Firefighter Lucky To Be Alive

June 25, 2026 4:58 am

NORTH FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A 20-year-old North Franklin Township firefighter says he is lucky to be alive after his was hit by a vehicle Monday along Route 40.  A speeding driver hit him and took off.  Logan Lilley was with firefighters doing traffic control after responding to a downed tree. He tells our news partners at WPXI “I probably shouldn’t be standing with how fast he hit me”. Lilley says he ran towards the guardrail and jumped but was struck by the hood on his boot.  He was thrown over the guardrail and suffered a hand injury and well as other cuts and sprains.  He believes the driver was traveling around 55 mph.   That driver did not stop and police are still searching for a white KIA. “I have angel wings tatted on my back, so I go with I had an angel with me that day, and for being a pretty religious person, I think God was definitely there for me,” he said. Firefighters are hoping this incident is a wake-up call for drivers to slow down. State Police continue to search for the hit-and-run driver.

State House OK’s Bill Reining In Data Center Projects

June 25, 2026 2:14 am

HARRISBURG – Legislation to give Pennsylvania municipalities the time and authority to rein in data center projects across the state continues its way through the General Assembly.  The state House of Representatives , on Wednesday, by an overwhelming bipartisan majority passed H.B. 2496 to empower local governments to place up to a six-month “pause” on the consideration of any data center application. Municipalities could adopt, amend or repeal sections of their related land-use ordinances during the pause.  “This pause window allows local governments the time they need to thoroughly research, draft and pass comprehensive land-use ordinances pertaining to data centers,” Rep. Paul Friel, D-Chester, a co-sponsor said. “The bill gives our local officials necessary breathing room to update these ordinances, evaluating demands like water and energy usage and other considerations related to protecting our communities from potential harms caused by data center development.”  Critically, the pause dates back to the moment the public was notified of the meeting agenda, and any application filed during the pause is subject to the new rules.

Venezuela Reeling After Powerful Twin Earthquakes

June 25, 2026 5:07 am

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — At least 164 people have died and 971 were injured after a pair of powerful quakes rocked Venezuela, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said. Wednesday evening’s 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes were among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century, and could be felt throughout the region. Rodríguez said authorities were shifting rescue teams from other parts of the country to La Guaira, which she said was one of the hardest hit areas. She said officials were trying to make the most of the daylight hours to speed up efforts to rescue people believed to remain trapped under the rubble.

President Trump Refuses To Sign Housing Bill

June 25, 2026 5:05 am

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A sprawling legislative package aimed at lowering the cost of housing and spurring more home construction won broad bipartisan approval from Congress this week, but it’s hit a major roadblock in becoming law. Although the White House supported the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, President Donald Trump canceled the housing bill signing ceremony on Wednesday. He says he won’t sign the measure until Congress passes separate election reform legislation. The delay could impact aspiring homeowners and renters at a time when many Americans are burdened by the cost of housing.

Republicans Reverse Course After Trump Meeting

June 25, 2026 5:09 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans who were berated by President Donald Trump over opposition to his war in Iran have reversed course, holding a late-night vote to try to appease him. They rejected a war powers resolution Wednesday night, a day after a similar measure passed. Trump harangued GOP senators face to face earlier in the day for allowing a vote to block his war in Iran on Tuesday, further escalating a feud that has diverted GOP efforts to focus on election-year affordability issues. Trump exchanged particularly harsh words with Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of four Republicans who had voted with Democrats on the measure. Cassidy later changed his position after he received a White House briefing on the war.

Mamdani’s Success Tests Democratic Party

June 25, 2026 5:10 am

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stepped into the national spotlight this week as a surging political force within the Democratic Party. Democratic leaders aren’t so sure that’s a good thing. Some of the most powerful Democrats in Washington downplayed the impact of Mamdani’s victories on Tuesday, when the 34-year-old democratic socialist mayor’s slate of congressional candidates defeated three establishment favorites — including two incumbents — in primary contests. He had even more victories in state legislative races, where he successfully backed five other candidates. Mamdani now hopes to export his policies and politics to other states, and he’s demanding major changes across the Democratic Party.

House Passes Governor Shapiro’s GRID Standards

June 24, 2026 5:41 pm

Harrisburg, PA – On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed HB 2650 in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote. The bill would codify Governor Josh Shapiro’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Standards in law and require data center developers seeking Commonwealth support protect energy affordability, engage local communities, create family-sustaining jobs, and meet strong environmental standards.  The bill would replace the current exemption from paying sales tax with a new GRID certification framework built around strict accountability standards, transparency, and ongoing compliance requirements. Requirements would include protecting energy affordability, promoting transparency, engaging local communities, supporting workforce development, and strengthening environmental protection. Under the legislation, projects with a GRID certification would be required to demonstrate ongoing compliance through annual reporting and verification requirements.  “I’ve heard directly from Pennsylvanians who are concerned about what data center development could mean for their communities, and I share those concerns. My GRID Standards establish strong, enforceable requirements for any project seeking Commonwealth support — requiring developers to bring their own power, engage with local communities transparently, support Pennsylvania workers, and protect our environment.

NWS Confirms Two More Tornadoes

June 24, 2026 1:51 pm

Just when you thought it couldn’t happen again, the National Weather Service has confirmed that the storms that ripped through Southwestern Pennsylvania and nearby states on Monday spurred two tornadoes.  NWS teams say that through surveys and aerial imagery, they were able to confirm one tornado south of Vanderbilt in Fayette County. It was rated an EF-1 with a maximum wind gust of ninety mph.  Surveyors also confirmed another tornado east of Fairmont, West Virginia. That one was rated an EF-0 with maximum wind speeds of 80 mph.  Details on the paths and damage surveyed from both tornadoes will be revealed at a later time.

Mayors From Around The World Unite On Data Centers

June 24, 2026 12:52 pm

(AP) – Forty mayors from around the world have signed onto a new pact to try to shape how urban data centers are built and operated. It’s their vision for how urban data center development can be done in a sustainable way, and not at the expense of their cities’ natural resources, energy prices or climate targets. C40 Cities is an alliance of nearly a hundred cities seeking to impact climate change that launched the pact Tuesday during London Climate Action Week. Mayors of cities ranging from Phoenix, Arizona, to Melbourne, Australia, have led the effort.

Trump Abruptly Cancels Signing Of Housing Bill

June 24, 2026 12:25 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a planned signing ceremony on Capitol Hill for a housing bill. It was supposed to happen before he met with Republican senators for a lunch. Instead, Trump is pressuring senators to focus on his proof-of-citizenship voting bill even though it doesn’t have the votes to pass. Senators have grown increasingly frustrated with his efforts to divert their agenda. The had said ahead of the meeting that they hoped to focus on unity, not disagreements.