissioners will honor the amount remaining on the contract to avoid litigation”. Kotula says the reasons provided by Sherman and Janis for cancelling the contract are “not true”. Commissioners are meeting this morning. WJPA News will have reaction once that meeting is complete. Tune to WJPA 95.3FM/1450AM for the very latest.
December 4, 2025 7:56 am
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Steve Cropper, who co-wrote classic songs, including “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” and “In the Midnight Hour,” during his years playing guitar at the legendary Stax Records in Memphis, has died. He was 84. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as a member of Booker T. and the M.G.’s, the house band for the Stax/Volt labels. In 2007, Cropper won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the group. He also became known to younger fans as member of the group backing Blues Brothers John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.
December 4, 2025 5:12 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Department of Homeland Security has launched a new immigration crackdown in New Orleans. A Homeland Security official says the operation that got underway Wednesday targets violent criminals. The crackdown is the latest expansion of the Trump administration’s immigration sweeps that have unfolded in other U.S. cities. Immigration officials have blanketed big cities and small towns across the nation since January while carrying out President Donald Trump’s aggressive mass deportation efforts. In New Orleans, immigration lawyers say they have been inundated with calls and some businesses have posted signs barring federal agents from entry. Louisiana’s Republican governor welcomes the crackdown.
December 4, 2025 5:11 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Navy admiral has told lawmakers that there was no “kill them all” order from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the boat attack in the Caribbean, but the video of survivors being killed has alarmed lawmakers, That disclosure Thursday comes as Congress scrutinizes an attack on an alleged drug boat in international waters near Venezuela. The classified sessions provided fresh information at a crucial moment as Hegseth’s leadership comes under scrutiny. But they did little to resolve questions about the legal basis for President Donald Trump’s extraordinary campaign to use war powers against suspected drug smugglers. Lawmakers haven’t specifically authorized the use of military force against the alleged drug boats.
December 4, 2025 5:09 am
Venmo says that an issue impacting the payment service has been fixed and it is “back up and running,” after users reported trouble sending and receiving money. The company said in a post on X early Thursday that, “We’re sorry for the inconvenience and appreciate you bearing with us while our team addressed this.” Website Downdetector shows reports that issues began spiking at about 6:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday. Some people posted on social media that they were unable to pay for medication or dinner. Peer-to-peer payment apps have exploded in popularity in the last decade.
December 4, 2025 5:07 am
A federal lawsuit filed against Washington County Judge John DiSalle has been dismissed. Elizabeth Sullivan, a former employee, filed the suit back in February claiming she was fired by the then-President Judge in 2023 in retaliation over her whistleblower complaints. She had worked in various roles at the courthouse for some 24-years. According to the Observer-Reporter, a U.S District Judge on Tuesday dismissed the suit against both DiSalle and former Court Administrator Patrick Grimm. The judge, however, did not dismiss the case against Washington County. Sullivan claims the salary board illegally fired her under misleading claims by DiSalle and her position was eliminated. The judge reportedly has given Sullivan until December 23 to file an amended complaint against the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania and Washington County Court of Common Pleas otherwise the federal lawsuit against those entities will also be dismissed.
December 4, 2025 5:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI has arrested a man accused of placing two pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national parties in Washington on the eve of the U.S. Capitol attack. It’s an abrupt breakthrough in an investigation that for years flummoxed law enforcement and spawned conspiracy theories about Jan. 6, 2021. The suspect has been identified as 30-year-old Brian J. Cole Jr. of Woodbridge, Virginia. Key questions remain unanswered after his arrest on explosives charges, including a possible motive and what connection if any the act had to the assault on the Capitol the following day by supporters of President Donald Trump.
December 4, 2025 5:02 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Navy admiral has told lawmakers that there was no “kill them all” order from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the boat attack in the Caribbean, but the video of survivors being killed has alarmed lawmakers, That disclosure Thursday comes as Congress scrutinizes an attack on an alleged drug boat in international waters near Venezuela. The classified sessions provided fresh information at a crucial moment as Hegseth’s leadership comes under scrutiny. But they did little to resolve questions about the legal basis for President Donald Trump’s extraordinary campaign to use war powers against suspected drug smugglers. Lawmakers haven’t specifically authorized the use of military force against the alleged drug boats.
December 4, 2025 5:01 am
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The Justice Department has failed to secure a new indictment against New York Attorney General Letitia James after a judge dismissed the previous mortgage fraud prosecution encouraged by President Donald Trump. Prosecutors went back to a grand jury in Virginia after a judge’s ruling halting the prosecution of James and another longtime Trump foe, former FBI Director James Comey, on the grounds that the U.S. attorney who presented the cases was illegally appointed. Thursday’s failed indictment against James is the latest setback for the Justice Department in its bid to prosecute the frequent political target of the Republican president.
December 4, 2025 2:41 am
The Washington County Chamber of Commerce has notified County Commissioners that they need to pay nearly $460,000 for breaching a long-term contract for job creation and economic development services the Chamber provided without proper notice. Chamber President Jeff Kotula says the County violated the original termination requirements in the contract which called for one year’s notice. Commissioners Nick Sherman and Electra Janis voted to end the contract effective January 1, 2026 with only 51 days notice. The Chamber is requesting full and immediate payment to satisfy the County’s remaining commitment. Kotula says “due to their violation, we are certain the commissioners will honor the amount remaining on the contract to avoid litigation”. Kotula says the reasons provided by Sherman and Janis for cancelling the contract are “not true”. In response, Sherman said he believes the Chamber has not been transparent in their communications over use of county funds. Claiming he has repeatedly asked to see how county money is spent, not just on projects but with salaries and office expenditures as well. Janis feels the county is due that information also. Both agree that communication between the organizations needs to be improved. Commissioner Larry Maggi voted against the cancellation of the contract. Echoing a statement from the letter sent by the Chamber, he says that right now, Washington County is the only county that does not have an economic development program. Maggi is concerned that if the issue goes to court and the county is found liable, it will cost not only the balance of the contract funds, but additional payments to staff and legal representation above the contract settlement.
