July 27, 2026 10:11 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Monday to clear the way for an executive order from President Donald Trump that could dramatically change mail-in voting ahead of November’s midterm elections. The Justice Department asked the justices to halt for now lower court decisions blocking the sweeping changes in nearly half the country. The request comes shortly after Trump delivered a primetime address elevating his yearslong push to raise doubts about the legitimacy of elections, and could be one of several voting-related challenges before the court ahead of the high-stakes midterm contest. Trump ordered the government in March to create a “state citizenship list” of eligible voters and deliver mail ballots only to people on that list. Democratic officials in 23 states and the District of Columbia sued, saying the Constitution gives states and Congress the authority to set election rules, not the president. Their attorneys have said Trump’s proposed changes are ripe for abuse and could cause chaos.
July 27, 2026 10:13 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The office of Senator Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., released an update on his health Monday, this time with a statement from the congressional Office of Attending Physician stating the senator has not yet been medically cleared to leave a rehabilitation facility where he is undergoing physical therapy. The update comes shortly before his home state’s annual Fancy Farm picnic, which features speeches from politicians throughout the state seeking elected office. McConnell said in a written statement that he won’t be able to attend the event. “There’s no place I’d rather be on the first Saturday in August than with the good people of western Kentucky, feasting on pork and mutton,” McConnell said. He said that when he first attended the event 42 years ago, Fancy Farm was a lonely place for Republicans, but times have changed.
July 27, 2026 10:07 pm
An adult has been arrested in connection with a high school sextortion ring that was discovered earlier this year in Peters Township. Authorities say they arrested Aaron White because he was allegedly exchanging sexually explicit text messages, videos and pictures with a teenage boy who was already a victim of a sex trafficking and sextortion operation that focused on Peters High School students — and was allegedly run by their senior class president, Zachariah Meyers. Detectives say they found White’s messages when they searched the victim’s phone – and saw White was communicating with the boy through Snapchat, under the username “Whitey_1896.” Police say they were able to trace the account to a PCT.edu email address, which is the email domain for Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport. White is free on bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in August.
July 27, 2026 3:29 pm
Pittsburgh, PA –The Commercial Street Bridge is officially reopened and drivers are currently traveling on the span. On Monday, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Lt. Governor Austin Davis, and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll joined local officials and community leaders at the new Commercial Street Bridge in Allegheny County to announce that the Parkway East will reopen to traffic – a full week ahead of schedule. The $95 million project is one of the largest of its kind ever performed in Pennsylvania. The eastbound lane of the Parkway opened at eight o’clock Monday night. To accomplish this replacement in such a short timeframe, PennDOT constructed the new Commercial Street Bridge next to the existing structure. Crews then demolished the old bridge and utilized Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) techniques to slide the new structure into place. The original bridge closed to traffic on July 10th and demolition took place on July 16th. Lateral slide operations on the new bridge began on Sunday, July 19, and continued into Monday, July 20. Crews moved the structure 96 feet in seven hours on the first day and completed the remaining six feet and set the bridge back down the following morning. 1-376 was planned to be closed until August 3, however, thanks to favorable conditions and the hard work of dedicated crews, The Parkway East will open after only 17 days. The Commercial Street Bridge Replacement Project is located between the Edgewood/Swissvale (Exit 77) interchange and Squirrel Hill Tunnel in Swissvale Borough and the City of Pittsburgh. Approximately 100,000 vehicles a day travel on I-376 over Commercial Street, on average.
July 27, 2026 3:48 pm
Gas prices are six cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.207 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline jumped 11 cents from last week to $4.11. Twenty-eight states are now averaging $4 per gallon or higher. Rising crude oil prices are behind the spike at the pump. Volatility along the Strait of Hormuz and instability in the region have pushed crude oil prices above $80 per barrel. Today’s national average is 24 cents more than a month ago and 97 cents more than a year ago. According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week from 8.84 million to 8.94 million. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 210.5 million barrels to 211.3 million. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.7 million barrels per day.
July 26, 2026 5:03 am
Scattered showers and storms are expected Monday afternoon and through the evening with the potential for storms late at night. Storms could be severe and bring damaging winds, hail and the threat for a few isolated tornadoes. Heavy rain also brings the risk for localized flooding. On-and-off storms are possible through Tuesday afternoon ahead of a cold front that will swing through later in the day. Cooler air moves in for Wednesday, and a few lingering showers could be possible through the day. Pleasant and sunny Thursday with highs around 80. The next chance for thunderstorms could return over the weekend with much warmer air on the way for the following week.
July 26, 2026 2:55 am
Police in Smith Township are asking for the public’s help in locating witnesses to an incident that occurred just before two-thirty Saturday morning. Smith Township Detective Tyler Evans says a truck crashed into three people during an outdoor gathering. According to Evans, a Ford Ranger hit three people near Creek Road, in a rural part of the township. Evans says one of the victims is in critical condition. Police say they have identified the victims and the driver of the truck, but numerous other people attended the party, which was located in the woods or an open field. They are asking anyone with information to call Washington County 911 or (724) 947-5069 ext. 205.
July 26, 2026 2:13 am
A SWAT situation in the City of Washington Saturday night ended peacefully. Authorities say an individual barricaded themselves inside of a home when police tried to serve an active arrest warrant on East Walnut Street. They say that prompted multiple law enforcement agencies, including a SWAT team, to respond to the area. The suspect was eventually arrested without further incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public. There were no reported injuries.
July 26, 2026 5:06 am
SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle’s mayor says a suspect arrested after a shootout that killed three people and left at least four others injured at a food festival near Seattle’s Space Needle is 15 years old. The teen was being held in juvenile detention for investigation of firearms violations and first-degree assault and was due to appear in court Monday afternoon, Mayor Katie Wilson said. Authorities said Monday they are still looking for a second suspect, but that they could not rule out whether the second suspect was among those killed. Investigators believe the two suspects were shooting at each other. The gunfire erupted around 6 p.m. Sunday during the Bite of Seattle festival.
July 26, 2026 5:09 am
BERLIN (AP) — German authorities say the suspect in the deadly Berlin Pride attack that killed one person and left 29 injured was shot and killed by police during a confrontation in a suburb of the city. Abdul Ballout, a German citizen with Lebanese roots, was killed on Sunday evening following a search that lasted nearly 24 hours after the attack in downtown Berlin. Berlin prosecutors said the suspect had previously sought to join the militant Islamic State group. The attack on Saturday night took place near the Brandenburg Gate, away from the main festival. Berlin’s Pride festival is one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations.
