WJPA News

The region continues to feel the effects of Winter Storm Izzy that rolled through the region Sunday into Monday.  Road crews are making progress but some area roads remain snow covered and motorists are advised to use caution and only travel if necessary.  Washington County 9-1-1 says there have not been any major issues resulting from the storm so far.  State Police in Washington report no problems on the Interstate highways.  Many schools and businesses are closed on Monday because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.  The Washington School district and Canon McMillan school districts had flexible instruction days, while McGuffey went to remote learning.  West Penn Power was reporting only a handful of power outages early Monday morning.   Garbage collection in the City of Washington and Peters Township was stopped on Monday.  Tune to WJPA 95.3FM/1450AM for the very latest information.

The Washington branch of the NAACP may have celebrated the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. virtually this year, but the message of his impact and legacy was still at the forefront of the event. Members and guests logged onto Zoom Sunday afternoon dodging the snow to enjoy a program of music and dialogue that highlighted how Dr. King’s work has elevated so many lives, while also reminding those in attendance that there is still plenty of work to be done to keep his work and values going in the present day. Many notable names in the community took part in the event including key note speaker Lynn Hayes-Freeland, Reverend Debra Mason of the John Wesley United Methodist Church, Washington branch president Dr. Andrew Goudy, Mayor Scott Putnam and County Commissioner Larry Maggi.

PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – A woman died from injuries suffered after she was hit by a bus Tuesday morning in downtown Pittsburgh, officials said. The Medical Examiner’s office identified the woman 64-year-old Dal Rai. She died two days after the accident. Rai was hit shortly before 6:30 a.m. along Liberty Avenue. It was a Port Authority of Allegheny County bus that was involved. The front of the bus hit Rai, who then became caught between the front bumper and the street, a Port Authority spokesperson said. Paramedics took Dai to a Pittsburgh hospital in critical condition, officials said. The bus driver, who has worked for the Port Authority for 23 years, will be tested for drugs and alcohol, as per policy, the spokesperson said.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The pilot of a medical helicopter that crash-landed without loss of life next to a church in a residential area of suburban Philadelphia last week has been released from a hospital. The pilot has been identified as Danial Moore. He said Sunday morning he didn’t remember much about the accident but was feeling fortunate. Moore expressed gratitude to other crew, first responders and medical personnel treating his injuries. The helicopter was transporting an infant girl when it came down Tuesday afternoon next to Drexel Hill United Methodist Church in Upper Darby.

McCONNELLSBURG, Pa. (AP) – An inspection of voting machines in a heavily Republican county in Pennsylvania is being stopped just as it was about to get underway. The state Supreme Court on Friday granted a request by lawyers for Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf over the Fulton County voting machine inspection. The effort was inspired by former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims about fraud in the 2020 election. The Supreme Court’s order says the request was granted on a temporary basis until the full court can consider it. A lawyer for the county says Senate Republicans want to determine whether the equipment used there was the same equipment certified by Pennsylvania for use in the 2020 election.

ATLANTA (AP) – The annual Martin Luther King Jr. service is set to be held at his old congregation in Atlanta. Scheduled to attend are the city’s mayor, Georgia’s governor and U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. Monday’s service at Ebenezer Baptist Church and other events surrounding Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorate what would have been King’s 93rd birthday. In a news release, the King Center in Atlanta says the 10 a.m. service will be broadcast live on Atlanta’s Fox TV affiliate and on Facebook, YouTube and www.thekingcenter.org. The Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday March and Rally is also planned for Monday afternoon in downtown Atlanta.

WASHINGTON (AP) – One of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, Charles McGee, who flew fighter combat missions over three wars, has died. A family member says McGee died on Sunday at age 102 at his home in Bethesda, Maryland. The Tuskegee Airmen is the nickname of the first African American unit to fly combat airplanes in World War II. McGee was among more than 900 men who trained in rural Alabama after the Army Air Corps was forced to admit Black pilots. McGee went on to fly combat missions in World War II as well as the Korean and Vietnam wars.

COLLEYVILLE, Texas (AP) – Police in England say they have arrested two teenagers in their investigation into an armed British national holding four people hostage during a 10-hour standoff at a Texas synagogue. The Greater Manchester Police did not name the suspects Sunday or whether they faced any charges. They described them as teenagers who were in custody for questioning. Authorities have identified the hostage-taker as a 44-year-old British national, Malik Faisal Akram. He was killed Saturday night after the last hostages ran out of Congregation Beth Israel near Fort Worth.

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) – President Joe Biden will meet virtually with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan on Friday. The meeting comes as the omicron variant of the coronavirus continues to surge. The White House said Sunday the meeting will take place to highlight the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance. The allies are looking to deepen ties in the face of China’s growing economic and military clout in the region. Kishida was elected in November and the two leaders will be meeting for the first time.

(AP) – It took nearly three months after the fatal shooting on the “Rust” set and a month after a search warrant was issued – but authorities in New Mexico now have Alec Baldwin’s cellphone. It was surrendered to authorities this past Friday. Authorities in Santa Fe have been trying to get the device as part of the investigation into the Oct. 21 on-set shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. A live round from Baldwin’s prop gun hit her during a rehearsal. The warrant for the phone seeks text messages, images, videos, calls or other information related to the movie. Baldwin both stars in and co-produces Rust, which has paused production.  (Photo:  ABC)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korea’s military says North Korea fired at least one projectile into the sea in its fourth weapons launch this month. The North is apparently demonstrating its military might amid pandemic border closures and paused diplomacy with the United States. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff didn’t immediately say whether the weapon was ballistic or how far it flew Monday. Some experts say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is going back to a tried-and-true technique of pressuring Washington and regional neighbors with missile launches and outrageous threats before offering negotiations meant to extract concessions.