Email the Newsroom news@wjpa.com

WJPA News Archive

Humanitarian Crisis In Gaza

October 16, 2023 5:07 am

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hospitals in Gaza faced collapse Monday as water, power and medicine neared depletion, and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians searched for dwindling food supplies while Israel maintained punishing airstrikes in retaliation for last week’s deadly rampage by Hamas. Thousands of patients’ lives were at risk, U.N. officials said, and mediators struggled for a cease-fire to let in aid waiting at the Egyptian border. All eyes were on the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, where trucks carrying aid have waited for days unable to pass through. As Israel prepared a likely ground offensive into Gaza, fears rose over the conflict spreading along Israel’s border with Lebanon.

Gas Service Down For Days After Beaver County Incident

October 16, 2023 5:03 am

BEAVER COUNTY, Pa. — (WXPI) – Thousands of people are without gas service in Beaver County. Columbia Gas said around 4,000 customers in Freedom, Economy Borough, Conway and Baden have had their natural gas service shut down. The company shut down the service after technicians noticed an issue with gas that had been added by a third-party provider. Columbia Gas said the shutdown is expected to last “several days” but has not specified how many it will be. Workers are expected to go door-to-door to perform safety checks and relight natural gas appliances once services are restored. Columbia Gas said those workers will have a company badge with their photo on it. The incident was not believed to be intentional and Columbia Gas said the shutdown is being done out of an abundance of caution.

Arrest Made In Fatal Shooting Of Philadelphia Officer

October 16, 2023 5:00 am

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia police say one man has been arrested and at least two other suspects are being sought in an airport parking garage shooting that killed one officer and wounded another last week. Police said 18-year-old Yobranny Martinez Fernandez was arrested Monday in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and was being held for extradition. It’s unclear whether he has an attorney. Authorities say Officers Richard Mendez and Raul Ortiz found people breaking into a car Thursday night at Philadelphia International Airport. During a confrontation, Mendez was shot four times and later died. Ortiz, hit once, was released from the hospital Saturday. An 18-year-old believed to be involved was also killed.

Crews Battle Somerset Twp Trailer Fire

October 16, 2023 2:53 am

SOMERSET TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Multiple fire departments responded to a trailer fire in Somerset Township Saturday. The house fire call came in around 6:00 p.m. along Nichols Lane. North Strabane Township, Bentleyville, Ellsworth, Fallowfield, and Valley Inn Fire crews were all on scene for an hour to put the fire out. UPMC Paramedic Response along with Ambulance and Chair EMS were also on scene. There were no reports of any injuries. (Photo: Bentleyville Fire-Rescue Facebook Page)

PennDot Set For Route 136 Maintenance

October 16, 2023 2:06 am

PennDot is advising motorists of maintenance work this week. They will be conducting bridge washing activities on Rt. 136 in Monongahela and in Forward Township, Allegheny County. Single lane alternating traffic is scheduled for the Mon City Bridge beginning October 17 lasting through October 19. The hours of the restrictions are from 8:00 AM through 4:00 PM each day.

Poll Shows Ethical Concerns After Hunter Biden Probe

October 15, 2023 8:00 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ethical concerns are casting a shadow over President Joe Biden as he seeks reelection amid investigations into his son Hunter and a presidential impeachment inquiry. A poll shows that 35% of U.S. adults believe the Democratic president himself has done something illegal. An additional 33% say they think the president behaved unethically, but not illegally. And 30% say Joe Biden did nothing wrong. The results of the survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reflect both a vast political divide and skepticism about the morality of government leaders.

Actress Piper Laurie Dies At 91

October 15, 2023 7:58 am

Piper Laurie, the strong-willed, Oscar-nominated actor who performed in acclaimed roles despite at one point abandoning acting altogether in search of a “more meaningful” life, has died. She was 91. She received Academy Award nominations for three very different films: The 1961 poolroom drama “The Hustler”; the film version of Stephen King’s horror classic “Carrie,” in 1976; and the romantic drama “Children of a Lesser God,” in 1986. She also appeared in several acclaimed roles on television and the stage, including in David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks” in the 1990s.

6 Killed In Russian Attacks On Ukraine

October 15, 2023 7:56 am

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian officials say six people have been killed in Russian attacks on the country in the past 24 hours. Guided bombs hit key infrastructure in the city of Kherson, sparking a partial blackout and disruption to the area’s water supply. Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry announced Sunday that Ukraine had launched 27 drones in an overnight attack on western Russia. Officials said that 18 drones were shot down over the Kursk region, leading to speculation in the Russian press that the attack could have been targeting the nearby Khalino military airfield. Officials also said that two more had been shot down over Russia’s Belgorod region, but did not confirm the fate of the remaining seven drones.

Packed Gaza Hospitals Warn Thousands Could Die

October 15, 2023 7:55 am

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Medics in Gaza are warning that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people run desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. Palestinians are struggling to find food, water and safety ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive in the war sparked by Hamas’ deadly attack. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished entire neighborhoods but failed to stem militant rocket fire into Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry said over 2,300 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted, making this the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed, the vast majority of them civilians killed in Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault.

Three People Will Face Attempted Homicide Charges

October 15, 2023 4:00 am

Three people will face attempted homicide charges for their alleged roles in a July 23 drive by shooting on Perry Como Street in Canonsburg. Dillon Britt, 31 of Canonsburg, Brett Carroll, 30 of Washington and Jessica Chatman-Carroll, 34 of Houston jointly had preliminary hearings on Friday. Testimony was highlighted by Chatman-Carroll’s testimony where she admitted to voluntarily driving Britt and Carroll to the location of the shooting. She said she was shown a snap chat message that indicted that Eric Ellis made threats that included children. Those threats involving children made up her mind to participate. She described the incident as it was depicted in a surveillance video played in court. Under cross examination, she stated that she was not represented by an attorney nor did she make any deal with law enforcement officials. Her only reason for testifying is because of the threats made about children. Chatman-Carroll is free on $100,000 unsecured bond. Britt and Carroll remain in the Washington County jail unable to post $350,000 monetary bond each.