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WJPA News Archive

Peters Police Looking For Information On Friday Shooting

September 4, 2023 2:00 am

Two men were arrested Friday after a report of shots fired in Peters Township. Police were dispatched to the 100 block of Thomas Road for the incident. As officers checked the area they encountered two men in possession of a handgun. After a brief struggle with officers both males were taken into custody. The official investigation disclosed the men fired multiple rounds from their vehicle as they traveled on Thomas Road. Police are asking residents who live on or near Thomas Road between Concord Drive and Lampliter lane to check the exterior of their homes and property for damage as a result of this incident. Officials say to contact the police department if you have any additional information regarding this incident.

UNC Students Criticize School’s Active Shooter Response

September 3, 2023 12:35 pm

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are criticizing the school’s response to a campus shooting that killed a faculty member. Some described having to shelter in unlocked rooms while officers looked for an active shooter. Hundreds of students were released from buildings with no clear directions before an “all clear” message was sent in a mass electronic alert. Students such as senior Micah Baldonado have demanded better communication during campus emergencies. But UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz says the university’s emergency protocols worked as planned.

Leaders From Russia And Turkey To Meet

September 3, 2023 12:03 pm

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with Vladimir Putin in a bid to persuade the Russian leader to rejoin the Black Sea grain deal that Moscow broke off from in July. Monday’s meeting in Sochi on Russia’s southern coast comes after weeks of speculation about when and where the two leaders might meet. The Kremlin refused to renew the grain agreement six weeks ago. The deal was brokered by the United Nations and Ankara in July 2022. It had allowed nearly 33 million metric tons of grain and other commodities to leave three Ukrainian ports safely despite the war. Russia pulled out after claiming that a parallel deal promising to remove obstacles to Russian exports of food and fertilizer had not been honored.

Video Of Ohio Fatal Police Shooting Released

September 3, 2023 7:54 am

Body camera video of the fatal police shooting of Ta’Kiya Young, a 21-year old pregnant mother in Ohio, has raised questions about the strength of police department use-of-force restrictions and how an allegation of shoplifting led to a bullet being fired through her windshield. Policing organizations have recommended departments adopt restrictions against shooting at moving vehicles, citing the potential danger to bystanders. But only a third of the country’s largest departments have such policies in place. While the Blendon Township department did have a policy, experts also say departments rarely enforce the prohibitions with meaningful discipline.

Typhoon Slams Taiwan

September 3, 2023 7:52 am

BEIJING (AP) — Taiwan has suspended flights, rail transport and ferry services along with classes and outdoor events and it is urging workers to stay home as Typhoon Haikui churns across the southern part of the island. The storm made landfall on the Pacific-facing east coast around 3 p.m. Sunday. It came as Typhoon Saola continued to weaken while swirling along the Chinese coast, where 900,000 people and 80,000 fishing vessels had been moved to safety and most of Hong Kong and parts of the coastal mainland suspended business, transport and classes. Damage appeared to be minimal, however, and restrictions had largely been lifted by Sunday. Among events canceled in Taiwan were a hot air balloon festival, several outdoor concerts, art events and a baseball game.

Death Under Investigation At Burning Man Festival

September 3, 2023 7:49 am

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Authorities in Nevada were investigating a death at the site of the Burning Man festival where thousands of attendees remained stranded Saturday night as flooding from storms swept through the Nevada desert. KNSD-TV reports the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office says the death happened during the event but offered few details, including the identity of the deceased person or the suspected cause of death. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management says the entrance to the counterculture festival will be closed for the remainder of the event, which is scheduled to end on Monday. Organizers are urging festivalgoers to conserve their food, water and fuel and to shelter in a safe place. The National Weather Service in Reno says at least another quarter of an inch of rain is expected Sunday.

Area Crews Called To Fire Sunday Morning

September 3, 2023 7:37 am

Washington County crews were called to a fire in Carrol Township Sunday morning according to reports. Officials say the first call came in just before 7:00 a.m. for a fire in an apartment above a garage along London Street. Valley Inn, Bentleyville and Monongahela Fire crews assisted the Carrol Township Fire Department. Tri Community EMS also assisted on scene. There is no word on what started the fire or if there are any injuries.

Washington County Fire Crews Called To North Fayette

September 3, 2023 7:29 am

NORTH FAYETTE TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPXI)— A fire near a recycling plant in North Fayette Township was burning for hours Saturday. Firefighters, police officers and medics were called to 111 Kelso Road at 4:30 p.m. for two large mulch piles that were on fire. As of 9:45 p.m., a large emergency crew presence was still on the scene. Allegheny County requested multiple Washington County departments to respond including Mt. Pleasant Township, North Strabane Township, Hanover Township, McDonald and Midway. There are no reported injuries at this time. Fire trucks were driving down from the area to refill their tankers at a fire hydrant on Steubenville Pike.

“Margaritaville” Singer Jimmy Buffet Dies

September 3, 2023 4:32 am

NEW YORK (AP) — “Margaritaville” singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett has died at age 76 after a four-year battle with cancer. A statement on Buffett’s official website and social media pages says the singer died Friday “surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs.” Buffett created beach bum soft rock with an escapist Caribbean flavor song and turned that celebration of loafing into an empire of restaurants, resorts and frozen concoctions. The song ”Margaritaville,” by far his biggest hit, was released in 1977 and spent 22 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100. It became a seaside standard and inspired generations of fans — known as Parrotheads — to celebrate easy living.

Prison Escapee Remains At Large

September 3, 2023 4:11 am

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Hundreds of law enforcement agents are searching for a man convicted of murder in Pennsylvania for the fatal stabbing of his ex-girlfriend, a day after he escaped from a county jail. The search continued Friday for Danelo Cavalcante, who prosecutors say is an extremely dangerous person and is also wanted in his native Brazil in a separate slaying. The search involves drones, helicopters and dogs. Chester County’s district attorney, Deb Ryan, says searchers are focusing on railways, waterways and routes out of the area. Authorities didn’t disclose the circumstances of his escape, but say the matter is under investigation.