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.
December 11, 2025 6:50 am
NEW YORK (AP) — A judge has ruled that secret grand jury transcripts from Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 sex trafficking case can be made public. The judge Wednesday joined two other judges in granting the Justice Department’s requests to unseal material from investigations into the late financier’s sexual abuse. U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman in New York reversed his earlier decision to keep the material under wraps, citing a new law that requires the government to open its files on Epstein and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell. The judge previously cautioned that the 70 or so pages of grand jury materials slated for release are hardly revelatory. On Tuesday, another Manhattan federal judge ordered the release of records from Maxwell’s 2021 case.
December 11, 2025 6:48 am
A unique opportunity is taking place at the Tanger Outlets that will allow people to extend their holiday spirit to those in need. The Giving Machines made their debut on Wednesday. The idea comes from the Church of the Latter Day Saints. The vending machines allow people to purchase needed items for those less fortunate to get them through everyday life. Ryan Holder, Pittsburgh Joint City Lead for the Giving Machine says that anything can be purchased, from goats and chickens, utility payments and bedding. One of the local charities taking part is Auberle. They operate the Mt. Oliver Family Healing Center that allows entire families to live together while those suffering from addiction work on their recovery. Darla Poole, CEO of Auberle says that some of the items that they offer will be the standard cleaning products and diapers. They also will offer vacuum cleaners. She says that often times vacuum cleaners are too expensive an item for people to afford. The Giving Machines are located in 125 cities in 30 states and in 21 countries around the world. In this area, donations may be purchased for five area charities. They include Auberle, The Brashear Association, Catholic Charities, JFCS and SHIM. Global groups include Church World Services and the American Red Cross. The program is now underway and will last until January 4. Saturday December 13 will be Auberle Day.
