January 17, 2026 8:41 am
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation is seeking to reassure Denmark and Greenland after President Donald Trump threatened tariffs if nations don’t support a U.S. takeover of Greenland. On Saturday in Copenhagen, delegation leader Sen. Chris Coons expressed concern over the rhetoric and emphasized respect for Denmark and NATO. Trump has repeatedly claimed that China and Russia have designs on Greenland, which holds critical mineral reserves. He suggested using tariffs to force the issue. Denmark and Greenland’s foreign ministers met with U.S. officials this week, but deep differences remain. Denmark insists that only it and Greenland can decide on territorial matters.
January 17, 2026 4:14 am
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump says he may punish countries with tariffs if they don’t back the U.S. controlling Greenland. Trump didn’t provide details Friday. Trump for months has insisted that the U.S. should control Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, and said earlier this week that anything less than the Arctic island being in U.S. hands would be “unacceptable.” But the Republican president had not previously mentioned using tariffs to try to force the issue. Earlier this week, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met in Washington this week with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
January 17, 2026 4:09 am
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Justice Department is investigating whether Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have impeded federal immigration enforcement through public statements they have made, according to two people familiar with the matter. The investigation focused on potential violation of a conspiracy statute, the people said. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss a pending investigation by name. Walz and Frey both issued statements calling it an attempt to intimidate them. The investigation comes during a weekslong immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and St. Paul that the Department of Homeland Security has called its largest recent immigration enforcement operation.
January 17, 2026 4:06 am
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A U.S. judge has ruled federal officers in Minneapolis-area immigration operation can’t detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who aren’t obstructing authorities, including when these people are observing the agents. U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez ruled Friday in a case filed in December on behalf of six Minnesota activists. Thousands of people have been observing the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol officers enforcing the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area since early December. Government attorneys have argued the officers have been acting within their legal authority to enforce immigration laws and protect themselves.
January 17, 2026 3:56 am
Pennsylvania Western University leaders say they are adapting to modern learning experiences and responding to workforce needs as the state university prepares to cut dozens of degree programs, minors, concentrations and certificates. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, under the plan, PennWest’s offerings would include: 43 bachelor’s degree majors (down from 47) 23 master’s degree programs (down from 27) 40 minors (down from 74) 37 undergraduate certificates (up from 19). Some minors would shift to certificates under the plan. The university intends to sunset six undergraduate programs, four graduate programs and 34 minors. PennWest would also end nine bachelor’s degree programs on specific campuses. Any student currently enrolled in an impacted program would be able to complete their degree at their home campus, the university has said. PennWest plans to share updated curriculum information in late spring.
January 17, 2026 3:45 am
BELLE VERNON, Pa. —(WPXI)- A video recorded inside a Belle Vernon Walmart, reportedly taken right before Christmas, shows a man walking up to a woman while video recording and asking her questions and saying racial epithets to her. While the man hasn’t been charged with a crime yet, Augusta “Queenie” Goll says she’s filed a police report about the incident. According to Goll, he used the “N” word and used other racial slurs toward her. Goll said she immediately left the store and began to post to Facebook about the incident. She said that it was not until after the new year that she found out that the man posted his video to his social media account. She filed a police report with Rostraver Township Police who then forwarded the case to State Police. They say that there are similar complaints about him over multiple jurisdictions. Goll says the man came by her Charleroi business on Thursday, writing her an apology note. She says while the incident has left her scared, she’s also grateful to the community and complete strangers for having her back. “I want to publicly say thank you. All type of people, black, white, Indian, everybody. Young, old, everybody. In times of something like this, they stand for the right, they stand by you.”
January 16, 2026 5:21 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks edged a bit lower on Wall Street as the first week of corporate earnings season closes out with markets trading near record levels. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% Friday after a day of wavering between gains and losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Gains for several big tech companies helped offset weakness elsewhere. A handful of regional U.S. banks reported their earnings following mixed reports from their larger peers. Pittsburgh’s PNC jumped after it beat Wall Street’s fourth-quarter targets, but Regions Financial fell after reporting results that missed forecasts. (Photo: AP)
January 16, 2026 5:23 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from agrochemical manufacturer Bayer to block thousands of state lawsuits alleging it failed to warn people its popular weedkiller could cause cancer. The justices said Friday they’ll consider whether the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of the Roundup weedkiller without a cancer warning should rule out state court claims. The justices will hear a case from Missouri, where a man developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after spraying Roundup on a community garden. The Trump administration has weighed in on Bayer’s behalf, reversing the Biden administration’s position. Some studies associate Roundup’s key ingredient, glyphosate, with cancer. The EPA has said it’s unlikely to be carcinogenic to humans when used as directed.
January 16, 2026 4:59 am
Bentleyville Borough residents are now looking at a tax increase. Council this week voted unanimously to approve a more than $1.2 million spending plan that resulted after they reopened a budget adopted in December. According to the Observer-Reporter, it includes a one-mill tax increase that would be the first in the borough since 2018. Officials say the borough has operated at a deficit for four of the past five years and a review of that previous budget showed that it would have resulted in a large shortfall. The new budget includes higher wages for borough personnel, including the secretary, police chief and street supervisor. A special meeting will be held January 26 to vote on the new budget, which must be approved by Feb. 15. Newly elected Mayor Adrian Gordon can veto the budget if approved.
January 15, 2026 5:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado says she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump. She described it as a recognition of his commitment to Venezuela’s freedom. Trump confirmed later on social media that she had left the medal for him. Machado met with Trump on Thursday to discuss Venezuela’s future, despite his doubts about her leadership. She greeted supporters after the meeting, expressing confidence in Trump’s support. The meeting comes amid U.S. efforts to control Venezuela’s oil following the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Machado has been a key figure in opposing Venezuela’s ruling party since 2004.
